She Speaks

Ok, so I was so filled up at She Speaks that I am just now getting to a place that I can put it all into words. I'm going to start today by sharing the message I shared with my evaluation group (a big thank you to all my She Speaks sisters, I appreciated your honesty and love). So here's the message God placed on my heart to share at She Speaks and with you...

We are forgiven even when we don't wear our listening ears

Do you wear your listening ears? Do you hear God’s voice, do you take time to hear His call? Big questions, huh? Let me share with you a moment that reminded me to tighten MY listening ears, God truly does speak to us in some colorful ways!

Recently I was taking a shower & shaving my legs (which ONLY happens on the weekend so it's a BIG DEAL). My sweet 4 year old daughter came in the bathroom and said "whatcha doing mommy?". My first thought was, duh - what does it look like but instead of sarcasm I went with "taking a shower baby (in my sweet mommy voice) don't open the curtain". Ok, what do you think happened next? SHE OPENED THE CURTAIN! Side note, I do not like it when my daughter and/or husband open the shower curtain while I’m shaving because I immediately get chill pumps, then I have razor burn... ladies, you know the drill. I know it's silly but it’s a pet peeve of mine… Anyway, as soon as my daughter opened the curtain I turned into mean mommy and yelled “do you listen, where are your listening ears”, she said “I don’t know but I’m getting out of here!". I felt so bad about yelling at her, it broke my heart but she was pretty much right back to business as usual. I asked her to forgive me when I got out of the shower and she did as she always does. If only we could all be as forgiving as my sweet 4 year old!

A few days later I was still thinking about this and how badly I felt about biting my sweet girl's head off. I started thinking of new and improved mommy of the year responses. Then it dawned on me, God must want to yell at His children (ME) all the time too, I'm sure He's constantly thinking ARE YOU LISTENING, WHERE ARE YOUR LISTENING EARS?

God reminded me that He loves us even when we don't wear our listening ears. He doesn’t yell at us, instead He forgives us and with a Fatherly voice reminds us how we should listen to His desire for our life, He reminds us of His plan and how perfect it is. God's response is the correct response, mine was not!

Romans 5:8 says “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God sent His one and only Son to die for us knowing we would not wear our listening ears, Jesus has already paid the price for our lack of listening. What an amazing love He has for us! His love is never ending, it’s forgiving, it’s merciful, it’s full of grace EVEN when we don’t wear our listening ears.

I found the definition of Grace online at www.freedictionary.com which states that grace is the “Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people, the state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God” – how awesome is it that we are PROTECTED/FORGIVEN by the blood of Jesus... which He gave FREELY even though we are not good listeners!

SO my challenge to you is to TIGHTEN YOUR LISTENING EARS (as I tell my daughter)!

Psalm 81:8 says "Hear, O my people, and I will warn you—
if you would but listen to me, O Israel!
10 says “ I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.”

HE wants to fill our desires, He wants to bless us!!!
Listen to His call, hear His desire for your life, it’ll be much better than anything you come up with on your own! After all, we don't want to miss out on a blessing He has in store for us!


I'm planning to share everything God placed on my heart during She Speaks in a future post. I will say this, He taught me so much, He started a healing in me, He introduced me to many new sisters who love Him just as much as I do, He did a great work during She Speaks. He truly is AWESOME!

NOW wear those listening ears!

Heartfelt scripture and my life verse: JEREMIAH 29:11

ALL SMILES...

I am all smiles today friends... I am excited about so many different things, She Speaks ESPECIALLY, visiting w/ close friends, alone time & connecting w/ God, so many awesome things are running through my mind right now. I'm leaving in a few hours to make my way to Charlotte, NC. I CANNOT wait to see what God has in store for the 600 women attending the She Speaks conference, what am I saying... I'm ALREADY feeling His presence! He is so good! I am dying to share my speech w/ you but I won't go there just yet as I need to save it up & see what God's going to do w/ it Saturday night.

I will share my scripture though, we all need some of HIS WORD- Romans 5:8 says "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us"... yes He did friends, Christ died for us w/ NO STRINGS ATTACHED!

I want to encourage you today to hear His call, His voice. Don't miss a blessing today friends! Ok, I'm not sure where I was going w/ this blog posting... I'm pretty much just shouting JOY & happiness! That's what this post is about, JOY in JESUS!

