Beauty for Ashes

Decision making is part of our daily lives.  Have you ever sat down and thought about how many decisions you make in a day?  There are too many to count really.  The decisions start the moment you wake up.  A lot of the time, they are simple ones, to which we are quick to make up our minds.  Like, should I hit the snooze button?  But the bigger ones-those are what have me thinking right now.  If someone would have got through to me when I was younger by really opening my eyes to the impact the decisions I was making, good or bad, would follow me the rest of my life, I would have looked at them like they were crazy.  I thought I knew it all; I wasn't looking that far into the future, I was caught up in the now.  I was focused on how my decisions would affect my life at that moment not twenty years down the road. If I could, I would go back to my younger self and share the wisdom and life experiences I now have. I would want to try to help...

When God is ready to move, He moves.  Nothing can stop Him or get in the way from carrying out His plan.  That is how the story of us happened.  The story of us happened in an instance-in the blink of an eye.  I look back now and am just amazed at how we were brought together. The story of us is one I will never forget.  You see, how we met was a total God thing.  I had been divorced right at three years at that point, and was just living my life.  Adam had just retired from the NAVY after sacrificing for our country a year prior.  That particular week, I noticed the same thing happening to me multiple times a day.  On that Sunday morning, it dawned on me that maybe I was supposed to look into this a little further.  Well, that thing was a link to join Christian Mingle.  I don't even remembering hesitating-not even for a moment.  I just started answering questions to complete my profile.  I felt that nudge, you know ...

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.   Romans 12:12 This very verse has helped get me through some very tough times in my life.  And here recently, it isn't any different.  The only difference now is, it is becoming harder and harder for me to be and do the things it is telling me.  I know that we all go through ups and downs in life, and I'm no different.  This is a tough season for me and, well, I am struggling a bit. This post is raw and real; it's what I  am feeling at this moment in time.  I know I am not alone in this battle and I also know that I am not alone with the struggles and feelings that come with infertility. Be joyful in hope.  To be joyful in hope seems easy enough, right?  But, a lot of the time, it's incredibly difficult.  I can remember two years ago, at the beginning of our infertility struggle being filled with so much hope.  I was sure the medications would work for us-I had no ...

I  know the struggle inside of you right now.  The pain.  The stress.  The unhappiness.  The fatigue from just trying to please everyone.  I know you are weak.  I know you are questioning me. I know you are ready to quit.  But don't.  I hear you.  I have heard every single cry.  I've seen you on your knees.  I hear your prayers, your concerns and worries.  I know you are coming to me desperately wanting help.  For strength. For wisdom.  For guidance.  I know how hard it is in this season.   I know you feel unloved.  But you're not.  I know you feel like you aren't good enough.  But you are.  I know you feel undesirable.  But you are so loved.  I know you feel unattractive.  But you are beautiful.  I know you feel like a failure in all areas. In your past, your marriage, in your relationships, in raising your children.  Failing is part of the journey. ...

I went down to the water today and  I was immediately drawn to this lone, white feather floating my way.  I just thought it was such a beautiful thing to see.  The water was so dark that the white of the feather just stood out.  No matter how dark and cloudy the water was, the white was so visible that it caught my attention. It made me think about life and all the darkness this world can bring.  And how sometimes, as a Christ follower, we feel so alone in this world.  We are like this lone, white feather that is making it's way, floating along with the current.  It made me think about how important it is to always allow our light to shine for all to see; no matter what.  In those times when we are surrounded by such darkness, never allow that darkness to drown out the light of God living and breathing inside of you. It won't always be easy to be that light.  There will be times where someone may not agree with you, or a decision you ha...