Transcript
krystmt: Well, welcome to United Not Uniform. I am here with a very special person, my friend Dee. I met this amazing woman at a She Speaks conference and I know I'm not going to be able to introduce her in the amazing way that she should. So Dee, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Denice Thompson: Hi, everyone. My full name is Denise Malisha Martin -Thompson, but my friends call me Dee. And um let's start with my calling. So I am a CEO of Dee's Passionfield Experience, and I curate Passionfield Experiences for women to come together and get my body and soul care through writing and working out together.
Denice Thompson: Outside of that, though, I am also a Department of Education educator.
krystmt: It's amazing.
Denice Thompson: I am a reading specialist. I've been working with incarcerated youth now. This is going to be my 14th year. um I work one -on -one and with small groups, working with my students, teaching them how to read, but also trying to push in my love of writing and the arts into our sessions. And outside of that, I'm also a wife, a mom of three. um I'm a poet, a writer, and an artist. I'm claiming that.
krystmt: Hey, you better. If you didn't say it, I was gonna bring it up. So ah I think everybody who's listening would agree. We've got a pretty amazing speaker on our podcast today. Thank you Dee so much for being here.
Denice Thompson: You're welcome. Thank you for having me.
krystmt: So I kind of spoiled a little bit of like how we met, like like the place that we met, but can you share a little bit more about like how we met and that whole experience?
Denice Thompson: So she speak 2024, an experience that I wanted to go to when I first saw the advertisement coming on. But then I said to myself, 1D, you don't have the money. 2D, it's all the way in Charlotte.
Denice Thompson: And three, you know, just thought it wasn't going to be the time for me. However, a week before the event, my baby sister told me that she was going to go visit her best friend. And guess where she lives? Charlotte.
krystmt: Would you love it when it works out like that?
Denice Thompson: So I heard God just prompting me, like, you know, you need to go. And I'm like, but I don't have the money. And he was like, put it on the business credit card and go. So I spoke to my sister. I told her, you know, I was going to fly out. um And she called up her best friend and made arrangements for me to stay with her. And I decided, OK, it was meant for me to go to this conference. When I got there, though, um I had to really speak to myself because when I got there, to be honest, I was one of very few black faces that I saw there. So I felt a little a little intimidated by that at the beginning, but then um the Holy Spirit just really
Denice Thompson: prompted me to get all over my fear and to to walk in boldly. right I was dressed for the part and I was ready to receive, but when I walked into the room, the place was packed.
Denice Thompson: And um I was looking for a table where I could sit. I walked over to a table that was empty, sat down, got comfortable, and then noticed that there was a reserved sign on the table. So I got up and I decided to walk to the opposite side of the room. And then I saw a table seven, which is one of my numbers. And I was like, that's it. I'm going to go sit at table seven.
Denice Thompson: So I sat there and introduced myself to the two ladies who um were seated at the table. um Again, my mind told me like, you know, they were going to be a little resistant based on my color. But then when I sat there and just started just like talking to them, that fear just fell off and I got comfortable at that table.
Denice Thompson: I think it was during the break you came over.
krystmt: Yep.
Denice Thompson: First break, right? You came over and you were like, because my writer's notebook was on the table with my um my cute behind pocketbook.
krystmt: She was famous for the conference for her bags.
Denice Thompson: ah
krystmt: I just want to put that out there. Everybody knew her by like the Rubik's Cube purse.
Denice Thompson: Yeah, so you came over and you were like, you know, I just had to come over. I love the purse and the notebook. But you had some truth that you had to to share with me about that also.
Denice Thompson: you You told me that God had told you to sit at that table when you came in.
krystmt: and my behind did not.
Denice Thompson: yeah
krystmt: I sat at the table. I don't even remember what the number was, but it was like super empty. To be fair, I know no one's going to believe this. Who knows me? They're like, Crystal, you're such an extrovert.
krystmt: You just love people. Sometimes I just kind of want to like blend into the background. I don't want to have to be on.
Denice Thompson: Yeah.
krystmt: I just want to like, and so like I could feel the probably from the Holy Spirit of like to sit over there and I was like, well, that seems like I have an assignment and I just want to you know, chill in the back. And the whole time that we were worshiping and praising God, and I'm like, God, I want to hear from you. And he's like, you're sitting at the wrong table. Like, yeah, you're so great. Crystal, you're still sitting at the wrong table. Finally, at the break, I was like, Okay, let me be obedient. Let me try not to be like super awkward. But it was just such a, like, such a God moment, because I was meant to be at table seven.
