Faithful in all circumstances

“Your future is greater than your destiny.  Your history does not need to define your destiny.  Jesus Christ has got a great plan, purpose, and destiny for your life.”    ~ Christine Caine

Another year is closing and a New Year is here already! Crazy how time flies by so quickly!  It’s been an incredible year, full of up’s and down’s, and inside out changes all around.  Now it’s time to take what 2018 has taught us and propel into 2019 with all of it!
These past weeks, with Christmas break and all has been full of rest and restoration for me.  A chance to sit back and relax and just be still.  Something we all tend to take for granted, I know I do at many times. We feel as if we have to be doing something to be productive, call it our Martha syndrome, right?  Why can’t we, more often than not just sit and be still, after all that’s what Mary did, as she sat at the feet of Jesus while others were making preparations all around.  Sometimes we need to stop, not worry about what needs to be done, and just take time to sit, to be still, and engage with people.  Be that listening ear, be that person that someone can talk to, and be a friend.  Don’t get so caught up in the hustle of day to day activities that we forget why we are here in the first place.  Let’s live out our faith and be the hands and feet of Jesus in a world so desperate for His attention.
I don’t want to just be someone who talks about her faith. I don’t want to be someone who just writes about her faith. I want to be the girl who gets up everyday and lives her faith out with all she’s got!  Now I can pretty much guarantee that there will be days that I’m just not going to feel this at all, but isn’t that the beauty of it all?  It’s the challenge! The challenge is what keeps us going. It’s what keeps our hearts in check and our souls alive!  Each day we get up and conquer our fears and take one step closer to our dreams and goals, we can stand strong in our fight.  If we never try something, we never know if we would’ve been able to do it at all, if we never say yes to something, we never know what would’ve been, and if we just talk about doing something and never do it then how are we going to accomplish anything?

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

So with this New Year and all,  is there a word sticking out to you for this upcoming year? Has God placed something on your heart?  How are you living out your faith?
For me, one word that sticks out is Promise.  To remember that staying faithful in my walk and God will fulfill His promise to me, in His timing.  To remain faithful in the waiting and God’s timing is everything.
 


Blessings,

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

Embrace the Unexpected

Adventure Awaits!

When you are about to embark on your next adventure and the time to leave is closing in, your heart is racing and your head is spinning, and the fear of the unexpected creeps in. 

Well, here it is... FOUR days before leaving for the refugee camp in Greece. So many emotions happening right now.  Thinking about preparations to make and plans to lay out.  It's only that I realize I can only plan so much and the rest...well...stay tuned for how this adventure plays out in the coming weeks.

Excited, nervous, a little scared. Am I really supposed to do this? What did I sign up for?  All legitimate questions going through my head right now.

I’m terrified of not being fully prepared for what I may encounter over there, but it was in my devotional time this week when I was reading about choosing peace. The storm of life rages all around us. Fear creeps into our lives on a daily basis. It is when we choose to take a stand against this fear and look fear in the eye and say, “you don’t own me!” “You have no business inferring in the plans that have been set before me!” “We are through!”

Fear can't exist when our mind is fully focused on and filled with God.  When the storm is all around us and we are trying to weather the chaos, we often get discouraged.  When circumstances change and unexpected things get thrown at us, we feel helpless and confused, not knowing which way to go.  We are not meant to go through the storms of this life alone. Jesus is always there and will always be there for us, He is the true peace and comfort that we need and long so much for.  

In Matthew 14:22-36, we read about the disciples seeing Jesus in the storm while they are out on a boat.  They were terrified at the storm raging all around them.  Peter, being the one to walk toward Jesus on water even got scared and began to sink into the rough waves.  Peter started sinking when he took his eyes off of Jesus and began focusing on his fear. When we keep our eyes on Jesus and focus on Him even in the tough times, when the storm is raging, and the waves are high we can feel peace and comfort in the midst of the storm and we can release our fears to The One who can carry us through our storms.  

As we are traveling overseas, I pray for our team as we draw closer to God in prayer and in relationships with each other, that we can be vulnerable as we talk to and do life together in the coming weeks.  As we come together to be the hands and feet of Jesus, let us also remember that we need to fill ourselves up as well in God's Word.  Fill us with passion and the strength to keep going when things are going to get difficult and rough. The waves will eventually calm and the sun will shine through the clouds again.  When we remain strong and confident in the Lord we can make it through.  We may get bruised along the way, but it's through the bruises that tell an amazing story.

