God is in the details...

More and more in my life I am realizing just how detail oriented God really is. I really learned about this several years ago the first time I did Beth Moore's tabernacle study but I am seeing it more and more clearly in my own life.

God working out details of my husbands job, details for my kids, details at church, just all the details that affect my life. I love how He's given me "kingdom" goggles to see my life in His light. It sure has released me from a HEAVY load! He's just so awesome that way!!

After having a pretty tough week I planned to have a great weekend with my man and my kids. Sat. my man and I worked and I hurt my back. BUMMER! It stinks getting old! Yet, I'm gonna flip on my kingdom goggles and watch Him work out this little detail as well! My back hurts, I can't do much around the house, I can't do my job, but I'm gonna keep on praisin' Him! He's worthy ya'll! You just gotta love Him! Hope you can do the same! IT'S LIBERATING!!!

LONG WEEK!!

What a week! After the awesome start to my week it seems the ugly Lupus monster wanted to show up and show out! It's been a tough week for me physically - just not feelin' great. If you get a sec and think about it just lift one up for me! Thanks.

PRAISE HIM!

Ya'll what a day I've had. My mom went in for a heart catheterization this morning and the Dr. said she had NO blockages! This was HUGE because they had seen blockages on 2 different stress tests! MIRACLE I tell ya. My mom has a TON of other problems - diabetes, hypertension, stage 3 kidney failure, COPD, arthritis, history of stroke - you get the idea! She did NOT need heart issues on top of all that!

GOD IS SO GOOOOOOD THAT I HAD TO GET SOME PRAISE ON! YA'LL GET YOUR HANDS UP AND SHAKE OFF THOSE SHACKLES! CLICK BELOW!!
Love to all!

Mary Mary - Shackles (Praise You)

After my day today, you know I gotta get my PRAISE on!!!!

LOVE out loud!

It's funny as I find myself approaching the big 4-0 how I'm becoming a completely different person! Of course the physical stuff immediately comes to mind. Things are going south that were never meant to be there, my skin is looking well - tired (it's been thru alot!) and is it just me or does it seem to be getting hot quicker? teehee

I have Lupus so it's hard for me to gauge what is just normal stuff because there's not a day that goes by that I'm not in pain somewhere! My hands one day, my feet the next, my hips the day after that, my back, you get the point. NOT a fun disease but let me just tell you that the Lord is faithful to me! It could be SOOOOOOOOOOO much worse!

So, anyway, as I'm finally deciding it's time to grow up I've found new meaning to Ps 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God". You see, being still has never been easy for me. Oh I could SIT still if I needed to but my mouth was usually running - CONSTANTLY! My mom says that when I was a child there was just this constant NOISE in the house. She would stop and realize it was me talking. Talking to the TV, talking to my sisters or brother, talking to my baby dolls, talking to my imaginary friend Jayvee (think gravy), just TALKING. Did I mention constantly?!

Just yesterday my girlfriend told me she wished I had gone to lunch with her family after church because there were some "issues" and then the dreaded tension filled silence. She knew that if I were there I would know how to break that silence. I KNOW she meant it as a compliment - at least I hope she did - but the Lord said to me "Be still".

Then yesterday Dr. Rummage - our associate pastor who rocks by the way - preached about love. About loving others. About loving someone so dearly that even when they break your heart to a thousand pieces you can "love them with all the little pieces". WHOA. What a concept? I think the Lord is trying to tell me I need to start loving people as much as I talk to them! Love them OUT LOUD not just walk away from them thinking "Ya know I just love her!" but TELL THEM!!! After all the events of last week, I can't help but wonder if there would've been ONE person who told that shooter - "You know what, I just love you" if that would've made a difference? Only God knows.

But I have decided to start using this BIG MOUTH He gave me to start actually telling people that I love them. Now, if any of my friends are reading this and thinkin' you're gonna stay away from me, don't worry, I won't embarrass you TOOOO much! haha I've just really started to realize how very much the Lord loves ME, ME of all people! So I'm gonna start sharing that love with everyone! Does that mean the next time you see me I'm gonna be lovin' all over you? Probably not, I mean I'm still a work in progress, but when the Lord reminds me I will tell you!!!

He loves you too, ya know! The Creator of the Universe loves YOU!! Little old cotton pickin' YOU!!!! Does that blow your mind as much as it does mine? So what are you waiting for? Go tell someone! I just did!

