by | Life Application
photo credit: ronnie-andre (creative commons)
I started “playing around” with blogging back in 2006. It started as a way of journaling for me. I’ve always loved to write. Then people started to comment and I realized they actually cared about what I was saying. I didn’t do it regularly, but always enjoyed it when I did.
Fast Forward to 2007
I really decided to get into this blogging thing and so I started my first WordPress blog. I posted once or twice per week. I didn’t have many readers, but I wasn’t doing anything to push it. I was still in the beginning stages of understanding the effects of social media. Again, I wasn’t really writing for people to read. I was writing as a way of expressing myself.
August 2009-2010
I took a year off and checked into the Table Rock Freedom Center. Occasionally I would have a friend post a blog for me that I had written during my time there, but it stayed pretty quiet.
I was back to the blog as soon as I reintroduced myself to the internet world after completing TRFC. One of the first things I did was add a page for the organization to let others know why it worked. Very few people ever clicked on the page. That was in August 2010.
Fast Forward to September 2010
People other than my parents were actually commenting on the blog. I was getting a tribe. That same month I met a new student at TRFC from Kansas City. How did she find out about it?
My Blog
She read part of my testimony, visited their website, and quickly made the road trip to Branson to check in. That, my friends, is the power of Jesus! Soon after, her sister joined the program.
August 2011
A devoted reader to my blog stayed up to date on my posts. She could see the changes God had made in me through my words and she wanted the same for her sister. She shared with her things about TRFC and what God had done in my life. After a weekend intervention, her sister walked through the front doors where she is still a student today.
To this day, the last tab at the top doesn’t get a lot of traffic. It doesn’t matter. Why? Because God sends the exact right people there in His time. Women are being set free because of what God did in my life, and the fact that I’m willing to talk about it. If people never read another post again, it was all worth it.
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That, my friends, is why you could never pay me to quit blogging.
by | Life Application
Sunday morning I had a chat with my 10-year old cousin, Caleb. He wanted to bring his cell phone into church and I didn’t think it was a good idea. I was 10 once and he sometimes forgets that. I explained there was no reason he would need his phone and it would be just fine left in the car. I then went on to explain that the only reason I bring mine into church is to take sermon notes. All was settled, so I thought.
I sat absorbing the sermon and typing notes on my iPhone. Then something struck me that I wasn’t sure about. I decided to text my friend sitting two seats from me to ask her a question about something the pastor had just said. I was immediately convicted with that morning’s previous conversation in my mind, but I justified it. I’m asking a question about the sermon. It should be fine.
As soon as I hit the send button, I knew I was a hypocrite. I didn’t practice what I had just preached an hour earlier to someone who looked up to me. Not only that, but I even wrote a blog post in May to share with others how to honor our pastors.
H Y P O C R I T E !
So, I had to eat my words. I told Caleb what I had done and then we had a conversation about the word hypocrite. He forgave me, of course and a lesson was learned. All was well and the day went on. Though I accepted the forgiveness from Jesus, the memory is still fresh in my mind – a reminder that we have to constantly practice what we preach.
Have you experienced this? Comment below…
by | Life Application
photo credit: luca m photography (creative commons)
Last week was a hard week for me. Do you ever have those spiritual ups and downs and you just wonder how long it will take to get out of them?
Me too..
As a matter of fact, I’m still working on it.
I finally got myself woke up last Tuesday morning from nightmares that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy and I was mad. I was mad at God. I was mad at the world. I was mad at my dreams. I was mad at the devil.
I picked up the bottle of sleeping aids next to me and threw them across the room. If I don’t take something to help me sleep, then insomnia rules the night. I felt like I was in a no win situation. I was trying to figure out how I would make it through the day. I wanted to see no one. I didn’t want to talk to anyone.
I was not counting it all joy. Thinking 4:8 thoughts was not on my agenda. I was tired. Tired of dreams. Tired of fighting so danged hard. Tired.
I did what I was supposed to do on my list.
- lunch with a client
- phone calls
- return emails
- put together a proposal
I asked those closest to me for prayer, and in their best attempt to make me feel better, I received spiritual answers. To be honest, that was the last thing I wanted to hear. I was already feeling guilty for being mad at God, then I would be sorry. Then I would be mad. I felt like Job and I just wanted to tell them all to shut up. But instead, I smiled on the inside, took their suggestions and went about the day.
I finally had to lie down and take a nap. I had nothing left in me by 4p. I had already decided I wouldn’t be working out and I certainly wasn’t going to small group to be around others I didn’t feel like being around. I had struggled throughout the day wondering if I wasn’t spiritual enough. I would get mad at God, then feel guilty. It seemed to be a cycle. I woke up about 45 minutes later, did some more work, ate dinner and went to small group. I decided my feelings were not in the place to make decisions for me.
When I got home that evening and got ready to settle into bed, I decided to journal. It’s one of my greatest forms of expression. Here’s part of that conversation between God and myself:
“Here I am. Part of me wants to talk to you and part of me doesn’t. Of course you already know that, because you already know my thoughts before I do. I’m tired and I don’t understand. I know I’ve told you that a gazillion times already. I don’t know what to do and I desperately want to know. What do I need to change? Please tell me. You promise that you will never leave me or forsake me, but when I woke up this morning I felt left. I felt like you weren’t there. I know that’s not true. Show me something. Tell me something please!”
By the end of my lamenting I was drawing closer to Him.
