It's a new day.....

Today....I am thankful.

I am thankful for:

My salvation...it is everything...really. Because of what Jesus did for me on that cross....I can come boldly before my Father's throne and lay prostrate at His feet.

My son, Steve, who LOVES the Lord and is sensitive to the Holy Spirit. And that he, at age 20, still calls his momma to ask for prayer. What an honor and privilege that he still asks me to pray for and with him. My heart is humbled by this.

That the Lord gives and takes away....and gives me peace in the midst of changes. He is in control, always.

For technology....that I can still stay in touch with all the wonderful girls that the Lord allowed me to minister to during my tenure at Shift Youth Ministries. I still love each and every one of those girls! Even after 4+ years. They taught me so much.

For a mother who I can call one of my best friends, and a true sister in the Lord. It is because of her prayers that I am walking with the Lord today. Never underestimate the power of a praying Momma!

For the Favor of my Lord's face! He LOVES me! Oh, how He loves me! He closes and opens opportunities to me and sets me on His course!

For new friends....everywhere the Lord takes me, He blesses me with wonderful friends to pour into, and for them to pour into me! Am so so thankful for healthy, REAL relationships!

For those old, dear ones...the ones who have been with me from the beginning, and somewhere in between. The ones who faught side by side with me in the trenches...The ones who saw the good, bad, and the downright ugly parts of me...and LOVED me anyway. And continue to do so. The ones who hear the Lord's call to intercede on my behalf - I never would have survived without it.

I am thankful today for the Lord's mercy. His unfailing, unending mercy.

Continue to mold me into Your image, Lord. I am Yours, and You are mine...forever!

Everything.......

Have a heavy heart tonight. They announced that our church plant is folding. While I have had some time to process this, it is still heartbreaking. I have been thinking about all the people I have ministered to and all the people whose lives have been transformed and a sadness grips my heart for those that have yet to be reached.

So while I continue to process this, I turn to the One who knows me best, the One who understands and is there, always. This song ministers to me tonight, as I pray for the body that is broken right now. May the Lords peace rest on us all.

Everything (by Jesus Culture)

Find me here, Speak to me
I want to feel you I need to hear you
You are the light That is leading me
To the place Where I find peace again

You are the strength That keeps me walking
You are the hope That keeps me trusting
You are the life To my soul
You are my purpose You are everything

And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this

[Cause] You're all I want, You're all I need
Everything, everything

And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this

Been thinkin......

After somewhat disturbing news, I have been thinking a lot about how we make decisions. About how I make decisions. As I know we all could testify, I think back to some ill thought-out decisions I have made and to the resulting consequences. Props to whoever coined the saying, "hindsight is 20/20."

I would be remiss if I shoved off this feeling of dread; of disappointment. While I can respect the decision that was made, I know that there will be consequences in the future, whether we see them in this lifetime or not. I think about Moses; how in a brief moment of anger, his lapse in obedience cost him the very thing that was his life's calling - to take the children of Israel into the promised land. Because of that momentary lapse in judgement, he died, never having entered into the land of promise.

How many things to we miss out on because of decisions based on fear? How many times does our Lord weep and sigh over our holding back because to walk forward into the unknown isn't comfortable, or doesn't make sense to the eyes of this world?

While tremendous sadness grips my heart today, I am not angry at the decision makers. I am sad that what the Lord wanted to do in this situation was circumvented by fear. The Lord is rich in mercy and is still seated on His throne. He will bring around new opportunities that were lost in this one decision. It won't be the best way, the way He originally planned for....but it will be an opportunity nonetheless; for growth, for maturity, for faith.

What a different place this world would be if we would be obedient to the Word of God, and to His direction. He ALWAYS knows best.....

A day with giraffes.....

When Steve was home over the holidays, we got to go on a safari of sorts and spent a little time with some giraffes. This was a wonderful experience, although we did get slobbered on!

Enjoy the pictures!

A question for all of you in Blog-land......

To those of you who know me personally: What should I name my freelance writing business?

I am somewhat stumped, so thought I would throw it out there! Let me know your thoughts :)

Even if you don't know me personally, give it a shot......

Thanks in advance.

Choosing not to be impatient....

OK, based on popular demand (Angie), I am updating this rag. First, this is what has been going on:

I am still in Florida, going and doing as the Lord leads. I am currently unemployed (again). I am a part of a church plant, leading a small team of dedicated intercessors. The Lord is moving and shaking all that can be moved and shaken. I am also working on setting up my freelance writing business.

My son is in college and I am so proud to say, growing deeper and stronger in the Lord everyday. He is being mentored by some amazing, godly men. He has found a terrific, Spirit-filled church and is on their worship team both playing guitar and singing. He sings prophetically (something I KNEW was going to be made manifest in his life), and even his prayer language is of a melodic nature! He has recently been invited to lead worship for a men's conference in Tennessee. This is so exciting, not only to him, but to me as I know one his greatest fears was to miss what the Lord was calling him to do...you know, we have all been there! But, the Lord is proving Himself to my son. Thankfully, there are wonderfully strong, christian men pouring into his life, speaking sound biblical truth over and into him! When we follow the Lord in absolute obedience, there is no way we can miss His will for us! We fall right into it. He is in a dorm full of guys who love the Lord and they all regularly pray and fast. What an environment for growth. That is what is happening with Steve. Did I say I was proud of him??

The other day, as I was driving home from a meeting, I was thinking about my ambitions. You know, those things that you are wanting or even hoping to accomplish in the season you are in. Well, as excited as I have been about being down here doing what God has called me to do, the Lord showed me that I had gotten impatient. This impatience has led to tremendous discouragement. I am ashamed to admit that I had been very close to hanging up the towel and moving on. I had my eyes on the physical realm, where seemingly, nothing was happening. The incredible things that the Lord has had me declare and pray over for over 18 months had yet to be made manifest in the natural.

So after a painful and awesome time of repentance, the Lord removed the discouragement and gave me a heart that is dedicated to pleasing Him, and not my selfish ambitions. All the dreams of grandeur are gone, and I am determined to finish well the job the Lord has sent me here to do. I will not fall prey to becoming critical (even in my thoughts) of leadership already in place, but will faithful serve the Lord no matter the capacity. My promotion comes from the Lord and no man. This scripture says it beautifully:


Psalm 84 (The Message)
A Korah Psalm

1-2 What a beautiful home, God-of-the-Angel-Armies! I've always longed to live in a place like this,
Always dreamed of a room in your house,
where I could sing for joy to God-alive!
3-4 Birds find nooks and crannies in your house,
sparrows and swallows make nests there.
They lay their eggs and raise their young,
singing their songs in the place where we worship.
God-of-the-Angel-Armies! King! God!
How blessed they are to live and sing there!
5-7 And how blessed all those in whom you live,
whose lives become roads you travel;
They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks,
discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain!
God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and
at the last turn—Zion! God in full view!
8-9 God-of-the-Angel-Armies, listen:
O God of Jacob, open your ears—I'm praying!
Look at our shields, glistening in the sun,
our faces, shining with your gracious anointing.
10-12 One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship,
beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches.
I'd rather scrub floors in the house of my God
than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin.
All sunshine and sovereign is God,
generous in gifts and glory.
He doesn't scrimp with his traveling companions.
It's smooth sailing all the way with God-of-the-Angel-Armies

Verse 12 says, "I'd rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be an honored guest in the palace of sin." This does it for me. No more selfish ambition. Those doors are closed to me. My ambition is in the Lord, and Jesus crucified.