As Is

We all go through seasons of life that create different needs. In my current season of life, I’m a newly empty-nester. This, combined with some other situations, have led to me having a lot of alone time, and quite frankly some loneliness. In this episode I share how God is working in my life to meet the needs I have right where I’m at.

How we see things has such an affect on us and our lives. This was something I needed changed in my life, as I had a tendency to see things with such a negative perspective. My views were based on comparison and lack. However, it was through some of life's challenges that I received a very necessary gift of a new perspective of life.

Join me as the journey continues...

The gifts of listening is incredible.  The things I have been privileged to witness are  so beautiful and humbling. The act of doing whatever God lays on your heart, whether it be to give something, to bless someone specifically with finances, to pray with someone, or even to say the words God is laying on your heart for that person is so powerful and amazing! Those blessings are then doubled because the recipient gets blessed with God's love for them in whatever form, and then the person who was following what was laid on their heart is full of peace, joy, enjoyment of life, and such a close, trusting relationship with God.

Recognizing the fact that God speaks to us was such an incredible experience.    Hearing his still small voice has helped me keep my mouth shut and has prevented many situations from escalating.   In each of those situations, He would comfort me, encourage me and challenge my thoughts and the beliefs I was embracing, which has transformed me immensely. 

 I traded God my mental chaos for His incredible PEACE.

On my quest to have a relationship with God, I longed to hear his voice.  Then I finally realized. . .I can...we can.  The Bible says in John 10:27, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."  

Being still, to hear the still small voice, the whisper of our Heavenly Father, opened my eyes to the depth of his love for me.  He reassures, encourages, strengthens, comforts and brings me peace, daily!  Get to know him, And his love for you!

  As in any relationship, we take turns speaking and listening to one another.  I never realized that we can have that kind of communication with God . He speaks to us, not only in prayer, but all throughout our day. He guides us, protects us and brings us such peace. He speaks to us, in a still, small voice. 

This  is it...part three of my three part series, "When the Holiday's AREN'T Happy."  If you have ever experienced the dread, anxiety, and depression of the Holidays, you, my friend, are not alone.  For years, I looked forward to when they would be over, but that has changed. I guess you can say I experienced some holiday hope and healing. 

 It all came through a gift.  The gift of the season. All  I needed to do was receive it.  Did you?

Being so far from Merry, I had no idea how to do Christmas, so . . . I survived.  I tried many tactics, doing whatever I had to, to get through.  I was desperate.  What I thought I was desperate for, was so far off . . .

This  is part one of my three part series, "When the Holiday's AREN'T Happy."  I don't know if you can relate, but the Holiday's weren't something I looked forward to. . . they were . . . challenging, to put it mildly.   If you are struggling to get through the Holidays, I want you to know you are not alone.  

My purpose for sharing my struggles, is so you may gain insight  into your own, or to help understand what others may be experiencing. 

Above all, I want to give you hope - a hope I never knew existed.

Even though we are all loved, valued and enough AS IS, we are called to become....

• free from lies and deceit that keep us from our true identity
• free from guilt, shame and condemnation 
•  the person God has created us to be 

AND to  live the life He created US to live.

This is the story of transformation .

In life, we have many opportunities to either build walls or relationships, to judge or to love.  Even if....

Learning to appreciate what really matters in life and realizing that sometimes the biggest blessings are hidden in some of the most undesirable situations, my life has been filled with such joy and peace.  As I reflect on people who, probably unknowingly, helped me, I am reminded that we never know who God is using in our life, and when he is using us in the lives of others.  These lessons have helped me on this bumpy road to see the journey as an adventure, filled with eager anticipation, KNOWING God has it all worked out. 

 Shattering the Shame and Stigmas that leave so many SCREAMING in silence. 

During a time of great lack in my life, God provided.... day.... by day.  Going from one day to the next, I was never sure  if there would be provision for the tomorrows, but God knew.  It was such an unimaginable, challenging time in my life, full of constant uncertainty and fear.  However,  it was through these events my fear was transformed into FAITH.   

No longer able to hold the shattered fragments of my life together, I let them fall. And God, picked up each jagged shard, and gently fused them back together with His love. It was beautiful. It was painful. It was necessary…to live.

Depression and anxiety increasing, making a mess of things, I continued to spiral in the cycle of shame. I needed it to stop.  I had to be broken to be saved.

At a very young age, the seeds of rejection and depression were planted in my life.  This is how...

Life's a journey and this is mine...