Something Great Is Gonna Happen Today!

Something Great Is Gonna Happen Today!

by | Life Application

So, in case you missed it, I spent the month of February doing an experiment. I vowed to wake up every morning and say out loud, “Something great is gonna happen today!” Not only that, but it was the first thing I posted to Twitter and Facebook everyday. I give credit to Joyce Meyer for inspiring me to do so.
As I have been struggling through some health issues, I decided I could keep that from getting me down, and I could still expect great things to happen, regardless of my situation. So, I journaled my experience. For the record, I didn’t plan on the experiment being in the shortest month of the year, but that’s how it happened.

  • 2/1 – Received a text message from a friend that read, “You know I love you and believe in you.”
  • 2/2 – Had a heart to heart discussion with my pastor, which led to an amazing feeling of safety.
  • 2/3 – Spent time with the girls from the Table Rock Freedom Center and wrote another chapter in my book.
  • 2/4 – Had coffee with a friend and spent two hours talking about God’s grace and amazing love.
  • 2/5 – Spoke God’s bold truth to a family member – part of God’s radical faith. Hugged and laughed with a friend I hadn’t been able to do that with in a long time.
  • 2/6 – Allowed myself to be very vulnerable and open regarding my past.
  • 2/7 – As I was sick in bed, my mom rubbed my feet and painted my toenails.
  • 2/8 – Got a great care package in the mail from a supporter and saw black in my checkbook.
  • 2/9 – Received prayer and calls from friends to check on me. Had an intimate day with Jesus. And a friend commented that she was loving my book.
  • 2/10 – I had a complete night’s sleep. This, my friends, is a big deal!
  • 2/11 – Had an amazing lunch with a friend where we were both open and vulnerable. I also received a text message that morning from a friend that confirmed God’s love for me. I blogged about it here.
  • 2/12 – Spent the afternoon with my writing team and put the finishing touches on my book proposal.
  • 2/13 – Listened to an amazing sermon from Shannon O’ Dell at Brand New Church. Amazing! I blogged about it here too.
  • 2/14 – Had an amazing talk with my step-dad. God showed up and spoke Scripture through me I wasn’t even aware I knew.
  • 2/15 – Received some great words of encouragement and refused to feel discouraged because it was my dad’s birthday.
  • 2/16 – Had an amazing show with Shelley Hendrix, realizing I am not on God’s B-list.
  • 2/17 – Received an unexpected check in the mail from a family member.
  • 2/18 – Got to surprise Caleb for his 10th birthday.
  • 2/19 – Made an open confession to a friend.
  • 2/20 – Had the opportunity to share my testimony at a church.
  • 2/21 – Spent the day with God learning to overcome.
  • 2/22 – I didn’t have to take a nap today!
  • 2/23 – Spent over four hours on my Algebra homework, but I finally walked away with an understanding. I reminded myself that I am not enough, but He is.
  • 2/24 – Actually helped someone with their Algebra homework. That’s only from God folks.
  • 2/25 – Each woman at the Table Rock Freedom Center prayed over my book proposal before putting it in the mail.
  • 2/26 – Stayed in God’s peace despite not feeling well.
  • 2/27 – Comforted by an amazing nurse in the emergency room with a great story. I blogged about it yesterday here.
  • 2/28 – Was comforted by my sweet, caring mother during a rough day of doctor’s appointments.

Here’s what I learned: despite the fact that different tests and trials come, that doesn’t mean we can’t see the good that comes from them. I had some rough days in the month of February, but something GREAT still happened. This convinces me that we have the opportunity to find the good in every situation. Wouldn’t you agree?
Tell me something great that is happening in your life today.

Teased By God

Teased By God

by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application

A couple weeks ago I spent my Sunday afternoon in the emergency room. It wasn’t my funnest moment, but I certainly saw God in it.
My nurse, let’s call him, Isaiah, was a pretty incredible guy. I immediately looked at him and knew there was a story behind the man. He had burn scars all over both arms. We began chatting as he hooked me up to this and that, and he began to tell his story.
There was an earthquake and the building he was in exploded. His body was immediately burned. He died.
“Then,” he said, “I saw the white light. I heard the most beautiful wind. I heard the waves crashing on the shore. I heard peace. Then I heard God say, ‘Isaiah, it’s not time for you yet.’ Then I woke up.”
Wow! He spoke with a gentle, soft voice as he told the story. You could see the peace in his eyes as he recaptured the event in his mind.
Then he explained that sometimes he has to ask God why in the world He brought him back to earth, especially as this world gets more crazy everyday.
I said outloud before thinking, “Wow! That’s a tease. You almost get to heaven, and then He sends you back. Bummer.”
Before leaving the room to get supplies, he stopped, turned around and asked, “Can I pray with you?” Duh! Like I would say no. The man talked to God once. Please feel free to pray over me. I accept. He did. It was amazing. He didn’t care who was looking, who was in the room, or what other people walking by thought of him. He followed God’s call and prayed with a sick patient. That is boldness in my book.
Have you been teased by God or know someone who has?

