The Plan I Have For You

I am incredibly excited to share this post from a great friend of mine.  The last year for her has been one of an amazing transformation that only God can do.  Today, she is serving on staff at Women at the Well, a Christ centered program for women dealing with life controlling issues. I am so excited about the opportunities God has given her to minister to other women.   Waiting For most of my life, I thought waiting was about killing time. A passive way to spend the interim between here and there. Twiddling thumbs in the line at the post office. Rocking in a chair on the porch ‘til a waitress calls your name for a table at Cracker Barrel. Those things frustrate me, though. It’s just delaying my preferred outcome. I read a book for a sociology class once in college called the McDonaldization of Society. It was about how our culture has basically trai ned us to expect efficiency to the point that it robs us of experience. The emergence of fast-food restaurants has taugh

Exodus 17 8  Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. 9  So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10  Joshua did as Moses [ i ] told him, [ j ] and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11  So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand [ k ] down, Amalek prevailed. 12  But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. 13  So Joshua [ l ] overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. I mentioned in my last blog God has been peeling away my layers like an onion.  A couple of weeks ago I was asked to fill in on a Wednesday night for our ladies class at church.  I was hesita

Have you ever noticed how just when you seem to find your comfort zone, that is when God decides to shake things up a bit?  He started shaking things around in my life about three years ago.  Admittedly, I had gotten used to living life earthquake style, as long as I could do it in my shell.  Well now he's started peeling back the layers like a Bloomin' Onion on a tray at the Outback. I'm usually an encourager.  I started this blog to share my encouraging lessons with others.  Let me just be real and tell you something. The words penned in this blog have been very far between lately because I've been fighting a pretty big battle behind the scenes.  Its been hard to sit down and write an encouraging word when you are struggling to stay afloat yourself. I haven't kept it a secret my health has been an up an down battle for the past couple of years.  After this last surgery, I went on a run of headaches that lasted in the range of 50+ days before getting them u

No matter how strong you think your faith is, Satan will always attack you.  He knows exactly where your weak spots are, and he aims straight for the heart.  I've been trying to find the words to share with you just what has been going on behind the scenes of my usually tough Super woman front.  Can I make a confession to you?  I've been shaking in my boots.  This morning our choir sang an amazing Chris Tomlin song, the one that has been played over and over in my car trying to keep a straight face during a tough time.  As the words poured out of my heart, the memories of singing them over and over the past several weeks on the way to work, on many long, lonely trips to the doctor poured through my mind.  I was diagnosed with a suspicious spot on my left ovary in mid March.  Along with the diagnosis came more tests and a waiting game.  Surgery was scheduled, and the ovary biopsied.  Then more waiting to see what my fate would be. During those long weeks, Satan attacke

I do not believe for a moment God puts people in your life by accident.  A few weeks ago, I was given the great honor to preview a book written by a young man who has an incredible God story.  It is his biography, in which he shares the challenges he faced growing up, and how for part of his life he completely turned his back on God.  Even in those times when he didn't believe, you can see seeds being planted.  God miraculously spared his life after a serious auto accident and began to make a change in his heart.  This man, who wasn't even expected to live much less walk, will begin a cross country trek on foot in just a few days to share the message of Christ, coast to coast. I hope you enjoy the blog, and I encourage you to buy his book.   Please join me in covering Jason with prayer for safety, provision and for God to put people in his path that need to hear his message of hope.   Every Step Jason Truett How do you beat a Goliath? David did it with stones

Proverbs 16:9 The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Its graduation time.  It always takes me back to that day, longer ago than I want to think about, when I was standing with my cap and gown, ready to tackle the world.  I had a plan.  Go to college.  Become a lawyer.  Fall in love and get married.  Have babies.  Life would be sweet and rosy.  I'd be the mom who had my career, kept my house spotless and be at every school function and child activity.   I had a great opportunity to listen to our pastor share with our youth some great advice last night on seeking God's will for your life.  As he finished, I told the young lady next to me it was great advice whether you are a teenager or 40.  God doesn't stop making plans for you when you graduate. The verse above was jotted in my notebook almost three years ago.  It was one of those times in my life where I felt God clearly tugging on my super mom heart and telling me I could not continue to

1 John 3:1 New International Version (NIV) 3 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  When I think about the word lavish,a beautiful princess comes to mind. Dressed in a beautiful dress, hair perfect. She's surrounded by a staff who takes care of her every need. Lavishly loved. Most days I don't feel like a princess.  There is no staff, and it seems I pour more of me out than I get put back in.   Friday was a road trip day. I was on my way to the doctor for a procedure and a test...and a nervous wreck.  The weather was gloomy, drizzly and gray.  The results of the test had been consuming me for weeks.  We had been dealing with vehicle issues.  Several other things weighed heavy on my mind.  I felt completely overwhelmed. As I topped the hill, there was a moment of sunshine and I began to smile.  In the midst of the gr

James 5:9-11 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!   Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.   As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. Have you ever dropped a spot of something on the carpet and then went to clean it up?  If you don't do it correctly, you start to rub, and the more you rub, the bigger the mess becomes.  Sometimes being around people is hard.  It is inevitable when you put people of different backgrounds together you are going to have disagreements.  We get our feelings hurt, or we see things going on that just simply shouldn't be.  It is really easy to continue to rub at the spot and create a huge mess of feelings.  Some may be legitimate, so

Exodus 14:13-14 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord , which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.   The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. This morning God led me to the story of the Israelites and their journey across the Red Sea.  It still amazes me that every time I read something I have read many times before, I can still learn something new. In Exodus 14, God places the Israelites in an area where they appeared to be trapped.  God hardens the heart of Pharaoh and he sends out his army after them.  We all know what happens from here, Moses, led by God, stretches out his hand and parts the sea so the Israelites can cross on dry land.  Then God instructs Moses to once again stretch out his hand so the sea returns and drowns the Egyptian army.   We all have had our wilderness experiences.  Sometimes they happen every day.  As