Never Alone

September 11th. It’s been 17 years since we woke up that morning. We sat in complete silence as we watched planes fly into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and crash into a field in Pennsylvania. Our hearts ached for a reason. A reason for why this was happening. 

We experience many things in our lifetime, some good and some bad.  It's how we react and respond to these experiences that make us who we are.  Sometimes it's hard to get through the hard times, but it is in the brokenness within us that beauty comes.  Even in the fragile cracks of our lives, an amazing and beautiful experience can come from it.  We learn through our mistakes, through our trials, and yes, through our pain.

Many lives changed that day, in ways we couldn’t have imagined. We never know how the day is going to turn out, we have no idea what tomorrow holds for us, and we aren’t supposed to. We are just supposed to live in this moment. We have this incredible opportunity to be a light in the lives of others. To show who we live for and who we put our faith and trust in. When bad things happen, sometimes we get quiet and want to hide away but if we hide it’s more difficult to seek the help we need to heal. When we enter into a relationship with God, through His Son, Jesus, we are filled with His Holy Spirit, we are given an overwhelming peace to get us through our difficult times. It’s through this relationship that we can heal, that we can tell others about how we are healing and our faith. The road is not always going to be easy and more often than not it’s the most difficult road to travel, but in the end we are going to see the reason for it all, the reason we went through all that we did, and through all the tears we cried we just may cry tears of joy as we kept our faith and trusted in The One who has never left our side. 

“because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever. Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.”‭‭ 2 John‬ ‭1:2-3 NLT

Let’s live in the truth, live in the light, and even though bad things happen, we can take heart that something good is on its way. When we wait through the hard times, when we wait through tradegy, when we wait through what we fear the most, we can look forward to the beautiful thing that awaits us. 

My prayer is that we hold tight in this wait.  Hold tight to our faith in times of trial and loss.  Our story is continually being written and just like a best-selling novel, there is a rise and fall, but more often there is an ending that comes out of the blue, catches us by surprise, and leaves us completely in awe, never expecting what was coming.

It's in those still, quiet moments in our lives that we hear from God.  When we take time to slow down and really listen.  Time to reflect and time to renew our strength with The One who gave us strength. We are fearfully and wonderfully made and it's all about timing, the perfect timing.  It's in the wait that God is building our strength, our character, our story.  The waiting is the hard part, but how great will it be to say that I waited for this moment, I waited for God's perfect timing for me, and when that time came it would be so much better than I could have ever even imagined it would be.

"Now all the glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we ask or think." Ephesians 3:20

Blessings

Celebrate Life!

Well, I've been thinking about this recent conference I was able to attend back in October of this year, I was incredibly blessed to be able to listen to the hearts of several women of faith while in Sacramento, Ca.  
While each one of them had a completely different life story to tell, they all centered around their undying love for Jesus.  They shared of hardships and trials and even some of the tears and pain that occurred in their lives and how they had been brought through these trials to be able to see the triumphs and victories over these times to believe and see what lies ahead in their brilliant futures.  Each one of their stories ran over several years of their life where they had their ups and downs.  Sometimes just when things started to look up…their world came to a crashing halt! Then, when it seemed as if all they wanted to do was give up, they rose to learn from their past and push on toward their future.
Philippians 3:13-14 -- Now, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

I mean, have you ever felt like that?  Most of us have.  But, in truth, as it says in the scripture, in this life we will face trials….but take heart HE has overcome the world! 


Christine Caine was probably one of my favorites that weekend.  I love how she spoke on ‘a plague of frogs.’ I seen that scripture in a whole new aspect that day.
Christine shared that we are important – each and every one of us --  and God knows and cares from each and every one of His children.  It doesn't matter where we live or where we were born, we are more than just a number in the system, we all have a name and are fearfully and wonderfully made!  Whether we grew up and lived with our birth parents or if you've been adopted or if you live in a child care center somewhere...you are more than just a number in this big world....you have a name and you matter...and you are loved!
It says in Jeremiah 29:11, “’I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord…”  God’s got a plan, a purpose and a destiny for you!
I am fearfully and wonderfully made! 
Ephesians 2:10 -- For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

How are you going to live without your fear?  You don’t have to be defined by your issues?  Christ knows your name and who you are.  I can't wait to dive into Christine's newest book, "Undaunted," and learning more through her writing as well. 

