“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Matthew 6:34 (MSG) 

I don’t know about you but when something difficult or harsh happens in my life that could carry on to the next day or the next my mind dwells on it and really makes it much worse than it will ever be. It turns in to a big hairy monster with sharp fangs and scary eyes. Jesus just said in that verse not to worry about it but often I am not good at keeping that in mind. It reminds me of the Veggie Tales song “God is bigger than the boogie man. He’s bigger than Godzilla or the monsters on TV and He’s watching out for you and me.”

  
Can you tell I used to work with kids? You know what I mean by a big hairy monster. Bills looming over your head, job interviews, health issues waiting diagnosis, distant spouse, called to the principal’s office, boss says she wants you to see you in the morning, a misunderstanding with your best friend, you name it. Your scary monster is unique to you.

My daughter was born with a genetic disorder that had to be treated symptomatically. Being a working mom I was grateful to have a job that allowed me 12 days of leave a year. Every single one of those days was spent taking care of a sick girl either in the hospital or at home with a fever. You working moms know what I mean about using your leave to take your kids to the doctor or staying home with them. My grandparents cared for her when she was mildly ill which was God’s provision for our family. One day as I was getting ready to go home my boss’s boss caught me in the hall and asked me to stop by his office first thing he wanted a word. Walking to my car I burst in to tears fearing the morning.

Arriving home kids in tow, I threw myself in to hurridly making something somewhat palatable for dinner teary eyed the entire time. My husband got home and when he inquired about why I wasn’t eating I about bit his head off! My stomach was in knots. The kids were on their own for homework and baths. Tossing and turning I could not sleep. 4:00AM came and went as I rewrote my resume in my mind and calculated a quick budget with me on unemployment. Oh brother was my monster ugly! 

  

At 5:30 I just got up. Rushing the kids through breakfast, brushing teeth and getting dressed we got out the door. I don’t even remember telling my husband goodbye. The big hairy monster had gotten bigger, meaner, more threatening and scarier as I drove in to the parking lot. 

Walking in to work it was like my guardian angel smacked me on the forehead just like in that vegetable juice commercial! What was wrong with me? Why hadn’t I even entertained the thought of praying? God already knew all of my fears and concerns. I shot up a sentence prayer and walked in to the boss’s office. He told me it had come to his attention that I had taken 11 of my 12 leave days and he wondered if I was OK. Telling me I was an exemplary employee he went on to explain that although we are given 12 leave days we weren’t supposed to take all of them. That made no sense to me but it was the way it was. He said that when an employee gets close he feels a need to find out if everything is OK. I told him that my daughter had a myriad of health issues and that she had been in the hospital. Mr. Boss became very concerned and proceeded to tell me that he was there for me and if I needed anything to let him know. He did not want to loose me as an employee and wanted to help. I was gobsmacked! That ugly monster reduced to dust as I walked out of his office.

  

I had allowed the enemy of my soul to steal my joy, make me a crazy momma and crazier wife. Instead of giving this issue to Jesus with confidence I took it to a horror show starring Frankenstein’s monster himself. Lesson learned for the moment I went to my desk very thankful for a loving God and understanding boss. I definitely cannot say I have not worried or been fretful for situations since then but that experience burned in to my mind. Even if I had been fired God had me. He is holding me in the palm of His hand, I am safe under His wings. You beloved are safe, secure and held. You are free to breathe. Take a deep breath! Feel the freedom to live and walk in grace, mercy and love. When the hard times comes He WILL help you. You can count on that. God is faithful and does what He says 100% of the time. Walk close to Him today. He is waiting for you. ❤️#whenyouwalkwiththewise

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24 (NASB)

Recovering from bone surgery is definitely not for sissies. I know up close and personal. You never think about your bones until you break one. In the space of 6 months I have broken my left pinkie finger, 2 toes (one in half) and had my right knee replaced. Knee replacement is (if you are squemish close your eyes now - wait you won’t be able to read this)  basically amputating your leg and putting it back together. Recovery is slow and painful but it’s all totally worth it for the amazing knee you get! Doubling up on my calcium was in order and, young ladies, it’s good advice for you too. 

We don’t usually feel our bones. They are buried under muscle and tissue. When the Psalmist said in Psalm 22 he could count his bones he was in bad shape. Could you count yours? 

