Category: prayer

Godversations October 28

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First, Sister Margie and the young man from Chattanooga. I mentioned them at the end of the last post.

Margie shared about her extensive travel challenges and joys of seeing her son, James Ezra, married after raising adult children. He has a 13 YO son at home and I found my self praying for little Ezra James, as his name is reversed. Praying for him to see God’s faithfulness. Giggling inside because “James, James and James” sounding like “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia” from the Brady Bunch.

Miss Summer visited and immediately told me I was cute today. That particular word keeps being used by many who do not know me to describe me. I was inspired to share the silliness of last Sunday at my daughter’s apartment.

Sweet Summer shared a pinch more and the Holy Spirit moved me to give her Divisible by One, Exterminate the Hate and the poems in “the stack”. She feels irredeemable (her word) and whatever it was that came out of my mouth was used to persuade her otherwise. Praise God! Oh, Jehova Jireh! The Lord WILL provide💜✝️💜

Brother Wyoming Kurt visited for third time in six days. Huge Godversation and he was vulnerable in sharing his PTSD from Desert Storm. He was proud to share his Airborne tattoo on his calf.

While he was preparing to leave pick up his autistic grandson from school, Miss Amber arrived. She has a little nugget of faith. She is an introvert but spoke so sweetly of Wyoming Kurt.

Humbled to learn so much of her story today. She is working two jobs while her partner and his kids rely on her to do what their earthly father will not. He has not worked for over six months. How I long to tell her about Haggai and rebuilding the temple…”get to work” was on my heart. I was directed to be still and listen. Thank you, Jesus, for teaching the petulant child in me obedience!

When the Holy Spirit takes over my tongue, it is always a lesson for me. Usually, it is meant for others, as well. However, there is always something for me to learn. In this case, what Mark shared last night about getting his dad to eat food was applicable to encouraging her husband to see the circumstances through his children’s eyes. He is not a person of faith from what I understand, so therefore, an example he could relate to his own life. I may not be writing where others can understand, but this is what I need to write to remember and honor the moment.

Ultimately, Amber needs to see sacrificial love, agape love, from her partner. I boldly told her that I would be praying for Shawn to be nudged into action. Despite having a tough season of circumstances at our business, I asked if I could bless her day and give her the Orange Mango and GoMax. She was beyond moved by the Holy Spirit, despite the fact she credited me. When the spirit nudges me to bless others, it’s fun to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Thank you, God, for my husband who demonstrates sacrificial love 💜✝️💜

Luxe Joe came in and immediately commented on my countenance. I couldn’t stop smiling. We had a wonderful conversation where I believe the Holy Spirit was working, as well. Joe said he has always been so comfortable in our space and he was a loyal person, regardless, but he loved our store. Some part of me needed to be reminded of our loyal customers. Mark was reminded thru Lebanon Couple and I was personally told by Joe. Thank you, Lord, for another type of generous double portion.

Texas Brenda just left. What a radiant smile! She is visiting her sick 94 (3?) YO Mom and sister. She was thrilled to learn why her disposable was not ideal for her and more. We did enjoy a blessed Godversation. At one point, we both said, “Thank you. God!”

Father God, I know all good things and good knowledge come from you. Thank you for sharpening the discernment tool in my spiritual toolbox. Thank you for blessing us so outrageously today. UNITY. AGAPE. I am listening. You are Holy, Holy, Holy and I love you. I am completely yours.

(Prayer break)

Note: we have done more business at BOTH shops in five hours than we have done on our “good” days in ten hours.

Wowza! Just as I sat down to thank God for the phenomenal day thus far, Miss Angel W calls the shop. She has been visiting our other location for months. Today, of all days, she calls to check in with me. A product was lost in shipment the past two weeks. Well, one of those box a arrived just before she called. In that one box was what she was seeking. it was the sweetest way to tell her “God loves you so much!”

