Ready to Live Your God-Given Dreams?

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Welcome 2016! What a blessing it is to enter another year of life!

There’s something so refreshing about crossing over into January! The year ahead is filled with such potential.

I’m not into making resolutions, but I do like to choose one word that will be a theme for the next 365 days. The simple word that I feel ringing in my spirit for 2016 is:

NEW

I pray and look forward to a year filled with new joy and new experiences. This year is a chance to start fresh. It’s a chance to travel roads I’ve never been down before. It’s a season to branch out, explore, and to visit places for the first time. It means interacting with people I’ve never met before. It’s an opportunity to get to see things in a new light and from a different perspective.

We can’t stay stuck in the past. We’re not meant to remain stagnant and to hide in our comfort zones. It’s a new day. It’s a new year. We need to keep moving forward.

God makes all things new!

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19)

I pray I will have much to share with you in this NEW year! I’m looking forward to continuing to live out God’s call on my life. I invite you to continue on this journey with me!

Are you ready to step into the next chapter of your life?

If so, I’d like to invite you to join my *new* signature “Live Your God-Given Dreams” Life Coaching Group!

I am looking for a few courageous and committed women to connect with over 12 weeks. (Don’t worry fellas, I hope to have a mixed group later in the year!)

What are your goals for this *new* year? I’d like to help make them a reality as your Life Coach. I want to cheer you on, provide accountability, and help pray you through.

Interested? You can learn more about the “Live Your God-Given Dreams” Life Coaching Group here! The group starts on January 26th. I hope you’ll prayerfully consider joining. And please invite your friends, too!

I’m so grateful for all my readers! All the best to you in 2016! Let’s make every day count!

Did this encourage you? Please hit “like” and don’t forget to sign up below to have my weekly encouraging blog posts e-mailed straight to you for free. When you subscribe below, you’ll also receive the free “12 Journal Writing Prompts” PDF I created to help inspire you as you write/journal.

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For more encouragement, read my book Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. Check out Abounding Faith’s online store here. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Let God Lead!

Open 5During my journalism days, I was no stranger to newsrooms and spent time in TV studios and around some well-known public figures. But back then I never thought that I would one day be interviewed on TV!

Me? Private me? Writer/Reporter me?

No. I’m more of the interviewer. I like asking the questions. But to be on the spot and have to answer questions live on TV! Me? No way.

But God!

I’m in a season of “Crossing My Jordan” and trying to go through every door the Lord opens. Yes, all that time of waiting and preparation has its purpose and rewards!

When God opened the door for me to appear on the show “Open” on BronxNet last Monday to talk about my book Waiting on God Well, I prayed and went. It was a different type of mission field. But as long as God was there, I was fine. I couldn’t have asked for a more gracious host than Bob Lee! He even let me pray on air! Glory!

Here’s the segment if you’d like to see it:

Afterwards, I took my time walking through the beautiful campus of Lehman College in the Bronx and I shot this short video:

God is doing a new thing in my life. He is opening doors that no man can shut! Praise God!

He wants to do wonderful things in your life too! Do you believe it? If you’re in a desert place, take heart! It gets better! It doesn’t always happen overnight, but it does happen!

Blessings to you as you trust and obey God! Let God lead and just watch where He takes you!

“See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19)

 

Did this encourage you? Please hit “like” and don’t forget to sign up below to have my weekly encouraging blog posts e-mailed straight to you for free. When you subscribe below, you’ll also receive the free “12 Journal Writing Prompts” PDF I created to help inspire you as you write/journal.

button (24)For more encouragement, read my new book Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. You can also find me on YouTube and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

“Moving Beyond the Fog” Special Video

As some of you may know, I recently won Our Daily Breads Facebook Contest for Readers. I’m so honored and delighted to have won. I have been reading them for many years. Their inspirational words have encouraged me many times and their writing style has influenced me as well. They recently asked me to film a short-video to share at a staff meeting. I hope you enjoy the video. I’ve also included the devotional below. Blessings to you!

