Expecting The Unexpected ...And Not Believing In Ghosts

For the past 30 years, ACCESS has operated a transitional home for women.  After many years at this location, we moved to a newer home with more rooms.  After the last boxed was moved, I was the last one to leave the house and bid it farewell.

Two days later, as the keys were being returned, the landlord asked why we had left every window open.  I knew very well that this was not the case and could not understand what had happened after I left.  He went on to say that since we had moved out, the police had responded to two 911 calls from this property.  This situation became increasingly strange since all phones had been removed and lines were disconnected.  Everyone's first response was that the house was haunted. 

As one that does not believe in ghosts, I disagreed but acknowledged that if there was some type of "spirit" involved, it was not coming from a good  place and was not someone who had passed on from this earth. 

Unfortunately, one more visit needed to be made to the house before we considered the move complete.  I offered to accompany someone on one condition.  I wanted to enter the house calling out the name of Jesus.

The next day, we arrived at the house and unlocked the door.  As we entered, in the loudest voice possible, I yelled "Jesus is here."  Suddenly a deep voice replied "Come on in."

I froze in my steps and was speechless.. A few seconds later...a .repair man walked by.  It seems that the deep voice was not from a spirit but the maintenance man that arrived minutes earlier.

We all had a good laugh and appreciated the humor in the situation.

Often we go about our day expecting everything to go according to our agenda and plan but seem surprised when life throws a curve ball and changes everything.


 Scripture reminds us in Proverbs:

The heart of man plans his ways,  but the Lord establishes his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

So...commit everything to Him.  He probably has a better and different plan. and you might be surprised on what awaits you. And one more thing...call out his name when you are planning or entering a scary house. 

Everything I Needed To Know About Being Happy...I Learned From The Homeless

Happy…Happy…Happy!

Everyone wants to be happy.  How often do we begin each day hoping that sadness and problems are on the day’s agenda? We read books, listen to talks and seek other resources looking for the key to happiness...but sometimes the biggest lessons in life come from the most unlikely of places.  Working with homeless women and children has brought me many experiences and life lessons.  I just never believed a lesson in how to be happy would be included. 

When I began working at ACCESS Homeless shelter I believed that I would be the one doing the teaching but often the roles are reversed.  Some days I serve the shelter…some days the shelter serves me.  I see the trials homeless women endure on a day to day basis and often wonder how a smile can still exist on their faces.  After many conversations and endless stories, I have learned their secret.  Here is how the homeless have taught me to be happy.

Happy people live in community – At any given time, approximately 19 women and 20 children live at ACCESS.  No matter their past, their present lives look identical…they are all homeless.  Community forms when a common bond exists and that is true in a homeless shelter.  Over meals and program sessions, you will find each woman sharing resources, referrals and opportunities.  Instead of being in competition, they are in community. 

 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Happy people are content people- When a resident moves into the shelter, they are limited in what they are allowed to bring.  In other words, they are only allowed to bring what can fit in a black garbage bag.  When I see black bags at the entrance to the shelter, I often evaluate my own life and inventory what would be in my bag.  What would I consider a need or a want?  What would I be able to get by with and what would be unnecessary baggage?

 Not that I speak ^]from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I 

know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any 

and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

(Philippians 4:11-13)

Happy people have a unique perspective- I remember a client coming to ACCESS after making a tough choice.  Option one was a life of comfort that accompanied danger while option two was to voluntarily become homeless and free from temptation and addiction. We may look at being homeless as a step backward while others see it as a step forward.

"There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death" (Proverbs 14:12)

Happy people allow circumstances to develop character- Poverty hears the word “NO” a lot.  The “NO” can be an interruption that causes you to quit or an inconvenience that causes you to come up with a new plan.  Facing and overcoming an inconvenience forces us to be resourceful and creative.

 Not only so, but we^a also rejoice in our sufferings,¹ because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.

 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.creative.(Romans 5:3-5)

Happy people don’t let situations define them- Life comes with ups and downs, highs and lows.  It is up to us to decide which one will be our legacy.  Homeless is who they are now, but not who they will be forever.

 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,¹ he is a new creation;² the old has gone, the new has come!

 (2 Corinthians 5:17)

So…would you like to be happy?  You may just find it in an unlikely place.

What Is Your Mess - timony?

I have often heard the expression..."you can't have a Testimony without a TEST!" It is through life's trials and tests that we see God move. We see Him work and we see Him refine us. Oh don't we wish we could just develop the characters of Christ without the problems, issues and crisis?

I was thinking about this the other day and decided that the word "testimony" didn't work for me anymore. I have certainly grown through the things that God has allowed to happen but I also think I have brought on a lot of "stuff" by my own doing. My own bad choices and decisions have sometimes taken me down a rocky road...but God was always there.