B - U - tiful weekend!

I do have to say that I just love livin' in the Southeast! It's an incredible day today. Perfect temp, perfect blue sky, perfect little breeze! Well, just perfect! (Guess you kinda got that huh?)

I'm only poppin in for a second to say I'm sorry to those of you who have bad weather today! Glad it's you and not me!

Thank you God for such an incredible day! Bet the temp in heaven will be just like this! teehee!
Ya'll have a good one, I'm headed back outside!!!
WAAAHOOOO!

Let it rain...

I'm reading thru Ezekiel (chpt 38 & 39) and to be honest there are times when I think "Please tell me how this applies to me?" and every time He is faithful to show me. Sometimes He'll do it immediately and others He'll show me in His time. Either way, I know that when I ask - He will answer.

These 2 chapters are filled with God's wrath on Gog and my commentary says Gog may be a specific place or a specific person or it may represent all evil, but either way in the end guess what...God WINS!!! WOOHOOO!! GO GOD!!! That's the reason those of us who believe in Him can lay our heads on our pillows at night and REST! We don't have to worry. We don't have to be burdened with the weight of life and the agony of so much around us.

Does that mean we don't hurt or we're not angry because of it - well of course not! It just means that we don't need to call in 15 experts from 37 fields of interest to sift thru and analyze every detail of every single thing that happens. We just call on the One who gives us life - abundant life - and He tells us the "why". Does that mean we have all the answers - again, of course not. It just means that we have a relationship with God and we trust Him enough to iron out the details of our lives. We trust that He is in control, that He has a plan and that more than anything else He loves us and wants the absolute best for those who love and obey Him! It really is that easy. It's taken me a LONG time to really believe that but now that I have - well, I'll never settle for the courtyard again!!!

Come along and breathe the sweet clean air of the Holy Place! The place of sanctuary with God Almighty. He's waiting.

All things work together...

Lord as more and more details emerge about this shooting in Va, there are so many things I don't understand. I thank you that during the times in my life when I felt my only way out was to end my life that You were there reminding me there was another way. That YOU were the only way! Thank you for protecting me from myself! I never had the desire to hurt another person but I knew the desperation and emptiness of just wanting to end it all yet at the same time I knew there was an answer. I knew YOU were the answer.

Right now Lord I lift those who are desperate. Those who are lonely. Those who are looking for someone or something to blame for their circumstances. Lord show them that You are their ONLY hope for any type of peace, any type of stability, any type of sanity! I pray that you will move across this country - as well as others - and begin to pour out your Holy Spirit like never before. Revive this nation to love You and obey You. In fact, revive this world! We need it Lord! Make YOU what we're desperate for!!! More than water, more than food, more than houses or land or anything else - JUST YOU!!

I love you so much Father and I thank you for the Divine Special Effects You have already painted into my life and I praise you for the plans You have for the ones that are coming! You are the Blessed Artist of my life and I just can't wait to see the Masterpiece you make of me! May ALL I say and ALL I do bring glory and honor to You and You alone! In the only name worthy of it all, the name of Jesus, I ask these things. Amen...

I AM NOT ASHAMED!!

Well I have to tell you that I received a comment on my blog today from another Country in which I was attacked both as a Christian and an American. First time for everything I suppose!

Let me just say to anyone who reads this that I am NOT ashamed to say that I am a child of God. I believe that Jesus Christ came to the earth, died for all our sins and rose from the dead on the third day so that every person would be granted access to heaven. I believe that if you accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord and ask forgiveness for your sins you will be saved from eternal separation from God the Father. I believe that with all of my heart!!

Let me also say that I am so glad to live in the United States of America! I am privileged to call this my home. My grandfather and so many others gave their lives that I may have the freedom to sit here and claim Jesus as my Lord and that I may express my opinions in an open society!

I'm sorry for those of you who don't have that privilege and for those of you who don't understand what it means to be free. However, no country, no politician, no president will ever make you totally free. The only way to have true freedom is to accept Jesus Christ into your heart. Jesus said in John 8:36 "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." Who is the Son? Check out Luke 4:16 - 21 "He (Jesus) went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (emphasis mine)

If you don't know Him - it's not too late. He's waiting to set you free!

What a tragedy...

