As I recall, not too long ago, I wrote about how I’m just not a big fan.

I’ve found myself stumbling and bumbling through this process, unable to even express through words the jumbled mess of emotions entangled with random thoughts.  And just when I thought this process might just sit a spell longer… the fog is beginning to lift.

He provided a special lunch with a very special friend.  And she asked just one question, and then listened.  And then she gently asked another, and the dam of self-defense that I had built quite well, slowly began to leak, and out of nowhere, split wide open.  And because of this release (as ugly as it was), I can now begin to see.  Have my circumstances changed?  No.  But in my vulnerability, through the graciousness of my true friend, God tells me again that he’s molding and shaping my heart.  As I call it, in looking at my “ugly”, in bringing my fear and accusations to light, I can be in a place where I want to be – close to the heart of my Father.

And then I read a devotion in my email that expresses my inexpressible thoughts, giving me statements to hold onto as truth.  Lysa TerKeurst writes:

 And at the end of the day, I guess that’s why I don’t like to be surprised. I can’t stand to get caught off guard. It makes me feel exposed and afraid.

But slowly, I’m learning it’s not all bad to be a little exposed and afraid.

That vulnerable place reminds us we have needs beyond what we manage. It reminds us we need God. Desperately. Completely.

And into that gap between what we can manage on our own and what we can’t, that’s right where faith steps in and has the opportunity to find deep roots. Roots that dig down and break up previously unearthed places within us.

My faith doesn’t just need to grow big, it needs to grow deep. Yes, I need deep faith roots.

Deep roots anchor us when surprises blow like strong unruly winds.

Deep roots hold us steady during the next storm that didn’t show up on the radar.

Deep roots find nourishment when the surface gets awfully dry.

Deep roots allow for growth not previously possible.

Deep roots yield rich fruit.

So, I’m learning to not be so afraid of what might be around the next corner. Even if it does catch me off guard. I close my eyes and whisper… “deeper still.”

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit,” (Jeremiah 17: 7-8 ESV).

Lord, I long for deep roots.  I trust you.  I know growth, transformational growth, doesn’t always feel pleasant at the time, but I do know that it yields a great harvest.  Help me to be patient.  Help me to remember your truths and choose those to stay grounded upon.  I find myself revisiting a lesson time and time again.  I hear you.  I know you have growth in store for me.  Thank you in advance for your patience with my stubbornness.  Thank you for giving me just what I need, when I need it, most especially when I don’t even know I need it.  You teach me about love more and more every day, and I am eternally grateful.  Looking forward to what has yet to come!

Often women are overwhelmed by too many things to do (see Luke 10:40) because there are many good choices concerning how to apportion their time (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). To set priorities is to determine what is important to you and how your time is to be apportioned-that is, who and what will take precedence over other parts of life.

Scripture contains guidelines for God’s order:

• Your personal relationship to Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:33; Philemon 3:8);
• Your commitment to home and family-especially spouse and children (Genesis 2:24; Psalm 127:3; Ephesians 5:22,25; 6:4; 1 Timothy 3:2-5; 5:8; 1 Peter 3:7) and even to the extended family, as so beautifully portrayed in the relationship between Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17);
• Your responsibility to employer and tasks assigned (see 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12); and
• Your service to God through ministries in the church and involvement in the community (see Colossians 3:17).

Once you have these divinely appointed criteria in mind, you are ready to sort out the opportunities that come (Psalm 32:8) and move forward in the most effective and productive management of time and resources. A very practical way of accomplishing this is to list all the tasks before you, consider each prayerfully as to merit and timeliness (see Colossians 2:5), arrange them in order of importance, then proceed to do the most important things first (see 1 Corinthians 14:40).

To be consistent in your priorities, consider these admonitions:

• Assign God first place (Matthew 6:33);
• Consult with the Father regularly in your quiet time (Psalm 55:17; Luke 5:15-16);
• Examine your own heart (Ecclesiastes 3:1);
• Keep yourself spiritually fit (Isaiah 30:15).

Jesus met with the Father in intensive prayer and meditation to determine his priorities and to prepare himself for each day (see Luke 5:15-16).

Note also these cautions:

• Put people before things (see 2 Corinthians 8:5).
• Do not limit your investment in those you love and others who cross your path, to money and gifts.
• Look for ways to invest yourself, your time, your energies.
• Family must be more important than occupation since
  Scripture clearly states that there is no success if the family is lost (1 Timothy 3:5; 5:8; Titus 2:4-5).
• Sometimes you must say no, as did even Jesus when some seemingly good requests for his time did not fit the overall plan for his ministry (Luke 4:42-43).

