A Pause on the Path

Challenges

2013-02-11T10:07:00.000-08:00

I've always loved challenges. When lining up for a race, my eyes would scout out the competition, zeroing on the females who looked like they fell in my age group. As soon as I began running I knew that 5K’s were not enough. I had to try a marathon. Then the idea of qualifying for Boston became my next challenge.

As I've said before, I gave up running because of exercised induced migraines and have just found a medication that has allowed me to run again. Now I have found another challenge. Added to running are the mud and the obstacle Challenges

courses.

My first race was on January 27^th and was the Socal Super Spartan. Yes, I did not go the normal route and start with a Spartan but had to start with a killer Super Spartan: 8.5 miles of steep mountain trails mixed with 20 challenges.

I did this with my daughter, her boyfriend, and one of my best friend Cindy and we had an incredibly fun day just being together. We laughed, encouraged each other through pain, and shared burpees.

The Spartan is a run mixed with a military style type obstacle course: climbing walls, running through mud, jumping over fire, crawling under barbed wire, climbing ropes, carrying 40lb stones, sand bags, or huge buckets of sand up and down mountains, crossing walls, balancing bars, and more. For every challenge you fail, you do thirty burpees that include pushups!

One of the most memorable obstacles of this Spartan was a swim in Lake Vail. Without thinking we dove into the water and begun our swim. After just a few strokes the forty degree water took our breath away and cramped up our muscles. I have never been in water so cold in my life!!

The comradeship along the race was unbelievable. Halfway up the hill carrying my large paint size bucket of water, my back was killing me. I said, “I think I’d rather do the burpees!” Behind me a guy of about twenty-five said, “No, you can do this, Give me some of your sand!” Of course, I couldn’t do that because he was struggling with his own bucket filled higher than mine but it was the thought that counted and kept me going.

The last challenge was to jump over a line of fire, then push your way through a line of guy trying to prevent you from reaching the finish line. But we did it and we received our medals.

All this race did was wet our appetites for the killer race of all: The Beast!!! (13 miles of steep hills with 30 plus obstacles (Cindy and I are planning and training to do the Spartan Beast in November. Another challenge!!!

I have a set of personal challenges coming up in my life right now yet I have a wonderful set of friends who are offering to carry some of my sand. I thank God for them every day and I pray you have friends like these as well.

If you feel like you are running over fire or pushing your way through a group of people doing all they can to prevent you from reaching the finish line, I encourage you to press on. You can do this with the strength we have in Christ. (Phil. 4:13)

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

I'm Back: In A Lighter Way

2013-02-05T15:25:00.006-08:00

BEFORE

AFTER

Call it writer’s block that one never recovered from. Or an obsession with blogging being replaced with and obsession with friends and exercise. Or maybe we will just blame it on the new medication. Whatever I choose to attribute the last few months of silence to doesn't really matter because I think I am back.

I am back in a different way and for those of you who followed my blog before, you will notice the difference. There are many changes in my life; from where I live, to what I do with my spare time, to where I worship, to the upcoming wedding of my daughter. But I am still me and I am happy to be back.

Over the next few weeks I will seek to describe some of the changes but will begin with the physical. After twelve years of preventative medications for migraines, my neurologist finally stumbled on something that worked. Getting rid of my (mostly exercised induced) migraines has allowed me to exercise again.

Seven years ago I gave up marathons and shortly after, I had to give up all exercise. I proceeded over the next years to gain about 40 lbs. As of June when I hit the gym again I have now lost 40 lbs. and feel as good physically as I ever have. I will tell you soon about my Spartan race I participated in last week which just wet my appetite to begin racing again: all in a new way!

It is amazing to me how good I feel just not having the almost daily headaches. For those of you also suffering from migraines, I encourage you to stick with your neurologists. I had pretty much given up hope and am so happy that I continued to try new medications, despite the side effects which were often not so pleasant.

God is good and I am so thankful to Him!

I am also happy to be back in Bloggy Land!!!

