A few years ago I was invited to join a group of people for a mountain hike in the breath taking Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The journey was to be led by a local Jeriamiah Jones/Pastor. I learned so much on that hike–not the least of which was never trust a man (even a Pastor) who says “It’s an easy walk”.

That little mosey through the moutons just about did me in. I was lucky to make it back.

The woods were dense and uncleared. There are BEARS out there.

The cliffs were slippery and steep.

We ran into animal skeletons on the path. Honestly.

At one point, it started to pour down rain–first a light drizzle that grew, and grew and grew (all the while the Pastor encouraging us that it would “soon blow over”, until it was an all out downpour, in the mountains, on the cliffs, that were so covered by overgrowth we couldn’t see the path ahead.

Yep–NOT my idea of a good time.

The pastor was assuring us that the view was going to be “oh so worth the work” but he had said a lot of things that I wasn’t quite sure looked the way I IMAGINED as he spoke so I was having my doubts.

Just as I was about to BEG—in front of the entire group—to go back, turnaround, return to safety.

Out of nowhere, we turned the corner to a massive field of wildflowers surrounded by the majesty of the great Rocky Mountains. No words I could possibly string together (an no IPhone photo) could describe the beauty we saw.

I am in a place in life in life right where my world feels a lot like that mountain hike.

There are lots of cool promises being whispered but I can’t make out the path ahead. I’m confused a bit and not sure what to believe or which path to follow. I have no choice but to stay close to MY  GUIDE. My Jesus.

How about you?

Are you in a season of completely trusting in Gods plan? His direction? His leadership into the wildflowers?

If not, it may be time to take a hike

Too much comfort= Not enough God Sized Faith needed.

Ps 18:30-35

The Bible is slap full of God Sized Surprises.

Think about it.

Mary, mother of Jesus . Minding her own business, dreaming of her future husband and wedding to be, when out of the wild blue yonder–an angel appears and throws the whole plan off. Not something you plan for.

Then there’s Paul, riding down the Christian Killing road and ending up with an eye patch.

How about Jonah one morning feeling rebellious, the next looking at the inside of a whale.

Esther from home-girl to Harem-girl in the blink of an eye.

Dot. Dot. Dot.

I know, you know, if like me you have walked with Jesus for a while, this really is His way more often than not.

The way of SURPRISE!

In all my years of placing my life into His hands on a moment by moment basis, I never know whats coming next.

This year has been the same. There have already been so many surprises and so many “have no clue” moments and it’s still January.

The WORD God gave me for the year of 2012 is Habakkuk 1:5

“Look at the Nations and watch and be UTTERLY AMAZED for I am doing a NEW THING in your days that YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE, even I you were told”.

The “BE UTTERLY AMAZED” part is coming on strong!

Think about it. Had Mary been sent an E-Mail telling her that in a few days an angel would stop by for tea…she would not have believed it.

Had Paul been sent a message warning him that a voice, no one else could hear, was about to shorten his next trip and change his journey forever…um, not so sure he would have believed it.

God still loves to surprise us.

One of my BIGGEST and SWEETEST kick-off the year surprises–

God has supernaturally placed me and the Surrendering the Secret Leadership network on a team with a two young brothers, Jon and Andy Erwin, who are about to change the world.

I’m telling you–YOU JUST WATCH these guys and BE AMAZED!

If I were not smack in the middle of it, I might not believe it was happening.

Get your reading glasses and take a look at this:

Look REAL close–bottom right side– and you will see why I am AMAZED!

YEAH GOD! Surrendering the Secret is a resource partner with October Baby. Our plan and our passion is to reach out to those churches who want to reach out to those men and women who are touched by this movie and need some answers and some hope.

I believe with all of my heart that this movie is going to open the eyes and heart of millions upon millions of men and women who have bought the lie of abortion. So many have never felt safe to look for healing and restoration in the church. So many remain silent in the fight and we need their HEALED voices!

God has surprised us with the blessing of meeting this amazing team and working hard to help get the word out about this great film.

Part of may hard work this past week involved eating Sushi with these “October Baby” Actors.

