SUN STAND STILL

Audacious faith is the raw material that authentic Christianity is made of. It’s the stuff that triggers ordinarily level-headed people like you and me to start living with unusual boldness. SF

A while ago I read a Pastor Steven Furicks book Sun Stand Still. This book back then changed my life and view about how I approached God and how much faith that I had in him. So with that said a little over 20 days ago I hunkered down to commit to this internal and external soul searching, Jesus finding journey on the road to 25. I gave up ALL social media except Pintrest and I only watch movies (occasionally) and the news. Lets just say that this quiet time with myself has been the most gut wrenching, exhilarating soul searching 20 days of my life. I've struggled. I've been exposed and most importantly I've been humbled.

Yesterday I completed my vision board for 2014 and on it I focused on some things to help me to grow and expand my faith, intimacy with Christ and a few other markers. As I was magazine searching I kept thinking of a theme for the year. As I do with most things I create themes and make many list and numerous bullets but anywho. While I was thinking and listing I kept coming back to Joshua 10:1-14 as my theme for the year.

In Joshua 10:1-14, We see that the Isrealites unleash a surprise attack on the Amorites, and right from the beginning the battle goes well. But as the sun sinks towards the horizon, General Joshua faces a decision. The victory isn't complete, and once it get's dark, the rest of he Amorites will slip away. Joshua sizes up the situation and delivers one of the most unorthodox prayers in the Bible. He ask God to make the sun to stop in the sky. He literally ask God to freeze time on behalf of his people, and guess what God does!!! He makes the SUN STAND STILL!!! Joshua had audacious faith!! Joshua defeated the Amorites.

Think about it WOW!!!



So as I continue to journey to 25 and as I start 2014 here is my yearly theme.

"If you’re going to pray for God to make the sun standstill, you’d better be ready to march all night. PUSH while you pray" 

I am praying for the humanly impossible and believing that God will provide!!!

What is your theme for 2014?!

Love Peace and Blessings!!!

-Ashley

86 days

“Much of your character is displayed by how gracefully you are able to let go of the things that are not meant for you.” 

There are exactly 86 days 11 hours and a little over 5 minutes until I turn 25. Over 100 days ago I set out on a quest of SELF renewal and guess what I got caught up in SELF. I thought that I would be able to transform myself, transform my being and be the person that I wanted to be in exactly 240 days. But how can I become the person I want to be when our lives and characters are shaped in my opinion by experience, does it mean that my character will stop evolving on February 25, 2014? I hope not. So with that said on day 86 I've learned that I have to let go of the control that I would like to have over my future and trust where God is leading me. In the next 86 days I hope to be at a place  of stronger faith, deeper convictions and the willingness to continue to serve others and love others. I can say that I am realizing the call over my life and my purpose but I am still not where I need to be. I can say that I am growing and Owning who I am. I am becoming more physically fit and capable. 

So we are still completing 25 projects . 

Project 1: Love Letter 
I will be sending out thank letters to a long list of people who have helped me to grow, thanking them for teaching me a lesson that has aided on my development, whether it was a great lesson or a hard lesson, all notes are sent in love. Just think you may receive a "Love Letter" soon.

Stay tuned for Project #2 

xoxo 

Trusting the Process

The hardest feats of my are happening right now. Internally and externally! Journey to 25. I am trusting the process. The video below helped me to get over the hump!
Enjoy Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter.....

http://youtu.be/0snNB1yS3IE

Love you all. In depth Update coming soon xoxo...

Faith over Fear

                                "Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it" -Bill Cosby 

That is my life motto as I submerge myself into different endeavors.  These words come from comedian Bill Cosby, and serve to remind us that we're not willing to truly take important risks until our desire for what we want surpasses the fear of potential failure. 

I have these constant thoughts of what I could accomplish but then I start to compare myself to other people. I doubt myself, encourage others and forget what God has called me to do. This past week I had to attend a week long Residency/Immersion with my cohort. My first class stuck with me the entire time. It challenged my Faith and my fears. It showed me that I was depending on man to validate my calling when my actual calling comes from God and God alone.  For some odd reason I started to equate the validation of a human being with the favor of God. So I took a step back and I told myself that it was time to face facts and fears and press forward to what God has called me to do. 

So with 140 days to go. I am still on this journey to 25. Looking for renewal. Focusing on the future and building this amazing space for children, youth, and adults a like. Stayed tuned. A 5K is on the horizon. 

What fears are eating you alive? How can you overcome them? Lets love each other family. 