It was such a bubbly Godversation. She had seen me down in my back and she asked me how I was feeling. How awesome the Holy Spirit immediately put the 8/20/24 miracle healing into an explanation she could accept. Sharing Sweet Futina and that healing with her and Brother Leon was so fun! he immediately said “Hallelujah!”

Hallelujah! just received confirmation from Summer.

Dustin and Steve visiting today was special. I had Cousin Nathalie on my heart. Dustin works for a lab and Steve at First Watch. They have been legally married eleven years. Dustin has a giant cross tattooed on his right forearm. Just noting the image for posterity because it will remind me what we discussed. We are all more similar than we are different. For example, I joked with Steve about having a younger husband. When His Timing changes our conversations to Godversation, it will be interesting to see how much God has grown me from today.

Golden Timothy visited next. I could feel a weight on him but he was on the phone. We did not have a chance to talk. I quietly went to get his Golden Tobacco juice. Notable to me, he ordered half the size he typically does. This is small for many people, but it always draws my attention. Whatever “it” may be, something is impacting finances when established habits are changed. He ordered a 60 ml bottle instead of his normal 120.

When Timothy paid, it was with a ladies debit card. I asked if it was his wife’s and he said it was his aunts. He was still on the phone and conversation was limited for efficiency. I asked him to please wait one minute.

I went to the lab and poured another 60 ml. I brought it out and just handed it to him. He told me I did not have to do that. I told him his cross speaks to me differently and sacrificial love has been a residing theme of my last week.

My son called. That entire Godversation was beautiful to me. My son demonstrated great wisdom in some scheduling choices with his dad and how he interacts with his coaches. Lord, thank you for sending Miss Bella to be a Saint. Thank you for preparing her via her Nurse Mom to be empathetic toward GA coaches. Thank you for my wonderful son and his sweet heart describing Bella’s mom, Kim. Praise and more praise. Never enough! I told my son I had specific prayers for him last Monday and he just confirmed many of them were answered. Specific opportunities were added and specific obstacles subtracted. Between that and Morgan currently reading The Five People you meet in Heaven …I believe all those prayers will be answered in His Timing. 💜✝️💜

A new customer entered and typically I would immediately get off the phone. His name is Beaux. Not today, Satan! The answer was to let him know I was sorry for being on the phone, it was not my habit. I explained we had been struggling to get time on the phone with my son. Blake told me to put the phone down and he could wait the one minute it would take.

Shaggy Beaux is endearing in spirit. He told me “No! I think it is so CUTE how you want to talk to him. It is precious. Yessir, I see what you did there!

Sweet Summer returned after she ended work at five. She returned the stack of old writings to me and was truly impacted by the day. She hugged me three times. She said I was a Godsend. We shared more between us. I shared my Godroom post today with her. I prayed over her one near the table over specific issues and again before she left, right at the front door. Since she knew what was on this post today, she knew my day began praying at that very door.

Yes, Lord, the door is wide open.

Spunky Samantha shared her story. Her husband of 19 years left her last year. She had used grandfathers inheritance to pay off their family home. She must now refinance and give her husband half the equity. She is strong in her faith at Life Point Riverdale. Before knowing she had such deep faith, I shared the “ Seek Sunshine” story. We enjoyed a beautiful Godversation. She changed before my eyes from “down and out” to “smiling with light in her eyes”. I know what I saw was the Holy Spirit nudging her heart to accept unconditional love from me, a stranger.

Couldn’t let her pay for that purchase. When God is blessing us like there is no tomorrow, I trust that nudge implicitly.

Fire and Wind

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Praise God, my loving husband returned home last night. It was a glorious Sunday from beginning to end. I wrote in my gray leather journal for posterity. The notes are clear enough to write the detailed testimony.

Insert giggle here. Anyone who knows me in the flesh understands I exclude “cheerleader energy”. I am being nudged to see the power of the Holy Spirit from a different perspective. Yes, Jesus can and will sit you down and just set you straight. The theme this year has in great part been to SLOW DOWN.

For now, I welcome anyone who ever sees this humble post to our Smyrna Tn store. We have prayed over this space countless times..,before we even got the keys and the six years since. Today was different.