Denice Thompson: yeah Yeah, definitely. And the number seven is very important um to me. it just it It's a sign ah you know of completion. right So whenever God does bring that number to me, I know that he's going to do something.
krystmt: Mmhmm.
Denice Thompson: And I truly believe that something was completed on that day, even though the full manifestation of it may not have hit our lives yet, we know something was completed on that day.
Denice Thompson: Yeah, so that's that's really how we met. Like, you know, we got through that moment of disobedience.
krystmt: Boo!
krystmt: You know how I like to dance around it a little bit?
Denice Thompson: Don't worry, that that's a topic for tea with tea.
krystmt: but Oh, so you want to be it. I'm like, Boo!
Denice Thompson: ah
krystmt: Yeah, we will have some fun. I cannot wait.
Denice Thompson: But yeah, you know, so that's how we met. and um I think we we just realized that it was really God -ordained right for us to not only sit at that table um on the first day, but the second day just coming back to a place of completion.
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: right It's kind of dope when you think about it after the fact um how dope God is.
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: you know
krystmt: So true, so true. Yeah, and you know, a lot of what we talked about at table seven was really on the things that God has been, the ministries that God has given us or placed in us to like execute and like, what does it look like to to live those out, but also being real with like, wow, God, this dream or this thing that you have for me is so big, right?
krystmt: And so I love um to talk a little bit more like we, have talked a lot about our own assignments and trusting God more than what we see, and that takes work. yeah We know that that takes work. um So I'd love to hear like what advice would you give to someone who is feeling discouraged after like having this big moment where God is telling them to to to do something big?
Denice Thompson: Well, I'm going to share something that actually God dropped into my spirit. I was napping because today was just really a full day, a full morning for me. And I decided to take a nap before our recording. And you know how sometimes you're like sleeping, but then God is like speaking. You're like, bro, I'm trying to sleep, you know, and he wakes you up and for a moment and you jot something down and you just go back to sleep. It was one of those moments.
Denice Thompson: so This is what he told me and I think it's just, it's applicable to, to this moment to that question. And it says, God's not going to change your assignments because you don't think you have enough tools in your toolbox.
Denice Thompson: Right.
krystmt: Mm.
Denice Thompson: So it's like, when you think about that, right.
krystmt: That's good.
Denice Thompson: God gave each of us an assignment and sometimes we allow fear to step in and tell us we don't have what we need to execute that assignment, right?
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: But if he gave it to you, it means that you have what you need, right?
krystmt: Right?
Denice Thompson: But sometimes, right, sometimes you just have to take off your lens of looking at the situation.
krystmt: Ooh, come on, Dee!
Denice Thompson: For example, God's been telling me I need to record more. And I'm like, I don't have the space. It's like, okay. Do you not have the space or are you fearful of utilizing the space I've given?
krystmt: Ooh, deep!
Denice Thompson: So when you sit with that, you're like, what do you mean by that? A lot of times when we step back from the fear, we actually begin to see the source of the fear, right?
krystmt: Mm, that's good.
Denice Thompson: For me, it has been feeling inadequate, right?
krystmt: and
Denice Thompson: It's me feeling that the space has to look a certain way to create the experience that you know God has placed in you to share with someone else you're like waiting for this dynamic moment in your mind right because you create it in your mind the way you think it's supposed to be and look and feel and smell and you know all of these things.
Denice Thompson: And God is like, they just need the tea. They need your time. They need your energy. They need your attention. Those are the things that they need. right But you keep allowing fear to create this fantasy of what it's supposed to look like.
krystmt: bright
Denice Thompson: And when you think about Jesus, he didn't make it fancy. right He showed up wherever he was needed, and he did what was needed to be done in that moment. so If you do have a spirit of fear, because it is a spirit, right?
krystmt: Right. Mhm.
Denice Thompson: One of the things that I would tell you to definitely do is breathe, right? Stop, pray, and really ask God to shine the light on the the root of that fear.
