Be Ready!

Last week at Wednesday night church service, I was totally caught off guard. I was so stunned by being called out. Well, in all fairness - I must confess it was NOT ME literally that was called out. Not technically by my pastor, but more so by God. So there I sat and was expecting my Word when it nearly knocked me out of my chair. And to be truthful about it, I never even saw it coming. I was so caught off guard - I cried. Not sure if a bee had ever stung so hard. It hit me like a stun gun of how often I keep all these things in which the LORD has done for me, only to myself; because I chose to believe the lie that nobody was interested. So, if scripture points to it ... then if I withhold that from God's people and anyone else that may have a chance at meeting the LORD Jesus because of something I have shared, then I am not allowing others to see what He has done for me. Let alone what He has done in and through me. So, here it is almost one week later and it is still resounding in my heart. What was it that was SO profound that has me still considering? Still thinking. Still repeating the Word over and over? Are you ready? OK, here it goes. "BE ready" ... Be ready to share with others the hope that i have .... I Peter 3:15 i have thought about it all week long. You'll find comfort in knowing that the next day - I apologized to the Pastor and confessed. Oh yes, because i believe James 5:16 when it teaches to confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. Just so you know ... I am ready. Totally. So much so - that I've been practicing all week long. So i thought i would practice again with you ... are you ready?

So here goes. For over a year now, I have been WAITING for the movie WAR ROOM to come out. When it finally hit the theaters on August 28, i felt like i had won something. I was that ready to see it. It's a film by Alex and Stephen Kendrick - the brothers from Albany, Georgia that also created Flywheel, Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous. So my family and i finally went to the movies last weekend to see it. Let me just say ... to be able to sit in a theater and watch one of my favorite Bible study teachers - whom i really glean from, be up on that silver screen - in what seems like a mini scale of my own life at times, tears fell easily. To take it one step further ... just so you will know - God does NOT stop at anything to speak. To get my attention. The movie was filmed in my hometown of Kannapolis, North Carolina. Some of it was also filmed in Concord where I lived before I moved away ... and in Charlotte, where i worked and went to school. So, these sights were familiar to me. Like drinking from a well spring of water. Ok, so not only was it a familiar, well loved Bible teacher of mine. It was in my home town. A story that has resembled me at various times in my life. Are you listening? Lastly, at the END of the movie ....

Here's your sign. Literally. Multi-tiered. I'm talking - WHEN God speaks, HE does it so that there will NOT BE ANY QUESTION AT ALL... this particular sign was on the daughter's wall in the movie - at the very end. So i took a picture to share this with you. My sign was given to me by a really great friend that has been there with me and my family through the thick. And the thin. When it was good. When it was bad. When I saw this sign in the movie - the tears streamed from my eyes that stung like never before. It was God sending me a special message saying i love you ... draw closer to me. My testimony is this .... YOU ARE LOVED, by GOD - HE is the beginning and the end. The alpha and omega. The one that hung the moon. The one that pursues you. And me. Every day. Every night. IF you don't believe me, inspect for yourself. Get into His Word daily. Seek Him. Pray like you've never done so before. He speaks through His Word. It is alive and active. He will never leave your side - nor forsake you. He is looking for those that love Him ... whether life is good. Or bad. Or thick. Or thin. Anyone that calls upon the name of the LORD will be saved. He is waiting and He loves you. Like I said - if He will take a film crew from Albany, Georgia to my home town .... I cannot wait to hear what He will do for you! Let me know ...

