Cheer Try-Outs. Just reading those words may give some of you butterflies. For others, it doesn’t have much affect at all. However, we have all gone out for something, only to find out we “didn’t make it.” So what does that really mean in our lives and how can it be a positive more than a negative.
Maybe you’ve guessed by now, but I, well let me clarify, two of my daughters (though it felt as if I did it with them) just went through the week of cheer try-outs for the second time this month. This time it was with my 3rd daughter trying out for Middle School cheerleader. Daughter # 3 is a very determined girl, and more on the tom-boy side than girly-girl. She is my go-to-girl, she can make things happen and get them done. Probably my most logical child, lots of common sense. So all that said, she had been struggling as to whether or not to go out for cheerleading. She wasn’t sure if she would like it or not. Part of what she had seen was her older sister cheering (and all the fun that goes along with it) for three years and now headed into her fourth. So I’m sure that had some influence on her decision.
Both my husband and I encouraged daughter #3 to try out since she was so unsure, although telling her the opposite would’ve been easier. We explained that she would not know unless she tried, and even if she didn’t make it she would know that she gave it a try and have a better feel of what and where her niche is according to her gifts and abilities. Even went as far to share my story about “trying out” for the UT Crew Team. Let’s just say that it was extremely hard and wasn’t quite my niche, especially since I didn’t get to be the person that sat on the front of the boat and called out all the orders! Lots more details but that will be for another blog.
So the decision was made, she would try out. The first day of try outs was hard, but she came out bubbling, yet tired. I thought this was a good sign, especially since they were learning the dance! Day Two was a different story. After practicing with some other girls after the official practice, she had a melt down. Nothing was coming together. Being overly tired didn’t help, but also was the fact that daughter #3 has always struggled with auditory processing, which is taking in the words and then speaking them back out, which now they also had motions with them! Best thing was to call it a night, and let her sleep on her decision to quit. Prayers were said and then to bed.
Much to our surprise the next morning she announced that she wanted to keep going. For me, that was already a win, it would’ve been easier for her to throw in the towel at that point. Day three of try outs went even better, and it all began to click for her! The dance, the cheers and the chant were all coming together! How fun to watch the smile on her face. So after more practice that night it was time for some much needed rest for the tryouts the next day! Just writing that still gives me butterflies.
The day of tryouts, she was excited and confident! It was as if she unlocked another aspect to her character and personality. Yet, there was still another key to be turned, and this one came as she prayed on the way to tryouts in the car. Of course she prayed she wouldn’t mess up and she would make it, but the most resounding theme of her prayer was “God even if I don’t make it, I know you have another plan for me! That was enough to put me in tears right there. It was also a new part of her Christian life that was being lived out, trusting in God for His plans and purposes for her.
The results would be posted that night on the gym door, yes for all to see. Our plan was she would go with me to the school a little bit early since I had a cheer meeting for my other daughter. It was my hope that I would be out of meeting in time to go with her to see “the list.” However, since I was still in my meeting she went on ahead with some friends to find out the results. As I came out of my meeting, her face said it all, no words needed to be spoken. My heart sank and broke for her all at once. I just wanted to pick her up and let her know it was all ok, that it’s not the end of the world, to which I tried my best. But in her determination she wanted me to see “it” for myself. Daughter #3 showing her gutsy, fireball side at this point, said in her words, “I’m not sad, I’m mad.” By the time we made our way to the “list” all those who had made it were celebrating, with very good reason, but this opened up the gate for the tears to fall.
Thankfully, Bill had gotten to the school by this time.
So as she took off crying around the outside of the school he followed her and took her on home. This was probably good, so I could have my own good cry! After I made it home I wrapped her up in my arms and told her how proud I was of her and the accomplishment of trying out and reminding her that out of that whole big school she was one of the 40 that “went for it.” From here I just listened, there would be a better time to share later.
