old normal vs. brand new normal

While I never mentioned it here, my husband and I referred to 2010 as "The Year of the Suck" - four very large lifequakes hit around the same time and my world flipped upside down for a while. A very loooooong while. I turned to my closest friends for prayer and support during that time and cut out every extra thing to focus on what mattered most - my marriage and family. With my history of addiction, I knew how important it was to make sure I was dealing with life and feelings - working through the pain instead of trying to bury it with busy-ness or food or alcohol or shopping or the Internet. Survival mode is what I called it.

Coming off "The Year of the Suck" left me feeling broken. A little lost. The jolt of the storms had bumped me off track and I've spent the better part of 2011 trying to hop back on the same track... to no avail. It finally dawned on me that God was up to something NEW. Having focused on simply surviving for so long, I'd stopped asking God for direction on where to go next. (No wonder I've felt a little lost.)

The fog has lifted and I am praying for clarity in this new place. Looking to please God above all else and open to the adventure that surely awaits.

God quieted the storm to a whisper;
the sea’s waves were hushed.
So they rejoiced because the waves
had calmed down;
then God led them to the harbor
they were hoping for.

Psalm 107:29-30 (CEB)

If you find yourself in a similar place, perhaps you will find these resources to be helpful:

1. Life Quakes, Part 1 (Beth Moore) - click HERE for video.

2. Praying and Believing God, Part 1 (Beth Moore) - click HERE for video.

3. Praying and Believing God, Part 2 (Beth Moore) - click HERE for video.

4. Putting Plan B Into Action (Pete Wilson) - click HERE for DVD-based bible study and HERE for participant's guide.

5. One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land (Priscilla Shirer) - click HERE for book.

it's a personal thing

While making my way to an appointment last week, I happened upon a powerful radio interview with Todd and Angie Smith. (Many of you know Angie's story from her blog Bring the Rain.) The interview was featured as a three-part series (just click on any of the links below to listen to the program yourself):

A New Birth (Day 1 of 3)
Walking by Faith (Day 2 of 3)
Comfort Others (Day 3 of 3)

Angie spoke of her pregnancy with Audrey Caroline and the uneasiness she'd experienced well before there was even mention of a problem. Despite her doctor's early reassurance, Angie knew that something was amiss - a spiritual foreshadowing of sorts. The Lord was preparing her in His own gentle way, to receive the news.

I was deeply moved by Angie's words, having experienced the same uneasiness while pregnant with our third child. A deep knowing before the situation even unfolded. God spoke to me during that time with a gentle nudging, bringing particular verses to light. Before I even realized there was a problem, God had made it abundantly clear that He would be there for me... no matter what.

I was attending Alpha at the time in an effort to learn more about Christianity. During our group's discussion one evening, a friend mentioned a frightening drive home during an icy storm. As her vehicle slid out of control, she cried: "I'm ready, God. If you want to take me now, I'm ready." With that, she regained control of the vehicle.

My friend's story left a mark. Lying in bed that night, I realized it was time for me to let go. I addressed the feelings of uneasiness and told God that if He needed to take my baby, I would be okay. I surrended the very thing I wanted most because above all else, I wanted God's will for my life.

Fast forward six years. I'm sitting in my favorite chair, a journal and Bible in my lap. Something is eating at me... that familiar uneasiness. I ask God a few specific questions before surrendering the very thing I want most. He brings me to Psalm 91, portions of which are below:

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no foe can withstand]. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and relay, and in Him I [confidentally] trust!

* * * *

[Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge. His truth and faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.

* * * *

Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness - trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never]. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. [emphasis mine]

* * * *

Shortly after coming across this passage, the first of several "storms" hit. No matter how things looked or felt, I knew that God was with me. As I struggled with circumstances surrounding me, I continued to go back to this passage - seeking to grasp its full meaning. On one day in particular, I was struck by the many bird references.

Perhaps it was the fact that I'd been obsessed with the little visitor who had been sitting by my front window FOR HOURS.

That very same day.

The Lord again making it abundantly clear that He is with me... FOR ME. A reminder in more ways than one that He will never abandon me. Especially poignant after reading this parable:

An article in National Geographic several years ago provided this penetrating picture. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had singed her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings would live.

This is the picture that the psalmist has in mind when he talks of God's wings: "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge." Psalm 91:4 (Click HERE to read more on the topic.)

At one time or another, we will all face storms. When yours hits, where will your dwelling place be?

