God Put Me Through Beauty School

Proverbs 2: 1-6: My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and IF YOU LOOK FOR IT AS FOR SILVER AND SEARCH FOR IT AS FOR HIDDEN TREASURE, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

IF YOU SEARCH FOR WISDOM AS IF IT’S A HIDDEN TREASURE….YOU WILL FIND IT!

Ok, I’ve read this scripture 5 zillion times. It was my staple scripture for almost a decade. But I just recently saw it with new eyes!

Several years ago, I was telling a skeptical friend about something God had done in my life. It was probably something similar to the things I share here…like when I blogged about “Holy Inside Joke! God’s in on it!” My hilarious boyfriend agreed to watch a silly girl’s movie with me and we were joking about it being our “fancy pants” date. I was leaning on my Bible at the time and looked down at a scripture that talked about wearing “Garments of Splendor!” I’m sure there’s a translation out there that says Fancy Pants! haha. It might sound like a small thing but it was Huge for me! I’m on a path to discover True Beauty and I learned something new about it. Most people agree that a sense of humor tops the “things I find attractive about you” list. So it made sense that the God who invented Beauty would also have a sense of humor. God wanted to be “in on the joke”….the fun side of my life. Who knew he could be that real in our lives!:)

So, it was probably five years ago and even though I can’t remember what I was saying…I’m sure I was telling my friend something similar to this…some new amazing revelation. At that time, he asked me a question that I didn’t think twice about …until now. After discovering more about God’s sense of humor, I woke up with his question so LOUD in my head: “What makes you, Missy Midden, think you’re so special that God would do all this for You.”

I think I finally have the answer!

The intent of the question was probably to point out I’m not really that special. haha It’s funny because I didn’t detect the skepticism at the time so I’m sure I answered enthusiastically as if he really wanted to know. I thought it had something to do with how God related to me personally as a creative person.

Ultimately, it was fair question. One that deserved a good answer.

The last few weeks, I kept thinking about the “wisdom” scripture. It kept coming up and rolling around in my mind. I sorta wondered what God was trying to show me since I had already dissected this scripture for years….but then I saw it! I saw the answer to his question. If you search for Wisdom as if it’s a Hidden Treasure….you will find it!! This suggests LIFE IS MEANT TO BE AN ADVENTURE! “Finding hidden treasure????” that’s like something out of Indiana Jones. Wisdom is universal…we all need it. So, these creative revelations are not just for creative types. God said we could have wisdom if we searched for it like a hidden treasure! Getting to know God IS the adventure. Our life is designed to be an adventure! So the only difference between my friend and me was that I chose to look under a few more rocks. I dug a little deeper in search of something significant. Something Beautiful. Pearls of Wisdom! I searched fully convinced I would find some new treasure! I would find God and Divine Inspiration for that moment of my life. I think it’s important to walk in Divine inspiration rather than be a slave to what seems safe and practical to everyone else.

So recently, I checked my treasure map, dusted off a little sand and found that God had a sense of humor. I discovered that God is so much more than the One who listens to our desperate prayers or approves our earnest pursuits and good deeds….but he Delights in our FUN TIMES! He asks us to rejoice …but look …he rejoices over us too! Isn’t that such a cool picture!!!

Zephaniah 3:14-17 Sing O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy…..The Lord the King of Israel is with you; never again will you fear harm…do not fear o Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great DELIGHT in YOU. He will quiet you with his love, He will REJOICE OVER YOU with SINGING.

Sometimes the “small” thing …IS….the adventure! Today, for example, I discovered true beauty can be found at Marshalls! haha (I’ll write about this next…it’s funny and meaningful)

So to finally answer my friend’s question…. We’re ALL that special!!! Look for Him and see what You find! I think this is when life will get interesting for you! This is the way to turn a dull life into a (better than Indiana Jones) kind of adventure!

By the way, when my friend was suggesting I believed I was a little “too special” …I was at the very lowest point of my life. What a testimony to the power of God’s adventure! Even though I was crushed in every way imaginable and it would have made more sense for someone to feel sorry for me….instead ….someone actually believed I thought I was “too” special! You know why ….because I was SPECIAL. I was blessed to learn that unimaginable treasure, an exciting adventure, pearls of wisdom and True Beauty can be found even in the darkest phase of your life. This adventure isn’t reserved for the rich, the creative, the stable, the ‘no longer hurting’…God never let me be a victim of my circumstances!

