Your Dream: Small Beginnings Big God

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“Who despises the day of small things?” Zechariah 4:10

I wonder? 

I have been guilty of this. I think there are so many times when we look back (hind sight being 20/20) and say ‘who would have thought all of this would have started like that?’ 

Recently, at my mom-in-love’s 75th birthday party, someone asked her that very question as they looked around at all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her reply? 

“God did.” 

God is a God of small beginnings. 

The Bible is full of examples of small beginnings. 

· The manger
· A shepherd boy becoming a king
· A widow picking left over grain on the edge of a field 

Everyone starts somewhere. 

Joseph started his journey to greatness in the bottom of a well, cast aside by his family, alone, hungry, in the dark and damp. He had a dream. God gave it to him. His small beginnings were not just a way to keep Joseph humble; they were a way to bring God all the glory. 

There are moments when you will feel the momentum of the Spirit pushing you. You will know that there is something brewing. Change in the air and sparks of creativity and clarity are lighting up your world. 

Then there will be those moments when your but is bigger than your faith. I get it. I have been there. These moments are the important ones. These are the make it or break it moments of your dream. 

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9

More so than the great triumph of getting started, the real victory is in follow through. 

For me I have had plenty of starts. I have started books numerous times, I have started hobbies that never really go anywhere, but at the start I had all the hope and excitement I could muster. I threw myself into whatever project I had going. I became compulsive to the point that I was consumed with the work rather than the process. 

Aesop had something right. “Slow and steady wins the race.” Be the turtle, not the hare. 

Do not get worn down because you get bogged by details. Do not sweat the small stuff. God sees where He has you and where you are going. 

God is not confused. 

His plans for you are the same in your moment of doubt as they were in your moment of clarity. He has not changed his mind about you. 

So do not look around at your small beginnings and mistake them for “smallness”. Your dreams are bigger than you. The only way they will come to pass is by relying on God to add to your humble offering and multiply it into something that brings Him glory. 

Do not despise your small beginning. Get excited. The widow in the field married well and lived happily ever after. The shepherd who became king made mistakes, but God called him a man after His own heart. That manger housed the most amazing gift of all: a Savior for mankind. 

Small beginnings means there is plenty of room for God to do BIG things. 

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Self-Confidence vs. Real Confidence

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Let’s talk about something that seems to be a real problem for a lot of people: confidence. 

Maybe the reason this is a problem for people is because we have believed a lie: confidence is all about believing in yourself. 

Real Confidence is Not About Us. 

We are broken and flawed creatures who in ourselves have nothing worthy. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of light, the Lord who is love. BUT GOD, who is flawless, and in whom is all our strength and hope, in Him we can have confidence. 

The respect and proper reverence of God (the fear of God) builds confidence! When we truly know that God is the author and the finisher of our faith; He holds the pen that writes our story, and when we worship Him in spirit and truth for His faithfulness to us, then we can know without a doubt that He is worthy of our trust in Him. 

Confidence (Noun) is defined as: full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing or certitude; assurance. 

Confidence is not something that is achieved overnight. 

Arnold in School. Photo credit unknown. 

Think of Arnold Schwarzenegger as a kid. He was skinny. He did not have the muscles that would one day make him famous. He had chicken legs and big ears. It wasn't until he began exercising and focusing on muscle development that things for him began to change. 

So how do we develop real confidence- the kind that is not found in us, but that relies on who God is in us and what He will do for us? 

                                   We fail. 

Not what you wanted to hear, I know, but until we realize we cannot do everything on our own, we won’t truly understand why we need God in the first place. 

If you are a parent you understand this. When your child is learning to walk, they fall, they scrap their knees: they fail. Your child figures out he cannot walk on his own yet. So your tiny little one holds onto your finger or sits in a walker. This builds their confidence. It brings them balance. We, God’s children, are no different. 

Proverbs 3:5 The Message (MSG) 

5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health; your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst. Your wine vats will brim over. But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline; don't sulk under his loving correction. It's the child he loves that God corrects; a father's delight is behind all this. 

When we are humbled then we look to God for His answers and His way, which are better than our ways and ideas. 

