It’s Leap Year! How Will You Spend Your Bonus Day?

Leap Year always affords us an additional 24 hours. We should not take that for granted. Let’s face it, we won’t see this again until another four years. So here are some tips about how we can spend this time wisely. Let me know what you choose!

HAVE THAT CONVERSATION

It’s easy to avoid a difficult situation or a misunderstanding. The short lived comfort is that walking away prevents the immediate stress. The long term problem is that avoidance only makes matters worse. Decide to confront the hard things that may feel uncomfortable but very necessary for growth.

TAKE A WALK

Walking is a great form of exercise. It’s known to be heart healthy, reduces blood glucose levels and eases joint pain. Walking also reduces stress, increases creativity and improves your mood. Whether it’s in the gym or a fast pace on the streets in your neighborhood, the time taken is beneficial to your wellbeing.

MAP YOUR VISION

Vision boards are more useful after the vision board party. Sure it’s wonderful to be inspired that day, but think about ways to maintain motivation throughout the year. Pasting words and pictures of your desired future is merely the beginning glimpse of a dream. Mapping steps for your growth and putting yourself on a realistic time plan makes you accountable. Let’s get to work!

UNPLUG

Devices and social media are created to entertain. The etymology of entertainment is a thing that enters to detain you. Don’t get me wrong, technology makes things easier but if you’re not careful you will be consumed for hours having nothing to show for time wasted. Be intentional. Plan your time to be appropriated in proportion to your priorities, goals and growth.

CONNECT

While you’re unplugging, you might as well communicate the old fashion way: connect with people in person. There’s something to be said about seeing the facial expression and voice inflection in a person’s presence. Get out and spend time with those of shared interests. Some of them may not look like you or have the same background as you (and some may.) My point is, there’s a sodality awaiting you. Discover and connect.

VOLUNTEER

Volunteer in your community. Decide to give away something that’s meaningful to others in need. Support a worthy cause. Our life’s purpose is not for us alone, but a work fulfilled to make us all one. We are blessed to be a blessing to others. This world, our world, your world should be a better place because you exist.

BE KIND

Be proof that there is still kindness in this world without ulterior motives attached. Someone is in dire need of the light you are and the joy you can bring. The cost of nothing but a smile ranging to a few quarters donated in someone else’s parking meter can go further than you think.

Sheilah Vickers is a Leadership Architect and uses Education, Leadership and Ministry experiences to mentor leaders and those relaunching their lives. She is the author of Pray It Forward and A Wright Choice. Look for her new book, Think It Forward: Manage Your Thoughts coming soon.

Visit her website, http://www.sheilahvickers.com She can be reached at bookings@sheilahvickers.com or 718-670-3241

©2020 Sheilah Vickers

New Strength for the New Year

I don’t have a long story to tell about 2018. It was definitely a year I care not to repeat, but also a year with immense lessons learned. Great opportunities and favor of open doors were extended to me this year. God’s grace and faithfulness were shown to me in ways beyond my imagination. I’ve also had my share of challenges with tears and checkpoint moments of loyalty and friendship.

This past month, having both parents hospitalized and emerge victorious declaring, “Life” causes my gratefulness to reach a level previously unknown to me. I’m grateful.

What most recently gripped my heart with love is a phone call from my father. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease a little over 18 years ago. Despite the ravages of this dis-ease, I have also watched him endure attacks from people he has gone out of his way to help, been betrayed by friends/colleagues/and even a few members of his congregation, outlived being overlooked time and time again but he did it all pushing ahead, never seeking revenge and with a smile. However that is not what has most touched me. You see, for the past almost 35 years, I’ve watched my father serve in his role as a pastor, counselor, mentor, leader, role model and he is indeed yet all of those things. Last night I received a phone call from him as my Daddy. He loved on me in such an indescribable way that ministered to the hurt and abandoned areas of my life. I was rendered speechless. As tears flooded my eyes, I asked God how he knew exactly what to say to address exactly what I was battling through. God simply spoke, “He’s YOUR father. No sickness will abort what I’ve anointed and chosen him to be for YOU.”

I go into this year with new strength. I do not know what I will face in this coming year, beginning tomorrow. But just as my Dad spoke with me, I do know that I (and you) have a Father ready to minister to every area of our lives.

Happy New Year!

The Value of an End Piece…

Ok, so let’s move past the facts of this picture of pure carbs…

Have you ever observed what happens after you’ve purchased a loaf of bread? When choosing from a full loaf, most tend to reach past the end slice and even the slice right after that.

However when the loaf is almost gone, the very same slices that were ignored have become the ones are now fought over.

Some of us have been treated that same way. We’ve been: reached across, stepped over, ignored, and very little value was placed on us. But do not lose heart…

After all, the end slices are the reason the inside stays soft and fresh.