Follow me on Twitter @Rethink_ing

Exposed

Romans 2:28-29

28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
New International Version (NIV)



 .....God is more interested in our internal, spiritual condition.  The apostle Paul talks about a “circumcision of the heart”, one that isn't merely “outward and physical” (Romans 2:28-29).  this circumcision involves God cutting away everything in our lives that doesn't bring glory to him.  He will strip away our pride and self reliance.  He is teaching us to trust in him alone. Before we can claim the territory for God that He has promised us, our hearts will have to be circumcised. We have to go under the knife.  We have to choose to take some costly steps of obedience to really follow Christ in audacious faith. the lesson from the circumcision of Joshuas'  generation is equally important but a little more subtle: until you humble yourself and submit your heart to God’s process of renewal, you cant go forward into the next victory He has planned for your life. Before God can bring His promises to pass in your life, He has to strip away all the stuff that keeps you from trusting Him wholeheartedly.  And that stuff is on the inside.  God’s invisible work in you prepares you for His visible works through you. When God comes toward you with the flint knife remember that he’s not out to hurt you.  He’s aligning your desires with his desires so that he can accomplish the impossible in your life.

Steve Furick, Sun Stand Still 

....to be continued

The day I got over myself

This journey is happening. And while I set out trying to be super secretive and all hello self renewal, God had a different plan. Over the past couple of weeks I have struggled with I guess in my head-  rejection. I felt like so called friends had distanced themselves and that people who I had helped along the way had climbed up on the highest horse and forgot about who helped them when they were nobodies (excuse the emotion, I am just telling you how I felt.) So I tried to act like it did not bother me but I now know that it did. I was going through things and I wanted people to fix it for me. And I just couldn't understand why people were not jumping to help Ashley. So I decided to write a letter to God, different yes, but that is how him and I communicate along with prayer and it got me thinking, like man Ashley.  You are so hung up on everything around you and how people are treating or not treating you that you are forgetting who you live for. 

Well then I started listening to some pod-cast about God fixing the Hard things in Me. I eventually listened to a Pod Cast that talked about Set Yourself free from Yourself.. and that mixed with a hard look at my life and how I interacted with other people and how highly I thought about myself I realized that I NEEDED TO GET OVER MYSELF. A phrase that I use all the time is Girl Bye. And I had to say that to myself. I realized that nobody owed me anything and that although I felt like I had given people the world and my time that they wouldn't do the same and that they were not obligated to. I had prayed that I felt that there was a block in my heart and I realized that Bitterness and Resentment are what was blocking my heart and my passion. 

So here I am picking up the pieces and focusing on the call that God has over my life. I am realizing that although I felt like I lived this fantastic life and that although I had the audacity to think that things should be handed to me I realized that I needed only God. And that I needed to humble myself to the cross and serve God holistically and focus on the friendships that I do have and the direction that I am going in. 

What are you struggling with? In what area of your life do you need to be brutally honest with yourself and and how can you do it? Lets talk. 

Peace and Love Family.. 

xoxoxo -Ashley 

Challenge Accepted

Dear Ashley,

Dig Deep. Challenge yourself and make yourself uncomfortable for your art. Do the hard parts on purpose. Have dedication to your craft.

Remember a what Steve Furick said in Sun Stand Still:

"If you're gpoing to ask God to make the sun stand stil, you'd better be ready to march all night. Push while you pray"


The journey has just begun, and I am finding out more about myself than I expected. Not quite ready to put words to it. But they will come. The projects are coming along as well...

Stay Tuned and Join me.

xoxox

It's Happening

So about a month ago I told you all that I would be completing a series of projects leading up to my 25 birthday which is on February 25, 2013. So out of that came many conversations with my sister friends and has resulted in 25 projects for my 25th. This project is still known as Destination 25. Each week I will update the list of projects as I add more on and find people or projects in need. The goal is to grow and expand and to reach new heights of service. The end result will be the Launch of my non-profit Unlimited: "The Power 2 BE" , and my business partners venters with P.U.R.E Concepts and Xpressions. So join me on my journey and look out for a list of projects entailing their details . The first 5 are below. 

1. Complete 25 projects by my 25th birthday

2. Act in Gratitude 

3. It takes a village 

4. Run 500 miles by 2.25.14

5. X'press ya'self 

If you know of anybody who has need or a project that I can possibly assist them with let me know. be sure to follow and spread the word. 

Rethink the impossible. 