The underlying principle in determining priorities is always that spiritual values must overshadow worldly pursuits (2 Corinthians 4:18).

I had a thought tonight.

It was a simple thought.

Yet I found myself pausing… in the middle of loading the dishwasher.

As a mother, am I doing enough?

Oh, I’m “doing” alright.  I could list and list all of the tasks that were so joyously tacked onto the birth certificate hidden deep within that precious home-going car seat.  I could list and list the routines of the “needed supplies” that keep this Conrad-family-train a-movin.  I could tell you about the early mornings and the late nights.  I could compile at least a few paragraphs on the “details” of carpools, grocery shopping tips, and laundry mishaps.  But in the midst of the “doing”, am I “being”?

Am I pausing in the moments of life?  Pausing for some intent eye contact, pausing for a moment of silence after asking a question, pausing from our normal routine just because, pausing to ask about HIS plan and not mine, pausing to prioritize God (in thought, word, and deed)?

Am I doing enough?

I don’t want to get so consumed with the details in life that I miss the most important parts.  I don’t want to feel productive at the end of the day simply because a certain amount of tasks were accomplished.  I don’t want to end a conversation simply because I’m exhausted, but I do.  And I no longer expect perfection, I try to tame the shame-beast that threatens to linger in my mind, I choose to push the grace button as a reminder that the Lord gives, even and especially when I don’t deserve it, and yet…

Am I doing enough?

Time is flying.  As you probably well know.  Aaron and I have six more glorious years with our son before he graduates.  Six.  And I really want to make the time count.  I desperately want to get this thing right.  Time is like money, once it’s spent, it’s spent.  I don’t get it back.  And I’m not even guaranteed tomorrow.  But I do have this moment.  And the next, and the next.  And I’m not sure what I’m going to say, and I’m not sure what I’m going to do.  But I do know the One who knows.  And I can trust Him.  With all that I am and with all that I have. And that is enough.

HE is enough.

But by His grace IN me, I am enough.

And He sets His word in our hearts…

Malachi 3:10

And then one day I went for a run.

And He said, “Yes. October”.

And I smiled.  Big.

I’ve had a chance to reflect a bit on the the trip last year.  I’m still am a loss for words as to all that He revealed during this special time of serving.  The sheer fact that I GET to travel again is a miracle.  It’s not an entitlement, it’s a gift.  A gift only made possible by a team of prayer warriors and financial contributors.  I’ll say it again, it’s not possible without the “team”.  The Lord did not place us on this Earth to live separate lives.  He gave us each other for a reason.  And though I’m physically there, I’m traveling with an army.  I count it a privilege to simply represent the stories of His world-wide reach.  And while there, His reach extends out so personally that I’m never the same.

I read a book this evening.  In her writing of Mended, Angie Smith describes her experience overseas in such a way that it was as if she penned my own heart:

In Kolkata (Choluteca) I was her. And here, I am me again.  They didn’t know anything about me except that I had hands and that I was there to help.  It was a breath of fresh air to be used by the Lord in this way.  Everything that I have tied myself to in this life became beautifully, naturally, and completely irrelevant.

And I want to be her.

Here.

So how do we manage to combine the beautiful calling the Lord has on our lives while actually living our lives? Do you ever feel like you want to make an impact but your life doesn’t feel big enough?  This isn’t right thinking, but it is natural.  Up to this point, I hadn’t met the faces that taught me about her.  The girl who lived inside of me and wanted to be better, not because of the accolades, but because of the most exquisite peace that came from going where He led me.  Trusting Him relentlessly, with great joy.

And I liked her.

And I believe that’s where I last left off on my return to the States.  I found myself desperate to hold onto the lessons learned in a life of simple gratitude and mountain-top faith.  To feel the presence of the Lord in such a tangible way, making decisions in a spontaneous, audacious, moment-to-moment way was invigorating.  And then I returned home, and desperately grasped at ways to fit my new heart back here.  And I missed her.

And the reality is that the Lord HAS placed me here.  The truth of the matter is that impact comes from obedience – and in that case it doesn’t matter what the scope is.  I don’t have to fly around the world and rescue orphans in order to bring the Lord glory.  If that is my calling, I certainly want to be obedient to it, but it might be something on a smaller scale.  And that is okay.  In fact, it’s more than okay.  We all have “assignments”, and we aren’t being graded on how enormous they are.  We do have a responsibility to be good stewards of the situations and people that He has entrusted to us, and perhaps that needs to be our goal.

