Y’all have been with me on this blog for a very long time and I appreciate it so much. I’m putting this blog on hiatus for now as I’m going to be blogging on my new blog. The Trusting Nomad.
I would love you to follow me over there. I may blog here on occasion but not likely, if you want to know what’s going on with me, I encourage you to find me on The Trusting Nomad blog.
I’m off on a new adventure. Thank you for all of your love and encouragement.
Today it is my great pleasure to host a wonderful friend and her book. I remember critting this book as she was writing it and thinking it rocked even then. 
Book blurb: A beautiful yet tough woman working in a beautiful yet tough setting. Brannon Callahan is a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Strong faith and a decorated history of service have kept her one step ahead of on-the-job dangers, but there’s no precedent for what’s about to happen. After a blizzard takes down a small plane carrying U.S. Marshal Roark Holland (a man already haunted by a recent tragedy), Brannon must save him in more ways than one and safeguard the donor heart he’s transporting to a government witness on the edge of death. Otherwise the largest child-trafficking ring in history — with shocking links from Thailand to Tennessee — will slip further away into darkness along the Appalachian Trail. Interview:
Dineen, Robin & meMost people think I have the patience of Job… and when it doesn’t concern me, I do. I can wait on people all day long and be okay.
But, waiting on the Lord for myself, is a whole different thing. Most of the time, I handle it pretty well. I’ve done a lot of that in my life time, waiting on the Lord. I always know He has a plan (Jeremiah 29:11) for me.
Of late though, no matter what I ask of Him, His answer is always wait. It’s been His answer for a couple of months now. The strange thing is, before that, I was waiting on Him too… but now He is telling me to wait and somehow that makes it more frustrating.
Lord, should I move there? Wait.
Lord, can I do this? Wait.
Lord, I really need money/job to pay my bills that are overdue. Wait.
Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait.
Last week, I was blessed in being able to go to a really great B&B and stayed a week. I went hoping that while there the Lord would speak to me, and guide me in what the next thing in my life is.
Instead, what I got was relaxation. I enjoyed myself and just relaxed. It was wonderful.
The day before I was to come home, wonderful friends prayed for me and when they were done, I was given Psalm 40:1-3 to read.
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. 2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. 3 He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.
I will be honest, those first three words made me groan. But, then, hope started to bubble up. Just a little. That was a promise. Yes, I’ve read those verses many times in my lifetime but they spoke to me like never before, and took root.
There was one scripture that kept coming back to me over and over that whole week. It’s one of my favorite scriptures. But that week, it wouldn’t leave me alone. Isaiah 43:19
19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.
I came home, still not knowing what the next step is, but holding on to those scriptures as promises from the Lord.
Continually seeking Him, standing when I know not what else to do, and looking forward with great expectation of what is to come.
So today, I was given a dare. One that I have to do for a month. A dare that I accepted… albeit a little reluctantly.
Why reluctantly? I don’t know.
Perhaps because I know I need too and it scares me. Which I know is silly.
Maybe because I know it will bring about change, and given all the change I have in my life right now, and how well I handle change… even good change scares me right now.
So, I go into this dare with a little trepidation but secure in the knowledge that the Abba has me in the palm of His hand.
The dare: I need to say the following out loud at least once a day…ideally I need to have it hanging up on my bathroom mirror, in my bedroom, etc.
• I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom, and I have clear direction for my life.
• I declare that I am blessed with creativity, with courage, with ability, and with abundance.
• I declare that I am blessed with a strong will and with self-control and self-discipline.
• I declare that I am blessed with a great family, with good friends, with good health, and with faith, favor, and fulfillment.
• I declare that I am blessed with success, with supernatural strength, with promotion, and with divine protection.
• I declare that I am blessed with an obedient heart and a positive outlook on life.
• I declare that any curse that has ever been spoken over me, any negative evil word that has ever come against me, is broken right now.
• I declare that I am blessed in the city. I am blessed in the country. I am blessed when I go in. I am blessed when I come out.
• I declare that everything I put my hands to do is going to prosper and succeed.
• I declare that I am blessed.
The above is adapted from Joel Olsteen’s book Your Best Life Now
I challenge you to take the dare with me.
Why do we always think we need to understand what God is doing in our lives? The Bible is full of stories of people not understanding what God is doing in their lives. There’s always a point to it even if they never get to see it.
Most days I can accept that. Most days I trust blindly, knowing He has a plan for me. Most days I know He will take care of me.
But that’s not always the case. Some days, like today I struggle. I so don’t understand what God is doing in my life, and I know it isn’t for me to understand necessarily.
It goes beyond that.
I’m confused.
I’m tired.
I need clarity.
I don’t know, maybe it’s just a simple case of my eyes being focused on the wrong thing. Focused on me instead of Jesus.