“There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end, that way leads to death” Proverbs 14:12 

The Benefits of Confidence in God 

When we have confidence and trust in God, we free ourselves from anxiety and worry. These things are the opposite of faith. They cripple our relationships and stunt our growth, but if anxiety and worry are staples in your life, then other things like fear and lack, bitterness and envy are probably some of the things you deal with too. I know I do. 

Simple trust breaks the power of worry. Confidence in God to provide, to fight on your behalf, to give you direction, to bring you peace and a fruitful end, this is what God wants for you. 

God doesn't “need” you to have confidence in Him to exist. God is. What God wants is your trust because it helps you. It makes your life easier. It changes your circumstances. When we allow the Spirit of God to dwell in our everyday and we rely on Him, then we can rest and prosper. 

Isaiah 32:16-18 New Living Translation (NLT) 
16 Justice will rule in the wilderness and righteousness in the fertile field. 17 And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever. 18 My people will live in safety, quietly at home. They will be at rest. 

Jeremiah 17:7-8 says: “But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” 

Reflection 

What is one way you can rely on the Lord today and begin trusting Him like never before? How do you build your confidence? 

Why We are Called to Love

Carelessness Has No Place in the Body of Christ

Christians cannot live carelessly. Living by happenstance and circumstance is not the way for us as believers. Jesus said that trouble (happenstance) will come in this world, but He had overcome the world.


Carelessness is really apathy, and Webster’s online defines apathy as “lack of feeling or emotion, lack of concern: indifference.”


Living a careless life, an indifferent life, is in direct conflict with God’s overall plan for us.

God’s Plan:

His plan is that no man should perish, that all would come to Him, and He needs us to actively show the love of Christ to the world so that the world would be drawn unto Him.


Matthew 5:14 says “You are the light of the world; a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid!”


Where there is light, there is no darkness. Where there is light there is life. Where there is light, the Father of lights is there. We are the City on a Hill; we are the light of the world. If we do not shine, if our light dims, darkness and death will fall. Dank death will rain down and what Jesus did on the cross would be for nothing.


Luke 1:9 says Christ came for this purpose: “To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Our Purpose:

As Christ followers, we are supposed to carry on where Christ left off.


If we do not see the orphan, if we walk past the widow, if we do not feed the hungry and we do not share our cloak with someone who is cold, how can we say we walk and abide in the love of Christ?


We cannot stand by and watch the world perish. We must be more attentive and live with purpose, not carelessness and apathy.


Sister Teresa said this:

“Do not think that love - in order to be genuine - has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”

We are supposed to get full of love, and grow mature fruit so that we can empty our lives and our love into other people. To do this is the law of Christ: Love one another!

Call to Action:

Has someone shown you genuine love before? Share how in the comments below. 

Now, find a way to pass that love along to someone new - who needs it just like you did – and who through that love will see Jesus in you.

Waiting: Pit Stop or Serving Time?

Okay- I think everyone will admit to being in this place at one time or another. You rarely like it, probably do not appreciate it, and may even get frustrated by having to be there longer than you expected....

It is that waiting place.

That place where you know you have been praying about something, but have not heard a clear yes or no. That place where sometimes you may not even know what to pray for or how to pray. That place reveals your level of trust and fellowship with God.

Ouch. Close to home? It is for me.

Will you worship him even though it seems as if there is nothing happening? Will you be ready to move when he says go here, or stay there? Will you have you prayer life in order, your finances, and your family?

How many times have we missed the perfect will of God for our lives because of a lack of preparation? It comes down to what we do in this place called waiting.

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

Does this mean sit on our duff and do nothing? No.

Wait means serve- it is an active verb. If you do not think so, look at your waiter next time you go into a restaurant. As he/she waits on you, they are working.

They shall mount up with wings like eagles- soaring above the turbulence and getting a different perspective... a bird's eye view... to their life and the circumstances around them.

They shall run and not be weary- life is a marathon... Paul said to press toward the mark...he ran his race...will you run yours?

They shall walk and not faint- Wow- our walk with Jesus can be a hard one. He said we would be hated for his namesake, but that we are also able to do what he did and so much more thanks to the Holy Spirit. 

Our walk may be hard, but there is restoration and healing along the way. We will not faint (fall out of our walk) if we hold tight to his love and rest in his goodness.

This place called waiting- it should not be a place of frustration, but of preparation and dedication. 

