The Power in Prayer

Prayer has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, with no formal understanding of prayer, I spent many nights praying, praying for rescue, praying for help, praying for peace. However, it wasn’t until I was much older that I began to appreciate prayer as a practice of intentional time spent with the Father and speaking with Him about the concerns of my heart. It is by spending time communicating with Him, praying to Him, and listening for His reply, that I learned to tune my ear to not only hear His voice, but to hear what He has to say about the things that concern Him.

However, prayer doesn’t always come easy. There are times when you may not know what it is you want to pray, you may not have the words to speak or be so overcome with emotion, that you simply cannot join two words together. Let me encourage you. You are not alone. There are times when all of us can’t find the words to speak. We have all experienced occasions when everything seems so grim that we don’t know how to pray. In the middle of all those moments, when our grief is too deep, and our pain is so new, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. It is during times like those, when we do not know what we ought to pray that the Spirit Himself speaks for us through groanings that are understood in Heavenly realms.

There is power in prayer. Through prayer we speak with God, hearts are softened, and miracles are incited. The practice of prayer may not always be smooth, our prayers may be awkward and our attempts may be feeble. Still, because the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers will always make a difference.

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Practicing Self-Care

The past few weeks I have come to understand that I haven’t been caring for myself as well as I thought I had been. I promote self-care. I preach self-care. Yet, as a caregiver, practicing self-care has not always been my strongest suit. Still, I felt I was doing a fairly decent job of it. Apparently, I was wrong. As the story plays out, I have been needing a follow up cat scan on a cyst that’s been growing in my abdomen. Because of its location, the cat scan needed to be with and without contrast. As it would turn out, I had an allergic reaction. Typically, contrast is cleared from the body within two days, but my gastroparesis has caused the contrast to remain trapped in my body for the last two weeks. This has caused me to be painfully nauseous, bloated, and gassy. I say all of this because these things have proven to be a stumbling block in the middle of a very important season of my life. I’ve been working overtime to get a lot of things wrapped up and finished before the new year and this sickness has made productivity quite difficult. This has caused me to dig very deep into the reserves of what I know about my conditions and my faith.

Once the results came in, several things, caused primarily by my poor eating habits and previous surgeries, leapt from the page; one of them being that I must change the way I eat because I can’t continue to eat as I have been. My gastroparesis won’t allow it any longer. For that reason, I went on a juice fast for a few days and am continuing to follow it up with a soft food diet for the next two weeks, which will be followed by a pretty significant change in my diet from here forward. All of this has made me reevaluate my self-care practices because I have consistently put myself last. This has made me look harder at what the family caregiver goes through, and we go through quite a bit. Not only must we care for our loved ones whose health needs may be extensive, but I find we frequently put ourselves last. Because our loved ones need so much of us, we’re laser focused on meeting their needs; often failing to understand that we’re not meeting our own needs in any appreciable way.  

The simple fact is that this whole corporation will fail if I don’t take care of myself. I can talk about self-care all day long, but truthfully most of my days pass without me practicing any self-care at all.  I’m thinking about it. I want to practice it. I’m trying to grab time daily just for me. Still, most days it just doesn’t happen and that has to change, not just for me but for others. As family caregivers, we must learn how to put ourselves in the position of captain because we are the captain of this ship. We are the CEO of this corporation. If we fail, the whole thing fails, and we will go down with the ship.

Long story short, if my experience can do anything let it encourage you to really focus on your own health. More than anything, poor health habits and lack of self-care will prevent you from being the caregiver that you really want to be. You can want to provide care to your family member or loved one, but if you’re not taking care of your health, you will be sick, you will be tired, you will be suffering from fatigue. You will find yourself faced with abdominal issues, mental health issues, or other issues that will prevent you from focusing on all of the things that you hope to accomplish. Please do yourself a favor, find out what you need for your health and happiness and give it to yourself.  Whether you need to do a complete overhaul of your diet, like me, or if you need to find a way to enjoy any number of hobbies that bring you happiness, I welcome you to join me on this journey because 2023 is going to be the year that I get my health and self-care plans in order.

Until next time, I wish you much love and many blessings.

What Does It Mean To Be a Godly Woman?