Praise God. First two customers were Miss Margie and a gentleman wearing this shirt! More sales in first half hour than we typically see by 1 pm. I credit the One True God for blessing us so quickly this morning.

Thank you, God. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Holy Spirit.

Hosea and Kerwin

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It’s now 5:45 pm. Mr. Kerwin Strong has just left our shop after more than four hours of Godversation and precious stories about Ted Blumenthal, Jimmy Hoffa, Damon, His Aunt, Seth Speaks, Whitley Strieber’s Communion and Edgar Casey. The Holy Spirit has been VERY PRESENT in the shop today with Kerwin. Obedience requires that I write down some key details which are not to be forgotten. Yes, sir!

First, I looked up Strieber’s book, Communion, on Amazon. I read about the author, and he published a new book in March 2021, Jesus: A New Vision. His wife died in 2015 and there were calls to him about her immediately after she passed and before he could have told anyone. This intrigues me, but I am not directed to read that book at this time. Perhaps this is a bookmark of a different sort.

When Kerwin entered the store, he simply needed a 510 battery for a cartridge. Quickly, I learned he has been suffering with pancreatic cancer and now has stomach cancer, too. There are good reasons for medical marijuana and Kerwin’s case is chock full of them. In the walk from the front to the cabinet with the batteries, we had simple, yet warm conversation. At one point, we sat down at the table and within minutes, my lunch arrived. Naturally, I offered to share the meal, it was plenty for two.

What is raising the hair on the back of my neck in this moment is the realization that I ordered lasagna for Kerwin, without even knowing why. You see, the man has not shared a meal in quite some time with anyone. Three days a week, he has zero appetite and the others his taste buds are whacked. I have NEVER ordered lasagna at Carrabba’s, in person or via Uber Eats. I never order Caesar from Uber Eats, either. Today, of all days, I ordered them together. As it turns out, lasagna is one of his absolute favorite foods and he was beyond thrilled to share the meal with me.

We continued talking and sharing testimonies and other stories. I mentioned the book opened by my laptop was a Spiritual Warfare Bible and Kerwin mentioned Hosea and summits in a short time span. Full Stop. Between last night’s Godversation with Philip and now with Kerwin, summits and Hosea are odd bedfellows. I got super excited, no doubt. Still, internally, I was super peaceful. I took him to my office and shared there is scripture under our floors, behind the painted walls and in my office. He loved and pointed out the first verse is from Hosea. That chalkboard has not changed in nearly six years!

I could not bear to let him purchase the little battery or the gummies I gave him to rest. I said something to the effect that money changing hands simply could not happen today. Obedience requires action and I wasn’t going to sully such a beautiful experience with money exchanging hands. I gave him my phone number and told him the door is always open here, especially on Mondays and Thursdays. We prayed together several different times.

Thank you, Lord, for being with us today. Thank you for all you have done, are doing and will do. Thank you for using me so beautifully to encourage him today. Thank you for giving my life miracles meant to be shared with those seeking further confidence in YOU. Please, Father God, send your angels to give Kerwin comfort and protection as he battles cancer. I know you can heal him in your time, in your way. I love you. I ask this in Jesus’ sweet name. Amen.

Ethiopia is significant

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Copying from here: https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Ethiopia

An impromptu conversation with Brother Philip today resulted in us talking about the significance of Ethiopia. We were talking about Solomon and his idolatrous wives which lead to his downfall. I shared the “Jamal and Katrina” story from May with him, as well.

Lord, I believe the Bible is your inerrant Word. I am so grateful for all you have done, are doing and will surely do. I aim to cling to Your Word in every circumstance. That is never a question. Learning about the types of angels listed in Ethiopia’s Book of Jubilees made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I had literally just listened to Don Dickerman’s sermon on Angels, after discussing Ethiopia with Brother Philip this morning. Whenever things like this occur organically, it is natural to first think it is from you. Lord, I am asking today for discernment when reading any testimonies from the past. Leaving this here as a bookmark for where you have my spirit today.

