Spiritual Growth – She Believes 3

Relationships August 13, 2026

If You Only Knew

If You Only Knew

⁴For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.
Psalm 145:3-5
³Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
⁴One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.
⁵They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works.^[a]1 Chronicles 29:11
¹¹Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

In 1988 I had a very successful Interior Design business in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. During that time, I was privileged to work with some amazing clients.

One day while having lunch with a client, who by the way quickly became a friend, I was invited to attend an event. I accepted the invite, not knowing that she was involved in direct sales, and was hoping that I would sign up to be on her team.

On the day of the event I pulled up to a beautiful spacious home where I saw several ladies walking briskly to the front door. At that time, it did not occur to me that I would be attending a Team Sales Meeting. When I got to the front door, I received the warmest welcome ever. As I looked around the room I spotted my friend Anita. She invited me to follow her to the kitchen, in which there were lots of ladies gathered around a long island chit chatting. I noticed right off the bat that these women seemed to be unusually happy. While in the kitchen Anita introduced me to the owner of the home, who was clearly also the woman that was running the show.

She was very gracious towards me. She told me that Anita had told her that I was her Interior Designer and invited me to look in every room of her home to see if I would have done anything differently than her designer. It was a strange request, but I obliged her. After the tour of her home, we were all invited to go outside for the sales meeting. There was seating arranged around the swimming pool in the backyard and lanterns hanging in the trees. It was an absolutely perfect evening to have this type of event outside.

After the event, the Sales Director who by the way was the owner of the home and my friend Anita wanted to know if I would like to join their sales team. I must say although I enjoyed the evening I had absolutely no interest in signing up to be a part of their business.

Now let’s fast forward. Somehow over the years Anita and I lost touch with one another. Over a four-year span from my initial invite to join their company, the offer to join was presented to me a couple more times by other women. I finally broke down and said yes, only to find out that the Sales Director that Anita introduced me to was a Rock Star in the Direct Sales World. I had no idea that this woman had such clout. When I was there at her home, I was in the presence of greatness and had no clue.

I am sharing this story because it reminds me that many times we come before God and we have forgotten to be in utter awe of who He is. If we only knew who we were in the presence of when we are before Almighty God, (which by the way is always) I am sure that we would respond to Him differently.

I would have probably responded differently to the sales director had I known the magnitude of what she had achieved, not that I would have put her on a pedestal, but I certainly would have had a healthy respect for the position that she had acquired through her hard work and dedication.

So how do we be in complete awe of who God is? In order to be in continuous awe of who God is, we have to know as much as we can about His character and that comes from studying His word. Looking at His creation should put us in awe of Him. Thinking of the sacrifice that He made for us when He did not have a blemish, yet He still chose to die a sinner’s death should put us in awe of Him. His constant provision for us should put us in awe of Him. The way that He protects us, should put us in awe of Him. By the way He protects us even when we don’t have a clue that we are in danger. Isn’t He a great Father?

There are not enough words in all of the dictionaries on the planet to describe all that He is. One day we will fully grasp who we have been in the presence of our entire existence. But until that day, let’s stay as close to Him as possible, so that He can reveal as much of Himself as chooses to.

No matter what, make it your greatest mission in life to stay in awe of our Awesome Creator, because He is so worthy of our reverence, praise and amazement of who He is.

There is none greater than He!

Relationships August 25, 2025

Encouragements and Support Matters

²⁴And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
¹¹Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

I was so blessed to have the world’s greatest parents. Parents who were always so encouraging and supportive of my goals and dreams. I also have siblings who are very encouraging and supportive, and I know that this is the example they witnessed just as I did growing up in the same household.

Just as I was encouraged I like to encourage others which turns out to be great since I have been blessed with the gift of encouragement. I love it, because I have seen people’s countenance and mindset actually change when sharing a few positive words of hope. It’s amazing just how much weight our words carry and how much of an impact our words can make. We can actually bring blessings or cursing with our words.

We have the power with our words to actually bring sunshine to someone’s cloudy day. When someone is considering giving up just a little bit of encouragement can be a huge difference maker.

I have a question for you. When someone comes to you with a plan that they think is a great idea, are you supportive of their dream? Do you encourage them to go for it, or are you the person who tells them every reason why it will fail. If that’s the way you respond, you may not even know that you are breaking their heart by throwing a wet blanket on their excitement with lots of negative comments?

