God Leading

I am learning when God leads, and I stop co-piloting, my journey is clear. I easily get anxious, like to plan, and don't invite surprises easily...and yet God is showing me lately He already has a path for me so I can rest a long the way.

In May I thought we would be hosting a young girl from Ukraine. A few weeks from meeting her the door was clearly shut.

In June I thought I knew my plans for my children's schooling. A few weeks from school starting, the road was flipped and I saw God clearly had different plans for my children.

In July I thought I knew my plans for mentoring. A few weeks from starting that, my heart was changed completely on how I would mentor.

None of these paths may seem that significant to you. However; all of those paths I was praying about for months, and months, and months...and then what felt like in the 11th hour, God touched my heart deeply and had me evaluate who I was listening to. Was I taking my plans to God or was I making plans for my comfort?

Comfort. Co-piloting. Controlling. Three words that come to mind when I take my journey in my hands. And I love as I turn 35 soon, my life for him has more to do with listening and obeying the promptings of my heart than making a plan - that was already ordained before I was created. 

Vulnerable. Freeing. Courageous. Three words

that come to my mind when God leads and I follow.

 The joy of following God is simply a miracle and I want nothing more for my children than to learn the art of following - which is perhaps the sweetest gift of all when I remember the path of following God is always clear - no matter how vulnerable the path may be for me.

I love the saying, The bigger God is , the smaller I become. And I see more than ever there could never be truer words. God is big. And God's ways are truly above my ways. His love for me, for you, for all, is something I will never be able to fully grasp...only catch glimpses of it as I learn the art of following and watching Him continually lead me under his amazing grace and love. May his love for me, for you, for all touch us deeply, so we can touch others and teach them the joy of following as well! xox

Blessings others

I love reading the story of Joseph in Gensises...He is facing his brothers, who abused him, betrayed him, left him to die...and his brothers are waiting to see what Joseph will do to them, as he is now in a position of power. In todays culture, Joseph would have every right to be a victim of abuse, punish his abusers, stay in a safe box....



But no - Joseph goes beyond his box...

In stead, Joseph looks directly at his abusers and states: "What you meant for evil, God will use for good." Gen 50:20

I love that.

Joseph was using the gift of grace and blessing it unto people who deserved it the least.

This doesn't take away from what Joseph went through or the scares he endured..but by extending grace, this released of power of pain to create bitterness and resentment in life.

Yes - pain happened, but pain didn't need to be in the director in Joseph's life.

As I continue on my journey, I see my heart is no different...from going from pain to freedom...


I have sat in pain.

I have held unto anger.

I have befriended bitterness at times.

I have questioned where is God in pain.

I have escaped into self


And beyond that -


I have faced my abuser.

I have looked at fear in the eyes.

I have seen the power of God through my pain

I have lived from fear to fearless faith

I have released pain.

I have learned to trust...God...others

And I have extended grace.


Blessing others is perhaps the greatest gift I have encountered. To say it is freedom, is an understatement.

By extending grace unto others, lets me see first hand really the abundance of grace I receieve from my Redeemer, my Creator, my Healer - my God - every day. Is there any other way to live each day, breathe through each hour I am given?

Pain may be part of my path, but more than that Gods umbrella of grace, strength and joy rains over pain.

Be Blessed & Bless others!

xox

Give Life

some girls need food,

some girls need shelte,

some girls need safety...

girls who are exploited if not heard and rescued.

atlanta is the number one city in america for girls to be trafficked - not new york, not los angelos - atlanta.

these girls are as young as 12 years old - that is the age of my daughter.

SHE IS SAFE is a ministry that recognizes this - not only for girls in atlanta but all over the world.

please take a moment to watch...(turn music off at the bottom of the blog)

Sharing Compassion

I know it has been a long time...

It has been 1 year...

Actually, I kept thinking my journey with shedding light on abuse would all of a sudden be over. More than that, I was hoping...