Moving Beyond the Fog

Read: Psalm 119:105-107

“Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

Over the years, I’ve gotten accustomed to driving from New York City to Upstate New York to visit my sister and her family. Usually the ride over the Tappan Zee Bridge, which is the longest bridge in the state, is one of the most scenic parts of the trip. I love seeing the beautiful mountains and the Hudson River. But that wasn’t the case the day I got caught in a downpour and was blinded by fog. It was so thick that I couldn’t even see the cars beside me! All I could see were the taillights from the car directly in front of me, so I followed his lead until I safely crossed the bridge.

In our daily lives, how often do we get blinded by the fog of doubt, despair, discouragement, or disappointment? Something happens and we lose sight of God’s Word and His plan for our lives. We forget God’s promises and are tempted to give up in the middle of our journey. It’s in those moments that we need to cling to God and His Word. He will show us the way to go. His Word is “a light to [our] path” (Psalm 119:105), which helps lift the fog.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, will guide, protect, and love us every step of the way.

Thank You, Lord, that even when we’re tempted to give up, You don’t give up on us! Help us to trust You and keep walking by faith and not by sight.

What seems foggy to us is crystal-clear to our all-knowing God.

Did this encourage you? Please hit “like” and be sure to sign up below to have my weekly encouraging blog posts e-mailed straight to you for free. When you subscribe below, you’ll also receive the free “12 Journal Writing Prompts” PDF I created to help inspire you as you write/journal.

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For more encouragement and to learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. You can also find me on YouTube and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

Short-term missions trips 101

These days more and more people are asking me how I started going on short term missions trips and sharing with me that they are interested in going as well. Awesome! There’s a big, beautiful world out there with too many people who don’t know the Lord!

As I’ve shared before, I’m more of an accidental short-term missionary. I’m no “expert” in this field. However, after going on four short-term missions trips I’ve learned a thing or two so I’d like to share that info with you as you make your decision to GO!

Pray, pray, and well PRAY! – Short-term missions trips shouldn’t be confused with vacations or getaways. Yes, you get to travel to a foreign land and get to meet people from different cultures and perhaps get to see some famous sites while there, but that’s not the main reason for your trip! Honestly, I see it more as going off to battle. There’s a spiritual war going on and people’s souls are at stake. That’s why prayer and even fasting are key! As soon as you get an inkling that you might want to go on a trip, invite others you trust to start praying as well!

Do your research – There are tons of organizations out there and most have websites you can check out. Look up a few of them (unless your church is providing you with the opportunity to work with a particular organization). What are their beliefs? What is their vision for the trip? What will the mission be? Do they have a sample itinerary they could send you? Do you need to sign up with your own group or can you go as an individual (or family) and be assigned to a group? At this point, ask people you trust if they’ve heard of the organizations and visit their social media pages and blogs to read about their past trips. Again, ask God to guide you to the right organization. (To read how God led me to my recent trip, read Hola Honduras).

Listen to the Lord’s leading – Are you feeling drawn to a certain country or people group? Are you feeling called to work with children? There are various types of missions opportunities. Some groups focus on visiting orphans, holding vacation Bible schools for kids or doing outreaches like skits and puppet shows for children. Others focus more on construction and building orphanages or renovating buildings. Still others are more evangelism focused and include doing outreaches or festivals in public plazas or other venues. Others are strictly compassion focused and take teams to the poorest of the poor to feed, clothe them or to offer medical clinics. We’re all gifted in different ways, so ask God to show you where your gifts, talents, and personality would best fit.

How long is the trip? – Short-term trips are usually 1 to 2 weeks long. Other trips can be for 3 months, 6 months or even a year. If you’re interested in going for a year or longer, congratulations!  Keep praying! That most likely means you are being called to be a full-time missionary! If that is the case, I would say to go to your pastor, elder or other trusted mature Christians (including family members) to ask them to help you make that decision. You might want to go to a Bible school or seminary to learn more.

Some practicals – What is the temperature like in the area you would be going to? I don’t do well when it’s extremely hot, so that’s very important to me. What will the sleeping conditions be like? I’ve gone from sleeping in a hammock on a boat in the Amazon in Brazil to staying in a beautiful 4-star hotel in Honduras! Both have been wonderful, but it helps to know that ahead of time. How safe is the area and what is the plan to keep the team safe? Will you have translators or is English popular there?  I was happily surprised that so many people spoke English in Ethiopia! Will there be a doctor or nurse on the team or will you be close to a clinic, God forbid something happens! What kind of shots or visas are needed for the trip?