He brings the tests and I bring the MESS. Through God's faithfulness He creates a new me. I call that my MESS - timony!

Late for Worship

Let me know if you can relate to the story I am about to share. Last Sunday, as I prepared for church, I had an agenda...a plan...a schedule. I knew exactly what time I needed to be out the door. If I stayed on schedule, I would have time to stop at the church café and grab coffee before worship. Of course worship would come after I met with the youth pastor about making an announcement regarding a missions trip. If the announcement happened at a precise time, I would be able to spend time in the sanctuary before I had to rush off to a drama meeting. I don't know about you but I am excited just typing this.

As I walked upstairs to the sanctuary, I was juggling a purse, mission trip notes, drama folder and of course...coffee. My hands were so full that a sweet lady grabbed a bulletin for me, placed it on top of my file as she opened the door. I found my seat and almost laughed as I attempted to organize my "stuff" on the chair beside me. The congregation was already singing as I foolishly rustled papers, folders and coffee...oh my.


Finally, half way through the second verse...I began to sing.

Can you relate or am I the only crazy lady at church?

I sat there and it hit me...too many things hindered my worship that day. They weren't necessarily bad things. I love being involved in ministry and serving in the church. In fact, I think we should all find a way to serve the local congregation. We just need to find balance and not let it get in the way of our personal worship. We can only give to others what we have experienced ourselves. Our ministry is an overflow of our worship. You can't serve from a dry well.

What is hindering you today?

I invite you to attend an event for women on this very topic.

Sign up here:



http://northamptonbiblechurch.org/#/ministries/womens-ministries



Take time to invest in your relationship with Christ by attending this one day event.

I would love to see you. Let's take this journey together!

Stop The Madness...Start The Worship

Some days I serve the shelter...other days the shelter serves me. You see part of my job is organizing Christmas for the clients. It is fun to see how generous our donors are and how excited the children become as the big day nears. It can also be draining when I see tons of presents that need to be bought, wrapped and returned. My mind then goes to the elves that need to be organized for Christmas morning, the shelter meals that need to be planned and much, much more.

In December, as I ran around frantically searching for missing presents and stressing that we had overlooked a family, I suddenly heard three words that stopped me in my tracks:

"Stop Momma...look!"

One of the 25 children that currently lived at the shelter was asking his mom to stop and see what he had done. His voice was loud enough for me to hear through a closed door. That told me that she was not "in the moment" and needed a louder reminder. This caused me to stop and realize that this is what God was saying to me.

"Stop Joy...look!"

Look and see what I have done! - God
Look and see that I have been born! - God
Look and see what this season is about! - God

Just like that mom, God had to remind me that I needed to stop. I needed to stop the madness of preparations and start the Worship!

How about you? Did the preparations get the best of you? If so...would you do something today? Sit down with your children and ask them what their favorite Christmas memory. I did and I was surprised with the answers.

It wasn't a gift.

It wasn't the homemade cookies.

It wasn't the picture perfect, Norman Rockwell Christmas card.

It wasn't the meal.

It was the moments.


Take a moment and STOP...and look! You may be surprised in what you have been missing.

A Sheriff, a Sandwich and a Saviour...oh my!

Three months ago we began to plan a trip to Kentucky. Ten schedules synchronized and a visit to Asbury College finally took place last weekend. I was excited to spend time with family, love on baby Emma and enjoy the fall break for our college age children. As I was packing the car, I did not anticipate the hiccups that lay ahead. Let me explain.


1) The Cleveland gang (Wally, Alex and I) had a late start. Our journey didn't begin until 8:30 pm with 5 and 1/2 hours of driving ahead of us.
2) During the drive, we were attempting to meet a deadline and inadvertently paid tuition money to the wrong college.
3) We suddenly realized that the hotel I had booked added an additional hour to our trip and wasn't close to Austin's college.


Hmmm....suddenly realized that this trip was either not supposed to happen or someone did not want this trip to happen. (I will let you decide after further reading)



We finally arrived at the hotel and threw ourselves on the bed at 2:45 am. Our exhausted spirits allowed for us to overlook the tattered carpet, smoky smell and other unappealing characteristics. Morning came and we excitedly went down for breakfast to greet family and squeeze sweet Emma. You can imagine the look on our faces when instead we saw a sheriff, coroner and crime investigators. When is the last time you met a medical examiner at breakfast? We were informed that someone died in the room next door. Excuse me while I step out of a law and order episode and back to reality. It seemed that a gentleman had overdosed on drugs and his grieving family was mourning him at the hotel. We debated about switching hotels and pushing rewind on this trip. Due to several major events in the area, rooms were scarce, so we decided to stay. The hotel was gracious and upgraded our room and discounted the price.


