Temporary tattoos are more my speed. So, last year, I bought a temporary tattoo subscription as an Easter gift for my family.

Each month, a new temporary tattoo arrives with a Scripture on it. It is written in such a way to help you memorize it.

See how it works? The first letter of each word. Cool, right?

We got our first tattoo in the middle of March. And I was so excited to open it up. What would we memorize? How would God speak to us? Encourage us? Lead us?

I opened up the envelope, turned the mini devotional card over and saw this verse:

I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief. Mark 9:24b

Huh? That’s the verse we are going to circle around this month? We’re going to talk about how we don’t believe ENOUGH? What kind of faith-filled, helpful Scripture is that? Why would they chose that one?

We read the mini devotion, put the tattoo on and talked about it. But still, I wondered why that verse would be a good one.

This is exactly one year ago when all the COVID-crazy began. Everyone was scared (or at least dazed) and we all seemed to hunker down to prayer a bit more.

During the first week of real shut down (the same week Disney World closed, y’all), my best friends’ dad was put in the hospital with coronavirus. He was on a ventilator for 21 days and became one of the first deaths in Georgia from COVID.

During that time, we prayed. We prayed a lot. And during those prayers, we believed for healing. And then sometimes, we got scared and didn’t…couldn’t believe.

And that verse would come back to me. I’d look down and remember that we could ask God to increase our faith. It was a reminder that big faith is something God not only wants us to have but will give.

Who knew that this was just the beginning of the faith we’d need in 2020?

When our next tattoo arrived, I was ready for it. And what Scripture should appear?

“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13

In the midst of a global pandemic, “I and the Lord your God”.

When everything is closed, “I take hold of your right hand”.

When nothing is certain, “Do not fear. I will help you.”

It’s the truth our hearts needed.

In May, we got a long verse in the mail. “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17

And again, I felt like this was a verse that was good in theory but didn’t seem like one I’d look down on my wrist and go, “Ahh, thank you, Lord!”

But, do you remember what happened in May of 2020? George Floyd. And all the things that happened after that.

God was planting that seed in my heart (and in every heart who had that tattoo on their arm!) before all of it even started. He was preparing me (us) to do right, seek justice, defend the oppressed, to take up causes and plead cases for those who need it.

Guys. Are you tracking with this yet?!

And we are only in May! Let’s keep going!

On May 15, doctors discovered a tumor in my dad’s colon. This is a long story I am documenting with several blog posts but the short version is that this is the second time he’s had a cancerous tumor there.

The last time was 13 years ago and God healed him. Since then my dad has clung to the verse from Psalm 91,

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Everyone who knows my dad knows this is his favorite verse. He even has it tattooed (like a REAL tattoo) on his arm.

So, when our next Dwell tattoo came in the mail, it felt like an actual kiss from the Lord to see Psalm 91:1 in black and white.

(And, as another aside, that big “A” design for this Amanda? Pretty nice.)

The next month, my dad is in the throes of debilitating chemo for a diagnosis that the doctors have told us is the worst one you can have.

And what tattoo shows up in the mail?

My dad’s second favorite verse. The one he speaks more than any one, the one that encapsulates his new life in Christ:

So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

Free indeed. Free from sin. Free from fear. Free from worry. Free from cancer.

It’s hard to imagine that this can keep going. I mean, God didn’t set this whole tattoo company up just for us, did he?!

The next month, as my dad is still in the hospital, still barely able to talk, experiencing all the most horrible side effects of chemo and my entire family are believing for God to take this cancer away, we get this in the mail:

Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:2b

NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE.

Cancer will not be impossible.

Chemo will not be impossible.

Life will not be impossible.

So, we stuck the tattoo on, took this as a word…a Word from the Lord and spoke this one over and over again. We used it to remind ourselves of what is really true. Not cancer. Not chemo. But the impossibility of the POSSIBLE with Jesus.

More verses came last year and each of them were significant because God’s Word is significant. Each one pressed something deep into our hearts and spirits even if we didn’t understand it.

At some point, the Holy Spirit will bring these verses back to us when we need it. We will have that bread of God’s Word when we are empty. We will have the water of God’s Words when we’re thirsty. We will have the power when we are powerless.

William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury in the 1940s said, ‘When I pray, coincidences happen, and when I don’t, they don’t.’

This is what happened to us last year with our Dwell tattoos. We prayed and the “coincidences” started. It’s not magic or the Universe or some kind of positive thinking. It’s God.

He is an attentive Father who loves, loves, LOVES us and is ready and waiting to speak to us. But he’s a gentleman. He doesn’t barge in and and tell you what’s up.

However, when we do ask for His words, his attention and His direction, you better watch out! He can and will do it in the best, most creative ways. He knows you intimately and wants you to know him, too.

***

14 years ago my dad was rushed to the hospital because a cancerous tumor exploded his colon. After surgery the doctor said, “He’s eat up with cancer and he’s not going to make it.”

