Being Series : Being Dara

Hello and welcome to the first edition of my new series entitled 'Being' and for today's post, featuring none other than myself is called BEING DARA. I'm really excited for what's to come from all the amazing guest writer's and I hope you are too, so please stick around and prepare to be inspired and encouraged by myself and the upcoming features into being the best version of you!

Now let's cut to the chase....Who is Dara? some may say 'one girl on insta' (God forbid I get referred to as such LOL) But in all seriousness, some may truly wonder who I am? and if being asked that question yourself who would you say you are? Many times we just refer to our job titles as if that's all that makes us up.

*rolls eyes* Whyyyyy everytime I'm trying to do something positive, the enemy rears his ugly head? (rhetorical question, because I know why) I literally just shed a quick tear because all of a sudden during me typing this up, I felt overwhelmed and contemplated cancelling this entire series or postponing it at the very least because I just felt TIRED. But after a deep breath and a renewal of mind through the word of God, I'm going to start by reintroducing myself first and foremost as:

Dara The Daughter of a King

The flesh is weak indeed because I intended to end the post with speaking on my faith last, in a bid to not bore anyone and my bounce rate getting scattered. But the only thing getting scattered right now is the plans of the enemy! Because God comes first G.O.E baby! (God Over Everything ). As a child of God and coming into the faith in 2009 when I was first baptised, the journey has not been without hiccups as some of you may know from purchasing and reading my book SEVENTY: A Work in Progress, yet He has become my focal point and the secure foundation that I build upon. Christ is the reason I am able to balance the many hats I wear. He is the reason I am able to be productive in all areas of my life and truly call myself a Christian because CHRIST - DWELLS - IN- ME. Being a Christian is more than referring to yourself as one, it's more than ticking the register at church and taking up a seat, its even more than knowing the scripture off heart in KJV, NKJV, AMP or NIV. The word must become flesh.You should be a doer and not just a hearer of the word. Fruits must be produced. Your lifestyle should be one that subconsciously and consciously evangelises because of that sparkling light that oozes through us from The Father. Without Christ being my EVERYTHING and the way in which I will surely by His grace enter heaven, I could not be productive with a divine purpose or do anything that glorifies His name. I use the term divine as my purpose comes from God. I am not here to just be a wife, pay bills, dress well and pursue dreams then die. I must harvest souls for the Kingdom.As I try to round up this segment, the newest addition to our growing family is screaming for milk. Which leads me to introduce you to....

Dara The Mother

In the intro to the series, I mentioned that the purpose is to encourage the audience to be productive and fruitful in all areas of life. So you may wonder, what does being a mother have to do with being productive? or perhaps think isn't bringing children into the world productive because our reproductive organs are used? or furthermore, seeing that the first command to man was to be fruitful and multiply meant have children - Whilst the former is true, this isn't the angle I am coming from. I became a mother for the first time just over 5 years ago and for the second time 4months ago (I know I know, the snapback is decent still lol) A task, I must say if I'm being honest, but one I have been given the grace to do without pulling out my hair - and if I share a little too much info, my hairline decided to vacate the premises off the back of my last pregnancy *huff* May the Lord restore that which is lost in Jesus name Amen! lol. Being a mother has helped me to grow in patience and in love and is a role that has challenged my productivity....

Productivity, where it concerns parenting that, is. With Christ being the foundation of our family, we refer to the word as the standard by which we raise our children. The Bible encourages us to raise godly offspring (Malachi 2:15). So for us to be productive as parents and yield a positive increase, we must direct our children in the way of the Lord with direct intent so when they are old they will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6) It is clear as day, the direction this world is heading in, so the absolute best we can give to our children is Jesus. In that way they will walk out their own path of salvation, they will know their identity is in Christ and not what this world may try to label them as, how much they are truly loved by God and how to put on the full armour of God to withstand the wiles of the enemy!(Ephesians 6:11) and when the day comes when they leave this earth at the appointed time their names be surely written in the book of life. Speaking of books and writing, let me move on to the next hat that I wear....

Dara The Self-Published Author

Me...an author....I'm still waiting for that one to sink in to be honest as it was never in my plans to be a writer. EVER.Instead, I just wanted to be married, with children and be an established designer by the time I was 30. But there I was sitting with a mic in my hand, within an intimate setting in the Hoxton Hotel, launching my first book to an audience of friends, family and strangers alike! It still amazes me to this day that people were and still are supporting this unplanned (by me) but ordained by God venture. The fact that I managed to self-publish and go GLOBAL in the first 24hrs is a testimony in itself because the journey was not easy. It took me the best part of a year, zero funds in the budget and yelling 'Kim Kardashian' down the phone to the couriers (the juice is in book two) to bring about this beautifully packaged power packed body of work, that physical bombs couldn't stop! (and I mean literally, as my shipment was delayed because of a bomb going off in the airport) NO WEAPON formed against me (or my testimony) will prosper (Isaiah 54:17) Nevertheless, now at the tender age of 31, I can say I have been greatly BLESSED because two out of three ain't bad where it concerns the goals I had pre 30. I am so thankful to God for taking me through that wilderness experience that birthed my STORY and even more so for the GRACE to be obedient with the instruction to write my book in the first place. There are miracles on the side of obedience because lives have been transformed and hearts turned back to God. Those who had no faith before, now seek the face of the one true living God, many have blown the dust off their Bibles and rekindled their love for CHRIST and it warms my heart! I have seen nothing but FRUITFULNESS off the back of this and it's all to the glory of God. There isn't an ounce of credit I can take from it.

My advice to you all, now that you have read through three small parts of my being is to trust in God. Lay your plans and desires at His feet and He will surely cause you to be productive with purpose in all area's of your life! Your time, efforts or money will not be wasted when all is in the hands of the Almighty. Trust me when I say this (because I have been there), you can be doing everything you deem right in business, your plan can be watertight and funds readily available to take your career to the highest heights. Maybe you feel it's not important for your children to know God or they are too young to be introduced right now. You may be thinking all is well with you whilst whizzing through your to-do-list ticking everything off, but if none of it is inline with your God-given purpose what does it amount to? If God has called you and said go right but your map says left and you choose the latter you will find yourself hitting a brick wall or right off the edge of a cliff because if I keep it super real with you disobedience leads to death (James 1:14-15) You were perfectly woven together by the GREATEST unmatched artisan who wants to give you life! So in your daily activities and plans to be productive put Jesus at the top of the list!

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

- Matthew 6:33

Holy Bible KJV: WHSmith

Book (Seventy)lol: YOU CAN BUY THAT HERE

Sunglasses: Primark

Blazer: Zara

Trousers: Zara

T-shirt: H&M