As a church kid, and now church adult, I’ve heard a LOT about how important it is to be generous, but I have a new perspective on it I’d like to share.

Yes, God loves a cheerful giver and when you give, it’ll be given to you…but what’s your motive? Are you giving just to get? Giving implies letting go, and letting go of anything can cause insecurities to surface.

In this episode, we’re gonna do a hard heart check so we can restore the heart of giving. Welcome to the Safe inSecurity Podcast!

Music: “Safe” by Naomi Raine

As people made in the image of the same God who kicked Satan and all his jealous buddies out of Heaven, we are in a constant war with that sworn enemy. The problem is, we’re doing so much self-sabotage and friendly fire, he hasn’t had to do much to try and defeat us.

In this episode, we’re going to confront the hard truth that our insecurity is helping the enemy win the battle against humanity. Whose side are you on, anyway?!

Music: “Safe” by Naomi Raine

Grief is proof of love. It’s also an expression of gratitude.

It’s saying, I’m grateful for the impact this person’s life had on mine….and I also feel the deficit left by the impact they made when they’re no longer here to fill it. I’m grateful that they gave from what had been given to them.

In this episode, we’re gonna talk about the connection and the collateral beauty of giving, grieving, and gratitude.

*This episode is lovingly dedicated to the memory of my beautiful sister-friend, “Queen” Jamia Newsome-Irons, who loved out loud and shared her many gifts with the world for 36 years. Her impact has left her legacy intact, and she will never be forgotten.

Music: “Safe” by Naomi Raine

What do the words value, evaluate, valor, validate and valedictorian all have in common?

Yup, you guessed it. The Latin prefix “val-” means strength, worth, or health. No wonder people spend their lives chasing validation and proving their value.

Whether we deserve it or not, we all really want the same thing: to be loved, approved of, respected, seen… And whether we deserve it or not, Jesus thought we were worth His life, so He is certainly worth ours.

In this episode, instead of asking the question, “Am I worthy?” we’re going to embrace saying, “I Am is enough.”

Music: “Safe” by Naomi Raine

When insecurity builds the framework for your primary way of thinking, you are constantly in survival mode without even realizing it. You look for rejection that hasn’t even happened yet. You assume that people will assume the worst about you before they even meet you or get to know you.

You jump to the conclusion that it is necessary for you to perform in order to earn approval, accolades, acceptance, affirmation, and admiration, all in a desperate yet vain attempt to fill a hole in your heart that should only be occupied by true love. You shift all your efforts toward pleasing people, even if it means sacrificing purpose.

You weren’t designed to sustain like this. Truth is, rejection hurts, but sometimes, it’s for your own good.

Music: “Safe” by Naomi Raine

They say, “It’s better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. Love is a beautiful exchange and it doesn’t leave just because a person does.” Grief is proof of that love.
Grief allows you to process the pain and find the peace of God that surpasses your emotions in situations you could never understand. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, the Holy Spirit is the best comforter and God who IS love promises to never leave or forsake you, even when people leave this earth. I’m living proof His joy can sustain you even in the toughest of times.
I know the loss was bad, but I’m here to tell you the grief is good.

Music: “Safe” by Naomi Raine

What do you have in your hand? No, seriously what are you holding onto right now? Ok, maybe not literally but think for a moment.

What gifts and talents and skills do you have?

What business idea have you been sitting on? What is that thing that you diminished to being just a hobby that might actually be a whole ministry outreach in seed form?

God didn’t create houses and furniture. He created trees to give us wood so that we could build these things. It’s time to use what He gave us and build.

In this episode, we’re gonna learn how to take inventory!

Music: “Safe” by Naomi Raine

They say, “Know your worth.” What if I feel unworthy?
“Don’t settle for less!” Well, what if less than I deserve is all I have right now?
“You deserve all the best things in life.” But what if I’ve done something bad…like real bad—Michael Jackson bad?
“Be confident in yourself. Believe in yourself. What if I’m not confident in myself because I realize I don’t have what I believe I need to succeed?
“Treat yourself. You deserve it.” So, what happens when I can’t afford to treat myself? And does that mean I get to have a yummy dessert every time I eat or do something healthy? I mean, I guess that method works for training dogs, but humans are a little more complex.
In this episode, we’re gonna discover how to get (or not get) what we really deserve.

Music: “Safe” by Naomi Raine