Monday, July 27, 2015

He Spoke

But did she hear?

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This past weekend I attended She Speaks 2015. She Speaks is a conference for women in Christ.
Writers. Authors. Bloggers. Speakers. Leaders.

And then it's for people like me. One who doesn't know which end is up, much less have a clue what I am or what I want.....but is merely excited about meeting a favorite famous author!


Throughout the weekend, and normally as we sat down for meals, I kept getting asked "Are you in the Speaker or Writer tract?" Ha! Seriously, it got to be a bit comical after I told the 100th chick that "Girl, I ain't got a clue! I'm just here." Sweetly, some women would say they didn't really know either why they were there and some would just sweetly nod. And girls, I am a Christian, so I won't pretend to know what they were thinking about me!

And then of course there are the Ones. Oh they know. You know the Ones.
"I am a writer. I have a blog with 1.2 million readers and I'm published. Like for real published. And I've got my stuff to-gether honey!"

Ok, so maybe I added a bit to that but still. Still they know! And I'm a wee bit jealous of that knowing.


So here I am...no clue what tract I signed up for. All I know is that I signed up and I'm a fan of "The Best Yes", my long-time-no-see frand is in town, and it's going to be an amazing weekend. Hooray!



I am not lying when I say that when I walked into those doors, I wasn't prepared for the revelation that God would do to my heart. I am a Christian. I love Jesus. I love His girls. I love to read Jesus books. I love to write blog posts. I love to talk. And I love really good food. She Speaks was about all of that and so much more. But oddly enough, what God revealed to me wasn't even about me at all.

I went in wanting answers.
I needed confirmation.
I yearned for clarity.

I. I. I.
Me. Me. Me.

It's freaky to the point that I'm beginning to think these ladies sat down months ago during their planning stages and said "Y'all, now God spoke to me last night, and He said there's this girl and she's going through some junk and she's going to need us to wave a big flashing bright sign in her face and her name is going to be Amanda. And she's going to be in X Y & Z sessions. Now you go. Go step right on her little manicured toes."

Worship started and the room swelled. You could feel the Spirit of Christ. Hands raised and hearts open.

The waterworks started and like a broken spigot, I couldn't turn it off. It would've been embarrassing but I am certain not a single soul cared about me or the snot running down my lip. Every person was embraced fully by the arms of Jesus and the world went so dim. Nothing else mattered. Reality had ended. Me ended.

It is incredible, the gift of God that is peace.

Workshop after session after prayer, God showed up with His sense of peace. Only peace that He can give and I'm not even telling a story! I have wrestled with some "stuff" going on in my life for months, years even. And the moment I let God fully enter in, His peace captivated my heart and my mind and Jesus opened my eyes to a world I never knew existed for me. A path that seems so scary, suddenly seemed lit up with hope and promise. The way seemed clear.

A servants heart. That's where it's at. I know it sounds so simple. Too simple, even. But over and over I was reminded that THIS...all of this...it isn't me. I can't make very little time for God each day and then expect Him to make all the time in the world for me and my plans. I can't beg and plead for my purpose to be revealed if I am not willing to see His purpose. I can't await big and grand things from Him if I am not willing to trust that He will provide the means to make them happen financially, spiritually and even emotionally.

A servants heart. I kept hearing it over and over. The bible says "For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake." It isn't about me. I am a vessel, for sure. But God has created some really great amazing and talented spirit-filled vessels. Ones that listen to Him for their next course. I am nothing. But I am a servant of Christ, I am nothing that is something. Something and someone, only by the grace of Christ Jesus, that God wants to use to share His gospel. That's all. "Nothing more. Nothing less."


So Saturday rolled around. Reality was coming back into focus and with every little blip of home calling, I began to toss like a ship in the sea. I would go into the prayer room and pray with palms up to receive His instruction. "God just send me a SIGN! (And when you DO send me a sign, I'm going to need to it flash in bright yellow blinking blinding letters so that I'll know it's You; and God, if it pleases you of course, then I would love if you would just make everything else just go away. That way I'll knowwww for sure, sure!") I would read my Bible app. I would journal. I would stuff the fears and questions only for them to bubble back up to the top and threaten to make me forget every good thing God had done in me over the weekend.

"Child. Be still so that I can show you the way."

I saw the signs. They may not have blinked. But they were there. I saw the flashing arrow saying "THIS WAY!" I heard the audible voice because He had his vessels saying it. I feel the push. I feel the nudge. There is no question.

But I still don't know if I HEARD Him. Like really, truly LISTENED.