End of a Season

2013-01-07T18:33:00.000-08:00

I will no longer be hosting On Your Heart Tuesdays. To all of my faithful followers and those who link up, I'd like to thank you for dropping by every Monday and Tuesday. There have been a lot of changes in my life lately, including an upcoming move to Colorado. My 'writer's block' has continued longer than I expected so I am taking a break from 'having' to blog. I will keep my blog open and write occasionally but do not want the pressure of having to post on a regular basis. You have each been a joy and an encouragement to me and I will continue to follow you and stop by as I have time. May God bless each of you in 2013. Shanda

Merry Christmas

2012-12-24T13:31:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to each of you.

May the light of Christ shine down on each of you and fill your hearts with joy.

May His light reflect off of you to fill others with His love.

Pecan Pie Bars / link open

2012-12-17T16:30:00.001-08:00

A bar cookie that is always the favorite of every party!!!

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter or margarine, cut up
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup butter or margarine
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 1/2 cups finely chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine flour, sugar and salt in large bowl; cut in 3/4 cup butter thoroughly with a pastry blender until mixture resembles very fine crumbs. Press mixture evenly into a greased 13"x 9" pan, using a piece of plastic wrap to press crumb mixture firmly in pan. Bake at 350 for 17-20 minutes or until lightly browned.

Combine brown sugar, corn syrup, and 1/2 cup butter in a saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring gently. Remove from heat. Stir one-forth of hot mixture into beaten eggs; add to remaining hot mixture. Stir in pecans and vanilla. Pour filling over crust. Bake at 350 for 34-35 minutes or until set. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Yield 16 large bars.

Melancholy Christmas / Link open

2012-12-03T17:22:00.000-08:00

There has always been something sad about Christmas: that is since I got old enough to not be enchanted in the count down till the presents were opened.

Christmases were always spent away from family; from as far back as I can remember. Either I was overseas or my parents and sister were. Christmas is about family.

Christmas music has always made me cry. Even Christmas commercials cause a flow of tears to roll down my cheeks. It brings out the sentimental side in me.

This week as I listened to the tunes of Christmas songs of years past, I began to cry. I texted a friend who came back with, “The Christmas story is not good for you?” That was testosterone speaking back at me. Maybe it is my estrogen that makes me cry.

So there you have it! I am filled with Christmas Melancholy. In between the joy of baking and the excitement of parties, you will find me crying.

I don’t know what I can do about it as I have been this way all my life. I assume the rest of my Christmases will be the same.

Yet, to my friend, I will have to say, “Yes, The Christmas story is good for me.”

How Does Sin Make You Feel?

2012-11-27T08:39:00.000-08:00

How does sin make you feel?

Sometimes it can make us laugh.

At times we get angry, especially when it's rights infringe on others.

Maybe sin makes us feel uncomfortable, afraid of getting caught in it's snare.

Sometimes we are repulsed.

As I walked the boardwalk, my eyes were drawn to those passed out on the ground, hungover from the effects of their unhealthy lifestyle. I laughed at the man who told me I was a beautiful sight for his eyes. The young man dancing, high, to the sounds in his head caused me to smile. Smells of weed caused to shake my head as I wondered at the openness of it all. Men in green overalls stood outside the Doctor offices enticing people to enter. I wanted to take a photo, thinking, "Only here!".

Then I left and sadness filled my heart. All I could think about was the hopelessness of a world without Jesus. I want to go back. I want to tell the man that beauty comes from the heart and God sees beauty in all of us. I want to tell the young man that Jesus will give him something to dance about. And I want to share the real 'high' that only the presence of God can provide.

Today, sin makes me feel sad.

Linked with Emily

On Your Heart Tuesday Link Open

2012-11-19T14:20:00.001-08:00

I am in Texas helping a friend move. The internet has been disconnected at her house and we have spent the last four days packing. Today we are loading the moving truck.

This is one of those times when the body is so physically tired that the mind cannot even think. I came to McDonalds just to put up this link. but have no post ready. So I will hop back in the pickup and carry on my way.

I pray you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Be blessed!!!

On Your Heart Tuesday is open. Please link your posts.

"Messy Spirituality" and "Desperate People"

2012-11-12T19:15:00.000-08:00

God has been working in my heart and mind this past year, showing me that I have had many legalistic and judgmental attitudes in my past. In showing me my brokenness, God is tearing me away from this mentality, and giving me a compassion and empathy for others.

I recently bought a book called Messy Spirituality by Michael Yaconelli. This is one excerpt called Desperateness.