By definition, a woman is the female of the human race, grown to adult years. Who would think to dispute that simple and straightforward statement? Still, recently, there has been a growing debate focused on what it means to be called a woman, with both, men and women, weighing in on the topic with, sometimes profound but oftentimes, foolish assumptions of womanhood. They fail to see the beauty of our created persons because many believe that we can now recreate ourselves into whatever image we so desire. We are told how to speak, how to dress, and what to think. We are told that in order to be relevant, we must be young and beautiful. We are even told that the path to success is through any means necessary, and we should be willing to step on anyone on the way up, survival of the fittest after all.

But none of these are messages that we get from scripture. So, who does God say we are?

As Christian women, whether married or single, we are the bride of Christ, a wife of noble character as defined in Proverbs 31.

Read Proverbs 31

As you see, the Bible offers us different messages about what it means to be successful and how we should carry ourselves in society. It instructs us on how to be godly women.

In preparing for this topic I have found, what I believe are five steps to becoming the godly women we were designed to be.

Step 1:  To be a godly woman we are to love God with all of our heart, with all of our soul, and with all of our mind.

We know this because when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he answered saying exactly that in Matthew 22: 37.  I like to paraphrase it this way, love God with everything you have. The first step to being a godly woman is to develop a love for God that is unmatched by anything else in the world. Your love for God must supersede everything.

God first really means God before our family, children, job, or possessions. There should be nothing more important to us.

Step 2: The second thing we need to be a godly woman follows closely behind the first step and can also be found in Matthew 22, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

That means we are to love everyone. That includes those who are not entirely likeable. When God says love your neighbor, we don’t pick and choose. We are told to love others with the same intensity with which we love ourselves.  Unfortunately, many women struggle with loving themselves correctly. We often love ourselves too little, not knowing our true value as daughters of God. This must change. A godly woman is a woman that is actively concerned for others because she places the same value on others as she places on herself.

Step 3: The third step of being a godly woman is to be full of wisdom and kindness.

A godly woman embodies the wisdom of God. In the King James version Proverbs 31 verse 26 says, “She opens her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” Wisdom is not the same as knowledge. Knowledge is the acquisition of information. Wisdom is understanding how to use it.  As we grow in grace and love for God and our neighbor, we will also grow in wisdom. The second part of this is that a godly woman does all of this with kindness. Society tells us that kindness is weakness, but a woman that carries herself with a kind disposition should not be considered soft, weak, or even naïve. She is displaying a godly character. Regardless of what others may say, wisdom and kindness are necessary for godly character

Step 4 : The fourth step is that godly women are merciful and forgiving

A godly woman is one who focuses on helping others. Jesus through his words and life makes it painfully clear that talking about God, knowing about God, or even loving God is not enough. That love must translate to action towards our fellow human beings. A godly woman is a woman that is concerned about the well-being of the less fortunate and who takes steps to be fair and just in all her interactions. When people do us wrong, when we help people and don’t get so much as a thank you, we are to forgive them.  Because a godly woman loves mercy, she is merciful towards all. Jesus reminds us that blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Therefore, mercy must always be a part of our lives.

Step 5: My final point is that godly women must demonstrate humility.

Micah 6:8 says, “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Society will tell us that there is virtue in being strong, outspoken, and ambitious, yet God asks us for humility. Now please don’t get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being strong, speaking up, or being ambitious. Many women possess these dispositions brought by their nature or by circumstances out of their control. However, God still asks us to walk with humility. Humility isn’t opposed to strength, ambition, and outspokenness. Humility undergirds our strength. It guides our ambition. It informs our speech.  

In summary, as women of God, we are required to love God with everything we have, to love others as ourselves, to exhibit wisdom and kindness, to do justice and love mercy, and to walk in humility. These are the traits that God asked all of us to have as godly women. 

Finally, I’d like to end with Matthew 28:19, “ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…”

Go ye… this is the one phrase that inspires missionaries worldwide to leave the comfort of the known and head out into the unknown proclaiming the good news. Go ye… causes them to disregard all comfort to go tell others about the salvation of Christ. But so are we. When Christ says to go, he’s speaking to each one of us. Go ye.. into the schools. Go ye.. into your place of employment. Go ye… into the marketplace. Go ye… wherever your feet carry you. Go ye…and teach the word of God, lead others to Christ, be a Christian example of love, display the fruits of the Spirit, so that the world can taste and see that the Lord is good.

Because more than a Christ we speak of, the world needs a Christ they can see. And that’s you and that’s me.

Until next time, much love.