  

I get such relief from the phrase “healing to the bones”. Ponder those words.  Words can heal. Words can also hurt and break the spirit. Who ever said “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” apparently had never been called stupid or fat or useless. That phrase is a lie from the pit of hell for sure! Mean girls, bullies, loud mouth, is that the legacy you choose? There is nothing more powerful than speaking healing over a person who has been wounded by words. 

The bible has a lot to say about the power of the tongue for good and for bad. Over 100 verses in the book of Proverbs tell us how the tongue can be used for good or bad. Many times I wish I could have pulled the words back in immediately after I’d said them like a fisherman reeling in his fish! Once they are out of your mouth and touch the receiver’s ears it’s too late. 

   
I was at my daughter’s soccer game when she was 6. She was playing with all her heart and the teenage referee was making some bad calls. You could tell he was inexperienced and learning. We moms were sitting on the sidelines cheering on our little bumble bees. These kids were 6 not professional A-1 players but that is hard to remember when your little player is out there sweating and panting and fouls are being called on her that are clearly wrong. Other parents had already hurled insults at the young ref but he stood his ground. I said in a clear distinct voice “they shouldn’t have a kid trying to ref this game he needs to go back and get some ref lessons. He’s terrible!” Well that was it. The straw that broke the camel’s back. The woman sitting directly in front of me turned around and looked me square in the eyes with tears and a quivering voice said “that referee is my son and he is doing his best. He’s only 14 give him a break.” Well I could have just died! I remember the face of that precious mom to this day 34 years later that’s how mortified I was. I apologized but it was too late. She picked up her chair and moved far down the field from all of we cackling vultures picking her poor son apart. That young man was referee at my daughter’s next game and you’d better believe I didn’t say a word. I saw his mom and smiled but she walked right past me. I have prayed for forgiveness over the years and longed to have those words taken back.  I wanted to reel my words back in!

  
Words can heal words can hurt words can break a spirit. Be known for your tender words, your sweet speech. That is a legacy worth leaving. Be a blessing to someone today. Someone needs healing to their bones this minute. You be the one. Say thank you to the grocery clerk or the pharmacy assistant. Thank your barista for getting your order right. Send a note of praise to your child’s teacher or coach. Leave a powerful word on your supervisor’s  desk. We all need encouragement. You be the one! Be the one they will remember for good. Be the honeycomb that brings those dry bones some much needed healing. 

Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jepunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. Numbers 14:30 (NASB)

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day. A day of love for sure but also a Sunday. On Saturday my friend phoned and asked if I was up to subbing for her Sunday School class. We team teach the very small (I’m talking 5 at the most) class of elementary students. Recovery from knee replacement on its 9th week I was ready to jump back in the saddle. The lesson would be about Moses sending in the 12 spies to spy out the promised land. Oh, I knew that story in my sleep!

The Old Testament is fascinating. I greeted my one student and set her on a path to use my scripture coloring book with special pastel pencils while I told the story directly from the Bible. The story goes this way: God told Moses to send in one spy from each of the 12 tribes of Israel to take a good look of what He had promised them and come back and report to the people. He told them to see what people they were up against, what the land was like, the cities, the crops and to make an effort to bring back some fruit. They found the grapes so large and lovely they had to put the clusters on poles carried by two men! 

  
Those were some huge heavy grape clusters.  When they got back 10 of the spies gave a bad report and 2 gave a good report. The 10 said the people were giants, the cities too fortified, they would   all surely die. The other 2 spies said that God carried them this far and would not let them down. They wanted to go in and take their promised land for heaven’s sake! The people sided with the majority, God’s anger burned against them and the consequences were dire except for the two men who gave the good report: Joshua and Caleb. Those two men and their families would be allowed to enter the promised land flowing with milk and honey as God had promised but thay would have to wait out the 40 years of wandering like all of the rest. Seems unfair but God’s ways are not our ways. The original Israelites who grumbled would die in the desert but their children under age 20 would enter.  After 40 years of going in circles those kids would be in their 60’s but God would lead them in to the Land.  As for the 10 who gave the bad report, they got a plague and died on the spot. 

