Spiritually Healthy

Greetings all!  I pray all is well with your souls. Seeing as how it's been a while since I last posted a recap, I think now is the perfect time to do it! I know that these recaps are never extremely interesting but they are part of my life and I enjoy sharing how the Lord is working in me. You just never know who you are going to encourage! Also, a wise woman once told me to keep track of things the Lord does in your life. Whether that is an answered prayer or a special event, write it all down. So that is what I am attempting to do here. January: I'm going to be honest. I wasn't in a good place in the beginning of 2021. Every day was a struggle for me. I fought an invisible enemy that threatened to choke me out. Work was depressing. Life was harder than I wanted it to be. My hope in any kind of future had been shattered by my own false expectations and lack of a firm foundation. But God in His mercy and patience, pulled me out of that dark place and brought me into His m...

I came across this article while on social media and since it's from one of my favorite servants for Christ, Elisabeth Elliot, I thought I would share. From Elisabeth's book, THE PATH OF LONELINESS ~  MAKE ME A CAKE  When Maria von Trapp was a young woman she loved the mountains of her native Austria. She thrilled to think that God had given her those mountains as a gift to enjoy. "If God has given me all of this," she said, "what can I give Him?" Thinking over what she had to give she saw how paltry it all was. She knew that she must give everything, which to her meant giving her life in a most literal way---going into a convent, becoming a nun, and never coming out. As many disciples discover, the will of God turns out to be quite different from their expectations. Maria went into the convent, but was soon sent out again to become governess to a widower's children. Thence began the story of The Sound of Music, familiar to thousands. To give God everyth...

Last weekend I did something I never thought I would be able to do: I ran a Spartan Sprint.  If you don't already know this next bit of information about me, please, allow me to explain. I tend to look at everything in life as half empty. I go into most situations with the expectation that it will not be fun, people will be unkind, they won't like me, or, ultimately, I will fail at whatever I may be faced with (interactions, conversations, games, etc.). That's a lot for one mind to take into every single situation , but sadly I do.  The Lord is helping me work through this though.  So naturally, going into a Spartan, I just assumed that I would literally suck. I know my weak areas and figured they would win out. I knew going into the race that I would not be anywhere near the fastest, strongest or even the fittest. I guess you could say that I wasn't well prepared mentally.  Somehow though, I ate clean a month before and began grip training to prepare my body for two...

Walking by faith doesn't mean having all the answers.  Walking the path that is set before me without it being fully illuminated is so incredibly hard and scary. I am a type A person. My motto is "You shouldn't have to have plan B because plan A is going to work." I don't like not knowing what's coming next. I mean, if I don't know what's coming, then how can I prepare for it? I need  to know what's coming next.  Well if you know anything of life, then you will know that it isn't always that predictable.  If there has been one thing that has been a constant in my life it would have to be fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of rejection. Fear of never seeing my dreams fulfilled. Fear of being trapped in one season because I was, duh, too afraid to walk in faith in a different direction. Fear of one chapter closing and another beginning. Fear of not being loved...the list could go on and on.  Through much prayer and crying out to God, the Lord has he...

Recently a sweet friend of mine shared this insightful and very encouraging devotional with me as well as a few others.  Not only is the Lord's timing amazingly perfect, but the gentleness in which He nudges the soul always leaves me awestruck and humbled. I needed this, no rather my soul needed this more than I realized. Lately I have been wearing a rut into my heart with all the going back and forth questions, most of them being "Why?". This stopped me dead in my tracts and the Lord opened my eyes to see the folly in my way of thinking and the goodness of His truth. My prayer is that you too will be encouraged and your soul soothed by this timeless, and timely, devotional. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands. - Isa 49:16   No doubt a part of the wonder which is concentrated in the word “Behold,” is excited by the unbelieving lamentation of the preceding sentence. Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me! My God has forgotten me.” How amazed the divine mind...

I recently read this quote by Elisabeth Elliot on modesty.  It was so encouraging that I thought I would share it here.  I know, I know, even the word modesty  gets a bad rep.  The topic of modesty has become so polluted that it's hard to discuss it without the conversation becoming heated. My whole purpose in sharing this quote is to encourage and provoke us ladies to think.  To question why we put on what we put on.  I myself have been convicted in this area of my life recently and it has caused me to question why I chose to wear what I wear.  "Let’s think first what immodesty says about us women before we talk about what its effects may be upon others. What are your Christian standards? Do you seek to be noticed, to make a splash when you come into a room? Or do you seek to be simple, humble, gentle and quiet in spirit and not wearing the very latest fashions nor looking frumpy by wearing something that’s way out of date. We do have to conform to a ...

If you were to ask me years ago if I was going to hike the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, I would have laughed in your face. No, really. Ask any family member of mine and they will tell you that I was not an outdoor gal.  The bugs, the heat, the smell (yep, I didn't even like the smell  of the outdoors), all of it was not my thing.  Praise God that sometimes the way we used to be is not the way we end up being!   So with that, my brother, a friend from church, and myself decided to make the 12 mile round trip trek up Mount Mitchel.   As we hiked along the trail, there were clearings that we came to that took my winded breath away.  I'll be honest, most times when I hike, I don't really see the point in the journey/destination.  I often think, "What's the point of this? The trail is difficult and all we are doing is just walking. "  Then we come to a viewpoint and I gain a bit of clarity.   There are so many beauties that are...

"And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail ." Ezra 6:9 (bold font added by me) Even though I have read through the Bible several times, this particular verse never stuck out to me.  One of the amazing things about the Bible, is that it is God's living word. And with it being alive, it is always revealing God's truths.  It's an amazing thought, no?  The Word of God is active and alive, convicting, encouraging, and inspiring the hearts of man.   I was recently reading a book by Elisabeth Elliot.  In the book (I cannot remember which one exactly), Elisabeth's first husband, Jim, was sharing this passage in a letter he wrote to her.   It related to a difficult season of life that they were walking through together and he was encouraging her to ...

I went to England.  Ever since I can remember I have loved British History. The royal families, the intrigue, and the politics.  All of it has fascinated me, and still does.  My top Bucket List of places to see, became a reality on New Years Eve, December 2019. Over the summer of 2019 (I know, it's been a hot minute since then), I found out a family from my church was planning on going to the UK. The moment I heard about it, ! I thought "Surely I cannot miss out on this chance to see  my  England." So I took a step into the unknown and bought a ticket.  Plans were made and I began to pack way too far in advance.  I had another trip to Europe planned for the fall and I was pretty much fully packed for London before I even started packing for Italy. Even before we landed into the UK, I was giddy with anticipation.  There were parts of me that doubted that I would ever lay eyes on England.  Looking back on it now, the Lord was so good! He blesse...