"Christianity is not for people who think religion is a pleasant distraction, a nice alternative, or a positive influence. Messy spirituality is a good term for the place where desperation meets Jesus. More often than not, in Jesus' day, desperate people who tried to get to Jesus were surrounded by religious people who either ignored or rejected those who were seeking to have their hunger for God filled. Sadly, not much has changed over the years.

Desperate people don't do well in churches. They don't fit, and they don't cooperate in the furthering of their starvation. "Church people" often label "desperate people' as strange and unbalanced. But when desperate people get a taste of God, they can't stay away from him, no matter what everyone around them thinks.

Desperate is a strong word. That's why I like it. People who are desperate are rude, frantic and reckless. Desperate people are explosive, focused, and uncompromising in their desire to get what they want. Someone who is desperate will crash through the veil of niceness. The New Testament is filled with desperate people--people who barged into private dinners, screamed at Jesus until they had his attention, or destroyed the roof of someone's house to get to him. People who are desperate for spirituality very seldom worry about the mess they make on their way to be with Jesus."

I know a few "desperate people" and they are people I admire in their desire to be near Jesus and to be like Him. More and more, they are the type of people I want to associate with.

In fact, I want others to see me as 'desperate'.

What "I" Don't Want (Link Open)

2012-11-05T19:02:00.001-08:00

Ok, I admit it. I don’t want to move and I don’t want to pray for God to change my heart. I just want to pray that God will provide another opportunity where I will not have to leave my friends. That is pretty self-centered isn't it? Today I realized what a brat I was!

I want God to work on my terms. I mean: I think I've done my fair share of moving. I've actually moved on average every two years. One friend told me everything would be alright because I am the best gypsy she knows. But I”m tired of being a gypsy!

It all comes back to “I”.

My husband is buying a business an hour outside of Denver and it looks pretty certain at this point that the loan will go through. It is a fantastic opportunity and he feels certain this is what God wants.

Unfortunately he has a wife who doesn't want to leave her friends, nor her daughter who just entered college here near Los Angeles. Up until now I have not even prayed for God to change my heart. I have only prayed for the deal to fall through or for God to provide another opportunity.

So, today, after spending time with a friend at the beach and listening to her advice, I have committed to praying for my heart to be conformed to His. I pray that I will be willing to do whatever His will is for my life and to stop fighting, to stop being self-centered.

After all, when Jesus prayed, “Not My will but Yours be done,” He had so much more at stake than friends!

Where Prisoners Are Set Free / Link Open

2012-10-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

We walk through the brick corridors with high security walls and are told that this was once a women’s prison. It was the last place where a woman was executed in South Africa.

When the prison closed, Pastor Steve bought the facility with a vision of turning it into a shelter for the homeless and a rehab for drug addicts, alcoholics, and abused. Now, it houses 1500, including families. As we walk through the facility we see many children running around playing, as well as several dog and cats.

Inside the men’s ward, the bunk beds are stacked six beds high, the women’s four. For, none are turned away. Neither are they forced to stay.

At first the place exudes hopelessness. Then, as more and more stories are shared, the heart is lifted. Where once this was a prison for those who had committed horrendous crimes, now this is a place where people find forgiveness of all they have done. For, Christ has already paid the penalty and prisoners have been set free.

Once the inhabitants of these walls were identified by their sins but now, they are identified by who they are in Christ. They are children of God, heirs of the kingdom, and free from their past. They do suffer the consequences of their mistakes and many feel hopeless. But they are given counseling, food, jobs and a second chance at life.

My heart breaks and heals. My spirit sours and falls. My tears fall and dry.

Both last year and this, I was privileged to participate in one of their lively Sunday worship services, a requirement if you choose to live in the facilities. This year, our team had the opportunity to sing, give testimonies and minister through counseling and prayer to the women one evening.

As I get to know just a few my heart becomes attached as only family can. For the women that I meet are now my sisters in Christ. Until I return next year, they will be in my heart and prayers. And I praise God for Salem ministry and a vision to follow Christ in “setting people free from the bondage of sin”

A Mother and Daughter-n-Law And Something In Common

2012-10-25T05:37:00.002-07:00

There is only so much we can talk about. It has always been this way. She does not connect with me at the core of my soul; the place where God meets me. She has always refused to recognize that place in her heart that only He can fill. She has never had much of a life and her life is very small. Our conversations are shallow and empty.

