Happy Five Year Anniversary "No Limits Life Group"!

Who would have thought that when I felt God's nudge five years ago to start a Life Group in my home in Tulsa that I would have met some of the most remarkable women that sincerely realize, like Queen Esther, they are HERE on this earth, at this time, "for such a time as this". We named ourselves the “No Limits Life Group” because there should be “no limits” to our faith and trust that “Nothing is impossible with God”. These are ordinary women who have experienced some of the most difficult tests, trials, disappointments, losses, and painful circumstances., but with the help of our extraordinary God, today, they are feisty, undaunted women on purpose and on assignment and they are using their past experiences as testimonies of God's amazing grace. Only four of us could make this reunion last night, but it was a foursome that shook the gates of heaven in our praise and prayer time together.

This photo with Michael Jordan was the end-of-night comic relief. Michael was perfect in every photo – didn’t even flinch, but we were either too high, too low, too wide or too hidden. It made for hilarious antics and merry hearts that sure did us good like a medicine. What a joy it was to reminisce back to the early days of our group when we met for the first time. We were all newbies in our circle of friends, but we grew to not only love each other, but we also walked hand in hand with each other through some really serious and tough times and helped each other unpack some of that baggage that we had carried way too long.

These women's families and friends have been positively impacted by their incredible lives of faith-in-action. I have seen them step up in boldness and courage when it comes to facing life head-on -- relentless in their attitude to never give up.
These women were just what “the doctor” ordered for me. They pushed me to study more, pray more, be accountable more, give more, receive more, celebrate more and live out my faith with a fervor more -- so much so that week after week, we saw God's grace in action He answered our prayers.

Here we are five years later – still living the “no limits” life. I’m not sharing this to impress you, but I am sharing to impress upon you that we need strong, faith-filled believers in our lives to help us shoulder the responsibilities of motherhood, wives, singles,, widows, daughters, friends, businesswomen, students and everyone in between. Don’t go it alone. Traveling this journey of faith with other believers sure makes the journey oh, so sweet.
Indeed, there are NO LIMITS to what God can do with a little band of women (or men) who are completely surrendered to His will and ways. Oh, there is telling....the Samaritan woman at the well who ran to town to tell about Christ, and Mary Magdalene -- running to tell about the resurrection of the Lord -- both of them were women with "pasts". But, they, too, ran into an extraordinary God....yes, we are in mighty good company.

Sweet Times Between Papaw and Daddy

Day 69 of Photo Inspirations - Sweet Times Between Papaw & Daddy
While my kids were in Tulsa last weekend, Staci and I got to grab a whole afternoon together -- a rare opportunity.  We found ourselves chatting a lot about her Daddy (my Honey) and the influences he had had on her life.  Seems that she got so many of his genes -- the ambitious, passionate, over-achiever, multi-talented, creative ones and the dreamer ones. And, often, those are the genes that keep her awake at night -- multi-tasking when she is trying to sleep.

Driving to our next destination, and still talking about her Daddy, we found ourselves driving by the cemetery where he is buried. At first we were just going to wave as we drove by, but then we were just too close, not to stop for a visit.  Honestly, I  don't need to go there.  I  don't need to go where he is NOT, but I appreciate that there are those that do need to go and  pay their respects and remember. Remembering the sweet times are a part of my daily routine.  

Not having been there in a while, we couldn't find his gravesite.  We drove up and down rows.  I said, "What kind of wife am I that I don't even know where my husband is?"  Right on queue, Staci  remarked....."You DO know where he is.....and it's sure not here!"   We laughed, but I know that's why I don't go there often for a visit, because I DO know where he is.  Eventually we found the site where my Honey and his Dad are buried.  We had a little one-way talk with them and asked for their intercessions for us.  Why not?  They're close to God's throne now, so if their prayers were effective here, how much more so in heaven!

It excites me to think that we'll have a great reunion one day.  I do my best to meet each day's challenges and circumstances with the mindset "In the light of eternity".  It really puts perspective on the many activities and circumstances that seem so important -- but are really so trivial and unworthy of attention.  God has purpose for us to live strong on this side of heaven, but thanks be to God -- it doesn't end there.  His plan offers us the opportunity BEYOND our lifetime.  So you won't find me living among the dead.  I'm just too busy living among the living and just seeing how many I can take with me!