Pulling ourselves together we headed into town and enjoyed a crisp fall day on this beautiful campus. Things were looking up and stumbling upon a quaint restaurant for lunch was a mood lifter for us all. You know you are in a seminary town when lunch is at "Solomon's Porch" and all of the menu items are theologically named. I had the "Circuit Rider" while others enjoyed the "Calvinist", "Garden of Eden" and the "C.S Lewis"


Fast forward to the best part of the trip.



Every obstacle, late night drive, expense, odor, lack of sleep, crisis was worth it. Every emotion, doubt and fear was Satan's way of trying to stop the finale.


What began as a trip with hiccups and diversions ended as an opportunity to share the Gospel. What began as a trip that seemed destined for failure ended as a trip with a clear purpose.



As a family, we met Sunday morning for breakfast and planned to visit a local church. We discussed our shower schedule and I chose to be last. One by one our group went upstairs and I was left alone finishing my coffee and still processing the visit. I began engaging the hotel clerk in trivial conversation and flippantly commented that it was a shame he would have to work and could not attend church. He replied, "that's okay...I worship on Fridays." Our conversation continued and he explained his religion and I shared mine. His faith was in someone different...mine was in Jesus. We took turns asking questions and a very pleasant and loving dialogue continued. I began to realize that as each moment ticked away, I was suddenly shortening my time to pack and prepare for church. I soon realized that I was cutting it so close that I was looking at a one hour church service and a long car ride unshowered. I didn't care. I was not about to pass an opportunity to speak truth into this precious life.


We talked about heaven and mercy. We talked about the cross and forgiveness. We talked a lot about peace. The demands of his job became a distraction and time was not on my side. We shook hands and exchanged emails and agreed that this conversation would not end. As I walked away he said something that I will never forget. He said....thanks. He explained that his religion prepares them for conversations with nonbelievers and trained them to walk away and not engage in arguing and defamation of their faith. He thanked me for being kind and not debating.


Oh What a GREAT God we serve. This gentleman didn't need to be hit over the head with spiritual laws and was not asking for a trip down the Romans Road. He responded to love.

I want to shout from the rooftop "THANK YOU JESUS"!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for allowing an unshowered, sleep deprived, whiner be your voice


I now knew why we faced such obstacles on this trip.


Please pray for my new friend "D". Pray that he continues to search, pray that he continues to engage others in conversation.

You May Need To Sign A Waiver!

Okay…I know that you are tired of hearing about the social awareness conversion that happened to me when I began working at ACCESS Homeless Shelter. I won’t continue to bore you with how it changed my life and my views on poverty. (you can scroll down and read about it here…hee hee).

 I will share with you how grateful I am to see the same thing happen to other women and I believe the charge is being led by none other than Jen Hatmaker. I had the honor of receiving an advanced copy of the "Revised and Expanded" version of  Interrupted. I warn you…no…I dare you to read this book and try not to be changed. The book should come with a waiver that must be signed before the reader is allowed to purchase. The waiver would read…”This reader agrees not to totally walk away from her earthly possessions and embark on her life changing ways without at least giving her friends and family a two week notice." They have the option to go with her or disown her.

In this incredible book, Hatmaker allows you to accompany her on a journey that changed her view of the "least of these" and may wreck your's.

I love how Jen doesn't sugar coat the needs of this world but makes you feel "uncomfortable"...and that is good!  Her personal stories are real and moving and provide an excellent backdrop to support the book's main topics.

One of my favorite parts of the book was seeing Jen and her family live in community with others.  Their community didn't look like them. They were intentional about  immersing themselves in the world and not selecting a peer group that resembled them.  What a great reminder to us all.  We were put here to live with each other and to respect differences and embrace those that don't "look, live or worship" like us. 

The book moved me on so many levels and gave me many thoughts to stay awake over at night.  I encourage  you to step out on faith, kick fear to the curb and read this book.



Signing the waiver is optional!

Joy

 

Dream Big!!!

