#growth #waterwalkinggirls

I am a teacher.  Teaching is rooted deep in me.  As a little girl I would play school and teach my brother and friends.  I never dreamed or desired of being anything else so once I graduated high school there was no question about what I would study.  Just as planned I went to Columbia College and received a degree in Elementary Education.  Fast forward to today.  I have had some bumps in the road early in my teaching career but in the end found my place and have loved teaching children for 21 years.  Teaching has been my calling and my ministry.  However, in recent years I have had a restlessness and have felt God calling me to something different but I have never put my finger on exactly what would be my next step.  On December 6, 2019 I began circling my job in prayer in my journal.  I prayed each day for job direction.  Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV teaches us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  I prayed it every day for so long and really had surrendered to God.

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#watchexpectantly #optimism

To watch expectantly…… What does this look like to you? In Micah 7:7 NIV “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord; I wait for the God of my salvation, my God will hear me”.

As someone might stand at this boat landing watching for boats to come and go, we too can watch EXPECTANTLY for God to move. Other versions use the word, “Confidently”. If you are at a boat landing, you can confidently expect to see a boat. Are you waiting with confidence?

As a child of God, we can confidently expect to see God move. In the meantime, we can wait and watch with optimism byenjoying the view while we wait. We can take time to find gratitude in the little things like the sun shining on our faces, the breeze coming off the water, the images the clouds paint in the clear blue sky, and the birds singing a beautiful song. Are you positioning yourself for a blessing?

Let us optimistically watch expectantly for God to move in our lives. I encourage you to listen to this song “Blessing I can’t see” by Building429 and learn to trust God in everything as he holds the whole world in His hands.

#discernment #waterwalkinggirls

How do I know what’s on the other side of the door? Should I open the door and go through? What if I make the wrong choice? How can I discern the will of God?

Have you ever had these questions swirling through your head when you are in the midst of making a decision?  I certainly have!  

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#stepintothepottershands
As I was cleaning a beach house one Sunday, God used a piece of clay to grab my attention. I was unloading the dishwasher to find the footprints poem beautifully painted on a clay coffee mug. I almost missed the words as I scurried to put the dishes away. I received this as a God wink and took a moment to allow this interruption to bring me great joy. The footprint poem derives from Psalm 77:19 NIV “Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen”.
This poem has become words I cherish since my Dad lost his battle to Pancreatic Cancer. Early on in his diagnosis, he heard God speak this poem into his heart one morning as he walked his dog Baylee. For the first time since his death, I realized that same God that carried him through his cancer journey is the same God that is carrying me and my family through our grief. Just like a clay pot can be molded and remolded, grief strikes, and I am like a piece of clay cracked with sorrow, watered with tears, and remolded with God’s grace.
It was God’s perfect timing to present this song to me this week, “In the Hands of The Potter” by Casting Crowns. Some of the lyrics sing; “But now sorrow beats down on me, waiting for you to come through. I’m all alone with my questions. I’m dry and cracked open, I thirst for you. And as I fall apart, come flood this dessert heart. Fall like the rain, living water. I know your way is best, Lord help me find my rest. And I’ll be the clay in the hands of the potter”.
There are angry days where I could throw that coffee mug till it shatters in million pieces. There are joyful days that I find myself smiling at my coffee cup, sipping as I reminisce. Whatever emotions come my way, every day I have the choice to step into the potter’s hands and let him continually mold me. We read in Isaiah 64:8NIV “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand”.
Grief could be so many things. Like the loss of a dog, a broken marriage, the death of a love one, or the guilt we often impose upon ourselves. Whatever grief you find yourself in today, intentionally start each day by stepping into the potter’s hands. He is waiting to hold you in the palm of His hand.

In The Hands of the Potter by Casting Crowns

#anxiety #worry #waterwalkinggirls
On Sunday I made my first post on anxiety and worry and then drove to a nearby Walmart. Walmart pick-up is one of my biggest blessings! Although I was out of town, I trusted that picking up groceries would still be a breeze. As I pulled into my parking space I decided to turn off my engine in case it took longer than I was accustomed to. Shortly a young lady came out and loaded the groceries in my car and went on her way. I fastened my seat belt and pushed the button to start my car. Nothing happened. I took a deep breath and tried again. After my third try I realized the battery must be dead. I have to admit, normally I would have gotten upset. I was not in my hometown, I didn’t know anyone, and my husband was 2 miles down the road without a vehicle to come help me. I began to pray and God immediately reminded me that the words for the week were anxiety and worry and we were not going to let Satan win this battle. I took a deep breath, called my husband Clark and then texted several friends and ask them to pray. When the young lady came back out of the building to help another customer she was surprised to see me still sitting there. I explained what was going on and asked if she or someone else had some jumper cables and could jump off my car. She said she would go check. She was gone for maybe 5 minutes but it seemed more like 50. The entire time she was gone I was battling with Satan so I would be able to stay calm and not get upset. When she returned she told me another employee was pulling her car around. As the car pulled around I praised God for kind people. Out stepped another young lady who handed me a box of brand new jumper cables and said, “These are for you!” I initially thought she just meant that she wanted me to open them for her as she opened the hood of her car. She then said she was going to switch places with the young lady who initially helped me because she knew more about this kind of thing. The next process took at least 20 minutes as my battery was apparently dead as a door nail. I sat in my car praying that this would work and at the same time thanking God for these Good Samaritans. Finally my car started! As we put down the hoods of the cars I rolled up the jumper cables and tried to hand them to the young lady. She said, “No, you keep them. She bought them for you to have in your car.” Tears came to my eyes and I wanted to hug the young lady, but as you know, I couldn’t because of Coronavirus. I was overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness. As I got in my car I took a picture of the parking place I was in so I could later share with you my battle with anxiety and how the kindness of strangers helped me in a time of need.
The Message version of Proverbs 12:25 reads: “Worry weighs us down; a cheerful word picks us up.” Every single person has their own battles going on today. Every single person struggles with anxiety or worry at some point. Right now our world has so many troubles that affect us all and can cause us anxiety. How can you and I help pick others up? We can be kind. We can share cheerful words. I know at this time we are not out and about or around others which makes it harder to impact others. We have to think outside of the box to be intentional. So today, brainstorm ways you can help lift the weight of anxiety that others are carrying. Send a cheerful text. Make a phone call and share kind words. Write an encouraging note and mail it to someone. Make a positive and uplifting post on social media. Let’s you and I help one another with the battle of anxiety and worry. “Fear not” is in the Bible 365 times which indicates how prevalent this battle is for each of us. Listen to the words of this song called “I will Fear No More.” May these words be uplifting and strength giving for you today.
I Will Fear No More by: The Afters
Side note #1: I once had jumper cables in my car and after years of having them they broke. Apparently we had never replace them.
Side note #2: As soon as I returned to our Airbnb house Clark took my car and bought a new battery.