So I seek, I pray, and I trust even though I don’t really want too.
A good friend of mine, Kimberley Woodhouse's book Welcome Home; Our Family's Journey to Extreme Joy, officially released this week even though you've been able to order it for a while now.
I've had the great pleasure of reading her book... on more than one occasion when she was writing it. And every time I'm amazed at her incredible story and how cool God is through it all. Each time I've read it, I've gotten something new out of it.Being able to hold that book in my hands and see how everything came about to make it happen... it's really cool.
The back cover copy reads:Overwhelming trials . . . met with overcoming joy. Kayla Woodhouse is not your typical twelve-year-old. Due to a rare medical disorder, she feels no pain, doesn’t sweat, and needs protective cooling gear just to go outside. With her restrictive lifestyle; countless hospitalizations, including brain surgery; and the resulting mountain of hospital bills, what’s a family to do?
How the Woodhouse family has faced seemingly impossible challenges is a story that has captured the hearts of America. Millions of people have experienced glimpses of their lives on Discovery’s Mystery ER, The Montel Williams Show, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (recently voted one of the show’s all-time best episodes!).
Now Kayla’s mom, Kimberley, takes readers behind the cameras to reveal their family’s journey as never before told. From medical sleuthing to cross-country moves, from freak fires to battles with insurance companies, Welcome Home proves that truth really is stranger than fiction. This candid life story reveals both success and failure and demonstrates how, even during tough circumstances, to shift your life from heartbreak to extreme joy.
Peek inside the Woodhouse family’s life (and their famous house) with a 16-page photo insert.
For the last month I’ve had symptoms of a heart attack. The chest pains was so great that I don’t remember much of the month. I would sit on a couch for hours in a complete daze. It was not pretty.
On day three of these pains, friends talked me into going to the ER—fearing I was having a heart attack. I went reluctantly—fearing I would be told it was just stress or all in my head.
The ER experience was interesting. The result was basically… you’re not having a heart attack, you can go home now.
Not having insurance, nor a “day” job it is really hard to get in to see a doctor. Finally got an appt for this past Friday…Which meant a month of chest pains. A month of knowing I wasn’t having a heart attack and a month of people telling me it was stress.
Which meant a month of me beating myself up because to me if I’m under that much stress that my body was freaking out that called into question that whole “I am trusting the Lord to take care of me.” Of which I thought I had grown so much in the last two years. But if I was having chest pains because of stress, was I really trusting Him??
I kept rejecting that it was all stress. Because I DO trust Him. I may have my moments of freakout/meltdown/what the hell am I doing, but I trust Him. He hasn’t let me down yet. Even now when things don’t look so great financially, He is still my provider. Jehovah Jireh.
Went to the Doctor on Friday morning. It isn't cardiac. (Thank God!) He diagnosed it as Costochondritis and stress.
Definition: Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone (sternum). It causes sharp pain in the costosternal joint — where your ribs and breastbone are joined by rubbery cartilage. Pain caused by costochondritis may mimic that of a heart attack or other heart conditions.)
I had a rib that was totally slipped out of where it should be. Not sure if the Costochondritis caused it or the other way around.
I’ve already had it popped back in twice now. Here’s praying it doesn’t slip back again!
A week ago Friday I was sitting in my friend, Heather's kitchen helping her get ready to leave the next day for a photography conference. During the course of our day she got a phone call, and in the middle of it I hear these words "I know someone who would be willing to do that and she's sitting in my kitchen right now."
A member of the crew had to back out at the last second and they needed a fill in... in steps me. =)
It was held up in Breckenridge. So let's see... I would get to stay in a resort, surrounded by mountains, all my meals provided, get to hang out with super-cool people and the chance to learn a little bit about photography? I'm so there!
When I got there, there was a bit of confusion with two Heathers walking in. (We were Heather Squared to some...) So, me being the sarcastic person I am, I piped up and said I was the "cute Heather".
So for a week, I was known as Cute Heather. LOL
I had a blast. By far one of the best working vacations I've ever had. (beating everyone at air hockey pretty much rocked too... LOL)
A really wonderful friend of mine, Kimberley Woodhouse, has a book coming out later this year. Kim is my honest/blunt, tell it like it is friend. Her and her family are family to me.
I've had the great pleasure of reading her book... several times now. And every time I'm amazed at her incredible story and how cool God is through it all. Each time I've read it, I've gotten something new out of it.
I'm so excited to announce that Welcome Home: Our Family's Journey to Extreme Joy is now available for pre-order on amazon and cbd. I highly encourage everyone to order the book. You won't regret it.
I can’t help but wonder how often do we miss those cues from those we love. Ones telling us they need to be listened too, loved on, hugged, or prayer. Are we too busy to see them? Wrapped up in our own junk?
