Have you ever watched God move in a situation that you didn’t want to face? I mean…like a conversation that you know you need to have…a conflict that has surfaced..some dark thing that has taken hold…it’s not going to be pleasant…and you keep rehearsing what you will say or do? You begin inquiring of God…how do I handle this? You remind yourself that this must be done…as you reside in that reality…you decide how this will be accomplished…you finally have the correct words…you are now working on the when to make this happen…so now it’s time to face the giant…and suddenly…instantly…without any effort at all…you find that God has been working behind the scenes…He had already moved on your behalf…without your knowledge…and worked it all out…that conversation you needed to have…that conflict…that dark thing…He already fixed it…His words went to places in the heart that yours never could…He softened the hardness and illuminated the darkness…He seamlessly made every crooked place straight…and you were unnecessary…His resolution is always exact and life changing…sometimes…He doesn’t help you carry the load…He simply cancels it!

Sisters…He works in so many ways…but I particularly love this one…don’t you?

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Exodus 14:14

I’ve often shared how much my young grandsons teach me about the relationship that God has with me….I lean into their world and witness what my Father feels about me…how He would like me to see His great love for me…so..as we arrive at my grandson’s school…we wait for awhile…and it is finally time to go inside…as we get out of the car…and I close the door…he automatically reaches for my hand as we prepare to cross the parking lot…I do not have to tell him to hold my hand…it is an instinctive reaching…a trusting that my hand would grab his and lead him safely to his destination…there were no words exchanged…just a quiet knowing…and in that brief moment God spoke to my spirit and said…this is the reaction I desire from you…whenever you are feeling unsure…unsafe…unsettled…reach for me…and trust that I am right there…able to guide you safely to your destination…I need you to acknowledge me as your “safe place”…as your guide…as the One who knows the way…as the One you can always depend on…as the One who is always there…instead of reaching for all the things that distract you and keep you from fully trusting me…I need you to be like your grandson and without a thought…confidently reach for me…I will never leave you alone…I will always be right where you need me to be…as you reach for me…I will hold your hand…and keep you in all your ways…

Sisters…this gives me so much peace…I hope it gives you peace, too.😊

“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart; God is a refuge for us.” Selah Psalm 62:8

Who told you what you couldn’t do? Who told you where you couldn’t go? Who told you that you weren’t smart enough?…pretty enough…good enough? Who told you? Who sold your birth right to the lowest bidder? Who continued the lie that you wouldn’t make it? That there is no reason to reach for that because for you…that is unreachable….to believe that…because for you…that is unbelievable…who told you that love would never be yours…because you are unloveable…who told you that because of that mistake…you are now unqualified? WHO TOLD YOU THAT? Who redefined you? What dark words dimmed your view? What careless words reframed your picture of yourself? When did you lose your balance and sit down on the things that you know you were created to do? What stopped you? Perhaps it was a mother…a father…a sibling…a friend…a neighbor..a co-worker…who planted the seed…whose roots have grown up into your heart…and blossomed into hopelessness…let me encourage you to refuse to allow someone’s reckless words to redefine who you were created to be…His Spirit resides in you…His power is waiting to be activated…His wisdom rests quietly within…His purpose strains to be acknowledged…His love is hidden in your bosom…His peace crowns your head…and strength is your portion…you are His…and He is yours…He longs to speak to you about who He says you are…so that when your description of yourself changes…and they ask you…Who told you that?…you can boldly say…He Did..He Told Me That…❤

“And I am sure of this, that He that began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil.1:6

Sisters…Do you know what an awesome gift God has given to us? He has given us this incredible ability to influence others…as women we are natural nurturers…He wired us to enter into the lives of those around us…we are the moms..grandmoms..sisters…aunties…sister friends…God trusts us to encourage…comfort…challenge..our presence can shift the atmosphere..we can use these super powers for good or for evil…we can enter into a situation and our influence can determine how that situation ends…it is not a coincidence that it was a woman who influenced the man in the garden…it all began there…when God connects us to people His desire is that we leave them better than we found them…our presence can bring about chaos or calm…as we recognize the great gift of influence that we have…we must check our motives and motivations as to why we respond in the ways that we do…we must teach our daughters and all the sisters attached to us that influence is a gift given by God to be used wisely to do His will…not to promote ourselves…not to demean others…not to position ourselves as gods in others lives…but to stir them up to good works…to assist them in living lives full of purpose…to sow into their lives seeds of wisdom…and righteousness…to model for them what holy living truly looks like…to make disciples that can stand firmly when the winds of life begin to howl…sisters our influence will leave a legacy…we get to decide how rich that legacy will be…let’s employ our influence today to do the will of the One who gave it…let’s create an army of influencers that cancel the works of the enemy…and bring glory to the greatest Influencer..the God of our salvation!