I am not exaggerating when I say that this could possibly be one of the most passion driven posts that I will write on this blog. Let me explain. As a child I was constantly amazed how creative my dad was. He was always writing stories, poems, short stories, etc. I loved hearing him speak at churches and enjoyed the humorous stories he used to teach Biblical truths. I also will never forget the numerous times he shared a big regret…he always wanted to write a book. As I reached adulthood, I realized that I had inherited my dad’s creativity and his passion for writing. It almost seemed that when he passed away, a little bit of himself remained on earth with me. I also realized that there was one thing that I did not want to inherit….his regret. Four years ago God began to place on my heart a burden for a book. I fought this desire out of fear. Each time I would begin to write I would shortly stop. Doubting thoughts would enter my head and I began to believe that this dream would never happen. I asked myself if the world really needed another book anyway. The strange thing about a dream is that if it is real and if it is from God…it can’t and won’t die. During this time of struggle, I began reading a blog written by a man named Ben Arment. He was not just a dreamer…but he was a big dreamer. He shared stories of big dreams that turned into big opportunities. I also noticed that he was vulnerable enough to share the obstacles and hurdles that a dreamer has to overcome. Ben not only wanted the reader to learn from his mistakes and successes but he was passionate about cultivating future dreamers. He had developed a one year coaching program for those that had a dream and were unsure of the next step. As if someone had guided my hand through the process, I applied to this program and was accepted. Not only was it affirmation of my dream, but it was affirmation of me…the dreamer. Through Ben’s guidance, prayer, emails, tweets, my book was published. I can honestly say…it would never have been completed if it weren’t for Dream Year and the principles of the program. The take away from the one year coaching far extends beyond the 153 page book I wrote. I have used Ben’s teaching in my personal and professional life. I now know the importance of making big asks. If I don’t ask…I assume I already know the answer. Amazing ministry opportunities have been possible…because I asked. Each time I step out of my comfort zone and “ask big” I am rarely told “no”. I have been blown away by how easy it is to see doors open when you kick fear to the side and embrace faith. I could go on and on about Dream Year but that is no longer needed. Why? Because now an opportunity is available for you to experience Dream Year and to learn how you can embrace your dream and live with passion. Ben has written a book and is coming to Cleveland on August 27th. The details are here. https://www.picatic.com/pitchnightcleveland I am asking you to do something…take a chance. Take a chance and join other dreamers at this event. What do you have to lose? The big question is….”what do you have to gain.”

Our Father’s Arms

Everyone loves a wedding…especially when the bride is your daughter. We have so many wonderful memories from that special day. Spending time with family and friends. Decorating with mason jars, tissue flowers and lights. Watching my three younger children “toast” their sister and new husband. (they actually used a toaster and made toast). The list could go on and on, but one of my favorite memories is that of the flower girl. Let me explain. At the rehearsal dinner, a cute and precious preschooler stole our hearts with her Hollywood sunglasses and fashionable outfit. She practiced her flower girl role with perfection and continued her cuteness at the dinner that followed. Several hours before the wedding, we received notice that the flower girl was not cooperating and refusing to wear her “itchy” dress. Our disappointment was soon replaced with the realization that she was a young child and all that we could do was “wait and see.” An hour later, we received an update that that the dress was on but mom was still unsure of her child’s cooperation. As I walked down the aisle to take my place, I did not know if the procession would include a flower girl or not. As I watched the attendants proceed down the aisle, I saw no sign of our darling flower girl. After a short pause, I saw the most adorable and precious sight…our flower girl. With a smile that melt the hearts of every guest, she fluttered down the aisle and paved the way for the bride. My first thought…what did it take to change her mind? Was it the promise of a toy, candy or some other token bribe? I suddenly turned and saw what was making it easy for her to walk down the aisle in front of hundreds of strangers…HER DADDY! Standing at the end of the aisle, knelt to her level and his arms opened wide was her father. Experiencing something that was once scary and uncomfortable for this child, now seemed safe and doable because of her dad. Her eyes were focused on the one that loved her deeply…and that is all that she saw. At the end of the aisle, this proud father, scooped up his precious daughter and held her tightly. He praised her for a job well done and never let her down. Some days, when life seems hard and impossible, I think about this little flower girl. She kept her eyes on the one that could get her through. We have that same father. His name is Jesus.

Give yourself away!

Well…it’s that time of year. The time of year when we seem to be a little more grateful, a little more thankful and a little more giving. But what happens when the calendar turns to the New Year and we return to old habits and routines? What is it about glittering lights and sleigh bells that makes us give? I spoke recently at a retreat about giving ourselves away. A gift to someone doesn’t have to be in a gift bag or box. The greatest gift we can give to another is US! Our time, our service, our words, our hugs etc.! I asked God what that would look like in my life and he reminded of a time when I gave something very easy, small and inexpensive away…a scarf. A simple scarf that I hardly ever wore. Let me explain. When I visit my mom in West Virginia, my mom always makes me feel special. One of the things that she does is she pays to have my dirty mom van cleaned. What a treat! We go to a small carwash that is owned my a sweet Greek woman. She makes “Bessie” (that is what I call my van with 190,000 miles) look brand new. One time, during the cleaning, she complimented ME on a scarf that she found hiding behind taco bell cups and candy wrappers. God prompted me to “give it away.” I did and you would have thought that I had given her a treasure. She raved and thanked me over and over again for a simple scarf. God reminded me of the blessings that I have in my life and also the abundance of material items that I don’t need. What if I intentionally tried to give myself away every day…and it included a scarf. So…starting tomorrow…I am wearing a scarf. My prayer is that God will put someone in my path that needs the scarf more than I do. Would you like to join me in this challenge? Would you like to start giving yourself away?