Isaiah 49:1 -- Listen to me, all you in distant lands!  Pay attention, you who are far away!
The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name.

Psalm 139: 1-24 --  www.biblegateway.com

O Lord, you have examined my heart

and know everything about me.

² You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

³ You see me when I travel

and when I rest at home.

You know everything I do.

⁴ You know what I am going to say

even before I say it, Lord.

⁵ You go before me and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head.

You’re wanted!!!  You were made for more! The truth will make you free!

Galatians 5:1 --So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

Angie Smith spoke about fear, and who doesn't have some kind of fear in their life, right?  Angie shared about fears through the voice of Hagar, and how when Hagar was sent off with Ishmael they face trials, their faith was tested but even  where human provision may have run out, the ‘well’ is always there and God was always with them helping with there needs. Hagar
   Genesis 21:8-21


Angie spoke about Psalm 139 today and the impact on this chapter in her life.

Angie told her story about here daughter and each of their births.  She opened with her twin daughters and how she had them figured to be the best babies in the world.  She had no trouble taking these angels to the store and out and about.  Although, her next child came to be the complete opposite.  "She's a negotiator" Angie said.  As she told the story about telling her daughter that if she would quit sucking her thumb for 2 weeks, she would take her to Toys R Us and buy her anything she wanted for not sucking her thumb for 2 weeks!  All in all and to quote "a very funny story" her daughter agreed to the proposition.  Well, 5 minutes later Angie found her daughter in her room sucking her thumb. When she asked her about their deal just earlier, her daughter turned to her saying, "eh...I'll just get it for Christmas."  Kids!

Now Angie told us of her cute little stories of her girls but she left one story for the end.  Her next little baby girl.  A little girl who halfway through her pregnancy, the doctors had advised Angie to 'end her pregnancy.'  They told Angie and Scott that their baby girl wasn't developing like she should be, she didn't have a pancreas, she didn't have 4 chambers in her heart and there were two other organs missing.  Knowing how strong Angie and Scott felt about the human life growing inside of her they trusted God and they continued to full term against the wishes of the doctors.  By their next appointment, the doctors were amazed about how much progress the baby had made.  Her organs had been developing and she had 4 chambers in her heart.  Angie made it to deliver her baby girl.  Although she was weak and small, they were aloud to hold their precious and beautiful baby girl for a couple hours on the day of her birth.  And even through they only had a few hours with her, she said that they would have a lifetime of memories  for as long as she'd lived that day, and they would never have traded that day of anything.  They loved and cherished every moment they had spent with their precious and beautiful daughter.

God sees you different than you see yourself. 

                                                There is hope beyond where you are right now.

Sheila Walsh is always amazing to hear and a blessing her hear her thoughts and teachings.  She spoke from Romans Chapter 12, identifying that there is ‘nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ.’  
   
   It’s not about who you are,     
   it’s about whose you are!      

         I am a daughter 
                of the 
                                                           King of Kings!



Shannon Ethridge graced us with her presence as she shared that God is more than sufficient to meet ALL of OUR needs! 



Shannon's life story was incredible to be able to listen to her heart as she  told her story.

I just want to break down some of my favorite quotes spoken by Shannon this day, they pretty much say it all about surrending your life over to God and letting go.  Knowing that we are going to make mistakes and even though we may fail at times, God is there to embrace us and pick us back up and dust us off.  

• Let God woo you and pursue you
  
• Embrace your bridegroom“

• Loving Jesus without limits!”

Even, the one of the few men (Ken Davis) that we there shared a few good points, 

1 – To believe with all of your heart that God is the author of ALL YOUR JOY!  
2 – To believe with all your heart that perfection is not a requirement! AND 
3 – To believe with all your heart that He will NEVER let you down!

God can take you where you are at!

There's a purpose and a plan for all of us!

God can meet you and take you where you are!  