And so, I will walk around the neighborhood with the kids on a prayer walk, and we will leave special drinks for the men and women who serve us our mail and remove our trash, and we will respect our authorities, and ask the lady at Kroger how her day has been.  We will follow Christ, control-freak tendencies and all.  And until October 19th when I will GET to visit my brothers and sisters in Choluteca, I will continue to strive…

To be her.

Here.

Yet another Saturday morning, another great morning for a run.  Except this Saturday, May 4th, I would be allowed to run in another race.  I do not write the word allowed lightly because as anyone can testify, simply to be ABLE to run is a gift in and of itself.  Simple fact is bodies do wear down.  This feat defies time.  It defies logic.  In fact, I dare say this feat starts first in your mind, then your legs simply obey… mostly.

For me, this particular race had me backtracking…. in my mind anyway.  For this race, run in the streets of Columbus, was the first first time I towed the line for a long-distance event ever, seven years ago.  It’s been a privilege to run this one every year since.  And not only did the day bring about perfect weather conditions, but I was privileged to experience yet another start with a friend who’s “run alongside” me in various ways for over six years now.  You cannot actually see her giant-sized heart in that lean and healthy body of hers, but I’m telling you, not sure how it fits in there.  She has a heart of a champion, not only in her hard work efforts, but more importantly in her compassion and generosity for others. To many more years my friend!!

I could share many memory-pictures of today.  Some have meaning to me alone, some have a greater meaning to us all, some just celebrate the family-hood that comes from enduring the hard and cheering on it’s members.  I simply share so that I can remember.  I want to remember these lessons to share them with my children.  I want to remember because when things get hard again (and they will), I want to trace His faithfulness, His strength, His lavish love.

And it was for this reason that I have one crystal clear memory.  It was mile 7.  My mind celebrates the past-half-way point, but my body begs to differ.  In the excitement of race day, in the flow of being surrounded by the mass of others, I run faster than my typical pace.  And in that excitement, I start to think about numbers.  And when I start to think about numbers, that becomes my focus.  And the mind games begin.  I really don’t want to settle there, but in the flow it happens.  And so, just ahead, I see a sign.  It’s held up strong and high by it’s owner.  It has three simple words written on it.  And it rocks my thoughts.

Run For God.

That’s it.  That was this is all about.  That’s why I began, that’s why I continue.  I run – FOR God, BY God, IN God.  And my countenance shifted.  And the sun seemed a little bit warmer, and the sky appeared a little bit bluer, and the breeze was a little bit cooler, and my smile was a little bit wider.  Pain?  Yep, still present.  But therein lies a blessing in pain, it’s a reminder of the work I’m putting in.  Work that is worth it each and every time.  So much so, that I keep on working, until He tells me otherwise.

And I finish.  And I celebrate with my family who have come to support, and friends who have traveled the journey as well.  I also celebrate those who have finished this course for the very first time, with a story each their own.  And I receive a medal that serves as marker #19 in my count of half-marathon races.  And I cherish this day to honor my God who has blessed me beyond what I deserve.  And I return home to a full family day that includes shopping for and planting flowers with my girls, hearing my boys talk about their games of pick-up basketball, and jumping on our bikes for a ride to DQ, and my heart is full.

And to top it off, I receive an email from Cap City.  I hadn’t seen a time of 1:52 in quite awhile.  I was happy with thinking I hit the 1:53 range, because for a long while I couldn’t break the 1:54 mark.  And what number did I see flash across my iPhone screen?

1:52.59   Boom!  I celebrated like a 2 year old on Christmas, just God and I in that moment.  So fun.  I’m so grateful.

And through our current family situation, His words ring loud and true:

Philippians 4:11-13

I was working at a preschool on Friday.  It was lunch time, and I decided to take a few moments to check messages and emails.

My eyes scanned the usual variety, and then they fell upon a text message from my husband.  As I’ve come to appreciate over this almost-16-years-of-marriage-thing, we’ve grown to know each other well.  We recognize our differences, know where and when they attract or repel, we respect how we process (me inwardly, he outwardly), and we hold time with each other intently and fiercely.

And in this moment of screen-to-screen interface, I recall my last message of raw honesty, using words that have a meaning know only between us.  And I see his response.  He acknowledges my statement, in essence, my wiring, and in complete love he writes this:

Thank you for letting me lead.