These tryouts taught both of us some life lessons. For one, it is ok to give yourself permission to fail. That may sound weird at first, I understand, because I felt the same way when my husband first shared this insight with me. It sounds wrong because we have wired ourselves to succeed at all costs. Only problem is when we do fail, we fail to recognize some important truths. We only see the fail as a failure. For daughter #3, going ahead with tryouts was a win and success even though ultimately she failed to make the squad. One of the wins was her pushing through to the very end. She realized (and so did we) she could learn all the stuff in a short amount of time. That was huge for her and us! Our “fireball” also demonstrated in a more mature way her faith and trust in God for His plan for her life. As we talked about her prayer and the verse in Jeremiah 29:11 that says, 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” From this “fail” she now more than ever wants to search out with God the plans He has for her. The really cool part in all of this is she’s moving to the next and very important part of that verse which says 12 “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD.” Now, at night before bed, she reads her Bible longing to hear God speak the plans He has for her. In this waiting time of hearing God speak, she can’t help but grow closer to Christ and in her relationship with Him. To me, that doesn’t sound like a fail, but an experience for a lifetime that has eternal value and worth!
In the end she has learned cheering might not be best suited for her and the gifts God has given her. But how would she have known for sure had she not tried. Not only does she recognize more so where her strengths and abilities lie, but she also sees where other people’s are, like her older sister’s. This experience has caused her to have more respect for her older sister and the sport of cheerleading!
I think we could all learn a lesson here, namely, that it is ok to try things, (I’m hoping you’re understanding things that are legal, moral, upright… you get the picture). I have yet to regret going out for the crew team. I know what is required and what it feels like to be flying across the water asking forgiveness of every sin if God would just get me back to the land without dumping all my crewmates in the water! I also don’t regret trying ballet in college, even though I couldn’t quite pirouette like the others across the floor. I discovered that these things were fun, but not so much for me.
So go ahead and give yourself permission to fail, this may open up a whole new world for you! The only regret you might have is why you didn’t try it earlier. Who knows, you may even discover a fresh, new talent. It may also reinforce some traits and abilities you already know about yourself, that you are gifted in, and that’s where your focus needs to stay. For others, the “fail” may push you even harder to go after “it” with gusto, not to hold back, but to strive and train for the ultimate win, that of making the “team.” Sometimes our biggest fails may lead us to our greatest success!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Derriere to Discipline!
This week I had the “pleasure” of going to the doctor for my annual womanly check-up. Even after all these years of knowing what’s going to happen, they never seem to get easier. I should know by now that I will be freezing because there is no “gown” to put on. The nurse this time politely pulled out a version of a gown and laid it out on the bed as if it was a bath robe at some fancy hotel. This “gown” came in two parts, one for the top and one for the bottom. Only problem was this gown was made out of a napkin! Now, the bottom part may have been made out of two napkins. Worst part was, the gown wasn’t even made out of the fancy dinner napkin kind, but more like the dollar value brand! So, as I waited for the doctor, not only was I trying to keep myself covered but keep warm as well, all at the same time with a thin, scratchy napkin that kept sliding off everything I wanted to keep covered. Then, of course, somehow I never quite make if far enough down the table. So inevitably, the doctor asked, “could you slide down just a little more?” REALLY?!!
These yearly visits do bring with them more questions on my end for the doctor. It seems that what all my friends told me would happen after you hit forty really does! So I went in armed with a string of questions. One of my most important questions was, “why am I gaining weight and don’t have as much energy?” Of course I had done some research, which means talking to my friends over coffee and asking what kind of issues they were having. You guessed it, number one problem…weight gain and less energy. As I pried a little more, I discovered that some of my friends actually had a medical problem with their thyroid that caused this condition. And better yet, the good news was that sometimes medication could simply correct the problem. Well there I had it…my answer. So I went to my appointment, and first off asked to have my thyroid checked because I was sure that my weight gain was a medical problem and surely not an eating and exercise problem. Because if it was an eating problem, it would mean I didn’t have the self-discipline I needed to exercise more and eat less. Yes, I know that solution is better and even easier than having to take medicine for your thyroid. But it also means that I can’t blame it on a medical condition and have to take responsibility for my eating and exercising habits.
