“I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me.” Psalm 13:6

“Congratulations!! You are fully funded!” Those five words greeted me in an email as I heard from the wonderful staff of Proverbs 31 Ministries sharing the news that I’ll be attending She Speaks, their women’s conference designed for those with a call to do more with either writing or speaking ministries. I tell you, the tears were flowing when I read those words. Friends, my sponsorship is fully paid and I am humbled and in awe. I’m sharing this with you because this blog has been the spark that has started something that God is blowing me away through. People have been touched by these simple messages and have been moved to grow closer to Him.


A couple of months ago, God made it abundantly clear that I was to go to this year’s She Speaks conference. With trepidation and humility, I reached out across the internet, putting my dream in His plenty big hands. There was no way I could pay for the conference and transportation. Sure enough, many friends and family stepped in to help. People from all over this country – people who have touched me deeply through their generosity and kindness, as well as their willingness to be obedient to God’s call on their own hearts to help. Thank you is in no way enough to say. My heart is overflowing with love and joy.

And anticipation! There is something in the plan that requires me to be at this particular conference. Of that I am very sure. I am humbly submitted to whatever that plan is. And if all this weren’t enough, there have been a few divine connections that have come as a result of this, and the conference is still more than two months away! A dear friend shared that she is planning on attending. We haven’t been able to spend time together in years, living over 2000 miles apart and life’s journey taking us down different roads. Sure enough, God is bringing her from Florida and me from Colorado to a conference in North Carolina. And friends that have been made through the ministry of Proverbs 31 will also be there. Friends who prayed for the provision to allow me to attend. There was even a point when I had saved up a contribution of my own, but I felt that God was telling me to give it to a different ministry fundraiser. In obedience, I gave that money to the ministry. Within a week, that exact amount had been sent in by others. Wow.

So I say a heartfelt thank you to anyone who read about this dream and prayed for me; for those who helped and for anyone who has been touched by this blog. Oh yea, and the singing part…these words have been flowing through my mind over and over again. “And if our God is for us, than who could ever stop us, and if our God is for us, than what could stand against?” (Our God by Chris Tomlin)

“We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20

Have you ever wondered why you are where you are? Why you live where you live, with whom you live? Why you work where you work? Most of the time, probably many of us really don’t give it a lot of thought. For me, I jump on the why questions when things are tough. When there’s a foot of snow on the ground and I can’t get out of the driveway. When we are facing a struggle in our home. When a project at work, or situation with a co-worker, is uncomfortably difficult. It’s pretty easy to wonder if this is really where God wants me to be, if I let my thoughts wander or get rolling down a hill into a pit.


But, what if we flip that thought around and ask a different question of ourselves and God? What if, instead we asked, what is it in this situation/location/relationship that will have God can use me as his ambassador? That’s the challenge I’ve been parked on for a few days. It seems that there’s been a message threaded that I’m supposed to get. First, it was in the pages of the book our ladies group is finishing up. As I read the last few chapters, I felt a conviction to seek out the opportunities where they lie – and with whomever I am with. Then, there was a common theme in the worship music that I’ve randomly been hearing. Finally, today, our message at church was talking through “Risky Hope For Our Jobs.” Funny, I went into that one with a whole different idea of what the message was going to be. I was uncomfortably surprised when I found myself squirming a bit during the message. When the message hits that close to home, it can be a little unnerving.

I believe that God has us exactly where we are supposed to be, whether we believe it, like it or want it. I look around at some of the people closest to me and that is a hard pill to swallow. Circumstances are really hard – financial troubles, difficulties with children, work issues that won’t seem to improve, death and disease. It’s all really tough stuff and can put you dangerously close to slipping off that ledge into the pit. And if Christ isn’t the center of their lives, it is even more difficult. That is, I believe, why I am where I am and where you are where you are. As believers, we are called to shine a light – be a beacon that points the lost towards Jesus. It isn’t easy and there are lots of times when I fail, but then there are those moments when I see a flash of hope because of Christ that wasn’t there before. Or when a friend who is struggling with problems of life that are almost too much to bear asks something about God. Or when your child tells you that a difficult physical injury they have recovered from was because God sent his angels down to give her the strength she needed. Oh how my heart just leaps.

And, it’s in those moments that I am assured, through the grace of Jesus Christ, that I am in fact, exactly where I am supposed to be and my job is not finished so I must press on.