  
I am merrily reading along, my charge is coloring a beautiful Bible verse and I get to the section with all of the names. Sheesh! Biblical names are hard to pronounce. Why couldn’t they be Johnny or Roger or Charlie? When I was on the church staff we met weekly. First order of business was to read the Bible.  We each read 10 verses as we made our way through the Old Testament. I have to say I really enjoyed that part but it seemed the pastor always planned it so that when a large portion of names came up it was my turn to read! I suggested we skip over the names but he said “if God saw fit to put those names in scripture it is our responsibility to read them.” I think I noticed him winking at his wife, our church office manager, to  just get me going. I read the names butchering them as I went but I read them!  

Starting in Numbers 13:4 we have names like Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethur, Nahbi, Geuel and, of course, Joshua and Caleb. Then it dawned on me. I have heard this story preached, seen it flannel boarded, taught it many times and never saw this. THAT is why I love God’s word so much. One never stops learning even if the story is second nature. The names! I asked my little artist if she had ever heard of the names of the 10 spies who gave a bad report? Did she have a Shammua in her class? She said “nope, but I’ve heard of Shamu at Sea World.”

  
I then asked her if she knew a Caleb or a Joshua and we proceeded to name several. There it was! God not only preserved these two obedient Israelites but He preserved their names for eternity. If you look at lists of popular boy names you will always find Joshua and Caleb. You will be hard pressed to find Palti or Shaphat.  I had never even seen that part of God’s faithfulness to these two precious men in all of the times I read or studied that story. When we are obedient even when everyone is against us and we may have to pay some fall out ripple consequences not of our doing God will remember and bless. He wants our obedience my friends. Caleb and Joshua eventually entered that promised land and lived long productive lives. Their generations were blessed. They had to go through some trials to get there but those only made their resolve stronger. They believed God. Believe God today dear one. Believe Him for His promises for you. We read in 2 Corinthians 1:20 “For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are YES; wherefore also by Him our Amen (so be it) to the glory of God through us.” (NASB) 

And next time you meet a Caleb or a Joshua you just might want to tell them of the great men whose name they carry. 

#whenyouwalkwiththewise

  
1 Peter 3:1-4 has been my anthem for the last 30 years and I have had the opportunity to share it’s merits with many struggling women.  I was that struggling woman myself. If you know me you know I am quite outgoing and have a big personality. When I walk into a room I introduce myself to people and by the end of the event I have several new friends. Quiet? Not even in my radar.  I am not taking obnoxious or annoyingly loud; I would say “personable”. 

I come from a family who, when gathered together, talks over each other. The other night we had a birthday party for my dear sister. While inside my ears started ringing and I couldn’t figure out why. As I left and closed the door behind me I knew why. Boy was it loud in there! Big noisy wonderful loud. My precious brother Tim gets the “loudest in the family” award. He walks in and you know he’s there. His presence is unmistakable. He will say “Amen” at church and you know he means it. When Tim was a baby his ear drums burst and his hearing was damaged. I really don’t think he can hear himself. We laugh hard and loud and love even harder.

 My “little” brother! 
So you can imagine my shagrin when the Lord led me to 1Peter 3 while in the midst of praying for my husband’s salvation. I had been pouring my heart out to God daily asking Him to deal with Steve when all along I should have been asking Him to deal with me! Coming across the gentle and quiet spirit part was quite a blow. How in the world? You know those sweet soft spoken women with the delightful smile and gentle touch. They would never even hurt a fly! They are graceful, very spiritual, demure, always proper. I was being misled by the enemy of my soul as he constantly whispered in my ear “you will NEVER be like that no matter how hard you try.” Defeated was written all over me. I tried to be like them but people kept asking me what was wrong with me. Was I not feeling well? Was I mad? I was going about it all wrong. 

  
Sitting across from a dear friend over two cups of fancy coffee I pondered that question out loud to her. Her advice has never left my ears. She said that I could have a gentle and quiet spirit. It was a matter of the heart. Praying for the Lord to reveal what that would look like for me would be my mission. I desperately wanted that. Marveling at her wisdom at such a young age I took her advice. I began praying those verses in earnest for myself. I prayed that God would change me from the inside; that He would show me what that looked like for me. 