Oh my lands this tragedy at Virginia Tech is overwhelming to me Lord! It's close to my heart Father as my sweet niece Rachel prepares to leave for college this fall! Lord God keep your hand on her not just today but every day of her life! She loves you and wants to serve you with her life and I know that you will use her in a mighty way with everything she has been thru so just protect her Father.

For all the family's involved I pray that You will make yourself known to them in such a way that their peace will pass all understanding. Give every student there a clear understanding that You work ALL THINGS - even a crazed gunman - together for good for those who love you! Lord let them know that You are the ONLY source of hope, the ONLY source of peace and the ONLY source of joy at all times but especially in times such as these! Move in this town to draw those students close to Your heart Father. Move in this country to draw all of us closer to You! I love you Lord and I pray all these things in the only name worthy of honor, glory and praise, the matchless name of your Son Jesus. Amen.

One more thing...

At the Living Proof event this weekend we all shared some "PDLAM"'s with each other. It means "Please don't laugh at me" but...then you share some of your quirks. I'm gonna share a few of mine and I'd LOVE to have you share some of yours! This is REALLY fun!

I have to start walking up steps on my right foot. If I start on the left I feel like I'm going to fall over.

I can't go to sleep with dirty feet.

I sometimes count the number of letters in sentences. (45)

When I'm going to be in the bathroom a "while" at home I check the back of my bottles of shampoo or whatever to be sure it has EVERY letter of the alphabet on it. Did you know j is missing from a LOT of bottles? haha

I'm beginning to sound a bit OCD'ish don't you think? Anyone brave enough to share some of theirs? A woman behind me at the event said she can't stand to be the first to put trash in an empty trash can. She'll go all over the house to find one with something in it! FUNNY! My sister said she types while people talk to her. I've seen her do it too! Send me some of yours!!

Them bones them bones them dry bones

I'm in Ezekiel chapter 37 - bet you'd never have guessed that by the title haha - and boy did the Lord speak this familiar story fresh to me today! I kinda veered out of Ezekiel for a while - all those destruction prophesies got a bit heavy - but the Lord told me to get myself back there today and now I know why.

The story of Eze going into the valley and finding all those dry bones preaching at them and the Lord breathing life into them just hit me anew today. I've been those bones before. In the last 6 -8 months the Lord has been refreshing me, renewing me and strengthening me in all sorts of ways and I'm the kind of person who wants the same thing for everyone around me! I LOVE to share a party! But the Lord is telling me to party on with Him and I must admit it's been the BEST PARTY I've ever had!!

My prayer is for my church to have a fresh wind blown into it in such a way that all around will want to come see what the big deal is! I want everyone in our church to be so close to the Lord they can feel His breath, hear His heartbeat! God please bring a fresh wind to Hickory Grove. Please give our pastors such a fresh Word that they will be amazed at how You're working in them!! I love you Lord and I want my family to join the party You've started in my heart!!! You've taken off my shackles Lord and I KNOW You wanna do the same for them!!

Let's get some praise on...
"Take these shackles off my feet so I can dance. I just wanna praise You, I just wanna praise You. You broke these chains now I can lift my hands and I'm gonna praise You, I'm gonna praise You."

THANK YOU FATHER!

Where do I begin?

I'm gonna try to sum up my weekend with the Lord in as few words as possible. Yeah right! ;-)

We spent the weekend at the Living Proof Live event in Columbia, SC in James chapter 1. Now, as soon as she said to open up to James I looked at my friend Melissa and said "UH OH!" Boy was I right! God did NOT fail to send out His Word and it did NOT return void. WOW.

Her basic theme for the weekend was what the point of my life was? How can I consider the trials I face pure joy? What is my purpose? No small task to answer those questions! God grants each of us one life and he marks our lives by seasons and those seasons are colored by different trials. Then our trials are assigned divine tasks by God. Tasks that evoke a test of faith, expose a need for new wisdom and they reveal the courage it takes to reach victory. If we're courageous enough to persevere we will be greatly rewarded!