What is the cost? – Notice, I left this last on the list because honestly, if you’ve gotten this far in the process and you still feel the Lord calling you to GO on the trip then trust that God will make a way for you to go no matter what the price tag is! As the saying goes, where God guides, He provides! There are tons of fundraising ideas online that you can look into, and again pray about which family and friends you may want to ask to help fund your trip. You might be surprised by how many will happily contribute!

I hope this helps you as you make your decision. Ultimately though, if God is calling you to go on a certain trip I would encourage you to GO FOR IT even if at first it doesn’t seem to suit your calling, giftings, personality, etc… God knows what He’s doing and He might just want to use the trip to help s-t-r-e-t-c-h you! (To read how I was stretched on the construction site in Brazil, read Adventures in the Amazon).

Missions trips may not be easy (think enduring long travel times, interacting with a team of people with different personalty types, eating new food, pouring out and serving others day after day), but they are so rewarding!

As I’ve shared before, I see God do the miraculous while abroad! He’s done amazing things inside of me as well!  My faith always grows by leaps and bounds when I step out and GO and help to be the hands and feet of Jesus!

I pray that if you GO, you will have an amazing adventure of a lifetime as well! I look forward to hearing all about it!

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

If this encouraged you, please feel free to leave a comment below or to hit “Like” and share it with your friends!

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Not so Fast

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I recently noticed this picture by one of the fire exits at my job, and it made me chuckle. Ever feel like dropping whatever you’re doing and just running for the nearest exit and not looking back?

Ever just want to hop on the next train, plane, taxi (enter your ideal escape vehicle here _________) and just go anywhere but where you currently find yourself?

I think we’ve all been there at some time(s) in our lives. While it’s tempting to want to run away when life’s problems and circumstances are weighing you down, many times it’s wiser to stay awhile and to get your bearings before you make any sudden moves.

There is something to be said about not rushing out of situations (unless they are life-threatening) and just remaining where you are for just a bit longer.

“Be still and know that I am God,” is what we’re told in Psalm 46:10.

Yes, sometimes God wants us to rest and be still for awhile. As our Good Shepherd, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.” (Psalm 23:22-3)

Some of us are so good at running away that the thought of slowing down can seem so foreign and even dreadful.

But it’s only when we slow down and get quiet before the Lord that we can hear Him more clearly.

When was the last time that you spent time being silent before the Lord?  Could you hear God speaking to you in the midst of the chaos you were in? What did you hear Him say?

I’m reminded of Elijah and how he literally ran for his life, got exhausted and depressed, and how God in His mercy met him right in the middle of that trial. How did God present Himself to Elijah? It wasn’t through the rushing wind, the rumbling earthquake or raging fire. It was in a gentle whisper. (I Kings 19:1-13)

If Elijah hadn’t slowed down, he could have easily missed his divine appointment with God!

Let’s try not to be in such a hurry.

If everything in you is itching to run, could I encourage you to take a moment and wait upon the Lord? His timing is perfect, so try not to go rushing ahead of Him. Enjoy the quiet time with the Lord as you would if you were spending quality time with your friend or loved one. See if that doesn’t give you a healthier perspective about your situation and give you that peace that only Jesus, the Prince of Peace, can give you. (Isaiah 9:6)

That time of refreshing will strengthen you for the next leg of your journey.  I guess that’s why we’re called to “walk” with the Lord instead of to “run” with Him!

Did this help you take your running shoes off for the moment? Feel free to leave a comment below.

 

Order My Steps

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Here’s my attempt at re-creating the iconic “Footprints in the Sand” image. I took this shot while in Florida last March. It was fun walking in the sand, hopping off to the side to make sure my shadow didn’t appear in the picture and then taking some quick photos before the waves would rush in and erase my footprints. Not bad, eh?

I can’t look at this photo without thinking of the famous poem which ends with the powerful line, “The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you.”

