God is in the details!
But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail-even numbering the hairs of your head! So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries. Luke 12:7 Sometimes it’s easy to forget how much God cares for us in the middle of trials, overwhelming circumstances, and just plain hard times. BUT HE DOES CARE!
My daughter had dreamed of her wedding day with her daddy her whole life. They had talked about her wedding day, the dreamed wild and crazy ways of how that day would happen. My husband would even watch Say yes to the dress and David Tuterra’s wedding show. It was really a beautiful time of father and daughter dreaming together. Looking back I see God all over that day. Even though Ronn would not be here for her beautiful day, God had allowed them through the years to plan, dream, and talk about her dress. Having to plan Sydney’s wedding day without Ronn was one of the hardest things for us. BUT GOD!
He brought a beautiful community around us to help us plan her dream day! They went above and beyond! We could not have done that without them!! Before Ronn passed he told me that he had opened an account for Sydney’s wedding dress. When we went to pick out her dress, which was just a beautiful day. God was in the details! When the total was given to me, it almost took my breath away because the total was the EXACT amount in the account! I stood there in shock and waited till we got home and told Syd, your daddy bought your dress!! We both just stood there and cried at God’s provision. BUT GOD!
The day of her wedding came and we woke up with the threat of Covid lurking in the background. My prayer was God please let there be people there when the chapel doors open. This day is hard enough God, please. I looked out on our patio and there flew a red cardinal!! They had been hanging around our house since Ronn’s passing. I stood there and just smiled. As the large wooden chapel doors open, there stood a packed house there to celebrate with us. When the reception was almost over, the president announced starting tomorrow no more gatherings over 50 people. We had close to 200 guest. BUT GOD!
Sydney came to me and said, “ Mom, I prayed that God would let me see a yellow butterfly today.” For those who don’t know, yellow was Ronn’s color. I told her I believed God would do that for her. As she sat in the chair getting her hair and makeup done at the chapel, outside the doors, you guessed it a yellow butterfly flew by. BUT GOD!
But God often goes above and beyond, and he showed off that day. After the first look, they went to a park near by to take pictures. Out of no where, this little girl came running up to Sydney with a yellow flower that was the same kind of flower in her wedding bouquet!!! You can’t make that stuff up!! BUT GOD!
I share all of this to say, even though we often have to walk through incredibly hard times, times where we think we can’t take another step, God is there, right in the middle of all the broken pieces. His word says, “ I will NEVER leave or forsake you.” And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. Jesus holds ALL things together! So friend whatever you are facing today, may you be encouraged God sees you, He loves you, and He is working on your behalf.
I would love to hear how God had worked in the details of your life. Let’s encourage each other and spur one another on!
Weapons of Worship!
Worship is something that I LOVE! It is a great passion for me, it has brought we through some of my darkest times. The only problem is I. can’t. Sing. Now God loves my worship and He delights in it, but people not so much. I have often asked God, “ Why didn't you give me the gift of singing, I would bring so much passion to it?” Well, He didn't, he has given me other gifts to use for His glory. That hasn’t stopped me from experiencing the power of worship as a weapon. This became more real to me as I watched my husband in the fiercest battle of his life. Worship became that place of refuge, of peace, a place where the Holy Spirit would pull me out of deep places of despair and fear, as I worshipped. It was playing in our home consistently, in the car, and as I went for walks. It was my lifeline.
After his passing, which was one of the most difficult few hours that I have ever walked through, worship was there. It was my go to, in such an overwhelming place when I didn’t have words. Since Ronn’s passing worship has continued to be my weapon as I have navigated this deep season of grief.
Praise brings down the walls!
We we are faced with life challenges, praise might seem like the craziest thing to do, but its open the door for God to move. I am reminding of God’s people facing a huge obstacle and the Lord directed Joshua to have his people praise. In Joshua 6:5, the Lord said,“And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall done flat.”Jericho was the last city that stood between the Israelites and the Promise Land. Its towering city walls were so wide that chariots rod on top of them. It looked impossible! God’s solution “seemed” crazy. You and your people march around the wall for 6 days, then on the 7th time around, they were to give a great shout of praise. What? Um God that sounds ridiculous we need a strategic plan, new weapons, a battle plan, not praise! We will look ridiculous. But as they were obedient, God moved, and the walls came down.
There is always a Jericho that stands between you and your Promise Land, one last obstacle that just looks too big. Will you choose to trust God enough to praise Him in spite of disappointment, the medical report, the loss of that job, the difficulty in your marriage, infertility, etc. Make the choice to not murmur and complain but to turn up your praise.
Praise in community is contagious!
This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing. In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning(Hebrews 10:25) This verse came alive for me at church recently. There was a women two rows ahead of me who was holding nothing back, she wasn’t distracting but her worship was contagious. She was pouring out her praise and it “caught on.” Others felt permission to praise God and to hold nothing back, you could feel apathy breaking. There was a shift as we worshipped together. It’s about the posture of the heart, deep gratitude for what God has done, and radical faith of what He will do.
The times we are living in are just hard. So now more than ever we need to be in community. To not pull away and neglect meeting together. So this coming weekend make the decision to come to the house of the Lord to be encouraged, to urge each other on. If you don’t have a church home, message me and I would be happy to meet you at mine.
Praise because God’s creation is worthy!
The beauty and majesty of God’s creation is awe-inspiring. Being outside has been one of the things that has brought such healing to my soul. So the next time you are feeling down and unable to praise. Just walk out your front door. Be intentional of observing the beauty around you. There is nothing like it. In fact if you are up for a challenge, take the next 7 days and walk outside for 10 minutes. See how you feel at the end. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1. How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number- living things both large and small. Pslam 104:24-25.
Welcome!
