Faith without Good Works...

…faith by itself is dead

if it doesn't cause you to do any good things

(James 2:17)

I am so glad that February is over. Within my circle of friends, it seems to be the peak to seasonal affective disorder (SAD), where otherwise high functioning, productive leaders fall into this funk about the current state of their lives. Perhaps it is the lack of sunlight or the inclement weather that zaps the energy, leaving self reflective time to feel sad. To prevent myself from having the winter blues, I purposely use the inside time to journal about where I am and what I plan to do (when the weather breaks) to reach my goals.

Every product or practice began as a thought. I remember when I started to have serious thoughts of leaving my corporate job. It was during a period of the frustration when my natural work did not feed my passion. I thought about an exercise that I learned at a leadership conference. The attendees were asked to consider the following questions:  

What drives you?

What disturbs you?

What do you disturb? 

Your passion and purposed work should reflect what triggers you to want to do good things.

Wanting to do good works is a first step that must be followed up by actions that demonstrate wanting and planning to achieve the goal. It is natural to become overwhelmed with the details of how and when, or the doubts of fear or failure. That’s why drive and passion so important in a faith journey. In the words of Margaret Shepard: sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith. Keep pushing to move forward.



Image selected from the “Because of Them, We Can” Campaign
http://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/

So it is March and I have shifted into consultant mode. When my friends call and the conversation feels depressive, I turn into a coach: What drives you? What disturbs you? What do you disturb? Stop thinking about and do something. You will never get past the sadness of not living on purpose. What are you claiming by faith and working to achieve in good deeds? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.

 

 

Strength for Good Works

I will lift my eyes to the hills,

from which comes my help and strength…

(Psalm 121:1)

http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/. 

For all who have emailed or asked about the status of the Purposed Work blog, let me assure you: I’M BACK!!! My lived experience is that it takes a solid year to adjust to a new community. In trying to balance the requirements of being a working wife and mother, a business owner, and a blogger, something had to give. Temporarily, I made the decision to use the time committed to the maintaining a blog to making sure that the needs of my family were exceeded. All is well and I am back with a renewed commitment to using this platform to advocate for workforce readiness for careers in industrial manufacturing.

In taking care of my family, I also took a little time to focus on me. It is no coincidence that I chose today to begin blogging again. Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary since my last post; while today, I pay homage to Whitney Houston, whose song became one of my anthems during the period of rediscovery:

 

I didn't know my own strength

And I crashed down and I tumbled but I did not crumble

I got through all the pain

I didn't know my own strength

Survived my darkest hour, my faith kept me alive

I picked myself back up, hold my head up high

I was not built to break

I didn't know my own strength

My strength grew from a personal experience with mercy, which I heard described as the outward ability to deal with pain. Pain comes in different forms. My pain came through trying to force a fit in a community that was not ready to embrace the type of works in which we advocate. No worries… stepping outside our comfort zone, or in this case, across a county line, we found the audience and market needed to grow where we are planted, in order to educate and prepare young people for careers in manufacturing.

For the past year, I rediscovered the source of my strength. Sometimes, temporarily stepping away from something you enjoy frees you up to rediscover what you are purposed to do. Expect to see more information shared, not simply about career options, but more specifically, who’s hiring and how to get the skills need to qualify for those jobs. Do you want to pass on information about industrial manufacturing activities in the area? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.

 http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/whitneyhouston/ididntknowmyownstrength.html

Grateful for Good Works

Offer thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High

(Psalm 50:14)

Last week, we participated in two business expos. After fielding questions about concrete, grout, structural steel specifications, bonding capacity, and a strange yet appropriate concern for this region, the availability and reliability of drivers to meet material delivery schedules on already time-crunched projects, I was exhausted. Selling your goods and services while standing without the support of anti-fatigue mats for hours each day takes a lot of physical dexterity. I started to complain about my feet hurting; and then I was reminded of the old saying: I used to complain that I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet. Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity to participate in these small business expos.