A Lesson from the Wall…

Some time ago, a Millennial asked me about a word I hadn’t heard in a while…

“What’s a plum line?”

Again, it had been a while since I’d heard the term so I actually thanked her for allowing my mind to be refreshed and quickened.

… My dad used to use a plumb line when putting up wall paper in my home when I was a child. It is a string with a weighted piece attached at the end in which dark colored chalk was strummed across it. It was used by the string being carefully placed (about 1/8 of an inch away from the wall) going from the floor straight to the top. As soon as my dad was assured it was PERFECTLY straight, he had someone hold the string next to the wall at the bottom, and another person to hold it at the top. He would go to the middle of the wall and pull the string out to have it snap the wall, creating a line. I asked him why he did this, and his reply was so that he could align the paper to the line created with the plum line to ensure it was straight, otherwise the wallpaper would be “off” or crooked. He also added that he could not depend on his natural eyes to judge the project. Often things are not as they appear or appear as they should when they are actually not. So the standard of a guide is used.

(What good is expensive and elaborate material against a wall of the finished product and the completed project was permanently crooked?)

You see, in construction, the plumb line tests whether what was erected is perpendicular to the square, (if it is straight up and down,) if it is upright. It provides a standard against which one can measure what he has built.

Metaphorically, when God draws near with the plumb line, He is looking for those people who are living and abiding in His grace and His law. The Israelites’ moral standards had degenerated, so their religious profession was not verified by the right kind of works. They were not upright; they failed the test.

Amos 7:7-8 states, “This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord asked me, ‘What do you see, Amos?’ ‘A plumb line,’ I replied. Then the Lord said, ‘Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.’”

When God said He was setting a plumb line among His people, He was declaring an end to their attempts to justify their crooked ways. God was setting the standard. He doesn’t negotiate the laws He set. He is not swayed by the whims of the culture. His law is the plumb line against what we perceive and have determined as right and wrong.

A carpenter’s plumb line is not subject to the opinions of the carpenter. It is the same with God’s standards and the opinion of man.

Our wisdom is to align our lives to God’s standard. Unfortunately, like the young woman who inspired the thought of my musing today, plumb lines and standards are obsolete in places where they were one held sacred.

Hold the Vision. Trust the Process.

HOLD THE VISION. TRUST THE PROCESS.

Ok, ok! The leaves may be turning and falling off but don’t you dare think that this is the end of your story! Stay COMMITTED to what and where God has placed you. This is not the time to bail. REMAIN planted and STAY rooted. It may very well get worse before it gets better, BUT I PROMISE, it’s going to get better! -SV 

©2017 Photo credit to respective owner. Written expression to Sheilah A Vickers

I’m ALL Churched Out!

Good Afternoon,
I wanted to take the opportunity to thank each one of you for participating in the online “I’m All Churched out!” workshop on Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 6 PM EST.  
Please accept my sincere apologies for the few technical difficulties that occurred during the session. For your convenience, I have created a YouTube version of the workshop so that you can see it without any technical issues. Feel free to click on the provided link and enjoy the original session along with some bonus information. 

I’m ALL Churched Out Workshop
Although we did not charge for this workshop, I would ask you to consider making a donation to Evangelist Sheilah Vickers Ministries. All funds received will go toward building the kingdom of God.
Please make all donations to:

CASH APP: $SheVickers

PayPal: MsVicRm19@aol.com

Please note, that I am available for workshops, seminars, consultations or worship services. For future bookings, feel free to contact Sheilah Vickers Ministries at: bookings@sheilahvickers.com.
Again, I would like to personally thank you for registering and being apart of the “I’m All Church Out” online workshop.  
Blessings,

Evangelist Sheilah Vickers

Sheilah Vickers Ministries

Focus, People. Focus!

From the series Perfecting Your Craft.

So, here’s Part 2 of the Perfecting Your Craft series. Today we will discus Keeping Your Focus.

Have you ever been distracted? I don’t mean a slight diversion and slip of the eye for a quick second. This kind of distraction consumes you until you forget about what you set out to do!

Think about it. Something as minuscule in comparison to the human body such as a gnat or fly can control your attention into swatting it away and possibly causing a dangerous situation if driving. But how often do we give attention to things that are irrelevant to our future and success, especially when their life span is 7 days for a gnat and 28 days for a fly.

1. You Can’t Win If You’re Always Watching Others. 

I remember watching the 2016 Summer Olympics 200m Butterfly. The image that remained in my mind was Chad Le Clos steadily watching Michael Phelps.

I was watching this race with my father. Almost immediately after the race began my dad called out, “He’s gonna watch Phelps win this!” After Phelps’ win, I asked how he knew. My dad then dropped this principle. You see, he was a mile runner who held the record in the state of Louisiana in high school, so he knew something about winning tactics.

