A Beautiful Mosaic

All the things I lost brought me to a place where I was ready to receive all the things He was ready to give me.   And had I not lost all the things I had to leave behind, I would never have been ready to receive the things that He was trying to bring into my life.  And today, those things contribute to so much joy and so much purpose and so much fulfillment because they are gifts from God and they are gifts that are full of God and they are gifts of his love. Take heart my friend, if you’re wondering where the heck God is leading you or how you’re going to make it through, take heart…because He has plans that will rock your world.  He has plans that you cannot literally put inside your head and make any sense of right now. But, if you’ll be obedient, He will give you the peace that you need to take action and get to the other side.  That peace is all you need, because when you walk in the peace, you in turn receive confidence and strength, and you get to other side.  And eventually,

I have come to realize that pouring out our lives as children of God is what the journey is all about.  There’s no end to when you’re called to pour it out, to give it away, to die to yourself, to take your life and distribute it to others by putting it in God's hands.  That is what it is about.  It is not something you do one day and then its over and you’re done.  Pouring out is an everyday life calling.  If I ever come to a place in my life where I realize I’m no longer pouring out my life, then I have got to ask myself some hard questions.  I have to do this, because it is not something I just grew out of...this passion to pour out.  My circumstances are not something I have just gotten used to.  Every day is new gift from the Lord, and the blessings He gives us within each day are to be multiplied to those around us.  So, there is not a quota of “amount of life out poured" at which point we get to stop living beyond our self.  Therefore, when there is no overflow from my

[An essay written for Vera Lloyd Pink Hat Day 2013 (4/20/13)] I dedicate any and all I have to say to the kids as THEY are the heroes to every single triumph in this story.  They have overcome so much and here they are today...many of them carrying hope in their hearts and joy in their smiles.  Any story with names or identifying factors has been discussed with the youth named and permission has been granted for you to know this small part of their story in the words I have chosen to share it (For internet purposes, the names have still been changed).  I've compiled this verbal "slideshow" into an essay called, "Vera Lloyd, A Place Where..." Vera Lloyd is a place where safety brings security and eventually healing. I may not ever know the sheer horror that is contained in the words "cruel and unusual punishment," but I have seen the relief in the eyes of children who have been released from it.  And I have seen the chaos of spirit it creates w

What God is teaching me right now... 1.  It is a much sweeter feeling to forgive and love than to indulge the drama or seek revenge. 2.  Sincerity gains you more trust and respect than being loud, showy, fancy, or impressive.  It is much more valuable to be exactly who God created you to be and is empowering you to be in the moment than anything you may think you "should be." 3.  Don't trust everyone who says, "Lord, Lord." (Note: I'm still working this one out.)  Meaning, do not trust that they are necessarily of the same accord spiritually.  Use wisdom and discernment before assuming kindred spirits and sharing things that require any level of trust.  Vulnerability is a wonderful, beautiful, and valuable necessity to the journey that I wholeheartedly believe in, but I must beware of grown-up hurting hearts that do not yet know how to handle my vulnerability. 4.  Everyone is struggling with something. 5.  It is always worth it to take a moment