“One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Proverbs 12:26

What does it mean to worship God? My church has been hovering around this thought for a few weeks…to really worship..I thought…well of course I worship God…I raise my hands and I lift my voice and I reverence Him…I got this! And then…I got a divine wake up call..it’s so much more than that…it is giving God what He deserves…not what we prescribe…but loving Him the way that He should be loved…it is extravagant love mixed with extreme submission…wait..what? I thought love was enough…particularly if it is extravagant😊…so…this submission part…now that’s a little more difficult…the idea that my worship represents a sacrificial life…with not just my knees being bowed…but my heart also…not seeking God for His wealthiness…but seeking Him for His worthiness…it’s not just starting my day with worship…it’s living a life of worship…not just seeking His hand..but seeking His face…not just getting lost in the things that He has done…but getting consumed by the magnitude of His diety…it is me living my life always acknowledging Him as my priority…making Him my first thought…not just my “after thought”…adapting my life to His agenda…and not my own…as I worship…I learn His ways…as I worship I accept His plans…as I worship I find His heart…as I worship…I accept His correction…as I worship…flaws are revealed and addressed…strengths are unearthed and hopes restored… and I begin to realize that my heart becomes more like His…as I worship…my ways become more like His…and worship is no longer an event…it is entirely…my life…it is fluid…and effortless…and I no longer need someone to lead me into worship…my heart is already there…and sisters…that is a wonderful thing…what does worship mean to you?

“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him.” John 4:23

Measure your words…weigh them before you speak…words are living…they are alive…they linger in the air and then find a home in the heart…they can heal or kill…they can nurture or destroy..they can encourage or cause despair…they can propel someone into their destiny or paralyze them in their pain…they can build or they can tear down…they can paint a picture or kill a dream…they can push you forward or pull you backward…they can start a war or quietly command peace…when God created He spoke…He used HIS words to bring things into existence…we are His offspring…we carry His DNA…therefore we can do the same…words have much more power than we realize….remember that the next time you speak…remember to think…to acknowledge that what we say…will bring results…either to create life or summon death…use the power of your tongue to do good and no harm…

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” Proverbs 18:21

“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise bring healing.” Proverbs 12:18

I love my grandchildren…they teach me so much about the heart of God toward me…today I was taking my seven year old grandson to school…we had a pleasant drive I pulled up in the parking lot…we chatted for a few minutes…and suddenly his face clouded over and he began searching in his bookbag…I asked if there was something wrong…and as he rummaged through the bag…he began to cry…I said…what’s wrong? He said…I forgot my library book…I was supposed to turn it in today…and with that he began to sob…I gave him my best Mommom pep talk…and explained that we all make mistakes….that mistakes are a part of life…that no one is perfect…and making a mistake doesn’t change who he is to me…that I still love him and know that he will remember his book the next time..I also gave him some strategies that would prevent this from happening again…his face softened some…and I wiped away his tears…then I said..how about if after I drop you off..I go back to your house and get the book…I’ll bring it back to school and give it to the secretary..and she’ll make sure you get it..would you like that? He said…”oh yes Mommom”…he smiled a huge smile..and immediately his whole demeanor changed…his confidence was restored and as he walked across the school parking lot…God said…”that was just an example of mercy”…I’ve shown it to you many times…there are mistakes that you have made…just like your grandson’s forgotten book…you were careless with some things…but just like what you did for him…I do for you…I lovingly remind you that you are not perfect…but I love you…that you will mess up…and drop the ball sometimes…but I love you…that you will feel defeated when you realize you could have done better…I will then counsel you and show you my ways of doing things…then I will like you…show mercy…you went out of your way to go and get the book and bring it back…I sent my son to the cross and allowed him to die…that was my mercy…and my motivation was the same as yours…LOVE…wow…thank you God for your great mercy…I hope never to take it for granted❤

