Before I leave my house for the day, I pray. I grab the bottle of oil that I have sitting on my counter, rub my hands together, & start talking to Jesus about various aspects of my life. I use oil for a variety of reasons: 1) I’m churchy; you know it’s real when you pull out the oil 2) (more importantly) it’s a reminder that as I go through this day, I should always have what I call ‘greasy hands’. What are greasy hands? Glad you asked you ridiculously intelligent human being! Let’s chat about it for a bit…

Have you ever woken up & felt incredibly weak? I mean weak to the point that you wake up and feel like “…..no.” Those moments in which life is just…too much. The moment in which you are done with this day, and are ready to see happier times. The moment in which your are tired of being attacked. You’re tired of fighting. You’re tired of losing this battle, and you’re just….weak. You feel like you’ve been warring for ages, and the enemy keeps hitting you…and you keep losing. Moments that make you wonder ‘where on Earth is God?’ Well, if you feel like that, I’m here for you today. I’ve found out where He’s been hiding, and He told me that I could tell you (in the strictest of internet confidence). God, the victorious, amazing, super awesome God that you’ve been searching for in the midst of your struggle…is in the secret place. 

There’s a stereotype of the popular kids in school. They’re an inner circle, chosen by….somebody’s standards. They’re like….’the crew’. They get what they want. Everybody knows who they are. Everybody likes them. Everybody wants to be like them. They hold the power of the people, you know? They determine what’s cool (or nah). They run things (that don’t really matter in the end lol). Well, today, I’m here to let you know that you’re in a crew too. Yep…and this one? Ohhhh it’s (as the young folks would say) LIT! 

Hi! My name is Valencia, and every now & again (don’t …judge me - we’re in a safe zone)I talk to myself. Most of the time, its inaudible, but sometimes, it's a verbal thing. Yep. There have been times when I literally have Valencia meetings (total attendance: 2 - Valencia & Jesus), and start talking to myself. I’m not insane. I’m not delusional. I don’t (typically) respond to myself. It’s just that…every now & again, I need to have a chit chat with myself. I need to hear it, you know? Once I hear it, everything changes. Why? Like you, I become what I say.