2017, His Year

​Woohoo! I hope you have been enjoying the past couple of weeks with family and friends. I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas and you are looking forward to the New Year. I don’t know about you, but I have been very reflective the past few days. I’m always stirred to do this at the end of the year. I look back on the year, give praises and glory to the Lord, and then get excited about what He is stirring in my heart for the next year. I have to say, 2016 was chalk FULL of accomplishments, lessons learned, surprises, disappointments, victories, and a TON of spiritual growth, which is exactly what I sensed was going to take place about this time last year.

I had no idea the holy discontentment I would experience in January of this year would lead to not one, but two more challenges for the year, where several women would experience physical wellness, and gain a sense of strength over the course of forty-five days. I also had no idea several of us would take on the challenge of doing fifty 5k’s in fifty days, and complete them (Hubster included). Nor did I expect to completely fall off the fitness wagon after finishing. I would have never guessed my family and I would have enjoyed building, raising and gathering from the chickens we added to our home – but we did.

I was delighted as the Lord began transforming this site and social media outlets into a place that would better encourage, support and edify other women on their journeys to becoming whole in spirit, soul and body. I loved sharing not one but two 5k races with my dear friend. I loved witnessing my daughter grow spiritually, as well as become more independent, on our mission trip to the Dominican Republic, together.

Life changed following that mission trip. Our oldest grew up and seemed to launch from the nest sooner than we expected. Our youngest literally growing at a rate of one inch per month, while exploring who she is becoming. The constant, as we all know, was change. Our marriage changed. Our family changed. Our friendships changed. Our hearts changed. We wanted more after that trip. More love. More life. More living without fear. More LIVING.

Books like “Undaunted”, “Wild & Free”, and “Fervent Prayer” moved me from a place where I really wanted to settle into, into places where I would be extremely uncomfortable – and the response from others would make me even more uncomfortable. But looking back, it was all necessary. From praying with our private online community for so many women I love, to going live and sharing about ensuring we set aside time, have true connections, and understand brokenness, as well as being cautious of ditches. It was all necessary.

God was stretching me. Seeing if I truly was willing to go wherever He would lead. Like creating the recipe book and compiling the devotions book, and then asking others to review for me. All this both excited me and made me uneasy at the same time. I knew I could create for my daughters, I desire nothing more than to leave them with items possessing eternal value. But being open to others’ criticism, while also feeling the lack of support from some I never would have guessed, generated unease I had to hand over to the Lord and trust He was going to do something with. When He surprised me with new support and encouragement, I began seeing sometimes that is how it goes – there will be a pruning and growing – and it’s ok.

In October, when I was faced with the notion of having only twelve months to live, my entire perspective shifted. A resolve solidified in my soul that there are no other options BUT to follow wherever He leads, and that living testimony to my husband and girls is all I really need to leave behind. There’s that word LIVING – again. While contemplating and praying about what living might look like in 2017, so many things came to mind…

• Fully embracing and knowing without a doubt Jesus’ Holy Spirit lives within, leading and guiding.
• Fully seeing and understanding He in fact does protect from powers and principalities in this world that would love to destroy.
• Knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt He has held me in the palm of His hands since the day I was born and will continue to do so; He does the same for my Husband and our daughters.
• Spending time with my children in devotions each day of the year.
• Spending time in prayer with my husband and children, both as a couple and family.
• Disconnecting from all the things that would like to influence the way we live, and create an environment where our connection to God, one another and others – is strengthened.
• Depending on His leading in my career, now that He has opened the door for medical missions and is merging all that I’ve learned in this personal ministry, with the career He blessed me with years ago.
• Continuing to encourage, support and edify other women on their unique journeys, but no longer in the form of challenges. More in the form of “this is living”, let’s make each day count every day of the year, not just forty-five days – potentially setting ourselves up for setbacks and rebound.
• Releasing both the recipe and devotions book, as continued support.
• Depending on His guidance with both daughters as we venture to the Dominican Republic once more.
• Taking care of this temple in which He lives, returning to a lifestyle of fitness and whole eating, to bring Him glory and finally reach goals I’ve held dear to my heart for years.
• Completing a Toughmudder with my sweet girlfriend who is a fighter and deserves an entire entourage of people racing with her, after the year she’s had.
• Living authentically, and genuinely from a place of LOVE for God and those He has in my life, without fear or restraints imposed by my own shortcomings and the opinions of others who may secretly feel more comfortable with me staying put, rather than keep moving in the direction He needs me to go.
• Living with the daily reminder, if this is in fact the first day of the last year of my life, I alone answer for the life I live, I want to be sure I’m right smack dab in the middle of His will for my life so on that beautiful day He will look on me with love, say to me, “I know you, and you knew ME – well done!”
• Living with the daily reminder even if it’s not the last year of my physical life, I’m called to die to myself daily and allow His Holy Spirit to RISE and guide me as the ultimate Shepherd.
• Be open to the idea this site and the purpose it has served may very well come to an end after the course of this year, because God always knows what’s best and what’s next.

I pray as you are contemplating 2017 you’re open to God’s will and leading in your life. He can do so much more with our lives, than we could have ever imagined. Reflecting on this past year is a testimony of what He has done in and through my life, not an opportunity for me to give myself a pat on the back. My part was the desire to have Him move through me, and rely on Him to pick me up when I stumbled and faltered. He. Did. It. All. And I know if given the opportunity, He will move through your life as well. I pray your 2017 is blessed beyond measure with the blessing and presence of the Lord, amen!