It also reminds me of how all throughout the Bible, God promises to order our steps.

Ever go through a season when you weren’t sure what to do next? Maybe you’re in it right now. Are you trying to decide if you should take that new job? Go back to school? Move to that new city? Marry that person? Visit that exotic place, etc….

Many times in our eagerness to act, we make our plans first and then we ask God to bless them. But if we slow down a bit, we’d realize that we have it all backwards. As Christians, we’re called to pray first and to ask God to show us what He’d like us to do next.

The Bible says, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

How sweet it is when we consult with God before making any major decisions! He is our Creator. He wants to guide us along the path He has for us.

One of the key ways God guides us is through the Bible. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105) The more we spend time in His Word, the more in tune we are with our Maker’s heart.

Want to know the true secret of success? It’s not really a secret. “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3)

There’s no greater feeling than when you’ve prayed about something, talked to wise counselors about it and then had the peace that this is something that God is asking you to do or allowing you to do. Nothing beats living in the center of God’s will for your life. Nothing.

So if you are at a crossroads right now, I’d like to encourage you that God has a good plan for your life. Ask Him to show you what He has in store for you, and ask Him to guide you all the way there. Those are prayers that He’s longing to answer! He may not take you the easy way, but remember that in the tough times He’ll be there carrying you through it.

Feel free to leave a comment below. I’d love to hear how this post helped to encourage you!

A proud part of Bonnie’s Faith Jam this week.

Beyond the Fog

Lessons from the Bridge

Duncan Rawlinson / Foter.com / CC BY-NC

 

Over the years, I’ve traveled upstate to visit my sister and her family hundreds of times. The best is when there’s no traffic and the sun is lighting the way. That’s when I can relax and enjoy the beautiful mountains in all their splendor.

Of course, the sun isn’t always shining. That’s just part of life.

One of my most harrowing drives upstate was during a nasty rain storm a few years back!  There I was carefully trying to navigate the wet road and desperately trying to stay in my lane as other cars splashed by me on the New York State Thruway. Then I got to the infamous Tappan Zee Bridge that extends for miles and miles over the Hudson River. On a clear day, I enjoy glancing around and seeing the pretty scenery which reminds me of my trip to Alaska.

On this day though, the fog was so thick that I couldn’t see the other end of the bridge ahead of me nor the mountains and water around me. All I could see was the bumper of the car directly in front of me and the occasional car to my left that was battling the fog on the southbound lanes of the bridge. My mind started playing tricks on me, and I started to worry that the other end of the bridge might have somehow disappeared and that I might be driving right into an abyss. The only thing I could do was focus on the car I was now following for dear life. I had to trust that the driver knew where he was going and that neither he nor the cars in front of him would suddenly slam on their brakes and cause an accident.

In that moment, I had to choose to stop thinking about what I couldn’t see up ahead or about the storm that I was literally in the middle of. I had to focus on what I could see in front of me and I had to trust that God would safely lead me to the other side of the bridge so I could get to my family. Thankfully, I did make it across the bridge and eventually to my sister’s house! But the lessons I learned during that trip have stuck with me.

Many times when we’re in a storm, we can’t see things clearly. The road looks so long or too dark. Sometimes it feels like we’re going to fall into some great, big pit before we ever reach our destination. The future looks so bleak and uncertain.

It’s precisely in those storms that we have to lean and trust in God all the more!  He’s the Good Shepherd who goes ahead of us leading us and guiding us to safe pasture. He’s the one that can see the other side of the bridge even when we can’t. In fact, He’s the one that is holding us up all along the way!

If the road looks foggy and unclear to you right now and you’re in danger of losing hope and faith that you’ll ever make it to the other side of your bridge, I’d like to encourage you to call out to Jesus!  He wants to walk with you every step of the way. He really is always just a prayer away!

Hang in there, my Friend! Hear God’s Word for you today, “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)

So keep praying, reading your Bible, and listening to all that God is saying.  And be sure to stay connected to your local church. Before you know it, you’ll be safely on the other side of your bridge!

Did this post encourage you? Feel free to leave a comment below.