Denice Thompson: Because sometimes it's just something, it's a belief system in our mind that needs to be broken. so that we can step outside of the fear and do what God is calling us to do. For me, it's putting up that curtain behind me, getting in what I need to do what God's been telling me to do. like you need People need to see you more so that they can connect with you more because T with D is intimate, right? You're you're sharing a part of yourself. How can you share yourself if you stay behind
Denice Thompson: a hidden lens, right? You have to come out, you have to step forth and the only way you can do that is to actually step outside of your fear.
krystmt: Oh, Dee, that is so good and so true. I know as someone who is recovering from perfectionism, you know, I'm claiming it in Jesus' name that oftentimes like we wanna, especially if it's for God, right? We wanna do everything so perfectly. And honestly, sometimes he's just like, I just need you to take the step.
krystmt: I just need you to take the step. i mean like Even with the advice that you and some of the other women at the table gave me, it's like, Crystal, you just have to take a step. It doesn't have to look so established. We've been putting years into these ministries, but you just have to start. You just have to start. and so I think that's amazing advice to be reminded that like even with the assignment that you were given, like God is not just giving you the assignment and then just like, okay, I'm done, I'm out of here. like You're meant to do it with him and and to give yourself grace and to know that, again, don't take the assignment that you were given and then try to make it all about you, but realize that you know it's all it's all God's, right? And we just have to like be willing to take that step. So I love i love that.
krystmt: So speaking of God sized dreams, I love ah using God sized because often we make God smaller, or we try to limit him to fit our own perspectives.
krystmt: I'm learning how to embrace this mystery, this godsized dream. um I have something ah that was revealed to me many years ago, and it's taken quite a bit of time for it to actually kind of come together where I'm now able to actually see a clear step or path forward. And so I feel like that's something that we don't often talk about, like that there is sometimes a waiting period where Well, God will give you a revelation and it's like taking years before you kind of get clarity over the next steps. And so what advice would you give to someone who is in this season of waiting?
Denice Thompson: Slow and steady is the pace.
krystmt: a
Denice Thompson: It's a pace. Slow and steady is a pace. And being inside of, I say this a lot, but being inside of a crock pot is going to give you a much tastier meal than if you are on a stovetop, right?
Denice Thompson: People, like when you think about it, right? youre You come out, you're simmering, it's like all of the seasoning had a real opportunity to just marinate into whatever it is in that pot.
Denice Thompson: right So when I think about my life and the fact that God has blessed me with a lot of gifts, rain I always be like, when is it going to happen?
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: When is my door going to happen open? right But God is like a couple of things. One, and I told my daughter this today, I said, You don't want to get to that position that God has for you and you become cocky.
Denice Thompson: You become so caught up in the fact that you did this thing, right?
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: When it happens too fast, sometimes you think,
krystmt: yeah
Denice Thompson: You did it. But when God slows down the pace of it, you know that, oh my goodness, I can't do this without God.
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: So like you said, God is doing it with you, right? So you're building confidence right in the fact that God is doing this thing you're in partnership with God so when you do get to the place the position that he has already ordained for you he's not taking it back but when you get there you're still humble right a lot of times and we were talking about influencers and she actually met
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: someone that she's been you know following for a while that she was really excited about meeting. She was like, Ma, when I met this person in person, it was just disappointing.
Denice Thompson: you know
krystmt: Oh wow, yeah.
Denice Thompson: I said to her, that's the problem sometimes when we feel like we're the ones who are creating this existence.
Denice Thompson: right We're the ones who are doing this stuff.
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: We're the ones. I'm the creator. I'm the influencer. I'm the one with all of these followers. right But then you think about it. like Are you really the creator?
Denice Thompson: Or did God download that inside of you? right And when God downloads something inside of you, it's not for you, it's for someone else.
krystmt: Yeah.
krystmt: Mm.
Denice Thompson: It's for the assignment, the people who are assigned to you. The circumstances, the season that you're in, there's specific things that God is going to download into you for particular seasons.
Denice Thompson: That's not you. That's not your oil. eight And just going back a little bit about the the slow and steady process, there's also a crushing that has to happen for the olives to release that oil.
Denice Thompson: right So if your process is too fast and you don't get the crushing that you need, so then you get to the place where you're supposed to execute this assignment, but yet now you don't have the oil that you need to cover it.
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: So that's the other thing. We don't want to move so fast with our dreams that we don't have the anointing to cover the call.
krystmt: Yeah, come on now. That's so true.
Denice Thompson: so
krystmt: That is so true. And like after hearing you say that, I think about you know um years ago, it was, wow, I had moved into like my first apartment. it was Well, not my first apartment.
krystmt: I had moved into my first apartment after finishing school. And life was just not in the but place that I thought it would be. I was in a field I never thought I would be in. and like I hear God like say like vaguely what I'm like what part of my assignment is and I'm like okay well thank you for that now what can I do how do I get in place how do I like like how do I put this on a resume like obviously I need to leave my job And I'm like, I'm so thankful, again, God knows his creation, because there was a lot of crushing that had to happen. um I always quote um this saying that Travis Green said at one of his concerts I went to, he was like, um I thank God that he never allowed my talent to take me where my character couldn't keep me.