Not a Choice I Choose

Have you ever had someone close to you let you down? How about when they didn’t just let you down, but gossiped about you, sabotaged you, walked all over your feelings, and then acted as if nothing had ever happened? If you haven’t, you’ve been blessed. But if you have, then you know it is among one of the worst feelings, especially when the relationship is something you have poured your heart in to, and the person is someone you have trusted with your dreams. We only have to look around to see how devastating broken relationships can be. At the highest level, governments war against one another with devastating consequences. In its simplest form, friendships can be irreparably destroyed in such a way that there is no earthly way of coming back. Even Christ, himself, faced the complete break down of relationships which He cherished, with men He loved and served with for over three years. If Christ can know such pain, who are we to think that it won’t touch us as well? The fact that we are still experiencing relational breakdowns should come as no surprise. This is still a fallen world with a sinful people.

By now, you may be thinking that this is a defeatist message, but my dear, nothing could be further from the truth. While we are living in a fallen world and yes, we are indeed, a sinful people. We have freedom of choice. Every morning when we arise to face another day, we have the choice to be self-serving or to serve others.  We can choose to promote solely ourselves and our ideas by tearing down another or we can esteem those around us. Do we grow our own realm of influence, or do we help those growing alongside us to rise? That’s our choice. The world teaches us that we must go out there and get our own because no one else is going to help us. And this focused self-serving behavior is done to the detriment of friendships, families, and even our own better judgement. This type of self-promotion, to the injury of all else, is not a choice I choose to make.

Don’t think I haven’t been stabbed more than once in my back. Friend, I’m still hemorrhaging from the most recent attack, and I may want to lash out in pain and self-righteousness, but I get a choice and I choose mercy. I choose to live my life in such a way that if there’s someone who’s going to be breaking down my team, my family, or my relationships, it’s not going to be me. Why? Because the God of mercy is walking with me. How could I not show mercy to those around me? Scripture states that the merciful will obtain mercy and I’m in the mercy business because I know we all need to be shown forgiveness for things we have done or have failed to do. Likewise, we also need to forgive others for what they have and have not done. There are already so many wounded people walking among us, why should we add to their pain? While we may be hurt by friends, loved ones, colleagues, and acquaintances, we don’t have to return hurt for hurt. We can choose to show mercy. We can choose to be the ones who help them polish their crowns, not the ones throwing stones.

Until next time, much love.

Broken?

Many years ago, I suffered a horrible heartbreak. Sometimes my mind replays the scene of my younger self, sobbing uncontrollably, while I held my son in my arms, wanting desperately to have nothing more than my healthy son restored to me. With my heart shattered, I could do nothing but fall to pieces as the doctors told me that his condition was irreversible. While my son remained with me, the child he was, the promise of the man he could have been was gone, and I mourned that loss. Decades have passed since that day long ago and my heart has now healed, but memories of that time will always stay with me.

Throughout my years, I’ve seen others with broken hearts that never healed. Their mourning remained year after year, leaving them to grow bitter, sad, angry, and withdrawn.  And I understand it one hundred percent. Mourning breaks you. While there is no complete and accurate description of what a broken heart feels like, the experience often wounds the mind, emotions, and spirit. A broken heart feels heavy with crushing anguish that seems like it may never end. But it can.

I’ve come to learn that no matter the distressing situation, the pain of heartbreak can be healed. However, it cannot be healed by the simple passage of time. The healing of a broken heart will require more than just time. It requires a willingness to surrender the pain of grief to something or someone else. For me, that something was hope and that someone was Christ. In my hurting and sorrow, I found the One who would heal my heart. The bible says, “He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.” That’s exactly what He did for me.

In the first few months, following my sons’ stroke and resulting diagnosis, Christ became my comforter, my friend, and confidant. He gave me strength. He gave me hope. He gave me a safe place to mourn. And just as the bible says, I cast my cares upon Him, and He sustained me. He held me close as I came to terms with the knowledge that my son would never walk or talk again. He strengthened me day by day, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. And Christ can do the same for you if you let Him.

No matter the hurt you are experiencing, whether it is the loss of a spouse, a parent, a sibling, or the trauma of a disability that takes and takes, Christ will love on you if you only allow Him.  Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” My dear friend, if you’re hurting and you feel as if your mourning will never end. I challenge you to cast your cares in His direction and see what it means to be healed.

Until next time, much love.

