He Leads Me By Still and Rough Waters

How reassuring it is to know our great Shepherd is ever watching over His sheep (that's you and me) to guide, lead, protect and even discipline us when we need to be corrected.
If someone asks how I know God's not dead--I just tell them "I spoke to Him today, and He spoke to me." And here's an example of how I knew yesterday.

Yesterday morning, Alexia and I made a road trip that included an unexpected stop over. When Alexia got hungry for breakfast, and wanted a McDonald's breakfast burrito, I told her to watch for a Mc D's and I'd pull off to get her one. The next one we saw was at Camp Wisdom Road and I-35, just before leaving Dallas. Immediately, I had a sweet memory. Just a couple blocks from there was the first home that my sweet husband and I purchased. As soon as we drove to the home, I recognized it because of the opening on the front porch and the board that he made to put in it that described our little house as being Spanish. LOL.

My husband's uncles were in the construction business and took that little home in on trade. We purchased it from them for $7000. It's hard to fathom that that adorable little house could be purchased for so little back in 1968. My husband did so many upgrades to that little home. He learned the building trade from his uncles.

While we lived in that home, our Staci was born. While we lived in that home, she was so sick with pneumonia over and over again and was eventually diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. It was in that home that our faith grew as family members and friends joined us in prayers that reversed that diagnosis. It was in that little home that our faith begin to grow and see God perform miracle after miracle in our lives. It was at that little home that my husband not only worked for his uncles in their construction business, but went to college at Southwestern College in Waxahachie, Texas, and also worked at HL Greens department store so that we would make ends meet for our little family.

As I look back on that time I can't help but realize that was the start of a lifetime of living under the guard of our great Shepherd and He has not only led us during the times of still waters and during the times of storms and violent winds, but I'm still here to witness the faithfulness of my great Shepherd.

You ask me how I know He lives? Because He lives, I continue to face day after day with great resolve and determination to not only talk to Him but to see Him face-to-face one of these days. It is so worth the journey of faith.

LORD, Let Me Let YOU Lead Me!

I was having a sweet time of morning devotion when I looked at this mug that sits on my dining room table. I purchased this mug a while ago as a reminder WHO is supposed to be leading in this "romance" and journey of faith between God and I. This day, I got the message, loud and clear!

By nature, I gravitate toward being a leader and really have to pull my reins in to be a follower -- especially since I'm "single" now and must make many decisions on my own. But, even as a trustworthy leader, I should still be submitting to THE LEADER who promises to make my way successful when I allow Him to lead in EVERY way. How many times have I started out on a project or plan -- on my own -- and realized I was expecting God to make my way successful on the decisions I was making. I often take in this scripture verse regularly (like a prescription) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart (that's putting Him first) and lean not to your own understanding (that's putting me second), in all your ways acknowledge Him (that's putting Him first again) and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5,6 That scripture sets the record straight. In this relationship, He is the leader and I am the followers.

I get it. Our ultimate success comes from letting God lead us.

The truth is -- God IS here for us, so we don't have to go this journey alone -- trying to figure out what to do and when to do it. He's here to lead the way -- to fight the battles for us -- and to give us His grace for the journey

"I will never leave you or forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Then He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: "Whoever wants to be My disciple, must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me." Mark 8:3

My Faith Journey Pilgrimage Begins TODAY!

ucket list) trip. I’ve prayed that it would exceed being a tourist. I am purposefully seeking a spiritual experience and deepening of my faith that as I’ve heard others say “You’ll never be the same.”

Our first four days will be in Rome. Though my Sweetheart and I were there for our 40th anniversary, and had so many “God” moments, especially the opportunity to be on the fourth row, embracing the incredible opportunity of attending the ordination service for deacons and priests at St. Peter’s Basilica that was celebrated by Pope Benedict. We visited so many of Rome’s historical and holy treasures. But, on this trip, I’ve purposefully been studying the Apostle Paul, his missionary journey to Rome, his hardships, imprisonments for his faith, his accomplishments, his writings and staying steadfast in his faith. This time I expect a grace-filled and joyful experience of breathing in the spirit of Paul. He was a former persecutor and tormentor of Christians and through his conversion, became the greatest advocate for Christ, writing nearly 1/3 of the New Testament. BTW -- if Paul could become a stalwart and committed follower of Christ, don't give up on those you are praying for to become believers!!