No doubt, in YOUR TIME, you will direct me back here for one reason or the other. Until then, I will wait. Learning about how Ethiopia in the Bible is different territory than Ethiopia of today, being reminded of man-made time changes and now this introduction to four types of angels (which my spirit accepted, and my flesh halted) in Jubilees are all things which must be laid down before you. Please teach me and help my heart to understand whatever it might be you are teaching me. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

What a blessing! I don’t even have to know WHY you want this noted. Obedience just does it. Thank you, God.

ETHIOPIA ē’ thĭ ō’ pĭ ə. Nubia, a country in the N Sudan, S of Egypt.

1. Terminology. In the OT, the KJV sometimes transliterates כּ֥וּשׁ as “Cush” (Gen 10:6, 7, 8; 1 Chron 1:8, 9, 10; Isa 11:11). However, the KJV usually trs. by “Ethiopia.” The KJV transliterates כּוּשִׁ֔י as “Cushi” (2 Sam 18:21, 22, 23, 31, 32).

The RSV transliterates the Heb. as “Cush” (Gen 2:13; 10:6-8; 1 Chron 1:8-10; Ezek 38:5) and trs. “Ethiopia” elsewhere. Also the RSV trs. כּוּשִׁ֔י (2 Sam 18:21-23, 31, 32) and כֻּשִׁ֖ית (Num 12:1) as “Cushite,” but elsewhere renders “Ethiopian.”

In the NT, “Ethiopian” trs. Αἰθίοψ, G134, whose etymological meaning is prob. “dark-faced” (Acts 8:27).

2. Location. The Biblical Ethiopia is Nubia, in southernmost Egypt and the N Sudan, not the modern Ethiopia (also called Abyssinia). Ethiopia is often associated with Egypt in the Bible (e.g. Ps 68:31; Isa 20:3-5; Ezek 30:4, 5). More specifically Ethiopia is located S of Egypt (Judg 1:10) and S of Syene (Ezek 29:10), modern Aswan, the southernmost important city of Egypt. This location of Ethiopia agrees with the Egyp. references to K’š (which corresponds to Heb. כּ֥ושׁ) and with Herodotus II. 29.

3. History. The first historical reference to an Ethiopian in the Bible is the incident of the Cushite (i.e. Ethiopian) slave who carried to David the news of Absalom’s death (2 Sam 18:21-23, 31, 32).

There were Ethiopian mercenaries in the army of Shishak, a Libyan king of Egypt, when he invaded Pal. about 918 b.c. (2 Chron 12:3).

An attack on Judah by Ethiopians and Libyans (2 Chron 14:9-15), led by Zerah the Ethiopian, was repulsed by King Asa (913-873 b.c.). These attackers may have been mercenaries in the Egyp. army settled in southern Pal. by Pharaoh Shishak. Possibly these mercenaries are also the Ethiopians near the Arabs (2 Chron 21:16), though some scholars think the reference is to the close contact of the S Arabians with Africans across the Red Sea.

2 Kings 19:9 and Isaiah 37:9 mention Tirhakah’s (the king of Ethiopia) attempt to check Sennacherib’s invasion of Pal. in the time of King Hezekiah. The Assyrians mockingly called Tirhakah “a bruised reed” (2 Kings 18:21 KJV) and defeated him at Eltekeh. In Egypt, Tirhakah was again defeated by the Assyrian king Esar-haddon and retired to Ethiopia. These defeats of Tirhakah may be referred to by Isaiah (Isa 20:3-5). Tirhakah ruled about 689-664 b.c. as the third and last Pharaoh of the Twenty-fifth, or Ethiopian Dynasty of Egypt. The Ethiopian control of Egypt under this dynasty explains why Ethiopia was called the “strength” of Thebes, Egypt’s southern capital (Nah 3:9). This brief Ethiopian empire included Egypt for about fifty years. Tirhakah’s nephew and successor as king of Ethiopia, Tanut-Amon, was defeated by the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal, who destroyed Thebes in 663 b.c. (Nah 3:8).