When One Goes Missing

Meet. My. Neighbors. OK, well, they aren't my only neighbors, but they by far are the closest ones I have. I love them beyond words. When I get home or before I leave, it may be fair to say that I could double as a chicken with my head stretched out - because I am always looking for them. At the beginning of this year, we left a bigger town for a small community close by. Out in the country. Where we have quickly found refuge. And home. It's where my parents were born and raised. It's where I spent every weekend on my Granny's farm - growing up. It's where the LORD pursued me heavily ... and I accepted. And now it's where the LORD displays some incredible artwork in the heavenlies and in the great outdoors every evening and every morning. Just as soon as I think I've got a favorite picked, He surprises me with something new. He loves me this way. It is certainly my love language. It is His way of displaying His love, grace, and mercy for me. So ... about last night - it was almost as usual. I was in the full throes of washing dishes, cooking and preparing supper, while talking to my teenager. During all of this I happened to look out of my kitchen window. It's where I spend a lot of time cooking, cleaning, preparing for life. The window displays one of the most beautiful pieces of land. It's where I see the sun rising. My flowers growing. A storm brewing. And my husband coming home every evening from work. So you can be sure it's where I keep a close watch at always. So as I look out ... wouldn't you know it, one of those precious calves that reside on the land right next to me was standing in full view. ONLY this time, he wasn't in his usual dwelling. In the moment ... I felt like one of those silly cartoon characters gone haywire, um which way did he go, which way did he go?! In a split second, I turned off all my pots, water, and ran out of the back door calling behind for my daughter to go with me. The whole time I am speaking calmly to this little calf walking towards him as quickly as I could without startling him ... all I could hear in my heart was this small voice speaking back saying ... this is how I respond when even one of mine go missing. Last night I felt more called to help save this calf than anything I had been a part of in a long time. It's without a doubt that the LORD allowed me to assist in the rescue of this little calf so that I could understand just how important even we are to Him. To be honest - He created us for His purposes and He desires a relationship with us. However, He is always a gentleman. He will never push Himself on any of us. For me, He knows me best because He created me. He knows I love the country life. So He has blessed me with this for such a time as this.

So this is him ... the one that went missing. He is still a babe. I've had a few conversations with him beside the fence ... you know, that's what fence neighbors do. They walk up and stand a spell. Or talk a spell. He knows me. Or I would like to think he does ... I continued to walk closer to him. He kept his eye on me. The whole time he was walking forward - towards the road. The whole time I am praying - LORD, even this one means something to you. Please get Him back in that fence where he is safe. I began to think about that road. That road to him may have looked like a whole bunch of freedom. No more big cows that I have to move over and share my grass with. No more of the same old scenery. That road ... ahhh, freedom. The freedom to make my own choices. The freedom to go where I want to go. The freedom to live my own life. I thought about how many times have I wanted my own freedom and wanted to be able to be by myself and do my own thing. When the reality of it is - the LORD gives me boundaries. Not a prison. He shows me a blessed walk of life. In other words - if I follow Him and live by His guidelines then I will not only live in freedom, but live a life of blessings. So as you can imagine ... when I got a few feet from him, he bolted and shot back through the barbed wire fence that he had previously done some damage to. Thankfully, he didn't go very far. Thankfully, the LORD spurred my interest to look out that window right at that moment. Thankfully, he was safe. I always told my daughter while she was growing up ... be careful little eyes what you see, be careful little ears what you hear, be careful little mouth what you say ... for the LORD is above and He watches with His love ... only because He wants us safe in His care. He wants the best for us - just like our parents. Thank you LORD for always protecting. Always nudging. Always leading in the way that you would have me go.

