But God had a plan…

Last weekend, my family and I decided to take a little mini getaway to the Winston-Salem, NC. Nothing special – just a getaway to an old town we’ve never been to before.

(yes that is my husband doing a handstand on some random cool bridge in Old Salem…#BigKid)

I guess you could say that’s our nerdy side. My husband and I love historical sites and old timey movies, documentaries, and even black and white television shows. I’ll admit sometimes I just like to sleep while my husband watches old westerns. Ha ha My husband loves them a little more than I do, but I love any excuse to get away from a weekend.

What we didn’t plan on was a fussy baby, crazy traffic with 1 way roads on every corner, and bitter cold weather. Our sunny and 75 dropped down to about 40 and windy. Needless to say, it wasn’t the best trip.

But GOD had a plan…

Through all the arguing, complaining, and whining about the cold weather, God had a plan.

He knew exactly what we needed.

While walking downtown in freezing weather…after a steep half mile hike uphill with a 17lb baby in my arms…we walked past a homeless man sitting on the side of the road begging for money. The man was smiling and happy despite the cold weather and simply asking for 75 cents to get a newspaper. My mind automatically started to wonder so many things like if he truly needs the money, why is he homeless, and how did he end up that way? Then again, my mind raced into why can’t he work? Could he not work at the coffee shop he’s sitting in front of? What about McDonalds? I mean, couldn’t he find something to do?

But then I had to stop myself and remember…I’m not God…and I don’t and will never have all the answers. Occasionally we need to remind ourselves this.

Why this man was homeless is not the question I should have been worried about.

Instead, I should’ve been thinking how can I help this man? Does he know Jesus? How can I pray for him?

It’s not my place to know his life story. It’s my place, as a follower of Christ, to care for him, pray for him, and share Christ’s love with him.

I can’t imagine sitting on the street homeless with no family, no friends, no job, and begging for money. It’s something I’ve never had to deal with, but I have been close to losing everything.

When my husband and I first got married, I got laid off from my job 8 weeks before my wedding. I had planned an expensive crazy wedding (I highly recommend not doing this and keeping it simple) that my husband and I were paying for, and I had just bought a new car shortly after my husband had just bought a new truck. Overall, we were in over our heads. When I lost my good paying job unexpectedly, we suddenly had to downsize everything and cut corners wherever and however we could. It was not fun.

It was terrible for almost newlyweds but we had to do what we had to do just to survive. We sold the truck, cut back ALL excess spending, and asked for help from family just to survive until we got back on our feet and I could find a new job. When I look back, those care packages from our families were some of the best gifts we’ve ever received. We were young and struggling, but God had a plan and those tough months grew us closer together than any amount of money could.

It wasn’t easy. Harder than that, we had to “humble” ourselves and ask for help before we let the struggle overwhelm us.

The Bible says that Jesus was “humble.” He wasn’t a filthy rich business man walking around taking everyone’s money and building His earthly kingdom. Instead, he was “humble.” He started out as a carpenter, walked the streets with everyone else, and even called on the fishermen and common men to be His disciples. He didn’t draw attention to Himself with materialistic things; instead, God drew mankind to Him.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6

Freezing my tail off in my warm winter boots, gloves, and heavy coat; I had no right to complain. This man was smiling and doing what he could to survive. On the way back down the street my husband handed the man $5 and asked him if he knew Jesus Christ. Before he could answer, he smiled. Then the homeless man preached the Gospel to us better than most Christians can. Despite his past, despite his current situation, he knew his future was in God’s hands.

I praise God for showing us how to be humble, reminding us of His Glory, and placing just the right people in our paths each day.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2

May God Bless you and Show you His Grace every day!

 

The power of Christ lives in our hearts, gives us power when we are weak, and guides us every day. It’s time we wake up and take that power back.

So often we let the darkness in this world defeat us and drag us down. Why not decide today to make a change, take back the power, and proclaim that the Grace of Jesus Christ is all you need!

This Saturday we will be celebrating the Power of Christ and focusing on how we can renew our strength and find His will! I encourage you to join me at this conference, bring your friends, and pray for all of the participants!

Julie Nalley & Kayla Rampey will be bringing the message with Music lead by: Savannah McCollum & a Fitness Fun Session led by Fallon Brucke

You don’t want to miss out on this event!

Empowered Jesus Girl 2017 is this Saturday at Return Baptist Church from 10am-1pm. We’re going to have a great time worshiping the Lord and growing in His Grace!

For more information or to register your group, visit www.WildernessGrace.org

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

May God Bless you and show you His Grace every day!

When I think about 2016, all I can say is, I’m glad that it’s over. I know that sounds terrible, but I started this blog as a “honest and open” friendship with you all. I want you to know that I am human and I do struggle just like you. At the beginning of 2016, I suffered from postpartum depression after the birth of my 2^nd son in November 2015. In the Spring I continued my struggle as I adjusted to parenting 2 young boys and the terrible twos turned into terrible 3s for my wild little man. Some of my closest family suffered from health issues, depression, and struggles that I could not understand. It felt as though my family was falling apart and there was nothing I could do to help them out of this pit. In the Fall of 2016, I sat beside my grandfather as he took his last breath. Prior to his death, I watched him deteriorate from Alzheimer’s and forget everyone around him. I rejoice in the fact that I know that he is with Jesus now, but it still hurt tremendously to see him suffer along the way. This also was the hardest year for me thus far in the ministry. My husband and I struggled with some tough situations from youth, young adults, and even past friends and teens that gave up on God and turned to the world. Like I’ve said before, the hardest part of ministry is seeing someone you love turn away from God and turn to the world. It’s heartbreaking and hard to understand but I have faith that God has a plan for every trial that we go through.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3

As I think about the past and the struggles I faced in 2016, some mentioned and some left unspoken, I can still say that I am thankful. I am thankful for the struggles and the trials that I went through. I’m even more thankful that God held my hand as I walked through them. Without Him I could not have made it.

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

I heard a story the other day that made it all so clear to me. When you get older, you have to go to the doctor regularly for physicals and exams just to make sure you are healthy. At some point the doctor would probably ask, “How do you think your heart is?” Since I’m fairly healthy and exercise routinely, I would answer, “I’m sure it’s fine. I haven’t had any heart problems or pains, so it’s good.” You see, the issue is, I’m not a doctor. I feel fine, act fine, and I think I’m pretty healthy, but “fine” is not a medical diagnosis. Just to make sure my heart is as good as I think it is, the doctor would hook me up to a bunch of machines and take me over to a treadmill. For a short time, the doctor would monitor my heart as I walked at different speeds up and down hills. As the stress increased on my heart, the true condition would be revealed. Was I truly as healthy as I thought I was?

To reveal the true condition of your heart, the stress has to be increased. Without trials, without pressure, would you truly rely on God?

So I ask you this, 2016 is over, the stress has come and gone, and the holidays are coming to an end…how did your heart handle the stress? Did you stay the same when the pressure increased? Or did you turn to anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ?

When the stress increases, your heart’s true condition will be revealed.

How is your heart?

I challenge you to take on 2017 with a new outlook. No matter what happens, no matter what you go through, strive to stay the same. Seek God always and find the good in every situation. Not every day is perfect, but every day is a gift from God. Take on this year with a smile and a thankful heart thanking God for every moment he blessed you with!

May God Bless you and show you His Grace every day in 2017!!

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8