Ok, I have a secret to share. It's my secret, so no worries if you've told me something that was supposed to go to the grave with me;)

I recently saw an ad that made me laugh. It's advertising a financial institution. The woman who has purportedly discovered this company is shown with this permanent smile on her face. The man in her life is also shown with a permanent smile on his face. Whether he's at the office, the golf course...or whether she cooking supper or working out..they are constantly sporting this similar grin. Incessantly thinking about this opportunity and how it has changed their lives without an ounce of work.
The commercial proposes, nonsensically, that if you buy into this idea, your life will transcend all earthly limits, and you will walk thru each day in bliss. No work required.


The secret is this: Incredibly smart people take a significantly more active role in embracing each day and each challenge more than average people. That's it. Success is work. Anything worth having is WORK. In other words, successful people really get involved in whatever needs doing! They do not expect things to be handed to them. A hands on approach to ministry and life will require HARD work, encouragement, prayer, compliments,criticism, hurts, study and persistence. But success stories do not expect that everything will just get done..but rather they make sure it gets done. They don't wait on a supernatural feeling to overtake them, they simply act on what they know to needs to be done. But yet, how many people wait on something ...an audible voice of God, money, a relationship, an idea, a feeling, a position, to absolutely open up the door to ministry? We are told..take it easy. The prosperity message... wait on it to come to you and make your world perfect! Likely not happening.


Real life and real ministry are work. When you feel like it and when you don't. And it certainly won't mean perpetual, easy results and constant smiles. But, it is rewarding. I promise you that. That's the secret. But please...do tell.

53 Days

Feeling completely sentimental about the fact that it is 53 days until my only little brother gets married... to a precious girl. Officially growing up. So proud of him...and I love her.They are doing great things for God.

I Would

I would live in your love as the sea-grasses live in the sea,
Borne up by each wave as it passes, drawn down by each wave that
recedes;

I would empty my soul of the dreams that have gathered in me,
I would beat with your heart as it beats, I would follow your soul
as it leads.

-S.T

Protected. Again.

Three nights ago, I was completely cozy and sleepy in my nearly perfect bed. I had quickly fallen asleep, then was blatantly awakened by the urge to pray. The direction I felt was strange, but clear. So, per God's prompting, I put on shoes and a coat, and went outside to pray over our vehicles.

My dad has done this before. In fact, when I got my first car, we went outside and annointed it with oil. ;) Very strange to most bystanders I'm sure.
I'll admit, This seems irrational and silly. But, I did it.

I laid my hands on each car in the garage and driveway, including mine. I asked God to simply protect us. End of story. Or, so I think. I get back in bed.

Driving home from Charleston/Mattoon yesterday on a 2-way country road, I see a piece of metal coming at me 200-300 yards away. It's flipping end over end and growing in size. I realize it's a car.
After flipping 4-5 times, it lands on it's hood in the ditch and a person flies out of it and lands on the road. The man is covered in blood and his body is flailing in pain. I see a semi-truck driver getting out to help, and a girl trying to climb out of the car. After two attempts to get signal, I finally reach a 911 Operator and am able to secure an ambulance and paramedics. The operator probably thought I was crazy because I was praying out loud while talking to her.

I can openly say I am no good in settings where blood is involved but, I knew 911 was the first step. My siblings are both in the medical field , Chelsea a nurse and Judah a paramedic/nurse. They have both told me that if you don't know what to do, stay in your car and call for people that do so further injuries aren't sustained.. So, I stayed put, called 911 and prayed fervantly. Help finally came, but I'm unsure if the man lived.

I felt extremely helpless , and immediately questioned if I did the right thing. It was traumatic and I cried the entire way home.

I was reassured by my daddy and Judah that I did exactly what I should have done, but I felt absolutely sick over the entire scene and if I did everything I could have done.
Although I've had really horrific images in my mind and I've been so worried about the people, the late night prayer meeting over our cars, including mine, makes so much sense now.
Thank you Jesus for Your protection, once again.

Completely,creatively says everything that needs to be said about waiting on the right person. Love it.

Breakthroughs & Dreams, God's way.

I have seen the creative handiwork of God in my life so much recently…I cannot help but be humbled by it. I will do my best to share.

My heart holds to what I believe most female hearts hold to…The quintessential dream of a woman.
--To love and be loved by a strong man. To have his babies, lay our hearts out doing God’s work and be in love for 99 years or more. That’s my biggest dream. It always has been.
As life has progressed, I have seen how my plans and timing for this dream, versus God’s, are clearly different. So different in fact, that as of June 4, I will be the last kid left at home. Not a big deal if you are the youngest child, but a kind-of big deal if you are the oldest. So throughout the whole journey, I have started to wonder about God’s plan for me. I can’t forget this dream. Or lay it aside. It’s just there.
Anyway, now that I have bared my soul…. ;)
This is supposed to be about what God is doing in my heart.
So, I must establish that I believe that God’s plan is for today. I am responsible for what I do today and then tomorrow. Everyday I have a portion of life…MY life… that fits into the bigger scheme of things. My heart cannot be the breeding ground for bitterness, laziness or lust…..the all too common struggles of a single individual.
So I have put up a strong fight against these things. I have decidedly kept my heart pure for whoever God wants me to marry. The problem was, I have also allowed myself to not accomplish certain things, because I felt like I HAD to be married in order to do them. Like missions. And freedom to feel I can have a ministry. And overcoming fears.
So this year, I started off the year on a 21 day fast from food and began very focused prayer. Breakthrough Number 1. So long excuses on why I haven’t done extended fasting. I CAN do it.
This launched multiple other victories in my life. I began to have extended periods of freedom from the anxiety that I’ve had for years. Breakthrough #2.
I’ve begun to see the fruition of my heart’s desires come to pass in ministry. I feel less timid in what God has called me to be in my music ministry, and in general. I have been humbled and pleased that His anointing has enveloped me and I have felt distinct purpose. Breakthrough #3.

I decided that waiting to go on a Missions trip is pretty much like waiting to breathe. Dumb. So I am now headed to Spain and Portugal July 1-11, thanks to my wonderful friends, family and a providing God. Breathrough #4.

And lastly, I am gently reminded that if God is able to work in me to accomplish all this… I am sure I needn’t concern myself with my heart's lovliest dream. He knows all about it. And...maybe... eventually... the 99 years of true love might happen, too;)