Denice Thompson: Wow.
krystmt: And so that's honestly what these years that felt like, oh my gosh, am I just behind? Am I like missing the ball? Am I like, what is all this happening? Like I needed to go through that humbling.
krystmt: I needed to go through that refinement. I needed to go through that crushing. um So that now as I'm getting clarity about these steps, I know that it's not me, right? And I think that that's just such a...
krystmt: That's such an encouraging word for someone who feels like the waiting is a punishment. That's not true, but rather it's part of the preparation. That's so good, Dee.
Denice Thompson: Yeah, definitely, definitely. Something that, you know, like, I've come to a place right now that I've accepted it. Like, slow and steady is my process.
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: But slow and steady still wins the race. Ah.
krystmt: You had me thinking about the food. I was like, and it sure tastes great.
Denice Thompson: Yes, it does.
krystmt: Oh my goodness. I know you're going to hear my tummy rumbling in a little bit.
Denice Thompson: ah
krystmt: So we kind of talked about this question already earlier, but I do think that fear plays a big, the the spirit of fear, especially, and I would say of anxiety too, takes like, it can be a huge factor from someone um being willing to take that step or being willing to to to take that risk. And so, you know, what additional advice would you maybe give someone who, you know, God has laid out like that step and they're just sitting on it. They're just like, I don't know, I'm scared. Is this the right time?
krystmt: Like what advice would you give them?
Denice Thompson: This is something that God told me a long time ago. And I think um I'm in a season of resetting. So he's bringing back a lot of past knowledge that I think I put in the toolbox and I forgot it was in there.
Denice Thompson: But one of the things that he told me is write the vision down, make it plain, right? That's from the Bible, we know, right?
krystmt: That's good.
Denice Thompson: But the next part about it is bring it back to him. So if he gave you the vision and if you wrote it down, now you take it back to him and you pray over it. God, this is the vision that you gave me.
Denice Thompson: What steps do I need to take, right? Psalms 32 .8 is one of the scriptures that I've been, I see the little kitty in the background.
krystmt: I'm so sorry. ah Okay, so for those of you who have pets, or I would say kids, quiet the whole time on my computer by myself.
Denice Thompson: It's okay.
krystmt: As soon as I start talking to someone else, we're just running throughout the house. but So it's, She's just having a ball, but I do apologize.
Denice Thompson: yeah It's all good. I have two, so I fully understand. It is all good.
Denice Thompson: Oh my god. But yeah, so... And I lost my thought. Let me see.
krystmt: Oh, I'm so sorry.
krystmt: Like how we have to bring it back to God.
Denice Thompson: Yes. Yes. So you bring it back to him, you pray over it. And then I was saying Psalms 32 .8 has been one of the scriptures I've been clinging to because it says that he will lead the path, right?
Denice Thompson: He will advise me.
krystmt: a Yeah.
Denice Thompson: he will show me. So it's about taking his word back to him with his plan. So this is the plan you gave me. right You said, I'm supposed to do this.
Denice Thompson: And this is the words you gave me that says that you will guide me and you will lead me.
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: But you got to put the two together.
krystmt: Ah, that's so good.
Denice Thompson: ah You can't have the plan and then try to do it without him holding your hand. you know right you can't have the plan and not the resources that you know he knows where they are right because you need resources to execute the plan and that's what i'm i've been just having moments with him about because i'm like god you gave me this vision you gave me the plan but
krystmt: Right.
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: the plan needs resources. and And when you go back into the Bible, you know, even when every single plan that he had was covered with his resources, every plan.
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: So clearly, right, a couple of things we can bring into this. If it's not coming into fruition, it's not the time, but it does not mean that you are stagnant in your stillness.
Denice Thompson: You can't be stagnant in your stillness. So yes, it may not be the the time to go out there and build it, but it may be the time to do the research for it.
Denice Thompson: It may be the time to network around it. It may be the time to speak to a friend about it.
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: It may be the time to just pray over it.
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: We have to ask God, what is the time for this thing that's in my hand? right And then we have to respect the timing that's on that thing and identify what the timing is and what what what stage of existence is this thing in?
krystmt: That's so cool.
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: Because that will take away, I'm speaking to you and speaking to myself, that will take away.
krystmt: No, I'm feeling it! I'm receiving it!