That was just minutes post-op and when my mom relayed those words to me– seconds after I had driven from my home in Birmingham, with my little Lydia in the infant carrier. The only thing I could say in response was, “That is not true.”

I don’t really know where that came from. I wasn’t sticking my fingers in my ears and saying “nah-nah-nah-nah, I can’t hear you!” Looking back, I think, maybe it was Holy Spirit speaking to me. My mind may not have been 100% convinced, but I think my spirit was.

And I don’t know how to say it any better than this but God healed my dad. A few days later, that same doctor came back in to report on the pathology of the cancerous tumor and said, “You know, we’re not really sure if it was cancer.”

Although they suggested he have chemo at the end of the whole ordeal, they called it a “mop-up chemo”. Quite a different story from a week earlier when they said he wasn’t going to make it.

Daddy has been cancer free and continues to do what he has always done–serve people and love them well. However, 3 weeks ago, we found out he had another tumor in his colon. And 1 week ago he had surgery to remove it.

Two days ago, the doctor gave the diagnosis of “Burkitt’s lymphoma”, a high-grade, rare, aggressive cancer. Which is apparently the worst kind you can have. He is at home healing now (from 24 days of not eating and some really Frankenstein-looking staples in his stomach) before they want to begin an aggressive chemo.

I know what you’re thinking, “Amanda, God didn’t heal your dad. That’s silliness. It was just a wrong diagnosis. They got the tumor out and he was better. That’s all. If God had healed your dad, then he wouldn’t have this cancer now. And if he did heal him, then how lame is God now?!”

And you know what? I may have agreed with you until that last part. God is not lame now. In fact, I have been more convinced than ever these last few weeks and months of the MIGHTY POWER of God.

God is not a Bible story. He’s not a Pinterest image. He’s not an old Grandma I go to for comfort. God is the Most High. Yes, the Highest over all. Over creation, over people, over sin, hate and even disease.

God is Almighty. Mighty to save from sin and death. Mighty to send peace in the middle of the worst storms. Mighty to empower the weakest of believers.

God is There. In the middle of all the pain, all the horribleness–God is there. And to quote a new fave song, “Even when I don’t feel it, He’s working.”

God is the Rock. He is a firm foundation when our life seems to be washing away and crashing around us.

God is the Provider, the One who saves, the one who waves a banner of victory over our battles, the attentive Shepherd, the true Helper, the Light in the darkness and the Healer.

So. Now that you’ve heard the problem, and heard my solution, I have 2 requests:

1–Pray for my dad. His name is Darrell and if you know him, you love him. There is no one like him. I know people say that about their dads, but really. There’s no one like him.

But here’s my caveat: don’t pray with sadness about this terrible thing that’s happening. Pray to the MOST HIGH, ALMIGHTY God. Ask Him to deliver my dad, not because my dad deserves it or because there are X amount of people praying but because Almighty God is able, willing and strong.

If that makes you feel weird, then it’s ok, you don’t have to pray. But I believe bold prayers and bold belief honor God.

2–If you have made it this far just so you can roll your eyes at my close-minded faith or because you’ve never heard anything like this, I have a challenge for you. Grab a Bible or download one (YouVersion) and start reading the Psalms.

I promise you, you’ll be impressed with God. You’ll see a God who delivers in the worst of times, a God who provides, comforts, protects and demonstrates his loving faithfulness to every one at all times.

Intrigued yet? Ready to hear the rest of his story? Part 2 coming soon…

When I was in college a professor assigned a book called The On Purpose Person by Kevin W McCarthy. It was a fictionalized account of this guy who was down and out but got turned around when he discovered his life’s purpose.

He learned to evaluate all the different areas of his life–physical, emotional, spiritual, etc. to define a purpose for each. Then, he looked at all those purposes and narrowed them all down to the one main thing he was supposed to do.

As you read his story, you were instructed to craft the same purpose statements for your life.

It ended up being one of the most influential books I read my entire college career.

When I finally winnowed down my purposes to one, it surprised me. My main purpose–out of all the areas of my life—was to “be a good mom”.

It literally puts tears in my eyes as I type that. I had no idea what that meant at the time. I was in college! Planning my career! I didn’t want kids right away and certainly didn’t want to be defined by them.

Now 20+ years later, I’m so glad God planted that purpose within me. I’m so glad my professor helped me flesh that out of me.

That little phrase has always been at the back of my heart and mind. Even when we chose not to have kids for 7 years, that purpose was there. And once I had my first, I knew it with a different passion. Being a good mom is the hardest, best purpose I could have.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago.

I went to a leadership/Bible/ministry workshop. One of the sessions was about Purpose.

I was excited about this because as a mom of 12 and 15 year old, I really and truly see the end of my at-home, nitty-gritty parenting years coming to an end. I know, I know, you’re never not a parent. And I still have many long days ahead of me.

But, I still feel it. In 10 years, I’ll have a 22 and 25 year old. I could literally have grandchildren. Just ten years ago, I was writing on this blog about my 2 and 5 year old–and that seems just minutes ago to my heart.