So I search for subjects to talk about.

I show her my tattoo; a cross behind my ear, one that I have gotten since I visited last year.

“I have always wanted a tattoo,” she says, longingly, “but my husband would never hear of it.” I sit amazed and surprised by this little bit of information. A tattoo?

It is the least I can to—a daughter-in-law for a lonely old lady. So we begin to plan our day ahead, and her eyes glisten and lighten up. She is excited as rarely is there a break from the norm of grocery shopping, gym and the weekly art class. She had cried when I arrived at her door two days earlier as she had been waiting out of loneliness for my arrival.

We find a tattoo parlor. They are not the sort of places a seventy two year old Granny frequents. But she is happy and never once thinks of changing her mind.

The artist is ecstatic as she is his oldest client. He takes his photo with her for his wall, to be put among the other, not so desirable photos and drawings. He gives her a butterfly on her arm and a treble clef on her ankle. And I just ‘have’ to get another tattoo as well.

We leave two hours later, arms linked, giggling and walking to the car. It has been a good day. We have something in common: a mother and daughter-n-law feeling just a little mischievous, young, and having a lot in common.

A Call To Knit: Our common ground from my last visit.

Linked with Laura at The Wellspring, Joan at Beauty in His Grip, Alabaster Jar,

Joy in Cape Town

2012-10-22T13:17:00.001-07:00

This past weekend I had the awesome privilege to be in Cape Town, South Africa, with my team, to hold two conferences with the women there. The conferences were called "Healing Hearts" and were aimed at sharing the love of Christ with women and letting them know that the only way to find true healing from the brokenness in our lives is through the power of Jesus Christ.

While there, I met Tracy from My Daily Walk. Tracy and I have been blog friends since March of last year when she began her blog. We became email friends soon after. However, let me tell you the side of Tracy that does not come out in her blog. She is witty, generous, quick on her feet with funny comments and full of fun. We had hoped to meet up last October when I was here in South Africa and it never worked out but she was worth waiting for. We had so much fun laughing and becoming 'hugging' friends as well as virtual friends.You have to love her!! Her husband is great as well: also funny and generous!

I also had the tremendous pleasure of meeting in person Emilene from A Life Guarenteed. Emilene first contacted me about coming to speak in Cape Town about a year and a half ago and it finally, through many prayers and months of planning, came to pass. She is a precious, soft spoken, gracious woman who gathered a team of women who planned two conferences for us. She also was such a pleasure to meet.

I will later blog about the conferences, the wonderful experiences we had and how God worked but for now I just want to praise God for these two Godly women and say how excited I am that I got to meet them in person. They are two blessings on my life that I am so grateful for.

On Your Heart Tuesday link is open. Please link and take a moment to read the link from the blogger before you. Thank you for joining this community.

Rural Government Clinic in Zimbabwe

2012-10-16T15:22:00.000-07:00

Where there's a will, there's a way!!! All Clinics need a wheel chair!

This is a map of all the villages that this clinic services.

The nurse showed us the one hospital ward, used mainly for maternity patients.

This new maternity ward was begun a couple years ago but the government ran out of money. Only $10,000 is needed to complete the building. As our team was a group of women ministering to women, our hearts were drawn to this project and we would love to find a way to raise money to complete this maternity ward for the women in this area.

When Righteousness Becomes A Burden / Link open

2012-10-15T13:15:00.000-07:00

Living the Christian life has always been easy for me; at least for the most part. That is, until recently.

I don’t know what happened but all the sudden living a righteous life was burdensome. There were so many rules and regulations that I became weary. The fight seemed too hard. For the first time in my life I began to identify with so many who struggled to life a life for God. For the first time I had to ask myself if I really wanted to do what was right. I was tired. I have always been a good girl. I have always done the right thing. But now, my heart was not “in” it.

A few months ago God began changing my heart but there are still struggles never present in previous years. It has weighed heavy on my mind, for I am not used this war in my heart.

This morning I read Matthew 11:28-30 and it had a whole new meaning. Jesus had been speaking to the disciples about the oppressive legalism of the Pharisees. They made it so hard to obey all their rules and regulations.

