Transformation

I remember when my days ran along in an endless, boring strand. Back when the only leading I followed was my own. It seemed I was “mom,” lower-case, and nothing more; confined to a tiny world of self pity and constant seeking. I couldn’t see beyond the piles of Play-Do, Hot Wheels race tracks and dismembered Barbie dolls with crazy, ratty hair. I lived in my little world of 4 walls nearly paralyzed with an inner turmoil consuming my days as I struggled to find peace, meaning…worth. Not a temporary peace, but one that begins deep within~a peace meant to be shared.

But such things can only come from the Lord’s presence; a real

relationship with Him and a constant communication.

I’m praising God today for that relationship. I’m praising God for transformation. For lifting me out and carrying me far from the monotonous and the stagnant me that I was. He has brought light and purpose and goals as I’ve grown closer to Him over the past 10 years or so.

This past year, in particular, I’ve found myself stepping out more and more in faith, believing I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

It’s been a year of “Yes, I can…only because of Jesus!” He’s allowed me the joy of surprise and the deepest thanksgiving with the many situations in which He’s placed me….and it’s not over yet!

The Lord continues to surprise and amaze me as I stand on the brink of a new venture. My proof copy of “Christian Women’s Voice,” a bi-monthly women’s magazine, is on its way. The articles are written from the hearts of ten Christian bloggy sisters (plus myself) who have agreed to ride the waves of this journey with me. I’m so excited about this project and can’t wait to see how God will use it to help bring encouragement and hope to women all over the country. I would love to see it utilized in women’s ministries, women’s facilities, mom’s groups, individually, etc. My hope is that we will be the hands and feet of Him bringing women the same hope and light that lifted me out of my dark world and gave me purpose; to share the truth that you are "YOU," in all caps...all because of Jesus!

Be sure and leave a comment if you'd like to be notified via email of our first issue release date and do check out our web site at: http://christianwomensvoice.blogspot.com/

Decorate the Heart

I watch as the clouds rush and twist to be first in line, first to pour heavy with all the wonders of fall and winter. Inside, lights glow. The fire pops. Flames dance and warm my home.

Home; the place where life happens – where we love and grow

and let the meaning of “family” knit our hearts together

with “forever” thread.

Meanwhile, cookies bake. Christmas is penned out and kept on secret lists. There are gifts to buy, menus to prepare, gatherings to plan for, and excitement builds.

We bring color, swag garlands, adorn forgotten spaces with simple elements of nature, fill each room with wonderful scents. We dust off old memories to revisit and cherish and allow the very blessing of them to resonate once more.

This season, as we plan, prepare, consider….why not decorate our hearts, as well? Why should our homes get all the attention? My hope is that, regardless of the year it’s been for you, may you capture each precious passing moment and savor it in your heart. Let it embellish who you are and add warmth and color to your soul that will last the whole coming year. Let conversations around the table, quiet moments with loved ones, the simple smell of coffee in the morning or sunlight sparkling through icicles all be like little snapshots captured and fully enjoyed. As one goes out and gathers elements of nature to bring beauty to her home, the richest blessings are born from our internal “gathering” moments settled by the fire or in the bustling of our kitchens….funny how the simplest, sweetest joys seem to last the longest.

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11)

Bloom Anyway!

I’ve written often from my gardener’s heart about the sad state of my little space, enduring yet another season of neglect. It seems distractions and obligations of life demand more of my time these days keeping me clear of the garden gate.

But this morning, as I survey the day from over the top of my coffee cup, through the haze of chimney smoke on the breeze, it’s the one lonely red rose that catches my eye. There, in the middle of disorder and struggle for life, it strikes me; the show of determination and unyielding to the environment of which the rose has no control. Like so many of us, the rose makes a choice and takes a stand; either fall victim to circumstances or rise above in strength and beauty – all to the glory of the Creator of beauty itself.

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ (John 7:38) ESV

And the words whisper, but whisper strong - when everything around you is in disarray and your world screams chaos, bloom anyway! Tap into the one true source of living water – the well that never runs dry. Let it flow and nourish from within. Let it take over your own resources and complete you with unexplainable peace that you may be that one bright spot for Jesus.

My prayer for you today is that you’ll bloom for Jesus and bring the holy fragrance of His love to your world.

And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. (Rev. 21:6) ESV

This Moment

You have something right now that you’ve never had before.

And you’ll never have it again…ever.

It’s this moment – this very moment in time.

How are you living it?

Are you talking your way through it? If so, what are you saying and to whom?

Are you even thinking about it…this gift of time? Are you praying it away? Considering how you’ll feel about it later? Are you using it for others? Who’s glorified by it?

Is worry stealing your moment?

Can you still be thankful for it?