He recalled a race he ran. It was his record breaking race up against the runner who held the record. His competitor used his time with intimidating looks. My dad used his time to focus on the goal: the finish line. My dad won the race. After the race the former record breaker congratulated my dad by saying, “Man, I watched you three times. The first time, you were behind me. The second time, you were beside me. And the last time, you were ahead of me crossing the finish line. Did you even see me??” My dad told me the only thing he saw was the finish line.

2. Focus on the lesson of the bigger picture. 

Many of you have earned degrees and/or certifications from higher education or institutions. I speak with scores of current students who complain about taking a course in which they feel is totally irrelevant to work in the field in which they desire to work. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard, “Why do I even have to take this course? When am I ever going to need to know if z + y= x?”

My reply is always the same as I retell my days of college. In comparison to other students who were my classmates, there were many nights of what seemed like endless reading assignments, research papers and meeting deadlines. In contrast to them, I was 10 years their senior. You see, my outlook was slightly different because I was older. Illness had precluded an earlier enrollment for me.

My reply is also simple. Although I cannot recall every chapter and lesson learned in the many classes taken, I did receive a good education in my field. However the biggest thing I learned in college was discipline. The amount of freedom was immense. It was totally up to me to hunker down, learn the lesson and earn the grade.

3. You are NOT Oprah.

Now of course, no one is except Ms. Oprah herself. But have you ever aspired to be great and someone comes along and tells you how easy being great is? They come up with, “You have the same hours in a day as Oprah. And if she can do it, what’s your excuse?”

My business mentor kindly put this theory to rest. She simply said to my cohort, “You are not Oprah. Oprah has a chauffeur. Oprah has an executive chef. Oprah has an assistant. Oprah has a personal hair stylist. Oprah has a clothing stylist. Oprah has a private jet. And many other things including the wealth to afford them all. You are NOT Oprah.”

It placed everything in perspective. Those luxuries including the extra time are afforded to the few who truly make it. Until then you cannot afford to abuse time as if someone else can fill in the work of the middle man of leg work. If you have time to daydream, you’re wasting it. Begin placing your actual dreams into an action plan. Then use the rest of that time to put that plan into action.

©2017 Photo credit to respective owner. Written expression to Sheilah Vickers

Teachable Moments

This vlog is from the series, “Perfecting Your Craft.” Enjoy!

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This blog is actually formulated because of a large response to a vlog, “Perfect Your Craft.”

The fact of the matter is, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO CAN DO WHAT YOU DO. The good, no great news is that no one, and I mean NO ONE can do what you do like you. Putting your spin and your special sauce on what you do places you above the crowd!

Many inquired about how they can get started perfecting their craft. So for the next two weeks, I’ll provide some helpful steps in getting you to that place.

Today we’re talking about Teachable Moments. (The video is on the Sheilah Vickers Consulting Facebook page.)

A teachable moment is an opportunity to learn a lesson that you weren’t expecting.

1. Look for Lessons in Unexpected Places.
These lessons are gleaned in places that often have nothing to do with your craft. I am an educator by profession, but one example came about while frying chicken. A young lady often complained that although I gave her my recipe and demonstrated it, her chicken didn’t come out right.

I observed her process from beginning to end. And although her end product looked golden brown, it was raw inside. Why? Her flame was too high and she did not give it time to fully cook.

Lesson: Sometimes we go for things (and people) only looking the part but we don’t have the content to match. Some things just take time.

2. What Can We Learn from “No?”
So, you didn’t get the promotion or the job for which you interviewed. But what is your take away?
Did you over speak?
Did you not speak enough?
Were you knowledgeable of the company to which you applied? Did you research?
Were you prepared when they asked where you saw yourself in the next ten years?
It’s okay to fail, but always learn the lesson from it.

3. Wisdom over Knowledge.
Earned degrees and program completions will give you knowledge. Knowledge provides the “what” and “how.” Having that without wisdom still leaves you failing. Wisdom is knowing “when” to apply the “what” and “how.” Wisdom is the principle thing, therefore get wisdom.

I look forward to sharing more with you in the coming weeks about Perfecting Your Craft.

©2017 Photo credit to respective owner. Written expression to Sheilah Vickers

Here’s Why I Kept the Ugly Cane!

Living WITH sarcoidosis. (sigh!)

Sometimes it gets to be way too much!! I can’t do this by myself! Not another step or move if I don’t get some help! Sometimes it’s too overwhelming to expect that I can keep going without getting a break! I’m only one person!! 

Yep!! Those are words spoken directly out of my mouth. You see, I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis in 1993, and some days are good and other days are…well, let’s just label them as challenging. This dreadful autoimmune disease affects not only my lungs but every joint in my body. 