“You are my strong tower. My ever-present help in time of need. You are my Father. My friend. My protector. My strength. My wisdom. My heart. My everything. I know you’re not going to leave me. I’m not going to leave you either! I don’t want to do that again. I don’t ever want to be where I was in August 2009. NEVER! I want to sleep with Your Word close to me tonight. I know you are there. I know you are. I know you’re not leaving me. I don’t understand and I won’t pretend like I do, but I’m going to continue to trust you Father. Forgive me for my lack of trust today.”
That’s just what I did. I closed my eyes with my Bible in my hands. Still without understanding. But I chose to believe that He wasn’t going to leave me. Tomorrow would be a new day. I started that morning pissed off. But the night ended renewing my mind with the promise that God would never leave me.
What promise are you holding onto? Comment below…
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
I originally wrote this blog post in August and it meant a lot to others, so I thought I would share it again.
Have you ever met that one person in your life that simply looked at you and you felt changed? Their smile made you long for a deeper relationship with Christ. Their hugs gave you a feeling of safety you never knew existed.
I want to introduce you to someone. Someone who has done this for me.
Meet Ted…
December 2006
I met him when I walked into Woodland Hills Family Church as a lost sheep roaming through this world having no idea I needed a Shepard.
Ted was the first person that introduced himself and gave me a hug. I wasn’t a huggy person then, so the fact that he got close enough to do it was definitely from God. I had never experienced anything quite like that. Only one word can describe it – safe.
Over the course of the next six months I watched Ted’s actions. His words inspired, but his actions did more. His smile inspired me. To see a grown man stand on stage and cry when discussing his faith made me long for something like that. The way his heart reached out to others allowed me to see a form of authenticity I had never seen before. I wanted that.
Six months after meeting Ted for the first time and receiving that unforgettable hug, I cried out to Jesus in the middle of my office and gave him my life. I wanted what Ted had.
As I began a new journey in my life, Ted walked with me through it. He gave me truth. He showed me what love from Jesus was. He showed me the heart of a man I had never seen before.
December 2008
Ted prayed with me as I traveled to spend the last days with my dying father.
February 2009
Ted led the funeral of my dad and gave a sermon that brought tears to the eyes of alcoholics, drug addicts, and many lost people that gathered in that room to mourn the loss of my father. Ted didn’t just help me mourn. He helped me celebrate. Because my dad came to know the Lord on his death bed, Ted was able to share that story with others.
At the end of my dad’s funeral, five people raised their hands as Ted invited them to accept Christ into their hearts.
I’ll never forget the words he said to me.
“You’re dad did more for others in his death than he did in his life. Let’s celebrate.”
August 2009
His jeep pulled up at my apartment and as I met him downstairs dressed in a beer stained shirt, swollen eyes from tears, and a broken heart, he said words that changed my life.
“I’m not your father. I’m not your grandfather. But I’m going to talk to you like you’re my daughter. You need help and I love you too much to watch you do this to yourself.”
Two hours later he hugged me as I got in the vehicle to head to The Table Rock Freedom Center.
February 2010
He baptized me with the look of a proud father on his face.
August 2010
He sat in the front row as I shared my story of how God had changed my life as I graduated from TRFC. We also celebrated our over 100 pound weight loss.
August 2011
We sat at our favorite little diner, Clocker’s Cafe in downtown Branson and talked about the changes God had made in our lives. We shared stories. We shared silent moments of bittersweet memories. That feeling of safety came back as I dipped my spoon in the hot oatmeal and allowed myself to be vulnerable with the man who made me want to be more like Jesus.
If you’ve never met Ted, I hope someday you do. His smile will captivate you. His heart will bring tears to your eyes. His words will challenge you. You can’t walk away the same as before.
Is there a Ted in your life? Comment below…
by | Life Application
I recently decided I wanted to play Martha Stewart and fix a great lunch for a well deserving friend. That recipe will come later. Then I decided to pull an Emeril and “Kick it up a notch!”
I wanted to make dessert and since we both try to eat healthy I couldn’t think of anything. So, another friend suggested fruit and cheese kabobs. Bingo! I made them. We ate them. We loved them.
When making the dip, I decided to add an extra touch. I tossed in some Dark Chocolate Balsamic from Devo Olive Oil = Heaven!
P.S. I thought I was going to have to take the spoon away because she wouldn’t stop eating the dip.
Here is the recipe for fruit and cheese kabobs. Feel free to add whatever fruit you like. I went with Strawberries and Pineapples because I’m cheap and they were on sale. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.
[print_this]
Fruit and Cheese Kabobs
Ingredients:
- 1 pint fresh strawberries, halved
- 1-1/2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
- 1 package Monterey cheddar cheese cubes
- 1 cup vanilla yogurt
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon Devo Dark Chocolate Balsamic
- Approximately 12 wooden skewers
Directions:
- On wooden skewers, alternately thread the strawberries, pineapples and cheese cubes.
- For dip, in a small bowl, combine the yogurt, sour cream, honey, cinnamon and balsamic.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate.
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What other fruits would you suggest? Different cheeses perhaps? I would love your ideas. Comment below…
by | Life Application
photo credit: airdiogo (creative commons)
My blog has been a little heavy over the last day or two so I thought I would lighten things up a bit.
I want you to help me tell a story. Any story.
Be creative. Be clean. Have fun.
I’ll start:
She was standing by the water fountain when….
Your turn. Go..
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