Is your soul sleeping through it hoping to catch the next one?

Are you grumbling about it – another moment passing you by with no easy answers? Does it look like so many others before it with its jagged edges and sting of pain?

The moment owes you nothing.

Your happiness – true, God-breathed happiness is not up to this moment or the consequences surrounding it – it’s completely up to you; your choice, your decision.

Happiness.

The cards will tumble and foundations built on sand will slip out from beneath you. People will change, but God never will.

Jobs/careers will change, but God never will.

Your life, your home may change…

But how will all these things change you?

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

(Hebrews 13:8) NIV

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

(Isaiah 26:3-4) ESV

Humble Beginnings

I left work racing against the clock. So much to do and frustrated that the minutes seem to strap on their running shoes when my list is so full. Like a fresh horse straight out of the chute, I don my “Super-Mom” cape and head out.

• Right away, a cell phone call from daughter.
• Then off to the office supply store.
• A quick stop in the sporting goods store.
• Another phone call about an appointment for Monday.
• Stop by and pick up a meal to bring to an elderly woman from our church. It was my assigned night and it was the least I could do. A quick thanks to God for providing hot soup, bread and fruit all under one roof.
• Stop here.
• Run in there.
• Pick up daughter.
• Drop off daughter.
• Stop by the bank…

Stop by the bank - who knew a simple errand would stop me in the middle of my rush of things – slow my breathing to normal and shift my mind to more humble beginnings.

There, across the street from the bank parking lot, the same bank parking lot we’ve come in and out of for the past 23 years, stood our old apartment. I see it just about every week, but today, something clicked. The memories flip past like a slideshow and I breathe deep. I pass slowly by the meandering arbors smothered in masses of trumpet vine, their trunks gnarled and thick as they weave high above stone walkways.

I paused and stared pushing aside my to-do list for the moment just to absorb the feeling of true thankfulness.

We’d moved into the simple structure, my husband and I, only 3 months after we were pronounced husband and wife. We’d packed up our dreams for the future into a U-Haul truck and drove 4 hours away to our new home; away from family and all things familiar, to begin our new life together. It was there that we began laying the groundwork for today. It was there that our first marital spats pierced the heart, and there that the fine art of giving and receiving took place. We truly pinched pennies back then learning the limits of each dollar and each other. It was just the beginning of our “for better or for worse,” there where God chose to really knit our hearts together with a forever kind of love. It was there that our son was born and our lives were changed forever.

I paused again to look to the arbors remembering the cool breeze of fall mornings as a new mom with my son safely tucked in the stroller as we walked beneath the trumpet vine. The cherished memory of the day when we ventured down the street to the little shop where I bought him a blue hat.

I pulled out onto the street taking one more glance and I realized how God ordained this moment, too. I thought of how He wants me to revisit the early days and to never forget where I’ve been in order to be completely thankful for where I am.

I love how He uses the simple, ordinary moments to speak the loudest and reach the deepest parts of me.

I drive away humbled and thankful praising God for our very simple start – may He never let me forget.

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

(Deuteronomy 8:2-3) NIV

Living on Purpose (re-post)

There it is again; that voice, that finger wagging telling me I “can’t” do this, no matter how hard I try. Who am I to carry out such a task? Who do I think I am for dreaming so big – reaching for the highest star? Living my faith out loud? Negativity pushes hard sometimes, yells strong and wins me over all too often. I miss out on the blessings and sink in guilt instead. When God sets my feet on the track of His purpose, who am I to think He’ll make me walk it alone? Who am I to ever think I work towards anything… alone?

It is He…who plants the dream.

It is He…who strengthens me to accomplish it.

It is He…who gives me purpose.

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

(Ephesians 4:11-13) NIV

When God Tells You to Jump

Sometimes I need to be reminded that only God can melt away the fear that so often inhibits me. It’s so much easier to stay stuck on all the reasons why I can’t do something rather than put myself, my ideas and my thoughts out there vulnerable and exposed to criticism.

Well, He’s certainly been faithful to melt away that fear these past weeks, which reminds me: I have a bit of an announcement to make!

I invite you to join me and our great group of contributors as we anticipate the release of

Christian Women’s Voice Magazine!

Watch our Facebook page for updates (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christian-Womens-Voice/214000688666051) on the release date of our first issue. We're busy fitting all the pieces of the puzzle together to bring you, the reader, a great (print) magazine covering a variety of topics from frugal living to how we rely on God's presence throughout the many seasons of life. You'll find devotionals and straight-from-the-heart stories, treasures from the garden, recipes - even a fitness expert to help you tone and strengthen your spiritual health!

Join us and pray for us, if you would, as we strive to share the love of God by bringing encouragement and inspiration to His audience.

God's Blessings upon you today!