I am grateful for industry organizations who continue to advocate for small and disadvantaged businesses to become sub-contractors in large, multi-year projects. As small business owners, it is sometimes difficult to keep track of bid opportunities, so it is wonderful to have agencies working tirelessly to match prime vendors gaps with those of businesses available to fill niche needs. We have to vow to faithfully and actively participate in these networking venues to demonstrate to potential primes our desire to take on larger projects.

I am grateful for business partners and staff who continue to support and sow, not only in the work we have today, but also toward future good works. As small business owners, it is easy to be so focused on short-term metrics, resting on current performance and resource requirements. We have to remind ourselves that obedience is better than sacrifice, that networking is a requirement for getting the word out to potential primes about our value-added contributions toward reducing labor, time, and project cost constraints.

I am grateful for other small businesses who continue to mentor and pay-it-forward by recommending bundling and joint-venture proposals. As small business owners, it is possible to impose self-inflicted limitations on growth, thinking solely of our own capacity. We have to be committed and wise to the possibilities of synergies created from combining our resources to present to potential primes a turnkey solution, instead of our individual crafts.

It took an expo to remind me that instead of thinking about what we do not have in our business to offer thanksgiving and praise for what we do have. Through all of the trials and tribulations that we have faced in operating this business, we are still here, and for that, I am eternally grateful. I have witnessed a personal increase in faith as I remain committed to do the works I have been purposed to do. Though grace, I have witnessed the possibilities become realities when the focus is less about me and more about the collective we. I am grateful to the combined efforts and supplication of small business owners. What are you most grateful for in your purposed works? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.

Unseen Good Works

Blessed are those who have not seen

 and yet have believed

(John 20:29)

At last year’s Women in Manufacturing Summit, I learned about the “Dream It, Do It” initiative. This is a program launched by The Manufacturing Institute that “offers local manufacturers, schools, community-based organizations and other stakeholders the opportunity to partner with a respected national platform to promote manufacturing as a top tier career choice in the United States.” Recognizing that every region is different, the DI-DI program advances a national standardized brand that can be customized to fit the needs of the local workforce. As a follow up, I was pleased to see that in August 2013, my home state of Arkansas signed on as the 23^rd member as an avenue to address the growing skills shortage across our great state. To learn more about the national Dream It, Do It initiative, please visit http://www.themanufacturinginstitute.org/Image/Dream-It-Do-It/Dream-It-Do-It.aspx

The state of Connecticut has identified a need for more machinists, assemblers, and CNC tool operators. To gain the attention of future of engineers and innovators, and to leverage the state’s DI-DI program, October was deemed as “Manufacturing Month” to introduce middle school aged students to future careers in manufacturing. At featured events, students were given hands on opportunities to experience additive manufacturing, cutting tools, and 3-D printers. Grace Sawyer Jones, president of the local community college shared that one way to increase awareness is by exposing students to potential careers as early as possible. “It’s by having students who are looking to these fields long before they come to college. And more importantly,  the manufacturing businesses are here (in CT). Those are the parts that you bring together early in their lives, so they really have a realization of the possibilities.” To read more about the Connecticut manufacturing event, please click on http://wnpr.org/post/manufacturing-event-targets-future-workforce-connecticut-made-products?goback=%2Egde_4239561_member_5800678290263916544#%21

As an advocate for careers in manufacturing, I agree that we have to introduce the next generation of workers to the possibilities of sustainable jobs as early as possible. Many kids are not aware of the products that are machined or assembled locally. More importantly, as adults, business owners, and community leaders, we should begin to challenge these young innovators to consider the unseen good works, potential products that could be assembled and manufactured in the future from local resources. We should not limit our or their focus to the types of manufacturing that we see today, instead testing their abilities to develop solutions without the benefit of tangible proof from current technology. That’s what engineering and innovation and the next generation of job creation in manufacturing is all about: believing in what we have not seen and yet have believed to be possible. How are you engaging young people in your community to Dream It, Do It, to ignite their purposed work? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.

Walking in Good Works

Whether you turn left or right,

you will hear a voice saying

this is the way, walk in it

(Isaiah 30:21)

Kenny Rogers is famous for singing: You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away and know when to run. Have you ever been in a situation (work, church, or community service) where the mission of the organization no longer aligned with your personal beliefs? What do you do? Do you stay, because it’s comfortable? Or do you walk away, because the experience no longer has purpose in your destiny?

