This is What a “Comeback” Story Looks Like

It’s one thing to get inspired by this wall hanging in my daughter’s home, but it’s a testament to the words when you have a live and in-person comeback story that walks in your front door. These are Christina’s beautiful two grandsons who she is raising to be mighty men of God. They surprised me with love and this yummy red velvet cake on my birthday. And, now, today, it’s Christina’s birthday. I get to reciprocate the love here.

First of all, happy birthday to this beautiful gal, Christina Willis, who is someone this world should know, then endeavor to emulate the tenacity and determination of what an overcomer looks and acts like. Christina, I pray you are blessed beyond words for your commitment to changing lives daily. As a devoted follower of Christ, you serve passionately and are relentless in helping others have a comeback story, too. Carry on, sweet girl! Your best is yet to be! I love you so much! <3 Christina is a bright light that has exceeded our expectations in so many ways. If ever there was a story of God’s amazing grace that took someone from the lowest lows to the highest highs – that’s this gal’s story. In August, 2017, Christina was homeless and living in a hotel with her daughter and her two sons. They were struggling financially -- evicted and homeless many times over the previous 20 years. Although she was attending church and Bible studies, she still felt lost and hopeless. She knew she needed someone to show her how to apply her faith and teach her life-skills to get her life turned around. Then she met my daughter, Staci. Christina started attending her “Mission Possible --Unlocking Your Full Potential” Bible study course that she had written. From that first night of attending the class, Christina’s world began to change. It was as if God gave her sight after being blind for so many years. During the Mission Possible study, she was delivered from a major paranormal addiction and deep-rooted shame. She found forgiveness and freedom and learned how to forgive others, despite the years of rejection, abuse and brokenness she had experienced. She then began a journey of learning how to apply biblical wisdom to practical life choices in the organization my daughter heads up, EMwomen, a non-profit organization that equips and empowers women by helping them learn life-skills to become stronger leaders in the marketplace, their homes and community. EMwomen’s motto “Every woman has a story and every story can change the world” certainly is true for Christina. There isn’t room here to share Christina’s full story, but suffice it to say, Christina’s life was radically and fully reversed (her COMEBACK). Christina shares: “My story began to transform when I began to make better choices. My alignment with EMwomen changed the trajectory of my life. The communication and life-skills I learned enabled me to get a job in the medical industry, making more money than I have ever made in my life.” Now she has a beautiful home and is raising her two beautiful grandsons.

Christina is now EMwomen’s Director of Outreach where she oversees programs that specifically reach single moms and girls who are running from domestic violence, struggling through abuse, homelessness or perhaps they have suffered from divorce or human trafficking or other areas that have held women from achieving God’s best.They are loved right where they are, but they are walked through spiritual deliverance, practical life-skills training and personal coaching to help them emerge from their past into quality jobs, better relationships and an abundant life in Christ.

Christina has found that rather than having been given just a fish, she was taught how to fish with the skills and spiritual fortitude necessary to thrive in life – and now she is paying it forward. Perhaps, it’s time to write your “comeback” story – where you rise out of the ashes and step up into the bright light of God’s mercy and love -- where you consider where you’ve been and where you are now, and become a blessing to those who need to hear your story for God’s glory. Christina had a major comeback. So can anyone who is living in hopelessness and who would welcome God to be the Lord of your life. Perhaps you’ll have a comeback story that will change the trajectory of your life, too!

Welcome Fall! Welcome Change!

Fall is in the air. Sandwiched between blazing summer and chilly winter, fall is the "cooling off" season. As I was sitting on the patio of my friend's home in Tulsa last week, I couldn't help but notice the flocks of various species of birds flying south. They know winter isn't far behind.

As we traveled from Georgia through Mississippi and Louisiana and on to Texas in our motorcoach yesterday, it was obvious that the autumn season is upon us. We witnessed it by the gorgeous changing colors of leaves. What a gorgeous drive Interstate 20 is -- the tall pine trees, the evergreens and those trees that are experiencing this transformation. This is my favorite time of the year -- the leaves are changing colors, it's cooler outside, pumpkin spice coffee and candles are abundant in stores. Pumpkin patches are already showing up. I love fall decorations, but this year mine are in a Texas storage unit along with all of my belongings in this "wait" for a home that I know has my name on it and it welcomes me.

