“I don’t need easy, I just need possible."

“I don’t need easy, I just need possible."

One of my favorite quotes from the movie, Soul Surfer. Bethany’s journey after her accident didn’t make her weak, it made her stronger, not only in her strength, but in her faith as well. 

“…It’s your life—what you gonna do? The world is watching you
Every day the choices you make
Say what you are and who your heart beats for It’s an open door It’s your life…”
(Francesca Battistelli)

Soul Surfer

The true and inspiring story of a young girl who through her encounter with a shark, had a life changing experience. Through it all, she didn’t let anything stand in her way.  The process was difficult and the work was hard but through persistence and dedication, she overcame the odds and pushed through her fear to become even better than before. When Bethany learned to trust the process of her healing and rely on God’s strength instead of her own, she was able to do so much more.

Through these challenges, trials, and even wanting to quit Bethany kept right on doing what she was being called to do.  She had an amazing support system with her family, friends, and church family who stood by her side and was there for her through the good and bad times.
When it comes down to these tough moments it’s our relationship and faith in Christ that gives us all the strength in the world to make it through anything we are facing.

Have you ever been through something you thought would change your entire world completely and your life would never be the same again?

Have you ever quit something because you kept failing at it?

What gives you the strength and motivation to keep going even when life’s circumstances get difficult and hard to manage?


Through out all of this Bethany was given the incredible opportunity to minister with World Vision in Thailand, she was able to reach out to a young child who was afraid to get back in the water after the tidal wave hit their country.  When Bethany was afraid that she wasn’t going to be able to surf the same again, she eventually got back up again and again after falling. Then after several attempts she was able to stand back up on her board and ride out the waves of the ocean.  Bethany followed her dreams and she wasn’t going to let anything get in her way.  

As it says in Jeremiah 29:11, “for I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I love the Bible story in 1 Samuel 17 of a boy who wasn’t very big, he wasn’t very strong, he was always picked last, and he wasn’t chosen first for anything.  He was often overlooked by people in this world.  Nothing stopped him from doing what God had called him to do. David persisted, he kept going, now his life was far from easy and he had tremendous challenges that tested his faith in God, he was far from perfect but when he stood strong with God by his side he was able to accomplish far more than he could ever do by himself.  Even when I’m sure he stood against this giant, this Goliath, trembling at what was in front of him, David stood against his giant, facing his fears, and conquering what was set before him.


God is writing our story and our plans are in his hands, He knows what we are and who we are to be. 




“I've learned life is a lot like surfing. When you get caught in the impact zone, you need to get right back up, because you never know what's over the next wave...…and if you have faith, anything is possible, anything at all.” Bethany Hamilton, Soul Surfer.

What’s over the next wave for you? What do you need to conquer? Knowing that God is there beside you in all you do, how can you strengthen your faith?Father God, Thank you for standing beside me. Thank you for loving me and always being there, providing a team around me of loved ones who are my biggest fans. When  afraid, I put my trust in You! In Jesus Name I pray, Amen!

Created for a purpose!

Psalms 139:13-14You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

One of my favorite passages in the Bible, is Psalms 139.  One that I can can turn to quite often for comfort and assurance.

You were designed, created and filled with plenty of purpose and promises for your life.  As much as you may not believe it at times… you were made with a purpose. 
There are many Bible verses that we can turn to to know that we are loved and chosen for a purpose in our life.  Although sometimes we may not fully see or understand these verses until we come and sit down quietly; open up the God’s Word and listen to that still yet small voice that is telling us that we are important, strong, precious and forgiven. 