The Storm Rages On

This morning, as I was working the soil in my garden, my mind began working over the events of this past year. To say that I have had an eventful year, experiencing both traumatic and wonderful events that have left me at times breathless and in tears, is not saying enough. This year has been wild. From my little sister and my husband both getting cancer diagnoses to following the prompting of the Holy Spirit to speak publicly, this year has tested the limits of my strength, my faith, and my willingness to trust God even when I don’t know what the next step will be. I’ve had covid twice. I’ve fought a battle with bed bugs I thought would never end. I planned a 60^th birthday party for my husband while he battled a cerebral spinal infection. I’ve left a church I loved because God was calling me to return to my former church. I have been pulled and stretched in every direction, sometimes leaning into my talents and other times seeking out mental health therapy. I’ve been blessed and betrayed, loved and hated, on my knees and glorifying God. I’ve celebrated victories and cried when no one was watching. I have been a small boat tossed about by mighty waves. Even though I was battered and broken, I still knew that there was a reason and a purpose.

The reason is because I needed to grow in faith and wisdom, strength and tenacity. The purpose, well that’s a little more profound. You see, as a professing Christian, someone who claims to follow Christ, I had to dig deep to keep from losing my everything this year. By digging deep into the word of God and listening intently to the Holy Spirit, I’ve had to recommit myself to following Christ past the limits of my comfort zone and all the way to the cross. By following Christ, I must daily put to death the desires of self and seek to do the will of He who saved me so many years ago. You see, He didn’t save me for just me. He saved me for all those that I would carry His message to during my lifetime. If I am to follow Him, then I am to carry his message of love to all. Even when it hurts. Even when I’m scared. Even when I stumble under the weight of my own cross. I’m far from perfect at this but I know I’m getting better at it every day.

You may wonder how’s everything going as we enter the last quarter of 2022? Well, my husband had surgery to remove part of his kidney effected by cancer and is doing relatively well, though we are waiting MRI results for a suspicious growth discovered in his liver. My mom, who is caring for my little sister and has her own diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, is not doing well and has been bleeding internally for months. My little sister has metastatic melanoma with numerous tumors throughout her body, 20 of them located in her brain.  Yet, she remains the most hilariously tenacious woman I’ve ever known. The bed bugs are finally gone. I’m attending services full time at my former church which is now my current church. Continuing my education, I became certified as a caregiver instructor for those caring for loved ones with Dementia and Alzheimer’s. I continue to get speaking opportunities and joined a Leadership Cohort for women. As you can see, the journey continues. Good and bad, up and down, the only difference between going into 2022 and moving into the final months of it, is that I’ve learned a lot this year about myself, and I no longer feel tossed about by a mighty storm.  I feel resolute. I feel that no matter what comes my way, by keeping my eyes firmly upon the Lord I will not sink into the waves of the storm that rages on around me, but I will walk upon them.

Until next time, much love.

What Did Jesus Do?

Freedom. Choice. Autonomy. These have long been deeply held values, not just for American’s but for many around the world. The overseeing of one’s own fate is not something that is or should be taken lightly. However, in the mind of the believer, the demands of holiness can set up powerful and disturbing conflict related to the issue of autonomy. The reason it is so convoluted is because we do not always know where our autonomy ends and our freedom in Christ begins. This becomes further complicated in our relationships with others when their freedom of choice is leading them down a one-way path to destruction. How are we to help without appearing judgmental or overbearing? Getting our own self together is hard enough, but what do we do when we see someone else in danger? How do we help without hurting?

While our natural instinct may tell us to snatch others from the burning pit, often it plays itself out with disastrous consequences, resulting with the believer pointing out the sin and being seen as judge and jury. The sinner, now feeling that they are being violated and that the believer has overstepped their rights, turns argumentative further restraining the believer. All of this leads to separation, gradually causing great harm to the relationship. However, the choice to remain silent while someone is ensnared by sin and dragged through hell and back isn’t much of a choice.

So really, what did Jesus do? Firstly, he loved. He loved without judging. He loved sacrificially. He loved unselfishly. He loved by blessing and not cursing. He loved freely. He showed mercy by not condemning but remained clear about sin and its consequences. While many believers feel that their faith requires them to speak out against sin in every situation, Jesus was clear that love must come first, mercy second, and finally instruction. Jesus knew that for people to care what you think, they must know that you care about them. While many Christians are busy condemning the sin and the sinner, Jesus did the opposite – He gave up His own life to bear the sin and condemnation of those He loved, thereby teaching us how to love one another.