My heart for this space is to bring solid truth to STAND on from God’s Word when life throws you a curveball. When you need reassurance that you will make it through a rough time, it’s been God’s Word that I have leaned on through the years and will continue to soak up all the TRUTHS found in His love letter to us.
Welcome to my blog page. I am so happy and grateful that you are here.
My heart for this space is to bring solid truth to STAND on from God’s Word when life throws you a curveball. When you need reassurance that you will make it through a rough time, it’s been God’s Word that I have leaned on through the years and will continue to soak up all the TRUTHS found in His love letter to us.
Don’t you wish we could live in a place where our day runs smoothly,
there is no suffering…
no pain…
no broken relationships…
no sickness…
no financial issues...
just peace on all fronts. That, my friends, is waiting for us in heaven. But while on this side, Jesus tells us in John 16:33 – ‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ So because Jesus has overcome we can live an overcoming life.
I bet if we were sitting face to face you might not “feel” like an overcomer! Life may have thrown you a curveball or two. You may be trying to navigate that situation, maybe even wondering…
Where is God?
Why did He allow this to happen?
What am I supposed to do with this life now?
This isn’t the life I had planned.
I understand as I had a major curveball thrown at me. One that I have been walking through, and still am. But what I can tell you, God is there. He sees it all, even when we can’t see it, and He is working on our behalf.
As women, we need each other. We need all the different gifts that God put inside of us. Too many times we think we are competing with each other when in fact, we all want…
REAL connections.
REAL relationships with other women to sit with us,
to really hear our hearts,
to be a safe place,
and to help us walk through life’s challenges.
God created us for community! We were created to connect!
January 20, 2019, I had the honor of being by my husband’s side as he took his last breath in his temporary home and entered his permanent home, heaven. He battled cancer five times in a 12 year period. His last battle was the fiercest one that lasted eight months. It was filled with trauma after trauma. Ronn was such a fighter. I know when he stood before Jesus, he heard, “well done good and faithful servant.”
During our battle with cancer it was God’s truth that I stood on. I would often say, “don’t ask me how I feel, ask me what I know.” Meaning, my feelings can’t be trusted and neither can yours.
But what I know of God and His word it can be TRUSTED!
‘The grass withers, the flower fades, BUT the Word of our God will STAND forever.’
Isaiah 40:8
So wherever life has you in this moment, whatever overwhelming situation you are facing. I ask you the same thing,
What do you know?
What truth are you leaning on from God’s word?
At the foundational level is the power of choice:
To STAND on what we feel.
Or, to STAND on the truth of God’s word.
At the beginning of our cancer journey God gave me Isaiah 41:10 -
Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
Do not be dismayed, because I am your God.
I will strength you.
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
I can testify that through the fierce cancer battle – He did!Through my first year without my husband – He has!And through the days to come – He will!
Friend, these promises are for you too. In the weeks to come I will bring a fresh word to stand on. I’m excited about this journey, and my prayer is this will be an encouragement to you as you journey through life.
The Journey of Grief
There’s not a soul who will hear this that has not been affected by cancer. Joyce is no exception. You’re going to hear how she and her family have navigated – and are still navigating - this road that no one wants to walk down. But she will be an inspiration for you. If you have walked or are currently walking this road, you will feel less alone. And you might want to grab a pen and take notes towards the end when she shares how to sit with someone in their grief.
I had the pleasure of spending time with Carmen a few weeks ago talking about the journey of grief. Below is the post and podcast episode from our interview.
Welcome to my 4th episode of OFF-AIR with Carmen! This week’s guest is Joyce Kelly. Joyce is one of my favorite people ever. I actually met Joyce through the station. OF COURSE, I feel like everyone in our listening family is my bestie, but goodness, when I get to meet some of you, and become real life friends…well, it’s one of the biggest gifts ever! Joyce is one of these people for me. I have so much respect for her, and she has become a dear friend.
There’s not a soul who will hear this that has not been affected by cancer. Joyce is no exception. You’re going to hear how she and her family have navigated – and are still navigating - this road that no one wants to walk down. But she will be an inspiration for you. If you have walked or are currently walking this road, you will feel less alone. And you might want to grab a pen and take notes towards the end when she shares how to sit with someone in their grief.
One last note: when I thought about launching this podcast and the space I wanted to create, my time with Joyce is EXACTLY what I had envisioned. This is what I want OFF-AIR with Carmen to be. Thanks for listening! And if you like this podcast, please rate it and share with your friends.
To learn more about IAMFreedomGirl, visit: https://www.iamfreedomgirl.com/
To see photos of Joyce, with her husband, Ronn, and their children, Grant & Sydney, visit: https://www.themorningcruise.com
Rise Up!
Grief comes to overwhelm,
but God has overcome!
Grief comes to bring despair,
but God rushes in with hope!
Grief reminds you of what you lost,
but God reminds you of all you have in Him!
Grief comes to overwhelm,
but God has overcome!
Grief comes to bring despair,
but God rushes in with hope!
Grief reminds you of what you lost,
but God reminds you of all you have in Him!
Grief comes to stifle,
but God comes to release you into new life!
Grief will come out of nowhere and knock the breath out of you,
but God will breath His life into your aching soul!
If we will allow God, He will carry you through the darkest and loneliest days and nights.
He will redefine your future with hope and promises to prosper.
So as we learn to ride the emotions that come, embrace them, feel them, and then we will hear the Holy Spirt say, “Rise!”
Rise up in all of God’s plans!
Rise up and look the future fully in the face and believe it will be good!
Rise up in full assurance that God is divinely orchestrating each step then take that next right step.
Rise up in strength, faith, and courage in the unknown.
Rise up and decide that you will lean into God’s strength and power and fulfill your divine destiny.
Rise up!