The Letter of Aristeas 13 states that Pharaoh Psammetichus II (593-588 b.c.) used Jewish mercenaries in his campaign against Ethiopia, which is also mentioned by Herodotus II. 161. He or a Pharaoh soon after, settled a Jewish garrison on Elephantine Island to guard the border between Egypt and Ethiopia.

Ebed-melech, who secured Jeremiah’s release from the cistern (Jer 38:7-13), was an Ethiopian eunuch who held a high position in the household of King Zedekiah of Judah (597-587 b.c.). He believed in God, and Jeremiah promised that he would be safe in the coming capture of Jerusalem (39:15-17).

King Ahasuerus of Persia (usually identified with Xerxes, 486-465 b.c.) included Ethiopia at one extreme of his empire (Esth 1:1; 8:9 and in the Additions of the Apocrypha, 13:1; 16:1). Darius I of Persia also mentions Ethiopia in his list of provinces.

The Ethiopians who were to follow Antiochus Epiphanes, king of the N, or Syria (175-163 b.c.), after his conquest of Egypt (Dan 11:43) may refer to mercenaries in his army. The exact meaning, however, is uncertain in this context.

Sibylline Oracles V. 194 mentions the capture of Syene by the Ethiopians. This may refer to an expedition into Egypt sent by an Ethiopian queen with the title Candace, in 24 b.c. (Strabo, XVII. i. 54).

Acts 8:27 mentions “Candace the queen of the Ethiopians.” Candace was a Nubian royal title, prob. corresponding to “queen mother.” The queen who ruled at Meroe (then the Ethiopian capital) with this title at that time was Amantitere (a.d. 25-41). See Candace. That her treasurer should visit Jerusalem and should be reading Isaiah is not surprising in the light of Jewish contacts with Nubia. Some have suggested that he was a proselyte or even a Jew. See Ethiopian Eunuch.

4. Features. The Bible several times refers to “the rivers of Ethiopia” (Isa 18:1; Zeph 3:10), presumably the Nile, the Blue and White Niles, and the Atbara. The papyrus boats used on these rivers (Isa 18:2) are pictured in Egyp. reliefs and paintings, and they are still used in modern Ethiopia. The merchandise of Ethiopia (Job 28:19; Isa 45:14) included the topaz as a precious product of that land. Egyptian records list among the imports from Ethiopia: gold, precious stones, incense, ebony, ivory, ostrich feathers and eggs, leopard skins, greyhounds, cattle, gazelles, bows, shields, and slaves. Isaiah (18:2) calls the Ethiopians “tall and smooth.” Not only are some of the Sudanese tribes tall, but they also have little body hair, and very smooth skin. Jeremiah (13:23) implies that the Ethiopian’s skin is black. The prophet also (46:9) lists Ethiopians with shields among the soldiers of the Egyp. army; small wooden models of shield-bearing Nubian soldiers have been found in Egyp. tombs.

5. Prophecies about Ethiopia. Some prophecies predicted that Jewish exiles in Ethiopia would return to Pal. (Isa 11:11; Ps 87:4). Isaiah (43:3) expected that Persia would take Ethiopia as reward, poetically called a ransom, for freeing the Jewish captives. Several passages speak of coming judgment on Ethiopia (Isa 20:3, 4; Ezek 30:4, 5, 9; Zeph 2:12). Ezekiel (38:5) includes Ethiopians among the forces of Gog that will attack Israel in the end times. Sibylline Oracles III. 320 evidently misunderstood the geography of the Ezekiel passage and misplaced Gog in Ethiopia. According to Amos 9:7, God is concerned with the Ethiopians as with Israel. Psalm 68:31, Isaiah 45:14, and Zephaniah 3:10 mention the conversion of the Ethiopians and their inclusion in the kingdom of God.