We are all meant to be free….to live the adventure ….to wear the hat! Who Knows what we’ll find …there’s so much ground to cover!

I pray God gives you courage to search for him as if He’s a hidden treasure and the faith to BELIEVE you WILL find Him!

Love and Hugs…
Missy

Ugh….WAITING! WAITING for your soul mate to show up….Waiting for someone to say, ‘You’re hired’……Waiting on some kind of spark to bring you to life again….Waiting for that person to change….Waiting for everything to run smoothly for once, Waiting for the microwave to beep…WAITING, waiting, waiting….

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

You might be thinking, “Yeah but for how long? I’ve been waiting for years ….in some cases…all my life.” Ok and realistically sometimes a few minutes or a whole half a day!:)

But no matter how optimistic, “spiritual” or “strong” we are, we have those days we’re just sick and tired of waiting! I wonder if God can relate? I wonder if sometimes we’re really not waiting at all but Running as fast as we can in the wrong direction?…just to be moving?…just to be doing Something?

I wonder if, in fact, God is WAITING on Us?

So a lively, free-spirited friend of mine was going to bust if she didn’t have a summer ADVENTURE. Much to her Dismay….NOTHING was really working out but she felt like God was telling her He had something special for her. Even though she tried to venture out on her own a few times, ultimately, she surrendered and chose to wait on God wholeheartedly. During this process, I watched her go through a “boot camp” of life lessons and grow quickly. Then, on a casual, adventure-free day, she had eyes to see something New. She knew in her heart it was the “something special” from God. This adventure didn’t require a plane ticket because it was in her own neighborhood. It might not have been what she was expecting but it was Much Better. It was also something that had been there all along but she never really noticed it. I believe God didn’t give her eyes to see it until she was ready. I was inspired by this because I could see the wisdom and perfection of God’s timing. He wants to give a Good gift and maybe sometimes we have to learn a few things in the meantime. Maybe we need to grow from the little trials in front of us first. Otherwise, the gift might not even be a blessing. I believe God protects us so we don’t ruin our own good gifts….like pouting before a surprise birthday party because you thought everyone forgot about you. ooooo Just wait …. it’s gonna be worth it!

Isaiah 64: 3-5: For when you did AWESOME things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways.

He is waiting on you to Remember Him….He wants your attention. He wants you to be ready….so he can give you an AWESOME gift…it’s all part of the Beautiful Adventure.

So maybe God relates to the pain we feel when we have no choice but to WAIT. He wants to give us unbelievable gifts and he’s not ignoring our needs nor our heart’s desires. He’s waiting. Waiting until the gift will be a blessing and not a curse. So, again, just maybe in all of our inner grumbling about having to Wait on God and thinking he’s taking FOREVER….maybe God’s actually waiting on Us.

It might not always be the case…but God I pray today we would stop and surrender. Instead of trying to manipulate our circumstances or expect the other person to change….God help Us to change. Help us to draw closer to you. Help us to remember your ways. And for those of us weary in well doing…help us to let You be the strong one. Help us grow a little more this week. Help us to see you in Heaven dying to give us a good gift:))

Pearls of Wisdom=True Beauty (from my niece Kelli): Don’t try to be so strong on your own. Give God your fear.
“He makes all things new. There isn’t room for perfectionism because God is already the perfect one and he doesn’t require that of you. He wants you to listen to him. Let him be the perfect one and let him make all things new”

I know I told you I was going to write about wisdom next ….shoot….I haven’t forgotten about it.
Hugs and Love
Missy

There were three parts to today’s Faith Walk Adventure: Humble yourself, move forward, and boldly say thanks.
Dying Star by Jason Upton

I started listening to this song and the lyrics: “Star how beautiful you shine…you shine more beautiful than mine….worldwide is your strategy …. but shining star I hope you see…if the whole wide world is staring at you …they can’t see me……. I want them to know me…but they can’t see me….” God wants His Love to be known. It’s His love that sets people free! I immediately cried out to God for a clean heart. I want His love to shine in my life. I want His freedom to be written on my forehead, His Love on my hands and His beauty on my heart. Forgive me God….