We then moved into learning why we get caught in the cycle of temptation and addiction. We are in bondage due to the cycle of distractions which lead to addictions and eventually our destruction! The enemy knows our Achilles heel and he uses the same lure over and over because we don't have the motivation to TRULY be finished with whatever sin tempts/distracts us. Most of us hear the word tempt and we automatically relate it to sexual temptation but we are tempted in so many other ways. Tempted to eat more than meets our physical need, tempted to listen in on that conversation that is not edifying or encouraging, tempted to say it even though it's just a "joke", tempted to take it even if the boss won't ever miss it, all KINDS of temptations. The enemy knows where we've blown it before and he always takes the easy way out to snare us!

Finally we talked about how God is the Great Artist who is painting our lives with the colors of our trials. He's adding His own "Divine Special Effects" (DSFX) to our lives so that when we get to heaven we can look at our story or portrait or poem (whatever masterpiece you want) and see His almighty Hand in EVERY STROKE, EVERY DETAIL. We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses (think Hebrews) and when we obey God's Word they are cheering like crazy. When we're not the other team gets a score! We gotta dig deep in the Word ladies! God is longing to have a relationship with us that is so personal that we'll KNOW His voice, we'll KNOW His smell, we'll KNOW His Hand! Open up His Word and DIG ya'll! It's there just waiting for us! Treasure beyond measure!

One more thing and I'll try to wrap this up. There's so many things that I didn't even begin to touch on - these were the highlights! However, at the end of her sessions she talked about Revelation 7:9-12. In these verses there is a great multitude "that no one could count" from all nations around the throne of the Lamb crying "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." Now, up to this point Beth said that the angels (obviously) don't "get" salvation. They don't get why God goes to all this trouble for us - especially when we disobey - because they do not have the need for salvation. Their role is much different than ours. Anyway, after they hear us saying this - well let me just put the Word here. "All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" vs 11-12 THEY FINALLY GET IT!!! They finally understand why He does what He does for us!! Does that just tear you up? If it doesn't - well sister - you better check yourself!! haha

I'm sorry for going on for so long about this but I just wanted to share with you how AWESOME the Lord is and how much He wants to have a relationship with you. He loves us so much and we just don't get it sometimes. I pray that each of you will dig deep in the Word. I pray that you'll fall in love with Jesus. I pray that God will become real to you. Not just some kind of insurance policy to have when you've got a trial going on but the Artist of your life who is painting you, molding you, creating you into His divine masterpiece! My sisters, that's what He wants most! Oh I pray you get that!

Love to all and if you get the chance please go see Beth Moore or do one of her studies for yourself! I PROMISE THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT HER! She's an incredibly gifted teacher but it's her MATERIAL that matters! NOT HER!! I know she wouldn't mind me saying that about her either. After all, she is MY best friend! haha

Boy oh boy...

Well my friends, I had me some time with the Father this weekend! Oh my goodness His presence was so thick in that place that NO ONE wanted to leave! We all just stood there after the worship music ended. He showed up and showed off!

I'm TOTALLY exhausted and need to get myself and family ready for worship tomorrow but I PROMISE to blog EVERY detail soon! Let's just say this...I'll NEVER be the same!! He's worth any change I need to make!
Love to all.

ON MY WAY!!!

WWAHHHOOOOO!

I'm leaving in mere hours to go get me a fresh Word from the Lord thru His INCREDIBLE servant - Beth Moore!! I just love listening to her teach and my walk with the Father has grown because of her insight and ability to make the Word JUMP from the pages at me! She taught me how to read my Bible. Sad that I spent so many years getting a nugget here and there but since I did my first study almost 8 years ago I now discover a new treasure each time I open the Word. That's NOT Beth Moore's doing but it's the way God intended it to be for all of us all the time!!!

Anyway, I'll be sure to let you know how it goes and if you're in South Carolina this weekend look for the tall blond acting goofy! That's the way I get when I'm fixin to have me some "church"!!! Love to all...

Preparing the soil...

I am by no stretch of the imagination a gardener. In fact, once I bought tomato plants to try and plant but after a week or so forgot to water them and, needless to say, no tomatoes! As I've been watching the season change and LOVING it - Spring is my absolute favorite despite the pollen - the Lord has been speaking to me lately like never before. To be honest, I think it's more like I've actually been paying attention like never before!

Today it's rainy and cool and I was teaching my Kayley the jingle of "April showers bring May flowers" and she said "Oh momma, I just LOVE flowers! Especially roses!" (makes a mom proud! teehee) We talked about how the rainy season makes the ground ready for the long hot summer. What a perfect example of the Lord's work not only on the earth but in our lives! We HAVE to go thru rainy times - even stormy times - to be prepared for the scorching heat of our "summer seasons".