I have been blessed to be able to work with children through out the week at my job.  Many of these children have autism, down syndrome or cerebral palsy.  Some have epilepsy and are susceptible to seizures.  One thing that they all have in common with other children as well, is that they were all created for a unique purpose.  They were all chosen to have a powerful impact on the world through each and every one of their gifts that they have.  I am blessed to be able to learn so much from  these children everyday I am with them.
Although; at times, their attention spans may be short, when you can catch their attention for just a short moment to teach them something or share a story with them, it’s incredible at the feedback they have to share back with you.  They all have something to say. Some will communicate very well, while others are non-verbal.  That doesn’t mean that each child doesn’t get their point across and are heard.
Every day is different for these kids.  I’ve come to learn that a variety of teaching methods are incredibly great to have on hand.  What may work one time may not necessarily work another time or it might.  Sometime you never know until that day.  It all depends on the type of day that they are having as to what teaching method we are using that day.  We love challenges, we love the kids and love to learn as we go. 

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

I love working with the children and have discovered a greater passion for teaching more than ever. 
I am so thankful for the chance and the opportunity to be able to work in a Christian environment and grow in faith and spirituality more and more each day.  

Psalms 139:1-24 – O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.  You know everything I do.  You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.  You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!  I can never escape from your Spirit!  I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.  To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.  You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.  How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.  They cannot be numbered!  I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!  And when I wake up, you are still with me! O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!  Get out of my life, you murderers!  They blaspheme you; your enemies misuse your name. O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?  Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?
Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for your enemies are my enemies.  Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Blessings,

Today I Dare to Be..............

Daring to be....

A couple weeks ago, I read a blog from Natalie Grant (recording artist).  She presented people with a challenge, a challenge to step out of their comfort zone and dare to be more of something they tend to struggle with.   I wanted to share her blog on here as well, so we all can dare to be the kind of girl that God has called us to be.  Through our faith, we can do anything through Christ.  

(from nataliegrant.com) 

"If you’re anything like me, you have a catalog in your mind of some pivotal moments in your life when different people may have said “you can’t…”

Some of those defining moments have stayed with me, influenced me, kept me from believing that I am who God says that I am.

But the more I have discovered about Jesus and the more I learn of His thoughts towards me, what once were deafening and defeating statements, are replaced by the Truth of God.

I’m calling on all my girlfriends to rise up and be a part of a revolution. That together, with one voice, the earth would hear us, as the sisterhood of God say, “yes, we can.”

My challenge to not worry, be afraid or scared but to
rely on  God to get me through and renew my strength!

Dare To Be is a call for women to stand and say “I am who God says that I am. I can be what God says I can be. I can do what God has asked me to do.” If we could begin to see what God sees when He looks at us, how would that change our lives, marriages, families, communities and the world?

When Jesus asked Peter to walk on the water, I’m betting there were many “I can’t” thoughts that initially crossed his mind. But because Peter dared to believe and trust, Jesus accomplished the impossible through his life. He wants to do the same through us. Jesus didn’t say, “I’m sorry, Peter, but water-walking is for Messiahs only.” No, he said one simple word: Come. God is daring us to do impossible things by faith.

This is what I am asking of you. Throughout the week, I want you, daughter of the King, to dare to believe & live 1 thing God has called you to be.
So, what will you DARE TO BE? Love, kindness, hope, courage, joy, peace, justice, freedom, empowered, uncompromising, forgiving, whole....Natalie Grant

“I can do all things through CHRIST…”(Phil 4:13) – and so can YOU!

We can all think of times in our lives where we have not done something because we were either told we couldn't do it or we were afraid that we couldn't do it.  When we dare to step our of our comfort zone, to step out with our faith and to be the girl that we are called to be by our God, we can accomplish anything we set our hearts to.  As we put aside the "I cant's and You can'ts"  and change our words to the "I cans," bigger things can happen.  We can change our world, if only we change our words, not in only how we talk but how we think; because, as most of us know we 'think' more than we 'talk.'  So what are you 'daughter of the King of Kings' daring to be each week?  Step what to the person that God has called you to be....and just remember you are fearfully and wonderfully made and a child of the King!  YOU ARE LOVED!

**Video attachment of Natalie Grant's song, "Daring to be"

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