Bibliography E. A. W. Budge, The Egyptian Sudan (1907); J. W. Crowfoot, The Island of Meroe (1911); F. L. Griffith, Meroitic Inscriptions, I (1911) and Meroitic Inscriptions, II (1912); G. Reisner, “The Meroitic Kingdom of Ethiopia,” JEA, IX, (1923), 34-77; E. A. W. Budge, A History of Ethiopia, Nubia, and Abyssinia (1928); T. Säve-Söderbergh, Ägypten und Nubien (1941); D. Dunham, The Royal Tombs of Kush, I (1950), II (1955), III (1952), IV (1957); A. J. Arkell, A History of the Sudan (1955); E. Ullendorff, Ethiopia and the Bible (1968).

Gratitude and Double Nickels

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Yesterday, we returned to TN from worshipping at Brandon Lake’s Tear off the Roof Tour in Charleston, SC on 5/5/2024. It was the quickest trip we have ever planned or taken. Leaving my glorious 55th year behind in January, my heart’s desire was to worship at a Brandon Lake event. His music very much marked all of 2023 for me, including the miracle 10/17/23. We prayed about it and agreed to go to Charleston, SC, to celebrate my 1/21/2024 birthday, my ninth baptism birthday (5/3/15) and our 9th wedding anniversary (5/10/15) in advance. Praise God for healing my blood pressure issues of February, March and April, in His Timing! (Isa 55)

After a spiritual warfare grenade thrown by a certain pastor last week, I am exponentially grateful we sacrificed some things in our normal budget to obtain floor seats. Heck, we were even blessed in the City Market buying that brick washed red Charleston cap. The sweet vendor told me I was “meant to have that cap” at a 33% discount! We met up with an old friend of mine who is four months pregnant with her second child. She will be fifty in July and the baby girl will be born in late October/Early November. Blessings upon blessings!

We cut the visit a pinch short to ensure we made it over to the Credit One arena on time. The Holy Spirit was present in a palpable way; it felt like Jesus was holding my hand most of the evening. It did not surprise me Brandon Lake opened with “Praise You Anywhere” and ended with “Praise”. From beginning to the end of his set, Brandon Lake led authentic, gospel-based worship. Of all the Christian artists I have ever experienced in person, I do not recall a single one used more by God to move me closer to Him. I thank God for the soundtrack he has given to my faith, including Brandon Lake.

After Doe’s opening set, there was an extended call to sponsor World Vision children in need. Lake was on stage at 8:02 pm. Roughly 40 minutes into the show, Brother Brandon joked about being too sweaty to put on his Coat of Many Colors. He shared the story behind his coat before placing it on his sons. In doing so, Lake spoke of the double portion of Spirit and anointing his father prayed over him and how he prays for his three boys to receive the same.

I have seen quite a few clips/shorts of Brandon Lake. Never had I heard him refer to a double portion. It certainly isn’t the first time the Holy Spirit has returned a Word back to me through another person. In that moment, I knew exactly why the Spirit had me write out “One Response” to the aforementioned pastor BEFORE leaving Nashville. It was the nudge to include a reference to 2 Kings 2:9-14 and a double portion of a different variety. Such a blinding bright light of a Godwink in the middle of the show!

Truly, I love how the Holy Spirit moves…including through music and the internet. I somehow ended up here after looking up Brandon Lake’s earlier music. How perfect! Brandon Lake wrote a song with Matt Redman, Brian Johnson, and Phil Wickham and called “We Praise You” on Redmond’s Let There Be Wonder compilation four years ago. The same Matt Redman the pastor praised while denouncing Brandon Lake’s song, Gratitude. The pastor wrote, “Lake is connected with Bethel Church …and along with their music labels promote questionable teaching all the time.” I suppose it depends on how one defines “connected.” Still, I rebuke such statements, as God will judge me or condemn every useless word, including mine.

I didn’t find or know this song before writing “One Response”, so I am including it here for posterity. Yes, Brandon Lake has collaborated with Elevation Worship, Bethel Music, Hillsong, Maverick City Music and more. I emphatically deny that all music from them should be silenced under the presumption of “bad theology”.