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2

a little of this & a little of that

You don't know who much I struggle leaving a picture like this alone. In fact, I just couldn't do it:

There, now that's more like it.

Details. I have issues with them. Sometimes I get so caught up in the details I have a difficult time seeing the big picture. That's a little like what's been happening in my life this past week - I am working hard to get my eyes refocused.

Perhaps you're in a similar spot. Do you feel stuck? Do you find yourself obsessing over details in an attempt to control a situation or person? Are too focused on one person, place, or thing? Has your life become unbalanced? If so, you've come to the right place. Below you will find a list of resources and links that will help lend perspective:

Marriage/Family

Forgiving Offense/Life Quakes/Wrestling with God

Wisdom for the Workplace

Parenting Teens

Single Parenting

Financial Issues

Dealing with Addiction

On another note, I recently discovered a new website called I Am Second. You'll find there a collection of powerful video testimonies from Tony Dungy, former Korn guitarist Brian Welch, Stephen Baldwin & others. Below is former pageant winner Ashley Rawls regarding her struggle with eating disorders:

An all too familiar battle.

Remember the Needham Family Adoption Photo Drive many of you took part in last year? They are getting even closer to bringing their daughter Abby home and are selling t-shirts in an effort to raise money for their trip. Jenny is taking orders until March 10, click HERE to learn more!

Have a great afternoon :)

recognizing God's voice - how do you know when you're hearing from Him?

This is a subject that pulls at my heart. Perhaps it's because I went so long without it (not that I wasn't looking). For years it felt like something was missing. There were fun and happy moments, but in general I was dissatisfied with my life - trapped. I thought the answer was within myself - a better diet, a different job, a new outfit, a boyfriend, a husband, another child. Yet no matter what I did, it was never enough - feelings of peace and contentment were momentary and fleeting.

That is, until God got ahold of me.

Though I yearned to be free, I stubbornly refused to give up control. (Why couldn't God just help me with MY plan?) It wasn't until I willingly surrendered my plan to Him that things began to change. I didn't know His voice because I'd spent an entire life listening only to my own.

So, how do you know when you are hearing from God? I love the following quote from Jim Cymbala:

Two important prerequisites to hearing from God clearly are to have an open vertical relationship with the Lord and to be submitted to His plan for our lives. If there is unconfessed sin or continued disobedience in our lives, there will be a "closed heaven" above us and a disruption in hearing from the Lord. God cannot draw near to us while we are walking away from Him through disobedience at the same time.

We get to know God through His written word to us. His will never contradicts His Word. His way takes others into account. His direction is straightforward. (Sound familiar? Probably because of THIS POST.)

Think of a situation you're currently facing. Do you really want to know God's will regarding that situation? Do you really believe God already has a plan for you in that situation? Are you willing to submit your agenda to His? God wants to reveal Himself and His plans to you. Look around. Ask Him to open your eyes so you can see what He is already up to and then quickly join Him.

If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. John 12:16

This week promises to be anything but routine.

The kids and hubby are home for the week. (Interesting, considering the weekly photo challenge theme.) With today being Sunday and church being a usual part of the day, I knew I had to snap a shot of the service. (It wasn't easy.) Just click on the image to get a better view.

The kids are outside and the hubby is shopping - perfect for blogging... now if only I could WRITE! It's not been coming very easily as of late. What's been happening over the last few weeks has been something of a makeover. Things were getting a little off-track. (Nothing major, just feeling like I'd zipped ahead of God in a few areas.) I've been taking a little extra time to sort things out.

So how does one know when a godly makeover is needed? Here are a few of the signs I watch for in my own life:

1. Chronic crabbiness. From me, the kids, or the hubby.

2. Operating with very little margin.

3. Sleeplessness or feeling overly tired.

4. Continually putting the kids or my hubby off.

5. Lack of enjoyable, stress-free family time.

6. God has been shoved aside.

7. Very little interest in the needs of others. Critical and impatient.

8. Trouble keeping commitments - missing church, skipping out on meetings, or making excuses.

9. Erratic eating.

10. Unbalanced free time. Reading, photography, scrapbooking, and the Internet can be huge temptations for me. When stressed, I tend to overuse the things I like in an attempt to escape.