Denice Thompson: That will take away the frustration of why isn't it happening? Why isn't it happening? Why isn't it happening now? right What is the stage of this thing that I'm trying to bring forth into fruition?
krystmt: Yeah.
krystmt: That's so good. I'm thinking, Dee, you might need to put that on a t -shirt. I would wear it. But like the idea that stillness is not stagnant, that's like so counter -cultural. But it is so true. like Do you know how hard it is to be still? And I'm not just talking about physically still, but also spiritually still, that you can hear God even in the whisper. right That requires um That requires a intimacy with God, of course, and the Holy Spirit and Jesus, but it also requires like it intentionality in that like, oh, no, no, no, I'm not moving.
krystmt: I'm not doing anything until I hear from you.
Denice Thompson: Yeah.
krystmt: And I think ah for those who may be wrestling with, um is this me or is that god or is it God? like If you're not able to sit in that stillness, that's kind of your That's kind of your answer a little bit right there too.
krystmt: But that's really good that your stillness is not being stagnant, but rather it's necessary in order for you to truly um step into what God is calling you into.
krystmt: And it's God's not yours. So good.
Denice Thompson: Exactly. it It really is. And I think, and and we were laughing about this because I'm like, God, you got a potty mouth when he told me, you know, I think it was about two weeks ago now, two or three weeks.
krystmt: Oh, that's right.
Denice Thompson: I don't even know how long it's been that I needed to get my shit together. I'm like, what do you mean by that? And watch your body mouth.
krystmt: I know. so
Denice Thompson: Jesus, you don't be cussing like that. But for real, it was like,
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: S is your strength, H is your hope, I, your intentions, and T, your tenacity. You have to get those things together, right?
krystmt: yeah
krystmt: yeah
Denice Thompson: In order for you to execute the plan that God has for you outside of your fear, because fear may not lead, right? Fear may be like, yo, I'm not going anywhere, I'm gonna be here, and not I dare you.
krystmt: I'm here. I'm sorry.
Denice Thompson: I dare you to do something different. Yeah, I dare you, right? There may be right there. So you're going to have to say to yourself, yo, Dee, get your shit together. What does getting my shit together mean?
Denice Thompson: OK, let me find my strength for today.
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: How does that strength show up for you may be different for me, right? My strength may be like, I need to get on my knees.
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: I need to pray. This morning, my strength came because I woke up heavy. I know this is gonna go into T with D later, but I woke up heavy and I had to find the strength to get out of the bed. So for me, I had to get my pen and my notebook and I had to write out the heaviness that I was feeling in that moment. That's how I got my strength to get out the bed this morning.
Denice Thompson: So how you find your strength in the midst of the fear, in the midst of the frustration, in the midst of the not yet you have to wait.
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: It's not the right timing for this thing to bloom. right You have to find your strength. Next, you have to find your hope.
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: And you go back into the Word of God where he's and when you petitioned to Him. Like, if you crush my hope, I'm done. Right? So I'm begging God not to crush my hope, but he's inviting me to find my hope in his word.
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: So it's like, you can't do this without the word of God because it's confirmation about the thing that he already placed in you.
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: you know My trainer told me, you know we have so many conversations during my workout session. But he was like, you're stressing because one day, girl, I started crying during my workout because I was just so frustrated with life.
Denice Thompson: And he was like, you're stressing over something that already happened.
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: If you believe in God, you know it's already done. So it's like, this workout is already done. this right This dream is already done.
krystmt: yet
Denice Thompson: You're just going through the formalities of bringing the state that's already done.
krystmt: That's
Denice Thompson: Because when God started, he started from the end and made his way back to where we are now. So all of these little things that's frustrating us, God already covered it.
krystmt: true.
Denice Thompson: But if we don't take the time that's needed while we're in this crock pot, getting all these great seasonings inside of us, right?
krystmt: I don't want me to just stop talking about food. Oh my gosh.
Denice Thompson: But that's where the hope will come from.
krystmt: Right, right. And I love what you said.
Denice Thompson: Right?
krystmt: That's so true. Like, it's already done. We can't see it on our side. But like, it's already done. I love that day. That's so good.
Denice Thompson: Yeah, I mean...
krystmt: That's so good.
Denice Thompson: while we're While we're in the moment right of just marinating, what if we took some bread out and just dipped it and just tasted the sauce and be like, damn, this is going to be great.
Denice Thompson: It's worth the wait.
krystmt: yeah
Denice Thompson: These seasonings is getting ready to and make this this meal hit, every aspect of it.
krystmt: ah
Denice Thompson: And that will then take us to the next letter of getting your shit together, the I, your intentions. Because this is very important, right? When you're battling the fear, when you're battling the waiting, when you're battling the fact that you don't have the resources that that you need or you think you need, because God is like, yo, know you got what you need for this moment in the toolbox.
krystmt: Come on.
