AWE

Thoughts, Prayers and Words of Encouragement: WOW it is hard to believe how long it has been since I sat and chatted ....today as I woke, finally somewhat refreshed I realized that I needed to write here....over the past couple of months I have been writing in my journal..but somehow here, where others join with me there is a much more cathartic release.

The past few months have resembled a roller coaster ride. Filled with excitement, terrifying plunges and moments that quite honestly just took my breath away, during the entire ride, I was securely strapped in my seat with my Daddy....at times He held my hand, for the really scary plunges He wrapped His arms around me and whispered "peace I give you". So today before we board another ride...I sit and ponder the wonder and reality of the past couple of months.

In November a new member joined my family. Her name is Yadah, she is a beautiful champagne toy poodle who was a gift from a friend. The name comes from the ancient Hebrew meaning "to extend oneself in praise". Her life is a daily reminder to me to embrace the purpose I was created....to extend...what a lovely word...seems so elegant...however I have felt like a telescopic mop handle...twisted in the middle, pulled out until I think I will fall apart in the middle, then twisted the opposite direction in order to be secure...dunked in a bucket thinking I am going to drown then pushed and pulled all over the circumstances and events of the day and finally washed and washed with running water to make sure I don't keep any of the dirt I was cleaning up...placed upright to dry in the sun....and REST.

Hahaha...it is so fun to just let stuff flow out of my soul....so anyhow, Yadah has been a delight..bringing unconditional love and joy to my life. Again a reminder of how I am to live my life...constantly being the source of God's love and joy to others.

Bringing me to one of the most wonderful miracles of Christmas....Mel and Andrew Mitchell received a HOUSE FULL of furniture on December 22nd. It was totally amazing, we had worked so hard trying to get done and ready...God incredibly answered prayer by keeping the rain away for over 40 days, so the work could be completed. Actually today, the heat should be done, the electric is on and they will be moving in this week....GO GOD. It has truly been a faith builder for me....one miracle after another...and the beauty of it being the entire community watched as God displayed His splendor..as a result neighbors have returned to church, the Mitchells have gone back to church with a commitment to attend more frequently...even cooler is that going to church is wonderful but the transformation of lives is so AMAZING...men who have found themselves more patient in situations where they previously would have exploded with anger, women able to relax and enjoy the time spent with families instead of anxious about personal circumstances...over all it has been such a delight to witness the display of God's glory.

Of course speaking about transformation brings me to the changes in my own life. Over the past couple of years I have attended St Rose de Lima catholic church. Each week I have encountered Christ deeper and deeper. When asked about leaving Bay St Louis, I have repeatedly said the challenge would be leaving the church, so difficult to explain in words, but this is the first church that I have strongly encountered the presence of God each and every week. It does not matter who preaches or sings, there is this supernatural encounter with God....I have traveled and moved so much, that changing churches sometimes is sad as you will miss the people you worship with, this time I would miss HE whom I worship.

On the first Sunday of Advent I had an amazing encounter with God, in the morning before church I had written in my journal that I would deny Him NOTHING. YEP sure learned that in my walk with the Lord I have "given and surrendered" everything...the tables turn when I desire to deny Him nothing...cause now He is in charge of what He wants...not me in charge of what I am giving....this was the loop de loop on the roller coaster!!!!



I strongly felt His presence and direction that I was to make a home in the church and Bay St Louis....A WHAT???? Well I was all over the place...Lord what in the world are you talking about....A HOME....my move to the Bay was 44 in 48 years.....never wanted a home...always said my only home was in heaven...(which is true) however I have accepted the fact that God has placed this purpose in my heart. As I reflect back to the 3 homes that Jerry and I owned, each of them we remolded with the intentions of what value we could add to them for when we sold them....here is so different..the homeowners decorate, paint and plan to live there forever...the house is what pleases THEM....what a different perspective...so I have asked the Lord to give me a HOME here in the Bay...not sure where or what it will be ...but one thing I know the kitchen will be ORANGE AND PINK....not worried about someone else buying it...hahahaha



So this was not just about a physical home....St Rose is to be my home church...now that was the terrifying plunge...being protestant my entire life....an ordained protestant minister...hearing so much about the catholic church from those who "found their way out"....well I prayed and talked over and over to the Lord...surely this was not what He was saying...yet I kept hearing..."you said you would deny Me nothing"...I realized that I needed to honor what I believed to be His direction....to trust Him completely. I have come to the conclusion that I would rather risk stepping out in obedience and be wrong than sit and give all kinds of excuses that in the end would bring Him heartache because I did not trust Him. So I have started the process of becoming a catholic. God has already opened so many doors...and as always, sometimes the best way to be an agent of change is from the inside...so I have asked Him that I would be an instrument in His hands.

Which brings me to the final BIG change....I have resigned from CityTeam as of Jan. 5th....I will forever be grateful to God that He connected me to them. The opportunity to serve the residents and volunteers through CityTeam has brought so much transformation of lives, But to everything there is a season....so this is the COOL part....when Jerry and I separated, wise counsel had advised me to just let Door of Hope rest and see what God wanted to do...well over the summer just like a kernel of wheat coming forth from the ground...God brought new life and now PNEUMA Winds of Hope has been birthed. God has provided a new board and Kathy Wise, (my sweet friend and intercessor for years) has also came along...it truly is wonderful. During the years of Door of Hope I constantly struggled with knowing that my primary responsibility is to be His vessel of LOVE and feeling like that was never enough. The intangible nature of love always collided with the need to validate my time and energies with the tangible. My ministry over the past 2 years has shown me that the tangible of Love is the change in lives.....so PNEUMA...meaning breath and life takes off this year...taking the LOVE of JESUS, prayers for revival, random acts of kindness and compassion to the nation and the world...BIG DREAMS for a BIG GOD who DREAMS them....I will keep a base here in the Bay and be connected to the ongoing recovery of community primarily working with St Rose.



Thank you Jesus for this AM...it was so wonderful to just talk out all the stuff....Lord you have been so faithful and I ask you to continue to give me the courage to deny You nothing...to seek You...to keep my ear on Your heart and to be obedient. Please give me courage and more belief and faith.....love you much, di