I'm not really sure which season I'm in right now. I would have to say it's been a bit rainy in my life the last few months/years but I feel like there's flowers beginning to bloom! I never lost hope for Spring during my Winter but it's just nice to actually see it happening. God is so good that way! I pray that each of you - regardless of your season of life will know that the Creator of the Universe is busy at work in you. He's preparing the soil of your life either for fresh planting or for harvest or it may even need a little weeding and tilling. (been there!) Just trust Him. Focus on Him. Obey Him and He will give you the desires of your heart. A new house, a new car, a million dollars - DOUBTFUL but when you are seeing your life thru His eyes the desires of your heart won't be those things anyway! Though He may very well bless you with those earthly blessings that won't be the desire of your heart! Trust me on that one! Be prepared my friends. I know the Gardener is at work in me and He wants to work in you too!

El Berakhah

The one who gives blessings for my benefit! WOW!

God is so good to me! I mean, really! To ME! All of my life has been surrounded by Him, His Word, His people, His love and so often I didn't even know it, much less see it and appreciate it! God in Heaven how sorry I am for the times when you had a blessing for me but I was too wrapped up in my self to know the difference. Thank you for loving me in spite of that!

Ya'll God just totally cracks me up sometimes. I think He cracks Himself up too! We know what a sense of humor He has - after all He is JOY! When I started blogging I didn't think anyone but Leigh would be reading this and I did it so she could help keep me accountable! Now God has given me so many blessings thru this silly thing! He's brought such precious people to this blog - like Lucy and Kim - that it just blows my mind. I know it's not because I have anything exceptionally profound to share but what I have is a passion for the Lord and a passion to encourage other women (and who knows - maybe even a man or two as well haha) to long for a deeper walk, a drink from the well of Living Water where we'll NEVER thirst, a relationship so real that you'll just KNOW He's right beside you! That's all this is and yet He has chosen to bless me for it!

He is good and if you don't know that you know that you know Him I beg you to contact me so I can introduce you! He wants YOU! He loves YOU! He longs to bless YOU! He has a mansion FULL of gifts waiting for you!! Don't resist Him - it might seem like the hardest thing you've ever done but I promise after that first step you'll find it's not only the easiest but the BEST gift you've ever received! The ONLY gift that will ever make a difference! Thank you God for the honor of serving You and for sharing my life - as hectic and simple as it is! I love you Lord!

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

What an awesome morning! The air when I left for church this morning was crisp and cool and the sky was as clear as could be. I started thinking about what that tomb was like. Crisp and cool with the stench of death and darkness, yet on that morning it was crisp, cool and CLEAR!! Clear of all odors, clear of all darkness and clear of all death! Makes a Baptist girl wanna shout I tell ya!!

Father in heaven how I love you and thank you for loving kindness to me. I thank you for giving me the privilege of serving You and for the freedom I have found in that service! I know the world doesn't get that - freedom in serving (not leading) but it's Your way Lord! Obedience is our ticket to freedom! Thank you for such an awesome day at church and an awesome afternoon with my family! I love you Father, my Abba Daddy!

He is RISEN!

Tomorrow is such a special day for those of us who believe. It's not about the family dinners (YUM) or the new clothes (though they're FUN) or about the gifts (which I'm not sure how we got sucked into that anyway) or about the program at church (though it's going to be great) or even about the death of our Lord! No, it's not about the agony He suffered on our behalf - though we can't disregard that in any shape, form or fashion! Tomorrow, though, is about an EMPTY GRAVE! It's about a stone that was rolled away and women seeking "the Living among the dead" and finding Him RISEN!!!

I heard that the Iranian president released the British hostages as a gift and gesture of good will in honor of "Allah" - however you spell it - and in celebration of the passing of Christ. Boy, did he miss the point COMPLETELY!!! This holiday isn't about the passing of Christ - though we couldn't celebrate the rest without it - but about his RESURRECTION!! As you prepare for your Easter Sunday morning I pray that you will stop and do a little resurrection dance for Jesus! Dance uninhibited sisters! Celebrate Him! He rejoices over you with singing (Zeph 3:17) so let's do some rejoicing for Him as well! After all, it's the least we can do, don't ya think?!

"Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!"

My legacy...

I have an incredible story I wanted to share about the legacy left for me. I've always known my maternal grandparents loved the Lord and were His servants but this story is just too cool not to share! My mother lives in an apartment building for senior citizens and a couple of weeks ago a lady from her building came over to visit. She asked my mom if she had gone to Mt. Calvary as a young girl and my mom said yes. She told her that she had also visited there as a girl in high school and that there was a family that had opened their doors to her and made her feel so welcome every time she visited. She said that the family had given her such a gift during some very difficult years and that though she couldn't remember their names she would NEVER forget their faces. She said, in fact, she had a picture of the couple and hoped that maybe my mom would recognize them since that's where mom grew up. To her amazement, when the woman handed mom the picture it was MY GRANDPARENTS!!! My mom burst into tears and said "Recognize them, that's my parents!" WOW! What a gift from the Lord! He is so good!

Thank you God for giving me such an awesome legacy of faith! You are so good! Thank you for giving that gift to my mom as well! She needed that bit of sunshine in her life! I love you Lord! Help me continue that legacy of loving You, loving others and serving both! Thank you Father!

WHIRLWIND

I can't believe how this week has FLOWN by! The Ft. Jackson retreat was INCREDIBLE! Let me just say that God Almighty was so thick in that place that you could smell Him, taste Him and even see Him! The first night opened with the ladies - who were all (but one) military wives - giving a bit of their testimonies. I suppose having your husband in possible PHYSICAL danger every day would cause you to make sure your "house is in order" because I can't imagine how the people that don't know the Lord deal with the stress of that situation. One lady's husband is in Afghanistan and his office had been bombed last week! Did that make the news? Of course not - he's a chaplain! (we won't go there!) The most amazing thing to me was that they all said they DID NOT want the military to pull out of this war until the mission was COMPLETE! Unreal!

Anyway, for me the Lord spoke in a fresh way that nearly knocked my socks off! I went knowing that I was going to be doing the cooking for the ladies - that's the whole reason I went - but MY agenda was to pop in and out of the sessions at MY choosing and participate at MY discretion. Typical MARY attitude! Well, the Lord had a slightly different agenda! I was in the kitchen just about the ENTIRE time! I mean, after all, I was preparing meals for 20 women. Fortunately the Lord arranged this facility that the kitchen was right by the meeting room so though I couldn't be in there I could hear what was happening. Even more difficult for me, as those of you who know me can testify! I could hear them and I would be in the kitchen doing dishes and saying "But Lord I could really share some words of wisdom right there" and He of course would say "You missed a spot girl!" haha (just kiddin) The point is that I was in a completely different territory. I was behind the scenes - not opening my big mouth - and yet the Lord was using me in a BIG way. But here's the BEST part - my cup was filled to overflowing with the Lord's blessing! These ladies were so grateful to be served and not have to clean up or think about their next meal. The Lord had given Jennifer and I the menu several weeks ago - stay with me yes, He gave us the menu - because ALL the ladies were so happy to have asparagus. No one fixes "fancy" asparagus for their kids and husband and it was just another special gift from the Father!

There was a session when the ladies broke into spontaneous prayers all over the room. The Lord was moving, He was listening, and I'm tearing up just remembering His presence. This warrior Cathy, prayed this prayer like I have never heard! I was walking into the pantry passing by the room where they were meeting and it was like the Lord said STOP right in my ear - more like I ran right into Him! I stood there listening to her heartfelt cry to the Lord and then began watching the ladies all take turns crying out to Him and here I was in my apron and slippers! haha I ended up in the room because I just HAD to get in there. It was one of the sweetest times with a bunch of women I had NEVER met in my entire life!!! God is so good!

Well, since the retreat, my oldest son was baptized Palm Sunday morning! AWESOME!!! That day was just one of those out of body type days! Just incredible. Then this week is spring break for us and I went to WV to visit with my family. Had an incredible day with my sister Regina - who needs your prayers as well! She treated me to a pedicure and manicure! How cool is that?! She's the best! I love her so much! (and not just because she does nice things for me! haha) Anyway, the Lord has been blessing me like crazy despite me! That's just how He is! I pray that each of you know that He "rejoices over you with singing"! He wants to bless you too! That's just how He is!! Seek Him...first! Love to all.