I have come to a place in my spiritual journey where I have to question the value of some relationships. As a self-proclaimed math geek, I like order of operations and try to apply the same principle to life: The people on your path to destiny should add and multiply to your efforts of good works, not subtract and divide. Some people have power, that in the natural, may appear to have the ability to help you to reach your destination quicker, but I am reminded that we should not put our trust in man. By faith, I am listening for the still small voice for guidance on the walking the right way.

In the natural, I think about all of the time and energy I have invested. Or I wonder what others will say about me. Or in the case of a business deal, I am fiscally aware of how much walking away will cost me. By divine intervention, I am reminded of the story of the king who hired troops from a foreign land to fight his battle, but was commanded not to use the army whose services he had already paid a price. The king’s obedience to the spirit was rewarded by victory. Simply put, obedience is better than sacrifice.

This is the way, walk in it. Grace and favor will guide you through various right and left turns that eventually lead to your destiny. When you have doubts about a relationship or a situation, let your conscience be your guide. Stick to what you feel from the spirit. This is not the time to start navigating by someone else's maps or expectations -- you could get lost.

Walking by faith means learning to trust in God, in spite of how it looks to others. Everyone has his or her own spiritual journey, so no one else can truly understand what you are experiencing. Sometimes people and situations shift and you will know when to hold ‘em or when to walk away. Instead of making an emotional decision, try listening for that spiritual voice saying this is the way, walk in it. How do you decide who is adding and multiplying your efforts toward your purposed work? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.

Due Season of Good Works

And let us not grow weary of doing good works,

for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

(Galatians 6:9)

I can always tell when it is harvest season in Stuttgart. The whole town is busy with work. When I talk to anyone from home, somewhere in the conversation is a proclamation that Producers or one of the other mills is hiring. Though sometimes seasonal, there are employment opportunities for any one desiring to work.

I had two good aha moments of due season yesterday—first, when one of my cousins text me a picture of herself, clad in her Riceland uniform (so Vidia, if you read this, you share responsibility for bringing me out of my funk). Secondly, I was sitting in the airport, killing time between flights, when I saw a random picture of my late father-in-law in my Facebook newsfeed, reminding me that if I am still here, He has plans / work for me to do. I have been in a mood lately, tired and frustrated that work activities are not moving as fast or in the direction that I would like.  And that is when it hit me: do not grow weary of doing good works, for in due season, you will reap, if you do not give up. Keep pushing and stay in the race.

Everything happens in due season. I am in a pruning season currently. I do not profess to be a farmer, but spiritually I understand the process: He is cutting off every branch in me that bears no fruit. Meanwhile every branch that does bear fruit, He is pruning so that each one will be even more fruitful (John 15:2). This is an uncomfortable season, but it is necessary for years of continual blossom. I am having some natural experiences that I never would have imagined in my life. However, through faith and grace, I trust the process for gaining peace, wisdom, and understanding. I recognize that I am frustrated because things are not working according to my plans and where I think I should be at this point on this journey. However, I realize that God is breaking down my personal strongholds and perfecting me to do His work and to receive His glory.

Just as Stuttgart experiences every year, in due season, the harvest will come and the crop will be plentiful. It is natural to get tired, but the key is keep working and running. The race is not given to the swift, but to the one who endures. What do you do to keep from growing weary while waiting on your good works to bear fruit? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.

Numbers of Good Works

…You have given him dominion over the good works of your hands…

(Psalm 8:6)

The job numbers were announced this week. In August 2013, 169,000 total jobs were added and unemployment fell to 7.3%. Specific to manufacturing, the Institute for Supply Management reported the fastest factory expansion index rate since June 2011. It sounded like positive news, until I saw this graph, illustrating that 6 million manufacturing jobs were lost in the United States between 2000 and 2009:

 

There is a lot of talk of a resurgence in manufacturing, but is it realistic to think that the US can return to pre-2000 employment numbers in industrial manufacturing?
 