For the believer, the reconciliation of the dilemma between loving the sinner and hating the sin has its very foundation rooted in love. We need both love and Holy truth in order to follow Christ wherever He would lead us, but the love must come first. Recently, members of my church have been asked to seek out relationships with the unsaved around us. With this goal in mind, we may find ourselves entering discussions with many, young and old, who live lives vastly different from our own. They may be new age, pro-choice, or practice an alternative lifestyle and have tough questions that we may not always have the answers to. While we can’t be afraid to be clear about the truth of Christ and the righteous demands of our faith, our job is to first show love. Remember that “…God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8 

If a Holy God can extend love to sinners like us, surely, we can offer our love and acceptance to those who sin differently.  

Until next time, much love.

5 Things Every Caregiver Needs

Hello and welcome back. Today, I want to talk about the five things I believe every caregiver should have. This list includes a combination of emotional support and tangible items that have the potential to make life a whole lot easier and a lot more enjoyable. I know they have really helped me in the 30+ years I have been a caregiver, so hopefully they can help you too.  So, let’s get started.

The first thing I believe every caregiver needs is a good play list, made up of songs that lift your mood, songs you can work out too, songs you can clean too, and songs you can dance too. If you know a little about me, you might be aware that I’ve been singing in choir and on worship teams for the greater part of my life and that has really opened my eyes to the transformative power of music. There are songs, both secular and spiritual in nature, that really do lift my spirits and make me feel happier, even when I am having a particularly difficult day. For that reason alone, I think having a positive and uplifting play list has the potential to make a profound difference in helping caregivers to manage stress.

The next thing I believe every caregiver needs is at least one self-care practice that makes you feel your absolute best. From quarterly salon visits to monthly massages, mani/pedis with the girls or a gym membership to build strength, choose at least one self-care practice that serves only you. If money is tight, set aside time for just yourself and spend your “me time” however you see fit, but spend it solely on yourself. Because caregivers notoriously leave so little time for themselves, this is your opportunity to do something just for you. I find this practice of self-care to be a significant asset in helping me retain a strong sense of self.

The next thing I believe caregivers should have is an emergency plan. As we all know, everything can change in a moment’s notice, and we need to be prepared for what will happen to our loved one if we are suddenly unable to care for them. A well-written emergency plan, much like a will, will convey your wishes if you become unable to speak for yourself. A good emergency plan will communicate who needs to be called and what needs to happen regarding your loved one. It states who will be stepping into the caregiver position in the interim, who will operate as your loved ones Power of Attorney, who will be their medical surrogate, their representative payee and more. This document is truly invaluable. Once written store your emergency plan someplace safe yet readily accessible. I keep mine in our medical records binders. Which leads me to our next item on the list.

The next thing all caregivers need are impeccably organized medical records. I know that with everything you may have going on, this may sound daunting and unattainable but hear me out. Years ago, I created a medical records binder for each member of my family. Those binders have proven themselves to be worth their weight in gold in emergency situations, during Dr’s visits, and for the rare weekend get-a-ways with my husband. With well-kept records that include a diagnosis, daily schedule, a list of all medications, doctors, and food preferences, the person caring for our sons have been able to slip right into place without additional stress being placed on the temporary caregiver. Good records have, quite literally, transformed our lives.

Finally, every caregiver needs a good support system. They need to surround themselves with supportive family and friends who can help them to meet the myriad of social, emotional, and physical needs that will spring up in the caregivers high stress lifestyle. A good support network will look different for each person but should fit the social/emotional needs of each individual caregiver. For example, I have close friends who are also parents of special needs children. While our children are different, we share many of the same experiences in parenting. I also attend a support group meeting once a month where I can connect with other caregivers at various stages in their caregiving journey. Allowing us to learn and grow together. I have also cultivated a spiritual practice, that supports and uplifts me every single day of my life. It is this faith relationship that most provides me with the peace I so desperately seek.     

And there you have it, those are the five things that I think every caregiver should have. Let me know in the comments below if there’s anything I haven’t covered that really helps you as a caregiver because I would love to hear from you and get inspired to grow my own skills. As always, thank you so much for stopping by and until next time, much love and many blessings.

Children of God

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. I John 3:1

In the days of Christ, calling yourself a child of God was considered blasphemy. Indeed, that one statement was the one which whipped up the religious folks in Jesus’s day, causing them to pick up stones to kill him and eventually, to crucify Him. Fast forward some two thousand years and today, when we accept Christ as our Savior, we become children of God and are still being killed and mocked by the spiritually bankrupt of our time. Everything changes and yet, sadly some things remain the same. No matter the period, throughout history the children of God have never been accepted by the world and those who have their own agendas.