Denice Thompson: Go back into the toolbox, right? But if you don't have your intentions, what am I going to do for today?
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: What am I gonna do with today?
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: What am I gonna do when things don't come together the way it's supposed to? What what are your intentions in those moments?
krystmt: Yeah, and I think like even the part of them, because I know for me, oftentimes, I'm one of those people where I want to see like, Oh, if this is what I need to do, like, this is how I get to the end. And you miss the I mean, like, ah we're going back to the crock pot, my stomach's just going growl, but like tasting the journey of it, right? And it's like,
krystmt: some of the the the most beautiful fruit i've experienced was not like when i walked through the door but like the journey to get to the door you know what i mean and so like how many of us are rushing past this important process i also love like what you're talking about and like being present with today like there's so much see i've been so talking about scripture i've been relying on matthew 6 um and talking about there's enough worries for like tomorrow will come with its own worries like focus on today and that's ah very challenging in a lot of ways especially like I'm realizing when things seem like ah they go much broader and bigger than a day like this is like months in the making or years in the making and what I'm finding is by shifting my focus on the present and sometimes it has to be hour by hour
krystmt: Um, sometimes, you know, we've got to be 30 minutes to some rough days, but there's so much to experience.
Denice Thompson: Yeah.
krystmt: There's so much, like, if you are like going back to stillness, but if you are just right now in this time, Lord, what do you have for me? like there's just so much, so much I would have missed if I was just so focused on just getting through, right?
Denice Thompson: Yeah.
krystmt: And I just think that that is such a ah good part of getting your shit together, of like really having to set that intention, really having to be intentional, because the reward isn't the end result of the ministry, the end result of this.
krystmt: The reward is that we get to do this with God. The reward is that He's trusting us and trusting these things to us, right? And it's almost like we need to shift our perspective.
Denice Thompson: yeah And it brings us to right into the last T, tenacity, right? It's the drive to keep on going.
krystmt: Yeah.
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: It's the energy to climb that mountain when you're like, I don't have it in me. And he's like, you don't need to.
Denice Thompson: I am with you.
krystmt: I do. Yeah.
krystmt: That's good.
Denice Thompson: I got the energy that you need. It is me. I am the I am. you know Sometimes I'll be making all these different voices of how he would be talking to me.
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: like i'm like and know I know he's up in heaven.
krystmt: That is like my favorite thing to do.
krystmt: It's so fun.
Denice Thompson: Just be like, my daughter, my daughter, my daughter.
krystmt: I love her but wow.
krystmt: Oh my god.
Denice Thompson: Yeah, but it's like, really, God is, when you just think about his ability to let us be while becoming the the person, the women, the men that we were created to be, it's just, he's so he's so patient.
Denice Thompson: Like, because I'm like, God, I would have been kicked my butt to the curb because
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: of just disobedience, impatience, some time, just doubt, right?
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: I just don't believe that he's going to do it. you know Even with, like he like I told you, in this moment of reselling, he's just bringing up things. And he was like, you thought that yours you would have died with your school loans still alive, right?
Denice Thompson: You'll be dead and your your school loans will be alive. i did what he had to do in my school loans are for a but
krystmt: Come on now!
Denice Thompson: balance
krystmt: Come on!
Denice Thompson: And I got to read front check from them. So it's like, won't he do it?
krystmt: Woo! Yeah?
Denice Thompson: Won't he do it? And it's like the very things he says, write it down and go back. Go back. Re -read the prayers that he already answered. I am a strong believer of writing.
Denice Thompson: right You know me. i You have to write. You write down your thoughts, your emotions, your feelings, your prayers, your questions, your concerns, because throughout the years, sometimes you just go back into an old notebook and you read and you be like, oh my goodness, all of the things that you want, you've been through, right?
krystmt: but Right.
Denice Thompson: Meaning you're on the other side of it, you know, and and to just sit with that and to reflect on that.
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: And to know that writing is a way to just take out all of the stuff that you are feeling in this moment that you don't want to carry anymore.
krystmt: Right.
Denice Thompson: You want to have a place where you can set it down.
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: You know, so if you are battling with fear, anxiety and all of these things, I do invite you to get a notebook. It's a safe place for your emotions and your feelings, your thoughts.
Denice Thompson: And it's also a place where you can reflect, refine, reset, take it to God, question God, position yourself, in ah in a place where he can actually speak to you about the things and the people and the circumstances that are concerning you and believe when I tell you, and it shows up in different ways, but every time I lay my my position and my petition down to God on the page, the next day, the answer shows up in some way or form, whether it's a devotion,
krystmt: one
Denice Thompson: song, right, someone says something, you may be driving and you see a ah sticker, he always, right, most of the time, I won't say always, most of the time he answers, you know, the next day.