I assume ALL GOOD in any person is from God, as I believe all GOOD and GOOD KNOWLEDGE come from God. I have also experienced God through some secular music. I respect churches being intentional about how they lead worship and which songs they choose. However, blindly banning any group of artists and reading the devil into all their songs surely borders on blasphemy.

Praise can be a weapon to silence the enemy!

Roughly a year later, this is Elevation Worship with Maverick City and Brandon Lake. This video was posted three years ago and as of today, 3.3M views:

Forward another year, Lake’s Gratitude was used on The Chosen. 33 million views to this version alone. I believe God has used this song to sew countless seeds among those 33 million views. Brandon Lake can’t convert people to follow Jesus in his own power. However, there is no denying God’s hand on this song and, I believe, on Mr. Lake, himself. Lord, thank you for all you have done, are doing and will do. You have the master list 🙂 Today, I humbly ask all those who come to Jesus through his ministry grow to full maturity in their faith. In Jesus sweet name, Amen.

January 4, 2024

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Obedience requires action. For reasons unknown to me, I must share this texted response…

Lol. I thought I was being funny by using my last name!

Like everything else, “wonderful” is subjective. I was giddy on the way home last night because God showed off in three big ways yesterday. Three separate strangers with completely different stories- just confirmation galore about a bunch of stuff I’ve been wrestling with lately.

God has been doing a ton of showing up and showing off in my life since February. No doubt, 2023 has been the most favorite year of my entire life.

Flip side- they have not let me/us visit since returning from Italy in October. The repairs from the car crashing into our Boro shop didn’t get done until Late December. Big drama at our tiny church- no longer our church. Other things have been challenging and beyond gut-punching.

Too much for a text. Clearly. Lol. Love you and hope we catch up soon.

Faith and Forgiveness

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Lord, thank you for ALL you have done, are doing and will do in our lives. I come to you with a humbled and much-slowed down heart. Please forgive me for any time my child-like wonder has been an impediment in any manner.

I know this heart you gave me is for YOUR PURPOSE and you wired me this way for reasons I may never know in this life. Thank you for infusing my heart with such genuine excitement for you and love of others! In this moment, I am very grateful for the hard lesson about when to “turn down the volume”.

Oh, Lord, I would never want to have your greatness in our lives perceived as anything other than YOUR GREATNESS. I see now, many people have never experienced you. I do not wish to be a poor messenger or example of your grace.

What I do see in this moment is how you literally slowed my heart pressure to 84/62 on February 28, just as you did seven years ago and November 26. You, like any good parent, must let your child implode from time to time. It’s not to blow up a secure life, it’s to build it back even more secure.

Foundations and Floodgates are much like roots and wings. Thank you for comforting me through the scary parts and giving me Mark as my husband. I love you most of all! I ask this forgiveness in the name of your precious son, Jesus, and every drop of his blood that was shed for humanity. Amen.


God Moves Mervat

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In the past three years, I have met several people from Egypt in Smyrna, TN. Each time, there has been an opportunity in conversation to bear witness to my “favorite Egyptian”.

More than a week ago, I made a video at the house. In the video, I am talking about two particular mountains I know God moved in my life.

Of particular note to me was realizing the language I was led to use posting about meeting Mervat in January 2017. I wrote “ You moved the FDA mountain.

It perplexed me in the best way! Why? Simply put, The FDA Mountain was officially moved 11/2/2017 So, that must have been in reference at the time to be something about extensions which kept getting granted.

God answered a prayer in real time on this day with Mervat. I was wrong to combine it with the FDA Mountain for the long term. But, “I see what you did here”, too. I wouldn’t have realized “my error” was not an error.

Lord, you are so good to me. I love you.