Letter To My Future Grandchild

To My future grandchild I will be the one that drops everything the moment I hear that you are about to make your entrance. I will be the one that will annoy everyone with the huge amounts of pictures of you that I will never stop sharing I will be the one that inhibits your walking ability by not allowing your little feet to touch the ground until you are 7. I will be the one that serves your ice cream for dinner when you come to visit I will be the one that reminds Pa Pa Wally that every nature hike should end at Dairy Queen I will be the one that sits on the front row of every recital, VBS performance and any other event that includes I will be the one that secures your domain name the moment I know your name. I will be the one that gives umpires dirty looks when they have been a bad call for your team. I will be the one that carries on the tradition of always having a cookie drawer and placing $20 in your hand each time I see you I will be the one that reminds you each day how handsome or beautiful you are I will be the one that reminds your mom that she was barely told the word no. I will be the one that will comfort you when your heart is broken and remind you that I really never liked him or her. I will be the one that will encourage you to dream crazy wild dreams and to ignore those that tell you it sounds crazy I will be the one that will prays for you and storms that gates of hell to protect you I will be the one that laughs when you laugh, cries when you cry and dreams when you dream. I will be the one that teaches you important garage sales skills I will be the one that will embarrass you with sappy texts I will be the one that convinces your parents to buy you a puppy I will be the one that constantly reminds you how awesome God is I will be the one that will always have mercy gifts for you at Christmas I will be the one that buys whatever you are selling in order for you to win the biggest prize I will be the one that cries the first time I have to tell you no and will probably say yes shortly after I will be the one that just watches you sleep for hours. Lastly… I will be the one that loves you…the way Jesus loves me.

Choose Joy – Session 2

Are you enjoying the journey of becoming a woman of Joy? I am! I desire so much to be the kind of woman that has “deep roots” so when a storm comes “I may bend but I won’t break!” As our group studied chapters 2 and 3 of “Choose Joy” by Kay Warren, we were reminded that it is in our tough times that our truth faith is exposed. Kay goes as far as saying that this is when our faith shows “its true colors.” OUCH You mean people are actually watching how believers react and expect? The answer is YES! If non-believers don’t see a difference in our reaction, why would they desire to seek Jesus? We can recite scripture until we are “blue in the face” but what matters is what we do when the rubber meets the road. (enough cliché’s for now) Kay makes a profound statement when she says “an untested faith is an unreliable faith.” Ever wonder why it is called a TESTimony? She supports her statement by reminding us how Paul and Silas influenced a jailer and his family and eventually led them to Jesus. It wasn’t by a three point sermon or a creative illustration…it was through their faithful actions in the midst of being jailed. As we search for role models that seem to have conquered the “joy” issue, we often overlook the one that overcame it all…Jesus! Kay teaches that Jesus was a man of joy. In his role, He was a man of sorrow, but in His essence, He was a man of joy. We saw that He was a man of joy based on his attitude, words and attitudes. For example, we forget that Jesus used humorous exaggerations to make Biblical points. Through His example, Kay encouraged us to give ourselves “permission” to be joyful. I am excited to see what lies ahead in the coming weeks.

Choose Joy: Session 1

Everyone just wants to be happy…right? We all desire to be that kind of woman that wakes up each morning, throws caution to the wind, jumps out of bed and stares fear in the face. In reality, many of us are just content to put one foot in front of the other and just get through the day. Kay Warren, in her book, “Choose Joy” takes us on the spiritual journey of finding “joy” in the midst of all things. What a pleasure it is to take this journey with thirty other women. It is my desire to use my blog to recap each session and provide a forum for discussion. Whether you are in the study or not, come along with us as we discover the true joy that only comes through Jesus Christ. Session 1: (Chapter 1) Kay does us a great favor by sharing her definition of joy: JOY IS THE SETTLED ASSURANCE THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL OF ALL THE DETAILS OF MY LIFE, THE QUIET CONFIDENCE THAT ULTIMATELY EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT, AND THE DETERMINED CHOICE TO PRAISE GOD IN ALL THINGS! What seems simple and understandable, can also be difficult and unattainable. As we dissect the definition above, there are certain words that stand out and penetrate the heart. Is it really possible to have a “settled assurance” and never doubt the sovereignty of God? Yes it is!!!!!!!!!!!! Not only is it possible, it is promised to us in the Bible. God never breaks a promise. Our human minds cannot easily grasp that in Kay’s definition, and the scriptures, we are reminded that “joy” is a choice. It can’t be held hostage by fear and worry. It can’t be influenced by others or circumstances. We can choose to be joyful and we don’t have to go through it alone. So how do we demonstrate joy? We can be … A Woman of JOY through our ATTITUDE – We can’t change what happens, but we can control how we react to various situations. A Woman of Joy through our WORDS – Words are lasting! Good or bad, your words will linger in someone’s heart! A Woman of Joy through our ACTIONS – Jesus was a servant! As you are making a difference for others, your heart will be flooded with great joy! In closing, Kay reminds us that life is like a set of train tracks. In our life, there is always sadness and happiness. In the midst of trials, there are also blessings. In the midst of trouble, there is also peace. We can’t let our insecurities and Satan cause us to focus on the one track. Life is not a mono rail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The journey continues…. Clinging to His love…. Joy

It happened again today…and it felt great!