Things began to change around my house. Our home became a place of peace. Women you set the tone for your home. How you react and respond is huge.  My husband came home one night after months of my metamorphesis and said that he really enjoyed coming home to me not yelling at the kids. It was a nice break. He noticed!  Several years (yes, I said several years) later he came to Jesus. He told me it wasn’t what I said to him it was how I acted. He was observing my life, daily. Something had changed, he mentioned. Consciously I stopped the nagging about church and all things God and Jesus and just prayed. I asked God to make me the wife he needed and him the husband I needed. God did what only He can do; He changed hearts. God knit us together. It took years but I persevered because our marriage was worth saving.

  
Today I have many opportunities to counsel and pray with precious women in dire circumstances, ready to walk away. I always lead them to 1Peter 3 because I have been in their shoes. It’s a marathon I tell them. We have to be willing to empty ourselves of “self” and focus on Jesus. Results take time. Let God do the work in you, precious one. Contact me and let me know. I will pray for you because you are worth fighting for and we fight that enemy on our knees! ❤️ #whenyouwalkwiththewise

Good Morning Beloved

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 1 Timothy 1:15(NASB)

It is a trustworthy statement…1 Timothy 3:1 (NASB)

It is a trustworthy statement…1 Timothy 4:9 (NASB)

Trust - firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. Merriam-Webster Dictionary

 In 2004 I started my penny journal. I’d heard a story of a rich man picking pennies up off of the sidewalk and when asked why he did it he said because “In God We Trust” was written on the penny and it was a reminder for him to keep trusting in God. That compelled me to put my own penny search to the test. I found my first penny walking in to a 7-11  convenience store. Big doings were happening at the school for which I worked. Being the administrator of a private elementary/preschool brought lots of opportunities to trust God!  I went home and taped the penny in to a journal I had laying around waiting it’s turn for good use. Fast forward 12 years and it is now a 3 ring binder with page protectors!

The journey continues to be fascinating. I never know where a penny will turn up. Believe me they have appeared out of no where (but that’s for another blog post). Over the years I have shared my penny journal with family, friends and anyone who would listen. People have often told me that they found a penny and think of me. I tell them to think of God and what He was doing in their life at that very moment. I ask them to take a picture of it and share their story with me!

Last week my niece was at Mirror Lake in Yosemite. She found a penny and texted me. God was there!  This penny brought her thoughts to the grandure of the beauty by which she was surrounded. God’s spectacular creation. She also said “Grandma Gertie says Hi from Yosemite”, my mom being in heaven. Pennies from heaven? Perhaps….

My journal has taken on a life of it’s own. Periodically I read through the pages and see how God has worked in my life, the lives of others and the school. Trusting God, trusting in God is a daily choice that I make. It is my anthem and my theme! Knowing He has me in the palm of His mighty hand has carried me through many hard times that would otherwise break me to pieces. The Apostle Paul wanted young Timothy to know that what he was telling him could be trusted; that God could be trusted.

Precious one today you have a choice to make. You can trust God or not. I am a witness to the fact that He is trustworthy! He is reliable, true and strong. Make no mistake, He is the only one you can truly trust. Here’s hoping you find a penny today and start your own In God We Trust journey. Just watch and see what God will do! Let me know if you find one. I’ll be excited to hear!

#whenyouwalkwiththewise

Good Morning Beloved 

Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts. For he who finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 8:34-35 (NASB)
Waiting has NEVER been my strong suit. If you looked in the dictionary for the word wait or patience my picture would not be there. I walk fast, talk fast and expect people to keep up (unrealistic for sure!). We live in an instantaneous society. One Minute Manager, Gone In 60 Seconds, Fast and Furious, microwave dinner, time flies, Quicky Mart, drive-thru fast food, drive thru weddings, give it to me now! Heck, life speeds by.

When I was a kid we didn’t ride our bikes to 7/11, we rode them to Speedy Mart. They were ahead of their time with that name! Speedy Mart was the little store on the corner that mainly carried things you would need in a hurry. Mom would send me there with a few dollars to get milk, bread and, if there was money left I could buy an Abba Zabba or a Look bar. I was back home in 30 minutes. Picture of things to come.

As time went by life accelerated to a break neck speed.

Children and adults alike are over scheduled. When our kids were growing up they were involved in sports, my husband and I worked full time, I was in college, involved in the local Jr. Woman’s Club, church activities (choir, Sunday School teacher, youth group leader and bible study teacher). Looking back at my life I am amazed my husband and I ever had time for each other!