1 Peter 5:6-10 --> upon reading this section verse 10, this does stand out as the key verse here.  No matter what we may go through, God is here for us and he will provide us with strength to be restored.  In the hands of God our brokenness is powerful.  More powerful than we could even imagine!
We can see the face of God in the brokenness, in the storms of life, in our trials and in our tribulations.  The difference in 'being broken' and 'being broken open' is when we find that we can let God in to help us heal.  God gives us those little signs of comfort that everything is going to be okay.
Listening to Sheila Walsh this weekend, made me think about a few years, remembering hearing from Tammy Trent.  These two ladies have amazing stories to tell.  In Sheila's book, Honesty and In Tammy's book, "Learning to breathe again,' tells the stories of how they've felt broken and how they've been restored.
His angels are all around us, whether they come in Hilton Housekeeping uniforms, a voice or hug of a stranger or even someone we know well.  We are constantly entertaining angels all around us.

     So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.  Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.  

     In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

God has His Purpose for all of us!  I love when I heard someone say this,  'God just teach me to sing and worship you in the middle of the storm.'  Because when we are in the middle of a storm that's really when we want to be focused on God.  Which really reminded me how much I really love the song from Casting Crowns, Praise you in this storm.  God will get us through the storms in our lives.  I can see the pictures -- standing on the sandy beach  in the middle of a rainstorm just praising God in the midst of it.  How amazing does that sound?

Romans 8:28 -- And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

I am a Child of God and Daughter of the King of Kings!  

I took a couple notes from one of Sheila's messages she shared and I wanted to share some of them here....

God let me reflect who YOU ARE!

A couple of points I've listed from the conference that I was at to help us reflect.... 

• It's okay to talk to yourself. :-)  Really it is! :-) You can ask yourself, who does Jesus love? For me, THIS GIRL! :-)

• Build an arsenal of the Word of God
• Dig for themselves/ourselves
• The Word of God is a letter written to YOU by GOD to help you.
• Create a stack of cards with verses that you can turn to
• Fear --> Psalm 27:1
• The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? 
     The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? 
• Anxiety --> 1 Peter 5:7
• Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 
• Overwhelmed --> 
• My Grace is sufficient for you
• My Grace is enough for you
• Psalm 143:8......................Treasure deep in your heart
  Psalm 4:8
• The Bible is full of helpful verses for us to live by (God's love letter to us!)

• Surround yourself with good people.  You will be like the five people you are around the most!
• find yourself a mentor  -- someone older who can give you guidance, answer your questions and help guide you and just be able to be there for you.

God knows the weight of what we have cried, he holds our tears and he knows when we cry.  He is there for us!  He will wipe away every tear that falls from our face.

Revelation 21:4 -->  He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.

Love this song from Sheila Walsh.  She sang it toward the end of the Women of Faith conference, so I though I would share it on here as well. 

You Raise me up - Sheila Walsh

Women of Faith part 3…bummer lambs

Bummer Lambs

"...My chains are gone I've been set free My God, my Savior has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy rains Unending love, Amazing grace..."

During one of Sheila Walsh’s messages she spoke about how sometimes, like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, you can be singing, ‘Somewhere over the rainbow  Way up high, There's a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue, And the dreams that you dare to dream Really do come true.’ And then, before you know it, you have no idea that a tornado is on it’s way, in the midst of our dreams.  But when we can't seem to go on anymore and we come to understand and realize that we can't do it alone...we see that God has been with us the whole time.  We just need to reach out our hand and God will pull us through.



Sheila’s book, Honestly, takes a look into Sheila’ childhood, through her 30’s and so on through her life.  She talks about how her life changed in an instant and how she just tried to cover up the fact that she was hurting inside by looking okay on the outside.  Which so many of us try to do, don't we?  We work so hard to make everything look so good on the outside so nobody can see what is really happening on the inside of our lives.  I would definitely recommend this book to read!   We all have dreams for our life and sometimes it just takes a little longer to get there.  We will never get something completely right....but God still loves us anyway!  He is there to pick us up when we fall...as we reach out our hand and grab a hold of HIS!
"...nothing in my hands I bring, simply to the cross I cling..."

