Beautifully Built Briefs

For the past two years, one thing I’ve been intentionally working on is learning how to discern the source of my thoughts. “Who told you that you were naked?” That’s the question God asked Adam in the garden, and honestly, I’ve learned to ask myself that same kind of question. Erika, who told you that person was wrong for doing that? Erika, who told you that you shouldn’t feel that way?Erika, who told you that was the best decision? I’ve learned to question my thoughts before

What if I told you that some of the suffering you’re experiencing could have been prevented? I know that’s a hard statement, but stay with me. Sometimes we’re praying for God to deliver us from something that may actually be the consequence of our delayed obedience. When you suddenly got laid off… when your spouse left… when the car broke down and the house needed repairs all at the same time—could the thing God told you to build have been part of your safety net? Could the d

What if the reason you’re not seeing the promises of God in your life isn’t because God hasn’t spoken—but because somewhere along the way, you believed a lie? And Beauty, you’re not the only one. I had a lie too. For me, the lie the enemy used to keep me stuck was simple: I wasn’t wanted. Now, nobody necessarily sat me down and said those words to me. That’s the thing about the enemy—sometimes he doesn’t have to. He’ll take the circumstances of your life and begin creating a

Sis, those prophetic words you’ve been getting about God restoring you and giving you back everything the enemy tried to steal, kill, and destroy? They’re true. But there’s a part about restoration that we don’t talk about enough. Sis, restoration can be messy. We love the idea of restoration. We love hearing words like renewal, rebuilding, recovery, and double for your trouble.And rightfully so. There is something beautiful about knowing that God can take what was broken and

I’ve been studying the book of Nehemiah lately, and there is one thing the Holy Spirit highlighted that I honestly can’t stop thinking about: God seemingly took Nehemiah from cupbearer to governor. Like… excuse me? Who else can take someone whose job was to serve the king and elevate him into one of the leading officials responsible for an entire people? Only God. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this isn’t even an uncommon occurrence in Scripture. Da

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who as

Called or Chosen? One of the greatest misconceptions in the body of Christ is believing that because we've been called, we've automatically become chosen. The invitation of salvation is extended to everyone. Jesus' call is not exclusive or reserved for a select few. It is an open invitation filled with grace. He invites every one of us into relationship with Him, into purpose, and into the transforming work of becoming more like Christ. But here's the tension... Being called

We don't often realize how much where we are influences who we become until we're left alone looking in the mirror, asking ourselves, "Who is this?" "How did I get here?" or "When did I become her?" If you've never had that moment of reflection, maybe this isn't your season for this word. But if you have, then you know exactly what I'm talking about. As someone who's been there—and is now walking on the other side—I know the devastation of becoming unrecognizable to yourself

Not every season is filled with sunshine and rainbows. Lately, life has felt progressively more difficult. What's made it even more challenging is that, at the same time, I've received prophetic words about what God is doing and where He's taking me—words that seem completely opposite of what I'm experiencing right now. If I'm honest, it's been confusing. How do you hold on to a promise when your reality doesn't look anything like it? How do you keep believing when the proces

Management isn't freedom

One of the biggest lies I used to believe was that God couldn't really use me until I was completely healed. I thought I needed to have every answer, every wound closed, and every struggle behind me before I was qualified to help anyone else. But I've learned that God often does some of His greatest work through us while He's still working in us. Don't get me wrong—God cares deeply about our healing. He doesn't ignore our pain or ask us to pretend we're okay. He invites us to

I think one of the biggest lessons God has been teaching me lately is to stop looking outside for what He's already placed inside. In this season, He's been shifting my mindset from being a consumer to becoming a producer. Instead of constantly asking, "What do I need?" He's been asking me, "What have I already given you?" And honestly...that's been stretching me. It's easy to believe we need more money, more resources, more connections, or more opportunities before we can mo

Waiting is suffering for a little while. That’s really what it is. And if I’m honest, I can’t fully explain why waiting can feel so debilitating—but I know for me, waiting has always required a thousand little deaths. To wait well—to truly walk in patience and long-suffering—something in us has to die. Sometimes it’s our need for control. Sometimes it’s our timeline. Sometimes it’s our pride, fear, or the version of the story we wrote for ourselves. And the hard part....It’s

Back in May, I posted that I was experiencing the best and the worst of times all at once. That still hasn’t changed. So many beautiful things are happening in my life. I’m traveling. I’m leading. I’m laughing. I’m smiling. I’m watching prayers be answered and doors open that only God could have opened. And at the same time… I am struggling. I am dying. I am sacrificing. I am suffering. There are parts of me being stretched, pruned, and refined in ways I never expected. Every

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." — Jeremiah 1:5 Over the past two workshops, Beautifully Built have journeyed through the process of discovering God's design for our lives. Identity is not something we create—it is something we discover in Christ. Each session built upon the previous one, moving us from understanding God's plan to identifying our gifts and ultimately gaining clarity about our calling. PART I: PURPOSE God's Blueprint for Your Life Key Truth: God h

One of the most life-changing revelations I've received is that God never intended for us to simply attend church—He intended for us to become active participants in His Kingdom. Every believer has been given gifts by God. These gifts are not rewards for being spiritually mature, nor are they reserved for pastors or ministry leaders. They are divine tools given by God to help us serve others, build His Church, and advance His Kingdom on the earth. The Apostle Paul writes in 1

April 24, 2025. May 8, 2025. July 23, 2025. These are three dates recorded in my dream journal. In each of those dreams, people were speaking to me in Spanish, and I was trying to learn enough Spanish to communicate with them. At the time, I didn't fully understand what God was showing me. I simply documented the dreams and continued moving forward. Last night, I returned from what I can only describe as a dream come true. A year ago, God showed me this mission trip to Guatem

A lesson from Gideon in Judges 6

Mothering with Christ. 🤍 There was a time in my life when I thought I was a great mom because I was successful in my career and able to provide for my son. One day, God showed me that the life I was living was low-hanging fruit compared to the life He had for my son and me. He revealed that I wasn’t truly living up to His standard of motherhood. When we measure our lives to the world’s standards, we. An often become content with less than God’s best. That realization convict

I didn’t always realize I was living outside of my purpose—I just knew how to get by. I was showing up, serving, and doing all the right things, yet still felt disconnected and searching for more. In Beautifully Broken, (a book Holy Spirit helped me write last summer) I share how God met me right there. He didn’t just call me—He interrupted my life. He exposed the lies I believed, broke unhealthy cycles, and began bringing me into alignment with His truth. Clarity didn’t come