Vessel of Steel: Reaching Your Highest Potential

By Angela Underwood

There are times in our lives when there will be failures and disappointments. What will you do when things are not going your way? Will you give up? Will you throw in the towel and say Im done? By becoming a vessel of steel, no matter what comes your way, you will be able to stand strong. You will not bend or break when difficult situations arise and things arent going the way you hoped. With persistence, dedication and hardwork, you will be able to succeed and strengthen your vessel. Vessel of Steel was written to help encourage and move you to a higher level in your life so that you may become all that you were created to be.
First you need to know your purpose; and then you must come to grips with what it will take to reach your goals.
What you pour into your vessel can help you to accomplish your dreams and become the best you can be. To avoid becoming an empty vessel, you must be willing to strive to reach your greatest potential. Life is a journey and it should be a journey of growth. Not simply going through life and experiencing different things, but learning from your experiences. In order to grow, you must learn what is necessary in your life to obtain the success that you so desire to have and deserve.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781504978064

Angela Underwood

Angela Underwood has worked in the financial industry for over 28 years. She holds a degree in Business Management from DePaul University and has also completed educational requirements for becoming a Certified Financial Planner. Angela is Founder and CEO of the FinGive Corp and Co-Founder of Women Taking Action. Angela is the developer and facilitator for the “Building Your Financial Future” seminars and workshops. She has presented at a number of churches and conferences, and graced many platforms with her message of empowerment and growth development. You can learn more about Angela when you visit her website at www.fingive.com.

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© 2016 Angela Underwood. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 02/03/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5049-7777-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-7778-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-7806-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016901851

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture references

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version, 1979, 1980, 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc.

NKJV

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

This book is dedicated to everyone who desires to become a ‘Vessel Of Steel’.

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Acknowledgment

First of all, I would like to thank God for providing me the ability to serve and be a witness to His amazing works.

Thank you to my husband Colvin Underwood Sr. of over thirty years for being my partner in my many endeavors and for supporting me in this effort. Thank you to my children, Latoya, Keisha, and Colvin Jr. for always checking up on me and looking over my shoulders from time to time. Thanks to my grandson’s Terrion and Josiah for allowing me time to laugh and remain youthful through your energy. You guys keep grandma on her toes.

Thank you to my Pastor, Rev. Dr. William R. Lott, Sr. for continuing to stand on the word of God and teaching the word. Because of your obedience to God, I am able to share what I have learned through your teaching. Thank you to my Mt. Sinai church family for always being caring and for loving me unconditionally.

Vessel of Steel

Discovering the Power Within You

Your body is a vessel and it should be filled with everything that is good for building up the greater you and everything that will help you to extend yourself above the norm and become extraordinary so that you may produce good fruit and live a more productive life.

My hope is that as you read this book, you will become completely aware of how important it is to pour into your vessel so that you can be all that you were created to be. Your vessel is who you are; and if we are to bring about a great and positive change in the world, we must take time to focus on pouring into ourselves (our vessels). Each of our goals should be to improve the livelihood of our families, our communities and this entire world. God desires to use you for something great, more than you can ever imagine or even dream; and it is His Word that will help you to grow in the knowledge of Him and of His will for your life.

As you embark upon the journey to pour into your vessel, and make decisions to learn new things or to develop in various areas of your life, be prepared to pass on knowledge to others so that they too may become successful. It’s important that you share your gifts and talents, as they not only benefit you, but also help increase the lives of others. And this is another reason you must build up your vessel, so that you can proceed to a higher level of service.

This book is about building up your vessel so that you may become successful in what you have set out to do in life. Throughout our lives, we experience heartache, pain and suffering. We must know how to go through difficult times in our lives. Sometimes we have failures, but we must be willing to work hard to accomplish the task, and not think about giving up on ourselves or on other people.

This book is a tool to assist you in your desire to move forward in your life and to do great things. Many people are wondering what it is that they are purposed to do and become in life. Others are simply living day in and day out, going to work, coming home, watching their favorite television show or playing their favorite sport. Doing these things will only cause you to live in a box and be completely unaware of the massive amount of opportunities that surround you.

The greatest joy anyone can have in this life is the joy of doing something for someone else. Sometimes you may ask yourself, why do I feel empty or why do I not feel satisfied in my career or in my life? The answer is simple, you have not poured into your vessel.

