Sprinkle On!

I’ll be honest, I have been bombarded with the realization that this Princess Path that God has carved out for me (Remember: He has a specific, Princess Path for you too) is both a privileged path and a perilous path.  (Thank you Jesus Calling for these words a few days ago).  Just because it is called the Princess Path, it is surly not a bed of roses, is it?

Sometimes quite frankly, I feel rather presumptuous about carrying out such a calling, one that has involved writing and encouraging other women, and am tempted to quit writing and scriptures like “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life…” (1Thes4:11) the enemy uses to tempt me to be quiet. 

The enemy used scriptures to tempt Jesus too, right??

Any desire to make myself famous I quite frankly want to squash so that the desire for me to make Jesus known through my life can be far greater.  Do you ever feel like this?  Are you familiar with this sort of split-personality…okay, maybe I am the only crazy one-ha!

I surely do not want my efforts to share God’s Love-Light-Life and how He motivates me to do these things during my days to be in vain.  Early on in my faith, I learned that healing takes place when I am vulnerable and share my heart with both God and others close to me.  Writing in a journal has been a part of my journey from the beginning; and I do feel a purpose in walking this Princess Path and experiencing God’s glorious presence along the way and heralding this reality to inspire other princesses.   That is what we are-you know...princesses!

I believe God has given me the gift of exhortation and even humbly I say the gift of writing when I rely on His spirit and not my strength; for I am still capable of being tongue-tied and thoughts are often clogged in my brain, and please don't ask me what a present active participle is (if you do, I will google it) but I surly do not want to just get out my megaphone or my laptop purposelessly….

So what is a girl to do? What is a princess to do?

I woke up this morning and just was crying out to God…show me God what you want me to do with this gift.  I was very honest with my need to be encouraged and helped along this path…this princess path.

After a summer taking a hiatus from writing on my blog to focus on my three little and not so little munchkins around my home; I am now feeling paralyzed-stuck and tempted to quit posting on FB and my blog.  Yet, I don’t feel completely at peace with quitting either. 

I desire dialog and it seems so many are just too busy to comment; or maybe I am not asking for comments????  

Blogger still tells me an astonishing number are reading my blog or at least visiting my page.  So what should I do???

I’m typing and processing through my thoughts as the rain pitter-patters on my windowsills and my eyes are as wet as the ground outside. 

I cannot help but reflect and remember where I have come from and my walk this morning.  Encouragement from the Lord and those He has placed along and across my path I remember…oh thank you Lord that your Word says to remember…

Duet 5:15 “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm….”

Deut 7:18, “But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.”

Deut 8:2, “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

It isn’t supposed to be raining today, the weather man said the last of it was yesterday and I can’t help but smile thinking that God made it rain,  right now, just for me-ha!  (Every Princess needs to know that God is moving on her behalf right at some point...)

I was able to get out and still have my morning walk in between the showers and as my feet were hitting the pavement I was shooting up high my requests to God.   One of my requests was just flat out asking God for encouragement…we can do that you know?!?

I couldn’t help but be drawn to the wetness all around, probably because again my eyes and heart could identify with the soppiness. 

Then it was as if God lifted my head and my spirits by drawing my attention to the sprinklers spraying the lawn across the street. 

I felt as if God was nudging me to see the need for all kinds of watering.  God brings His encouragement once in a while in this desert with a rain storm—but the lawn still needs the sprinklers to spray the much needed water. 

I don’t know, I could be crazy but I just feel this renewed focus to keep going and be that sprinkler of words to a sea of women who may just identify with something I write and I pray they will be encouraged to seek God in His Word and experience the encouragement like rain that only come from above. 

I was reminded listening to this past week's Girlfriendit Radio Show, titled, "What Does It Take?" (you can find it here) that in order to keep pursuing the path God has for us we must keep a balance of a displaying a humble spirit, knowing we do not have all of the answers; yet also very aware that God has given us gifts and to believe not only in God who gave us these gifts but in the power that resides in us believers to use these gifts for His kingdom purposes.  

And with joy may we draw water from the wells of salvation to sprinkle on in this world.  (Isaiah 12:3)

What do you need to keep sprinkling?  

Energized!?!

Recently I was asked and challenged to think about what energizes me? 

I chatted with a group of amazing women from various age groups and women who quite frankly I am humbled to be in the same room with; for they are high-profile, astounding women of leadership in my community.   We discussed the various things that energize us.  Things like the following were mentioned:

 

*Exercise

*Time in God’s Word and prayer

*Being around and talking with encouraging women

*Knowing without a doubt that God used us to speak truth into someone’s life

*Writing

*Being around energizing people

Those are just a few and we also talked about the things that drain us; and I think it might drain me to type those right now…so I am going to move on.-ha!

Okay, it is important to be aware of what drains us so that we can keep the balance:

*Negativity

*Tough/emotional situations

*Criticism

*Lack of support

*illness

The point being that women who inspire others do a good job of balancing their ‘fills’ and ‘drains.’ 

So what drains you and energizes you? Are you making sure activities of both are in your day to keep balance?

Cathi Herrod, President of Center of Arizona Policy suggested we find out and make sure to make time for that in our day.  I was so encouraged listening to her talk and share her story as well as the highs and lows of being a woman of influence. 

I am passionate about being around healthy women and I want to be better at encouraging/inspiring healthy behavior in others.  You know when you see a woman paralyzed with fear or a heart lacking forgiveness; a healthy heart seeking God notices and desires to help bring about healing and change. 