I love hearing the following words…”would you please talk to my friend?” Let me explain. Over the past few years, God has prompted me to openly share some personal struggles that I have experienced (and still experience) in my life. I said no for many years because I wasn’t ready to be vulnerable. I feared that other women would judge me, talk about me, and maybe…not like me. I’ll never forget the moment when God asked me to stop faking it…and being it! I was in the middle of a speaking engagement when God said “tell them…tell them your story.” I tried to ignore God, but He was relentless. I finally surrendered it to God and openly shared my struggle. Afterwards, several women shared their same story. Every time I share this part of my life, I experience the same scenario. I went a step further and wrote about it here. All I can say is THANK YOU JESUS! I love it when my struggles can encourage someone else. It happened again today. A dear woman approached me at church and gave me the phone number of a friend. She asked if I would call a complete stranger and share my story. I said YES. It wasn’t just a YES to my friend…but it was a YES to God. I said YES because several years ago a dear woman in my life said YES when she shared with me her struggle. This is what God calls each of us to do. He calls us to walk alongside each other. He calls us to encourage one another. Do you want to see what walking alongside another person looks like?

When the possible seems IMPOSSIBLE!

A friend of mine recently posted a fun post about David and Goliath on her Facebook page. Being raised in the church as a child, I remember sitting in Sunday school and hearing about David, Goliath, Noah, Daniel and many, many more. The Bible is full of stories of how God used ordinary humans to do extraordinary things. We have to remind ourselves that the God who revealed himself in the Bible…still exists today. That power is available to you and I. WOW! If I surveyed 20 women and asked them to tell me what they learned from David and Goliath, I would probably receive 20 different answers. Why? The Bible is an intimate love letter between God and His bride. His truth will mean something different to each of us. I LOVE that! Here is my takeaway… 1) God gave David exactly what he needed and exactly when he needed it. God’s timing is perfect. 2) When we are weak, He is strong 3) God can accomplish the impossible What or who is your Goliath today? Ask God to provide your slingshot.

Sometimes You Just Need To Take A Different Route!

Like alot of you, I travel the same route each day to work. For me it is Route 8 to the Perkins exit Then I take a right, a left, another right and then one more left. After three years, it is a normal routine. I even have a routine of what I do as I drive the thirty minute commute. I call Sandi, then I call Ashley and then I call my mom or sister. Each day…same people…same calls. A few weeks ago, my routine changed. It wasn’t because I suddenly felt the urge to change, it was because of a traffic backup. I was forced to take a different exit. As I made the turn, I noticed tons of teens walking together to school. First there was a group of Asian girls. They were laughing and talking on their cell phones like girls do. Behind them was a group of Latino boys, rough housing and doing what teenage boys do when they are together. It seemed out of the ordinary to see so many different nationalities together in Akron. Then I looked to my right and saw a building that I had only heard of in meetings and on the news. It was the International Institute. II serves immigrants that have moved to the Akron area and does a tremendous service to the families. They are very active in the community and truly make s difference in the lives of families looking for a better life in America. I also wanted to learn more about their mission, but never took the time to find out where they were and who they served. That all changed today. Further down the road, I saw small businesses reflecting the entrepreneurship of the immigrants. Little mom and pop stores, restaurants and other businesses. How cool was this! Before I knew it, I was at work. The new route didn’t take longer and I began to ask what else have I been missing because of my unwillingness to do things different. My route changed that day, and so did my attitude. Each day now, as I drive to work, I look forward to seeing the teens. I pray for them as I drive by. I pray that they are happy in their new country and that they are not bullied or ridiculed for their nationality. Isn’t that a great example of how we often get stuck in a rut or routine because we don’t like change and we just keep doing things the same way? Routine is familiar and comfortable. So here is my challenge. Tomorrow…take a new route! God just might have something He wants to show you.