As I pondered about the return of manufacturing jobs, the first thought that came to mind: with man, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. I thought of the story of Peter and his efforts to catch fish, resulting in literally nothing for hours. But with one touch, suddenly a divine intervention of time, place, and a mass of fish, allowed Peter to exercise his faith and obedience, by putting down his net, and receiving his reward for his service. If God performed that miracle for fishermen, He can do the same for manufacturing.

I live in the Energy Capital of the world. Pre-2000, one of primary deterrents of operating an industrial manufacturing factory was energy costs. Fast forward to 2012, and this region has started to gear up its construction efforts to produce more shale gas, natural gas, or heavy oil into usable products. The petrochemical industry in this area is booming and I can see the positive trends falling over into other areas of manufacturing: steelmakers, pipe and tube manufacturers, concrete accessories, and glass manufacturers. In fact, a recent IHS study confirms that manufacturing related to producing unconventional oil and gas will support over 500k jobs (or 4.2% of all manufacturing jobs) by 2025. To read the entire study, visit http://www.ihs.com/info/ecc/a/americas-new-energy-future-report-vol-3.aspx.

With the 500k jobs forecasted to produce oil and natural gas, there is still the matter of where will the remaining 5.5 million job derive. To be honest, many jobs will not come back. A significant portion of the jobs losses in the United States were due to productivity improvements in manufacturing. Larger companies who have invested in automation and robots are able to do more with less, freeing up resources to focus on more value-added activities like research and development. The goal is to innovate the next generation of industrial goods and services needed by the global economy. On the other hand, this effort to innovate is also in process locally, among smaller companies and communities.

I began this post questioning whether or not the United States could ever return to pre-2000 employment numbers in industrial manufacturing. Six million jobs is a large gap to close. As believers, we have to place our faith in The One who has dominion over the good works of our hands. We have to invest our efforts, time, and talent until we are commanded to cast down our nets to receive work that He has purposed for us to do. Feel free to comment about your thoughts on the return of manufacturing jobs, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.

Promotion for Good Works

…promotion does not come from man.

It is God who judges…

(Psalm 75:6-7)

It’s back-to-school season. We registered our son for the new year and realized that our family is entering a new season, with a higher level of expectancy. Middle School is a lot different than elementary school. Our first reality check came when we saw his class schedule. In 7^th grade, his courses include pre-algebra, conversation Spanish, robotics, and athletics. Initially, it looked like a heavy load, but after consideration, we realized that this was a reward for all of the previous hard work and efforts. He has been prepared for the new challenges. In other words, he has been promoted.

 

Promotion is defined as advancing to a higher level. Back in school, we learned via a pre-determined process. Our math teachers always reminded us to show our work, that way, there was a record to see errors in our efforts (for correction purposes). We became obedient to following the process in the given examples, and over time, we learned the material. Our reward was promotion to the next challenge, the next course, or the next grade.

 

Promotion, in life, follows a similar process. Remember all of those previous tests and trials? That served to prepare us for our pre-destined purpose, that painful suffering is where glory is revealed. Remember all of that praying about how to solve a problem? That served to remind us to place our burdens at the altar, that He opposes the proud but gives grace and wisdom to the humble. Remember all of the pressing ahead when there seemed no way? That served to remind us of our faith, that all things work for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. Remember that praising when we passed the test? That served to remind us to trust in His process, that He who has begun a good work in us shall perfect it. Promotion for our good works requires us to pray, to press ahead, and to offer praise. In other words, in mathematical expression:

Promotion = Prayer + Pressing + Praise

 

At the beginning of the school year, our pastor reminds us of our responsibilities as parents: Raise your children in the church house, so that they can do well in the schoolhouse, never have to visit a courthouse, and one day, will invite you to their house (J. R. Adolph).  God will never give you a heavier load than you can bear. He gives you challenges to prepare you for your purposed work. What are you doing to prepare yourself or your children for the challenges and responsibilities that come with promotion to a higher level in life? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.

The Gift of Good Works

A person's gift opens doors for him,

bringing him access to important people.

(Proverbs 18:16)

Do you know the origins of the modern day handshake? I cannot say for certain, but all indications are that the gesture dates back to ancient times. One explanation is that in historic times, an outstretched handshake signaled that neither participant was carrying a weapon. In other words, I come in peace, to do you no harm. I started thinking about handshakes yesterday as I participated in a business development meeting and wondered how I gained access to the audience and the people in the room.