Focus in on the prize- our Lord- and all the rest will fall into place. If your treasure is anywhere else, then this place called waiting will be a pit stop on the road to stagnation and apathy.

What have you been waiting for? 

Mountains - To Climb or Not to Climb?

Big or small mountains are not fun to climb. Each of us has them- at one time or another- and every time we face a new one the challenge can seem insurmountable. 

I know that when I have looked back at some of the mountains I have faced in my life, one of two things go through my mind.

1- "I called THAT a mountain?" or 2- "I know that only God brought me through THAT!" 

If you are alive, and I would hope that if you are reading this it means you still have a pulse- you have faced mountains. You might be facing one now. I am just writing this to encourage you to be strong.

Easy to say right?

Well, I can honestly say- no- it is not easy. Intellectually and spiritually when facing a mountain we can feel insignificant or overwhelmed. I have been there. I know. Have I faced every mountain with faith, composer, dignity, strength, and determination? No- but I know it can be done, because my Lord said it can be.

"Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to thismountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done". Matthew 21:21

You might be thinking- 'Dayna- you don't know- my mountain is so big I can't even seem to get out of bed today'. This is the enemy and his name is depression.

Depression can be mild, (man I am bummed I did not get that job!) or it can be severe (thoughts of suicide, mood swings, uncontrolled malaise, and general apathy toward your situation and your world).

First Things First

First I have to say that if you feel like you are in severe depression- seek medical help. Your regular physician can diagnose and treat you. You do not have to seek out a therapist right away, but you should. If you are suicidal TELL SOMEONE NOW. Help is available. (more on this later)

Personally I have dealt with depression. I have had postpartum depression, clinical depression, and have had to commit my husband (several years ago) to a hospital. He was so severely depressed that thoughts of suicide were all-consuming for him. I have seen both sides. I know that when you are depressed you face a mountain with little if any ability to overcome by yourself. 

But it can be done.

Jeremiah 15:20I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you," declares the LORD.

God's whole plan for man after the fall of Adam and Eve was a plan of rescue. That is why He sent Jesus. To save us. This salvation is complete and it is permanent. Just because your circumstances have changed does not mean you are not loved just as much now as when God made this plan in the first place.

2 Corinthians 6:2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." [ Isaiah 49:8] I tell you, NOW is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

and

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed— not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence— continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of LIFE...

God is in the rescue business...daily.  

Why? 

Because of His unending and undying love for us. The cry of your heart, as you face your mountain- whether or not you face it depressed- is for wholeness, healing, and salvation. 

These things God provides.

Good counsel in these times- these face the mountain and can I take the next step times- is imperative. 

If you attend a good church, seek help with your pastor. They are the sheep with bells on. They are on the fore-front of ministry and are down in the trenches with you. This is a great place to seek Biblical and (most importantly) Holy Spirit guidance for your life. 

If you don't have a good church, find one. If church is not something you think you can handle, get over yourself. We all need a family, and though flawed, a church family can add tremendous support when going through "it".

The Father said:

Psalm 32:8I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

The psalmist said:

Psalm 73:24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

Glory. Sounds like standing on top of that Mountain doesn't it?

Facing mountains, especially if you feel you are facing one alone can be daunting. But you do not have to be alone. The Lord made you, called you to be His, and longs to love you through the biggest circumstances...all the way to glory.

If you have never prayed before, or if the closest you came to praying was at the dinner table, then talk to the Father now. That is all prayer is...talking to the Father.

"Father, you see where I am and all that I have done and been in my life. Forgive me for my short comings and bring me to life. Thank you for rescuing me. Thank you for Jesus. Amen"

You are now God's child, his son or daughter. If you are already His, and feel that the mountain is too big, remember there is NOTHING too big for God. When He is for us, who (or what) could possibly stand against us?

When you look at the greatness of the Father, and his sheer awesome ability to bring you out of any situation- mountains begin to look like mo-hills...

What kind of mountain are you facing right now?


If you liked this post read more about battling Depression God's way here. 

O be Careful Big Mouths- 3 Steps to Bridling Your Tongue

"Oh be careful little eyes what you see. Oh be careful little ears what you hear. Oh be careful big mouths what you say."

Why We Need to be Careful 

Words have power, and as Christians, they are a direct witness to the people around you. There should be a careful guard on our mouths at all times. 