So why is discipline so hard for us, or at least me? I read a quote the other day that said, “Discipline not desire determines your destiny.” Wow, that hit me right where it needed to… but didn’t want it to!
I have such great desires that sometimes I believe I have reached my destiny, though I’ve never done a thing to get there! I find myself pondering and dreaming about it so much that I almost believe it’s real. How crazy is that? For example, a few years ago I would dream and desire to run a marathon. I could so envision myself crossing that finish line, with the crowd cheering me on. Notice I didn’t envision myself actually training for the race. Now mind you, at this point there was no running of any fashion in my schedule except chasing my four kids. Finally, I got tired of dreaming about it and had a runner friend of mine customize a running plan. This plan was for me to be ready to run the Music City Half Marathon, which is 13.2 miles. Now was the time for me to put my desire into action with discipline. I literally began by taking baby steps, my training for the first couple of weeks was simply walking. Then I progressed to actually running and with each week following came a new challenge of added miles, until at last I could run 13 miles! Finally, my desire of running across the finish line became a real destiny because of the daily discipline I accomplished each day in order to reach my goal.
Even now, knowing discipline is essential to reaching my destiny and well worth the effort, it is still tough at times, whether it’s in changing my eating and exercising habits or working on “my calling.” At times I would rather be dreaming about it, or have the easy fix, than have to get down and dirty and actually do “it!” Yet, I know that the doing, not the dreaming or desiring is how I will reach my destiny. And more than that, the journey, the process, the tasks that help get me there are vital to me becoming who Christ desires me to be.
So as the Lord has been pushing me once again to engage more fully in my ministry to Him, I know this will require some self-discipline. Don’t get me wrong, I know faith, prayer and all kinds of other things go into me reaching my destiny, however, the one for me that is the hardest is this, self-discipline. Graciously, the good Lord reminded me the other day, more like jolted me (which is what it often takes for me) in II Timothy 1:7, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.” Yep, right there it is… a spirit of self-discipline! Who knew? Well, probably many of you, it’s just that perhaps I wanted to skip over that part of the verse. So for now, I’m going to claim this verse and ask for that spirit of self-discipline to rise up so that I can “fan into the flame the gift of God which is in [me].” I know the desire is there in me, and it’s now crucial for me to add in the discipline. It will be one day at a time, adding more each day, much like I accomplished my desire to run the marathon with a well laid out plan. As my commitment to train for the marathon required some sacrifices, this journey too will require some things I must give up. However, in the end it will be worth the journey of traveling the road of discipline, more so than that of just desire, to reach the destiny God has for me.
These yearly visits do bring with them more questions on my end for the doctor. It seems that what all my friends told me would happen after you hit forty really does! So I went in armed with a string of questions. One of my most important questions was, “why am I gaining weight and don’t have as much energy?” Of course I had done some research, which means talking to my friends over coffee and asking what kind of issues they were having. You guessed it, number one problem…weight gain and less energy. As I pried a little more, I discovered that some of my friends actually had a medical problem with their thyroid that caused this condition. And better yet, the good news was that sometimes medication could simply correct the problem. Well there I had it…my answer. So I went to my appointment, and first off asked to have my thyroid checked because I was sure that my weight gain was a medical problem and surely not an eating and exercise problem. Because if it was an eating problem, it would mean I didn’t have the self-discipline I needed to exercise more and eat less. Yes, I know that solution is better and even easier than having to take medicine for your thyroid. But it also means that I can’t blame it on a medical condition and have to take responsibility for my eating and exercising habits.
So why is discipline so hard for us, or at least me? I read a quote the other day that said, “Discipline not desire determines your destiny.” Wow, that hit me right where it needed to… but didn’t want it to!