When God Writes Your Love Story – Part One

Have you ever been astounded by God’s goodness? I have been many times with the latest being the engagement of Ashley and Tom. Their love story is a story with many layers. The first and most important being the faithfulness of God. Grab a tissue…and let me begin with…the bracelet. It was 2008 and Ashley was preparing to graduate from college. It seemed that along with the excitement of graduation were many stories of engagements, weddings and other new beginnings. I remember having several talks with Ash as she began to doubt if this would be in God’s plan for her. I tried to reassure her the best that I could with cliches and encouragement, but I could tell that she was desiring this for herself. In the midst of this…her faith never waivered. As I prayed to God about this, He reminded me of who He is. That He is a God that keeps His promises. He hadn’t promised Ashley an engagement, but He had promised her that He had a plan. The burdened that I carried for Ashley was one that I knew I had to give to the Lord. I committed to praying fervently for Ashley’s future husband. It wasn’t long until I let the busyness of life interfere and my prayers became few and far between. What do you do when you forget to pray? Well…for me…I knew that I needed something to remind me…but what would that look like? Here is what it looked like: I love jewelry. I especially enjoy dangling bracelets. I was shopping at a flea market one day when I saw the perfect bracelet. It was silver, had a dangling heart and the following quote: “Children are a a gift from God to hold and to treasure, to pray for without measure.” The heart that dangles from the bracelet reads: “Mother’s Prayer” I faithfully wore this bracelet. When I would hear the jingle of the charm, it would remind me to pray. I often dreamed of the day that I could hand this bracelet over to the one that God sent to Ashley. That will be a realization…on March 16, 2013…when I can remove the bracelet and give it to Tom Carpenter…my future son-in-law!

Shattering My White Picket Fence

My life was fine just the way it was. I lived in the suburbs of Cleveland. I was a stay at home mom to four wonderful children and was married to a wonderful man. I spent my days taking care of my family, driving my minivan to sporting events, endless practices and other commitments. I served at my church attending numerous Bible studies and women’s events. If you had a baby, I always baked you a casserole and if you needed someone to sit with you at a doctor’s appointment, I was your pal. I was your ideal Christian woman. I was a good person and was the epitome of a “good Christian.” Remember the sketch that Dana Carvey did on Saturday Night Live called “The Church Lady”. Well that was me…the good church lady that even lived behind a white picket fence. That was until March of 2010. That was when my world became unrecognizable. I will never forget the day my safe little Christian bubble burst. I had spent the last two years as a substitute teacher (that is another book I should write someday) and was looking for a more permanent vocation. I had this romanticized idea of a job that mattered. I wanted to give back to others. I began searching for a job at non-profits. I didn’t care what it was. I was ready to hug a tree, save a whale, whatever it took to work for a social cause. I saw an ad that intrigued me. It was for a homeless shelter. Sounded like a good fit. Homeless is a big problem in our world and maybe I could be part of the solution. I emailed my resume and actually forgot about it. One day I was off from teaching and wasn’t sure how I was going to spend my day. The following day I was scheduled to speak at an event in Akron (35 minutes from my home) so I decided to use the day off to scope out the location and prepare for the seminar, a day early. Let me stop by saying, in ten years of speaking…I have never done this. I got out of bed and threw on a t-shirt, jeans, put my hair in a pony tail and took off toward Akron. Ten minutes later my cell phone rang and it was a lady from the homeless shelter. I will never forget her words. “We received your resume and would love to interview you. Our schedule is very tight so what is the chance that you could come to Akron?” After picking my jaw up…I replied “You won’t believe it but I am already halfway there.” I went on to explain that I was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt but if they didn’t mind, I would be happy to interview in twenty minutes. I got out of my car and began to head into the interview until I realized something…I had a huge spaghetti stain on my shirt. As if it wasn’t bad enough that I was unshowered, with no make-up, hair in a pony tail, I also had a stain on my shirt! I then remember the rain coat that I had in my car. Yes…I entered the interview looking a mess and not just any mess. I was a mess wearing a raincoat on a day with no rain. Everything was working against me. I laughed as I entered the building thinking if they hire me it either has to be from God or they must be really desperate. I am not sure which was which, but they hired me. I began my job at the shelter and hated it from the beginning. During the first two weeks of employment, I went on three other job interviews. I begged God to get me out of there and to reconsider what He had done. I informed God that this little social experience was over and I was ready to go back to my other life. You know…the one where I was comfortable. The one that didn’t require that I spend my drive home crying. The situations that the women were experiencing seemed hopeless. Their stories were sad and well…I didn’t like sad. I like happy and fun. I like hope and feel good. I don’t like stories about drug addictions, prostitutes, sexual abuse and children who are hurting. One day one of those children asked me to play. I reluctantly agreed and skipped off to the playroom with an adorable child that was spending her formative years…homeless. As if that weren’t bad enough…she was born to a mom with HIV. We began putting a puzzle together and suddenly twenty minutes passed. I looked in her big brown eyes and told her that I couldn’t stay any longer and that we would have to quit the puzzle. She took her chubby little five-year old hands and put them on each side of my face and uttered words that haunt me still today. “Miss Joy…never quit!” A little girl that was living in a homeless shelter and born to an HIV positive mom was telling me not to quit! That was all that I needed to hear. We continued with the puzzle and ten minutes later we finished a life-size Barney puzzle. We high-fived each other as we celebrated our accomplishment. I returned to my office and she returned to her room. I am not sure about her…but I returned changed. That encounter was more than just a story about two people in a homeless shelter, but it was a catalyst to this book. God showed me many things in those first two weeks. He showed me what it means to be stretched for His purpose. He showed me what it looks like to be called and what it looks like to find your passion. More importantly, He showed me that being obedient is not impossible. It isn’t always easy and sometimes it gets ugly and messy.

