She's 12 today..........

It's so hard for me to believe that my baby girl is 12 yrs old today. I look at her and see this beautiful young lady standing were my toddler use to stand. I remember back to those little hands reaching up for me and saying......"up,up". Now this young lady looks at me and says...."mommy does my outfit look ok....does my hair look ok.....do these shoes match....." Wow, where has time gone? But another very special thing that I see in the eyes of this child is a pure unshakable love. When I think of the things my girls have been through over the years I am so blessed to have two beautiful girls who love God with all their heart and are completely dependant on him in everything they do. It really rings true the promise......"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28. The Lord stepped in and took control when there was no one else to turn to. He healed our broken hearts and taught us to depend on Him. I think back when i was a 12 yr old girl and I praise God that my baby girl is not doing the things I was doing at twelve! She is strong and focused, doing great in school, has taken up playing the Violin and is GREAT at it and has also taken up and interest in playing soccer. She's firm in her belief in Christ and isn't afraid to share that anywhere or with anyone.

THANK YOU GOD for guiding me in raising this precious baby girl!!

I praise you because she is fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14

Beautifully Broken

There's something about the passion for Christ that comes from a young girl who is broken and realizes that he is her only hope. That is a beautifully broken heart.

........Let us never forget where Christ brought us out of.

.......Let us always remember the beautifully broken body of Christ that was broken for us.



It seems like yesterday
That my world fell from the sky
It seems like yesterday
I didn’t know how hard I could cry

It feels like tomorrow
I may not get by
But I will try, I will try
Wipe the tears from my eyes

I’m beautifully broken
And I don’t mind if you know it
I’m beautifully broken
And I don’t care if I show it

Everyday is a new day
I’m reminded of my past
Every time there’s another storm
I know that it won’t last

Every moment I’m filled with hope
‘cause I get another chance
But I will try, I will try
Got nothing left to hide

I’m beautifully broken
And I don’t mind if you know it
I’m beautifully broken
And I don’t care if I show it

Without the highs and the lows
Where would we go
Where would we go

I’m beautifully broken
And I don’t mind if you know it
I’m beautifully broken
And I don’t care if I show it

I am beautifully broken
I am beautifully broken
I’m beautifully broken
And I don’t care if I show it


by - This Beautiful Republic

Share your faith.....sometimes use words.

Driving home Saturday after dropping the girls off with their daddy i had a lot of time to think (sitting in traffic of course!! grrr) . Anyway, i began to think of my life and how things have changed. It's crazy for me to think back where i was 5 years ago and where i would be now if it weren't for God's grace and love. I'm so thankful that He did not give me what i deserved and that he loves me just as I am! But I began to wonder do i really share that enough? Is my life enough evidence for those around me to see that God is a mighty God? Yeah, i go to church and i read my bible and all the other "christian" things, but is my LIFE proof? I don't want to be known as being "religious" I think that is a HUGE box that we as Christ followers unfortunately place God in sometimes. We tend to hide Him behind the fact that we go to church everytime the doors are open, that we read our bibles everyday, we squeeze in those few minutes with him.....we even pay our tithes......that should be enough for people to see that i love Jesus, right?? All those things are important and needed for sure! Don't get me wrong there, but if those are the only things that give people reason to "know" I'm a Christ follower than something is wrong. **You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. James 2:19** Our faith should not be evident to others only by the fact that we say we go to church or read our bibles. Our faith should speak louder by our actions and the things we do. Now we aren't saved by our actions, but by grace through the blood of Jesus Christ, but when we are saved it should show by our actions.

**Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. James 2:25-26**

This scripture stuck out to me because here you see a prostitute, prostitute now, that was shown to be right with God by her actions of helping these messengers. Rahab's story (Joshua 2) is marked in this book due to her actions in showing grace to others. She could have turned these men in when the King of Jericho asked her where they were, but she didn't......she chose to help and hid them because she knew that the land had been given to them by the LORD. It says that she was "shown" to be right with God by her "actions"......if Rahab would have asked these messangers to spare her by "saying" she believed in their God and left them to fend for themselves do you think it would have gone the same way? Many people say they believe, but how many follow through with their actions. We all have choices in our lives and I believe God orchestrates opportunities for us to show our faith through our actions, but it is OUR choice to accept and take action.