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

How do you receive correction? I believe it is a measurement of our ability to surrender completely…To yield our will to that of the will of God…When we refuse to defend our position…but instead bow to authority….I believe it brings glory to God…it proves to Him that we can follow…it is a litmus test for humility…to take low…to recognize that to lead anyone or anything we must know how to follow…our natural instinct is to push back…to create a diversion to protect our pride…in doing this we do not grow…but remain stagnant…we mask our insufficiencies and erect the god of mediocrity…to be our best…to remain fluid in Christ…we must accept that we are flawed…and that the God who will never leave us the way that He found us…will send help…in the form of…Authority…throughout our lives there will be someone He has sent to speak into them…to bring about course correction…but it is up to us to receive what God has sent…to agree with God…that He is right and we are wrong…I don’t know about you sisters…but I do not want the waters of my life to become stagnant…I desire to flow…to remain fluid…so…I inhale…I receive the correction…I thank God for sending it…and in doing this…HE can now trust me with MORE😊

“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” Revelation 3:19

Have you ever struggled with feeling loved? I mean had seasons in your life when it felt like love was illusive? Have you ever forced a smile? Pretended to be engaged with someone…but your heart still felt alone? Have you sat in a crowded room and wondered where the happy part of your life had wandered? Have you gone to bed full of sadness and awakened the same way? Have you decided that what you needed was a change of scenery…or maybe you needed some “me time”…or perhaps some “retail therapy”…as you continue looking for more and more ways to encourage yourself…the Spirit of God quietly speaks…and with the accuracy of a skilled surgeon…He comes and excises the painful part…as you begin to tell Him all that has buried you…He begins to remove the rubble that has covered you…He leans in closer and He takes away the sadness…but He doesn’t subtract without adding….sadness has now been replaced with joy…doubt gives way to hope…He walks us through the courts of forgiveness and introduces us to authentic love…He quietly sits down on the throne of our hearts and takes the reins of our lives and gently realigns everything that had wandered off into darkness…because we have trusted Him to lead…we slowly discover that we have always been loved…that we were never alone…and that He was simply waiting for us to recognize that in Him was everything that was lacking in us…and just like that…the light of our soul is switched back on❤

“The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those that are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

Has God ever sent help for you? God is so detailed and so intentional in all that He does…He cares for us in such small…and meaningful ways…I was in a time of worship…and He reminded me of a moment in my life when I was so very tired…both physically and mentally…I had just gone through two of the most difficult days of my life…my husband was diagnosed suddenly with heart disease and needed emergency surgery…those two days were like a whirlwind…I had to make decisions quickly…and there was just so much that my mind was trying to process…as I sat quietly by my husband’s hospital bed…I looked out of the window…it was getting dark…and now it was raining…not just raining…but a torrential rainfall…I sighed deeply…and whispered…”Lord, this is so hard…I’ve been here all day…my body is tired…my mind is tired…my heart is tired…and now I have to drive home in conditions that would challenge me if I was well rested”…I wanted to cry…but I did not want my husband to worry…so I smiled weakly and told him I needed to begin my journey home…I quietly whispered..”I wish I didn’t have to drive”…and before that thought could be processed…three of my dearest friends appeared…saying…”we didn’t want you alone right now…we’ve come to take you home…what? wait? “God how did they know that I had nothing left in me? That the drive home seemed impossible?” These three sisters scooped me up…like the broken bird I was that night…one drove my car…as I was being driven by the others…they took me to get something to eat and then they not only took me home….but they stayed with me until my emotions were stable enough for sleep to come…I love those three women dearly…but they were simply obeying the Father that LOVES ME AND SENT THEM…He saw my need and dispatched His daughters to lift me above my circumstances and supply me with the help that I needed so desperately that night…to this day…that encounter with God’s great love for me still overwhelms me…He sent help because He LOVES ME!…and I know He loves you too…when has He sent help for you?

“If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:14