New Logo

Our ministry, Agape Celebration, has a new logo. We like it. What do you think?

 We celebrated with new hats for our team!

I am thankful to have a team of Warrior Sisters that help me in this ministry. I am praying for a boldness and a fire from His Spirit as we move ahead in all that God has planned for us and we praise the name of Jesus for all the nations to hear. 

Say That Again, Sisters!

Hope in God

"Refusing to live disappointed is only part of the equation.  The other part is making a choice to 'hope in God'"

This is from the book HOPE, beyond disappointment, by Dave Hess. 

In today's world it is easy to become disappointed. I am reading another book, Half the Sky, and every single page of that book brings sadness and disappointment to my heart.  As I wade through the pages, I find myself asking God, "where is the HOPE?" 

But, then I am reminded of versus like Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. 

ALL my heart, that means my heart has the ability to trust God 100 percent! Consequently, when I read books like Half the Sky and learn about the horrible oppression of girls and women in our world, I will still praise His name, trust Him, and have hope!

I want to release His joy and peace. I want to speak against evil. Hope that God will walk through the horror's and through the oppression gives strength to those that love Him. 

I have felt disappointed many times, but it's because I have put God in a box of expectations. And then, when my expectations were not met, I felt disappointment, and my hope dwindled. 

God is a God of expectancy. Expectancy eagerly waits for the miracle! Expectancy is thrilled and excited and eager to see what happens next. Expectancy praises God with every outcome!

Expectancy lives with the reality of God hope, and knows there is nothing to prove.

Holy Spirit, pour over me today and give me new hope, new expectancy in You. 

Say That Again!

Fear Not

Last week in church God gave me a picture during worship.  It was amazing to me, because it felt like I was being lifted up right into His presence and He was showing me a beautiful image:

My entire family was gathered together, and around us were Army Angels, covering us with their wings. above the Army Angels Jesus hovered, His wings completely covered the Army Angels to protect us. Then, above us was God, my Father, with His Wings over everything, safely protecting all of us. 

The Spirit of God soared  throughout our gathering and filled our bodies with His Resurrection Power.

I knew this was God's picture, and as worship penetrated throughout the room, my heart praised my Father for giving me such amazing hope and victory. 

In Isaiah 54:17 I am promised this:

No weapon formed against you will succeed.

How could it? I have an Army of Angels, Jesus, God my Father, and the Holy Spirit? 

I've thought a lot about this and the hope it brings. Not just the hope, but the ability it gives me to walk in love, not fear. When I walk in love, there is no fear! I am covered!

Say That Again, Jesus, You will cover me and my family, and you tell us to fear NOT!

The Tree

 My blog page has had a lift. 

A tree, because God has firmly rooted me deeply in His vibrant soil and renewed me with many branches in the community.  He has strengthened me as an oak tree and because of Him I will not be shaken. He continues to restore my brokenness and completes me within Himself. He is greater than me. 

Where He is, there is love. 

Say That Again, Jesus!

The 4000 Mile Journey

My long road trip with my sons has created a fond memory for me. This time it was not necessarily the destination that was the highlight in my heart; it was the journey. 

I am pleased about the destination, and felt blessed to have my sons with me. It was good for me to honor my family with a visit, and good for my sons to see them too. 

Our drive consisted of at least three audio books. 

Several rest stops.

Food.

Good conversation.

Laughs.

Detours.

Time lapse Videos.

Photo's.

The Apple Store.

Corn Fields.

Mt. Rushmore.

Country Roads.

And, ice cream.

It was late when we arrived home, and I was happy to see my family and my dog.  I have continued to thank God for the gifts He has given me through my children. Because of this trip, I felt loved. And, I needed to feel loved. God has such amazing ways of meeting needs for His children all at the same time. I love how He puts all the pieces of our lives together and loves us, and His blessings flow!

God brings healing in the most unexpected ways. He sees the bigger needs, such as needing to be soaked in time with my sons, so He planned a 4000 mile journey for us. The entire trip I felt God smiling upon us,  as if His plan had come together magnificently. 

Jesus, thank you for the 4000 mile journey, and all the blessings that came with it. Thank you for speaking into my heart, and lifting me up. 

Say That Again!

Twenty Six To Go

We made it to our destination, stayed two days, now it's time to drive twenty six hours to home again. 

Long. Road. Trip.

We have Starbucks.

I saw my mom, and it was good. 

We saw my brother, his wife, and their kids. I'd like to see them more. 

It has been one of those trips where God has whispered to me to recognize my blessings. And, I have. 

My sons, as we have traveled together and I have listened to them and watched them, I have felt so incredibly blessed:

My husband, sons, daughter in-laws, grandchildren, and lovely daughter. 

Through my hardships, God has cushioned my life with a family that loves me and blesses me. 

Right now, we are heading towards Kansas City. We are going to drive through the city today, because we want to. And, we are going to check out the stadium. Then, continue our drive towards home. 

Jesus, Say That Again, recognize your blessings!

Hour Ten

I'm on a road trip with two of my sons. 

I tried posting pictures earlier, but I couldn't get it to work, so I'll show those to you later. 

We are on hour ten, and have seven more to go today. Then, eight hours tomorrow.

Long. Road. Trip.

It's dusk now, I'm thankful for the laughter we have had, the beautiful scenery, audio books, frosting cookies, and coffee. 

Thank you, Jesus, for Sons and long road trips. 

Say That Again!

Living Epistles

Adam, Eve, Ruth, Deborah, David, Tamar, Rachel, Rebekah, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Peter, James, John, and so many more....

So, what if your story were in the Bible?

I've been thinking about this question for myself all day. What if I had been one of the people the Holy Spirit had instructed someone to write details about? And, billions of people would have access to those details, like when David sent Uriah to the front lines on the battlefield, or Peter betrayed Jesus.

Yet, am I not a Living Epistles? A witness before God and others of His amazing grace and love?  His Spirit is already working and speaking through me and so many others, just like all those incredible characters in the Bible!

It's through the trials, mistakes, repentance, and forgiveness that God restores, redeems, and renews. He takes my mistakes and my sins, and turns it around into His good. 

He brings beauty.

He restores joy. 

He dances over each of us with thanksgiving.

In His love He speaks revival into our days, and there is depth in our relationships and life thrives in the Son. 

So, what if? Say That Again, living epistles!