Queen of the South is a new show on the USA network, the show is about a Mexican woman who grew up in poverty and rises to be the most powerful woman in the Mexican drug cartel! I know you’re probably like Deborah, what are you talking about. Stay with me. I recently binged watched the first four episodes and to make a long story short, Teresa (the main character) meets Guero (he’s a drug runner) and they fall deeply in love. So of course he moves her into this lavish home and completely upgrades her life (well materialistically). During a scene he gives her a burner phone and he tells her “if this phone ever rings, it means I am dead and you must run and find refuge” (I said that in my deep Latin male accent). The day after their one year anniversary that phone rings and Teresa finds herself caught up in the sins of Guero, fighting to stay alive but ends up captured by the ex-wife of the man who is trying to kill her. Are you still with me? I probably don’t have to give you the entire run down of this show but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
So Teresa starts working for Camilla, who is the ex-wife of Epifiano, the head of the drug cartel in Mexico. Unknowing to her husband Camilla has started a large drug organization in Texas. Did I say that Teresa is now in America, in Texas? Fast forward, she is forced to work for Camilla to save her life, on a drug run Teresa notices some of the bills of a large money transfer are fake, saving Camilla tons of money. Okay our train is nearing the station. When asked what to do with the man who tried to rip them off, Teresa says “spare his life.” In the next scene Camilla is thanking Teresa for saving her so much money but tells her “Teresa when life gave you a choice of what to do with the man who stole from us, you chose mercy, that was the wrong choice. Women in this business we can not afford to look weak, don’t ever make that mistake again”. The episode ends.

 

I said to myself “yeah a woman should never be merciful!” (said that in my Lil’ Kim Hardcore voice) God instantly stepped in. When you have an intimate relationship with God, you can’t even watch a new TV showing without Him chiming in (insert rolling eyes emoji).

“No Deborah you are to show mercy towards others. I am a merciful God, you are to mimic my ways, not the ways of this world”

Roman 12:2 :Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

 


How often do we internalize the many voices fighting for our attention that we encounter in the world; television, movies, friends, family, co workers, spouses, social media. I remember three years ago women were bombarded with images of women with very large behinds, leading many to get butt injections vying for a figure that society deemed to be ideal. Now based on societal standards it’s cooler to have a smaller physique.Three years later everybody is in the gym trying to be a size 2. If you don’t know who you are and who’s you are, you will quickly get lost in this ever changing world. God and His ways are the only things that are consistent. (Hebrews 13:8) We are constantly bombarded with stimuli that tells us who we should be and how we should act. However it is our life’s mission to develop into the individuals that God called us to be. One of the ways we can ensure that we are not allowing the world to define who we are is by striving daily to be more like God. We should always be “Godly”. Even when we are not wearing white (see what I did there). The only force we should allow to define us is God, we shouldn’t even strive to define ourselves.

 

After God stepped in, I began to ponder. I read my bible daily and I know who God is through my experiences with Him but I wasn’t sure of all the traits that make Him who He is. I know He’s caring, loving, thoughtful, protective, stern, wise and the list goes on but I don’t know God in His totality. So I asked Him, where do I start, where do I start to begin trying to be more like you. I kept thinking on it. Two days later he led me to Colossians 3:12-15:

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

 

Based on this scripture there are ten Godly traits that we can all exude in our daily lives:


1. Merciful/Compassion
2. Kind
3. Humble
4. Gentle
5. Patient
6. Accepting of other’s faults
7. Forgiving
8. Loving
9. Peaceful
10. Thankful


We each must strive daily to stand out from the crowd. The entire world is being “worldly”, try being the odd man out, a glimpse of light in the world.