When I am lined up with God, I have peace no matter what the circumstances. When things are off-balance, even a tiny bit - I lose that peace. Here's what the Bible has to say about a life that's lined up with God's will:

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9

You will keep in perfect peace him who mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you, Lord. Isaiah 26:3

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11

Jesus said, "Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:24-25

"My people wil live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest," says the Lord. Isaiah 32:18

May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in him. Romans 15:13

"My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest," says the Lord. Exodus 33:14

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. Psalm 29:11

When I have the sense that things are unbalanced, I go back to basics. I make sure I'm spending time with God in His word and look to see that my priorities are ordered biblically. (Click HERE to learn more.) I usually spot a thing or two right off the bat. I pray, asking God for forgiveness and wisdom, then I do what I can to make the necessary changes. (This might mean a revamping of our family schedule or being more intentional about the time I give to our children or carefully watching my attitude towards my husband.) Some of the questions I ask myself:

1. Am I making healthy eating and family meals a priority? If not, what kinds of changes do I need to make?

2. Have I been heading to bed at a reasonable time?

3. Where have I been spending my time? Does it reflect my priorities? If not, what kinds of changes do I need to make?

4. How is the family being affected? Is my impatience rubbing off on others?

5. Have I been consistent in my parenting? Have I been respectful towards my husband or "mommying" him in addition to the children?

Once I have a better understanding of where I've gotten off-track, I continue to pray for guidance and persist in making changes until I'm back where I need to be.

That's kind of where I'm at right now, basics mode. (Thus, the short and sweet bloggy posts.) And on that note, my family is back in the house and waiting patiently for me to complete this post. Have a great evening!

just let go

Ben Patterson tells of a common experience of westerners, particularly missionaries, traveling through jungle sections of the Amazon. They will ask members of a village to give them directions to where they want to go. "I have a compass, a map, and some coordinates."

The villager knows precisely the directions to get them there, but he offers to take them himself.

"No, that's okay. I don't want a guide. I just want directions."

"That's no good. I must take you there."

"But I have a map right here. And I have a compass. And the coordinates."

"It does not work that way. I can get you there, but I must take you myself. You must follow me."

We prefer directions, principles, steps, keys. We prefer these things because they leave us in control. If I'm holding the map, I'm still in charge of the trip. I can go where I want to go. If I have a guide, I must trust. I must follow. I must relinquish control.

God is not much on maps and compasses and coordinates. Life just doesn't work that way. We don't need instructions. We need a Guide.

(Excerpt from Faith & Doubt by John Ortberg.)

Knowing God: His Directions are Always Right (Part 2 of 3)

To sum up my last post, God loves you and His Will for you is borne out of that love. His will for you is always best.

Today we are going to look at God's omniscient nature; He is all-knowing. He possesses all knowledge of the past, present, and future. When God gives you a directive, you can count on the fact that He's already considered every factor that needs to be considered. His directions are always right. (Just to make things clear, God will never contradicts His word. For example, if you are married it would not be God's will for you to strike up a relationship with an old flame. Another example might be if you were really hurting for money and the store clerk forgot to charge you for an item - God would not tell you to keep it, that would be stealing. See where I'm going with this? Knowing His word is extremely important to knowing His will.)

In addition to being all-knowing, God is all-powerful. He is omnipotent - He can accomplish anything He purposes to do. "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure... Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it." (Isaiah 46:10-11) If He ever asks you to do something, He Himself will enable you to do it. When you recognize a task is humanly impossible, you need to be ready to believe God and to trust Him completely. He will enable you to do all that He calls you to do.

The previous excerpts and adaptations from the book, Experiencing God by Henry T. Blackaby and Claude V. King (click HERE).

the power of absolute surrender

sur·ren·der (sə-rěn'dər)
–noun

The act of surrendering; the act of yielding, or resigning one's person, or the possession of something, into the power of another.

When becoming a Christian, we acknowledge our failings and need for a Savior. We recognize God's perfect gift in His Son and invite the Holy Spirit into our lives. In essence, we surrender ourselves to His perfect plan and will for our lives.

But many of us struggle with the surrender part. I know for myself, His plan seemed obvious. I assumed God would want what I wanted because it was a good plan. The problem was that instead of seeking God and yielding my life before Him, I expected the Lord to come alongside my plan to make it happen. I beat myself up for many years wondering, "Why, God, why?" while He waiting patiently for me to ask, "What, God, what?"

And what a difference that has made.