Shari Rigby, who plays the Birthmother in the movie and Jason Burkey, who plays the cute boyfriend. The cast of this movie is stellar and each one is “The Star”. It is truly a BEAUTIFUL film.

It will be in Theatres on March 23.

Put the date on your calendar. You DO NOT want to miss this!!

I am SO glad I didn’t make daily blogging a New Years Resolution.

I honestly don’t know how those people who do that, do that

Anyway….I DO have a fun New Years Resolution perspective to share with you AND a FREE GIFT to go along. Soon. Very Soon.

My notes are sitting here on my desk waiting to be captured.

TODAY, however, I want to talk to all of you who requested and received my 40 Day Journal Journey with Jesus shared about on this post.

I emailed the first 10 days and promised to follow with the next 10 AFTER you let me know you had completed the first 10 days. We agreed that the starting date would be different for different people.

Some of you got started on January 1st and are ready for the next 10!

Congratulations on taking the challenge. The feedback I have received has blessed my socks off.

If you have not started I encourage you to do it soon! The days are easy and the burden is light. You should be able to do your journal time in 30 minutes or less. Just send me your email address and I’ll send the first 10 days along. Remember, this is just a friend to friend journey. Nothing fancy. I’m simply sharing my own journey and created a guide for those who might find it helpful.

If you have completed your first 10 days and want 10 more–let me know how you did and I’ll email the next.

This was one comment I received:

“I actually started on 1/1 and I have loved it. I am keeping a journal with each day and have really enjoyed spending time in the word and reading your personal experiences. My mom, sister and I are doing it together so that has been nice as well”

What more could I ask for?

BTW—Coming soon–A FREE GOODIE BAG OPPORTUNITY that you can sink your feet into

Honey and I had the sweetest New Years Day sitting on the beach at Longboat Key.

We took some time yesterday, on the drive there and back and a bit of sitting and soaking up the moments, to consider a New Year. We spent some time reflecting on the beauty of God’s creativity. As the crystal clear Gulf waters rolled softly up and back, we chatted about the “ups and backs” of the past year.

Things that worked and things that, not so much.

You probably did a bit of that as well.

My mind went several times yesterday to a few friends of mine who spent some of the final days of 2011, the “Holidays”, releasing dearly loved family members to spend 2012 and beyond, in their heavenly homes and leaving my friends behind to finish the race God has planned for them.

My heart ached as I knew that although these friends know Jesus and the promise of eternal life He offers, they are left behind to enter a new year here on earth, without someone who walks their day to day.

My mind went to a few loved ones who I know watched the clock say 12:01 am and prayed–

“Lord, let this year be better. Help me step away from the sin of last year; the losses; the loneliness; the dead-ends”.

As we drove away from our day on the beach, the sun was dropping into the sky ahead of us. There is no sunset like a sunset on the Gulf coast. It was breathtaking. Humbling. Awakening. Perspective Performing.

I have made a 2012 New Years Resolutions list. I’ll share it over the next few days. It is not my normal list. In fact, it is the opposite.

Today, I just want to reach out to anyone who is reading who is facing the New Year like my friends, not so sure what to expect. Maybe feeling more lonely and lost than celebrating.

Is it you?

Do you feel that last year has closed in failure? disappointment? a long list of nothing?

If so, please be encouraged with God’s Word today.

He is a God of Do-Overs.

He has paid the price for our sin and failure. His life is ALWAYS filled with promise and hope of new days.

He was BORN so that we could start over.

He knows your deepest loss; your greatest failure: your biggest blunders.

His love is new every morning of every day of every year.

Romans 10:8 says “The Word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart; that is the Word of Faith we are proclaiming.

Claim God’s Word today for your NEW Year–2012.

Find the truth you need and hook up with it. Hang on to it and EXPECT God to do NEW THINGS in YOU; FOR you and THROUGH you this year.

He is all the ONLY Resolution we need.

Can I get a witness?

Have you ever spoken those words–or at least thought about speaking them?

Have you ever felt that you had taken about as much as you could of life? relationships? expectations? pointless efforts? unmet needs? rejection? heartbreak?

I definitely have.