Then, I thought of the vulture I saw on yesterday’s walk. It was a vulgar scene! Gross. Ugly. These were the words that came to me: “You’ve been looking at the “ugly” things. (pain, setbacks, rejection, failures). Start looking ahead to the blessings God has for you…to the amazing Love story He has for you. Don’t look back more than you have to. You are not attached to the vulture. You’re free. The ties have been cut. God took the handcuffs off…and you are free to walk away and you are free to stay. Lord, continue to give us vision of your Love so we don’t think twice about hanging around a vulture. RUN into God’s beauty. Run! Run into the Light!”

Near the end of my walk I started praying for loved ones. I started off, “Please Lord would you help…..Please Lord would you provide….Please Lord…” I felt a boldness rise up in me and I immediately changed my prayer to: “Thank you God for your help TODAY!
Thank you for breakthrough in finances TODAY. Thank you that there’s break through TODAY. Thank you that there’s Victory TODAY! Thank you that there are nets full of fish TODAY! Thank you that there is breakthrough in my loved one’s life Today!Thank you that there is freedom to walk in TODAY. Thank you that your love is here for us Today! Thank you that soul mates are making their way towards one another Today! Thank you that my friend’s heart is being changed TODAY. Thank you that new vision is being placed in his heart Today. Thank you that my loved ones are being set free Today! Thank you God that your taking care of my business Today. Thank you that you’re taking care of my rent Today. Thank you that you’re taking care of my next step Today.

Wow! Amen!:)))

2 more days …..

Love and Hugs
Missy

A while back I vented to God about not being good at finding my way through this most recent uncharted territory. It was like God called me to the job: surviving life after being laid off and preparing to start my own company through the rubble of multiple setbacks. Can you see that on a name tag? It requires tremendous ambition and leadership strength. This is not part of my natural skill set and I was drowning. In the past, God just simply opened the door to the next job. This time has been different. I was trying so hard and it wasn’t working and I finally said, “GOD…(like, what the heck)….I’m not good at this…You created me…You Know I’m not good at this….so HELP!” Then, the thought came…”Yeah, but you are good at standing in faith….so do that…” (with the implication…right, I know, but where you are weak, I am strong…I didn’t mean for you to try and save yourself, let me do it)! In fact, he had prepared me to stand in faith! It’s a lesson God has given me a million times throughout the years. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. It’s a major theme in my life: standing in faith….believing the word God gives me…(but) surrendering the outcome!

What a relief to finally get some direction that was at least familiar. I can have faith and believe God will lead my steps. So why am I still on this roller coaster that keeps parking in a fear pit for a few days at a time? HERE’S THE NEW REVELATION: I have been trying to “coast” through a season that’s not “coast worthy.” I was familiar with faith so I thought I could passively believe. It’s like I had my hands held out with “faith” resting on my open palms making it ridiculously easy for “trials” & “fear” to simply pick it up and run away with it. Here’s the lesson: There is nothing NEUTRAL about standing in faith! Every time a life-experienced adult chooses to have the faith of a child…an Active choice is made! It’s a sacrifice! You have to surrender and often times “die” to the “practical sense” that tells you to fear, or be cautious for good reason. It’s going against tremendous pressures that give so many reasons why you shouldn’t simply believe. Let me say this again: There is nothing Neutral about standing in faith! It’s a battle to get through to the next step. It’s like the butterfly struggling with the cocoon so it will have the strength it needs to Fly. God did give me the next plan of action but rather than embracing it….I was trying to “coast.” So, it’s time for me pick up my marching orders and take a stand!

Listen to this….I’M GOING ON A FAST (of sorts)! A Faith-Walk Adventure! I’m so excited about it! I started it yesterday actually. For seven days I’m going to walk for an hour every morning dwelling on the words of faith God has given me. I’m going to literally walk out my marching orders:). No matter what I do with the rest of the day ….at least for one hour…I will be thanking God for His goodness, Love, beauty and Nets Full of Fish. The focus will be on Thanks rather than the Limitations that so easily infiltrate a neutral mind! Active Faith! Loving God! Rejoicing! I’m going to take a stand and Believe. I’m going to pray for Breakthrough and Freedom for my life and those God puts on my heart. I believe it’s a form of intercession.