As a friend of mine says, "engage the brain to mouth filter"! 

The Bible has plenty to say about our words. 

Matthew 15:16-20 (MSG) Jesus replied, "You, too? Are you being willfully stupid? Don't you know that anything that is swallowed works its way through the intestines and is finally defecated? But what comes out of the mouth gets its start in the heart. It's from the heart that we vomit up evil arguments, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, lies, and cussing. That's what pollutes. Eating or not eating certain foods, washing or not washing your hands — that is neither here nor there." 

Psalms 34:13 says “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.” 

James 1:26-27 (Easy-to-Read Version) says “You might think you are a very religious person. But if your tongue is out of control, you are fooling yourself. Your careless talk makes your offerings to God worthless. The worship that God wants is this: caring for orphans or widows who need help and keeping yourself free from the world’s evil influence. This is the kind of worship that God accepts as pure and good.” 

When we fail to control our words there are consequences. We offend and we become stumbling blocks to those around us. Matthew says those that offend little ones (Small in stature but also small in faith) it is better that a millstone be put around their neck. 

There are three things you can do to begin to change the way you speak. 

STEP 1 

Repent. (This just means acknowledge your sin and ask forgiveness) 

Job said “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.” 

STEP 2 

Renew Your Thinking – we do this by reading the word and by submission to God. 

Ephesians says “change the former way of life that was part of the person you once were, corrupted by deceitful desires. Instead, renew the thinking in your mind by the Spirit and clothe yourself with the new person created according to God’s image in justice and true holiness.” 

STEP 3 

When you mess up and you will miss the mark repeat step 1 and 2. 

Do you have a hard time controlling what you say?  Leave your comments about your struggles and victories below. 

Have It All?

There are moments, when I am up at dawn, planning out my day, looking at the pile of work I have to do and feeling overwhelmed because my time management has not been up to par that I wonder “How am I going to do it all?”

Not exactly a Proverbs 31 woman kind of question. 

In my head a woman who is “the proverbs 31” woman is up at dawn with a project going, make-up on, no hair curlers left in her hair, praying over her house and children, making breakfast and kissing her husband as he heads off to work.

Instead I am up, haven’t showered yet, I have prepped the ribs I am going to barbecue later, helped my 16 year old put on her false eyelashes for a modeling gig, did a load of dishes, checked out Twitter and Facebook, and now am writing this.

Sans the hair and make-up I have not done too poorly. Then how come I feel so overwhelmed and dissatisfied?

I am doing more than I have ever done before. I am maintaining a household in a higher standard, though it is not up to the level I want it yet. I am praying and studying more than ever, and I still feel like I don’t study enough. I have small successes and even little Kisses from God, and I “feel” like it is not enough.

So what is the problem? I am.

The word says to be content in whatever circumstances I am in because God’s grace is sufficient. I also know that there is a difference between conviction, God’s spirit prompting me to repent and change, and condemnation, feeling bad for no reason other than to feel bad.

I need to let go of the pressure I put on myself to get it all done right now! I need to relax and enjoy the moments I have, and when I get more done than I planned, THEN I can be impressed rather than depressed.

So my hair isn’t perfectly blown out and styled. So what I have a day that is packed with “to do’s” and not enough time “to do”. My world will not come to a screeching halt because something fell through the cracks this once.

I need to stop living by my feelings and begin living by God’s word. I know He says I am his child, joint heirs with His son Jesus, and I have a purpose. I will keep plugging away at that: sowing – sowing - sowing into what He has told me to do, and let Him bring the increase.

I am not meant to do it all, I am meant to have God as my All in All.

Question: Have you felt pressure to get it “all” done before? How do you handle that?

Exercising My Faith

When I am doubting, as I am right now in the very moment I begin to write this, I have to begin to exercise my faith. This is in real time, so you get to see and read the spiritual workout.

To give you a brief history of this particular freak out session, my daughter needs surgery and we must come up with a very large amount of money to pay for it in less than four days. Panic began to set in. So I must begin that Automatic Truth Response system we have talked about before and build my faith.

The first thing I did was remember that I do not see the whole picture, but my Father does. He is my provider, and he clothes the birds of the air and the flowers of the field need nothing that He does not provide. 

I am joint heirs with Jesus, and our Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He has never let me starve, and He is attentive to hear me when ever I pray.