Then Jesus says here, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

He was speaking to men who found living a godly life wearisome and He offered rest. He understands when it all becomes just a bit too much! He offers His yoke and we can learn from Him.

What does that mean? I believe it must mean that the more we learn of his gentle and humble heart, the more we will desire to want to be like Him. Maybe the answer is to learn more from Him.

When I look back over the times when life has seemed the hardest, it has been times when I have not sat at his feet, at least for not enough time. I should sit at his feet until I find rest. On the contrary, if I do not find rest, I leave His presence early.

If I stay in His presence, giving Him my burden of rules and regulations, and taking his yoke of a gentle and humble heart, He will give me a burden that is light and easy to bear.

So, I am committing to staying in His word until I find rest and peace, until my burdens are lifted and replaced with His yoke.

Is Your 'Thing' What You Expected?

2012-10-11T10:08:00.000-07:00

A Guest Post From Kelly

Shanda was very nice to let me post on her blog today to tell you about something that is so near and dear to my heart.

Life takes us places, sometimes, we never expect.

I planned on being a wife, a mommy, a teacher, but recently I became something I never expected—a published author! (thud!!)

How I got to this point is a very long post, but it can be summed up with one word: God.

God had more, different, better plans for me than I ever thought of. Looking back, I can see where he put stumbling blocks, gave encouragement, and helped me along the rat maze of life to get me where I am today.

And guess what? I’m not alone because He’s doing the same thing for you.

Do you have a dream so far out there that you don’t ever see it happening?

Do you have a goal that you question if you can reach it?

Do you doubt what you ‘think’ God called you to do?

I know exactly what you are going through. Last year, I decided I was going to write a novel. I had always wanted to write on (well, it was on the bucket list anyway. I never thought it would actually happen.). The thought wouldn’t leave my mind, “Why not now?”

The kicker is that I have three kids seven and under. I have a full-time, out-of-the-house job, a husband, a house (which is a tad bit messier now…). Why ‘now’ would pop into my mind, I have no idea. *I* didn’t think I had enough time. God knew differently. I’m so glad He did.

Long story short, I finished the novel in March and started querying agents and publishers. In July, I signed a contract with Astraea Press and it was released on October 9^th!!!

I never thought I’d be a publisher author.

I never thought I’d reach that ‘goal’.

Many times when I got rejection letters from agents or publishers I doubted if I even should do this.

Know what? God knew all along what was best. I’m so grateful He did, and I pray that this book changes lives or at least causes people to think about God more in their daily lives while they are reading it.

What about you? Has God given you dreams you can't imagine coming true? Or has He done something for you that you never saw coming?

~Kelly

Sixteen year old Rachel Harker expects the church sponsored hiking trip in the Smoky Mountains to be short and painless. Four days later, injured and scared, Rachel prays to just make it home alive.

Asher Jenkins, fellow hiker and handsome skeptic who is only on the hike so he doesn’t have to go home and face his abusive ‘uncle’, finds Rachel in the woods and tries to get her back to Deep Creek Trail. A small hole hidden under the fall leaves causes her ankle to twist and forces Asher to leave her to get help. As night falls, he comes back, unable to find the right trail.

As hours stretch into days, an unexpected rainstorm bears down the mountain, flooding Deep Creek and cutting off their way home. Rachel puts all of her faith in God to save them. Asher thinks believing in God is a waste of time and does what he can to prove to Rachel that He doesn’t exist.

With their food gone and the temperature dropping, time is running out. Will Rachel be able to do what needs to be done to get home? And can Asher find faith when he needs it the most?

CROSSING THE DEEP can be found at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and www.astraeapress.com.