Or worse, we see the cues and we ignore them because we don’t want to deal with it, or we don’t have the energy to deal with them.
Sometimes they’re so subtle it’s hard to see. Others are a huge cry for help.
Oh Lord, help me be a better friend. I don’t want to continue to drop the ball where those I love are concerned. Help me see those cues, show me when to push and when to pull. When I don’t have the energy to deal with what those cues may mean, give me Yours. Help me not to be so wrapped up in my own junk. Give me ears to hear what they and You need me to hear. In Jesus name. Amen.
Over a year ago, when I was in a pit of depression I felt like I was drowning. Which was not a great feeling.
Fast forward to now. For the last month or so I’ve felt that feeling again. When I realized what that feeling was I got a little angry. I didn’t understand the reason for the feeling. I wasn’t in a pit of depression, why was I drowning?
But at the same time, it wasn’t exactly the same.
I got a little mad at God. “Why am I feeling like this again? I don’t understand. Why is it different?”
“Because this time you’re breathing while you’re drowning.”
Ummm… was that supposed to be helpful? I’m still drowning.
But He is right. This time, I’m breathing.
I know He has a plan for me. I know the water won’t overtake me. (Jeremiah 29:11 & Isaiah 43) So, I’m holding on to that. And I’m trusting yet again.
About a year ago, I didn’t see how it would be possible to have a place of my own on what I made at my job.
Then the Lord moved me into a place of my own… and I no longer had a job.
I did my taxes last week and had to laugh.
What I made in the second six months of the year was only a tenth of what I made in the first six months when I couldn’t afford to live on my own.
The Lord continually amazes me on how He takes care of my bills every month. Every month it’s done in a different way. Every month I’m wowed at how cool my Father is.
It amuses me, there are several people that email me once a month just to see how the Lord paid my rent that month.
I don’t understand why when you’re being obedient it’s so painful. And I’m not talking the actual act of obedience, all though I know that is painful at times too. But I’m referring to the aftermath of that obedience. The consequences. Like you’ve been sucker punched.
It doesn’t make me not want to be obedient… just wished it didn’t hurt so much.
I will continue being obedient because I don’t know any other way to live my life. Yes, I argue with the Lord about things sometimes, but He always wins. I actually argue less now than I used too. growth lol.
I’m continually amazed at “Christians” who don’t understand the concept of following Jesus WHEREVER He may lead you. Even when it doesn’t make sense, or goes against all logic and everyone you know thinks you’ve lost the last few marbles you had rattling around in your head.
I don’t always understand the why of what He asks of me and sometimes I never find out. But this I do know. He has a plan, a plan for my good. He hasn’t failed me thus far, I’ve failed Him so much, but He’s always there to take my hand and lead me back to where I should be… with love, grace, mercy and forgiveness.
I encourage you to start asking the Lord if there is an area in your life you’re not being obedient… or if you’re not following Him where He is leading you. There is always grace to cover that. There’s grace to cover just being obedient too… even when it’s hard.
The other night I struggled with something that I’ve not struggled with in a long time. And in such a way that makes me shake my head at the scope of it. I know, we’re human and we fall and we sin, but when you really think you have a handle on something and then it’s like you run into a brick wall…
What’s sad to me, and this is probably the reason I was hit with it, is I’ve told several people in the last week about how far I’ve come.
I really believe that I’ve overcome this struggle… not that I don’t always have to be watchful of it, cuz I always will, but there were strides that I’d made in the last few months that brought me so far. The Lord and I have had conversations about it all in the last few months. I’d come a long way.
I suffer from insomnia in a big way, but last night, I didn’t sleep because of this struggle, not because of the insomnia, and that is even more frustrating to me.
So, I was beating myself up for the first part, plus I was beating myself up because of the sleeping thing. I was all around beating myself up in so many ways. And I couldn’t stop. I kept praying, Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. That was all I could pray.
Somewhere during the afternoon after my night of struggle, (there were a couple of other things going on that I was trying to deal with too, asking for mercy for those things too.) a wonderful friend of mine, IM’d me out of the blue and wanted to know how I was. I was VERY honest with her. She loved me, and showed me mercy, and told me to show myself mercy. After talking to her, I started to come out of the whole beat-myself-to-a-pulp stage. (All though, I’m still feeling the effects from that day.)
At the end of our convo she told me that she was in the middle of working and just felt like she was supposed to talk to me right then. I love how the Lord does that.
In the past, when I would struggle with this, it would keep me down for weeks. I would have a hard time receiving grace, mercy and forgiveness. I’m choosing to receive those things now instead of weeks down the line. I’m choosing to accept my Abba Father’s love for me… because I’m a daughter of the most high King. Will I struggle with this again? Probably. But that’s ok. I know where to turn when that happens. I know Who to go to for grace, mercy, love and forgiveness.
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