adjust your crown

I had the great opportunity to attend the Alabama Conference of Social Work with some great people this past week. 

While I learned many things and enjoyed the time with my fellow classmates, one particular moment from the three days of workshops and speakers stood out to me.

 Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2015, Kaitlynn Campbell, came to speak to us. Her story was beautiful and of course brought a few tears to the room. Here is a girl who had been a victim of abuse and had lived in different foster care and group homes. She shared her struggles, her negative attitude, her beautiful and heart-warming story. Please, if you ever get the time, google her and read her story. The basis of her speech was beautiful, because it was guided by the Holy Spirit. In a world where publicly glorifying God is frowned upon, that inspiring young lady stood up in front of over 200 people to share her story and give God the glory for every bit of success in her life. She was a refreshing breath of air to remind everyone to keep their eyes on the One above, through every circumstance. Never forget to give Him the glory. Her story alone will give you chill bumps, but I think it was the overwhelming love and presence of God that entered that room that made me (and many others) cry.

"A Daughter of the King is not known by the CROWN she wears, but the MESSAGE she bears."

 Kaitlynn may have been wearing her Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen crown, but she had a much more admirable crown glowing brightly on her head. She is a daughter of the one true King and the crown that had been bought and paid for was shining radiantly. 

Ladies, who created you? God. YOU are a daughter of the King. While you readjust that crown on the top of your head, do the same to your attitude. You are a woman of God. If things are not going your way, if things are difficult right now, if things just seem to be falling apart, focus your eyes on the Lord. Satan will tell you that you are weak and that there is no hope. He will tell you that you're not good enough and nothing good is going to happen and that you might as well just accept it. God tells you that He is always there. God tells you that you are beautiful and loved. You are so worthy. Do you not feel that overwhelming power of love when you tell yourself that you were created by God? Jason Evert says that "Women are thousands of reminders of the beauty of Heaven." You have a radiant light. You have a pure and glowing soul. You have a gift and a purpose. You are worth more than rubies. You are more than perfect make-up and trendy clothes. YOU are thousands of reminders of the beauty of Heaven. Start acting like it! Start acting like the daughter of the one true King! Adjust your crown, hold your head up, and share His glory in love, tenderness, and faithfulness. This world and your hardships and failures do NOT determine your worth. Your worth comes from above, and it's time to let the world notice that. 

"The Son of God became a man to ENABLE men to become SONS of GOD."

(C.S. Lewis)

Gentlemen, stand tall. Who created you? God. (Can I make the joke about men being the rough draft? Okay okay, fine.) You have a crown too, you know. It has also been bought and paid for by your King. Now, adjust your crown and your attitude as well. Stop moping over your rich and successful dreams, stop obsessing over your perfect six-pack bod, stop thinking you're not good enough because some girl broke your heart. Lean on God and push through the obstacles. You were created to live victoriously. You are a man of God. Start acting like it. Follow God so that you may be the leader. Know God, so that you may know love. You are strong and intelligent.You are valuable and worthy. Be a man of prayer and stand strong in your faith. God took the time to create YOU. There is no other man on this Earth like YOU. Bask in that glory. Thank God. Stand tall. Share your faith, share His glory and His love.

Kaitlynn's world was full of hardships and pain. She persevered with a positive attitude and a mind focused on God. She finished off with a statement: "Just because bad things happen to you does not mean that you have to be a bad person." Just because you are struggling or things are not going right, it does not mean that those obstacles should define you. Your God is for you. It was heart-warming to watch Kaitlynn express that. Ladies and gentlemen, stop focusing on the bad. Shift your focus to things that are above. Focus on the beauty of God and all His beautiful creations and blessings. Now smile. Because YOU were created by Him. Because you are a child of God. Because you are so worthy! Let your heavenly crown radiate with strength, kindness, and prayer.