Love you all xoxo

Destination 25

I am a big believer that in every thing that we do or set out to do, that there is a lesson to be learned. I sat down and looked at my life a couple of weeks ago. I assessed and thought out things that I have done up until now. And I said man in 6 months I will be 25. Where am I supposed to be going? Just where? Then I realized that I was rushing the product. And not trying to learn from the process. I realized that all of the things that I had said I would have accomplished by the time that I was 25 is either far off or not even on the radar of things that God has called me to do. With that said. I said to myself and my Pooh (BJ) that I wanted to complete a number of activities and projects leading up to my 25th birthday. Service projects, life changes, and overall shifting the product to be that which God has ordained, rather than what I think should happen. So out of all of these thoughts and conversations came "Destination 25"... Now the details are still forth coming. But I will be using Rethinking this platform to share what I encounter on my Journey to 25. Remember Rethinking is about creating and developing a better you. So why not start with myself. So join me darlings on this journey. Be sure to check back for the date and location of events. To find out what I am discovering about myself, and to read the thoughts of others. I am ready.

Ready. Set. Go Ashley Go!!!!!

Xoxoxoxo

Hello Gideon Season

Destiny, Zahir, and Ameerah 3 of my hundreds of children. 

Yesterday.

The end of a 10 year journey. I started working with Philadelphia Freedom Schools in 2005 as a rising HS Junior. I started the program that summer not really knowing what I was getting myself into. But nonetheless I completed that summer with a few bumps, but my passion and calling started to brew. I continued to work with this program through the school year. I realized (well sort of) that I had a gift. What was it exactly? Where was I supposed to be headed. Well at that point I didn't know. I still do not fully know. So as the story goes I continued through the program during high school and college. I move around and up the "ranks" of servant leadership.  I went to and from this program throughout HS and college. Holding the positions of Junior Servant Leader, Fannie Lou Hamer Trainer, Blac Star Scholar, Servant Leader Intern, William Still Trainer, Site Coordinator, Academic Advisor and ending with 2 years as the Program Coordinator. And yesterday I transitioned into a new space, a slightly different atmosphere and I said good bye to my babies, my students, I didn't realize how much they all touched my heart. Yesterday I told them that it wasn't good bye it was a  see you later to them  and to a program that raised me groomed me, and that I am deeply indebted to. I appreciate the experience and the lessons. I cried and laughed a lot with my students and peers. Thank to everyone who has been intrugal in this journe, But a new Journey awaits . Romans 8:28 says And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Thy will be done Lord. Philadelphia Freedom Schools I LOVE YOU. Asè.

ReThink your PASSION!!!!

It Pays Off

Plans of the Heart

      So it seems that I have been stuck since Saturday, Well actually before Saturday in a Creative Rut, Mental Rut. I want to do so much and get some much done that I think that my creative wires are now going berzerk!!! I think about 50 things at a time and I don't know where to start. Today however I look up at my at my wall and read a poster that hangs right above my Computer and it says "God is Sovereign" under it it reads Proverbs 16:1-4:  

The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

 Then I said to myself, that the only way that I can get out of this rut is to trust God and God alone, I talk a lot about having faith in things unseen, you know faith the size of a mustard seed. And I realize, that I am a victim of not practicing what I preach.And that ain't cool! So today I am affirming to have faith in things unseen and trust that the Lord has my best interest at heart and I know that it will come to pass.


More often than not we seem to forget that their is a higher being that will if we so choose to allow, will guide us to the place that we need to be. It is reassuring to know that if I just turn my will over to the Lord and truly ask him to guide my heart my feet and steps than the will of the Lord will show through. So instead of being afraid of things unseen. Use this time to Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it. Refocus the plans of your heart.

What is Rethinking?

Happy Saturday folks! So I realized that as I was sending out my blog post into the universe that I never truly explained what the purpose of this blog was. SOOOO0 here we go. So what is Rethinking? I originally started this blog as a self journey to a better place. I wanted to document that journey. Hence the blog domain name as Journey 2 Right.. As you can see I fell off. I posted sometimes and sometimes I did't, I strayed. And I wasn't disciplined. So I started over about 3 more times before I came to where I am today. I want to use this blog as a way to grow myself and grow my readers. I think that we all are motivated in one way or another by the way that we interact, how we form our thoughts and by what we put out into the world. So let's use this platform as a way to exchange thoughts. We will have a some serious self checks. But the end result will always be to ReThink the process, Rethink your interactions and Fight for what you want. My motto is, "Decide that you want it more than you are afraid it". -Bill Cosby Before you go into something Think and Rethink. It will allow you to grow. So if you ready I am ready. Let's go loves. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @Rethink_ing And Subscribe to this page xoxoxoxo Love you!! -Ashley