Today I would like to challenge you to encourage others when you see that it is needed. It may not be your gift and it may not come to you naturally but you can certainly choose to be an encouragement to others by the words that you impart to them.

Our encouragement and our support matters. Most importantly it matters to the person that you may encounter.

Sometimes we can encourage others without even knowing it. Years ago I had started attending a church that had a really great Women’s Bible Class.

For weeks I had attended but never really said anything. One Sunday I decided to get involved in the discussion and I shared a portion of my story with the ladies in the class, because it tied in with our discussion.

Everyone was stunned when I shared what I had been through. Afterwards the ministers wife came up to me and said you have got to speak at our Women’s Retreat. More women need to hear your story.

I didn’t know it at that very moment, but that would be the beginning of me speaking at Women’s Conferences from churches to even a University. God used her words of encouragement as a confidence booster.

You see that Sunday what the minister’s wife was saying to me was more women needed to hear my story, but what I heard was my story mattered and I mattered.

Because of the few seeds of encouragement that she planted in me that day many women have been blessed.

Just her words of encouragement made a difference in my life that day, your words can also make a difference in the lives of others.

Who will you choose to encourage today?
Romans 15:5
⁵May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,
Galatians 6:2
²Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Relationships January 20, 2025

Mandatory Pause

Mandatory Pause

Last week in my part of the country a large snowstorm blew in. Prior to the snowstorm, I made a list of the things that I wanted my husband to pick up from our local grocery store. You see when we hear that snow is in the forecast, we start to get a little excited. Snow on the ground usually means that my husband will be off from work for a few days for a much-needed break. I love it because life quiets down long enough for me to focus on projects around the house that I really need to get done.

I must tell you that when I heard the forecast this time, I immediately planned to work on something that I had been trying to complete for months. I just knew that I would have three to four days that I could get in my office and knock it out. I considered it very high on my list of priorities, because I didn’t know when I would get that opportunity again.

Well don’t you know that absolutely nothing turned out as I thought that it would. As I am writing this, I am on day five of being in bed with the Flu. Yes, the Flu!

So frustrating! But apparently so necessary for God to reveal some answers to things that I had been praying about. When I got still even though it meant being in bed with the Flu, God started to enlighten me through training material I was lying in bed listening to, and through scriptures I was reading. Also, He spoke to me through some resources that had been shared with me that I had not yet had time to research.

You see, had things gone my way, I would have been so busy working in my office that I would have missed what God wanted to share with me. And believe me it is something that will be life changing for my business. I am sure that my focus would have been on my own agenda, and I would not have heard God’s whisper and God knew that.

Don’t you just love that God knows His children and that He knows each of our personality types. He knows just how to communicate with each of us and how to get our attention. And apparently, He knew that I needed a mandatory pause. Oh, how I love my Savior, He always knows just when and how to rescue me.

Today I want to encourage you, not to fight Him if you are given a mandatory pause. Look for the good in it. Ask God what He wants you to learn from the experience. And most importantly trust that he always knows what He is doing. You will be better, wiser and stronger on the other side of your mandatory pause. Embrace all that God has for you by simply trusting Him.

Jeremiah 29:11

¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Romans 8:28
²⁸And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Psalm 32:8
8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
Proverbs 19:21
²¹You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.
Proverbs 16:9
⁹We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

Fruit of the Spirit April 17, 2023

Knowing When And How To Be Content

Knowing When And How To Be Content
Philippians 4:11-13
¹¹I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

Today’s lesson is about contentment. I would like to first ask you a few questions that will help you to determine your level of contentment.

1. Do you struggle to have peace in your life?

2. Are you always reaching for bigger and better, or are you satisfied with what God has provided for you?

3. Do you often think when this happens or when I get this I will be happy?

4. Do you find yourself complaining a lot?

5. Are you jealous of what others have?

If you are answering yes to any or all of these questions, you are not living in a place of contentment.

In the society that we live in today, there is always the pressure to have more and to be more. Please hear my heart on this. It is a good thing for us to strive to be the best that we can be. There is nothing wrong with having goals that will take you to the next level in your life. However, when this quest for more causes us to sin, by worrying or being jealous of others, or grumbling and complaining, it means that we are starting to be ungrateful for what God has already blessed us with. Ingratitude causes discontentment.