Matthew 25:25-36

For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.

Through out these next few weeks I want to share about what's happening.  I want to give a greater knowledge to what is not spoken a lot about. I want to spread awareness by writing about these experiences, corresponding about life circumstances in a foreign country, and to be able to bring a little hope to those who need it.  I can't wait to see everything God has for us over in Greece.

Francesca Battistelli - The Break Up Song

Blessings, 

The Bigger Picture

“I will call upon your name and keep my eyes above the waves

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters wherever you would call me, take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith would be made stronger in the presence of my Savior.”
(Oceans – Hillsong)

Eyes swollen, tear-stained pages of my journal, my Bible underlined, written on and highlighted, scared of the next step and determined to conquer the world at the same time.  I’ve felt this strong feeling for a while, I’m ready, show me where to go from here.

In a season of waiting it can be difficult when all life tends to throw at you is the word no, not yet, later, hold on, etc.  It can be utterly discouraging and emotionally exhausting.  I thought you said I was ready, why are you making me wait? Can you even hear me?

If you ask me, it’s the word that most of us have despised since the moment we first heard it.  That word that disgusts us because we know we are not getting what we really want. As hard as it may seem to fathom, as much as we want to fight against it with all our might, just maybe that “no” is temporary.  A simple no doesn’t always mean forever, it quite possibly may be no for a season, a matter of protection to keep our heart pure, and potentially protect us from a bigger rejection or hurt.  God does know the perfect time to say yes, but as much as I hate to admit it, I still want to sulk into my pillow and scream when I hear the word no from something I really wanted or I think I am ready for.

“Have mercy on my, Lord, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. 
My body and soul are withering away.” Psalm 31:9

In a season of waiting I always tend to think of David.  This was a man who was least considered in his family.  I bet he thought nothing good would come from his existence.  He was despised and rejected for much of his life.  Someone who was chosen last but still kept going. Despite several failed attempts at life, David was still known as a man who was devoted to God.  Much like all of us, we fail from day to day.  It’s when we realize where we fell and turn to our Savior to help us back up.  We can’t do it alone and we don’t have to, even though it may seem like it at times.

Father God, when I feel like giving up, help me put my trust in You, my God, my strength when I am weak, my Comforter when I am scared, my Protector.  Help me keep my eyes on you and know that you are with me in times of trouble and I’m afraid.

“You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.” Psalm 119:114

Blessings, 

In a single moment…

As we reflect on this day; 13 years ago, we are reminded that we are not guaranteed tomorrow.  The past is in the past, the future is unknown and the present is a gift.  Appreciate the gift that is given to you and love on those that you have to share it with.  Never miss the opportunity to show love to someone close to you and around you. 
Everyone out there in this world is fighting a battle of some kind.  Whether it may seem large or small, it is significant to the person engaged in it.  Sometimes all we can do is offer our time to spend with someone.  A hug, a smile or simply ‘I’m thinking about you and I’m praying for you,’ can ease the heart and mind of someone who is hurting. 

Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Hope.  One single word can bring forth so much joy  and peace in our life.  The fact that we do know that we have hope through our faith in Jesus, that God is on our side and He is always with us. 
In a single moment, everything in our world can be flipped upside down. Even knowing that, we can rest in knowing that with Christ in our life, the best is yet to come.  God gave us His Word.  His love letter to us. To study, to live, to love and to share.  We have that very truth written down right in front of us.  It’s available to us, freely, through-out our country.  Sometimes we tend to take advantage of the freedom we have to worship Our God, Our Father.  Then I stop to think about those in other countries who have been persecuted daily just for carrying a Bible with them.

We have so much available to us, how can we put our resources and capability to use in our life to share with those around us? 
Christ came to Earth not to be served but to serve, our hearts and attitudes need to be reflecting that of Christ.   Christ came so that we may have eternal life by entering into a personal relationship with Him.  That we could be united as one.  Philippians 2:1-5 says that, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves,  Each of you should look not only to your own interest, but also to the interest of others.  Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus.”