TBH ... To Be Honest

To be honest ... is something that my daughter says a lot. As does she and her friends. They all share in this post on Instagram and it goes something like this - TBH ... To be honest, you are pretty. TBH, you are funny, TBH, I like your hair. THIS comes from a little bit of boredom at the moment. SO ... when she has posted all that she can post. When she's texted all she can text. And when she's accomplished all of her chores around the house ... it goes back to good old faithful standby - TBH. I believe it starts a fire ... something to say between them. As long as we are being honest, there is something you must know about this blogger. I stand graced. Entirely. Oh yeah, this writer is nothing without Him. I am in no way shape or form -- a shining example of what a good Christian looks like. I am as flawed as they come. And here it comes ... to be honest, had He not NOT pursued me ... well - let's just say - I would still be down in the trenches of the pit - thinking I was home. Up until now, I've always wanted to be the good girl. You know the one that always does the right thing... the one that says the right thing. Well you see, here's the thing. Sometimes I choose flesh because it's easier. Not only is it easier - it's quicker. Anybody? Several years ago - I blogged and I tried so very hard to make every letter, every word, every phrase "glisten" with perfection and purity. And here it comes again ... TBH - life has tossed me around so much the last five years, I'm just really tired of pretending. And ... TBH - I so believe that the LORD was trying to pull every bit of the FAKE I had left in me -- OFF for HIS Purposes. OH yeah, that must have come when I fervently prayed for the LORD to create "more faith" in me. It was during that time I was working through the Beth Moore study of Daniel. Sometimes those prayers carry a lot of weight and they are not necessarily over and done within the hour so we can make it back to the next appointment. Can you identify? Does this hit home with anybody? Let's face it ... the way to GET MORE FAITH - is to endure life altering situations. It's a field trip if you will .... it is a ticket OUT OF THE CLASS ROOM. And so it goes, for the last five years ... we've weathered some storms, to my husband has endured a few bad wrecks with his job, and now we have landed on the other side of all the turmoil. ONLY to be delivered to the next item up for bid. The teenage years. LORD have mercy on me! So today I really want to share something with you. For several years - I was involved in some really wonderful Bible studies. I am such a student at heart ... and not only that, I love being a Word Nerd. It's who I am. It's who God created me TO BE ... Let's face it - if God has planted something on the inside of you, it is by no mistake. And TBH - when He is ready, He will pull it out and reveal it to those He is wanting to bless, draw to Himself, teach, or encourage in ways that we cannot always see. So today I wanted to share something that is as imperfect as the writer's materials you are reading. It is my first public scripture doodle ... or better yet - scripture journal. For many years I have been journaling. For the last couple - I have been practicing these pictures. I've patiently and silently sat back and watched lovingly as my artist friends have posted and shared their work. Each one so eloquent and jaw droppingly beautiful. Each time ... they have ministered to me -- right exactly where I am for the moment. One day I was praying for these abilities. Well as time has gone on ... each time, I'm like "LORD, I would love to be able to do this!" And recently, the LORD responded with - and what are you waiting on? So I began by writing it out. Praying over it. Wanting it. Believing it. After a couple of hours of sitting in a local sandwich shop while waiting on one of my daughter's camps to end, I finished it. To say that I was overjoyed was to put it mildly. So today - I revealed it on Instagram. So far so good.

The thing that I want to point out the most. It isn't that it's the most beautiful piece of artwork. It's not that it's going to win a prize. However ... TBH - it's that I want to accomplish some things that I know God has purposed in my heart. Number one - if my life doesn't reflect the LORD Jesus, then how can I ever be charged with being a Christian? Secondly, my daughter is watching me. I want to plant some deep seeds of faith in her that are real. So real that they will come back throughout every season of her life that will repeatedly nurture her and encourage her walk with the LORD. I may not show her these on a routine basis because I feel like that would be bragful. But my prayer is ... that one day when I walk into the arms of Jesus and she is still on this side of heaven - trying to figure this thing called "life" out ... I hope she will have something that will minister to her. Something to pass along from my generation to hers that says "KEEP GOING" .... "FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH" AND WHATEVER YOU DO.... "FIGHT HARD FOR YOUR FAMILY." This particular verse has become a very favorite of mine. When things were so awful during the losses, I would just cling to it like none other. IF there is nothing else I get right on the face of this earth, I can lay my head down at night and rest in this one. You see, love comes when it is given freely to you. My whole life ... He has been faithful to always be there and always bless me with His love and presence. Today I encourage you to think about what kind of baton you plan to pass to those in your family. A loved one, a parent, a son, a daughter. When I am gone - I want my treasures to be passed on for those the LORD has placed in my life for His Kingdom's Purpose. TBH - God has a purpose for you. Seek Him and He will show you.

This is the Day

On my morning walk ... I happened upon this view. Grateful. Indeed. All I could hear in my spirit was "THIS is the DAY that the LORD has made." Indeed. Even though when trials come . . . because THEY COME ... the LORD already knows what is in store. So if I must ... I will settle on this, that the LORD already knows because He made this day. My prayer is that His grace will cover me no matter what I face.