I walked around exhausted in a haze of sleep deprivation. Where was my time for the Lord? Where was that time for pouring His love and knowledge in to my mind and heart? Beloved I feel your frustration! At night when we got home I cooked and ate dinner, did dishes (we had ants could NOT leave dirty dishes), threw in a load of laundry, had baths, fielded phone calls, helped the kids with homework then did my own and I would fall in to bed. My only hope would be to wake extremely early to catch a glimpse of God. He patiently waited and grew me in Him in spite of myself. That is how much He loves me and He loves you. He continues to call us unto Himself. He knows what is best for our lives and that spending even 5 minutes with Him in the morning can effect our entire day!

Fast forward as I sit around my dining room table once a week studying Romans and imparting knowledge to two young ladies in their 20’s I wish that had been me sitting around someone’s table in my 20’s. Start today precious one. Wait on the Lord. Give Him your time and watch Him multiply it! Seek Him; you will find Him. Riches unimaginable await you as you invest in the gold mine that is the word of God. That treasure is for keeps. ❤️

#whenyouwalkwiththewise

Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “Thou art a God who sees.”
Genesis 16:13a (NASB)

I have found 2 pennies in the last two days. I can go days, weeks even months without finding one. I don’t look for them they are just there. Going through this season of healing has been slow and difficult and sometimes I let the enemy trick me in to thinking that God does not see me. I don’t mean that He isn’t there I just mean that I feel invisible. Invisible in life.
One of my favorite bible stories is about Hagar. She was the Egyptian maid to Sarai (Sarah) who was the wife of Abraham. Because Abraham and Sarah had no children Sarah sent her young maid in to Abraham hoping she would get pregnant and they could raise the child as their own.
When Hagar saw that she was pregnant she despised her mistress the bible says. She probably rubbed it in Sarah’s face that she was with child but knew in her heart that boy would not really be hers. Sarah became very jealous that her maid got pregnant. Now I just have to say what is up with that Sarah? YOU sent this young girl in to your husband to have sex with him and hopefully she would get pregnant and when she does you treat her like dirt! Really?
Sarah treated Hagar so harshly that Hagar left the camp. Jealousy is an ugly thing. Hagar was  probably heart broken, in disbelief, hurting so bad. The bible tells us in Genesis 16:7 that “the angel of the Lord” found her by a spring of water in the wilderness. In the bible when we see “the angel of the Lord”, it is usually a theophany, a self-manifestation of God. Here in these verses “angel of the Lord” speaks as God, identifies Himself with God.
Hagar told the Lord that she was running from her mistress. The Lord told her to go back and submit herself to Sarah’s authority. What? Did she hear that right? Sarah sent her in, she does what Sarah wants, Sarah turns in to a shrew so Hagar says forget this noise! And the Lord wants her to go back and submit? Then the Lord tells her He will multiply her descendants so that they will be too many to count. Her head must have been swimming!
After that revelation the Lord went on the tell her so much more: she was pregnant, she would have a son, his name would be Ishmael, the Lord has given attention to her problem, the boy would be against everyone and vice versa and he would live in the east. Her head must have been ready to EXPLODE! I can just imagine her sitting there with her beautiful tanned skin, long black hair, big brown eyes, tear stained face hearing unbelievable facts from a gentle loving stranger who commanded her undivided attention.
As I am sure she was filled with wonder and amazement she looked at Him and called the name of the Lord who spoke to her and said (Genesis 16:13) “Thou art a God who sees. Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?” Precious Hagar realized that she was in the presence of a Holy God. She was in awe. The bible tells us that the well was called Beer-lahai-roi.  This means “a well of the Living One who sees me”. El Roi. The God who sees me. He sees ME. He SEES me. HE sees me.
When I first researched this verse and really learned the meaning I was going through a very tough time in my life. I felt like my prayers were hitting the ceiling. Ever been there? Like you were praying into thin air? Let me tell you it was a very dark time (yes,I have dark times). Then I met El Roi and that name stopped me in my tracks. I laid my head on the pages and cried, tears staining verses 13, 14 & 15. He sees me. As I raised my head and looked up to my white ceiling I knee He saw me. Through my tears I thanked Him for Hagar and her story, for the bible study that led me to this name and for His infinite mercy for loving me. El Roi has become my heart name for our Heavenly Father. El Roi, the God who sees me.
Remember the invisible feeling I had? The pennies were an immediate reminder that God can be trusted. God can always be trusted without a penny but it is a concrete reminder for me. The pennies I found were rusted, buried, dirty and shot just like I felt. On one of the pennies the In God We Trust was worn off. Sometimes the condition of the pennies I find are conducive to how I feel. Holding the pennies I prayed to my El Roi. He sees me. He sees you precious one. God sees your pain, your hurt, your disappointment, your deep and unbearable grief, your rejection, your emptiness. He knows that situation in which you find yourself this very minute and He loves you so very much. He is holding you, caring for you and walking with you through whatever it is you must learn to accomplish in your life to be more like His Son. What a gentle yet strong and mighty God we serve. El Roi. The God who sees me. The God who sees you beloved. ️
#whenyouwalkwiththewise

