Today was an exciting day in this adventure I call my life!!! I received pictures of the rental house I will be living in once it has been renovated. It is such a joy to have people in my life who have allowed me this opportunity. They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse which has brought me such joy. For 8 years I have wanted to be on my own and to rely solely on the Lord. It’s wonderful to see that dream come true.
Today I had lunch with a dear friend, to catch up on each other’s lives. As I sat and chatted with Joanna, I realized how God has directed each and every step of my life. Back in 2008, exactly 7 years ago, I walked into the choir room at Second Baptist Church where I had just begun attending at the time. I was shy and timid and might have walked right back out of the room had it not been for a bubbly, happy lady named Joanna. She saw the look on my face and knew I must be new to the choir. She walked me in, and told me to make sure to sit by her. That moment changed everything for me, and my life has been blessed because of it. When hurricane Ike hit the Texas gulf coast, later that year, my home was left without water and power for nearly a week. Joanna, who was on a side of town that wasn’t hit as hard, graciously allowed me to stay in her home so that I could make it to work every day. I fully believe I would have lost my job had it not been for her generosity that week. That year I was also placed in her Shepherd group where she was the leader and encourager. I soon found out there were other incredible ladies in the group as well. One of those ladies was Amy Stockwell who along with her husband, ran their own ministry, David Stockwell Evangelistic Association. Joanna and her daughter decided they might like to go on a mission trip some day with David and Amy. I got very excited about this and told Amy that I too would like to go because I knew I would not be going alone. Little did I know, Joanna would never be able to go, but I would proceed with what I felt a strong desire to do. I went to Africa for my very first time…and it was the best decision I could have ever made. I spent the next three years working with David and Amy, and seeing God use them all around the world. Over the course of the next few years I was able to meet many dear friends and experience things outside of Texas that I never dreamed possible. All it took was one friend willing to say “Hi, come sit by me.” The rest just fell into place over the course of 7 amazing years. Through ministry abroad, and now local ministry and a new place to call home, I couldn’t be more blessed. I have met people that have touched my life in so many ways and I cherish each and every one of them. You may feel that your life is not important, but you never know what impact you have on others. You never know how God is going to use you. You may just be a gateway to the place God has for them, but you can be a powerful and influential gateway for God’s kingdom. I am more outgoing now because of all the people I have met and the experiences I have gained. I will always be grateful to the people that have led me to where I am today. For now, I can watch my rental house take form and prepare for the move in date. May God use this house to bring me to the next phase of life, wherever that may be. May this home by a gateway for others, that they may leave feeling the Love of God and a rejuvenated spirit. As Jeremiah 29:11 states: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” God has a great plan ahead…oh use Me Lord!!!
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This past weekend I was blessed to be able to visit my dear friend Sheri and her precious family. In 2009, I met Sheri through her Dad and his wife Amy while I was beginning to serve in their ministry, David Stockwell Evangelistic Association. At this time in my life I had been blessed with a lot of wonderful friends, but there was a big hole in my heart and a place that needed to be filled by someone who understood where I was at in life and in ministry. I prayed and I cried out to God for years...and was left feeling alone and disappointed.
At this very moment in time I had peace that my future was changing, and I was excitedly waiting for that. My friends and I were staying in Sheri's home in May of 2009 for a ministry training event in New Braunfels, Texas. When I first met Sheri, my impression of her was that she was a strong and independent woman, and 5 years older than I was. We spent some wonderful time together that weekend, but it wasn't until we were paired together in a team for a special training session that I realized something we had in common. We were asked to work together to prepare a testimony to share with the others. I was terrified to speak in front of people, especially people I barely knew. I soon discovered that Sheri did too, in fact she was even more terrified then I was. In that moment I saw her vulnerable self and the strength she showed to overcome it. It wasn't until we arrived in Africa together that I began to see how strong of a woman of God she was. I watched her love on precious children and was blessed to serve on three African missions with her over the course of a few years. We didn't just become friends, we became family. Over the next few years she was there for me in more ways than one. And last year I was encouraged to watch her get married to a wonderful man, and to become a bonus mom to his precious girls. Although life changes, and we grow, we will always remember those earlier moments that made us who we are today. My life changed on that day in Africa when I saw her surrounded by kids, and when we worked together to teach God's love to them. Although right now my calling is Here in the good ole USA, I am fortunate to live much closer to her and her family, and to share in what God is doing in their lives. As I look back, I realize that it was was a year ago that I sat down and told her I felt I was going to move. Funny now because this year has changed for us both. She moved to the country with her husband, and I almost moved several times. She asked me how I KNEW I was going to move and if that was what God wanted for my life. She asked how I can really know for sure and I told her what I would tell anyone...I just knew. I just had peace that could not be described. Sometimes God closes the door, but in the process of closing that door, he opens a window. There is no wrong decisions when God is in them...Only stepping stones to where God wants us to be. It is amazing to me that a year later I am right where I knew I would be, I just didn't know how I was going to get here! So as I have learned... take the stepping stones as they come, and learn from the path that God takes you on. If you have peace, and know God is with you, don't give in. Follow God's will even when others don't understand. In the end...you receive the blessing. It may come in way of a friend, or a place to call HOME. Either way it comes...take it all in. Live the life God has given you to the fullest. It's the only way to live and have the full blessings of what the Lord has to offer!!! Stepping stones make us stronger...and my stepping stones are answered prayers!!! Life has taken me on a new road...full of new possibilities. On December 28th, 2014 I started my new journey to the big town of Bastrop, Texas. Well, maybe not big...but big enough for me. The morning of the 28th came with many challenges that I will never forget. After loading my Jeep I discovered my radio/bluetooth/and display were not functioning. I tried everything to get it to work, with no avail. That is when I decided to embrace it, to enjoy the quiet. That was for a few minutes until I couldn't take it any longer. When did my own thoughts and even prayer time become so hard to accept?
