The significance of 40

I just turned 40 a few days ago. I know - milestone birthday - how did I get this old? To quote my father, "There is only option to getting older - dying."

The Lord has been speaking to me and telling me that I am finishing the first half of my life and beginning the second half of my life. Part two is filled with hope and plans to impact the world for Christ. You'll be hearing about many of those plans over the next several weeks.

First, though, I wanted to share with you various passages in the Bible centered around the number 40. It was a great encouragement to me and I hope it will be for you as well.

(Noah and the Ark) And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights. Genesis 7:12

. . . and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah . . . Genesis 25:20

When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith . . . , and also Basemath . . . Genesis 26:34

Genesis 40: The Cupbearer and the Baker dream and Joseph interprets their dreams in prison.

The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan. Exodus 16:35

Then Moses . . . stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Exodus 24:18

Exodus 40: The Tabernacle is completed and the Glory of the Lord fills the temple.

At the end of forty days (the twelve spies) returned from exploring (Caanan). Numbers 13:25

The LORD’s anger burned against Israel and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone. Numbers 32:13

Yet the LORD says, “During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.” Deuteronomy 29:5

(Joshua) was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent (him) from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And (Joshua) brought (Moses) back a report according to (his) convictions. Joshua 14:7

So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died. Judges 3:1

“So may all your enemies perish, LORD! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had peace forty years. Judges 5:31

. . . During Gideon’s lifetime, the land had peace forty years. Judges 8:28

Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years. Judges 13:1

. . . Eli . . . had led Israel forty years. I Samuel 4:18

(About Goliath) For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand. I Samuel 17:16

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 2 Samuel 5:4

Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. I Kings 11:42

So he (Elijah) got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. I Kings 19:8

. . . Joash became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years . . . 2 Kings 12:1

Job 40: The Lord speaks and Job declares he is unworthy.

Psalm 40 

¹I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 

² He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
³ He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.

⁴ Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 

⁵ Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.

⁶ Sacrifice and offering you did not desire— but my ears you have opened—burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. 

⁷ Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll. 

⁸ I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”

⁹I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, LORD, as you know. 

¹⁰ I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly.

¹¹Do not withhold your mercy from me, LORD; may your love and faithfulness always protect me. 

¹² For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. 

¹³ Be pleased to save me, LORD; come quickly, LORD, to help me.

¹⁴ May all who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
¹⁵ May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be appalled at their own shame. 

¹⁶ But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The LORD is great!”

¹⁷ But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay.

Isaiah 40 
¹ Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
² Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.
³ A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
⁴ Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
⁵ And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
⁶ A voice says, “Cry out."
And I said, “What shall I cry?” 
“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.

⁷ The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass.

⁸ The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

⁹ You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!”

¹⁰ See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.

¹¹ He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

¹² Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?

¹³ Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor? 

¹⁴ Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?

¹⁵ Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.

¹⁶ Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. 

¹⁷ Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.

¹⁸ With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him? 

¹⁹ As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it.

²⁰ A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.

²¹ Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? 

²² He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. 

²³ He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. 

²⁴ No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.

²⁵ “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.

²⁶ Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

²⁷ Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”?

²⁸ Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 
³¹ but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Jeremiah 40: Jeremiah is freed from his chains

I will make the land of Egypt desolate among devastated lands, and her cities will lie desolate forty years among ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. Ezekiel 29:12

Ezekiel 40: The Temple is restored

Jonah began . . . proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” Jonah 3:4

. . . where for forty days (Jesus) was tempted by the devil . . . Luke 4:2

After his suffering, (Jesus) presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3

Happy Anniversary

Yesterday was my 13th Anniversary. I am married to a wonderful Godly man who loves and respects me and is a fabulous father to our now 3rd grade boy. Here are 13 things I love about my husband:

1. He has a passion for the things of God
2. He has compassion for those who are lost
3. He loves the Body of Christ (the kind of love you see in the Bible)
4. He has vision and purpose in his life
5. When he talks about something important, he gets very animated
6. When he is with our son, I can't help but smile
7. He enjoys playing games with the family
8. He is competitive without being annoying
9. He gives a good back rub
10. When I need someone to talk to, he is there
11. He is always looking out for the best for me and for our son
12. He puts up with my constant singing (everything reminds me of a song)
13. In good times and bad, he never forgets to say I LOVE YOU

I didn't meet my husband until I was 25 years old. We married a month before I turned 27. He was 30. He asked the permission of my parents before he proposed to me. It was a fairy tale dream come true.

That isn't the case for all women, especially those in countries where child brides are common. Arranged marriages are still very common and accepted in many countries around the world. This article, posted by National Geographic, describes the issues much better than I could ever do:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/06/child-brides/gorney-text

Lord Jesus, please remember these young girls who have no choice, most married at very young ages. I know that you are grieved when your children are treated as property. Please be with those working to reverse this centuries-old tradition.

School's Out!

My son's last day of school was before Memorial Day. Some kids don't get out until mid-June, but there is always a great celebration and kids get very excited to tell people their summer plans. They have a grand idea of lazy days, many hours of swimming and going and doing lots of fun things.

What about the kids who don't look forward to summer? They don't dare tell their classmate that summer is a time when they don't know when or even if they will have food. Summer means more time to kill and more time for adults to use and abuse them. That vacation "break" means long hours with nothing much to do and nowhere to go, unless you are trying to find a new place to hide.