Sometimes I miss the point. This is not about me. It is not even about my daughter. This is about God getting the glory through it all. 

I will sing and dance I will praise His name for ever. Great are you o Lord, for your mercies are new every morning and your faithfulness remains forever and ever. 

If you are hearing "Great is Thy Faithfulness" then you are hearing what I am hearing right now in my head. 

Job 4:1-6 says this: 

Then Eliphaz (Job's friend) said this (to Job):
"Would you mind if I said something to you? Under the circumstances it's hard to keep quiet.
You yourself have done this plenty of times, spoken words
that clarify, encouraged those who were about to quit.
Your words have put stumbling people on their feet,
put fresh hope in people about to collapse.
But now you're the one in trouble—you're hurting!
You've been hit hard and you're reeling from the blow.
But shouldn't your devout life give you confidence now?
Shouldn't your exemplary life give you hope?

Sometimes circumstances rock us to the core. We talked about being prepared for the storms of life  in yesterday's post, but I know that since my foundation is sure and my hope is in Him, God, my Father, then I have nothing to fear. 

God took me to Job for a reason. It is a quiet reminder to grow up a little, quit whining and wait for God to be glorified through the circumstance. 

Thank You Father for speaking "Peace be Still" in the middle of this storm. To you be the glory and power and all the honor. I love you. You are my peace. Amen. 

Question of the day: How do you handle bad news? 

The 4 Benefits of Being a Believer

My husband has been looking for a new job. After eight years at the same place, he is ready for a change. One of the things he always looks at when he is interviewing for a job is the benefits package. These benefits are the extra “perks” of working for one company versus working for someone else. 

This got me thinking, “Are there benefits to being a believer?” 

You bet ya! 

Benefit #1 

When we are in covenant with God, we have the SECURITY of a  contract with God. 


He signed on the cosmic dotted line with the Blood of His son Jesus, and when you give your heart to Him, your name is entered into the Lamb’s book of life. Contract sealed! So this covenant does have benefits. 

In Genesis 15:1 we see that as believers we receive protection and a great reward. Deuteronomy 28:12 says: “The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.” 

Benefit #2 

When we are faithful to God and to the body of Christ we receive rewards. 

Before David was king, he had an opportunity to kill King Saul in his sleep. 2 Samuel 26:23 says he refused to touch God’s anointed king and because of that God would reward David’s loyalty. 

We are called to be a body of believers that serve one another: to love our neighbors as ourselves and fulfill the law of Christ. This means we need to need to grasp the parable of the hired hands. 

Matthew 20:15-17 sums it up. The 1st shall be last and the last shall be 1st. 

No matter what time you come into the kingdom of God, if you are faithful you will receive the same reward as everyone else. The benefits package is the same for a CEO and the lunch lady. 

Benefit #3 

Our work is not in vain. 

2 Chronicles 15:7 says, “Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.” 

The prophet Isaiah said this: “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” 

There is work to be done in the Kingdom of God. We have to feed the poor, lay hands on the sick, and serve our community as a witness that God’s love is an active love. 

In Galatians it says do not be weary with well doing, but in due season we will reap the benefits if we don’t give up! 

Benefit #4 

God grants us protection and favor. 

Unmerited favor, also known as God’s grace will follow us all the days of our lives. 

In Esther, we see 2 examples of God’s favor at work. First with Esther herself, who found great favor in the sight of the king and became his wife, and secondly with her uncle Mordecai, who the king remembered and honored, while Mordecai's mortal enemy, Haman, lead him through the city announcing all the wonderful things Mordecai had done. 

In Psalms 23, it says God prepares a table-a veritable feast in the presence of our enemies. 

So our enemies may be the bad economy, or they may be a co-worker trying to get you fired, or it could be an enemy that is not carnal, but spiritual. 

No matter how you look at it, God’s favor on your life is a benefit you cannot scoff at. 

Above all these things though, remember this: 

Do not let your pursuit of God and His Kingdom become a pursuit of blessings in a Thing-dom. 

Matthew 6:33 says seek ye first the Kingdom of God and HIS righteousness and all these things (aka benefits) will be added to you. 

What have I missed? 

Have you got another benefit to share? Share away! The comments are below!