We are not alone. The pages of the Bible are filled with crash and burns.

There is one particular story of a man called Elijah that kind of spun my life into a new orbit a little over a month ago. You can read about it here.

The heart of Elijah’s legacy unfolds is in the book of 1 Kings 17-19. My particular focus is found in Chapter 19:3-13.

Elijah was not a failure, in fact he was living a life of Kingdom work. He was walking in success and victory. Still, he crashed. Reading his story sparked my desire for a season of refreshment and hearing that sweet “small whisper” of God’s voice. I was inspired to begin my very own personal 40 Day journey out from under the Broom Tree I was leaning on.

I started my journal journey on Thanksgiving Day and will “complete” it on January 2. I have loved this process so much that I plan to start it fresh again once I reach my 40th day.

Would you like to join me?

I have promised to share my outline and notes with those who sign up for my E-Mail list.

I took a whole bunch of time during the rush of the Holidays to write all 40 days of my notes and get them ready to share when my own computer ignorance ate them up. ALL GONE. Disappeared. I wanted to GIVE UP Imagine That.

Fortunately, my journey has revealed some fresh truth about warfare; do-overs and comebacks!

I knew I had to start over. It was part of the journey for me.

SO….I have the First Ten Days Ready and will complete the next 10 BEFORE you do the first!!

If you have already sent me your email, check your in-box.

If you want to Join the Journey (January 2 would be a great day to start!!)

Send me your email address! Let’s do this

‘Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house

Not a creature is stirring, Not even a mouse..

Each one is exhausted, not a bone left unworn.

The candles are ugly and the paper is torn.

The stockings are laying all strewn on the floor

And the wreath is lopsided on half the frontdoor.

The presents are packed and ready to take back..

The ripped open boxes are shoved in a stack.

The parties and eating and shopping are done.

All captured in photos of feasting and fun

….to be stored on computers and seen by no-one.

The Christmas tree branches are shedding and brown,

The angels and stars are all looking down.

The lights are all drooping, the ones that still work..

With fragments of broken bulbs on the tree skirt.

Another year over…

Only memories to keep

Other than some casserole left to reheat.

As I think of the days from Thanksgiving to now…

I can’t help but wonder…

How?

How did we do Lord, in our reflections of You?

Our worship?

Our silence?

The honor you’re due?

Were you pleased with our praise songs?

Our Holiday plays?

Did you smile at the focus on YOU all these days?

Did you see us kneel before you and say….

I love you My Jesus..

Just Like every day????

PKL

When it’s all been said and it’s all been done….

He’ll ask me, do you know your Savior?

Do you know my Son?

Greetings favored woman of God! The Lord is with you!!    Luke 1:28    NLT

Wow. Now THERE is a divine appointment.

What precious words. Priceless. Timeless. Life Changing.

Can you just imagine Mary’s first response to those words? As a woman we sometimes yearn for words of blessing and affirmation to fall upon our ears.

We long for love.

We serve for strokes.

We perform for praise.

We all need to hear words of encouragement. We need to hear words that remind us that we matter to someone.

I feel certain young Mary’s attention was first captured by the kind words of her angelic visitor, THROUGH HER HEART, rather than her ears. She was possibly torn between running towards him to soak up the sweetness of his greeting and running for her life from a big, tall man with a sword! Don’t you think?

My desire is to greet you today with words that tell you that you matter to me. I pray that you will receive my words of greeting as very personal and sincere because they are.

You are reading my blog right now. We are experiencing a divine appointment right now. Of course, I will never know you visited if you don’t TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS! hint, hint

My guess is that we have met somewhere-sometime. We may share a “virtual” friendship via Blog/Facebook or Twitter but honestly, I am one of those people who really treasures those relationships. While keeping in perspective the true life level they dwell in, I have had many a day when a sweet word of encouragement came to me from someone I only know through one of these avenues. However, I think if we are not a related by blood or marriage (I love you guys!) most of us have met face to face in a workshop, a church, a conference, or a retreat.