After I was done with therapy, I thought:

“I’m Done”

After I saw my children’s friends subjected to it, I thought:

“I’m Done”

After brave women stepped out of prostitution into a permanent place of restoration and healing, I thought

“I’m Done”

Until....someone would make a comment, I would get a random phone call from across the country...

And deeper yet I know God was trying to show me over & over...

Sharing compassion and sharing freedom does not stop...

So that leads me to this spot right now - I see more than ever individuals need compassion.

People don’t need judgement.
People don't need assessment.
People don’t need advice

People - our children, our mothers, our fathers, our friends, strangers - need compassion.

xox

Inviting Truth

The Bible calms and inspires my soul. I can’t tell you how often I go back to the Word for guidance, inspiration and rest. I find it amazing how God’s Truth protects, forgives, heals and understands redemption is larger than pain in life.

I have no doubt without God’s word in my life, I would lead a lonely dark life. There have been numerous times when life didn’t make sense, life was beyond painful and life felt more against me than for me. Starting at the age of 3 and for years after, I felt each of those pains. Now at 33, I find life more beautiful than ever thought possible - because my heart has experienced first hand God’s redemption is truly larger than pain.

Freedom reigns over darkness.

Truth reigns over lies.

When I was in high school, my father would leave a particular verse out for me. I love how he knew me enough that I wouldn't make time for a long study in the morning, (as every precious moment to me in the early morning was sleeping in to the last possible minute) but he knew I would pass the kitchen to go out to my car - and pass his note with a scripture written on it for me.

Early on, my father taught me the power of inviting truth into my life - even if it was just a few words at a time...

One of my favorites he would leave for me...

ISAIAH 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you
with my righteous right hand.

Inviting Truth...

One word at a time.

Sweetest blessing from my heart to yours.

xox

My Today

As I watch my children grow up, I see there are few greater joys than watching their souls blossom. And with that, comes the ability to know when to step in and step back in their lives to give there hearts room to grow. We have 7 summers until Sophie moves onto college...right around the corner.

This makes me more than ever take time and evaluate how I am spending my time, energy each week, and thoughts each day. I don’t have time to wait for things to happen to ‘make me happy’ (an old habit I use to put myself under - exhausting bondage) but rather learn the wise art of really learning to want what I have and see beauty in moments shared every day.

I am amazed in the last couple of months I see how my mind use to be in bondage to lies to the point I would obey my lies... I would obey my feelings of quilt - an emotion that all became to comfortable in my soul - to the point it would drive my actions for a quick high of escape and control...shopping.

I let that one go.

Time is to vital to let lies continue to dictate my joy.

My joy...bigger than watching my children hearts blossom...comes back to God and I.

Resting in God.

Actively pursuing God.

Being in communion with God. (This is when I take a deep breath, but often times that requires action that feels uncomfortable - but always freeing)

I love not just knowing but acting upon the truth God knows and grants the desires of my heart better than me so I can embrace any and every circumstance I am put into.

My joy stems from pursuing God’s glory.

It’s simple.

To often I complicate life and expectations for what I think my joys should be...

until I see a picture like the one above...

and I get it...

That’s joy.

Pure joy.

My joy.

Sweetest blessings from my heart to yours.

No Fear

“I have your freedom and am holding it for you until you are ready to receive it...FEAR”

This quote struck home to me. It not only struck me, it stung me. It stung me deeply.

Within the same week, a sweet friend of mine told me - “Amy, you are holding back..fear is still driving you from doing your business...”

She was right.

And within that same night, I didn’t want to give fear anymore room in my life and launched my business:

LILY JANE

And now that I’m off and running with it, I see even more how much fear was holding me back...fear of failure, fear of disappointment, fear of loneliness. I still fight a lie that says when I am alone I will be hurt...wow, I love exposing my lies; exposing my darkness...they always show me how ‘shallow’ and untrue they are! And I see more clearly than ever, I am never alone but always in the palms of my Redeemer -and why would I run from that when it is Christ that makes me complete.

No Fear.

LILY JANE

...doing this to raise awareness of freedom for hundreds of more little girls that at one time were silenced but no longer want to live with that fear.

Sweetest blessings from my heart to yours.