Decorating my home with the seasonal changes was always a big deal for me. Typically, I would decorate my home with harvest and fall decor' in early September! But what I love the most about this season, is the heart of thanksgiving that just naturally comes. And, great things happen when we offer thanksgiving. It not only brings honor to God when we speak of His goodness, but our faith just seems to rise to new heights because that attitude of gratitude opens shut doors and brings joy to our hearts and souls!

The changing colors of leaves, birds changing their habitats, and Donna changing hers.....it's all about accepting the inevitable in life. We will all experience changes. My sweet grandson "changed" his bachelor status to married status this last weekend. When my sweetheart went to heaven, my status changed from "married" to "widow". We should expect changes -- it's that part of life that we CAN'T change. Change really is inevitable, but why not begin to accept the changes with the grace that God gives us....and be thankful that He will carry us through those changes -- to an even better place of destiny and purpose?

It's October and we're into the last quarter of 2016. Maybe we should begin our change from dissatisfaction and opposition to change, to willingness to accept change. Thanksgiving Day occurs in November, but what if this month of October begins our NEW season of gratitude and thanksgving. I sure don't know what tomorrow and its changes will hold for me, but I know I'm sensing God camping out with me in this atmosphere of thanksgiving, and He sure does know. Once again, I hear Him saying "Trust Me. I've got this."

The Butterflies are Dancing....Are You?

Day 284 of Photo Inspirations -- The Butterflies are Dancing!!
I've been amazed at the number of butterflies I've seen over the last couple of weeks.  I'll admit I'm not a butterfly enthusiast that plants foliage just to attract butterflies, but now they are attracting ME. I would think it were Springtime instead of Fall.  They are so light and free and FAST!  It seems like they're dancing on air!

We've all read butterfly transformation anaologies where they go from a caterpillar to a cocoon to a butterfly and how we, in our lives transform from  death to life -- our emerging to be all God destined us to be.  We've all been through metamorphosis -- where we had to go through lots of physical, spiritual, and mental changes.  But I love the "ARRIVED" stage the most -- when our wings have developed and we can take flight and DANCE  -- just like the butterflies.  Then, like them, our dance reflects joy and freedom from worry or concern, from the questions:  "Why? When? Where?"

I'll never forget when my husband was going in for an emergency surgery to remove a tumor that had taken over his vertabrae and was impinging on his spinal cord.  It was a really big deal -- his nuero surgeon said it was one of the three most serious and life-threatening surgeries EVER.  But, even with the seriousness of it all, what I remember most was the peace that passed understanding that God had given us, that we were experiencing that morning.  We just knew God was in control so we could be lighthearted and free of worry.  We went into the pre-op room to get him ready for the surgery and we looked up at the ceiling and there were butterflies, and if that didn't cause even more care-free and care-less attitudes......in walks the nurse with a butterfly jacket on.  The message was loud and clear...."DANCE as if you don't have a care in the world."

Like the butterflies that are on wing and dancing around right now at this time of year, that is what our hearts were doing back then in that hospital room.  We knew, like those butterflies, that transformation and resurrection was taking place in us.  They reminded us to let go of worry or concern, and be free to dance with lightness and joy....right in the middle of our circumstances.

Butterflies continue to remind us to get up and move, for if we don't move, we cannot dance. We're all going through transition and transformation -- in one way or another -- from one age to another, from one season to another, from one stage of life to another.  It is only through exertion that we emerge into who we will be next.   We know it's time for a change and the need for courage to break free from our "cocoons".
 
I can only prove the freedom we felt during some of the toughest and most challenging times of our lives by telling you -- it's worth it to DANCE -- to break free from worry and doubt, and just trust that our Creator has the best possible outcome in mind -- so why should we worry or fret?  Let's just DANCE!