How to Discover Your Purpose No Matter the Season

My daughter Sarah Beth

She is so young, only sixteen.

She thinks she has the world figured out.

My heart is heavy because I know how much she still has to learn. She is my daughter and I love her.

I want what is best for her. I have dreams and plans for her: a close personal relationship with God, college, a healthy and happy marriage, a successful art career and so much more, but it is her life, and she has to want the same things.

I by no means think it is my job is to micro-manage my children, but the Bible says “train up a child in the way they should go”. I have a desire to send her out into the world with her purpose firmly before her. That, above all is my desire: that she know what she was meant to do.

When we understand that God has plans for us, that we have a purpose, we are more focused, more patient and more effective.


More Focused-

Jeremiah 29:11 says God does have plans for you. They are plans full of peace and hope for a future. Plans to prosper you and not harm you.

In the book of Esther a young woman has been plucked out of her life, and placed in the palace. Here she becomes a wife, a queen, and a hero to the Nation of Israel. When she faced the reality that her life was not as important as the life of God’s people, she knew she was placed in the palace for a reason: “for such a time as this.”

God not only protected Esther, through her He delivered an entire nation from being destroyed.

More Patient-

Isaiah 40:31:

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”


When we know that God has a plan we can rest. We can pull into a “spiritual gas station” and refill our tanks. We can keep going when circumstances would tell anyone else to stop. Because we know God is taking us toward our destination, we can relinquish control and soar in the wind. We can ride on the current above the storm clouds.

When things don’t seem to go according to our plans, we know that as long as we are in His plan, (His good, acceptable and perfect plans) we are okay.

Romans 8:28:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”

Seasons come and go in life. When we surrender to the God who makes the seasons, who made the stars and is writing our story, then we can be assured He will be faithful to complete the work He started.

More Effective-

Esther 4:15-16:

“Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”

Circumstances cannot sway us when we know what God’s purpose for us is. Esther’s uncle told her the choice to obey or not was hers. He knew that if Esther chose not to obey, that God would deliver His children, but her life might be cut short because of her disobedience. She was born for “Such a time as this”.

Knowing who we are and why we are where we are, whether the circumstances are good or bad, is the crux of being effective. This discernment will allow you to see ways to overcome circumstance, to effect change and to become influential in ways you never would have been before.

Daniel had endured captivity. He had served faithfully a pagan king while never compromising his faith. Now Daniel’s faithfulness brings him before a king once more. When he read the writing on the wall he discerned the time. He saw what God wanted from him and he acted on it without fear. Though that king died that night, Daniel still found favor with the new king, Darius, because he never altered who he was and pursued his purpose no matter what.

Still not sure what your purpose is? That is okay. Just know this: God knows. His ultimate plan is the redemption of man. His individual plans for us may vary, but they will always be in line with His ultimate plan. Trust Him and remember this:

Matthew 6:33:

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Serve God where you are, no matter the season, and you will be in His will for your life.

Question: How can you be more effective where you are right now? 

I am God's Cabbage Patch Kid!

The Gift of a Decade

It was the 1980s, and there was one thing that I wanted more than any other. Burning with a passion that could not be denied, I begged my new grandparents for THE gift of the decade. 

The Litmus Test 

So ugly they were cute, I wanted a Cabbage Patch Doll (CPD). Not just any doll, I wanted a premi. The crème de la crème of all CPD that premi doll meant that my family “got” me, they accepted me and I would be like any other kid of that era. 

Instead I got one of the last ones in the county, a boy CPD I named Jeremy after some kid I liked in my class. My Grandma searched high and low, and bought one for me and one for my sister. Her persistence to find that toy made it all the more special through the years. 

I still carry that doll around in a sealed bag of “Childhood memorabilia”  It wasn't exactly what I wanted, but in the long run, I did not care, he was mine! 

Nothing New Under the Sun! 

The thing about CPD that was so genius was in the marketing. Each one was different. You “adopted” them and they became yours. 

The funny thing is this was not a new idea. God had it first. 

In Psalms 139 it says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. God made us individually, and intricately. He watched our very cells knit together in an individual pattern. Jeremiah 29:11-13 says God knows the plans He has for us. 

Photo Credit: Creative Commons

We aren't the only creatures He does this with. Each animal may be genetically coded by species and genius, but look closely: no two zebras have the exact same stripe pattern. God’s imagination is endless, just like His love. 