I have such great desires that sometimes I believe I have reached my destiny, though I’ve never done a thing to get there! I find myself pondering and dreaming about it so much that I almost believe it’s real. How crazy is that? For example, a few years ago I would dream and desire to run a marathon. I could so envision myself crossing that finish line, with the crowd cheering me on. Notice I didn’t envision myself actually training for the race. Now mind you, at this point there was no running of any fashion in my schedule except chasing my four kids. Finally, I got tired of dreaming about it and had a runner friend of mine customize a running plan. This plan was for me to be ready to run the Music City Half Marathon, which is 13.2 miles. Now was the time for me to put my desire into action with discipline. I literally began by taking baby steps, my training for the first couple of weeks was simply walking. Then I progressed to actually running and with each week following came a new challenge of added miles, until at last I could run 13 miles! Finally, my desire of running across the finish line became a real destiny because of the daily discipline I accomplished each day in order to reach my goal.
Even now, knowing discipline is essential to reaching my destiny and well worth the effort, it is still tough at times, whether it’s in changing my eating and exercising habits or working on “my calling.” At times I would rather be dreaming about it, or have the easy fix, than have to get down and dirty and actually do “it!” Yet, I know that the doing, not the dreaming or desiring is how I will reach my destiny. And more than that, the journey, the process, the tasks that help get me there are vital to me becoming who Christ desires me to be.
So as the Lord has been pushing me once again to engage more fully in my ministry to Him, I know this will require some self-discipline. Don’t get me wrong, I know faith, prayer and all kinds of other things go into me reaching my destiny, however, the one for me that is the hardest is this, self-discipline. Graciously, the good Lord reminded me the other day, more like jolted me (which is what it often takes for me) in II Timothy 1:7, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.” Yep, right there it is… a spirit of self-discipline! Who knew? Well, probably many of you, it’s just that perhaps I wanted to skip over that part of the verse. So for now, I’m going to claim this verse and ask for that spirit of self-discipline to rise up so that I can “fan into the flame the gift of God which is in [me].” I know the desire is there in me, and it’s now crucial for me to add in the discipline. It will be one day at a time, adding more each day, much like I accomplished my desire to run the marathon with a well laid out plan. As my commitment to train for the marathon required some sacrifices, this journey too will require some things I must give up. However, in the end it will be worth the journey of traveling the road of discipline, more so than that of just desire, to reach the destiny God has for me.
Friday, April 16, 2010
To Fear or Not to Fear
To Fear or Not to Fear
There are all kinds of fears, even those with special names like claustrophobia, acrophobia, and arachnid phobia. But this week I experienced a fear of a different kind, more of a spiritual fear that was being played out in a spiritual battle. It seems lately that when I step up to God’s plan, Satan steps in and it hurts! Now if the hurt was just directed at me I think I could handle that better, however, Satan knows where to play his trump card and that’s with my kids, even my friend’s kids!
It was only about 8 months ago when I once again stepped up to God’s plan for me to engage more fully in my speaking ministry. So I boldly said yes and charged ahead. One of my steps was to place an ad about “Trophy Of Grace Ministry” in my kids high school football program. That night I turned my ad in and in the last scrimmage, of the last play, before football season was to officially begin my son went down. I wasn’t too worried, and it seemed the coaches and trainers weren’t either. So much so, they put him on the bus to ride back home. However, my son was texting me a different story, one of pain, especially in his right knee. To make this long story shorter, my son had torn his ACL and meniscus. It was as if someone knocked the breath out of me. This was one of the bigger events that occurred during this time, but different issues surrounding each of my children kept coming up.
Not only was it affecting me and my family, but my friend who God sent to come alongside me in my ministry was having things thrown at her triplet boys. To be honest I got a little upset with God. “Really Lord, this is what I get when I step up to do your work, to reach more women for you.” I was ready to throw my towel in and go back to status quo. I told myself this wasn’t worth it. Just stay in the “safe zone”, don’t make waves, play small. I wallowed in this a while, had a pity party, even asked others to join in my party. Good thing it didn’t last long. Finally, the Holy Spirit, my husband, and perhaps my competitive spirit all broke through at once. The questions began ringing in my head, “Are you going to let Satan win?” “Are you going to walk around in fear of what might or could happen?” “Are you willing to deny what God has called you to because of some hurt and inconvenience?” My answer was NO!