The world isn't going to know Jesus by us just telling them about him. The world needs to see and feel the love of Jesus. And the only way they will is by our actions through the love Jesus has given us. Let us not "BOX" Jesus in a Religious box. Let us step out and "show" people who Jesus is!

**The one thing that an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable,

is christians professing Christ with their mouth yet denying him by their lifestyle**

Get rid of the box.....

You turned water into wine

how extraordinary-Gave sight to the blind

and still I carry My own load when you told me

To take your yoke ‘cause yours is easy

And I don't wanna box you in

You've been doing big things since the world began

Sometimes I just don't wanna believeThat you're big enough

but you're big enough yeah!

I don't wanna box you in

You've been doing big things since the world began

Sometimes I just don't understand that you're big enough

But you're big enough Jesus

You turned darkness into light

keep my lamp burning

And you are my everything

There's no denying, your love is so amazing

And even though my problems seem typical

Nothing for you is ever too difficult

You never have reservations - love without limitations

And I don't wanna box you in

You've been doing big things since the world began

Sometimes I just don't wanna believe That you're big enough

but you're big enough yeah!

Oh, no matter how I try to get around it

I'm reminded Wherever I go

I'm totally surrounded - It's all about you

I can never doubt you Even if I wanted to…

And I don't wanna box you in

You've been doing big things since the world began

Sometimes I just don't wanna believe That you're big enough

but you're big enough yeah!!!

- Ayiesha Woods

I love this song because it helps me remember how awesome my God is!! It's so easy for me to box him in by trying to deal with situations in my life in my own strength. And being the loving gentleman he is he doesn't argue with me and he lets me do what I "think" I need to do and when out of my stubborness I stumble He is ALWAYS there to catch me. It's like when I was teaching my girls to walk......the mommy in me wanted to hold them and not let them fall, but the independance in them led them to let go of my hand to do it on their own. And really that's how they learn......if I always carried them then they would have never learned to balance or do things on their own. And even though I had to let go of their hand to allow them the room to learn I NEVER left their side and the second they reached up for my hand I was right there to take it! That's exactly how God is with us, he is always right there by our side just waiting for us to take his hand. But when we decide to deal with things on our own it's like we are putting him in a box. And when we don't believe that he can change a situation or that we've gotten ourselves in too deep for God to help then we box him in. He is BIGGER than anything we can ever be faced with! So lets not box in His power........lets get rid of those boxes and release the power of God in our lives!

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope."

Psalm 130:5

Sometimes I wonder why i need to wait for things that in my heart I want to happen right now. Sometimes I'm like an impatient child pitching a fit with my daddy because i want that thing, whatever it is, and i want it now! In my human mind I'm not able to comprehend all that God has planned for me.....that's where my faith in him steps in. I know he has great things for me...His word says so. I know that His word says if I seek him he will give me the desires of my heart. Well, sometimes we tend to misread that verse don't we? Maybe it's not that he gives us what we want, but He gives us our desires. Before Christ my desires were NOT the same as they are now. Some of the desires I have now I actually wonder were they may have come from....like my ministry for instance.....before Christ it was NOT my desire to give my life in reaching a generation that most say is unreachable, but God had a different plan and I am so very blessed that he did! When we follow Christ God GIVES us desires that will help further HIS kingdom. And he gives us the desires we need to reach our full potential in him. But there are still times when I have a desire that God has given me, but if it's out of his timing it's not what I need at the time that I think I need it. And sometimes I try to make those things happen........that don't work either!! God opens doors that no one can open and he shuts doors that no one can shut.

So......I wait for the Lord. He knows my heart and he GIVES me the desires of my heart and he fulfills them in his perfect timing. He is my strength and my rock......in Him I put my hope.

Life lesson from geese......

The other day my daughter asked me why geese fly in a V. As I explained to her the reasoning behind it the simple truth in it hit me and I realized how this could apply to my life in working with others. Maybe you already knew why the geese fly in a V, but whether you did or not I encourage you to read this with an open mind and see how we can apply this to our own lives. This has encouraged me and I hope it does the same for you.