Dream Big, No Matter How Small

Dream Big, No Matter How Small

by | Life Application

    I was having lunch with a friend the other day and we were talking about small towns. I am from a small town, population approximately 1200. We don’t have a stop light, but we do have a flashing yellow light. One of the biggest things to ever hit my hometown was the opening of Subway. 
    As a small child I always dreamed of something bigger. I knew there was bigger world out there and someday I would find it. However, many people in my path tried to squelch those dreams. “You’re gonna stay here forever like the rest of us,” some would say. “Stop dreaming and get a job.” “Come back to reality Sundi Jo.”
    Though many people tried to put the fire of my dreams out, deep inside that flame never completely went out. As chidlren, my friends and I would sit around and talk about what we wanted to be when we grew up. I wanted to be famous, or a vetenarian, depending on the day. Some of my friends wanted to be teachers. Some of them simply said they wanted to be a wife and a mom. I thought that was the craziest thing ever!
    As we got older, we still talked about our dreams. We would lounge around in our pajamas at a slumber party and talk about what we wanted to be when we grew up. I wanted to be a writer. Some still wanted to teach. And some still just wanted to be a wife.
    Where would we live? I wanted to be as far away from my hometown as possible. When others would say they wanted to buy a house and settle there, my lip would curl and so many questions would come to my mind. Why? Why would anyone want to stay? “There’s bigger things out there,” I would proclaim. One particular friend always said, “I don’t want bigger things. Being here with my family is what I want.” For years I never understood.
    Here I sit, ten years after graduation, writing. I’m still pursuing my dreams, and the road has been rough in doing so, mainly because I kept trying to do it myself without God’s help. Those friends who had the same dreams I did ten years ago are fulfilling theirs as well. They still live in my hometown. They are wives. They are mothers.
    I realized recently that I too had squelched their dreams, just like those who had told me to stop dreaming outside of my hometown. What is dreaming big? It doesn’t have to be living in some high-rise in the city, writing a best-selling novel, and having sushi for dinner. It doesn’t have to be as the CEO of some multi-million dollar company. It doesn’t have to be graduating with a Master’s degree. Big dreams can be simple, such as being the best mother and wife you can be.
    I am guilty of trying to blow out their flames, just as those who tried to blow mine out. C-o-n-v-i-c-t-e-d!
    Dream Big! No matter what that dream is.
    What is your BIG dream?

Women's Ministry Ideas

by | Life Application

In 2010 some ladies got together at Woodland Hills Family Church in Branson and decided that we needed something more for the women in the church, and outside of the church. They decided we needed a monthly event for women to gather for fellowship, fun, and real stores.
Coffee Conversations was soon born.
Every month gets better and better.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-am63a0Dds]
Here’s the layout:

  • We start at 6p
  • For 30 minutes the women visit and of course, eat. The theme of the food changes monthly.
  • Then the worship team leads in about 3-4 songs.
  • Sometimes there is a skit, depending on the theme of the evening.
  • There is always a speaker, whether from within the church, or outside of the church. Each woman provides a different message.
  • We then break into groups with different group leaders who are provided with a list of questions related to the evening’s topic.
  • For 30 minutes we discuss real-life issues, how God works in our lives, provide hope to other hurting women, etc.
  • The evening ends with smiling faces and hugs.

Enjoy the video of the most recent Coffee Conversations event if you’re looking for ideas to vamp up your women’s ministry.

Stop Having So Much Faith In Yourself

Stop Having So Much Faith In Yourself

by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application

I was recently reading an excerpt from Jillian Michael’s new book, Unlimited – How To Build An Exceptional Life.
I am a big Jillian fan, as I have watched her help many struggling people throughout her time on The Biggest Loser. She hasn’t just helped them burn the fat away; she gets to the root of things. Love that!
She makes a great point in the introduction by saying “When you live in fear of your own desires and ambitions, you lose sight of your true calling and your true self.” Agreed.
Then she says, “All you need to begin is courage, conviction, and faith.” Again, agreed. Faith in what though? “Both in yourself and in me as your guide.” Insert STOP sign here. We do have to faith in those leading us, yes, but that’s not where our faith should ultimately be. Our faith should be in God, who, according to Ephesians 3:20 is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

Jillian makes some great points in the book. The downside, however, is that like most self-help books, God is left out of the center. It’s not about self-help, it’s about God-help.

Chapter One ends like this:

Listen  to  me  very  carefully:  it’s  time  to  start  living  your  life  the way God, or (insert whatever greater power you believe in here), intended—HAPPILY.

Say what? No, no, no, no. It can’t be one or the other. There isn’t more than one choice. It’s God or nothing… Simple as that.

I’m not writing this to bash Jillian, or her book. In fact, I am still very interested in reading it. It sounds like there are many things in the book she has right, but not the most important part.

For more information on Unlimited, you can visit Amazon to pre-order. The book will be released in stores on April 5.

Pin It on Pinterest