Our attitude.  Those two words are huge right there.  How do we have the attitude of Christ? One, by spending time in the Word of God.  The more we are in the Word, the more we are susceptible to hear God speak to us in our life.  Two, by being around other Christians that can build you up.  Get involved in a Bible believing church, a small group and surround yourself with those who are there for you to build you up, pray for you, answer questions you have.  Be united with those around you so that you can be one as you share the love of Christ to this world.  When we are united with each other, we show the world that we stand strong together in our faith and in all we do.  When one of us hurt, we all hurt.  We are there for each other, because we are apart of a family, an eternal family, a family of God.
Three, Prayer.  Prayer is powerful.  It’s that quiet time that we have one-on-one with Our God.   Prayer is a significant part to our attitude to be like Christ in everything we do.  Being in God’s Word, being apart of a united body of believers and having a dedicated prayer life are essential parts to who we are in Christ and can give us the strength to share with those we meet along our journey. 
Christ showed us His love for us as He laid down His life for us on the cross that day many years ago.  There is no greater love than laying down your life for someone else.  It’s putting others first, it’s sharing, it’s being united as one.  How can you motivate others? How can we motivate the people in this world to know and believe what we hold so tightly to in our heart and soul?

Even though terrible tragedies happen, just as with the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, as well as many others.  We will always remember the ones who lost their lives, and even the ones who came to Christ in the midst of all the tragedies in the world.  We must continue to share the good news of Christ.  You never know who you will come into contact with and who needs to know that there is a life greater than this one when you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Have a blessed day! Be thankful, be grateful and have an attitude of Christ in everything you do.

Blessings,

Coffee Chat #3

Hello to my readers, I hope everyone has been great!  This past weekend I was so blessed to be able to attend the annual Women of Faith conference. As always I’ve came back to incredibly blessed to be in the presence of God at this conference with these other women.  Singing, praising, worshipping and listening to other women share their faith and story. 
I was able to hear from some incredible speakers such as Lysa TerKeurst, Roma Downey, Anita Renfroe, Kari Jobe, Judah Smith (the one guy speaker there other than MercyMe), Natalie Grant, Christine Caine, Angela Thomas and Mercy Me.  I’m sure that each speaker that shared left a profound impact on each person in the room, I know they did for me.  
Each speaker has their own story to tell about their life experiences they have had.
I’ll take these next few coffee chats to talk a bit about these inspirational speakers I had the pleasure of listening to.   Let’s get to know a little from Lysa TerKeaurst this week, shall we? 

Lysa opened up with 2 Samuel 20. With the title of her message, ‘One Wise Woman.’ 
The first lesson we learn from this section is that, you do not mess with the anointed and appointed.  In the start of this scripture we learn of a troublemaker called Sheba.  (I included the link to the above scripture for you as well).

As we read through the scripture we learn about a Wise Woman.  Here are a couple points we can learn from her.  Her approach and how she had dealt with the situation of ‘the troublemaker.”  We learn that a servant-hearted woman is a wise-hearted woman and because of her willingness to show up in the midst of everything happening, God sees, God notices and God smiles. 
Second, we can learn from her assurance.  She was peaceful and faithful.  She relied on her identity to over shadow her circumstances.  I am a child of God; therefore, …
Her assurance was rooted in reality.
And, third, we can get advice.  Philippians 4:13, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” See we can use the New Testament through the Old testament.  See how they go together so well. 

Lysa told a story of her daughter who set out to be a pole vaulter.  Every time she would get out on that track she would counter on her 10 fingers, I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength, she ran and jumped and fell flat.  Although, at the end of the meet she was still like, I am a pole vaulter, every time!  She did this for, I think 3 years before she finally grabbed her pole, counted on her 10 fingers, ran, jumped and sailed over the bar and broke the school pole vaulting record that year.  Persistence pays off in the end, right? 

She established a pattern of discipline and kept pushing toward her goal.

What pattern of disciple can you establish?  How does this scripture affect you? 


Blessings,

It is well....

One thing remains....

Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me...

With these words in mind, as we are thinking of three small numbers with a powerful impact when spoken. 9-1-1.  These numbers have always been used in case of an emergency.  If something traumatic had happened we would pick up the phone and and dial these three numbers...9-1-1.  We get emergency personnel on the other line asking 'what our emergency is?' In 2001 we added another remembrance, we associate these numbers with a date, a date that we may never forget, a date when everyone was changed. We will remember that, Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me.

Reflect.  Another word we use to describe events or ourselves. We reflect on what happened in the our past and we look in the mirror and reflect on our self and what we see looking back at us.  Although, we do have to move on, we leave our past is behind us and we press on toward the future.  We can turn this around, to remembering the all the good that came after this event.  Remembering the people coming together and never forgetting the people affected by this and the people serving our country, the firefighters who risked their lives to save people from the destruction.  Thank you to all who have served and helped out.  We will remember!  Remembering once again, Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me.