I heard a portion of a great sermon series on this very topic and thought I'd share it here. The series is entitled, "The Power of Absolute Surrender" by Dr. James MacDonald. You can click HERE to access the full series. (I'd picked up only Tuesday's message but plan to listen to the entire series myself.) I hope it touches you as it did me!

"If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor." John 12:26

am i headed in the right direction?

This is a great question and one I find myself asking a lot. I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed, but when it comes to matters of faith "anything goes" seems to be a prevailing theme in our world:

• "Who are you to tell me that something is right or wrong? That's for me to decide."
• "God would never be so cruel as to send only a few to Heaven."
• "Your body, your mind, and your 'soul' are all just energy and when you die the energy is dispersed. I believe that with enough desire you can keep that energy together as one entity and continue to 'live.'"
• "You die and your body decomposes in the ground. No afterlife, no heaven or hell, nothing."
• "I believe we reincarnate. Maybe not immediately, but eventually - to grow and learn."
• "Heaven is whatever you believe it to be when you die."

Truth be told, I expressed similar sentiments not that long ago. But as I began reading and learning more about the Bible I had trouble reconciling my thoughts and feelings with verses like these:

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14

Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?" Then I will tell them plainly, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" Matthew 7:21-23

Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed, there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last." Luke 13:22-30

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” John 10:25-30

But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They'll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They've put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can't tell right from wrong. They give the way of truth a bad name. They're only out for themselves. They'll say anything, anything, that sounds good to exploit you. They won't, of course, get by with it. They'll come to a bad end, for God has never just stood by and let that kind of thing go on. 2 Peter 2:1-3

The Bible makes it clear that Jesus is the One and only way to God. His Word also makes it clear that simply knowing who Jesus is does not grant us heavenly privileges. We must know Him, we must know His Word. Jesus says that many will come using His name to deceive many (Matthew 24:5). The Bible also talks about Satan and his servants disguising themselves as servants of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:12-15). If I can't trust how something looks or feels, how do I know that I'm headed in the right direction?

God's Word.

It seems only wise to never take for granted I am headed in the right direction (I've landed in the ditch far too many times for that lesson not to stick). Instead of relying my subjective feelings, thoughts, and ideas - I look to God's Word for His input on the matter.

Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Proverbs 4:26

Here am I. Send me!

If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you've heard me talk about worldviews and truth, taking thoughts captive, and the importance of acting on God's Word. Yesterday, I attended an incredible conference that touched on each of these areas in preparation for a 12-week video-driven study I plan to host in my home later this year. (If you're interested in learning more, let me know.)

I can hardly wait to get started!

The purpose of the series is to call to light many of the assumptions we have as Christians, thoughts and ideas that have never been tested or challenged. We touched on many things during the course of the day but the thing that sticks out most was the reminder that if I am living the way God is directing me through His Word, change is inevitable. When we gaze upon the face of God we cannot help but be transformed. His Word brings to light not only the brokenness within ourselves but helps us to clearly see the state of world around us. As we become more like Christ, we become sensitive to those in need around us - the outcasts, those who are lonely, sick, and poor, those without hope - and are driven to help. God leads us to serve those around us. He gives us His heart and we become His hands and feet.

Unfortunately, many of us are ensnared by bitterness, resentment, and hostility as we meditate on all that is unfair. Some might be suffering themselves and think, "How can I help someone else when I can't even help myself?" We lack time and resources. We might even think the job of helping others belongs to someone else or perhaps even some social institution. But according to God's Word, the job belongs to each and every one of us!

Today's sermon, of course, touched on the very same thing. (He certainly has my attention.) May the Lord prepare your heart and mine so that when He asks, we are ready and willing to go.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8

chaos was once my frenemy

Years ago my life was much like the scene at this bumper car track - spasmodic, intense, and disordered. Looking back, I can easily see how almost every problem I faced was due to a foolish choice I'd made. God has worked me over in this area and has thankfully given me a supersensitivity to this former frenemy. Chaos no longer has a place in my life.

At the time, many of the foolish decisions I made even appeared sound. But I was swimming in consequences - bill collectors and bankers were hot on my tail, relationships around me were crumbling, and I was restless and discontent. Deep, deep down I knew something was amiss.

