Amy Leung 10/9/24 Amy Leung 10/9/24

Dandelion Moments

Dandelions remind me of my daughters and take me back to their preschool years when they loved frolicking outside for hours. They especially loved finding dandelions and blowing on the fuzzy seed heads. I would join them in watching with wonder the dandelion seeds be carried off by the wind into the distance like little snow flurries.

On really windy days, they would swirl and move as if they were dancing in the air and we would watch them fly off into the horizon until we couldn't see them anymore.

"Let's find another one!" they would shout immediately after.

It was like treasure hunting for them. I loved watching their faces light up each time they picked up a dandelion. They would pause and just stare at it in awe and wonder. That was my favorite part. It's like they just knew instinctually that this was meant to be savored.

My dandelion loving first born when she was a little.

There are things in life and in creation that require our full attention in order to know them and enjoy them the way God intended.

Thanks to my kids, dandelions now hold memories. When I see them, I see my kids and an invitation to pause. Those "dandelion moments" I shared with them also developed intimacy in our relationship.

One of the most precious things I learned during the wilderness season is the need to slow down and savor the presence of God, especially in solitude.

So much healing and restoration has happened in my life through the laying down of my selfish desires and learning to give Jesus my full attention and affection.

The eighth verse of James chapter four says, "Come close to God, and God will come close to you."

Closeness with God actually requires us to act first. We don't experience "dandelion moments" from just staring at a dandelion or sitting next to one while scrolling on our phones.

For me, this looks like fiercely protecting my time with God, making it a priority, and keeping it consistent. It means establishing and upholding boundaries in my life so that my time with God (in the form of worshipping, praying, journaling, and reading scripture) is never hurried and distracted.

In Psalm 46:10 God says, “Be still, and know that I am God!" He has instructed us on how to show up in relationship with Him and how to enjoy the fullness of who He is.

If you want to know the heart of the One who created you, you have to learn to be still.

True intimacy can not be rushed.

You can't hustle and hurry your way into someone's heart, and you can't expect someone to enter yours the same way.

That approach only leads to counterfeit forms of love and intimacy.

Reflection:

What are the "dandelion moments" you've experienced?

Are you hungry or simply curious about knowing God in a real authentic way?

Coaching Tip:

Practice just one DOABLE action step towards experiencing "dandelion moments" with the One who created you.

Maybe it's disconnecting from your phone and reading one chapter or meditating on one verse in the Bible once a week or once a day. Start with something doable and build from there. God is so patient, gracious, and kind. He'll meet you where your heart is at

Amy Leung 9/21/23 Amy Leung 9/21/23

Words and the Fight of My Life

Bipolar. Schizophrenia. Manic. Depression. Suicidal thoughts. Homicidal images. Voices. Fear. Torment.

These words hit home for me. They were once part of my family's reality. These were the demons we were fighting against back then before we all entered the "chrysalis stage" (check out my previous blog post).

I know these words might be hard for some people to read. They can evoke intense emotions. Being able to come face to face with these words without great trepidation was one of the first things we had to work through in our healing journey and it started with VULNERABILITY.

If you haven't gotten to know it intimately yet, I can assure you and testify that vulnerability is a God DESIGNED SUPER POWER we ALL possess.

I believe it's one of the things that humanity lost in The Garden of Eden, and Jesus RECLAIMED it for us through the CROSS.

Maybe one day I will share details, but to honor my children's privacy and the place where God has us now, the details aren't important. What's important for me to release into this space with you is our healing journey, which began with WORDS.

One of the hardest yet most POWERFUL thing that SHIFTED our direction from hopelessness to CLARITY was learning how to

CHANGE what we SPEAK in order to CHANGE what we SEE.

Most of us were taught to only SAY what we SEE, what is happening, what we're experiencing and what seems real. **This is still important.** We should not live in denial. But it becomes HARMFUL when it's all we are speaking over ourselves and one another.

I believe that words have the power to create or change the atmosphere in a room. They also have the ability to shape the way we see ourselves, others, or a situation.

We might attach past experiences to a new or current situation and SPEAK what we ASSUME will happen. And when that is REPEATED enough times, it can shape our perception of the situation or even form the future outcome.

What I've learned is that our circumstances are REAL, but they are not always God's heart and truth for us. They are not always HIS REALITY and what He wants us to see through the PERSPECTIVE of FAITH. Faith enables us to SEE what is POSSIBLE in the impossible.

So how do we activate our faith?

What can it look like?

It can start with the WORDS we CHOOSE to SPEAK.

WORDS are POWERFUL.

I think God knew this when He formed the universe with His WORDS and when He hand picked WORDS that would be passed down through the ages, words intended to transform us, give us life, heal us, comfort us, and set us free.

I'm curious what you think. What WORDS have YOU been selecting and releasing into the atmospheres of your life?