That was until yesterday, as once again I had stepped up to God’s leading and plan, in helping put together a women’s conference at our church. You see my friend and I have been working hard on this for several months. Within those months, Satan once again has stepped in and it has been on the toes of our kids! Crazy things have happened. Then as the saying goes, the straw that broke the camels back came in full force, in this week of the conference. My friend’s son was playing in a soccer game and in the last two seconds went down. I’m guessing you know where this story is going, and you’re right. It looks as if her son has torn his ACL.
It wasn’t enough that I was overly tired and stressed, but now this? “How could you Lord?” So here goes the cycle again. It was at this point that I actually had some fear for my family. Then off goes my mind playing out the “fear factors” of what could happen. One of my biggest fears that rose up was for my older daughter who of all weeks is having cheer tryouts for High School. If you’re a mom and you’ve lived through the week of cheer try outs, you get this. My fear of her not making the cheer squad seemed to overtake me. It was as if it was a done deal in my mind, she wouldn’t make it. Convinced that was the destiny God had for her.
Then once again, after some quiet time with the Lord I realized that this “fear” was from Satan because God’s word tells us in I John 4:18 that “perfect love drives out fear.” I know that God is love and there is no fear in Him. So yesterday I decided to choose to not be fearful of my enemy, but to trust in a loving God, regardless of the outcome. I was ready once again to fight the good fight, to run the race He has marked out before me, throwing off everything that hinders and entangles, especially that of fear. My Lord and His calling was worth more to me than living in fear of what Satan might throw at me and yes, even my kids. My husband encouraged me and my friend to read and pray Psalm 35 together, which we did. This is a prayer from David to God for help against his enemies.
So as I am about to post this blog, I have to be honest. That fear has somewhat crept back in. I tell myself, “Maybe you should just wait to post this one after you find out about try outs.” “Maybe if you don’t step up with this one Satan will leave you and your kids alone.” Sorry Satan, not going to do it! My God is so much bigger than you. I choose to not be fearful today! Whatever the outcomes of cheer try outs and all the other events of this week, my God will see me through.
There are all kinds of fears, even those with special names like claustrophobia, acrophobia, and arachnid phobia. But this week I experienced a fear of a different kind, more of a spiritual fear that was being played out in a spiritual battle. It seems lately that when I step up to God’s plan, Satan steps in and it hurts! Now if the hurt was just directed at me I think I could handle that better, however, Satan knows where to play his trump card and that’s with my kids, even my friend’s kids!
It was only about 8 months ago when I once again stepped up to God’s plan for me to engage more fully in my speaking ministry. So I boldly said yes and charged ahead. One of my steps was to place an ad about “Trophy Of Grace Ministry” in my kids high school football program. That night I turned my ad in and in the last scrimmage, of the last play, before football season was to officially begin my son went down. I wasn’t too worried, and it seemed the coaches and trainers weren’t either. So much so, they put him on the bus to ride back home. However, my son was texting me a different story, one of pain, especially in his right knee. To make this long story shorter, my son had torn his ACL and meniscus. It was as if someone knocked the breath out of me. This was one of the bigger events that occurred during this time, but different issues surrounding each of my children kept coming up.
Not only was it affecting me and my family, but my friend who God sent to come alongside me in my ministry was having things thrown at her triplet boys. To be honest I got a little upset with God. “Really Lord, this is what I get when I step up to do your work, to reach more women for you.” I was ready to throw my towel in and go back to status quo. I told myself this wasn’t worth it. Just stay in the “safe zone”, don’t make waves, play small. I wallowed in this a while, had a pity party, even asked others to join in my party. Good thing it didn’t last long. Finally, the Holy Spirit, my husband, and perhaps my competitive spirit all broke through at once. The questions began ringing in my head, “Are you going to let Satan win?” “Are you going to walk around in fear of what might or could happen?” “Are you willing to deny what God has called you to because of some hurt and inconvenience?” My answer was NO!
