Encouraging Deep Roots

My flight from Texas touched down at 10:30 last night and by the time I collected my baggage and drove the hour and 45 minutes home it was almost 1 a.m. What a beautiful weekend it was! I met some new friends and reconnected with some long-time friends. I was able to listen to, and pray for women who have had major heartbreak and trauma in their lives. I'm thankful for those who told me that my messages and story ministered to them. I thankful for those who shared their stories with me and loved having these meaningful conversations with women of all different ages - from young to older. I wasn't sure what to expect this weekend, but what I discovered was a beautiful, ethnically diverse group of women and found an instant connection with them. It was a long way to go to speak, but I am thankful for the weekend because it also solidified the unique calling the Lord has given to me.  I'm starting out my Monday with a renewed spring in my step and ready to move forward into th...

I've been in a few cities in the United States that have traffic lights with crosswalks. At these crosswalks you have to push a button in order to have the light change color. Once you push the button it takes a few minutes for it to change from green to red and there is a recorded voice that says, "Wait!" over and over again. It can start to grate on your nerves hearing it repeat the word continuously, but the reality is if you don't wait there is a chance you will get hit by a car. Impatience can have devastating effects! Yesterday, I was in a prayer group of other pastors and ministry leaders and as we were praying a retired pastor prayed the phrase, "Waiting is the ministry, Lord." That resonated with me because it's been where I've felt stuck the past year or so. I feel like I'm in a waiting pattern and at times, feel very impatient.  The truth is I don't like waiting and I don't like it when God seems silent. It feels as if nothing ...

Ignore the condition of my very old shoes! I always think of myself as fairly adventerous.  I like to explore and  I believe that I'm up for many things, but I don't think I really have wanderlust. And a s I've gotten older, I really think I'm more of a homebody. I love getting out to hike and explore, but I would rather sleep in my own bed at night.  I enjoy making my space a beautiful and peaceful enviornment.  I prefer staying in at the end of the day and enjoy a quiet evening at home. My bedtime is the same time every single night. My sewing room/office is my haven.  I enjoy days when I can putter around my house and spend some time cleaning and straightening it.  I recently had the opportunity to travel to Cote d'Ivoire in West Africa to present at a workshop at our denomination's first world fellowship women's conference. The leadership team I'm part of was hosting the event. Part of me really wanted to go and I thought it was an honor to be asked....

Last week zipped by as I traveled back from my weekend retreat on Monday, worked on three messages that I'm giving at a different retreat this coming weekend, did church ministry, and got some walks into my days. I took my father-in-law to visit my mother-in-law's grave on their 65th anniversary (the first without her) and then out to lunch with him. I did some sewing. Made meals as normal. Red Lentil & Quinoa Wraps Lentil Meatballs Did some cooking with my son.  Visited my daughter and son-in-law and attended a fall festival with them. Found hidden gems. Weeded the front flower bed at church, organized towels that we distribute to those in need and set up 6 towel basket deliveries, including one I delivered myself. Taught a small group class and then rocked and read to little ones in the nursery. I sat and read and wrote.  It was a good week and I am thankful for every little thing.

Ministry can be tiring and there can be moments of wanting to throw in the towel. But then there are also those moments when someone's life is changed and I think, "There it is." "This is the reason I keep pressing on." There were a few of those "aha" moments this past weekend. I opened up my Bible to read this morning and this was the passage I landed on.  Psalm 116:12-14 ~  How can I repay the  Lord  for all the good he has done for me?  I wil take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the  Lord .  I  will fulfill my vows to the  Lord in the presence of all his people. God has been so good to me despite my inadequacies. I want to continue to press into the calling He gave me so many years ago. His goodness is there even when I forget to recognize it.  It's there in the good times and the bad. It's there when others praise you or when they criticize. It's there in times of abundance or times of scarcity.  David is asking a q...

I leave later this morning for my weekend retreat and I'm enjoying the peace and solititude before the busyness begins. It's about a 4  & 1/2 hour car ride with stops. I really don't mind driving as it gives me time to reflect and pray or listen to music and podcasts. I'm leaving a day early because I'm staying with a friend and this way I'm not traveling and jumping right into the weekend. I can have a slow start tomorrow morning and take my time setting up. I love the many layers of these events. I enjoy prepping and event-planning. Of course, as with any sort of event-planning, no matter how organized I am there is always something that goes awry. Someone doesn't read all the information or there is a snafu thrown into the mix. But for the most part, I'm prepared and am praying that it's a good weekend. The main thing I'm praying is that God would help me keep my eyes and ears open and that I would be able to listen well to others so that ...