In a few hours I will be boarding a plane for Italy. Still humbled by this opportunity. So thankful for the great phone calls I have received this morning from family and friends wishing me well and praying with me. I am so BLESSED...more than I truly deserve. Thankful for a mother-in-law that came to help take care of the family while I am away. Thankful for a mom that gave me some "souvenir money" for my trip. I know that the love that I have from my family, friends and Lord is REAL...not fake. They all love me in spite of my faults.
I was reminded this week of what something real looks like and what the fake looks like as well. Many of you know how this Italy opportunity came about. If not...read this post. This week I also received another invitation to speak in Europe. This time it was in England. A very professional looking email was sent to me with details of the conference. The honorarium was amazing and everything looked exciting. Something inside me began to be pessimistic. It seemed too good to be true...but I also remember when the Italy invitation seemed too good as well. I convinced myself that I serve a big God and why should I doubt that He could send me to another exciting place. It didn't take long for me to have solid evidence that this was a SCAM. With the help of some friends and a posting by another speaker it was confirmed that this was someone's greedy attempt to make money. At first I was angry...then sad and then it just became a joke. Everything looked genuine and authentic. Oh...what a reminder that was to me.
We can be fooled so easily by things that look good, genuine and authentic but end up being bad, fake and pretentious.
My prayer for my trip is that I experience my great God in an amazing way. That God helps me to be authentic and genuine as I spend time with the women in Italy.
I know one thing that is always real and never fake. God's love for me. I am excited to share with the women how this amazing God pursues us and loves us with an unconditional love.
Please pray for me as I leave and who knows...maybe someday I will speak in England.
"Here I am Lord...send me!" (Isaiah 6:8)
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
THE DANGERS OF VALENTINE'S DAY
In two days couples will be expressing their love for each other with flowers, candy and other material ways. Yes...it's almost valentine's day. I remember when we would celebrate this holiday in elementary school. We would decorate our boxes and address our scooby do or batman valentines. We would walk around the room despositing our sentiments in each other's boxes. Truth be known...it probably meant more to us girls then the boys. Our hearts melted as we would open a valentine from a boy that we liked. We took what the card said at face value. Our grade school hearts believed that he really did love us and we were his valentine.
Fast forward....
It's three days before Valentine's day at the high school. Roses are sold in order for admirer's to express their "love" to another student. Classes are interrupted as roses are delivered. Hearts flutter as the rose is given to them...someone thinks I am special goes through their mind.
But...what about the other girls?
What about the girls who leave school without a rose? Thoughts enter their mind like "why doesn't someone love me enough to send a rose" "what is wrong with me?" "I must be too fat...too ugly...not good enough for a rose." Insecurities takeover and they begin to convince themselves that the above is true. They begin to seek attention elsewhere...dangerous places and thoughts that are not pleasing to God."
How do we combat this? How do we tell them that they are special. That they were bought with a high price. That they have a Father who loves them with an everlasting love.
A rose...is just a rose! God...is like no other. Cling to Him young ladies...let Him write your love story.
Fast forward....
It's three days before Valentine's day at the high school. Roses are sold in order for admirer's to express their "love" to another student. Classes are interrupted as roses are delivered. Hearts flutter as the rose is given to them...someone thinks I am special goes through their mind.
But...what about the other girls?
What about the girls who leave school without a rose? Thoughts enter their mind like "why doesn't someone love me enough to send a rose" "what is wrong with me?" "I must be too fat...too ugly...not good enough for a rose." Insecurities takeover and they begin to convince themselves that the above is true. They begin to seek attention elsewhere...dangerous places and thoughts that are not pleasing to God."
How do we combat this? How do we tell them that they are special. That they were bought with a high price. That they have a Father who loves them with an everlasting love.
A rose...is just a rose! God...is like no other. Cling to Him young ladies...let Him write your love story.
Monday, February 08, 2010
BEING AUTHENTIC!
I am part of an amazing Bible study. I look forward to Wednesday evenings all week. Studying the Bible with women has to be one of my most favorite things to do. Three special girls joined our group this winter and they are like a "breath of fresh air." Let me explain. We have been together for several years and know each other very well. We have all been Christians for many years and have probably forgotten what it feels like to not know the Lord. It is always so exciting to hear the young girls ask such pure and basic questions about Jesus. Then to see their excitement and sometimes emotional response reminds me of meeting "my first love...Jesus."
Last week we found ourselves in a discussion and one of them commented that they were not "church ladies" like us. This was not a slam against us...it was her humble way of saying "you know such much more than we do and your lives are not like mine." My heart began to feel heavy as I realized what she was saying. She saw us "older" women as better than her. She saw us as being "above" her. Afterwards we chatted and made a date for coffee.