That was until yesterday, as once again I had stepped up to God’s leading and plan, in helping put together a women’s conference at our church. You see my friend and I have been working hard on this for several months. Within those months, Satan once again has stepped in and it has been on the toes of our kids! Crazy things have happened. Then as the saying goes, the straw that broke the camels back came in full force, in this week of the conference. My friend’s son was playing in a soccer game and in the last two seconds went down. I’m guessing you know where this story is going, and you’re right. It looks as if her son has torn his ACL.
It wasn’t enough that I was overly tired and stressed, but now this? “How could you Lord?” So here goes the cycle again. It was at this point that I actually had some fear for my family. Then off goes my mind playing out the “fear factors” of what could happen. One of my biggest fears that rose up was for my older daughter who of all weeks is having cheer tryouts for High School. If you’re a mom and you’ve lived through the week of cheer try outs, you get this. My fear of her not making the cheer squad seemed to overtake me. It was as if it was a done deal in my mind, she wouldn’t make it. Convinced that was the destiny God had for her.
Then once again, after some quiet time with the Lord I realized that this “fear” was from Satan because God’s word tells us in I John 4:18 that “perfect love drives out fear.” I know that God is love and there is no fear in Him. So yesterday I decided to choose to not be fearful of my enemy, but to trust in a loving God, regardless of the outcome. I was ready once again to fight the good fight, to run the race He has marked out before me, throwing off everything that hinders and entangles, especially that of fear. My Lord and His calling was worth more to me than living in fear of what Satan might throw at me and yes, even my kids. My husband encouraged me and my friend to read and pray Psalm 35 together, which we did. This is a prayer from David to God for help against his enemies.
So as I am about to post this blog, I have to be honest. That fear has somewhat crept back in. I tell myself, “Maybe you should just wait to post this one after you find out about try outs.” “Maybe if you don’t step up with this one Satan will leave you and your kids alone.” Sorry Satan, not going to do it! My God is so much bigger than you. I choose to not be fearful today! Whatever the outcomes of cheer try outs and all the other events of this week, my God will see me through.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Diving In
All I can think, or actually hear, right now is Stephen Curtis Chapman's song, "Dive." Dive into what, I'm sure you're asking… this whole blogosphere thing. As the song goes "I'm diving in, I'm going deep, in over my head I want to be," well that's where you'll find me right now, feeling way over my head! For quite some time I've wanted to do this, write a blog, and been encouraged to do this, even have felt led by the Lord at times. However, it just never seemed to be the "right time." Of course there are my procrastination antics, the schedules of four kids between the ages of 10 1/2 years and 15 years, laundry, Sunday school lessons to write, or even the guise that I don't even know how to set up a blogspot. Actually, I'm not sure why today is the day. Except for the fact that as I was looking on Lysa TerKeurst's website for information about an upcoming conference I'm helping to put together at our church, I saw that she would be giving away scholarships to Proverbs 31 She Speaks Conference. Understand, this is a conference I've looked at going to for a while now, but would come up with excuses as to why I couldn't or shouldn't go. So this time, while one of my excuses had been overridden by the fact that you could enter a contest for a scholarship, another excuse surfaced as to why I couldn’t enter the contest...the hitch this time...you had to have a blogspot! And then it hit me, just do it! I know what God has called me to, and NOW is the time to step up even more and take on some greater challenges and risks! All those things I've been teaching to the women in my Bible Studies and my Sunday school class came crashing in on me...."you start by starting(yeah, but how and with what), develop self-discipline(so much more fun to teach about it than do it), embrace change(but that was for them to take back into their world), find your purpose and passion and go pursue it(but what if I fail?). These words and lessons sounded good, even convincing coming out of mouth to those listening, but God has been chiseling away at my heart and purpose as well, and yes, I've been listening too. So, today of all days, the words I've spoken, the scriptures I've read, the encouragement and coaching my husband has given, and my passion to share God with others came together, thus the start of trophyofgraceministry.blogspot.