Over the years, the Lord has given me several decision-making "guidelines" that have dramatically changed my life. Most of them center around this verse:

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, waivering, and insincerity). James 3:17

The Bible tells us that true wisdom comes from God - it carries with it certain characteristics and produces fruit. When making a decision (whether it be how I'm spending money, committing time, childrearing, or anything else), I do the following:

1. Pray and ask God for His wisdom and guidance.
2. Use common sense; it must yield to reason! God will not tell me to do anything that causes me to accumulate debt nor will He put anything before my husband or family.
3. God will never contradict what He has said in His Word. (He will not direct me to lie, cheat, steal, or have an affair; He will not tell me to carry a grudge or seek revenge.)
4. Is it simple or complicated? The verse above tells me that His way is pure (which according to my thesaurus also means modest, plain, simple, sheer, undiluted, true, straight, perfect). His way is straightforward.
5. His way is peace-loving, which also means: tranquil, peaceable, and quiet. God is not the author of confusion in my life.
6. His way is courteous. It takes others into account; it is respectful, attentive and full of police concern for the well-being of others (my thesaurus also describes it as being sympathetic, careful, kind and generous).

As I mentioned above, using these guidelines has dramatically changed my life and given me a great deal of peace regarding some of the more difficult decisions we've faced. I can promise you this my friends - His way works!

i want to be more than a godly wallflower

How many of us go to church and Bible study, attend Christian conferences, read Christian books and yet somehow still remain on the sidelines? We may even consider ourselves "godly" in these practices but the truth of the matter is, God's Word calls for action:

…The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you… (Luke 10:2-3)

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25)

Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." (Luke 6:46-50)

The Lord recently placed an opportunity before me, something beyond my reach and well outside my comfort zone. Despite the fact I'd just completed a 6-week Bible study on obedience, I told Him I wasn't ready. I was filled with doubt, questioning whether or not what I'd heard was indeed from Him.

It got me thinking.

I woke up this morning to have a little time with God and when I opened my latest Joyce Meyer magazine, I found this:

Have you ever felt like you missed out on something great? Sometimes out of fear, laziness, passivity, irresponsibility, or wrong thinking, we can miss out on opportunities that God puts in front of us.

Many people sit in church afraid to get involved because they're thinking if they get involved, they could get taken advantage of or hurt. Or if they start helping, they'll be asked to do everything. By faith, we can learn how to say yes and how to say no.

All of us want to hear from God, but we don't have to sit around and pray for six months over every little thing. Sometimes the only thing we can do is try it. Just try it. When we have opportunities, let's take them.

Stunningly, it echoed the very same words my mom had spoken to me only yesterday. Talk about a God Moment. So instead of simply thinking about it, I acted and filled out an application to be an NILMDTS photographer. Now it's in His hands. If I am called to serve, I need to trust the Holy Spirit to give me the grace I need to do so. Despite the doubts. Despite the fears.

Despite the discomfort.

He's taught me to follow Him no matter where it leads and He has never let me down. Starting up a home-based business. Letting go of my desire for more children and trusting His plan. Public speaking, and with a microphone nonetheless! Taking on the task of a BLOG and talking about Him of all things on it. And then there's the whole photography-thing.

All are things outside of what I ever pictured for my life. All are things that pushed me outside of my comfort zone. Yet, believe it or not, I still waiver despite the many times He's proven Himself faithful! Thankfully, He understands.

The Lord said to Moses, "Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." Exodus 4:12

the road before me

As most of you know, the family and I recently returned from a trip to Illinois. What I failed to mention was the blessed usefulness of my hubby's GPS receiver, which we have named Curt. Curt and I have a love-hate relationship; nine times out of ten, I find "him" to be extremely annoying. Why? Because I don't always agree with his timing or direction. But while on vacation, I found myself relying on Curt more and more. As we traveled through unfamiliar territory, I was grateful for his guidance and GPS wisdom. With his assistance, we were even able to make a few spontaneous detours with ease (A&W, Hobby Lobby, and IHOP).

The hubby's GPS receiver: it's a good thing.

I can't help but think of my life. Looking ahead, I wish I had at the very least - a detailed road map. I don't. (Even if I did, there would likely be detours beyond my control.) Thankfully though, I do have a Navigator and He has the map. And just like our road trip to Illinois, I don't have to see the map - I just need to trust the Navigator.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go," says the Lord. Psalm 32:8

Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5

During seasons of uncertainty and change, it can be very easy to get focused on the map. Though God has a perfect plan for our lives, He wants us to chase after Him - not His plan. Instead of "turning Him off" and proceeding on your own, allow the challenges to draw you closer to God by spending time in His word and in His presence. He'll guide you through one step at a time.