This is one of the songs I listen to on this walk. It’s called Mountain of the Living God by Jason Upton. It has an inspiring lighthearted tone with the reminder that we already have access to life’s greatest joy! We can step into God’s love, beauty, joy and adventure regardless of what’s going on in our lives. It’s funny because the fact that -this- is the song that leads me into intercession prayer shows that it really is a new season in my life. Usually intercession comes from the deep caverns of my soul through brokenness. The songs I listen to usually reflect this. But this time …it’s springing up through Joy! Like the “we three queens” toast for this year:The Joy of the Lord is our Strength!

Thank you God that you give us your wisdom, strength and courage we need to head out into uncharted territory. Thank you that when we are weak, You are strong. Thank you that you didn’t leave it up to us! We need a Savior! We weren’t meant to walk alone! Speak to our hearts today Lord….we Love you!

I’ll keep you posted on this 7 day Faith Walk Adventure:)
Love and Hugs
Missy

Has God ever interrupted your thoughts? Out of nowhere, and completely unrelated to the bombarding thoughts waking me up a couple weeks ago, a picture of ‘nets full of fish’ came to mind. It sort of stopped my morning “I’m half asleep and not quite ready to get out of bed even though my mind is yelling the days to-do list” routine. In spite of this, God had something for me. I saw ‘nets full of fish’ and then I thought of the Luke 5 parable. Jesus’ disciple and fisherman Simon Peter was discouraged because he had worked all night and hadn’t caught any fish. But, then, Jesus suggested a spot to drop the nets again. Luke 5:6: “When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.” I saw a picture of empty nets and then FULL nets. I believed God gave me a picture to embrace. I believe God was speaking to my heart saying, ‘Believe This. Even if you don’t see it, believe it enough to be excited, FULL OF JOY’. Usually when God gives me something this clear it’s because I’m about to face a huge challenge and I will need to hold on to the picture for dear life.

Sure enough, the next week I had a total poverty-stricken melt down. (It’s much more amusing this week;)). This incredible journey full of drama, set-backs and seemingly little forward motion has somehow led me to open my own production company! Side note: It’s called Tangerine Popsicle Productions (inspiring a summer vacation state of mind). Crazy, since I’m the proverbial kid that sits in the back of the class and cuts up. While this is definitely uncharted territory for me, God continues training me to stand in faith while surrendering the OUTCOME! The outcome is in his hands and when it’s time, I’ll be prepared for whatever that is. In the meantime, I believe God is saying “be excited, and set your mind on nets full of fish.” It’s a nice alternative to the crippling fear and anxiety. So, I couldn’t stop talking about this picture. I told everyone in my life. Plus, I just opened my production company and what an amazing picture for a new business. THEN, I opened my devo for the day and it was about NETS FULL OF FISH! Wow, the picture was powerfully confirmed. (the amazing devo is below). I couldn’t believe I wasn’t getting the chance to write about something so big and significant. But the story wasn’t over. WA waaa…..

Last week, the enemy of my soul (even if that’s me) gave me a much different picture. On one particular day I was surrounded by people with nice cars, rings on their left fingers and adorable kids. My job was to act out this standard of normal in an audition. I felt so ‘heavy’ afterward I could barely drive home. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. Then, I met with friends who were planning their vacations together and thoughts started colliding. I couldn’t afford a vacation like this and acting out the “standard of normal” in the audition made me feel considerably less than. I drove home and I think for the first time in my life, I felt……… POOR. REALLY POOR. Poor to the bone! Considering the numbers in my bank account over the years it’s hilarious that this thought never occurred to me before this moment. But it felt like a lifetime of struggle and unfulfilled dreams hit me at once. I cried out, “God……………………………did you forget about me?…………………………. All these many years I’ve chosen to believe you have a good plan and I’ve been trained to see the best in any situation…knowing it all works out for my best…but God…meanwhile….did you just forget about me? Did you forget about my true hearts’ desire? Did you forget to take care of me?” It was like a spin on a kaleidoscope that landed on POOR! It’s all I could see. I was inconsolable. I woke up the next morning and I was convinced I wanted to Sell the Horse.