Going back to the Stephen Curtis Song, yes I know I'm dating myself, nevertheless, the lyrics go "My heart is racing and my knees are weak, As I walk to the edge I know there is no turning back, Once my feet have left the ledge, And in the rush I hear a voice, That's telling me it' time to take the leap of faith...So here I go....I'm diving in, I'm going deep in over my head, I want to be, Caught in the rush, lost in the flow, in over my head I want to go. The river's deep, the river's wide, the river's water is alive, So sink or swim I'm diving in!" It's time for me to take this leap of faith in to a ministry that God has been leading me to for almost 20 years now! Now, as I mentioned before I'm good at procrastinating, but not all of those 20 years have been procrastination. During these years there's been lots of refining, disciplining, timing, training, learning, having babies, developing, growing in my relationship with the Lord, healing, mauturing, and serving. At times God has sped up my journey with Him into this ministry, whether it was speaking engagements, leadership positions, just time to know Him more, or even dropping a casual friend out of the sky who came to me, almost reluctantly, to share that God had spoken to her months ago about helping me with my ministry, only problem was she didn't know what ministry I had besides being on our Women's Team at church and teaching! So once again I sense God beginning to mash a little harder on the Trophy Of Grace acceleration pedal. Hopefully, I won't decide to hit the brakes! Honestly, that would be easier and safer. Which is probably one of the biggest reasons I’ve been putting all of this off? Taking this dive into the deep, rushing waters is more risky than sticking my toes in stagnant, shallow water. But I want to go all the way, in over my head with the Lord on this one, risks and all! The only way I can do this is because I know that "apart from Him I can do nothing"...but "with Him and His strength all things are possible!
The grace God has given me, I want to share with others, as Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." I've taken the plunge, how about you? Is it time for you as well to take a leap of faith? "But we will never know the awesome power of the grace of God until we let ourselves get swept away into this holy flood. So if you'll take my hand we'll close our eyes and count to three and take the leap of faith, come on let's go!"
Going back to the Stephen Curtis Song, yes I know I'm dating myself, nevertheless, the lyrics go "My heart is racing and my knees are weak, As I walk to the edge I know there is no turning back, Once my feet have left the ledge, And in the rush I hear a voice, That's telling me it' time to take the leap of faith...So here I go....I'm diving in, I'm going deep in over my head, I want to be, Caught in the rush, lost in the flow, in over my head I want to go. The river's deep, the river's wide, the river's water is alive, So sink or swim I'm diving in!" It's time for me to take this leap of faith in to a ministry that God has been leading me to for almost 20 years now! Now, as I mentioned before I'm good at procrastinating, but not all of those 20 years have been procrastination. During these years there's been lots of refining, disciplining, timing, training, learning, having babies, developing, growing in my relationship with the Lord, healing, mauturing, and serving. At times God has sped up my journey with Him into this ministry, whether it was speaking engagements, leadership positions, just time to know Him more, or even dropping a casual friend out of the sky who came to me, almost reluctantly, to share that God had spoken to her months ago about helping me with my ministry, only problem was she didn't know what ministry I had besides being on our Women's Team at church and teaching! So once again I sense God beginning to mash a little harder on the Trophy Of Grace acceleration pedal. Hopefully, I won't decide to hit the brakes! Honestly, that would be easier and safer. Which is probably one of the biggest reasons I’ve been putting all of this off? Taking this dive into the deep, rushing waters is more risky than sticking my toes in stagnant, shallow water. But I want to go all the way, in over my head with the Lord on this one, risks and all! The only way I can do this is because I know that "apart from Him I can do nothing"...but "with Him and His strength all things are possible!
The grace God has given me, I want to share with others, as Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." I've taken the plunge, how about you? Is it time for you as well to take a leap of faith? "But we will never know the awesome power of the grace of God until we let ourselves get swept away into this holy flood. So if you'll take my hand we'll close our eyes and count to three and take the leap of faith, come on let's go!"
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