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:14 NLT)
As we reflect on those who have stepped out in love and kindness for our country, we know that we can do anything that we set our hearts and minds to, because with God on our side, whom shall we fear.  We remember all Christ did for us and how much we can do for Him.  How much we can share His love and mercy and goodness, to those who need to hear.
The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

For many of us on the West Coast, we woke up to the news around 6am.  The news that our country was forever changed.  The news of a tragic event that took place in on the East Coast in New York.  As we watched the planes fly into the towers from our television screens, and our tears stinging our eyes we stood in awe of what was occurring at that very moment.  Thinking, what can I do but pray.  Pray for the victims, pray for the families involved...just pray.

I remember getting ready and going to class that day.  I had a 8am geography class. I remember walking into my class where everyone had looked and felt like I did.  It was a large class, but instead of class our professor had turned on the news to watch for the length of the class period.  It was silence in the class as we sat their listening to what had just happened just 2 hours ago.  Thinking once again....Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me.


Since, September 11, 2001, since America was changed, since such tragedy occurred....we came together.  We came together as a nation to stand up for our country.  As people all over our nation were on their knees in prayer. People were finding a way to serve in their own community, even if they were miles and miles away from New York, it was as if this tragic event took place in their own backyard.
We held prayer and candlelight services, we held community car washes where all donations were send to the needs of New York.  We came together.  Together to serve. To do something for someone else.  What can you do to help someone else today?  To make a difference in someone else's life.  To be the hands and feet of God, to share the love of Christ to those we come into contact with.  Because this LOVE, it should be shared...it needs to be shared.  There are so many people out in this world who need to know that God's love never fails, never gives up and it never runs out on you and me!


As an added note, I found this video on YouTube.  What a great song!

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  

Faith

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.

Women of Faith...part 1 -- it's okay not to be okay

This past weekend I was able to attend a Women of Faith conference.  I've been able to attend a few of them before in the past and they have always been amazing and worth so much for all that I can take away from the conference.  The speakers are so full of life and their love for God shines all over that stage!  This conference was a one-day event, as the two-day event will take place later on this year.   The one-day is a great addition to Women of Faith if you can't make the two-day one, but I think this event just made me more excited to see, hear and attend the event again in October in Sacramento!  :-)  


There is so much to tell about this event because it was all so amazing!  So I think I'll break it up into a couple parts in this blog, so here is Part 1 of the conference...


Worship - They always have an awesome worship experience at these events.  With this being a smaller event, there were probably near 1,000 women singing their hearts out -- praising and worshiping an amazing God!  Especially when the music stops and it's just 1,000 voices praising the Lord.


We were then introduced to the main speaker Sheila Walsh, who was accompanied by David Pendleton -- ventriloquist and Scott Macintyre -- musician/singer, once on the American Idol stage -- more to come about his story later. :)
David Pendleton shared his message through comedy through ventriloquism. While Scott Macintyre shared his heart through music and how he "walks by faith, not by sight."

A Mosaic Stone --
 I don't have the one she was talking
about, but this one was pretty :)

Then, of course, there was Sheila Walsh who shares her heart every times she steps on the stage.


Sharing - It's okay not to be okay!


Sheila opened up with  Isaiah 61:1.  The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.
Sheila told a story about her how things aren't always how they seem and how we may think we're getting one thing but we end up with something else.  She told a story about how her son (when he was younger) and how he saw this really amazing Mosaic Stone that was beautiful put together and written on.  He decided that would be a great gift for his mom.  Well, after ordering it and when it finally arrived, it was all in tiny little pieces that had to be pieced together.  She said he spent his time assembling the pieces and writing 'I love you, mom' on the stone, in time to give it as a gift, (which, I think it was for Mother's day one year).     If you could just imagine how delicately this stone was crafted together by a pair of hands and how much love was put into it.  It's how God forms His children, taking his time and giving each one of us special gifts to be able to use as we serve him in our life. 