Sheila told the story of the shepherd and his sheep and how the shepherd will go and look for that ONE lost lamb. Then if something is wrong or that lamb is hurt the only hope is for the shepherd to come and lift the lamb up.  Sheep are the most defenseless of animals.  It’s known that an Ewe will reject one of her lambs after she gives birth, and that lamb will die of a broken heart/spirit unless the shepherd intervenes.  These lambs are also known as, bummer lambs.
The bummer lambs run to the shepherd because they get and they get it because they believe it!  
They embrace the relationship with the shepherd, because they know that they are loved!  They know where they can find help and a relationship.  They know that even though they wondered away, that they can come home again and be loved!
We are completely loved by God. If I could tell you just one thing...it would be that, You are loved more than you can ever imagine.  Each one of us can have brand new life and have a relationship with a God and Father that knows our hearts and our future.
The Shepherd is looking for you...where are you?  Will you embrace the relationship?  Because you are loved by the fiery LOVE of God!   

Matthew 18:12-14 If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn't wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.

When we come to realize that, I am not the good news…GOD IS!!!  God is the good news that we need to share with the world!  

Having a true and real 'best friend' relationship with Jesus and wanting to know that when I wake up in the morning, HE is the first thing on my mind, because HE is the one that woke me up that morning, and HE is the last thing I want to think about before I go to sleep, because HE will give me a great nights rest!  

The decisions that you make today will affect your future.




Amazing Grace...My Chains are Gone

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine  

Women of Faith....part 2 -- broken & bruised, now safe & loved

Have you ever thought about what it was like back before the 'fall of man?'  When Adam and Eve walked with God through the Garden of Eden.  How amazing would that have been?  Physically walking with the Creator of the Universe...side by side.  Something we will finally get to do when we get to Heaven and see how God had truly intended life to be like with Him.    I mean, do you think the animals had a voice to talk then (before 'the fall')?  Because, Eve sure doesn't seem too surprised when this slithering serpent speaks to her in the middle of the garden!  Seriously though, it would be quite surprising if you were walking down the road and all of a sudden this serpent creature starts addressing you.  "Hey, how you doing?"  But still, even though the fall of man took place and Adam and Eve ran and hid themselves, God was still there to take care of them.  Even though, He was all "where are you?"  He knew. He knew where they were, He just wanted them to come clean, admit to their sin and repent.  Isn't that all God wants us to do?  He knows everything about us and everything we do, and all he wants from us is to come forward, to come clean, to ask for His forgiveness, To humble ourselves and pray.  


God loved us so much that He sent His only Son into a world full of sin and despair, so that those who seek forgiveness can have eternal life through Jesus Christ.  
 "For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Christ came to this world to take on our burdens so that we may be able to have new life.  When we feel as if we our broken beyond repair, it is Christ that sets us free our past.  It is in Him that we can lay down our baggage, remove our mask and be free!
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.


There was a story that was told about a family that was in the Alabama tornado who went through the terrible storm last year.  The family was headed to their shelter when the little girl asks about needing to find their family dog, Mason.  They looked around for this dog and just as they were pulling in this dog through the door, the dog was sucked out of their arms by the winds and taken away through the storm.  They waited the storm out and when the  storm was over, they opened the shelter door and seen the effects of this powerful storm.  Their house had been damaged severely, as so much was.
The little girl was devastated.  
When the storm was over, the little girl, still scared, tells her family that they need to look for Mason, she insisted.

Mason "the tornado survivor dog"

Everyday, they went back to the house.  They did this for 21 days. And everyday, the little girl sat on the steps that were left of the home.  She would sit there and wait for the dog.  
Then on the 21st day.  They could see that there was this small animal hobbling us the pathway.  It was Mason. He had come home. He had two broken legs and he was half is weight, but yet he pushed himself to get home.  
See he knew where home was.  He knew were there was food, shelter and love for him.  He knew where he needed to be and he was going to get there and do what he could to get there.  He was coming home dirty, bruised and broken after being in a storm.
Isn't that the same for us?  Aren't be a little like that lost puppy?  Sometimes we get lost.  Some are broken and bruised.  But when we decide to come home, or find our way home, it is then where we can find rest with our Father in Heaven. Our God. Our Healer.  Our Protector.
God is there to protect us and be with us, hold us when we need to be held and pick us up when we fall.