The steps of a man are established by the Lord; and He delights in his ways. When he falls, he shall not be hurled head long; because the Lord is the One who holds his hand. Psalm 37:23-24(NASB)

It was very early in the winter morning. The days were getting longer but it was January and still dark at 6:15AM. I had taken a kindergarten substitute job at the school at my church. Being prepared, I had my hands and arms full of fun activities for my class of 9 inquisitive five year olds. Very excited to be “back in the saddle” of teaching I got out of my car and proceeded to walk up the front steps. There is a light on the steps but being between night and sunrise the light had gone out. It had been set on a timer.
I knew those stairs ahead if me by heart as I had been up and down them a thousand times, swept them, cleaned stuck gum off of them, washed them down after numerous Slurpee spills and neighborhood dogs used them for a potty stop, suggested homeless guys not use them for a nap, pulled weeds out of their cracks, I knew those stairs! Walking my usual pace (fast) I navigated the first step then misjudged my gait and, with the light gone, I saw a shadow that looked like the step but it wasn’t. One of my worst fears was being realized (the other is going to jail - I don’t know!) I was falling. Down I went almost like in slo-mo arms flailing popsicle sticks flying, papers everywhere as I tried to fall on my right side. It is not recommended ever to fall on a knee replacement flat out on concrete and my left knee was fairly new.  All of these things are flying through my brain at break neck speed (no pun intended). Left knee fall bad, flat face to concrete bad, concussion bad, dignity bruised in case someone sees kinda bad. In a split second I shifted by body slightly right and fell on my right wrist, hip, knee and eyebrow. A shriek came out of my mouth sounding like a wounded baby possum. Have you ever heard a possum shriek? It’s high pitched and very loud.
Gathering my thoughts as I laid there sprawled out on 2 concrete stairs I looked like a  human welcome mat. A quick inventory was taken. Right ankle(present), right knee (ouch but OK), right hip (present and OK lots of padding), right wrist (super owie), right eyebrow (that’s gonna leave a mark), glasses did not fare well at all. I thanked God that I did not seem horribly injured, my teeth were in tact and I had fallen on my right side (silver lining).
Getting up I looked around to see if there were any casual observers. None seen I dusted myself off. Papers stayed pretty much within arms length as there was no breeze to speak of. I gathered everything and walked in to the school. Since I was opening that day I was by myself for a while. Looking in the mirror I saw the lenses in my glasses were toast as they did slide across the concrete. They would have to make it through the day. My eyebrow immediately popped out a nice little goose egg and my wrist was hard to bend. Ice was next and then I started to shake and cry. The tears were for the fall not the pain.
As the day went on my eye was turning a lovely shade of purple. No eyeshadow needed for about 2 weeks but I would have a difficult time finding a match for my left eye as that lid would turn shades of purple, black then yellowish brown. The pastor instructed me to go to urgent care to be checked. I went and the wrist was not broken, no concussion just bruised ego.
My fall taught me lessons as I continued to think of this verse and not being hurled head long. It may have seemed that way but it could have been so much worse. We fall in our walk through life. God directs our steps if we allow Him. The verse says “when we fall”. Dear one we WILL fall. As we fall we learn lessons. I learned to watch my step, slow down, purpose to look where I am going. The same is true in our daily walk with Christ. Watch your step, slow down and savor life, purpose to walk in a way that honors God. Tall order? Absolutely. God is the one who holds your hand. When you stumble He will always lift you up. When you fall in to that inevitable pit He will pull you out. You can always come back. There is forgiveness, mercy and renewal. Always. This world has a strong pull. It sometimes seems like we are made of metal and that old world is the strongest magnet ever. Our loving God is stronger and keeps a firm grip on His beloved. Be reassured. You may have a black eye and broken glasses but you will be held in His loving arms. ️
#whenyouwalkwiththewise

