Qualled... to more than one thing.

I do a podcast for the leaders on my team for work. It's called "Qualled" which is the words Called and Qualified put together. It was meant to help teach basic leadership skills to up and coming distributors, who feel like they don't know what they're doing, but are definitely supposed to be leading a team.

"God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called."

I came up with the name because it's how I feel as an introvert, and just as an overall very normal person. There's nothing special about me, yet here I am, looked up to and being asked how to lead others.

This morning though, I realized that I can apply this exact same title to my motherhood life too. I feel severely under-qualified to have been entrusted by God to raise three kiddos. I don't like to craft, I don't like to make a mess in the kitchen so the kids don't get to cook anything, I don't like noise and have very little patience naturally.

What exactly am I doing with 2 boys and a baby girl!?

But yet, here I am. I'm definitely not qualified to be their mom. I have no idea what I'm doing 90% of the time, and since my husband is gone more than he's here with us, it's all on me 90% of the time too.

These poor children!

But I do my very best. Because God has called me to this, and He already knew I wasn't qualified. So with His strength in me through His Holy Spirit, somehow, someway, my kid are extremely happy. Well-behaved outside my house, fed, clothed, rested, and they know their hot-mess mom loves them, and Jesus loves them.

I feel like even though I'll never win any Mom awards or have a DIY craft picture go viral on Pinterest.... that God sees me and my heart, and gives me His unending grace to make it through each day.

I even venture that He says "well done, good and faithful servant" over me when I collapse into bed each night.

Qualled. For such a time as this. Esther 4:14

"There I am also."

This weekend we have our first ever Women's Conference for my company, and I could not be more excited for the timing and the time together with my circle of women.

I think it's incredible what God does when believers get together - He promises it in Matthew 18:20, that where two or more gather in His name, He is there with them. I've seen this so many times, where just the simple act of coming together in one place {even virtually, technology is awesome} produces breakthroughs, lifted spirits and visions revealed. It's powerful when like-minded people can talk and be vulnerable and share their hearts.

That's what we're heading into starting tomorrow. God has been doing some big things in me lately, stirring up new desires, instilling new confidence in things that are coming, and growing a vision for the future that can only be from Him. And it's crazy how insanely excited I am to share all of this with my girls this weekend.

My girls. This group of women that feel 100% safe with, who know me and my flaws, understand me and accept me. When I think of them I feel secure, warm, and family.

Do you have that in your life? If not, I just so encourage you to seek it out. First things, ASK God to lead you to a group, or even just start with one person, who can pour into you like I'm describing.

As women, we are continually pouring into others, but if we aren't careful, we'll end up with our cup completely empty. If that happens, there's no way to continue pouring into others, which leads to a multitude of other emotional and mental (not to mention physical) struggles.

We are meant to walk through life TOGETHER. If you find yourself feeling isolated, know that this place you are in is not what God designed or wants for you. If you'll remember, I did wind up there, and had to finally ask God to help me get connected, because I was completely empty.

And also remember, He did. If you ask, He will answer. It may not look the way you thought (mine didn't!) and it may not be in the timing you think, but He wants you in a community. It's part of how He designed us and who we are. So ask. And keep asking.

I can't wait to share with you what God does in the next few days during this Women's Conference. I going with an excited expectancy because God always shows up when we do. I'm ready to meet Him in Florida.

Making a statement

Recently God's been developing in me a vision for my future & my family's future, and there are two distinct things that He has laid on my heart - family retreats and personal/family mission statements.

Never in my 32 years have I ever given any thought to either of these ideas. But as I have been reading, praying and searching, I really feel led to make these two things happen for my family.

A retreat in and of itself speaks to me, since it basically means seclusion, rest and togetherness with close people in life. Hello, Introvert Heaven. Sign me up.

The mission/vision statement is harder for me and I've had to do some deeper soul searching. What exactly is my mission? I own a small business - aside from keeping us debt-free, what else am I going to do with that? What has good has God called me to do with that income? On the personal side, what is my own mission in this life? What drives me every day? What about my family - what are my husband and I working towards, and what does God have for us?

I definitely don't have anything written or figured out yet, but the exploration process has really been eye-opening. God has really big plans for us, if we will just allow ourselves to be open and ask.

This article has a great example of a family retreat and what all would happen, in case this idea hit home for you too.

Once I have finished fleshing out my mission/vision statement, I'd love to share with you all and the process I'm taking to write it. Look for that soon!

Kim

Identity

As I felt this blog coming to life in my heart, I was confused on exactly what it was going to be about. If you found it as I was wobbling along getting it up and running, you will remember that it went through some name changes. It was having an identity crisis, honestly.

I thought God was leading me to just speak to the world of Introverted Mamas like me. But as I would sit to write, my mind would be blank. Here's why:

I am an introvert, a wife, a business owner, a mom... all because of Jesus. He's the center point, my cornerstone for "me." 

So as we journey down this road together and you see a glimpse of what it's like to live an introverted life, Jesus is going to be along for our ride. Because He's my reason for everything. I exist because of His grace, mercy and faithfulness. My identity is in purely who He says I am.

I'm not going to ask you to change or think the way I do, but I will extend the invitation to chat should you ever feel you want/need to. 

Kim