Black Men Thank You

This picture of Morehouse graduates drenched in rain [during their graduation ceremony] this year has surprisingly caused quite a stir. Many are saying it's indicative of Morehouse not having the money or common decency to implement a rain plan. If you see that when you look at this picture, I'm going to politely take the liberty to call you a cynic. To me this picture symbolizes the journey that so many black men endure everyday of their lives as they face countless obstacles yet continue to pursue success with unwavering determination. It is cynical to ignore the fortitude and thirst for knowledge in these men's eyes for an opportunity to knock/shade/read Morehouse. Rain can't stop the House, & life's obstacles won't stop these men. - Kia Speaks

FYI: Grads from major universities are soaked like this all the time with no controversy.

Well said Kia. Black Men I thank you, I appreciate you. You are wonderful. 

Is there a Power in Pausing?

"Pausing allows you to take a beat - to take a breath in your life. As everybody else is rushing around like a lunatic out there, I dare you to do the opposite." -Maria Shriver

In a world where we are always connected, through social media, texting and constant cell phone usage. It seems to always be a race to be next, to be first, to be new. Everybody wants to be different. To win. Tis the season of graduation. And people are reflecting and processing and asking themselves "What am I gonna do?" And somehow someway you are trying to find the answer. And just when you begin to find the answer you realize that everybody is on to the next thing. Rushing to the next big phenom. It gets to the point to the point where you are constantly rushing to the next thing. This happens and then you realize that you are not enjoying what you are doing Now. So you get overwhelmed or depressed because you cannot answer the question for people or for yourself. Trust me I have been there. But like Maria Shriver said "Pausing allows you to take a beat - take breath"..... We always hear that we should enjoy the moment. But you really should. ReThink your day to day activities. ReThink how you approach opportunites. ReThink how you communicate, how often it takes place, and what you can do to use communication as a change agent. ReThink how life happens around you. Pause enough to take time to find out what's important to you, and what's important to the world around you, Pause enough to care about the world around you, Pause enough to love endlessly and unconditionally. Pause enough to care of each other.

 ReThink a little it just may help.

Peace and Love. XOXOXO

Hello Monday.

Good Morning Dudes and Dolls!

Happy Monday. I hope that your weekend was swell. Mine was eventful. I renewed friendships. Rethought some things and as always refocused my energy into a positive space. What is going on in your life? What do you need to renew this week. Where do you need to start over? Begin this week renewing your vows to yourself. Mondays don't have to be a headache. They can surely become a beautiful journey. Just take it as a new beginning. Peace Love and Happiness. 


To change one's life:  Start immediately.  Do it flamboyantly.  No exceptions.  ~William James
xoxoxo 

-Ashley 

Chart your own Course

I just want to pause for a moment on the word 'invent' because the phrase isn't 'succeed in the future,' it's not 'plan for the future' or 'do the best you can in the future.' It's 'invent the future.' And with those three words comes a simple message: a call to chart your own course and live life on your own terms... In the end, it's up to each of us to define ourselves. It's up to each of us to invent our own future with the choices we make and the actions we take.

- Michelle Obama 

Let's Eat

Don't feel entitled to anything you didn't sweat and struggle for.

Marian Wright Edelman

Work Hard people. Things are not handed to us. A lesson that I am learning. Work for it, sweat for it, cry for it. Just GET IT DONE. 

xoxo (Short post) 
Love you all

ReThink[ing] MYSELF

Good Morning Dudes and Dolls,

So I have been a huge hiatus. Kind of an Eat, Pray, Love type of stent. And guess what. I ate WAY too much. I have found the love of my life and I am digging deeper in my relationship with Christ to be able to live the greater life that God wants me to live. So as I was gearing up to "spring into action" and begin to write again I said hmmm. How can I charge people and ask people to rethink their lifestyles, when I just completed my own ReThinking Process. So this post just serves to show you my recommitment to you all to help you not only Rethink yourself but also Rethink different issues to weigh in on different topics and possibly help us all to Rethink everyday issues, topics and concerns. So I am beginning to REshape Rethink[ing] and I hope that you all will be along for the journey as we add to our little family. Thank you for your commitment thus far.

Our theme for this year will be "Decide that you want it more, than you are afraid of it" -Bill Cosby

Lets Go!!!

xoxo

.Session