So I turned on Pandora, and quietly listened to the soft Christmas tunes on my way to Bastrop. It was a cold and rainy day which meant driving was on the more difficult end. Thankfully a couple hours later I arrived at my new home. It was a great time to arrive, perfectly planned out to surprise my friend on her birthday. She didn't expect me which added more thrill and joy to the already strange day at hand. As I sat in my new home, and looked around the room full of friends, I felt such joy. Where once these were just friendly faces, they were now an addition to my family. After lunch my friends and I headed to Academy so I could buy a warm coat for Ranch living. We quickly picked out a cute one and headed to other errands. I had to pinch myself to see if it was real, was I really HOME? To be able to shop and hang out with my friends, including two cute 2 year olds, every day and to know they are always there for me...it reminded me of college days. I didn't know life could be this unique and yet so amazing. For the remainder of the week I enjoyed running errands with friends, and just embracing the small town life. I even booked a small one night pet sitting job for people in a near by town. What could be better than that? Oh yeah...a trip to Canton, Texas with the girls. We left on Friday to meet my Houston friends in Canton to enjoy some wonderful shopping at an outdoor market. My friends from Houston and Bastrop hit it off, and we enjoyed a wonderful time together. On our way home we needed to make a quick break for the gas station. We took our time as usual, and then were on our way. That is until we hit a road block, and were annoyingly merged off the freeway. Ever had that moment when you didn't understand what was going on, and just wanted to get home? Well as we made our exit, we patiently waited in line to return to our route. Then we saw it...fire trucks and cars blocking miles of the freeway. That only means one thing...fatal accidents. We quickly thanked the Lord for protecting us and then we saw it, the unimaginable images of what we all have to face some day. We never know how long we have on this earth..we have to trust that everything is in the hands of our Lord. Upon arriving home we heard the news...it was a man who had run across the road. What would make someone want to do that? To discard his life as it meant nothing to him. We may never understand things that happen in our world...but we can understand that the one true God knows it all and He protects us and guides us to where we are meant to go. This past Monday morning as the haze of the weekend had worn off, I realized I was ill. All that excitement from the week was in the past, and now I was feeling like I just wanted to go back to Houston. To curl into my bed and know everything would be ok. I was supposed to take my Jeep in...but that could wait. I got through the day, although it was by the grace of God and after the second day I knew it was only getting worse. My friends kept telling me they were there for me, but it was not what I was used to. I wanted the familiar. At this very moment I also discovered my computer charger stopped working. Something had cut part of the cord. A order in to Apple and I was back on my way to working again. It's moments like these that make me appreciate the moments NOT like these. So by Tuesday my friends offered to take my Jeep in which was a huge blessing for me to be able to stay in bed, and I am still waiting on news on that end. That is oddly the least of my concern right now. Tuesday night I realized it was becoming hard to swallow, this is not something I expected and made me question my decision to wait this illness out. So this morning I decided to get to Urgent care immediately, but I didn't have a vehicle. Then I realized my glasses were also in my Jeep so I couldn't drive if I wanted to, nor did I trust my thought process at the moment. So, I was blessed to have a dear friend drive me there. She dropped me off...ran errands and came back to wait on me. She and her sweet 2 year old girl truly made my day. And my other friend was gracious enough to lend a hand to me that morning, running to get me some necessities. I couldn't have been more blessed for friend's then in that very moment. Isn't that what having the Love of God is all about? Giving of ourselves to help others in need? It's one thing to be on the giving end, it is a whole different thing to be on the receiving end and to accept the kindness of others. I was then treated by the best and most knowledgeable doctor I have ever seen, other than my own in Houston. He heard me...and he knew how to treat me the best way possible. It was a God send and within an hour I was already seeing huge improvements. I went home, curled into bed, and continued my work for the day. It was as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulder, I was turning the corner and pain free days were in sight. So I sit here tonight with a happy heart and a joy I cannot describe. A friend recently asked me how I know that Bastrop is the best place for me. If this doesn't say why, I don't know what will. I have found a place that I belong. That isn't to say Houston doesn't provide that for me...it so does. However, Bastrop provides things that are unique and so very much needed for my life and for ministry. I have friends I can see every day and know they are always there. I have a gorgeous home and land that I can explore. I am only a few hours from Houston, and a short hour or so to all my central Texas friends, what could be better than that? More than anything...I have room to grow. I can lean on God first, and my friends and family second. But in the end, either in Houston or here, I know I have people I can lean on. So HOME is where you hang your hat right? Well I don't have many hats, but Bastrop is where my heart is now and I couldn't be more blessed. If I can make it here with the support of family and friends..I know without a shadow of a doubt that I can make it wherever God calls me. So this new Road comes with new adventures and new ways to stretch me. I say... bring it on.... |