A New Direction

Yesterday my life was forever changed by the 4 ladies in the picture... Three children and their teacher came into my home to stay for a few days as the children prepare to sing at our church.  The Daraja Childrens Choir is:   Essentially an international Hope Exchange. Just like a gift exchange or a student exchange program, we each have something to offer the other. Out of desperate circumstances, these children possess unbelievable amounts of hope--which they offer freely through their songs, laughter, joy and incredible passion for the Lord. In exchange, we can offer them hope for their future. Traveling with the Daraja Children's Choir gives them the chance to broaden their horizons, widen their world-perspective, deepen their leadership skills, and open the scope of their imagination. We invest in their future and the future of the nation of Kenya and Uganda. Last evening, after showers and teeth were brushed, Grace, their teacher, sat them...

James 2:20 "You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?"  God wants us to walk in our faith.  He wants action on our part to show that we believe in Faith He is who he says he is and he will do what he says he will do.  God wants us to show others our faith.  How do we do that?? A great expression of our Faith is Love.  Love the Lord with all our hearts and loving others is an expression of faith.  The way we talk is an expression of our faith.  The way we live is an expression of our faith.  The way we give is an expression of our faith.  The way we treat people is an expression of our faith. Everything we DO is communicating what we believe to the world around us. Many of you know I have dealt with a difficult person the last few months.  How he speaks to me and those around me shows what he believes.  But how I respond shows what I believe.  Yes, I was angry at first.  I was frustrated....

Do you have a dream?  A desire in your heart that you want to fulfill?  A need that seems impossible to meet?  I have a dream - to minister to women and to share my story.  There is so much about my past that only a few people know.  Its a testimony of struggles, hurts, pain, suffering. But its also a testimony of God's great unfailing faithfulness and power!  Little by little I will share my story, but what I want you to know today is that we need to have extreme faith.  I look back on memories in my childhood and realize that when I was 12 and was suffering from 2 broken wrists and a broken, mangled ankle, I had extreme faith.  I trusted that God would restore healing to me.  That He would raise me up and make me whole again.  And He did.  I still believe to this day for more healing of that ankle.  Do I stop running because of it? Do I stop when the pain is there and it hurts to walk let alone run? No.  Why? Because I...

When David went out to face Goliath, he didn't look at him and fear his size.  He didn't look at him and think "well, this guy is bigger than I thought.  Maybe I should let someone bigger than me handle this".  No, David look at Goliath and said My God is bigger than you!!!  I will defeat you in the name of the Lord!   Do you look at your problems, your fears, your dreams, your debt, your illness and think "this is more than i can handle.  Its impossible."?  If you declare with your mouth that its impossible, it can't be done, you are speaking that into your life.  Look at your debt and say "I know God has a plan to prosper me"...then walk in that.  Look at your health and say "God made my body, he will restore me, regardless of what the health report says".  When you face pursuing your dreams, say "If God is for me, who can stand against me".   When God places a problem in front of you, look down on it and declare ...

Do you think the Bible is relevant today? Do you believe that God can work miracles like he did in Biblical times, or is the Bible a collection of stories to amuse and amaze us at how God worked "back then"? If you treat the Bible like a story book for amusement purposes, then you are putting God in a box.  You are saying "I believe you did it then, but in this day and age, we have to create our own miracles".  "God, you were awesome then, but you are too busy now with bigger problems than mine to work a miracle for me".  Have you felt this way? Said these things or even pushed prayer aside because you figure God has more on his plate than whats going on with you??  Take God out of that imaginary box you put Him in!!!  He is the same yesterday, today and forever!  God wants to work miracles in your life - in my life - Hes just waiting for us to BELIEVE He can and will.   As I start this new journey of writing, following God's command on my life, I ...

I wrote this August 9, 2011 in my morning prayer time.  It seems appropriate today as I begin my new journey:   Is 41:10 " so do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand"  What is courage?  It is going on even when you don't know everything.  Simply trusting God to lead you in the right direction one step at a time.  It is confidence in God's guidance and rest in His spirit.  Deut 31:6 "Be strong and courageous, Do not be terrified, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you".  Amen!  An old testament promise that stands true this very moment.  No matter what I'm waiting for, I must wait with courage - knowledge that God knows the end result and will bring it to fruition in His time.  While I wait, all I need to do is trust him and continue to grow closer to him. Wow ...

 Today I decided it was time to do what God has been telling me to do....Tell my story.  I know he wants me to step out of my comfort zone.  I know he wants to use me in ways I can't even imagine.  I'm nervous and excited at the same time.  Nervous because i don't feel equipped.  Excited because I know when I surrender my will to the will of the one who is calling me, that great things will happen. Have you ever been there?  Felt God calling you to something and you argued with him?  Really God?? Really?  You want me to do THAT?  I don't know how.  I have no clue where to start.  I will fall flat on my face and make a fool of myself.  Yeah, I used all those excuses.  I was able to push God aside for about 6 months, then what do you know, He tells me again.  So, again, I argue, rationalize, act like I can do this and then keep putting it off.  But, if you have ever been where I am, you know God doesn't like...