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Our stories

by | Jan 21, 2014 | Uncategorized

The (In)Courage teams are challenging us to tell our stories.
There are very few things as personal as sharing your own personal journey.
Everyone of us has a story to share.
It’s true because having a testimony is good and real and powerful.
But also knowing that you have walked steady and strong for many years is good too.
You don’t have to have a powerful story in order to share with others your life lessons and experiences.
My husband has said to me on many occasions,
“I wish I had a story, a testimony like yours.”
I have said back to him,
“I would rather have had a family like yours than a story like mine.”
It is all about perspective.
There are many parts of my story that are untold and maybe always will be, we don’t have to expose everything in order to be authentic and real.
Does it matter that we share matters of our hearts and places of healing with others?
To walk alongside someone who is in the same place where you have been is good and powerful.
When can you share from what you know and have experienced.
You both become stronger.
You strengthen each other just by the act of trusting and sharing.
When I was in a ‘group’ for women who had been through rough places growing up we had a sister hood because we understood the pain of another.
Our stories are healing not only for ourselves but for those who are listening.
Some people need to hear ‘our hope’.
Some need to hear ‘you can make it too and not stay stuck in dark places’.
I have talked to women who could barely walk putting one step in front of the other.
Fear gripped them and they could not bare to think of the future.
Hope gives us freedom and courage and the ability to say,
“I am stronger than this pain.”
When I was going through rough emotional places within my spirit
I did not have the choice to give up.
I knew I had to press in and press forward.
The saying “the only way out is through” is very true.
Kind of like exercise or any other thing we must push ahead and find courage to complete.
Our stories are not just for us.
They are given to us so we can share.
So we can inspire others who walk behind us.
So we can cheer them on and become encouragers.
Are you ready and or willing to share your story with others?
It is something for us to think about.

In the stillness

by | Jan 18, 2014 | Uncategorized

I love quiet.
It is peaceful.
It is welcoming to ones spirit and soul.
In this new year let us choose silence and listen to the whispers.

Without a doubt

by | Jan 14, 2014 | Uncategorized

In keeping with the tradition of many bloggers who write on a regular basis sometime in January a word is chosen that will represent ‘the new year’.
I have done this now for about three years spending time waiting and asking the Lord what the word should be and why.
The beginning of last year after a time of prayer and waiting the word given to me was quiet.
Quiet sounded so peaceful. So still. So calm.
At the end of the year the word meant many things that I had never anticipated or even thought was possible.
Having a preconceived idea of my interpretation of the word quiet.
I was ready to accept it not realizing that a deeper truth would be waiting for us as the word played itself out in the months to come.
The year wasn’t necessarily peaceful, still or calm.
Having realized this my zeal to rush into a new word was pushed back a bit and I moved with a hesitant heart.
I was seeking a new word but also not sure what I was asking for.
A few weeks ago at Christmas my husband gave me a ‘box’ to open.
With that gift he gave me a note that said, “this is your word” for the new year.
When I opened the gift it moved something deep within my heart and spirit and at this point in time I am not sure why.
The word has many layers.
I will accept it and see where it takes us.

The word for 2014 is Believe.

Believe without a doubt

Friday’s challenge

by | Jan 14, 2014 | Uncategorized

The challenge given last Friday was to write for five minutes on one specific word.
Do not edit or revise. I have to admit it took me a bit longer than five minutes.
The word given was see:
Psalm 34:7-9
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.
O taste and see that the Lord is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
O fear the Lord, you His saints;
For to those who fear Him there is no want.
I have had this verse in my head for several days now.
When I read this passage it brings comfort to me.
The angel of the Lord encamping around us protecting us from harm.
We saw a show the other day called the march of the Penguins.
It was amazing to see.
They were recording the way the mama and the daddy penguin would protect the little egg away from the cold and the harsh climate.
They would spread their wings or whatever they are called around the little egg and hold it deep around their feet doing everything in their power to allow that little egg to hatch alive and not become frozen.
I see this very similar to us.
Because of his love we are rescued and kept safe.
Once we know and experience that love we never want to leave or let it go away.
It is peace and comfort and safety for us.
His tenderness along with his power makes us feel safe.
Those large penguins were very careful to not drop or crush those fragile baby eggs.
In the same way perhaps God is that way with us.
Maybe that is stretching it too far as we all know calamity and harm does happen.
But we are promised a place of rescue and a place of peace within.
O taste and SEE that the Lord is good.
I think it is a beautiful way for us to know and remember that we are not alone.