For us, though, God goes beyond just giving us individuality, he gives us purpose. 

We are all creations of God, we are not all are children of God. Salvation through Jesus is the means by which God “adopts” us into His family and His heart’s desire is that every single person comes to be a part of His family, not to perish. 

He loves us, and those he loves he calls. He gives purpose to us. Without purpose there is quality to our lives.

Photo Credit: Creative Commons

The Difference Purpose Can Make

I always say that before I gave my life completely to God I was floating along clinging to driftwood. Now I am being steered and directed aboard a ship, headed where God wants me to go. This is the difference purpose can make. 

We are a family that is a body with many moving parts and each part has a job to do in and for the Kingdom of God. This is why you are so individual. Because there is a work God wants to do through you, and He has tailor made you for this purpose. 

So we were the first Cabbage patch dolls!

God created us, and then He loved us so much He adopted us Himself: into His family. 

Now, when I look at “Jeremy”: my ragged sailor suit wearing, brown headed, dimple cheeked, so-ugly-he-is-cute Cabbage Patch doll, I think, he is just like me and it always makes me smile. 

Question: What toy was your favorite growing up and why?

Sunday Reflection April 1, 2012

It is time to reflect on what we shared during the week, and this means it is Sunday once again. Today is also my cousin Bradley's birthday so I want to send a shout out to him! Happy Birthday Bradley. Hugs and Kisses to you and yours!


So this week was a little strange for me since I seemed to get on a couple of themes. The first was "gardening", and you can read more about that in Gardening 101 which explores getting our hearts ready for what God has for us and Four Gardens which explores God's plan for redemption via four "gardens" in the Bible.


Then, for all you married women out there, I shared my ideas on the three things we can do as wives to help our husbands spiritually. It was a lot of fun to write and you can catch up on that by clicking here. Warning, the title is very cheeky, but I thought it was funny. Hope you get a giggle out of it.


In "Do We Really Appreciate God's Word" I made a visceral cry to read and appreciate the word of God more after watching a very moving and compelling video clip. It is only 10 minutes long and is so worth it to watch. My heart got poured out on that post and I have to say, I have watched it over and over this week, to get that embedded down into my heart, and to rejoice with the people in the video. Please, feel free to share that on Google Plus, Facebook, Twitter, and/or email the link to your friends and family. It should span the globe over and over.


That sparked something in me that carried over into "A Walk in the Park" and I explore the two things that are most important to any Christian. There are pictures from a walk in the park I recently took with my 13 year old daughter, and I have to say, it is one of my favorites for that reason.


By Friday, it seemed my brain was a little fried and I really wanted to seek you out and get to know you more. You, my dear gypsy, are so important to me, and I want to get to know you more. Plus, I was having major writer's block. To see what that looked like, click here.


Yesterday I wrote about disappointment and overcoming it. Recently we received some disappointing news and I could have been really devastated by it. Almost immediately God took me to 1 Kings 19 and began showing me some amazing things, and I had to share them with you.


In the last month this blog has seen a 62% INCREASE IN READERSHIP! Thank you so much for sharing this page via Facebook by hitting the "Like" button at the bottom of each post, Tweeting about what you read, and by +1ing it on Google Chrome! Remember you can always e-mail a post by clicking the icon at the bottom that looks like a little envelope.


A special thanks to http://tolovehonorandvacuum.com/  and author of The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex; Shelia Wray Gregoire for letting me link to her page and for tweeting about the blog and my writing this month. You have been such a blessing to me, I cannot say enough good things!


That is the week in a nutshell. I have been working on my latest project I hope to bring to you soon: my first eBook. I want to make that available by the end of the month. I am done with the writing, I am just working on resources to publish, and when those things line up, it should come together really quickly after that.


I look forward to this week and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us.


Be blessed and be a blessing and remember that reflect is a verb. 

WANTED: Genius!

There are moments, you know the ones, when you sit thinking, your imagination is engaging, and then that wall, that blankness, that inescapable bottomless pit of nothingness. You feel like you will never be able to be creative again.

You will never be able to sew another kid’s play costume, never be able to paint again, or draw another fashion masterpiece. Whatever you do, that brilliance that is your inspiration and talent seems in that moment completely dead and the well is dry.