For those of you who are reading this for the first time, I always feel I’m on the highway riding a horse next to everyone with power windows and air conditioning. I look at them and sometimes long for the smooth ride and they look at me and long for the wind in their hair…but not enough to sell the car. But I wouldn’t trade the adventure God has given me…..well, until now! If daring to go with God on this wild adventure discovering His beauty and the authentic woman He created me to be meant this…..ummm….or some would try to encourage me by saying it’s because you’re special and God has a special plan. If this is what it means to be special …then I’m ready to put up the sign:

HORSE FOR SALE!!!!!!!!!!

Thankfully, my boyfriend told me he would keep the horse for me for a while. LOL. I said “ok, thank you” snorting with laughter and wiping away only God knows how many tears. (The great thing is …He Does know how many tears).

So, isn’t it interesting that a melt down of this magnitude would happen the week after God gave me the picture of nets full of fish?!

I believe there was a powerful assignment of discouragement sent my way. But God’s encouragement was stronger! My nieces planned an impromptu road trip for a We Three Queens reunion that weekend. We had made a toast to the JOY of the Lord is our Strength in 2010 over Christmas. So, the significance of them coming up at that time is AMAZING. We BUZZED with laughter and JOY. It’s like God broke out the heavy artillery by bringing my nieces here. I’m only sharing my side but it was a powerful reunion for all of us that ended with a powerful prayer. Yeah, I said powerful again….can’t help it…there’s Power that comes with this kind of reinforced JOY.

Then this past weekend …still suffering a bit of a limp from the whole melt down….my boyfriend and I walked to the marina near my house to watch the sunset.
It was perfectly peaceful with a special kind of quiet. I was still troubled and wanting to soak up some God time…Plus my boyfriend and I were seeking answers to important questions. As we sat there in the stillness of this moment, a giant dolphin came up for a breath of air directly in front of us and then disappeared. Then a smaller one did the same thing. You could hear them both taking a deep breath before swishing back in the water. (my dolphin interpretation of the sound I heard). They didn’t surface near any other bench, just ours. It was breathtaking. I cried. I cried because it was a symbol of God’s Beauty, Blessing and Adventure and in that moment, I no longer felt poor! I knew that God hadn’t forgotten about me! This was especially meaningful for me because dolphins had a significant place in life during my 2-yr vacation job. I got to see them on every coast and it seemed to be the mascot of this blessed adventure. So, to get a glimpse of God’s nature now in such a spontaneous, unexpected moment with my boyfriend was so special. It filled our hearts with encouragement. I was overcome with God being so -present- in our lives and I could once again see that my life is Rich with His Beauty! It’s the reason I’m writing about it. The goal isn’t actually getting nets full of fish but getting closer to God along the way. Being Truly Loved. THIS is the beautiful adventure that’s worth it all.

If you’re struggling with discouragement today, I pray right now God would lift you out of it. God send your reinforcements to help them see the beautiful picture of love in their lives once again. I believe the picture of ‘nets full of fish’ is for you too. So, hold on to it. In the meantime, I pray God would send people to strengthen you with Joy. I pray He would send someone special to hold your horse for a little while until your ready to get back on and ride. God thank you for showing yourself to us in ways that are so personal and special on the deepest levels. Only you would know what it would mean for me to see that dolphin. Only you know the back story and what dolphins represent in my life. Lord, lead those discouraged today into new levels of relationship with you so they have their own “back story” with you. Send your encouraging angels, Lord. May they fight off any assignment of discouragement. Thank you for loving us.

Sending Love and Hugs your way,
Missy
(the nets full of fish devo I told you about is below)

Power Repentance
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2 by Os Hillman
Tuesday, March 16 2010

How about you? Do you need a personal encounter with Jesus today? Ask Him to reveal His power in your work today.

Dry Tortugas State Park by Stephen McFadden

When God said He was doing NEW things …He wasn’t kidding! I am in the midst of doing a “new thing” and I can’t wait to share more details!