As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an "uplift" for the bird following. By flying in their V group formation, the whole flock adds 71% more flying range than if each bird flew alone.
** Each bird pulls his own weight and in doing so helps the others which aides in the success of the whole flock.

Whenever a goose falls out of the group formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the "lifting power" of the bird immediately in front.
** When you step out from under the cover of leadership things are a lot harder to face. And I know that sometimes we may not agree with the leadership we’re placed under and the way it may be handled, but biblically speaking regardless of who’s in that position we are still to respect that. If it’s not right or if it’s not being handled the way we think it should…… it’s really not our place to judge. That should include many areas in our life…..work, school, GOVERNMENT, etc. All we have to make sure of in this is that we have a clear conscience by obeying God and respecting them.

When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies at the point position.
** Not everyone is going to have a PERFECT day EVERYDAY, we all get tired. And if we could just understand that and instead of talking about them or letting it burn in us that “they aren’t doing their job” and just step in and do what needs to be done then I believe one of two things can happen….. 1. If the person really isn’t doing their part this will bring conviction in them (not for us to judge) or 2. They really just may be dealing with something we may not know of or understand and the simple gesture to help out could make a world of difference in their day (and ours). And I’m not saying we should step in just to “get our desired reaction”….the call of God is to see a need and meet it.

The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep their speed.
** This is simple – ENCOURAGEMENT GOES A LONG WAY!!

When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another group, or catch up with the flock.
** I love this one. Two of these geese actually put their “plans” on hold to help out the one who is wounded…..and with no regards of how long that might take. How difficult is that for us in the world we live in today. We can barely (me included) handle a slow driver in rush hour let alone putting our plans aside all together to help someone else.

I hope the life of a goose speaks to you as it did me. There is one more little tid-bit on the geese V that I thought was very encouraging……..

Geese fly higher in foul weather.
**Storms are going to come. The easiest thing for the geese to do would be to lay out for a while until the storm passes…. but they don’t…..they actually fly higher and face the storm together.

What shadow are you casting

14 Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. 15 As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by

Acts 5:14-15 (New Living Translation)

We all cast shadows.....the question is what kind of shadow are we casting. I think shadows are so funny! You know depending on how or where you stand your shadow can be tall, skinny, short or fat.......all different kinds of shapes. I remember being a kid and finding it entertaining to try and step on my shadow.......but of course my shadow was always one step ahead, or behind me....I never could seem to catch it. It was also fun to make characters with my hands....rabbits, puppies, alligators..etc..I don't know why it was just fun. Well as adults we don't really have fun with our shadows anymore....well most of us anyway, but regardless if we notice our shadows anymore we're still casting one. Just like our lives cast shadows on others whether we see it or not. This verse in Acts really speaks to me on how, as believers we should be making an impression on people. These people were so taken by the life the apostles lived and the miracles they did in Christ, they would actually bring there sick and lay them in the streets....just in hopes that the shadow of the apostles would pass over one of them and they'd be healed!! What faith! But there had to be something in how the apostles lived their lives to bring about such faith. Yes, the faith is in Christ and the miracles are performed through the Holy Spirit, but it was done through the apostles. The people saw how they lived and came from everywhere to find out how they could have what the apostles had! We as Christ followers should be casting that kind of shadow one of hope, life and love. We should be casting a shadow that would draw people to Christ. Our lives and how we live them brings the message of Christ more clearly than just "talking" about it. Do we need to share our faith? Yes, of course!! Am I saying that we should just do good things for people and never tell them about Christ? No, not at all. I'm saying that along with sharing our faith with people we should be casting a shadow that speaks the exact same thing we are speaking. Regardless if you want to or not you WILL leave an impression on people....or cast a shadow on them. Are you casting a shadow full of faith, hope and love? As a believer if your always complaining and negative, sad, angry....etc....how can people see the love of Christ in that? As believers we should have a joy that is contagious.....a life that people would want to know more about and would bring the sick to be healed! Our faith should cast a shadow of faith and joy in Him! So, we should ask ourselves at the end of each day....."what kind of shadow did I cast today?".

5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;

no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

Psalm 34:5