 Don't you agree?

This reminds me of the book Mending the Soul and in it Dr. Stephen Tracy highlights the meaning of spiritual abuse and the fact that spiritual abuse is dangerous, in that it can cause people to distrust their own emotions and convictions. 

“…every individual believer has the Holy Spirit and has direct access to God 

(Romans 14:4-5, 1 John 2:27).  

Thus, every believer has a right to discern the will of God through the Scriptures and the leading of the Spirit without needing a human “priest” to intercede to God for him or her.”   

(Mending the Soul, pg. 32).

Sometimes even well meaning Christians step over this line and things like this are communicated.  How can we stop this?  What can we do about it?  Why is this important?

I am asking myself these questions and pondering God’s plan for me, seeking Him in His Word and praying….AND keeping it my focus to be around gals like Patty and Lisa who are following their own calling to empower women like me and you.  They rally us to do the remarkable by providing resources and relationships.  Do you listen to their radio show?  Check it out here.  They are two of the most healthiest women I know.

What do you think? What thoughts have stirred you and your heart? 

Are You Ready?

Picture found here: fall-leaves

Are you ready?  These three words are echoing in my head as I have said good-bye to the sluggish days of summer and hello to the frenzy days of fall. 

With a house full of boys; one might expect that with this new season also comes the ushering of many football games…but really even boys filled my home I loved this game and watched it often. 

I remember being an awkward twelve-year-old playing ball with the neighborhood boys.  One in particular, showed my girlfriends and me how to play the game of football.  I humbly profess that it was not long before I impressed the boys with my spiral…and I have to hold back my smile when I see the reaction from others still because this momma can throw a football-ha!

I have no problem getting into the competitive game and cheering them on…it is truly my passion and purpose right now to cheer on my boys in whatever they are doing.

However, with this cheering comes some emotions because…that’s my boy out there getting tackled and bruised and banged up.

This is a boy who loves football!

Thank goodness for Dad and his coaching abilities to keep encouraging him through the pain because the tender parts of me want to just wrap my arms around him and keep him from feeling the pain.  I really feel for my sister who is forced to play both roles as her husband died years ago from a brain tumor.  My sister impresses me by the way she has been able to play both the tough dad and the tender mom roles so well…but I know it is still hard. 

As I think about this upcoming season and I hear the coaches on the field proclaim their shrilling words, “Are you ready for some football?”  I also hear my God whispering…”Are you ready for this adventure?” 

Both bring pain and both promise joy! 

Both require courage and perseverance!

Both shape our character and energize our souls!

As I think about these similarities right now in my life, I cannot also think about the impressions the Willow Creek Leadership Summit that I attended last week had on my heart and soul.   There is so much that I took from this conference and God keeps bringing sweet nuggets of encouragement to my memory and I will surely blog soon and share all of my notes…look for those soon. 

I actually shared just a tidbit  on Girlfriendit Radio and you can hear more of Patty and Lisa’s take-aways too here: Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit – Debriefing  or you can also download the free podcast from iTunes here.

  

During the conference, I remember texting back and forth with Patty and Lisa; and ironically during 

Condoleezza Rice’s talk…I think Patty shared via text that she ate a donut and then felt GROSS…

At the moment I received Patty’s text, Condoleezza Rice said, “It is a privilege to struggle.” 

I had to laugh and actually I think I couldn’t help but giggle just a little out loud at the timing of that…and I texted back Condoleezza’s words…poor Patty had to struggle with the feelings of grossness—what a privilege! 

But seriously, it is hard and difficult to walk this path of life.   No one likes to feel pain; but as I see my little 4  ½ foot warrior boy turning into a man…and an awfully good wide-receiver for his age, I might add ;-) 

I see my boy fighting through the pain and because he loves the game, he ends up still energized! 

I then recognize my own pain that I have to lay at Jesus’ feet every day; because it is simply too heavy for my to carry on my own shoulders.

It is like decomposing—Patty and Lisa kept repeating this word throughout the show…you will have to listen and hear Lisa’s ‘decomposing’ story.  However, I can’t help but think that decompressing-decomposing is just what we are called to do….

Scripture reads in John 12:24, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."  John 12:24 ESV

Decompose-die…so that He may live…He may live in us!

I feel the passion stirring in my heart, the cheering section of angels encamped around me (Psalm 34).

I choose to fight through the pain…and even try to rejoice in it....

because I simply love Jesus...and this energizes my soul!

What about you?  ….  Are you ready?

Thank you!

Thank you!

I’m watching the clock, waiting for my boys to come rushing through the front door.

Thank you.

I’ve been here before, but this time feels a little different. 

Thank you.

I feel a little rusty; similar to the way my fingers and thoughts are moving right now as I strive to jump back into writing after a long summer hiatus.

Thank you.

I am trusting the time I had away was just what God had for me; yet, quite frankly questioning more than ever how and where and why to use this gift I have been given. 

Thank you.

There are so many things on my mind to write about…but it just seems fitting to start back up again with a great big THANK YOU GOD!

Thank you.

I give all the fame in anything I do to you…It all goes up to you…and you allow blessings to fall on me(and you). 

Thank you!

Thank you for this day, this love, this space, this opportunity to say thank you…

Thank you!

Have you told someone thank you today?  How about God?  What are you thankful for?