I pray today God would give us His wings to FLY! I pray we would step out and BELIEVE he has incredibly GOOD plan! He understands You ….and knows your heart’s desire …. He hasn’t forgotten you! There are so many adventures along the way…so whatever you’re facing today, let’s FLY….fly with the peace of God…powered with JOY and thankful hearts! Thank you God that you are Good! Thank you for this day! You made it and it’s gorgeous! Thank you for filling our lives with so much beauty! I pray you give us eyes to see it….even on the dark days! Help us to be grateful when someone smiles, when we see kindness in someone’s eyes, witness a beautiful sunset, even a picture of God’s beauty. May we be faithful with the little things….like saying thanks.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NLT) “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.”

Certain failure and huge success can be separated by just one moment! What a difference a day can make!

My daily devo about the Red Sea is a good one today! Also something amazing!!! …after reading this devo I was thinking …I would have thought the same thing “did you bring us out here to die? “Were there not enough burial sites in Egypt?” I mean, really, you’re up against and army and an ocean! Time is up! But God had a plan they couldn’t have imagined or planned. THEN …I went back to the Isaiah 43:18-19 scripture that says “Forget about the former things ….do not dwell on the past …I am doing a new thing…Do you not perceive it?” The one from yesterday’s post. I couldn’t believe it when I read the verses just before it (vs 16-17): “This is what the Lord says, he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, lay there never to rise again.” (the “army” can be the thing that is holding you back from living FREE….addiction, lack of value, cycles of dysfunction, fear etc.)

IT’S THE STORY OF THE RED SEA! Amazing, right? I believe God is saying you can trust He has a plan even if you don’t see it just yet….Believe ….Give us strength to Believe God … You have a good plan …let us believe in such a way that we can walk in JOY before we even get there…I can already tell this is easier to write than walk out..so God…I pray for eyes to simply look at You and feet to Follow You.

Ok read the devo so you know what I’m talking about:)

Move On!
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Thursday, January 14 2010

…”Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on.” – Exodus 14:15

Moses had brought the whole nation of Israel, approximately 600,000, to a dead end in the desert. The only thing between Israel and Pharaoh’s pursuing army was the Red Sea. This was after ten plagues God had inflicted on Pharaoh to motivate him to free the Israelites. Finally, Pharaoh had freed Moses and the people, and they left Egypt. They thought they were home free. “Freedom at last,” they said. But God did a strange thing. He directed Moses to take a route that led to the Red Sea, instead of the northern route around the Red Sea. God explained that He didn’t want them fighting the enemies they would have encountered on this route. But still, there was the issue of the Red Sea.

They finally arrived at the Red Sea, and the people were wondering where they would go from there. News hit the camp: Pharaoh had changed his mind. He was coming after them with his army. Panic set in. The defenseless Israelites cried out, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?…It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” (Ex. 14:11b-12)

God sometimes brings each of us to a “Red Sea” in our life. It may be a work problem that can’t be solved. It may be a marriage that seems to be failing. It may be a debilitating disease. Whatever your Red Sea, God tells us one thing: “Keep moving.” The Red Sea was before them, yet God was angered at Moses and told him to “Keep moving.”

“But Lord, the Red Sea is before me.” “Keep moving.” When we live by sight, we act on what we see. God sets this stage in dramatic fashion. God is into the dramatic. There is no way out without God here. That is just the way He wants it. No one will get glory except God.

A friend once admonished me when I was in the midst of an extremely difficult time in my life, “You must not withdraw from being proactive in your faith just because of this trial that you are in. God’s hand is on your life. There are too many who are depending on you to fulfill the purposes God has in your life. Keep moving! Keep investing yourself in others.” I didn’t feel like it. I was in too much pain. But I did it anyway. God met me at the point of my greatest need once I decided simply to be obedient. Getting past myself by investing myself in others helped heal the pain. There is great healing when we look past our own problems and seek to invest ourselves in others for the sake of Christ. This is when our own Red Seas become parted. We begin to walk to freedom. But we will never experience the miracle of the Red Sea in our lives if we don’t first “Keep moving.”

Also God …I pray for the people suffering in Haiti! Heal their land, heal their bodies and heal their hearts. Lord, make a way for people to be the example of your love in their lives … amen.

Hugs-