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Dr. ErikaMichelle

#BeautyBlogs
Beautifully Built Briefs


Ask. Seek. Knock.
"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
Aug 63 min read


RESPONSE REQUIRED
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
Jul 292 min read


What Surrounds You Shapes You
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
Jul 273 min read


When the Promise Doesn't Match the Process
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
Jul 232 min read


Management Is Not Freedom
Management isn't freedom
Jul 202 min read


Wounded and Worthy
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
Jul 202 min read


There's Help in the House
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
Jul 152 min read


Waiting Time isn't Wasted Time
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 us
Jul 32 min read


Growing Pains
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
Jun 252 min read


Discovering Who God Created You to Be
"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
Jun 117 min read


Spiritual Gifts: Discover, Develop, and Deploy
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
Jun 103 min read


Another Dream Come True
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
Jun 103 min read


Yes and Afraid
A lesson from Gideon in Judges 6
May 201 min read


A Beautifully Built Mom
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
May 101 min read


When Alignment Unlocks Purpose
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
May 62 min read


It's Not Hard, It's Unfamiliar
Sometimes we enter seasons where everything feels hard—like it takes so much energy and effort just to make progress. It may feel that way, but the truth is, it’s not hard—it’s just unfamiliar. What you’re experiencing are growing pains. Being a woman in transition means you’re consistently moving higher—into territory you’ve never experienced before. Don’t let the unfamiliar make you feel disqualified. Struggle is often a sign that you’re growing. hard. It’s unfamiliar becau
May 11 min read


Getting Clarity of your Calling through Dreams
For a long time, I didn’t fully understand how God was speaking to me. I just knew I was dreaming… a lot. Some of the dreams felt random, some felt intense, and some stayed with me long after I woke up—like they meant something, but I didn’t have the language to interpret them. What I didn’t realize at the time was that God was revealing things about my life, my identity, and even my calling—through my dreams. Once I began to understand that, everything shifted. Scripture sho
Mar 302 min read


Beautifully Built: My Story, Your Invitation!
I went from being Beautifully Broken to Beautifully Built
Mar 292 min read

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