Isn't that how we come to God though?  We come in our brokenness, struggles, fears and tears, only to find how much he can restore us to be whole again.  God gives us new life and pulls all of our broken pieces together when we can't do it by ourselves, just like the mosaic stone.   Even when our hearts are restless and we feel we can't go on anymore...God is there!  In the midst of it all, He's there for us!  He picks us up when we're broken, dusts us off, cleans us up and puts us together, because we our His Children.  We are Children of God!
We are here to become more like Christ as we enter into a relationship with Him.  He helps us whether the changes that lie ahead of us in our lives.  Through Christ's nail-scarred hands he stops our bleeding and heals our wounds.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
We can come with all of our baggage and lay them at the foot of the cross.  


If you saw all of your baggage laid down in front of you, would you take it home with you?  OR Would you lay it all down?

I'm with You

You were meant for more.  I live my life for God.  It's not about me, it's all about Him!  Just some of the statements we hear and talk about during our 
walk with Christ and our relationship with Him.
When you put your faith and trust in the creator of the universe, when you surrender everything; ultimately, to the one who knows you from the inside out, every part of you, including your future.  
We hear these words so often, but sometimes they're just hard to fathom.  We want to surrender everything. We want to trust that God has a plan for us.  But, sometimes are question back is...When God? When is it going to happen, for me?  
I mean, I know it's your timing but when?  We are constantly being little impatient children, it's part of our human nature.  We're like that child you see in the candy store, tugging at our parents side begging for that piece of candy we are so desperately wanting and we just have to have.  We want things now or in the time we think we deserve something.  It's not until something might finally happen to us when we finally realize why God has had us wait so long.  As He is preparing each and everyone of us for our own journey, and though we may not fully understand why, we ultimately know that our wonderfully Father has nothing but the best prepared and designed for his children.


As I listen to K-Love through out the day the song, I'm with you by Amy Grant and Nichole Nordeman has played several times now.  I love the words of this song and the way that the song describes the relationship between Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi.  It really just made me want to read this wonderful story, that I know I've read/heard so many times before, again to be able to recapture it again.

(Ruth 1-4)

I just love the relationship that was told about between Ruth and Naomi.  The story of the young woman who stayed by her mother-in-laws' side even after the death of her husband.  
Sometimes we don't understand what God is calling us to do, and we don't even know where to begin sometimes, but it's our devout faith in our God and King that gets us though some of the hardest times; because, we know that He has something better planned for us in the future.
Ruth loved her Heavenly Father so much that she was willing to devote her life to serving Him as well as standing by her mother-in-law, Naomi side.  She was willing to stay with Naomi's for the rest of her life. 
Ruth found so much in Noami.  She found this older, yet wiser woman.  She found a mentor. Someone whom she would be able to talk to, to confide in, to be a friend to and to learn from.
Again, this is another woman that God had more plans for.  It was then, while Ruth was working in the fields, harvesting the grain, she met Boaz.  This would be the man who had showed her kindness and ultimately being the man she will marry.  The story is an amazing story of faith, hope, love, commitment and devotion.


It's so amazing to be able to have a wonderful mentor in your life.  Someone you can look up to, ask question to, someone who has possibly been where you are/have been and can give you advice on how to deal with life as you grow in Christ.  It must have been an amazing learning experience for Ruth to have spend this time with Naomi as she grew in the time they were spending together.  
Take joy in those women who you can get advice from and can learn from.  I, for one, can think of several wonderful women that have had an amazing influence on me, in every place that I have lived from California to Indiana.  I am grateful for the woman that I have become because of their influence and I am so thankful for everyone that has been involved in my life in these place.  What mentors have you had in your lives that have given you a positive outlook on life? Have they increased you walk with Christ?  

I'm with you

Love is a hurricane in a blue sky,
I didn't see it coming, never knew why.
All the laughter and the dreams,
All the memories in between,
Washed away in a steady stream.

Love is a hunger, a famine in your soul.
I thought I planted beauty, but it would never grow.
Now I'm on my hands and knees,
Trying to gather up my dreams,
Trying to hold on to anything.
We could shake a fist in times like this
When we don't understand or we could just hold hands.

You and me, me and you,
Where you go, I'll go too,
I'm with you, I'm with you.
Till your heart finds a home,
I won't let you feel alone,
I'm with you, I'm with you, with you.

You do your best to build a higher wall.
To keep love safe from any wrecking ball.
When the dust has cleared, we will
See the house that love rebuilds,
Guarding beauty that lives here still.

Who can say I'm left with nothing?
When I have all of you, all of you, yeah.
In the way you've always loved me.
I remember, He does too.