I am so there.

Earlier today, after talking to a friend, I thought, yes! Eureka! I have it, I feel energized and know that I can write, but alas, nothing. Not even a dribble out of the faucet. So I am doing what all the experts say to do: I am writing anyways.

Fascinating stuff, I know. You must be on the edge of your seat with anticipation at the brilliance that is about to pour out of my fingers onto your screen.

…….Okay so that is not going to happen today: sorry.

This may seem weird, and it may be completely lame, but if all I do is write and never talk to you guys and gals, then what is this all for? I am obeying God in the actual writing, but I want to know where you are, what is going on in you?

It gets a little lonely in the blogospere and I want to give your voice a chance to be heard. Now is the time. Put away your fear and trepidation. This is a safe place and I want to know more about you.

So, I really want to know, do you have something you want to say? Is there a poem, a song, a post, or comment you have been dying to say, but haven’t? 

Do you have questions about any one topic you have seen here? Is there something you want to study together that I have not touched on here before? Do you have a Christian based blog you want to share here? Leave your comments, questions, and genius moments below. I cannot wait to see what you have to say! 

A Walk in the Park....

My view under a shade tree in Herman Park

Yesterday I walked through a beautiful city park, sat under shade trees, cracked jokes with my 13 year old daughter, rode a kiddy train, battled the metro, saw dinosaur bones, and took lots of pictures. You know why this was a wonderful day? Because it was a gift of time with my child. 

The whole reason we were out and about was because she had a doctor’s appointment, but we took the rest of the day just enjoying each other’s company and the things about each other that give us joy. Connie-Lyn can always make me laugh, and her unique way of looking at things makes me sit back and wonder at God’s grace and plans. Just when I thought, how can I possibly love this kid any more than I do right now, she delights me and I fall a little harder for her. 

Do you know, God feels so much more for his children? His love is constant. It never waivers and it never changes, and just like I wanted to carve out time to spend with my child, God wants to have one on one time with you. 

How, you ask? 

There are two ways we spend time with God: Prayer, and Bible reading. 

Prayer is effective communication with God. Without it there is no relationship. Think about this: if you never talked to your spouse, or your children, what kind of relationship would you have? Relationships are vital, growing beings. They are like sharks: they should always be moving forward. 

Learning and discovering new ways to please one another, to delight each other, to surprise one another: these are some of the ways a relationship shows growth, but without talking to one another, a relationship will begin to shut down and die. 

Why do we think our relationship with God is any different? 

If you just thought, as you read this, “Well, God knows my heart, and He knows everything anyway, why do I need to talk with Him?” then I have something to say to you: This is not about what God can do, it is about what God wants to have. 

Connie-Lyn  13 

He wants to have relationship with you. He wants times like I had with my daughter, where you spend time together just talking about anything and everything, delighting in one another and falling for each other in new and refreshing ways. God wants your prayers because if you will just talk to Him you will begin to see His love for you and understand the enormity of all He has done for you. 

But prayer isn’t the only way to know God. 

God left a love letter for us to read. It is long, and it has moments that you may not understand in it right away, but it is proof of God’s consistent love throughout time for us. This letter is called The Bible. King James, The Message, The Living Bible, The Amplified, and more are all wonderful translations. The Bible says meditate on God’s words day and night and write them upon your heart. As we read, we get to see God’s character. Yes, He is love, but He is also Holy and Jealous, and Faithful and so much more. 

When we pray and read God’s word, we grow as people yes, but we grow in relationship with God foremost. This has been His desire from the beginning: to walk in the cool of the evening with you, delighting in you, and you delighting in Him. 

Just one of the many apps for Bibles

Recently a friend said to me that reading was difficult for her. My husband has the same issue. That is why he listens to the word via an APP for his smartphone. There are several you can choose from and with mp3 players, smartphones, laptops, and tablets, there are so many ways to carry the word with you no matter where you are. GoBible, (which allows you to listen as well as read) Olive Tree Bible Reader, YouVersion and Bible Gateway are just a few. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. So if reading is not your strong suit, then listen, but get the word in you somehow! 

Praying and reading will take you from just knowing about God, to knowing Him intimately. So crawl up in the Father’s lap, rest in Him as you pray and go to His word to get to know Him more. He is waiting on you.