Love & Lead Like Jesus

On By mygodroomIn marriage, obedience, prayerLeave a comment

The Holy Spirit got me out of bed at 5:45 this morning to look up 2 Timothy 2:22. I spent about 45 minutes in the Book of Timothy before going downstairs to turn on the coffee.  For the third time in three months, I flipped to Amos 1:1.    These two things deserve several pages of thought processing, but that is going to have to wait.  Amos reminds us God can do extraordinary things through ordinary people.   I have never once considered my husband “ordinary” as a human being, but today I want to share the extraordinary work I believe God is doing through him.

The other day, God put a need in front of me that resulted in an inspired action of committing to give a precise amount of money. I didn’t know why that was put on my heart so strongly, but there was no denying that it was to be done, in that exact amount, exactly as it happened.  Things are questionable at our business right now, the margins are becoming smaller and for us, it was a substantial action.  I would typically never commit to any amount over $100 without first talking with my husband.  Still, I was committed.  Just now, I am realizing there is a Biblical reference tied to the amount, but, I digress.    When my husband came home, we discussed it and his response was excitement.  He was so excited that we were called to be used and that we could be used by Him.  The look that kids get when they see gifts at their birthday?  Yes, that was the look in Mark’s face.  We have such joy in the giving.   That is just a part of my sweet husband.

Mark has given me a copious amount of time off work to dedicate myself and the gifts He has given me to a God-directed service project. We share Bible flips, Godversations, details and observations, life, business and everything else.  On top of all of it, we have had three very emotionally exhausting weeks with my teenagers due to something that had nothing to do with us.   Mark needs and deserves a chance to breathe, rest and just sleep in one day.

Bearing that in mind, we have talked and prayed for quite some time about how to best use what God has given us to be of service.  Mark was lead to open our home for a Men’s Group at our church.  Two nights ago, he had two Godly men in our home for about three hours.  This was immediately after the emotionally and spiritually charged conversation with me about the giving.   What a Thursday!    Last night, a second men’s group started.   Being who we are in our marriage, we have been discussing what it means to be a leader and put love into action.  My husband has a huge heart; I love watching God at work through him right now.   Despite being exhausted beyond measure; my sweet husband went to the other man’s group last night. He went because he felt called to go.  He went because the man, Bryan, had told him no one else had committed to attend.  He went because that is how you show love to a brother.    Despite a woman and her daughter being present, he stayed for two hours.

When he finally made it home, we had another two hours of God-filled conversation.   Knowing my husband, I had bought him a very funny card.  Something to break any tension for a moment and allow laughter to come to life.  The punch line to the joke was “there is no greater love.”  My note in the card was that “well, there is ONE,” and went on to tell him just how much I appreciate being married to a man who invites Jesus into our lives on a daily basis.  During our Godversation, he shared one of the questions Bryan had asked him was, “who leads you to Jesus.”

In this moment, I am floored, again.  Mark told me his response was to share our Bible flips with Bryan. He shared how this service project has impacted us.  In short, he shared how God has been moving in our lives and told Bryan, “honestly, God has been using Carol to lead me to Jesus.”  My husband has told me many kind words through the years.  He has told me I was beautiful when I was surely not feeling it, he has acknowledged my heart when I was hurting and he married me when I was about fifty pounds heavier.  Of all the kind, wonderful and amazing things my husband has said to me through the years, this is the compliment which means the most.  My husband loves and leads me just like Jesus.  He sees Jesus in me.

We digested our Godversation further and watched the last half hour of show we had started the night before.  We concluded our evening by watching a video on the Book of Daniel.  Another men’s group is having their first meeting this morning.  The topic is Daniel.  Although my husband really needed to sleep until 9, he was planning to be up at 7 to attend the meeting.  Why?  Because that is what a true brother in Christ does for another brother.  He just called and told me, once again, he was the only one who showed up, aside from our pastor.  So, Brothers Kent, Mark and Dustin had a wonderful morning together in the word.  Hearing the joy in his voice, I immediately knew the Holy Spirit was with them.

Our hearts are on fire and in sync with the word, the spirit and the way.  It’s exhilarating!  God is so good!  Thank you, Lord, for giving me a husband who chases your heart with me.  The only key that matters is the one which opens up your Kingdom to us.  We love you.

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