And then there’s this blog thing. Ten years ago, I wrote 6 days a week on 2 blogs! (Seriously, go look at March 2011–there are a lot of posts!) In 2020, I only wrote 12 posts total. And my social media has been equally sparse and spotty.

So, what’s my purpose here? Online? As an ebook author? On social media? As a mom? a 40-something? a Christian living in 2021?

Is it maybe a little more detailed than “be a good mom”? I’ve always wanted to Do and Be for the Lord. I don’t want to waste the time and place He has for me. Purpose is something I always want.

Back to the workshop. We were given a code for a simple 3 minute quiz online. It was like any other personality test where you pick the first response without over-thinking it.

But instead of questions there were 2 word phrases to choose between. Which one sparked something in you? Which one seemed to speak to you? Which one was YOU?

I went through every level trying not to think too hard. And when my final phrase came up, my heart leapt.

It was exactly what I love.

LIGHTING THE WAY

Now, that might not resonate with you as it does with me. Because, well, it’s mine.

But, if you do know me at all, you might see it in me.

Back in the day, when I used to blog about LOST and purple and chocolate it was because I l-o-v-e-d those things and needed to make sure you knew how awesome they were, too!

I had another segment called My New Favorite where I showed all the new stuff I’d found lately and loved. I also did a Top Ten Tuesday where I wrote about the TOP BEST THINGS EVER, well, at least in my humble opinion.

Seeing into me a bit? I love sharing things that I love. I think EVERYONE should love the things that I love. I want to illuminate these things for you so you can have them, use them and LOVE them like I do.

This, of course, morphed into parenting things. I felt like I had a bit of a corner on how to tell my kids about Jesus that I didn’t see other parents doing. And I wanted to share them with you.

I love coming across legitimately good resources for you to use with your kids. I want you to pump the music I pump and read the books I read because I love them and think you should, too.

This led to me writing Truth in the Tinsel and A Sense of the Resurrection. I want you to see what I see in Christmas and Easter–that they are perfect, sparkly, glittery times to lead your kids to Jesus. And I want to help you do so in a way that isn’t hard or overwhelming. In fact, I want to give you all the resources you need to do it easily and enjoy doing it.

So. Can you see me? Lighting the way? I want to light, illuminate and ignite a passion in you to lead your kids to Jesus. I want to shine a light on things that will help you do so. And I want to give you to the course, the tools, the way to do it.

But, y’all, how cool is God?! Because this is exactly what I want to do as a mom for my kids, too! I want to light the way to Jesus. To ignite a passion in them for His Word. I want to illuminate the good and the bad, so they will see the Way they want to go and choose it with happiness and excitement!

Everywhere I turn, my purpose is the same.

Oh, and other reason this is such a cool God-thing? This online quiz? It’s from On-Purpose.com and Kenneth Wagner who wrote the book I read in college.

How sweet of our Father to reassure me of that purpose he planted all those years ago and then reiterate it again to me as a mom to teens?

So, why am I telling you all this?

I want to be a good steward of my purpose.

I want to Light the Way for my kids. And to do so, I can’t have 50 inboxes, lead multiple Facebook pages and groups, have a stellar Instagram account, tweet, understand TikTok, write blog posts, craft email campaigns and take Pinterest-worthy photographs.

I also want to Light the Way for you. And again, I just can’t do All The Things that the internet tells me I have to do to get eyeballs on my words. But I also don’t want to ignore the platform and the sphere of influence He has so graciously given me. (Which, is what I’m afraid I’ve done the past few years as life has happened and the internet has gotten more…internety.)

So, I’ve decided to close a few of my inboxes (I mean, seriously, why do we need an inbox on every single website??) and allow myself to not care about the things I’m supposed to do.

Instead, I’m going to do what my mentor Jim Wideman always told me, “Do the things that only you can do.”

I’m the only one that can Light the Way for my kids. I’m their mom. I’m the only one that can walk through the teen years with them. I’m going to do it with torch in hand.

And I’m the only one that can write on this space. You can look at a bunch of cute and funny pics on Instagram. You don’t need mine. You can be a part of encouraging, thriving Facebook groups that are better than I can lead. You can find all the great ideas on Pinterest without my help, that’s for sure.

But, I’m the only one that can share what God gave me. He has given me gifts–intellectual gifts, relational gifts, physical gifts, etc. And when I choose to join these gifts to the Holy Spirit’s power working within me it will benefit others. And if I don’t use these gifts, the Body of Christ misses out. My gifts are not for me. They are for the Church.

So, even if my gifts seem small, awkward or overly niche, I want to use them. I want to give them back to the One who gave them to me.

In the next few weeks, I’ll be working on writing here more and when I do post on social media, it will be because I feel like I must shine a giant light for you.

So, what about you? Floundering in your purpose? Check out OnPurpose and take the quiz. It’s only $9. Try it. And if you do, email me, I’d love to hear your purpose and chat about it!

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