And my breathe catches in the back of my throat, and my emotions start there accent from the pit of my stomach and quickly rise to the top of my head, threatening to release through my tear ducts, and anything that I had planned to do next was not important.  And I sat stunned at my response.  Why in the world did that hit my soul?

And as quickly as my mind could formulate those words, it was as though a visual curtain to my past was flung open, and I saw, and I remembered.

There was a time when I wanted to lead, in everything.  At the beginning of our marriage, I struggled, on many levels.  Aaron and I dated long distance for 4 years while I was away at college.  I had this wild expectation that when we were married, I could have all the time in the world with him.  And after we married, he accepted a job that included travel, lots of it.  And my family was still close, but I was too prideful to admit my pain.  So I was alone, and I became bitter.

And then we moved from Cleveland to Columbus, and he still traveled, and now no family.  So we got a dog.  And I accepted a second job.  And I learned to build my independence taller and taller, brick by brick.  Then my husband accepted a retail job.  This moved him closer to home, but busy on the weekends.  And I kept building.

Time passed, we built our first home, and soon after we welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the family.  And with this beautiful bundle, my wall began to crack.  That happens when one experiences sleep deprivation.  Then I went back to teaching, then I started my masters program, then we find out baby #2 was on the way.  No longer was my independent wall my own, bricks were falling daily.

And in my mess, I came to the end of myself, and when I reached the end of myself, I looked up.  And my Jesus, the One I had placed in the tallest part of my tower, was now standing next to me… with a huge smile on His face.  And He looked so happy to see me.

And I started to journey with Him.  We started walking together, I began learning from His example, listening and reading, sometimes tripping and bleeding, but getting up and walking again. I started asking more questions, seeking, and thirsting like never before.

We were led to move to another house as baby #3 was on the way, and in so many ways, a new chapter was beginning.  I began a quest to not only be a Godly Mom, but to first learn how to live as a Godly wife.  I read, and I read, and I read.  And I have to admit, some books may have gotten hurt during this project.  It was foreign stuff, it was tough, it meant change… on MY behalf.  And in the middle of it all, I had a choice to make.  Trust and choose God’s way, or choose the way I had known through this me-centered world.

As with so many choices in life, I can decide, but often times it’s a process, a process of imperfect progress.  And indeed, over time, I’ve come to realize and appreciate God’s model for marriage.  I have come to practice submission (pausing for the Spirit’s interceding) over and over again, that it is (most days) a natural occurrence, now a habit if you will.  I had to let Him “burn” the ugly part of my heart so that His internal light could shine through.

And I’m tellin ya, it’s SO MUCH BETTER HIS WAY.  Peace reigns, love rules, tenacity endures to see open communication through, I show respect and encouragement, he displays love and encouragement.  And I read that this is right.

^{Ephesians 5:21} Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

And now I know why I experienced a tsunami of emotions… I’m just so grateful for how my Jesus loves me and guides me.  He did not leave me in my mess, indeed God sent me a Messiah, a Savior, a Rescuer.  And the best part is, He sent Him for you too!  This is anything but an exclusive club, it is all inclusive.

What’s holding you back today?

I would love to introduce you to my friend Stacy Williams today.  She is the sweetest young thing.  I’m telling ya, the happiest smile on her face, and a love for the Lord that just exudes out of her every pore.  One would never guess that beneath all this outward joy, pain resides.

Out of obedience, Stacy has written an e-book devotional.  Each day contains scripture, a prayer, personal stories, and encouragement to the reader across a variety of topics. These topics include dreams, prayer, resting, grace, comfort, trust, fear, and even excitement.

Pain & suffering, lessons learned in the “hard” – often times we wouldn’t dare ask for them, we shy away from even talking about them, yet it’s in those times that we learn and draw closer to the heart of our Creator.  Stacy Williams walks the reader through her beautiful journey of pain and shed’s light, His light, on lessons she continues to learn through His ultimate purpose.

I found myself captivated by her personal testimony, riveted by the truth of scriptures brought to light, and thankful for the time spent in reflection on my own journey. Within these pages are words that can be visited time and time again. Each devotion gives the reader a chance to grab a few minutes of time, whether it’s once a day, or several times a day, perfect for those in a season of full schedules. It could also be a perfect gift for that friend or family member who comes to mind that is facing a season and is in need of that fresh Word of God.

Due to the generosity that Stacy also exudes, I would LOVE to give-away a copy of this devotional to one of you!  Simply leave a comment by answering this question:

What “pain” have you experienced, or are currently experiencing and how has God walked you through it?