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored. Titus 2:3-5 (NASB)

A Titus 2 woman. There have been sermons on her, books written about her, groups of older women named after her, speakers at camps talk about her but just who is she? Last night I am pretty sure I got a taste of what and who she is.
A few weeks ago I got a phone call from a very dear woman in her early 20’s. She asked me if I would be open to doing a weekly bible study with her and a friend. They wanted to learn God’s word but needed direction. I said I would be honored to meet with them. I then suggested we meet after church to see what books we had at church available to study.
Later in the week she texted me saying she and her friend had talked about it and they didn’t want to do a book. They just wanted to study the bible straight out of the bible. They wanted to go verse by verse and learn from me. Yikes! I have been a bible study leader for over 20 years and taken several bible classes but I have never taught in that fashion, ever. The Lord was definitely stretching me. I said OK then started praying about what book to start.
Here I sat with a bible containing 66 books. We could start at the beginning, Genesis or go through Exodus, lots of life lessons there. Nehemiah came to mind as it really is my favorite Old Testament book; I could teach tenacity and fighting in prayer. Then there are the Psalms and Proverbs or how about Isaiah(no, too much too soon). OK, the new testament; we could do an overview of the gospels or learn of the Acts of the apostles. Galatians and Ephesians came to mind and Jude (the shortest book). Whew, Lord where to go?
God took me on a little look back in my life. He had me reevaluate what in scripture made a difference in my life. What book or verses were a turning point? What did I feel confident in? From what would these young ladies benefit? Then it hit me, Romans. Ah, studying that book in depth for a year and a half was a major turning point in my life. The letter Paul wrote to believers in Rome would be our great adventure together. I was excited!
Texting them I advised they bring a real with pages bible (not just on their phone). There is something about being able to touch and feel pages and write in the margin that feels genuine to me. It probably means more to me because that is what I am used to because there is nothing wrong with having the bible downloaded on one’s phone.
I use my phone to look up scripture in different translations but I love my marked up, dog eared, highlighted 1986 New American Standard. I also suggested they bring a notebook to take notes and maybe a highlighter or colored pencils.
The time came and as they sat around my dining room table I saw an answer to prayer before my eyes. Two twenty-agers (as my husband calls them) who could be anywhere else wanted to be sitting at my table, bibles open, pens in hand hungering to learn God’s word! I immediately felt so inadequate, humbled and in love with Jesus. We chatted a bit, prayed and got down to it. My bible study training kicked in and we were off. The Holy Spirit guided my every word as we dug in to the words Paul wrote to his beloved brothers and sisters in Christ.
They were shocked at how much they learned from just the first verse! They learned volumes about the writer of the letter. They learned what it meant to be called and set apart. We got through verse 7 as the hour flew by. I challenged them to write out the first chapter of Romans this week and by the end of our study we will have written the entire book by hand! One of the girls said “I have never taken so many notes in bible study before. I have never learned so much in one hour!  I’m going to need a bigger notebook.” She said she was hungering for the word and was not finding it taught in her weekly peer group or even in her weekly church service. I told her that her greatest teacher is the Holy Spirit and that if she truly wanted insight into the scripture then she should pray and ask Him to teach her, guide her and give her clarity. The Holy Spirit would do just that. That concept was new to her.
I am not sure what this time with these two precious girls will be but I know that Jesus brought us together and I am going to do everything I can to pour my experience and wisdom in to them. Neither of them are married yet and I pray these sessions in study will prepare them for the future. I wish someone had done this for me in my twenties.
Dear ladies where ever you are in your life there is always someone younger looking up to you that needs mentoring. Young girls are crying out for positive roll models. They need your guidance and experience on how to live life. They need your one on one. As I learned last night they aren’t getting it from their peers or, in some cases, the pulpit. Are you living your life as a Titus 2 woman? Are you one who is a positive influence? Do you even want to be? Young girls are out there seeking you. Ask God to give you the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. Maybe you need a mentor. Pray on that too. What a joy it is to serve a living God and make a difference in generations coming after us.
#whenyouwalkwiththewise