Celebrating An Amazing Woman

Today is the birthday of one of my dearest friends. If you look up the word friend in the dictionary, there it will be - a picture of Renee Lewis! Renee and I met in 2000 - she was at home on bed rest and Mark (her husband) had come to church that Sunday morning. It was a HUGE morning in our world as Keith was being ordained as a Pastor and was sharing our vision for planting a church in Mooresville, NC. Following the service, Mark approached Keith and said he and Renee would love to talk to us more about being a part of our core team (little did he know the journey they were about to embark on). We later went to their home to meet with them and came away knowing that the Lewis family was a gift from God. Renee agreed to become our Children's Ministry Director - a completely volunteer position, I might add. They soon moved their family to the Mooresville area to position themselves to pour into ministry.

I have learned so much about Renee since that time!

1 - She's ALL HEART.

2 - She LOVES children far more than I could have imagined.

3 - She is COMMITTED to family - hers, mine, & yours!

4 - You don't mess with her family! (& the Devines are part of her family... so, don't you forget it!!)

5 - She will run herself ragged SERVING anyone she feels has a need.

6 - She is the most LOYAL person I have ever met.

7 - She shares the love of Christ with everyone she connects with - and she CONNECTS with everyone she meets.

8 - She is an amazing WOMAN OF GOD, a living stone being built up as a spiritual house.

It is difficult to express just how much I love this woman and just how amazing I believe she is. She has poured into my life with so much love, spiritual insight, and dedication. She has stayed up with me until all hours of the night - talking, encouraging, and even decorating. She has walked with me through the good times and the difficult times. She has been my accountability partner - the one who speaks truth when it's hard and love when it's needed - not to mention my ministry partner & business partner. She has been there by my side when no one else even recognized the need. All I can say is...I am soooooo blessed to call her FRIEND!!

So, Happy Birthday my dear friend! I love and honor you today!! Thank you for who you are in my life!!!

My Resurrected Life

The new outfits are purchased, the Easter Egg Hunts done, and we are looking forward to some wonderful time with our family tomorrow. Right now, I am at home relaxing before heading out to get a much needed manicure and pedicure.

While eating lunch, I looked out into my backyard and noticed that my dogwoods have their first blooms today. How appropriate for Easter weekend! These blossoms are said to represent the crucifixion of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Yet as I look at them, I do not see death. What I see is life - fresh and new. I am reminded and overwhelmed by His promise for NEW LIFE. The resurrected life of Jesus Christ, IN ME! MY RESURRECTED LIFE!! Something I have so graciously been given. A life I can live TODAY, not something I have to wait for, not something I have to earn, not something I have to live up to some set of rules to receive. NEW LIFE TODAY - an abundant life, a life that overflows with His blessings, a life that is full of peace and joy, a life that is meant to breathe life and hope into others. LIFE worth living - LIFE that makes me shout - LIFE that makes me dance - LIFE that fills me with a love that has to be shared!!

I am so thankful today, not simply because my Savior died for me, but because he arose FOR ME! His life fuels my life with a power that is greater than any other. A power that allows me to fulfill my resurrected purpose and mission - to share this incredible opportunity for new life and to love others with all I have.

My prayer for you and your family is that you have a wonderful Easter weekend, taking time to look past the festivities and soak in the magnitude of this incredible gift of LIFE!

New Beginnings

Been a while since I've written here, or anywhere for that matter. Just been dry, unable to formulate my thoughts enough to get them out in writing. I've started a few times to end up staring at the screen thinking how in the world do I put what I'm feeling into words. So today I attempt to move forward and process some of the MANY thoughts swirling around in this head.

This has been an extremely difficult time for me. There are times I feel as if I can't move, can't think, can't breathe. Like a brick is sitting on my chest and the weight becomes more and more unbearable. Our circumstances are stressful at best. The decisions we have had to make due to these circumstances and the timing of them (life changing in the sense that we may now never be able to have more children) have rocked me to the core. The hurt that led us to this place doesn't seem to dissapate. It lingers...I think I'm moving past it and then it grabs on with a strangle hold on my heart. The hurt, the loss, the mourning, the deep sadness I feel is hard to express. The fear and uncertainty regarding our future can be difficult to push aside. I feel as though I am lacking in so many areas...emotionally (many days I lack the ability to look past my emotions), physically (most days I lack the energy to face this time with the drive and determination with which I would typically respond), financially (in another month we are facing a time of complete and total lack of income), spiritually (I often feel like I can't focus or receive with a right heart the truth of the Lord).

Ahhh, but yet in all my lack Lord, you pour out an abundance of your love on me. You work through the amazing people in our lives to meet our needs in so many ways!

I have to look at things like yesterday. Yesterday was a good day. Spent time with Mom and Ella. Our quest - to find the perfect Easter dress for our little princess. Mission accomplished and then some! My parents are so incredible. They have always been there to support and encourage my sisters and I ( and our families). When we hit tough times, they are always there standing in the gap and ready to help out in any way they can. This certainly isn't the first time in our lives we've needed that support, but I believe this may prove to be the most pivotable time. Beyond the incredible spiritual support and wisdom they pour out, they blessed us yesterday not only with an Easter dress, but also with a huge chunk of Ella's spring/summer wardrobe.

Then I process the love of God we've been shown by so many dear friends not just now during these tough times, but regularly for so many years. Just a few...car repairs by an incredible mechanic at low, low prices, hair care by a dear friend at rates that can't be beat, lawn care by friends that simply want to help us out at the cost of materials, child care whenever we need it with friends we trust with our lives (have never had to pay for a babysitter...EVER!), and now, women in my life I view as mentors that are committed to spending time with me regularly and pouring into my soul (women that will keep close watch over my heart). Wow! These are simply ways our daily needs are being met.

Then there's the past...His faithfulness, His provision...it's undeniable!

Lord, you have said to me, you will supply ALL my needs. You have said, through your faithful servant, that you have something for us in this. You have said, do not be anxious. You have said, you know the plans you have for us, to give us a hope and a future. You have said, you will bless the womb of the barren one.

Oh Lord how I want to be like Abraham! Who beyond all hope, never waivered through unbelief regarding your promise, but was strengthened in his faith being fully persuaded that you have the power to do what you have promised. I desire to be fully persuaded! Not simply giving "spiritual" lip service.

Thank you that beyond the way I feel is the reality of who you are! Thank you that I do not have to strive to be in unity with you...that you love me beyond measure, you delight in me, you are enthralled with my beauty, even in the days of my seeming faithlessness. Because of you I AM faithful, I am righteous, I am able to choose to walk strenghtened in my faith. Oh, what would I do without this identity you have given me, this grace you have bestowed upon me?