May I be transparent for a minute? Years ago I had a career as an Interior Designer. I was blessed to go in some of the most beautiful homes imaginable. I remember starting to crave the lifestyles that I was constantly seeing. I became discontent with what I had already been blessed with. I wanted the big house and the luxury cars and the designer bags and the clothes too, that went with it all. As I have matured in my walk with God, I now realize that I wanted success for all of the wrong reasons. It wasn’t about anyone but me. I even remember being a bit jealous of those who were living the life that I dreamed of. How sad it must have made God, to see me so ungrateful when He had already blessed me with so much.

So you may be asking, what did I do to go from discontentment to contentment and live a life of total peace? To answer your question, for many years now I have been keeping a gratitude journal. At the end of each day, I write down the things that I am most grateful, for that day. This habit has literally changed my life.

My focus has shifted from the frustration of what I don’t have to be grateful for what I do have. It has helped me to even be more appreciative of the very small things. I now look to see the blessing as well as the lesson in everything, and that even includes the things that most would consider difficult or unfair. It has been amazing to see that when I stopped worrying about many of these things, God blessed me with them anyway. Through spending time with God, reading His word, and journaling, I can honestly say I am no longer the same person that I was years ago, and I praise God for that! So today if you are not in a place of contentment, stop looking at the person in the mirror, and start looking up. When you start to focus on God, peace will flood in like a river, and all of a sudden your perspective will start to shift and your dreams will start to align with God’s will for your life. Don’t forget, look up!

⁶But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
Luke 12:15
¹⁵Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
2 Corinthians 12:10
¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Proverbs 30:8-9
⁸Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
⁹Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
Psalm 23:1
¹The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Fruit of the Spirit November 3, 2021

Oh, To Be Content

Have you ever gone through a season when life seemed absolutely unbearable? Have you ever become impatient with God, because He was moving way too slow. Could it be that you are just simply disenchanted with the way your life is going right now? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, today I would like to visit with you briefly about what it means to be content.

When you go to your dictionary and look up the word content, you may see the following as a definition; in a state of peaceful happiness, satisfied with a certain level of achievement, and not wishing for more, a state of satisfaction.

In Philippians 4:11 Paul says I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances, a little bit later in 4:13 He says that; I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. After thinking about this, I have personally come to the conclusion, that Paul’s contentment was based not only on his trust in God but in his trust in God’s character. He had experienced God’s faithfulness through numerous circumstances, and he had seen the heart of God throughout His journey.

Being content is not always easy. But if we just think back, and reflect on all of the times that God has been faithful to us in the past through the hard times, it helps us to remain hopeful for our future. Contentment, in my opinion, can be simple, trusting while you are waiting. Trusting that when the time is right, God will change your set of circumstances, and if He chooses not to, you are still trusting that He will only do what is best for you. Either way, trusting God is the real source of contentment and inner peace. As you spend more and more time with God, you will grow to trust Him more and more.

Today, I want to encourage you to seek His face daily. Choose peace and contentment over stress and worry. Remember, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you, and that means even going through the hard stuff.

¹¹I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong

Hebrews 13:5
⁵Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”[a]
1 Timothy 6:6-10
⁶But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Romans 15:13
¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 62:5-8
⁵Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.
⁶Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
⁷My salvation and my honor depend on God[a]; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
⁸Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Spiritual Growth February 11, 2016

When Marriage Becomes Difficult – Part II

Eight Nuggets To Help Heal Your Marriage

1. To love one another deeply for a lifetime will require that you recognize God as the head of your union. The reason this is vital is because, when times are difficult, (notice I said when and not if) you will be reminded that, you not only made a vow and commitment to your spouse but also to God. As a Christian woman your first desire should be to please and honor God even above your husband.

Spiritual Growth January 11, 2016

When Marriage Becomes Difficult – Part I

Genesis 2:18-25

18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

23 And Adam said:
“This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Spiritual Growth January 12, 2015

Authentically You

Psalms 139:14-18

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you

When I was made in the secret place,

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;

All the days ordained for me were written in your book

Before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!

How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,

They would outnumber the grains of sand—

When I awake, I am still with you.

Spiritual Growth August 14, 2014

More than Just a Box of Chicken

Matthew 25:35-40 (NLT)

³⁵For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.

³⁶I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

³⁷“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?

Spiritual Growth July 30, 2014

Where is your Courage?

13 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”