Run The Race

Reading: 1 Peter 5:6-11 Prayer: Lord, change is so inevitable in this life. Help us to do it with joy, peace and grace while knowing that You are faithful. Mold and shape our attitudes and insights. Daily Challenge: Which of your attitudes hinder joy-filled change? Which promote it? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Transitioning from "career woman" to something that has its own acronym - SAHM (stay at home mom) has its definite challenges.  Rarely do changes come one at a time for any family - in the last 6 months we have experienced many big changes - a newly adopted 3 year old, father moving here from out of state, change in ministry, etc. I would like to share some practical ideas regarding joy-filled transitions for families - some of these things we did intentionally, some we stumbled into, and others we didn't do, but wished we had! Wake Up Early (Yes...Even Earlier!) “In the morning, O Lord, You will hear ...

In early October, I did something I never thought possible - I resigned from my job/career. For 15 years, I have been in an industry that I find exhilarating... I have never been stuck in an office, but when the weather was bad, I could hit the office and rummage through data and build spreadsheets (Hey!  Don't make fun of me - making GOOD spreadsheets requires a lot of creativity!).  Daily I would have the opportunity to interact with the managers of the refinery, and 5 minutes later I would have my hands dirty with maintenance and operators.  I love this! As much as I have enjoyed this work, I've known in my heart for quite some time (probably 7 years... since 2008) that the Lord was possibly leading me away from it; I have learned that it is much more exhilarating and peaceful to do as the Lord desires than what makes sense to "mankind". This is a change that seems ludicrous for us - most would consider it financial su...

Yesterday, someone asked me about when we made the decision to adopt, and what was the interaction like between my husband and me during that decision making process.  I was able to recount the vision God gave me but didn't necessarily give to Ron. God relates to Ron and I in very different ways; He is much more straight forward with me.  As crazy as it may seem, I have dreams, visions and hear words in my heart (which is very difficult to explain).  For Ron, it is much more of a gentle, quiet leading. It is sometimes difficult for me to share with Ron if God revealed something to me because it almost always means change for him even though he did not personally receive the direction.  I don't want Ron to feel forced into these changes... I want them to come from his heart so that he can have joy rather than bitterness. In the book of Judges, there is a story of a barren couple.  An angel of the Lord appeared to the wife sharing that they would have a son ...

TEN years people... this Friday, Ron and I have been married for 10 years!  Woohoo! At Celebrate Recovery I often introduce myself as someone who gets to be a part of a healthy marriage.  I am blown away by this possibility... I thought for sure I had blown it... no grace could be big enough to bring me back to enough of a purified state that would allow me to marry a man that would cherish me. I WAS WRONG. God is so much bigger than our choices and our circumstances.  Don't get me wrong; there are still consequences to choices that I made, but the shame associated with those choices are gone and there is a simple reminder often associated with some of the resulting scars - but ultimately all things have been made new, as scripture promises. Many times I hear stories in books or on the radio that say, "I went into the marriage with blinders on, and I wasn't expecting it to be so hard."  I was exactly the opposite - I went in assuming it was going to be ...

You are standing in front of a mine field.   The man standing next to you begins giving you instruction on how to cross the field, “what you have to do is take 3 steps forward, turn left.   Then take 9 steps…”   This is bothersome to you… “Why is this guy telling me what to do?   I can figure it out on my own,” you say.   He can clearly see that you are uncomfortable with his directions, so he interrupts your thoughts.  “I only give you direction because I want you to have life.”   You have no idea what he’s talking about.   He sees the confusion on your face, so he introduces himself.   “I am the keeper of this field.   Though I didn’t place the land mines out there, I watched as each one was placed.   I know every detail of this land, and I want to share with you the directions to make it to the other side.   Following my instructions may take you in a direction you did not anticipate, and it may be a longer jour...

It's true... while doing the hokey pokey at my wedding reception, I did a big spin and WHAM!  I fell to the floor!  Wow, it happened so fast!  Did anyone see me?  Did I rip my dress?  All of this led me to a very important question... is the Hokey Pokey really what it's all about? I did not realize or even want to know the foreshadowing that had on things to come.   See, I personally had experienced a great deal of recovery through Jesus Christ prior to meeting Ron.   After experiencing abuse, an abortion, and several years of not using my body in a pure manner – I turned to God and He purified me from head to toe.  Isaiah 1:18 was alive and well in my life!  “Come, lets talk this over, says the Lord.   Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.”   As I walked down the wedding aisle that day, I was white as snow – I was like wool.   My time of...