Kelly Martin is a sleep deprived Mommy of three who wouldn't have it any other way. She is a special education preschool teacher, blogger, and author. Her second book, SAINT SLOAN, will be out in late winter 2013.

www.kellymartinstories.com (formerly oh that mom again)

www.encourage365.com

Week One, OYHT link open

2012-10-08T21:52:00.000-07:00

Week One: I would love to post photos and videos but feel blessed to just have internet access at this moment!! So I will just recap this first week quickly before I head out for the day. No running water Using a bucket to flush only when necessary Learning how to wash your hair in a bucket Bathing out of a bucket Using bottled water sparingly. Random electricity cuts Having a surprise birthday party by candlelight with random presents bought at the market A women's conference in the village Conference in Ruwa, Loving the worship with the Zimbabwean Christians Sudza, rice, chicken Hospitality shown us by village women inviting us into their homes (huts) Praying with the Zimbabwean women A team learning to use interpreters No WIFI nor phone access A 12 hour bus ride yesterday to Victoria Falls. Today: Victoria Falls Tomorrow we head to Johannesburg and will have WIFI again

SaZi Team is Off!!!

2012-10-01T20:52:00.000-07:00

A dream two years in the making and a team nine months in prayer and training is finally taking off! We leave tomorrow, October 2nd for a week in Zimbabwe and two weeks in South Africa.

Most mission teams experience culture shock as they adapt to the culture they will immerse themselves in for a couple weeks. This team will be experiencing different cultures almost daily. The day after we land in Zimbabwe, we will spend a day in a rural village where we will be leading women in a mini conference on 'Training Women For Effective Ministry'. Many of these women will not read and none will speak English. We will be in their village, view their schools, homes, wells that our church has dug, and schools that we have helped paint.

Our second day will be giving the same conference in a city to women who read and many of whom speak English. Our Sunday will be spent in city churches.

From there we fly to Johannesburg and Cape Town where we will be in African Townships, Colored Townships, Predominately White City Churches, upper class churches, some extremely poor white churches as well as mixed churches, varied denominations and economic backgrounds. Each of these groups has a different culture.

Please pray for our team of women as we set out on this venture. My sister and I know the cultures well as we grew up and ministered in Africa. The others are nervous but excited.

My heart is full but there is no time tonight to share as I have still to pack. I wanted to schedule my posts but that did not happen either. So, I will write as I go and share my heart from the plane and from Africa.

This has been probably the hardest year of my life and I cannot help but pray that it has not been in vain: that God is going to use all my broken pieces to help me reach out to a broken world. As I sort through the fractured pieces of my heart and mind during the next month, I will seek to share it with you.

Thank you, my faithful friends and readers, for being patient with me these last few months as as I have been pretty silent on this blog. I think I am ready to open up and share. There will be more to come.

Healing in Brokenness / Plus OYHT link

2012-09-25T07:54:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we had our preview of the Healing Hearts conferences our mission team will be giving in South Africa next month. In reality, it was conference number one.

As the ladies crowded into my living room, cleared of furniture and lined with chairs instead, we began with worship and a reading by Sarah Young. I'd like to share one part of this reading with you:

I rarely heal all the brokenness in a person's life. Even my servant Paul was told, "My grace is sufficient for you," when he sought healing for the thorn in his flesh. Nonetheless, healing is available to those whose lives are intimately interwoven with Mine. Ask, and you will receive."

Life would be so much easier if God would completely heal us of all our brokenness. Why cannot we be completely rid of the pain, the consequences and the struggles of our past, our sin or our circumstances?

I remember when, pregnant with my twins, the placenta separated from the wall of my uterus. To keep from loosing my babies, I was put on complete bed rest for four weeks. On my second day out of bed, the placenta separated again, causing me to return to bed for four more weeks. The Doctors explained to me that, given time, the scar tissue would be stronger than the original tissue and my babies would be safe. I just needed to let the placenta reattach itself and the scar tissue form. That is what happened.

Maybe that is what happens in our brokenness. The scars we bear are what make us stronger in the long run. The healing process is not fun. In fact, sometimes we may spend a life time healing. But we have to trust God that He is healing and, in His time, the scar tissue will form.

It may be in this lifetime. It may be in the next.

We will be made whole.

In the meantime, He will never give us more than we can handle at any one given time.

So we keep trusting and drawing on His strength. For, "His grace is made perfect in weakness."

Letting Go ; OYHT link open

2012-09-17T21:02:00.000-07:00

What do you seek to fill your life with? What is it that temporarily satisfies the emptiness in your heart and soul? Sometimes those things are good, sometimes not.

Either way, if they are not the eternal fulfillment that God wants us to have, they not only will not fulfill us, they will also destroy us.