But do we really understand what it means to be a child of God? As a child of God, it is such a comfort to know that before we took a breath, God already had a plan for our lives. We read in scripture how it is His good pleasure to give us the desires of our heart, how He will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that we will not have room enough for it. Still, with all the blessings and benefits that are bestowed upon us, things do not exactly run as smooth as silk. Yes, the benefits will always outnumber the troubles, but make no mistake, there will be trouble.

For my recently saved friend, her trouble came in the form of rejection. Yes, today, when anything goes, Christians are still being despised and rejected for their beliefs. You see, my friend and I were once members of a community of spiritually minded individuals, who professed belief in a Christ but denied the full extent of His power. Both she and I have now turned our backs on practices we know are not of God, while still loving those still lost in confusion. When I left the spiritual community, it was not as jarring. I had already moved away, and I was quiet about my faith in Christ, because I was focused on repairing my own relationship with God the Father. My friend, on the other hand, CAME OUT! Once Christ claimed her as His own, her life went through a metamorphosis that no one would have believed. And her coming out as Christian did not sit well with our old friends. Friends, she had believed, were closer than blood. Almost overnight, those she had rode so hard for, simply turned their backs on her and walked away.

It should be mentioned, that in spiritual circles, finances and spirituality often intersect and belief systems become monetized. From the selling of yoga classes to healing sessions, attunements to attainments, there’s always a new level to achieve, and ascension, my dear, don’t come cheap. So, when my friend came out declaring the hypocrisy of “love and light”, not only was their pride injured but their livelihoods were also called into question. I am sure they were as surprised by her stand against their spiritual practices as she was by their ostracizing. Still, none of this came as a surprise to God. In fact, Isaiah 46:10 states that He knows the end from the beginning, and in Romans 8:28 we are told that all that we do, and experience, works together for our good.

But where’s the good when your friends have all forsaken you? It can be found in communication with the one true and living God. You see, because we are children of God, He seeks for opportunities to give us good gifts. Gifts that are both spiritual and temporal that will be a benefit to ourselves, others, and His eternal kingdom. One of those benefits is that He hears us when we pray. I know that just as I meet with Jesus in the secret place to pray for my friends and loved ones to know Christ as their Lord and Savior, my friend now joins me as with continue to pray for those we love, who are lost, to become children of God. We have nothing to sell, no potion, no class, no next level spiritual hack. We humbly offer up our prayers to a loving Father, who knows His children and will not forsake them.

Until next time, much love.

God Has a Plan

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

How would you live if you knew your life had a plan? What would your life look like if you knew that no matter what you did, you could not fail because there was already a plan in place? What kind of life would that be? Would it mean the difference of a life lived in mediocrity or one lived out with passion?

Throughout my life, I have not been much of a planner. I have always been more of a dreamer. The problem with that is, that when the rubber hits the road, I spin out of control. Without momentum and purpose, I would find myself just spinning my wheels. Not a great method, but it was mine. However, the last few years have caused me to contend with so much illness and so many trials, some I did not expect to survive, that I came to realize that I needed a plan. With my health stretched in every direction, each time I thought I found the right plan, it proved to be a disaster for my wellbeing, setting me back months of hard work. With each trial, I became increasingly aware that my bounce back had bounced off and I was floundering. That floundering has caused me to lose and regain the same 30+ lbs., more than once. It has caused me to do things that I know I shouldn’t. It has even caused me to act a right fool with those whom I love most. However, it was also that floundering that sent me to my knees and into the Father’s arms.

In His arms, I was reminded that no matter my circumstances, God had a plan. Long ago, before I was even born, He knew me and had already decided what the expectation for my life would be. He knew my nature. He knew my weakness. He knew my heart. He has numbered the very hairs of my head and has collected every tear I have cried. And He knew He could work with what little I had to offer because little is much in His hands. Even when I wander off the path and find myself walking in the wrong direction or distracted by the pretty things of man, God still has a plan. He also has a plan for you! There is no where you can wander that God cannot find you and draw you back to Himself and to His plan for your life. So, no matter what you have done, no matter what you are facing, no matter where you have wandered off to, remember God still has a plan to prosper you, to give you hope and future.

Until next time, much love and many blessings.