...and He did!

In church last weekend our Pastor asked us to take some time to mull over a few questions this week as we are entering a new series of messages. I have already chatted with a few people about these questions/answers, but thought I'd explore them with you here! So, here goes question #1:


Where in your past have you needed God to "show up"...and He DID?


It's funny because if you know me at all, you know that I DESPERATELY need God to "show up" in my life every single day. For so many reasons unknown to me, I have been dealt a hand of cards that at first glance makes me want to fold every time! I used to have a poster in high school that said My mom says God won't give me any more than I can handle...I sure wish He didn't trust me so much! Little did I know that at the age of 32 I would be living that statement!


There are a ton of HUGE moments in my life where I needed God to show up...and He most definitely did! But, I feel like it's the smaller, every day moments that require so much more faith from me:


...the moments first thing in the morning when my son decides that his first words need to be full of hate and anger...before I've even had a chance to give him a bear hug and say "good morning"


...the moments when I've made breakfast for him and for no known reason he decides it's appropriate to show his irritation or frustration by seeing if his bowl of oatmeal can fly.


...the moments when money is so tight that I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to put gas in my car to get me to my next cleaning job and someone steals Austen's bike while it's out of our sight for only 15 minutes


...and so often the moments when I lay my head down on my pillow feeling defeated and alone, longing for a partner to share life with.


THESE are the moments that are so critical for me! These are the times that I desperately need my God to "show up"...and HE DOES!


He "shows up" by giving me the ability to take a deep breathe and not shout back hateful, angry words! And gives me the insurmountable love for my son that allows me to pull him in to my arms and hug him...and tell him how much I love him and cherish the fact that I am his mommy!


...He "shows up" by allowing that heavy ceramic bowl to hit the floor without breaking, only spilling minimal amounts of oatmeal as we have learned on so many occasions is fully capable of flying w/ a small amount of force. My God, once again, gives me the ability to hold my tongue...and discipline out of love!


...He "shows up" by bringing someone along who just happens to have a brand new bike that he wants to give to someone...and is there any chance we need one? And then he allows there to be just enough gas in my tank to get me where I need to go!


...and He "shows up" in those lonely moments by wrapping His loving arms around me...and reminding me of His promises to supply ALL of my needs and that He is the Lover of my soul...drying my tears lulls me to sleep!

Check out last weekend's message to get the background behind the questions

www.flatironschurch.com/messages Click on BRiX - Love October 4th and 5th

Little Treasures

I just have to say how incredible excited I am about my most recent excursion to one of my favorite stores and receiver of so much of my money...Hobby Lobby!

I have been keeping my eyes open for the "perfect" piece to hang in either my guest room or entryway...and low and behold I found IT! And the coolest part about it was that it was on clearance...$199.99 marked down to a beautiful $19.99 I had to actually ask to make sure i wasn't seeing things or having one of my strawberry-blonde moments and would get to the register and have to have them put it back when they told me my total would be over 200 with tax! Sure enough...it was only $19.99! So, I now am the proud owner of a big, beautiful mirror. You'll have to come over and have a glass of wine with me to see it!

Here I go!

Well, I figured I'd join the blogging world like so many others of you! I'm a little hesitant because I know that I will be putting myself out there for the world to see...but here goes nothin!

How much do I trust HIM?

I am always amazed at how God shows up in my life in such incredible ways. I have spent my life in church…and have had an amazing love for Jesus for as long as I can remember.

I had decided at a very young age that I wanted to be a child of the Most High God…and follow His Plan for my life…the best way to live! Unfortunately, during my late high school and early college years life dealt me a very unfair hand that left me broken, beaten, bruised, and feeling filthy dirty. Even though I knew in my heart that my God loved and adored me…I began to feel like even though I could trust Him with every other area in my life…well, He couldn’t protect me physically and sexually. It was the moment when I came to this realization that I decided that if I gave myself…no one could “take” anything from me again!

Mark 5: 24-34 tells us of a woman who had been “subject to bleeding for 12 years,” had spent all of her money on doctors trying to fix her…and found no relief. She heard that Jesus was in town and she believed that if she could just “touch His clothes, she would be healed.” The song below by Nicole C. Mullen tells this amazing story of faith.

One Touch (Press)
Been ostracized for 12 years I'm used to being alone
Spent everything I had And now it's gone
I'm used to being put down My issues tell it all
My only hope is anchored In this fall

(Chorus) If I could just touch the hem of His garment
I know I'd be made whole
If I could just press my way through this madness
His love would heal my soul
If only one touch

So many people calling How could He ever know
That just a brush of Him Would stop the flow
If He knew would He rebuke me Or shame me to the crowd
Well I'm desperate 'cause it's never or it's now

If I could just touch the hem of His garment
I know I'd be made whole
If I could just press my way through this madness
His love would heal my soul.

And then suddenly He turned around He said somebody has unleashed my power
Well, frightened and embarrassed I bowed You see I told Him of my troubles
And how... I had to touch the Hem of His garment
And i know I've been made whole
And how I had pressed my way through this madness
And His love has healed my soul.

Then with one word He touched the hem of my garment
And you know I've been made whole
And somehow He pressed His way through my madness
And His love has healed my soul. I tell you He touched me.
He reached way down and touched me
When no one else would touch me Jesus shol' 'nough [[sure enough]]
He touched me...
And I know I've been made whole


I was at a conference recently at the Pepsi Center in Denver where Nicole C. Mullen sang this song…and that is when my Redeeming God unleashed His power and pressed His way through my madness….promising His healing for my soul damaged by so many years of doubt and mistrust.

I’ve been praying for so many years that I would be able to reach a point in my life when I could finally TRUST the Lord with the most treasured, sacred parts of my being…my body and heart…and I believe He’s renewing my hope. I have been afraid and embarrassed by my shameful actions…and though I’ve waited for God to throw down His wrath on me…He instead is pulling me in to His arms and telling me that I am His beautiful, treasured Child. And HE LOVES ME! He will give me the strength and courage to make some very hard choices in the days to come.

The message that has been burned into my soul almost daily for the past several weeks has been this: HOW MUCH DO YOU TRUST GOD! HOW BIG DO YOU THINK HE IS? I’m gonna choose to trust that His way is the best way for me to live. My way has only led to scars and emptiness…I choose to let Him fill my void! I’ll be anxious to see how God uses me in the days to come.

Here is a link to this song…take a minute and listen! It's on her player...One Touch...or if you're my friend on myspace...it's on my profile too!

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=76400394