That was the best cup of coffee that I had ever had. It wasn't really the coffee...it was the moment. Over coffee (and pie) I shared with them my past. I shared with them mistakes that I had made. I shared with them my struggles as a wife and mother. I hopefully shared my "authentic" self. By the end of the night one of the girls said "looking at you I would have never realized you went through all of that."
How do we be authentic women everyday? It is so easy to pretend that we always have it all together. If you walked in my home right now you might think that it is organized...but you are only seeing the surface. You're not seeing what is crammed in closets, what it shoved under the bed and what is hiding in the basement.
I am a work in progress...and a woman who needs to clean her basement.
Last week we found ourselves in a discussion and one of them commented that they were not "church ladies" like us. This was not a slam against us...it was her humble way of saying "you know such much more than we do and your lives are not like mine." My heart began to feel heavy as I realized what she was saying. She saw us "older" women as better than her. She saw us as being "above" her. Afterwards we chatted and made a date for coffee.
That was the best cup of coffee that I had ever had. It wasn't really the coffee...it was the moment. Over coffee (and pie) I shared with them my past. I shared with them mistakes that I had made. I shared with them my struggles as a wife and mother. I hopefully shared my "authentic" self. By the end of the night one of the girls said "looking at you I would have never realized you went through all of that."
How do we be authentic women everyday? It is so easy to pretend that we always have it all together. If you walked in my home right now you might think that it is organized...but you are only seeing the surface. You're not seeing what is crammed in closets, what it shoved under the bed and what is hiding in the basement.
I am a work in progress...and a woman who needs to clean her basement.
Saturday, February 06, 2010
YOU CAN'T OUT GIVE, OUT SERVE OR OUR DREAM GOD!
Three weeks from today I will be in Italy! I still can't believe it. I am so excited and a little nervous. I hope Italian airports have English signs? But I have nothing to fear...because I know God's hands are in this.
Several months ago I looked at my speaking calendar for 2010 and it was blank. I couldn't understand why God would give me this desire to speak and not the opportunities. I wasn't just sitting around waiting either. I was making contacts, I was making connections and I was doing anything I could to "expand my territory."
I had really come to a realization that maybe God had something else He wanted me to do. Maybe this was a season of preparation, maybe a season of writing...I did not know.
I cried out to God one day as I drove around. I cried out asking that He make it clear what He wanted from me. I also prayed a selfish prayer..."God...please let me speak again!" God began to ask me why I wanted to speak. Was it for me or Him? ouch! I spent time searching my motives and truly seeking Him. I asked God again..."Please let me speak again!" I will go anywhere God...I will speak for two people...just send me!
December 19th I received an email to speak. December 19th I received a phone call asking me to speak. One was 30 minutes from my home...one was Italy! Italy? Did I read the correct. I asked for something small and close...He gave me Italy. Never in my wildest dreams would I have even thought to ask God to send me to ITALY!
I realized that day three things....God's dreams for me are bigger than mine. I realized that there is nothing I can do to repay the debt that He paid for me. I realized that I will never be able to impact and serve others the way He did.
I am so thankful that I serve a God that I can never out ive, out serve or out dream!
Several months ago I looked at my speaking calendar for 2010 and it was blank. I couldn't understand why God would give me this desire to speak and not the opportunities. I wasn't just sitting around waiting either. I was making contacts, I was making connections and I was doing anything I could to "expand my territory."
I had really come to a realization that maybe God had something else He wanted me to do. Maybe this was a season of preparation, maybe a season of writing...I did not know.
I cried out to God one day as I drove around. I cried out asking that He make it clear what He wanted from me. I also prayed a selfish prayer..."God...please let me speak again!" God began to ask me why I wanted to speak. Was it for me or Him? ouch! I spent time searching my motives and truly seeking Him. I asked God again..."Please let me speak again!" I will go anywhere God...I will speak for two people...just send me!
December 19th I received an email to speak. December 19th I received a phone call asking me to speak. One was 30 minutes from my home...one was Italy! Italy? Did I read the correct. I asked for something small and close...He gave me Italy. Never in my wildest dreams would I have even thought to ask God to send me to ITALY!
I realized that day three things....God's dreams for me are bigger than mine. I realized that there is nothing I can do to repay the debt that He paid for me. I realized that I will never be able to impact and serve others the way He did.
I am so thankful that I serve a God that I can never out ive, out serve or out dream!
Thursday, February 04, 2010
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