Happy days!

Today's heartfelt scripture is above

Quick Post...

I feel led to add a quick post today about how thrilled I am to be meeting so many new sisters through She Speaks. I can't even explain how much I'm witnessing God's presence right now! To all my new friends, you have already been a blessing to me, can't wait to meet you in person!

GOD IS AWESOME!

Today's heartfelt scripture...
1 Samuel 18:1-4
1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

This makes me think of my husband, he & a friend went to CIY w/ the teens from church a few years back & became each other's "Jonathan". It was really cool to see that connection occur! Friends are so important, God certainly has a plan when He connects each of us, even if it for a season.

Blessings to all this weekend!

Sunshine

I was uplifted this morning as I drove to work w/ my daughter... we discussed what we are thankful for as the sun's rays peaked through the fog. It was beautiful, mornings like that are priceless!

Today's heartfelt scripture... Genesis 1: 1-5

The Beginning
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was [a] formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.


God never ceases to amaze me, even over small things like my drive to work...

Excited

Listen, I am still trying to understand this blogging thing... As you can tell, I haven't kept up w/ it BUT as I prepare for She Speaks, I am encouraged to get into it & really understand how all this works. At the very least I'll put a post up now & again.

I have been disconnected from my Heavenly Father recently, which is nobody's fault but my own. (I'm very aware of that b/c He is ALWAYS available!) BUT I am very encrouraged this morning... As I prepare for this conference, I am filled w/ so much joy & excitement, I can hardly stand it. I am hopeful for speaking opportunities once I complete She Speaks but more than anything I am excited about seeing God work during this time of preparation & through the duration of the conference. I am already witnessing His work & His ALMIGHTY power through emails, blogs, etc... seeing/hearing from others as to how they are preparing & how God is preparing them is so neat. It has truly encouraged me today!

It's on my heart today to share that if we truly let His work flow it will be perfect. I see that not only is this situation w/ the conference but in all situations, if I would just put me aside & focus on Him everything would go much more smoothly! Why am I such a ding dong sometimes, often times, when I allow me to stop His plan from flowing?!?! Jeremiah 29:11 - My FAVORITE!!!

My brother is an addict to many things, pain killers, alcohol, who knows what else. He recenlty completed a 6 month Christian rehab program. My family was informed yesterday that he had "fallen off the wagon" & what did I do, jumped to conclusions & got all worked up... what should I have done, gotten down on my knees immediately & lifted my bro up!!! God told me in the midst of my rant that if I would be quiet & listen I might actually hear His voice. So I did & He made it very clear to me that He revealed Himself to my bro during rehab & He can - WILL - do it again! Oh praise God! I am more encouraged today, even after hearing that news about my bro. He does know the Lord & God can pick Him right back up.

I'm shutting the door to the enemy today, won't you join me?!?!

Today's heartfelt scripture... Romans 15:13

Craziness - do you have days like that?

Today is the kind of day that I just need to go home to a clean house & chill BUT my house isn't clean & I don't have time to chill... what is that all about?!?! God doesn't want this for me. He wants me to take time to rest! He wants me to be refreshed & renewed... God, please remind me that I need to slow down & do things in Your timing, NOT MINE! Lord, be my driver! Thank You for being forgiving & loving me even during these crazy days when I can feel You right beside me saying SLOW DOWN! Thank You Lord for being so patient w/ me. I love You so much! Amen!

For those of you who have too much on your plate like myself & need a day of rest - take it! I have promised myself rest soon but when does soon arrive??? I am doing so much & its all good stuff that I'm doing but its still too much. I recently had a very dear friend & prayer partner encourage me to write all my "things" down & pray over them & ask for clearity from God & that He show me which of the "things" He wants me doing & which ones I'm doing b/c I want to do them or for satisfaction for ME... ME, ME, ME... Its NOT ABOUT ME! Right? It shouldn't be but it often becomes that way!

Ok, so I'm ranted on a bit... I want to slow down but will I??? I'll say that I will try but that's not saying I'm letting God drive is it??? I'm GOING TO let GOD drive... For my praying friends, please pray that I will chill & relax & enjoy God's love!

Happy Friday! HORAH for the weekend as my daughter & I say!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!