Praying you have a blessed day!

At precisely 10:35 pm, eight years ago today, 8lbs. 10 oz. little Brynn Joy entered the world, and literally stole our hearts.  She was a surprise to Momma.  I thought for sure I was carrying a little boy because this pregnancy exactly matched that of our son’s.  Little did we know how much “Joy” she would, and still continues, to bring to our family.

I love her zest for life.  I so appreciate her imagination.  Girl has a memory for movie lines and song lyrics, just like her Daddy.  She has the most breath-takingly blue eyes, and a giggle that could make the most cantankerous smile.  She’s great with numbers, and can build things out of anything found around the house.  She loves anything soft, and still enjoys cuddle time.

She’s brave.  She’s strong.  She enjoys sleep.  She’s simply at home around water.  She is drawn to pets.  Her favorite animal at the moment is a zebra.  She enjoys lots of desserts.  She is comfortable around people of any age.  She now officially marks off our last category of young-child-rearing… she is done with her car booster seat.

But most of all, we love her simply because she is ours, a gift given from heaven.

James 1:17

Church in a movie theater?  Yep.  It works.  Why?  The building is not the important part, the people invite the presence of the Lord to meet them there, or they don’t.  And every Sunday, this place is full.  And I’m not just talking about the people.

My husband is currently on staff with Rock City Church.  People asks how he “likes” it.  Perhaps they even wonder as to how one takes that leap of faith in moving from Corporate America and entering into this world of work labeled “ministry”.  His answer, every time, is “I love it.”

Now, we all are aware that “love it” can take on a variety of meanings.  When asked, “How was that movie?”  ”Love it.”  ”How was that new restaurant?” “Love it.”  ”What did you think about that new app?”  ”Love it.”  I’m pretty sure the same connotation is not what Aaron is intending.

Let me tell you, from a wife’s perspective what I see…

I hear many words spoken at the dinner table.  These words are spoken with a fervor, some may say a passion, or words spoken passionately.  Topics range from dreams and visions, to tasks and processes.  Some words pertain to heart lessons, others are stated with a sense of awe and wonder as to the generosity of others.  Words are heard, and yet I see.

I see a purpose-driven life.  I see a sacrificial heart that continues to strive, not only in the daily tasks, but in ways to improve the future of ministry processes, big-picture stuff.  I see dedication to the mundane serving tasks.  I see a grateful heart, one that does not complain about time nor tasks.  I see a heart who is serving his Lord in His skill set.  I see a man who is happy.

And that is all I have ever wanted and/or prayed for my husband.

Is everything hearts and stars?  Dear Lord no.  Ministry is messy.  Just no way around it.  People are messy, therefore, anytime people meet together – mess.  Add in the ingredient of sharing the Lord’s message, you get a side of Satan.  And yet, my husband is happy.  And my heart is content.

Yesterday, we celebrated.

Two years.

Hundreds of volunteers gathered to share and receive.

We ate, we took pictures, we shared stories, and vision was cast.

And I’m so proud to call Rock City my home.  Not because I’m a staff wife, simply because here,  I “get” to honor and glorify His name. I GET to join with fellow brothers and sisters, locking eyes on the mission of reaching the lost and the spiritually restless in Columbus Ohio with the message of Jesus.

He IS at work amongst this gathering of followers.  He alone receives all credit.  He has a purpose and a plan, and it will prevail.

Pastor Chad will be starting a new series this Easter Sunday.  Perhaps you too have been wondering what God is really up to?  What is this day-to-day faith living really all about anyway?

One way I’m learning to live out this thing called faith is by simply doing the “next” thing.  After our big bash on Sunday, we began the process of cleaning up, and we  noticed that there were several trays of food left over.  Not wanting it to go to waste, we tossed around some ideas of what to do.  The Lord has connected Rock City with several community outreach organizations, so we had a conversation.  A decision was reached, I was given information as to the location, and we loaded up the mini-van.

Funny thing I’ve learned, this “next step” thing is often taken only one at a time.  The kids and I had a plan, this their first day of Spring Break.  And yet, we could not locate the destination, so we attended to an appointment, and I took a moment to recalculate.  Should we go back and try again?  Should we forget the trip all together?  Should we try another source and re-evaluate the error of our journey?  THIS, my friends, is the adventure of life with God.  When put to prayer, I knew.  Recalculate, see this thing out.

