This Weeks Adventure

Hi friends! In case you have been wondering if I fell off the face of the earth, I didnt! Last week I enjoyed a great week at the beach with my mom and little Michael; welcomed my daughters home on Friday from an amazing worship trip they had been on to Daytona, Florida all week, and today was blessed by an awesome sermon at church and some family time this afternoon.

In addition to gearing up for the most amazing life-changing conference in the world taking place in a couple weeks, the annual Proverbs 31 She Speaks Conference, I have also have been preparing for a bible conference that I am speaking at on Monday and Tuesday in Flat Rock, NC. I am so excited about going - and not just because I get to stay in a beautiful mountain resort! I always look forward to these conferences with great anticipation and enthusiasm, because I know when I will leave, my heart will be overflowing with Jesus.

I have to admit though, that I am a wee bit nervous, just like I am before any speaking engagement - whether there will be 20 people or 400 people in attendance, the butterflies are the same! No matter how many times I have done it before, the next time always seems to feel like the first time...I guess that is how God keeps us humble!

The only exception, is that the very first time I was invited to speak at an event, the enemy filled my head with countless reasons of why I had no business being there whatsoever. And for a few moments, I believed those lies and my heart plunged into a pool of fear. I begged God to be by my side, since He was the reason I was in that predicament in the first place! But as I prayed for confidence, peace, and ability, I was reminded that it is my business, to do His business. He gently reassured me in my heart that we are all ambassadors of Christ, authorized to be His representatives - every day!

Even today, years after that first time, I still feel those butterflies before each event, but I try to be much more aware of whose voice I am listening to now. I know that God builds us up, and the devil wants to tear us down, so when I start doubting myself, I tell that mean old doubter to get behind me! But most importantly, and before every single event I ever do, I pray for God to simply take over. Take over my mind, my heart, my ears and my voice. It is His message Im sharing, not my own. My life, is His life. My story, is really His story. I cant explain it, but somehow, I can always feel Him take over, upon my asking. Hallelujah!

My messages this week are about listening to Gods voice, embracing the call He puts on our life, and having a positive attitude - all things that I struggle with sometimes! Ive always heard God has a sense of humor, so I guess He is getting a good giggle at my expense this week. But I know that His plans are so wonderful, and that He will show up in amazing ways at this conference. I cant wait!

While I am away, I want to give you an assignment, a little self examination test to take, and something to ponder in your private time with God this week.

Has God ever called you to do something that you felt completely unequipped, unqualified, unworthy, and incapable of doing? I dont mean just something in a public setting, but even privately, in your own home, with your relationships, your job, your parenting, or your faith walk? God calls us to live out our faith in our every day lives, and even that is sometimes out of our comfort zones.

Some of you may be in a state of indecision right now, procrastinating on doing something that you feel confident God has called you to do, but your fear is paralyzing you from moving forward. Remember this, courage is not the absence of fear, because our fears are real and normal, but courage is the mastery of fear. God is the fear conquerer, and real courage comes straight from Him.

Trust me, a few tummy butterflies are nothing compared to the pit in your stomach of knowing you are walking in disobedience of Gods desires for you. So if you have been hesitating on stepping out in faith, or struggling with something in your life, today could be the first day of an amazing adventure with God. Little baby steps are better than no steps at all. Just something to think about. :)

Ill give you an update on the conference when I return home mid-week!