Denice Thompson: And if he doesn't, it just means it's not the time for that answer yet, you know.
krystmt: Right? But you know that he hears you. I know I was reading a notebook um the other day, and I realized that this prayer request that I've or like this desire and prayer request, I've had ah it's been the same one for a period of time, right? But even though the answer hasn't fully happened yet, or the resolve hasn't fully come yet, I'm able to see the journey and the progression of my prayers. I'm able to see the comfort that God has provided. I'm able to see the miracles that happen. Maybe not the one I was hoping for, but the miracles that happen along the way. And a lot of the lies that the enemy wanted me to believe.
krystmt: they didn't happen. Like the biggest fears I had didn't happen, right? And so and like, I also want to say that for someone who's like, okay, well, you know, this has been like years or, you know, like still there is strength in writing and going back and being reminded of the God that you do serve. And like to be able to have power against these are lies that the enemy is telling me. This doesn't line up with your word and your scripture says, right? This doesn't line up with what you've revealed to me in our private time together, right? And so um
krystmt: Yes, it's so important. Dee, I will talk to you all all day, so I wanna make sure. But it'd be two hour podcast. um So we kind of already went into this, ah but I'd love to know if you had anything else that you wanted to add, but what valuable lessons have you learned throughout your journey with the Lord? That's also a very big question. I'm so sorry. I was like, oh, we gotta wrap it down. Let me just ask you, tell me your journey of faith in like,
Denice Thompson: What valuable lessons have I learned throughout my journey with the Lord?
krystmt: yeah
Denice Thompson: One of the most important lessons I think I've learned, I actually learned it in this season of my life is that when God has chosen you for a special assignment on this earth.
Denice Thompson: Your desires and your will must be aligned with his will, right?
krystmt: Yeah.
krystmt: Oh, that's good.
Denice Thompson: So what does that mean?
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: It means that there are things that D be wanting to do. There are things that D be wanting to walk away from.
Denice Thompson: There are circumstances that D don't want to deal with. But because I am chosen by God to do this thing, I don't get to go back and forth with God a lot.
Denice Thompson: i It's like my will, my way, my timing, my grace.
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: Okay, Jesus, I hear you. It don't make it easier, but he always comes back.
krystmt: you
Denice Thompson: It's my will for your life. I know the plans I have for you. And don't get it twisted, many a call, but a few are chosen for a specific thing on this earth.
Denice Thompson: And you have to know if you're chosen, because then if you're chosen, couple of other things that you have to learn.
krystmt: Yeah.
krystmt: Mm.
Denice Thompson: you have to protect the oil. The chosen oil needs to be protected. And that means another lesson, loving with boundaries.
Denice Thompson: I've been loving all carelessly, freely, everybody come on, everybody come in.
krystmt: I know. you did You got me real good.
Denice Thompson: You get some loving, you get some loving, you get some loving.
krystmt: You're giving some truth on that one.
Denice Thompson: ready
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: Everybody getting the love and then you're like, why is my love on eat? Because you gave it all away so freely and no one poured back in. So what do you expect? So now it's like God is bringing you back.
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: Like the oil that I gave you, Yes, God says love everyone, but you are assigned to certain people in certain seasons. So he's going to give to you what you need for those individuals. So if you're giving it out all freely and carelessly to every single body, because you know you have your own little traumas and you you want to be a people pleaser and you want to be loved and all these other stuff that you're dealing with, but yet you are giving out the oil where it's not assigned.
krystmt: Right, right. And you're not able to execute what you're actually supposed to do. Oh, that people pleasing. I feel like we don't get into that with tea with D. So I don't want to steal the thunder, but that's a whole other. We might have to have D come back but to talk about that one. But the people pleasing.
krystmt: Like, ah trust me, I thought I had healed from that. And then like, especially recently, God has been similar to what you were saying earlier, how he'll bring us through similar things. And at first I was like, Oh my gosh, like, am I messing up? Like, why am I like cycling through the same thing? But I'm able to see the strength, I'm able to see the growth, I'm able to see what God has been doing in me and the refinement. um And the people pleasing one, I was like, Oh,
krystmt: Oh, we we we really need to we really need to we need to address that because it was impacting the assignment God had given me. By the time I got home, I was not really like i had no energy between like school and working full -time in ministry.
krystmt: um That was really impacting me. And so like now it's like oh well I have to set those boundaries like I have to be clear and it's gonna allow me to love others better, but also myself and most importantly God and being obedient to him.
krystmt: That's so good.