This year has taken me to  (in no particular order)

Alaska

Ohio

Arkansas

W Virginia

New Mexico

California

Maine

Pennsylvania

North Carolina

Georgia

Michigan

Colorado

Virginia

New York and of course, Florida

Regardless of how our paths have crossed in life, I truly believe they have crossed somewhere that God Himself placed or allowed.

Divine appointments.

My calendar for next year is filling up quickly and I am excited! I want to see you again!

PLEASE watch my website for updates on dates and times. I would be so honored to have you join me at one of them.

A few places I can tell you right now as you begin to fill in your own calendar:

I will be attending a few Lifeway “You Lead” events next year. These are leadership training events that are connected to Living Proof Live with Beth Moore (you’ve heard of her right? J). The You Leads are held on Thursday and Friday BEFORE Beth. We are the warm up act!

I have 4 “Imagine Me..Set Free Conferences” booked this year and have a few spots left in the Fall for one or two more. Let me know if you are interested in bringing a Freedom Weekend to your church!

And, speaking of DIVINE APPOINTMENTS! We are thrilled to announce a PRECIOUS addition to our STS leadership team this year. She will be joining me for some adventures around the nation as a Spokesperson and Ambassador, her name is Shari Rigby.

Shari plays the role of the Birthmother in a POWERFUL new movie that will be in theaters in March called “October Baby”. We have been asked by the producers of the film to be a part of a resource team for those who are looking for healing and hope after seeing the movie. At their request, we are setting up a 10 city tour of Surrendering the Secret Training events; Couples Retreats and STS Freedom Weekends that will follow the movie release. Watch our brand new website over the coming weeks for details.

I am looking forward to lots of DIVINE APPOINTMENTS in 2012.

I am certain some will be good and some not so good but one thing I know–The greatest gift of my life—BY FAR (next to my own family) is the blessing God has given me of meeting and loving on so many Surrendered Sisters in Christ. Honestly, thinking about you makes me teary.

I hope so much to see you face to face in 2012. I would be honored to have your support in some of what God has us doing. Let me know if you can be anywhere, anytime!

For now, I just wanted to wish you a TENDER Christmas, filled with divine moments and words of encouragment!

I wish you peace.

I wish you unexpected words of affirmation and love.

I wish you hope and dreams for 2012.

I wish you faith.

I wish you friends.

My love to you my Surrendered Sister and FAVORED WOMAN of GOD!

By the Way—I am offering a FREE GIFT of a Step by Step Guide for a “40 Day Journey: Enjoying the Presence of Jesus” if you send me your email address. Please let me know if you want one!

If you have already signed up, I didn’t forget you. I tried to send it earlier this week and it disappeared from my Docs file so I have to redo it! It’s my Christmas promise!!

Sometimes I miss my quiet times.

Even smack in the middle of a 40 day Journey with Jesus, sometimes I miss sitting still in my Prayer Chair.

I miss stopping everything for a few quiet moments of just Him and Me.  No distractions other than my journal; a devotional book or Bible Study; my coffee or hot tea and maybe some worship music but usually just a ticking clock.

Quiet time.

We were designed to desire it.

Still, sometimes I miss a whole day when I sit quietly with my Bible and allow God’s Word to work it’s way into my day.

I miss taking time to allow Him to heal me from yesterday’s bruises.

I miss taking time to allow Him to fill in my heart holes left from selfish desires, stinking thinking, dead-end trails.

When I do that, when I let busyness; poor planning; oversleeping; the demands of life–STEAL my quite time, my day is never complete.

Something is missing IN me and OUT of me.

Something I am absolutely aware of.

It’s no accident ya know.

We were designed that way.

It’s nothing God takes FROM me–He is filled with GRACE and LOVE and always AVAILABLE.

No, it’s something I STEAL from myself.

A chance to be held; to be restored; to be heard; to be led; to be directed; to be encouraged; to be taught; to be equipped.

We were DESIGNED to DESIRE God’s personal attention. He created us to crave Him.

It’s a gift.

I didn’t miss it today. How about you? There is still time

I have set aside some QUIET time this week to put the finishing touches on my “40 day Journey with Jesus Guide”.

Sign up for my email list just a little above these words on the left side of this blog and I’ll send you a copy!

Blessings!