I AM A BAD NEIGHBOR!!!!

Have you ever been taught a lesson so profound, there was no way you could see it any differently. Let me explain. We live in a pretty average neighbourhood. Very friendly and full of families. I have often felt burdened to reach out more amongst the neighbours, but soon become busy and the thought passes without action. Of course, there are the obvious times like Christmas where we each begin to be a little more thoughtful and giving. That is me. I bake cookies for all the neighbours, but never entertain the same thought the other 364 days of the year. FAST FORWARD…. Two weeks ago, I was 20+ miles from my home helping to build a playground for inner city children in Cleveland. How proud of myself I felt as I was serving others and “giving back”. I am sitting beside another volunteer and we begin to engage in the proverbial small talk. You know what I am talking about. Where do you live? Do you have children? What do you do? I asked her the first question and she answered Twinsburg. I live in twinsburg as well, I smiled. Where in Twinsburg, I asked. Near Chamberlain she responded. Me too! This didn’t seem too unexpected until she said the street name….MY STREET. Are you kidding me…which part…I mean there was no way she lived close to me. I am a good neighbour…I know my neighbors. She said the address and it was literally two houses from me. OUCH!!!!! I immediately tried to protect my reputation and reminded her that I had baked her cookies for the last two years. At the same time the little voice in my said…but you still don’t know who she is. We laughed about the coincidence,,,.but laughter was not enough to cover up the conviction that I felt. I was deeply reminded that sometimes the great lessons come when we are humbled. God reminded me the importance of reaching out to others and being a light wherever we are. I made a great friend that day, learned a hard lesson…but saw God continue to stretch me and love me. Now…I need to go bake some more cookies.

Chapter Three …Sample

I love speaking at women’s events. I love hanging out with women of all ages. I enjoy those who are on Twitter and those that are on Medicaid. I enjoy those who are on Facebook and those that are getting facelifts. You get the picture! I especially look forward to speaking at retreats. Two or more days of women acting like they haven’t been away in years and escaping for a time of fellowship, food and fun. It is almost inevitable that each session begins with an icebreaker. OK…confession time…I am not a fan of icebreakers. Please don’t ask me to find someone else that has blue eyes was once a cheerleader or dreamed as a teen that they would marry Donny Osmond. I had to throw the last one in as a tribute to all of us that remember his purple socks and can still sing all the lyrics to “Puppy Love.” I find it awkward walking around trying to guess the name of the person that someone has taped to their back. But…if we have to do an icebreaker, there is one that I can sometimes enjoy…the purse scavenger hunt. You know the one…there is a list of items and you try to see how many you can find in your purse. I almost always win. In fact I already assume that this game will take place so I begin to fill my purse before the retreat begins with odd items. Oh yes…if I am going to be forced to play…I will win. You can tell a lot about a woman by what she carries in her purse. If she has diapers and sippy cups she is probably a mother of an infant or toddler. If her purse contains 100 calorie snack packs, she is probably on a diet. Last but not least, if her purse contains a battery operated fan and an ice pack, she is probably enjoying the pains of menopause! Yes…you can tell a lot about a woman by what she has in her purse, including myself. In fact my purse tells a lot about whom I am and who I am not. If you looked in my purse you would learn that I am a fake, phony and a fraud. My purse does not support who people think that I am. OUCH! That is hard to even think, admit and type. How can I talk about being authentic if I am not willing to be transparent myself? As I prayed about this chapter I had mixed feelings. I asked myself if it was really necessary for me to blow my cover. It is necessary for people to know so much about me. The answer to both was yes! Let’s break this down. First there is the driver’s license. I know many of us tend to take liberties with our personal information at the DMV. Why not? They don’t make you step on a scale. What harm is there, I mean it’s not like it’s against the law or anything. You can add me to that group of people who justify their lying. Why? I hate the struggle that I have with my weight. For me to be honest about my true weight would mean that I would have to acknowledge the number. I am not the weight on my license. …(cont)