*eyeroll* I mean, seriously, how dumb can a girl be? Every single cotton-pickin' thing points me in the direction I know is right and good. But reality, in all it's pesky doubts, says "but wait?" and "what if?" and "how will you?".

So naturally, it's Monday. Like Mondayyyyyyyyyyy. I'm tired and confused and heavy-hearted. But Jesus spoke. I'm still trying to ask myself.... Did I hear? Did I really, truly hear? Because the answer is there.

So today I turn off the noise of the world. Focus on His truths.

God is my Father.
God will provide.
God didn't say it would always be easy.
But...
God is good
God is faithful.
"For we walk by faith, not by sight."

Well now I've got chill bumps.
Hello.
That's a sign!

I don't know that I'll ever not wrestle with myself and my thoughts and deciding if something is God's will or not. I don't know. I may be standing in line at the pearly gates and be like "I'm gonna need a sign that this is where I'm suppose to be, Jesus!" Maybe I will reach that point. I'm not there. But He's not done yet. This I know for sure. I am His vessel.

Lord, use me for You.


Tuesday, July 7, 2015

SoleHope, 21 Day Fix & a Giveaway!


 Does that make you think? Feel a little guilty about that piece of cake you just shoved in your mouth or the soda you just guzzled on break?

Well I don't want you to feel guilty. Honestly. I think it's a good reminder though.

God has abundantly blessed us with life. Again and again each day. We shouldn't take the blessing He has given us and just say "pffft....Man, I CAN have my cake and eat it too, and while I'm at it, I'll have another slice!"

Our bodies are a temple and worth feeding with the Word and with food that is good for us. It's worth caring about and taking care of.

Starting with our nutrition and exercise.

My initial thoughts about what I put in or on my body isn't always "is this good/healthy/energizing for me?" or "W.J.E.T.?" (Would Jesus Eat This?) I admit it. I'm guilty of not remembering the great gift I've been given and how much He has sacrificed for me. I'm hard-headed about taking the time to exercise for my well-being knowing that one day, Christ will ask what I did with those gifts he gave me....including my earthly body.

"Well done, good and faithful servant" isn't just about our works but HOW we live and the light we shine to others to be good stewards of everything He bestows upon us. It just so happens though, that everyone has a body. Some shorter. Some rounded. Some a little more squishy. Some natural disposed to skinny.

But we all have choices.

And it's high time we start making better choices where our health is concerned.

So I have this idea. What better way to motivate people to do something for themselves than to do something for them and others in return?

This month, July 2015, I am offering to all new coaches and customers an amazing opportunity to not only begin the journey of BETTER HEALTH, but I'm offering to honor your decision by donating $10 per customer/coach to SoleHope. $10 sponsors a pair of shoes for a child in Uganda suffering from the debilitating sores caused by sand fleas called jiggers. ...these aren't "chiggers" folks. way way worse.

If you haven't heard of SoleHope then check them out because you'll be forever changed.


Many people have tons of shoes ~ heels, wedges, flip flops, sandals, tennis shoes, loafers ~ just sitting in a closet not being used. We take such much for granted and it's pretty frustrating when you think about the freedoms that we have "over here" vs. "over there". The choice we make to just do nothing and take advantage of this life we have been blessed with.


Those tennis shoes?
PUT THEM ON. Go run, free from jiggers. Free to choose a better path to good health.

Those hiking boots?
PUT THEM ON. Go for a walk in the woods, free from insects that burrow into your feet causing severe pain.

Those heels? Honestly, you should probably toss them because they aren't good for your back, BUT....PUT THEM ON!
Go attend church and pray for these babies in Uganda who don't have a single pair of shoes and suffer daily from the sores and infestation.

You guys. It isn't all about you.
But I want YOU to make a choice TODAY to do something FOR you that will HELP OTHERS!

So again, anyone who purchases a 21 Day Fix Challenge Pack from me will be honored with a gift of $10 donated to SoleHope in your name! On top of that, you'll also be entered into a drawing for a FREE 21 Day Fix Fixate Cookbook to help you with your weight-loss and/or fitness transformation!!! 

 	http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BCP21D160?referringRepId=465359


Last but not least....

If you would like to donate jeans for Shoe Cutting Parties or if you would like to Host of Party of Your Own with a group of friends or church family, please reach out to the amazing folks at SoleHope. I am also collecting jeans for the ladies of our Sunday School Class to host our next party.

I promise if you do, you won't ever catch yourself saying "Well I would've rather just sat on my lazy behind and watched TV and had that piece of cake!" 

Nope. In fact, I bet you'll be inspired to....oh I don't know.....DO SOMETHING AMAZING WITH YOUR BLESSED LIFE! 

Get off your lazy behinds and




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