I’m joining with my besties, Charles Michie and Sheila Michie, and others on a pilgrimage, from our faith and for our faith – not for deepening of more theological insight or becoming more knowledgeable about the facts and beliefs of our Christian faith. Like Abraham (the Father of our Faith), who was the first to call the land “Holy” who was driven by his faith and “seeking the face of God”, I pray that for myself and our travel companions. More than anything, I know Jesus will be our companion on this pilgrimage to the places that were made holy by His life. He is the goal of my pilgrimage – a deeper and more faith-filled life as I walk where He walked, as I envision Him walking on the Sea of Galilee when we are there, and as my heart burns with passion for Him as I walk the Via Delarosa where He carried the cross for my sins and for my eternal life with Him.

I’ll be praying for you, my faithful and dear FB friends and family, and though I know Christ sent the Holy Spirit to live in us and it doesn't matter where we are, our prayers are as effective, I am still expecting that being where Jesus was on this earth, my faith will be “turbo-charged” to agree with you for answers to your prayers. My “expector” is off-the-charts, so I might as well EXPECT that since the Word declares it, I might as well believe it….”NOTHING is impossible with God”.

Our itinerary today is Dallas to Houston; Houston to Frankfurt, Germany; Frankfurt to Rome. I hope that I’ll be able to take you with me on this pilgrimage as I plan to journal my experience right here on my daily post. My posting time, most likely, will be random, unlike my 6 am (+/-) daily posting I make in the central time zone. Now, in the meantime.......
"The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26
XOXOXO

God Has a Plan -- STAND!

At age 14, I was a volunteer Candy Striper at a Dallas hospital. The unique title went with the candy cane, red & white-striped pinafores that we wore. In those days, I aspired to become a nurse, so I took flowers and mail to patients, refilled their water jugs, and other incidental duties. But, those plans were dashed when I married my handsome 18-year-old sweetheart when, at 17, I graduated high school. I became an office clerk to help put him through college. The next year, I gave birth to our son. If I had it to do all over again -- I’d do it all over again -- because that was the journey that God destined for us! Looking back through the rear view mirror and living with “if only” thoughts does not serve us well. God always tells us to press on, go forward, rise and shine, and "remember not the former things" (Isaiah 43:18)!

Unexpectedly in our journey of faith, I did become an “unofficial” nurse – not as I had dreamed it to be, but one God called me to at the time. My husband had a severe staph infection that required 8 weeks of antibiotics by I.V. After brief training, I was able to give him the I.V. three times a day. I’ll admit my hesitancy to take on such a critical responsibility that I had only witnessed the "pros" (RN's) perform in the hospital. At first, it seemed overwhelming, with so many sterilizing techniques, flushing the lines, clamping and not clamping, and calculating the drip timing, but I got it down quite well.

The challenges we faced were often daunting, and Nurse Donna continued to be on duty until my sweet man graduated to heaven. But, we never wavered from our STAND of faith. God’s Word was our surest foundation in every turn of the road in our journey. We knew our faith, as well as the prayers and support of friends and family, gave us the tenacity to "STAND" and press on to the finish line. These lyrics of gospel recording artist, Donnie McClurkin, “Stand”, undergirded us. I give these words to you to encourage you in whatever role you may find yourself in -- as someone’s nurse, caregiver, companion, friend, or, even to be the one that is the recipient of the love and care - wherever your journey takes you, today, or in the future, let these words resonate within you and encourage you to keep STANDING!

“STAND”, by Donnie McClurkin
Tell me, what do you give when you've given your all,
And it seems like you can't make it through?
Well you just stand, when there's nothing left to do.
You just stand, watch the Lord see you through.
Yes, after you done all you can, you just stand.
You just stand, and endure,
God has a purpose, yes, God has a plan.

Don't you dare give up through the storm, stand through the rain,
Through the hurt, yes, through the pain,
Don't you bow, and don't bend, don't give up, no, don't give in.
Hold on, just be strong, God will step in and it won't be long.
After you've gone through the storm, after you gone through the rain,
After you done all you can.....you just stand.