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| Empower other women |
God has connected me to some ah-may-zing women!
Their stories, their ability to overcome, their beauty, their intelligence, their strength, their grace; I am moved by their essence. This thing, this life, is so much bigger than us. We are all connected through our womanhood, our experiences, and our message.
I am a firm believer in spending more time collaborating than causing dissension and drama. With every inch of my being I really dislike drama and the inability we can possess to work together for a greater good. I am a constant learner and I am energized by women who are on a mission to leave their footprints on the world.
In the process of sharing my story and empowering you through On the Heels of My Father I wanted to celebrate some of the women I admire and share their stories with you these last few weeks of May.
I want women, who feel defeated by the chapter they are living in their story, to know that God has the power to shift atmospheres. He can change your playgrounds and playmates but you have to be willing to yield, be honest about where you are, and remain faithful about the season changing.
Empower, Uplift, Purpose:
This too shall pass.
This too shall pass.
Heads up, #nomakeup, #noweight, Press On!
Share a time when you felt spiritually abandoned
Last year the saying, “if it ain’t one thing it’s another” was the theme and I kept wondering where God was in the midst of this chaos. Giving up our house, losing a car, behind on bills; I felt like my prayers were stopping at the top of my voice and never penetrating the atmosphere. It’s difficult to see your way out of a situation you are walking through and I honestly couldn’t see beyond that place.
Share a time when you felt broken
Losing my Godmother was a tough moment in my life. She was a mother in every form of the word and an amazing leader. Her passing sent me into 1.5 year mourning; a nightmare I prayed I would wake up from. There are people who I want to live forever and she was one of those people. Some people are so precious and amazing that you know you won’t find their qualities in anyone else and losing her while having that revelation is a moment of brokenness that will stick out in my mind forever.
Share the moment when you discovered your purpose OR the moment you received a revelation of what your purpose might be
In 2009 I would send out daily email messages to encourage people because I saw so many of my peers unhappy with their work week. The feedback I received in that time gave me the revelation that empowering people might be what I’m here for but a few weeks ago (yes a few WEEKS ago) I took a spiritual gifts test and the result of that test confirmed that this is my purpose. I took the concept of removing the makeup/behind the makeup from my first book and launched #nomakeup: The Movement with Hebrews 12:1 as the foundation. #nomakeup is my way of constantly empowering people who are stuck in the past, young women bombarded by images from society who are shaping their identity around what they see, women who are learning as new mothers, growing as wives, the abused, and confused to break the bondage from the “makeup” we wear, hiding our flaws, in order to live the life God wants us to live. I want to increase awareness on the impact witnessing Domestic Violence has on children, get people thinking about what their purpose, not profession, actually is, and to start sharing our stories with one another. I spent years trying to find a job title for all of this, which is what held up the process of this book but when you are walking on the heels of an empowering encounter there aren’t any titles, just a road to obedience whether you feel like you are making an impact or not.
When you are hardest hit how do you motivate yourself to press on?
In On the Heels of My Father I talk about Philippians 3:12-14 as being the verse that pushes me when I refuse to be moved. I read that verse, I inhale, exhale, get in the shower, play my worship music, and pray some ugly cry prayers, and I come out motivated to not go back to that place I was once in but to “strain towards what is ahead.” My son is my other motivation. When I look at him I think about the legacy God calls all of us to leave and when I look in his eyes I’m reminded that I don’t have time to have a pity party with the devil; the motivation comes from my heart.
What have you learned in this season of your life?
In this season I’m learning to be content. In my testimony I talk about how I had this vision of what life should be like by the time you are a wife and mother. It was very skewed and narrow minded and bossy. There were things I told God I would NOT do/live/be when I had a child causing me to step out of His will to live the way I wanted to live and not how He told me to live. I believe that discontentment is what caused my disobedience; packing my bags when I should’ve stayed (Toby Mac). I am constantly dying to flesh because I’m still walking through this situation. Not a thing has changed but my attitude because God is constantly teaching me how to be content.
What advice would you give to those who feel like their story is over?
It’s so easy to think that the next page of your story says The End but that’s just the voice of the enemy trying to kill you off because he has seen what’s next for you. My advice is to think about the life of Job. In Job 42:12 it says, “The Lord blessed the last part of Job’s life even more than the first part.” Because of his faithfulness in how he pursued God his ending was better than his beginning. If God can do it for Job and Tyler Perry (if we need a modern day over comer) He can do it for US. Just believe!
Send me a picture of your favorite pair of heels and let me know why they are your favorite!
All my love,
Caneeka
I can't wait for you to read the stories from the other women I have lined up! I pray hearts and minds are changed through their transparency! Enjoy your day!
Want to share your story?
Want to share your story?
Email me: celleanor@removethemakeup.com
Pre-Order On the Heels of My Father: A Devotional
P.S.
6 years ago I said "I Do" to an amazing chocolate drop named Mr. Miller. He was so amazing that I had to marry him again 11 months later! Whew! I would marry him all over again just to let God know how thankful I am for sending me the one He created just for me.
To my heart, my homie, my lover, my best friend
Happy Anniversary! #51313
"My lover is healthy and tan, the best of ten thousand men.
His head is like the finest gold; his hair wavy and black like a raven.
His eyes are like doves by springs of water. They seem to be bathed in cream and are set like jewels.
His cheeks are like beds of spices; they smell like mounds of perfume. His lips are like lilies flowing with myrrh.
His hands are like gold hinges, filled with jewels. His body is like shiny ivory covered with sapphires.
His legs are like large marble posts, standing on bases of fine gold. He is like a cedar of Lebanon, like the finest of trees.
His mouth is sweet to kiss, and I desire him very much. Yes, daughters of Jerusalem, this is my lover and my friend."
Song of Solomon 5:10-16
P.S.
6 years ago I said "I Do" to an amazing chocolate drop named Mr. Miller. He was so amazing that I had to marry him again 11 months later! Whew! I would marry him all over again just to let God know how thankful I am for sending me the one He created just for me.
To my heart, my homie, my lover, my best friend
Happy Anniversary! #51313
"My lover is healthy and tan, the best of ten thousand men.
His head is like the finest gold; his hair wavy and black like a raven.
His eyes are like doves by springs of water. They seem to be bathed in cream and are set like jewels.
His cheeks are like beds of spices; they smell like mounds of perfume. His lips are like lilies flowing with myrrh.
His hands are like gold hinges, filled with jewels. His body is like shiny ivory covered with sapphires.
His legs are like large marble posts, standing on bases of fine gold. He is like a cedar of Lebanon, like the finest of trees.
His mouth is sweet to kiss, and I desire him very much. Yes, daughters of Jerusalem, this is my lover and my friend."
Song of Solomon 5:10-16