In my head, I hear the words: You were born with grace. That grace is your gift, a divine enablement that gives you confidence to do the work you are purposed to do. So, I sit in these meetings with companies that are much larger than Latrobe, who have more resources, yet I have no trouble communicating what we bring to the table. One of the exercises in the business development accelerator is to be able to visualize, write, and articulate the future state of your business three years from now. In other words, I have access to this audience, not because of who I am today, but because of what we are being prepared for…GREATER WORKS!!!

 

I used to be afraid to share my vision with others, thinking that someone might steal my idea and implement it before I could. As I learn more about grace, I realize that because my talents are enabled from On High, I do not have to worry because what God has for me is for me. My gift works only for me. Sharing the vision demonstrates confidence that I trust and believe what God He is doing through me. And when people see my confidence, they want to help. My divine gift, what I was purposed to accomplish, opens doors for me and allows me to meet the people who are pre-destined to enable these good works.

I have been graced to have audiences with influential people to discuss our vision for educating and training through workforce readiness initiatives. These are the decision makers who have expressed a need to fill manufacturing or industrial jobs, either today or in the near future, and have the ability to hire. We agree on the next set of shared deliverables and expectations and we shake hands, signaling that we are not carrying weapons (or competing). In this instance, concerns of harm are replaced with a shared desire to help both companies succeed and to improve employment conditions in our community.

Each of us has a gift or a talent that was divinely designed for His purpose. I challenge you to work your gift, operate in your grace, and watch it manifest into good works. What is your gift? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.

Stress-Free Good Works

In all things, show yourself to be an example of good works.

In your teaching, show integrity, dignity, and sincerity.

(Titus 2:7)

Every weekend in July has been committed to reunions of sorts. We have invitations to gather with family, classmates, community, and friends to celebrate. There was a time in our lives when we would limit such interactions, claiming that we were too busy or coming up with some excuse. However, now we are at a point in our lives where we recognize the importance of celebrating and making sure our son knows his village.

One of the things that I hear most from family and friends is how relaxed I appear. I will be the first to admit that since I left corporate America, I have a sense of peace and purpose that I did not experience in my former work. The pressure to live up to a standard model of success that was never meant for me took a toll on me physically. I laughed when I did a search for studies and articles to support this post and found titles such as “how women experience stress: what the research tells us about feeling anxious or sad,” “chronic stress linked to health problems for middle-aged women,” “stressful jobs could leave women unlucky in love,” and my favorite: “stress decreases attractiveness in women’s faces!" Really? So I am happy to tell my story of being graced to focus on my purposed work, which has allowed me to release stress and to start living my life like it’s golden! Ain’t it funny that the way you feel shows on your face…no reunion is complete without timeless EWF music. I dare you to listen to this song and hold on to stress or sadness (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiMH6MegYEY)

There are a lot of triggers of stress in the workplace. I started to exhibit signs of stress when I knew it was time to step into the work that I was purposed to do, although I was not committed to do the work. I was doing a job that had a lot of man-made and self-inflicted deadlines, except it had nothing to do with my destiny. When I accepted that all things work for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose, I realized that all of my experiences had prepared me to walk by faith and focus on my good works. Since then, I have a different kind of worry, save I have peace that the work is from the heart, sincere. More importantly, I found balance to relax and celebrate the good times.

Stress is a natural part of life. Sometimes, its purpose is to trigger a need for a change. Can you identify the stressors that you need to release in order to focus on your purposed work and your personal race? Remember, stress bears no remedy for the problems in your life, so while you’re running your race, keep a smiling face! If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.

Remembering Your Good Works

Though your beginning was small,

your latter will be greater…

(Job 8:7)

Our college advisor used to remind my sorority sisters to “remember from whence you came.” I gave Dr. Clark credit for this nugget of wisdom until I read a James Baldwin inspirational quote: Know from whence you came. If you know whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go!