Denice Thompson: Yeah. Yeah.
krystmt: So for my last question, is there anything else that we maybe didn't talk about but that you would like to share?
Denice Thompson: So, yeah.
Denice Thompson: Hmm. Give yourself grace.
krystmt: Oh, that's good. We have not talked about grace that much. Yeah.
Denice Thompson: Yeah, give yourself grace for this journey, especially in this season. I feel like the last four months of this year is going to go like rapid fire, and I feel that we need to really give ou ourselves grace, but the only way we can do that is to really keep running back into God, right? so
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: um Going back to Psalm 27 and the fact that God says he's our our fortress, right? he He's going to protect us.
Denice Thompson: But one of the things that he he expanded on that is that, yeah, the fortress can be here, but you can be here.
krystmt: Mm.
Denice Thompson: In order for you to be protected, what and what do you need to do?
krystmt: Actually go behind the fortress, yeah.
Denice Thompson: Go into it.
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: So it's like, in this season, stay hidden in God. And when it's your time to be seen, He'll make the way, you know?
Denice Thompson: So yeah, stay hidden in God and he'll He'll make the way.
krystmt: Yeah, that's so good, Dee.
Denice Thompson: he And when is your time and the great thing about God? And this is a another visual that he gave me a long time when I was you know just grappling with him about some things that were happening with one of my seeds.
Denice Thompson: And um he says, think about an arrow. The further I pull that arrow back, when I finally do let it go, think about how much further that arrow's gonna go.
Denice Thompson: So sometimes you feel like God is pulling you back.
krystmt: Yeah, that's good.
Denice Thompson: But what God is doing is setting you up for the distance that you're about to fly.
krystmt: Mm.
Denice Thompson: So don't be discouraged in this season. Really get your shit together. Like really take the time to get your strength, your hope, your intentions and your tenacity together.
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: And it's a daily conversation with yourself.
krystmt: Right. Right.
Denice Thompson: daily. Identify what it is you need for the day.
krystmt: And you're not.
Denice Thompson: Is it strength?
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: Is it hope? Do you need to get your intentions together or do you need your tenacity so you can push through whatever you're facing for the day? Take time every day to just sit with you, whether it's five minutes, ten minutes, whatever.
Denice Thompson: Yes, take time to sit with God, but also take time to sit with you and really assess your thoughts, your body, how you're feeling your body, how you're feeling your emotions, how you're feeling in your spirit.
krystmt: Yeah.
Denice Thompson: Right? These are, we're not segmented. We are a whole being. And if something is off, the other part of your existence is going to to pay for that.
krystmt: Right.
krystmt: Yes, that's so true.
Denice Thompson: So as you are getting ready to go into September, it is the last month of quarter three for 2024. We are almost to the end of 2024.
Denice Thompson: So make these last four months intentional. Make it worth it and really seek God about the season that you're in and the seed that's in your hand.
krystmt: Yeah.
krystmt: Oh, that's so good. d yeah Yeah, I'm so glad you said that because especially in a time where it's so easy for us to compare ourselves to others and to see what other people are doing and to feel like, well, what about me? What about me? By you spending that time with God and by yourself and getting your shit together, um you're really able to Like if you stop comparing yourself. You don't have envy because you know that God's got you and you're resting in the stillness. You're resting in the Lord knowing that what he has for you is for you and no one's going to be able to take that away. Ah.
krystmt: Well, please join me in thanking Dee so much for joining us. Isn't she amazing? She's so wise. Be sure to follow. We're going to be doing a crossover episode, so I'll be on Tea with Dee.
krystmt: So be sure to join us there.
Denice Thompson: Go!
krystmt: And Dee, any other platforms that people can reach you if they wanted to learn more about your ministry?
Denice Thompson: Um, my website is thesepassionfilledexperience .com. So you can go to my website and you can actually set up a complimentary call with me just to chat and to see how I can support you. You can follow me on Instagram. It's thepassionate1, underscore, Trinity Girl, because I am Trinity.
Denice Thompson: And I do do fitness that's embracing my culture. And yeah, so Facebook also, Denise Martin Thompson, you can find me there. But yeah, reach out, tap in, and just know that God got us. But you got to have yourself and you got to get your shit together, people.
krystmt: That is so true. Well, thank you all so much for joining us. Remember, there is more than enough space for you to be seen and to see others. We'll see you next time.