Whatever challenging situation you might be in, however big or impossible it might seem, may you be encouraged that you have the gift of vulnerability and the power to SPEAK over yourself and your situation. You have the power to transform your mindset, rewire your brain, and change what you see to an IMAGE of HOPE.

I now see words as spiritual containers. I have made a lot of mistakes and picked the wrong words that even hurt people I love to get to this place of understanding. Knowing when to release the right words at the right time is so important.

Words are like spiritual vessels.

When you speak them, you unleash and pour out a catalytist for movement and change (good or bad).

It's words from my childhood that hurt me. And it was God's words and words from loved ones that healed me.

What WORDS will YOU CHOOSE to SPEAK? What do you want to SEE. Choose your words wisely.

Blessings,

a.y.l

Amy Leung 9/4/23 Amy Leung 9/4/23

The Chrysalis Stage

The chrysalis stage.

Better known as the wilderness.

I know it well. I was in it for two years battling a major mental health crisis that crept up on me unexpectedly and then another crisis with my second born after just a few months into my recovery.

I didn't have time to come up for air before I got knocked down again.

It was a nightmare, a full blown spiritual attack.

But God.

I started with His words. I consumed them like medicine.

Psalm 91 wrapped around me like a weighted blanket.

John 15 seemed to follow me wherever I went reminding me to cling on to Him.

Psalm 23 was where I hung out the longest, getting to know who the Good Shepherd really is and discovering why His rod and staff is so comforting.

Hebrews 10:36 coached me through the extra tough moments, which there are many of in the chrysalis stage.

There were days when I felt like goop.

Just a mushy mess of doubt and uncertainty. But I hoped and anticipated growth and transformation. I knew this was a process I had to walk through. I trusted that even in this stage there's still beauty because God was in it. I saw glimpses of Him in the beginning. And the more I trusted that He was there actively moving, molding, and making me new, the more of His presence I was able to see and experience.

If you look closely at a chrysalis, it's actually quite exquisite. I love the chrysalis of a monarch butterfly. It is this jade green with gold detailing. It's beautiful exterior protecting the mushy goopy mess inside that's filled with the promises and potential of transformation into something even more beautiful and exquisite.

A lot of unlearning and learning happens in this stage. A lot of tears were shed and many mistakes were made when I was in it. But I learned so much.

For example, I learned that people can unintentionally hurt you in this delicate stage. They might say the right thing at the wrong time or just say the wrong thing.

I learned that you can also be the one to accidentally hurt people you love during this stage. Thank God for grace. Thank God for people who generously gave me grace along the way and was brave enough to let me try again.

I learned that not everyone needs to know your business and not everyone can understand and handle the mushy mess you are in at this stage...and that's ok. It was hard for me to embrace this at first because I wanted everyone in my life to be involved and connected. But most of the time, I just didn't have the words or capacity to explain. It was all just so much and I was still figuring things out.

The truth is, the ones that truly know and love you will understand and they will wait for you.

The ones that God appoints to be a part of your transformation will get you most bc they've walked through it themselves or they’ve journeyed with someone before through their chrysalis period. They know this stage. They understand how fragile, painful, and uncomfortable it can get inside that chrysalis. They know how your soul needs to be protected during this time. They know all the brave things you must do, most of which is not witnessed by anyone but God.

Every single person that cares is precious.

There are many people I have not seen, people I have not spoken to since I first entered the chrysalis stage. I wish I could sit down with each of you and hear how you're doing. I see y'all. I am so grateful.

I share all this bc I know that there are so many of you who are in the chrysalis stage at this very moment. Or maybe you are realizing as you read this that you are in the chrysalis stage.

So, to the woman who feels like a mushy goopy mess...

You are not alone. You are going to be ok. You are going to get through this. You are a child of God. You carry His promises in your spiritual DNA.

Remember you are Body, Soul, and Spirit.

Generously tend to all parts of your being. You are worthy of tender love and care. Be brave. Be vulnerable. Don't walk this journey alone. And don't try to rush it. Many beautiful things grow in the steady pace of grace.

Remember your feelings are important but they are not always Truth. They don't define who you are, where you are, and where you're going to be.

Keep your gaze on Jesus.

Draw close to Him and He will draw close to you (James 4: 7-8). It's a partnership, a dance, a promise. It might be hard to see right now, but He is real and He truly is so very good.

Healing is yours.

Restoration belongs to you. Transformation is part of your inheritance. Jesus laid His life down for all this and more.

So take heart, dear one. Light up your faith. Do the brave work ahead.

In the fullness of time, you will be made new.

You will burst out of that chrysalis in new form and you will get to fly.

I'm Amy Leung. I've been through some stuff. I've come out of the chrysalis.

I'm here to help others get through their goopy mushy messy stage and draw out the clarity inside them.

I create safe and brave spaces for you to unpack the mess inside your life walk in hope and victory.

Blessings,

a.y.l