My desire for you is that you will strengthen your vessel so that you may become a ‘Vessel of Steel’!

Becoming a ‘vessel of steel’ will help you to not throw in the towel and to give up on yourself.

Becoming a ‘vessel of steel’ will not allow you to see someone hurting and simply move along past them, and attending to your own business pretending not to see that person in need.

Becoming a ‘vessel of steel’, will not move you to give up when you have had failures in your life.

Becoming a ‘vessel of steel’ will give you the courage to make this world better for future generations to come!

You must now prepare yourself so that you may become a ‘vessel of steel’.

Contents

Acknowledgment

Vessel Of Steel Discovering The Power Within You

Moving Toward Success

Chapter 1 Fashioned By God

Chapter 2 Keeping The Faith

Chapter 3 The Appearance Of Your Vessel.

Strengthening Your Vessel

Chapter 4 Overcoming The Storms Of Life

Chapter 5 Storing Up In Your Vessel

Chapter 6 Pouring In Good Substance

Continuing To Grow In Your Vessel

Chapter 7 Emptying Out

Chapter 8 Finding Your Way

Chapter 9 Becoming Financially Fit In Your Vessel

Looking Forward

Chapter 10 A Vessel That Gives

Chapter 11 The Cost Of Your Vessel

Chapter 12 Walking In Success

Reflection

Chapter 13 Reflecting In Your Vessel

Chapter 14 Remaining Strong In Your Vessel

Chapter 15 Shaping Your Vessel

Chapter 16 Your Dreams Can Be Accomplished

Keep Moving

Chapter 17 A Shining Vessel

Chapter 18 Understanding Your Purpose

Chapter 19 Make It Work

Moving Toward Success

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Chapter 1

Fashioned By God

Isaiah 64:8 (NIV)

Yet you, Lord, are our Father.

We are the clay, you are the potter;

we are all the work of your hand.

My grandmother, Mrs. Willie Mae Griggs, was a midwife in the southern state of Mississippi. Before she delivered me, her hands had helped to bring forth many children into the world. People would count on my grandmother, as she was deemed to be their primary hope in assisting with the deliverance of their unborn child. Knowing this often made me wonder, what were my grandmother’s dreams for her life? What was her purpose in life?

My grandmother was a tall slim woman who always had her hands to the grind. She was also a very stern lady who was known for never backing down to anyone.

When I was two years old, my parents moved from Shaw, Mississippi to Chicago. Even after we moved out of the small city of Shaw to the big industrial city of Chicago, every summer we would still travel to Mississippi to visit my grandmother. One summer, I remember my grandmother taking me on a drive to town. On that particular visit to town, I recall how loving and very generous she was to me. I remember her buying me popcorn and a brand new doll, and asking me if I wanted anything else. That was just one of several special times with her. I loved spending that time with her, just she and I riding around and shopping together, as she talked to me and encouraged me to be strong even as a small child.

I was twelve years old when my grandmother passed away. Although I was very young at the time, I realized the great impact that she had on the lives of the many people who came into contact with her. Most of my family, including my mother, father and three siblings traveled from Chicago to Mississippi to attend her funeral. Even at my tender age of twelve, I knew that my grandmother was someone very special. She was a true gift from God.

People usually say you act like your mother, or you look exactly like your father. Most children become familiar with hearing these words especially from older relatives and acquaintances, even though, out of the billions of people in this world, there are no two individuals who are exactly the same. We are all different as each of us was born and shaped to be unique human beings.

God used my grandmother to deliver me into this world and He knew the plans that He had for my life before I was even born. God fashioned me in my mother’s womb and I know that His hope for me is to become all that I was created to be. I have searched many years to uncover my purpose in life. As a child, I often found myself daydreaming about being a singer or even a movie star. Not sure if this was God’s purpose for my life, for as I got older, I didn’t have a desire to take acting or singing lessons. I daydreamed about becoming successful, although, at a very young age, I did not fully understand what success really looked like. I would think about being famous, having a huge mansion, driving fancy cars and other things of that nature. I would even fantasize about being someone else or doing things that brought a huge smile upon my face. But what does having all of those material possessions prove? What would it gain for my life? As I grew older, I needed to find out who I was to become in life and God’s purpose for placing me here on this earth. When I think about it, my overall desire was to meet the needs of others and to help people become successful in their