And so we did.  And we found our error.  But I knew this was really no error.  God’s timing was simply not yet revealed.  I had a sneaky suspicion a story would ensue.

We did, in fact, arrive at a church called St. Sophia.  It is a Greek-Orthodox church.  From the outside it appeared dated, and the size was humbly small in nature.  I knocked on the door, and the bark of a small dog could be heard.  Within a few minutes, a man emerged.  He was dressed in a black smock, black head covering with white, wavy hair protruding, and he was talking on a cell phone.  I smiled.  I waited.  He talked slowly and calmly with the person on the receiving end.  He did not appear rushed by my presence, and in fact, welcomed me in.

While waiting, I gazed around at the inside of the building. Surprising, it was beautifully ornate.  Several ornate portraits  hung with care, ornate moldings in gold lined the room separating it into two small areas.  I would guess that perhaps 30 people could be seated comfortable, and though it was neat and clean, the air smelled aged and stale.

He ended his phone conversation.  Apologized for the wait.  I introduced myself and stated my purpose.  Then he instructed me to pull around to the side where we could load our donation more easily.  Happy to oblige and to share my findings with three pairs of eager eyes staring out the van window, we relocated  and started to transport our meager wares.  As my son and I brought in the trays, I noticed two things:

My demeanor was unusually jittery, and my son’s demeanor was calm and collected.

Though he kept to the task, Austin’s spirit lingered a bit.  He was intrigued, perhaps a bit entranced by this strange new man.  He spoke kind words of gratitude, and that our “timing” was perfect.  He inquired as to my son’s name and engaged him in a bit of wordplay.  He spoke of the men that would gather as a consortium that evening and the following morning, discussing world issues and solving international catastrophes, all over our meager donations of bread and chicken.  He saw this banquet we were bringing as more than a meal, He saw it as a means to reach the “leftovers” of society with the provision of Jesus Christ.

And standing in this small basement room with square tables and folding chairs from the 50′s, I could barely breathe.  I wanted to stay. I wanted to leave.  I knew my heart was being pricked.  And as I drove away, I knew I would retell this story with a heart that burst with tears.  For today, I was given the privilege of standing in the presence of man who very much represented Jesus in the flesh.  I read in the Bible of those who pressed into Jesus just to be able to touch his robe, I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I did not feel worthy, even to pray a few words with him.

This man epitomizes the humble servant.  I can only imagine He has served the Lord for years.  He has very little in the eyes of the world.  His congregation is not doubling every week.  He is not know by thousands of people.  I’m guessing by the age of his flip-phone, he does not have too many twitter followers or facebook friends.  He may not even know where his own next meal will come from, and yet he possessed this inner peace that simply overtook my spirit, and drew my son’s in even closer.

Does he hold less value than the pastors leading mega-churches all across the world?

I would venture to say He holds more.  His purpose, though different than others, has a value that can’t be calculated.  For He is living out our greatest command:

Luke 10:27 - “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

THIS was the best part of the day.  Though only spending a few moments, my children witnessed a man who loves God. We will remember this for a long time to come.  Thank you Rock City for this opportunity.

What could happen in your day today?

Ephesians 3:20

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Above and beyond all I could ask or imagine.

That happened over this short two day trip.

With stops, 20 hours of driving total (Columbus to Charlotte and back).

With an overnight stay at a Courtyard, the friendly staff served us a great breakfast before enjoying a 3 hour get-together with fellow sisters in Christ from a variety of states.

We played some games, enjoyed some giveaways, ate some delicious food, and listened to Lysa TerKeurst share her heart in answering questions, sharing a devotion, and leading us in a brainstorming session for the next book that God has placed on her heart.

The topic she is tackling is one that affects each one of us – the power of two small words – “yes” and “no”.  So much of our “mess” takes place in the midst of either decision.  Several ladies each brought up different areas in relation to this topic and beautiful discussion ensued.  This message is powerful.  If we can start to make wise decisions, the trajectory of our lives will steer us to Him and all that a life with Christ affords.

Proverbs 3:

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.^[a]

I want to thank my fellow roadies, Rachel and Mindy!  We had such wonderful conversation throughout our many hours together.  It’s one of those times when you don’t realize how much you needed something until it was provided for you.  Soul deep, edifying encouragement is something I will forever be grateful to have received.

My advice – never miss an opportunity to simply “go” and receive when you feel prompted, no matter how crazy it may appear.  It always produces fruit, and in fact, may even provide a connection to His next leading.  Have a wonderful week with your families!