Reflection of Providence

My beautiful and glorious sisters, what an amazing creation each of them are. I don’t know what I did to deserve them, or why God, in His wisdom, saw fit to grace my life with them. All I know is that I am blessed by this miracle everyday. We grew up close and we have always been close. Oh, there have been fights, and rough dark patches, but they are literally the closest individuals in my life. They know and love me no matter what I do, and over these last several years I watched each of us begin to take meaningful and life-full journeys. It is beyond me why we have grown in the midst of the very grace of God. We have forged our relationship through fire, tears, laughter, and joy. I know without a doubt that someone has been praying for us even before we were born. My only hope is that when we reach the other side of Heaven we will have the opportunity to embrace and thank this person. My sisters have grown into amazing women, and amazing women of a Great God. They know their Maker, a...

I found this little crumpled piece of paper where I had written these things that I felt about myself and the scripture that contradicted this. It was an exercise that I did while going through “The Sacred Romance” by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge. I thought I would share it with you… INSECURE, STAND UP FOR MYSELF, FREAK: 16 I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made. 17 "Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. –Jeremiah 1: 16-18 NOT ACCEPTABLE: 11But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your a...

Two of the most handsome two year olds were helping clean up on afternoon at His Kids. Carter and Cole were lifting a heavy basket into a cubby for me. “We are strong! We are strong!” They kept saying it over and over, clearly not wanting my help, and clearly wanting my approval. I said, “Carter and Cole, you are my strong men!” Carter turns to me and points to himself and says, “Me?” as if asking if this could really be true, searching deep in my eyes for the validation. I said, “Yes, you, you precious boy!” He went off hopping along and saying, “I’m a strong man, I’m a strong man!” In remembering this precious moment I often find myself getting chocked up. We all need it, it is life-giving. It is the reminder of hope in a decaying world. The beauty we find in the ugliness and blackness that can be. We all want to feel important and matter to someone. We all need encouragement. It’s the curse of the fall, the banishment from the Garden of Eden, the dealings with our own heart on how w...

Growing up in church it was very easy to consider it a very normal fair, just another task or duty to be accomplished, another place to go. I was spoiled rotten at my childhood church. It was warm, friendly, inviting, and SO MUCH FUN! I had strong women that raised me right, loving church family, and an amazing preacher who I loved with all my heart. When the family and I moved from Georgia to Kentucky the church was struggling. I’m happy to say it is once again growing and thriving. My family and I quickly began to look for a church that would suit our needs. We ended up in one of the largest churches in town and quickly found our places. There was a thriving college and career at the time and it seemed so lovely and ideal. However, I was going through a really dark period in my life and I was still trying to win favor with others. A deadly game no matter how it is played. Finally, after two years and much emotional scarring, I left the church jaded about what church family meant and ...