Bishop Jakes has a sermon about saving the scraps. The story is taken from the miracle of feeding 5000 and collecting the twelve scrap baskets of leftover bread and fish (Mark 6:42-52). The morale of the sermon is that the scraps are not to be eaten on the boat, but to remind you that when you are in the middle of a storm, of what your God can do, as evidenced by the previous miracles. It took me a moment to understand this message, or to slow down to remember some previous times He made a way for me go and grow. Every step in life has a purpose and requires you to go through The Process.

I have been in business for myself for three years now. The other day, I saw an old check stub from my days in corporate America. I had a momentary thought that maybe it would be easier to just go back to working for someone else. However, I remembered the leftover scraps of imbalance in my purpose of being a good wife and mom and in fulfilling my purposed work. Then I remembered how far we have come in three years. Yes, we are small today, but because of God’s grace, we have made remarkable progress and have accomplished more others gave us credit for being able to achieve. I stand on the promise that eye has not seen, nor ear heard, what God has prepared for them that love Him. By remembering from whence I came, I have the confidence to wait patiently and go through The Process.

I have a box that I call my treasure chest where I keep pictures and small mementos of my life’s journey. All of the memories are not happy, but they are keepsakes that remind me that even with life’s obstacles, I'M STILL HERE, so I am victorious. Someone once asked me why I hold on to some thoughts and trinkets from the past and the answer is simple: when I get to a place in my present when life feels heavy, I can go to my treasure chest and pull out a past reminder of something that I thought was the best, or even the worst, and remember from whence I came and know that my latter will be greater on my journey to good works.

I have a treasure chest of remarkable gems that I go to when I need inspiration for the work I am purposed to do. What do you use to remember how far you have come on your journey toward fulfilling your purposed work? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.

Greater Works

…whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing,

and they will do even greater works than these…

(John 14:12)

 

I have a confession. Remember Ally McBeal and her theme songs? Well not only do I have theme songs, I have theme words flowing through my spirit. In the past, my theme words simply defined my then phase of maturation: healed, delivered, sowed, harvest, released. However, now, I am in a season where my theme word is an adjective: GREATER!!!

I used to work for a manufacturing company whose mission statement, vision statement, and quality policy were all one and the same: More. Better. Faster. Three small words that drove every organizational decision related to processes and products. The entire organization was aligned to those three words and was inspired to delivering, thus providing the drive to propel the company to become the global market leader.

That experience reminds me of current season. I suddenly have renewed energy for doing the work I have been graced to do. And in true form, as I accept my mission, I am constantly bombarded with subtle and overt reminders of GREATER: Greater Mt. Corinth MBC, Greater Port Arthur COC, greater trials, greater pressures, greater successes. And my current theme song that resonates with my theme word is titled GREATER and contains these lyrics: if it had not been for the pressing, I would have never been able to walk into my destiny. He's preparing me for GREATER!

My definition of greater is having more influence, or reach, than I ever imagined. God never gives me an assignment without showing me His provision for completion. I asked Him to enlarge my territory and to grant me favor to be a blessing to others. Three ways that He's proven Himself in this prayer include:

GREATER Reach...Through the blog, I have opened up to sharing my experiences and journey of walking by faith. I am amazed at the people who are following, watching, and deciding, if He’s doing it for you, He’ll do it for me too. I am humbled by emails from people around the world thanking me for sharing and asking questions about the process.

GREATER Vision...Through the target audience for my work, I have learned that women are not the only population who should consider careers in manufacturing--that we really need to educate young people in general about the possibilities if we are going to be prepared for the future. And when He says do not worry about what to say or how to say it, I cannot explain how we have been able to get audiences with some influential people to discuss our vision for educating and training through workforce readiness initiatives.

GREATER Faith...Through the sharing of my testimony, I have gained greater confidence in knowing that through Him, I can accomplish more than I ever imagined possible. When I look back on everything that has happened in my life and on this journey of faith, I can genuinely appreciate all of the pressing and preparations to be blessed to walk into my destiny. By faith, I believe that GREATER WORKS are coming!

Now that I have shared my theme song and my theme word for this season, I invite you to share yours. What word or song is resonating in your spirit and inspiring you to do the work that you have been commissioned to do? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions on manufacturing and economic diversity, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.