In a 2008 Rolling Stones magazine interview with Brad Pitt, Brad said these words, “Man, I know all those things are supposed to seem important to us; the cars, the condo, our version of success. But if that’s the case, why is the general feeling out there feeling more impotence and isolation and desperation and loneliness? If you ask me, I say toss this, we gotta find something else. I don’t have those answers yet. The emphasis now is on success and personal gain. I’m the guy who’s got everything. I’m sitting in it and I’m telling you, ‘This is not it!’”

Here is someone that seemingly had everything yet had not found inner fulfillment. It is a constant battle for each of us to continually draw our hearts back to seeking our fulfillment only in God. We have deeper cravings then these and only Jesus can satisfy them.

When we cease clinging to these things, people, ideas around which we seek happiness and define our lives and hand them over to God, we are free to find our fulfillment in Him. But first, we must hand over these things to Him.

Sometimes this is hard! We don’t want to let go. It may be painful. But it is only in letting go that we can find all that God has intended for our lives.

What is it that you need to let go of to enjoy God fully in your life?

On Your Heart Tuesday link is open. Please link your post and take a moment to read the post of your neighbour.

9/11 / On Your Heart Tuesday link open

2012-09-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

In honor of 9/11 I have decided to remain silent.

Please link your posts below.

Pick Up The Bowl And Towel / Plus OYHT link

2012-09-03T20:26:00.000-07:00

“Don’t worry about the crown. It will come later. Just pick up the bowl and towel.”

That was what I came away with Saturday after putting my daughter into school at Life Pacific College. My baby moved into her dorm and began her first year of college.

The feelings were not so mixed as Adele had spent so much time in Africa over the last year and a half and has been away from us. This college is only fourteen miles from our house!

What I took away with most was this idea/phrase that came out of the President’s speech during lunch. Life Pacific College is purely a Bible College with only two majors: Transformational Ministry and Biblical Studies. While encouraging the new students to study and learn, he said something to the effect of, “Don’t worry about the crown. It will come later. Just pick up the bowl and towel.”

This was a good message to young people going into ministry, often full of ambition and enthusiasm. Yet, it applies to each of us no matter where we are in life.

When we focus on the crown, the glory, and the praise, we have lost sight of what our goal is as servants of Christ. Our goal is to serve with all our heart, soul and mind and body. The praise belongs to God and whether we receive the crown should be irrelevant.

May we serve as anonymous servants. May all we say and do be for His glory alone. Don’t worry about the crown. Just pick up the bowl and towel!

Linking with Titus Tuesday and Soli Deo Gloria,

We Choose What To Dwell On

2012-08-27T21:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning I opened my email to find yet another venue added to our schedule for our trip to Africa. My first reaction was excitement. That was soon followed by a feeling of complete humility that God would entrust my team and I with so much responsibility and with speaking into the lives of so many woman.

In less than an hour I was driving to the gym and my reactions changed once again. This time I was filled with fear: fear of failing both God and the women we are to speak to. I was also filled with fear of failing the women who had invited me to come minister to them. Then fear of falling into sin and living a life so utterly unworthy (even more so than now!) flooded my thoughts. Tears began to flow down my face and they would not stop.

My intended workout did not happen and as my workout partner just sought to encourage me to remember that these thoughts were not from God but from Satan.

The rest of the day was filled with fear and sadness.

This morning, I awoke with the inaudible voice of God reminding me once again that my reaction to every event and emotion is a choice. He brought 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 to mind, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Today, my goal was to take make every thought obedient to Christ! He took away the fear and replaced it with excitement and joy. We cannot help the thought that go in and out of our minds but we can choose what thoughts we will dwell on. Yesterday, I made bad choices, those that Satan was pleased with.

What about you? Are you allowing negative thoughts to make their home in your heart and mind, or are you making them obedient to Christ. It is a choice. It is not always an easy choice but one we have to make every day. But we fight with weapons that are not of this world and we do have to power to demolish strongholds!!!

On Your Heart Tuesday link is open. Please link and take a moment to read at least one post.