I haven’t shared much about the subject of using a cane because quite frankly, it was EMBARRASSING for a 23 year old (who was not in some kind of accident) to periodically have to use a cane. Can you imagine? One day a vibrant young lady working a job, singing and writing for and traveling with an award winning choir, having an active social life and the next time in sight, she’s barely able to walk?? 

Fast forward 24 years later: I’m Still Here! 😊

Soooo, here are my reasons regarding this cane:

1. I honestly NEED to use a cane every once in a while. Without it, getting around would be extremely painful and quite difficult. I had to become ok with it. I remember I would try to hide it or go without it in my twenties. Lol I was most miserable. 

 I would think, “Who’d want a friend who was slowed down by a cane? What man would want a girlfriend/wife who had to periodically use a cane?” I had to be OK that if NO ONE did, I’D STILL WANT ME. The opinions of people could not bother me to the point of self hatred or self denial.

2) I remember someone dear to me who is much older suggested that I get a fancy cane…one like she had. Because she had no ill motives and is quite fancy herself, I honestly looked into getting one. There were SO many choices! There were florals, metallics, foldables, ones that stand on their own, and multiple pronged. I’m certain I’m missing some others, but you get my point. 

Then I looked at the cane given to me at the Emergency Room. You know, the basic old people’s cane when you sprain your ankle? (Yeah, I’ve had a few of those too!) And guess what? I decided to keep it!!

The ER cane is for limited use. Its purpose is not for aesthetics. If I conceded to purchasing a fancier cane, to ME, it was accepting the fact that this was a permanent situation. And no matter what the doctors’ prognosis is, I will still believe that my healing will completely manifest itself. 

The ugly cane represents everything TEMPORAL for me. And like a song goes, “It won’t always be like this!”

Be very encouraged to know that even if you’re down at the moment and whatever you’re experiencing right now seems long and difficult, it’s only temporary. 

©Photo credit to respective owner 

SILENCE CAN NOT BE MISQUOTED. OR CAN IT?

I had a unique experience this week. A surprise take away for me at least was that some of the most vocal people I knew were silent on a topic of discussion in which I knew they have personal experience and varied points of view. I have to admit that after considering their silence, i realized it was repeated behavior for decades from people in former generations just like them. It rattled me to a degree. Their silence made me recall the adage, “Silence can never be misquoted.” In other words, if they didn’t say anything, it could not be quoted. Wisdom, right?

“Oh, that you would be completely silent, And that silence would be your wisdom!”‭‭Job‬ ‭13:5‬ ‭

Keeping your silence can have benefits, such as avoiding hurt feelings or an unnecessary argument. We’ve all been in situations that are better left without our response. With age, I certainly do not attend every argument to which I am invited. It’s best to just be silent. However, at other times silence can be a negative thing and quite damaging. You see silence can never be misquoted, but it can be misinterpreted.

Your words matter. You are being listened to each and everyday. Whether good or bad, what you share with others has a huge impact.

You should consistently seek wisdom, direction and discernment in the use of your words. It should matter to you how you choose to talk.

SILENCE IS GOLDEN

When You Should Remain Silent:

1. When emotions are running extremely high. It’s best to cool all the way down before speaking something that could cause permanent damage.
2. When you have not gathered all information. It’s perfectly fine to say, “Give me (insert a reasonable time frame) and I’ll get back to you.”
3. When the party with which you’re communicating is seeking a reaction and not an answer. Some people approach you to cause a reaction and not an answer. These people don’t want resolution; they want confusion.
4. When you have an opinion but haven’t formulated it into a appropriate presentation. Content is best communicated when presented in its best form.

SILENCE MEANS CONSENT

When Should You Not Remain Silent:

1. When you have a prepared answer to bring justice to a situation but you’re afraid or intimidated by the opposer. Always show respect, especially to your elders and those of higher authority, but recognize that we are all fallible humans.
2. When not speaking up will cause more immediate, progressive and collateral damage than saying something.
3. When your wisdom will bring about a beneficial teachable moment for most present. Don’t assume people already know the answer. The obvious is not always obvious. Your voice and experience has value, but use discretion.
4. When you are invested. Nothing shows commitment like being present and involved. Speaking your mind demonstrates that you are honestly working toward the truth of the betterment for all. The greater good has priority over those who choose to be offended by your truth.

You really do have the right to remain silent. Sometimes that should be exercised. But know when to speak up because everything you say (or neglect to say) can and could be used for or against you.

Silence is very much an active part of conversation. Don’t just stand by and be a passive observer of something that you don’t agree with. It is important to speak up and let your voice be heard. If you say nothing, people will either think that you agree with what is going on, or that you are too scared to speak out. They will, however, remember that you were silent on something that mattered. So, don’t be afraid to let others know what you think. They may or may not agree, but all involved can become better informed after having heard another perspective.

©2017 Sheilah Vickers Consulting

Photo credit to respective owner