Fighting the Ocean

2012-08-20T15:39:00.001-07:00

Last week a friend and I went to the beach. It was a perfect day and we spent most our time in the water. Towards the end of the day we went out one last time and had swam quite far out, enjoying ourselves for about an hour before the lifeguards motioned for us to come in. Reluctantly we obeyed. As we neared the shore, we realized the surf and waves had picked up and the ocean had become very rough. Getting out was not as easy as earlier in the day.

I regretted wearing a two piece at this point. Every time I managed to place my feet on the sand, a wave would pick me up and pound me to the sand, turning me upside down and twisting me until I didn't know what side was up or down. I had one hand trying to keep my top down and one holding my pants on, all the while trying to also keep my balance. Before I could gain my composure, another wave would turn me upside down again. By the time we got out, we were laughing so hard our stomachs hurt as bad as the scrapes on our bodies from being beat against the roughness of the sand. I was relieved just to make it out with my swimming suit on my body.

The last few months for me have been like trying to get out of the rough ocean, only to get knocked down and pushed under over and over. It began by wondering if God had any plans for my life. That was followed by the rejection of a friend I loved dearly, the death of another, medication that caused extreme anxiety and trying to find the right dosage. During this time I was faced with one temptation after another along with one trial and struggle after another. I was also trying to help close friends going through struggles of their own.

I came full circle from wondering what God wanted with my life to Him giving me obvious direction. I had three emails in my inbox with speaking invitations but I was at a point where I didn't know if I wanted God's calling on my life. Never having been at this point in my life before, I was afraid. It was a dark and dangerous place to be, to question God's obvious calling. I was tired of trying and wanted to run: to escape to a place with to responsibility and where no one knew me: to be a nobody. The ocean of life was threatening to pull me under and the waves were too strong to fight against.

Then God met me and brought me into a loving place with Him that I had never been before. Through the love and support of a couple friends as well as time with Him, He restored my soul. Then he gave me these verses from Psalm 66.

Let the sound of His praise be heard

He has preserved my life

And kept my feet from slipping

For you, O God, tested me;

You refined me like silver.

You brought me into prison

And laid burdens on my back

You let men ride over my head

I went through fire and water

but you brought me to a place of abundance.

Come and listen, all you who fear God;

Let me tell you what He has done for me.

I cried to Him with my mouth;

His praise was on my tongue.

If I had cherished sin in my heart,

The Lord would not have listened;

But God has surely listened

And heard my voice in prayer.

Through His fire, my sin, the sin of others, and natural occurrences, I was tested and tried. I struggled and cried and wandered and wavered. Yet, in the end, I felt like God was saying, "Shanda, In the end, because your heart was right before me and you were faithful, I have heard your prayer and delivered you." Not only did He deliver me from the waves of the ocean but I got out with my swimming suit on! God is good!

He knows our hearts and is always faithful. We have so much to praise Him for.

On Your Heart Tuesday link is open. Please link your post then take a moment to read the post of the blogger who posted before you. Thank you for linking back to this blog and for being a part of this community.

Linked with: Soli Del Gloria,

Obscurity and Monotony: God's Training Ground

2012-08-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

I have been reading Charles Swindoll's book on David, A Man of Passion and Destiny, and wanted to share from one chapter. Our society puts so much pressure on us to succeed and to be noticed: to be extraordinary. Yet, when God called David to be king, David was a nobody, a simple shepherd boy.

Last week I shared how God trains his servants in times of solitude and I wanted to just quote parts of Swindoll's book in this post for today.

"David grew up in obscurity. That's another way God trains his best personnel--in obscurity. Men and women of God, servant-leaders in the making, are first unknown, unseen, unappreciated, and unapplauded. in the relentless demands of obscurity, character is built. Strange as it may seem, those who first accept the silence of obscurity are best qualified to handle the applause of popularity.

The third training ground is monotony. That's being faithful in the menial, insignificant, routine, regular, unexciting, uneventful, daily tasks of life. Life without a break...without the wine and roses. Just dull, plain L-I-F-E."....."Just constant, unchanging endless hours of tired monotony as you learn to be a man or woman of God...with nobody else around, when nobody else notices, when nobody else even cares. That's how we learn to 'king it'."

May we find joy and fulfillment in being who and where God has called us. May we be faithful in the simple things, when no one sees. May we serve the audience of ONE.

On Your Heart Tuesday link is open. Please share your post and take a moment to read the post of the person who linked up before you.