My aunt and uncles say my dad was the best at hiding when their father came home - as a result, he wasn't beat much. My father grew up in a very poor family. He used to sit on the roof of their shack with a .22 and watch for his mom and sister walking home from the grocery store. He wanted to try and protect them. His older brothers got him started selling newspapers on the street corner when he was in elementary school so he could have money to buy dinner. He worked all the way through school in order to have food to eat and money to buy his own clothes. He joined the military right out of high school because it was guaranteed pay, room and board and he could send home money to his mother. My dad was fortunate that he had a mother who truly loved him and tried the best she could with her 8th grade education to raise a family.

Children in these situations are very likely to be trafficked. Many have little to lose and not much to go home to. Some have parents that don't care and some already have been traumatized in their own homes, many by their own family.

Let's remember to pray for children - the younger they are, the more vulnerable. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14, Mark 10:14 and Luke 18:16. What are you doing to remove barriers? Are you a hindrance to children coming to Jesus?

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

Every child in the world has a mother. Most of us are not perfect, but we try our best and love our children with a deep love that is unexplainable to anyone who is not a mother. Children are a blessing from the Lord and I am so privileged to be a mom to a wonderful, handsome, amazing second grade boy.

Today, we should pray for moms whose children have been trafficked. I can't imagine the searing pain. Some of them don't know where their children are or even if they are dead or alive. Some know the full story. I'm not sure which is worse in a trafficking situation - not knowing or knowing exactly the pain your child has gone through or is going through.

Last night, I watch an episode of "16 and Pregnant" for the first time. I've heard people who claim that it glorifies pregnancy. Last night's episode was very real and heartbreaking at times. The young lady was pregnant with twins because her boyfriend said it was awkward to have to buy condoms. He was extremely disrespectful to her family and prone to fits of rage. He eventually attacked her and was picked up by police. Fortunately, she has very loving and supportive parents who knew the young man was bad news, helped her and will continue to help her as she raises her twin boys and finishes high school. Not everyone has parents with tough love like this. They were real with her, and there was tension because they knew their daughter needed to make the right choices, and it was hard to watch her keep making bad choices. Let's pray for this young lady and others like her. Not every pregnant teen has a good support system like she does. Not every teen has the courage to break off a relationship with someone who is abusive.

Jesus, be with this young lady who is celebrating Mother's Day this year for the first time. Help other teens to learn from her situation and make good choices when it comes to dating, sex, and violent relationships. Thank you that you love us so much, even when we make choices you know will lead to destructive behavior. Comfort moms today who have lost children. Amen.

Resurrection Sunday

I've always been interested in how the meanings of words change over time. Gay started out meaning merry. Silly originally meant blessed. Rosary was a rose garden. Priest used to mean old man. Meat referred to all foods, not just animal flesh.

When there is a misunderstanding, I often wonder if persons are using the same word, but have a different definition in mind. For example, when I was in college, a casual gathering where a boy accompanied a girl was called a date. Today, it's not a date, it's "hanging out." A date today implies something more serious, perhaps even a relationship headed towards some permanency. When I "dated around" in college, it meant that I had lots of male friends and we liked to spend time together as friends. Today, a person who "dates around" is one who has loose morals and leads others to believe there is a relationship when there is not.

For some, Easter has come to mean chocolates, bunnies, egg hunts and family brunch. Therefore, some Christians are now saying "Happy Resurrection" because it is more specific and less like to change meanings in general use.

Traffic used to be what you saw on the highway. Human traffic would have been a busy walkway. Now, it is akin to slavery. We like to think slavery was abolished at the end of the Civil War. However, it simply changed names and went underground.

Let's not get confused by the meanings of words and how they change. Humans are still being bought and sold and used by other humans. Are you using other people for your own gain? Do you treat people less than what they are worth? Ask God to renew your mind and help you recognize the value in each and every human that he has created here on earth.

Is it worth it?

Do you ever wonder if little changes you make in your life will make any difference?

I gave up all carbonated beverages about a year ago, but that was because it was activating my IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome - look it up if you are uniformed). I don't even WANT anything carbonated now that I know how much it wrecks my body and how sick I will be. That made a really big difference in my life and I am so glad I discovered this trigger and eliminated it from my life.

About 5 weeks ago, I decided to join a gym and commit to a more healthy lifestyle. I signed on and had my body fat and muscle mass measured and was given a plan for eating and exercising. I have to admit, I didn't always stick to the plan. The goal was 5 workouts a week. I don't think I ever reached that goal, but I did at least do 3 a week. My eating habits have never been stellar, and they still aren't, but I did at least try to be more healthy in my food choices. It didn't always stick.

Today, I went in for a measurement. I warned my trainer that I tried, but didn't do my best and didn't reach all the goals we had in mind. I did tell her that I felt better and had more energy. I also noticed some of my clothes were getting looser around the waist.

She measured me and said . . .
(May I just say I took a deep breath as I didn't expect much)
You have lost 8 lbs of fat, gained 5 lbs of muscle and have 3% less body fat, 11 pts lost in your thighs and 4 pts lost in the belly

WOW! I guess it is worth it - the early morning workouts, pushing through the pain, sweating, feeling like I'm not doing anything, wondering if it really matters.

This is so true with everything in life. In fighting human trafficking, there may be some dramatic moments, but mostly, the fight is a slow, daily, painful process that doesn't always show results right away. But, we can't give up. We need to keep fighting, sweating, pushing through the barriers, even when we wonder if we are making any difference at all.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Never, ever give up the fight!

Saint Patrick

Why do I celebrate Saint Patrick's Day? It's not because of wearing green to avoid being pinched or drinking green beer (I don't drink alcohol). It's because of the person, Saint Patrick.

Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents. He was trafficked at the age of sixteen to Ireland. He spent six years outdoors as a shepherd, mostly alone. He turned to the Lord during this time and God gave him the strength to survive. God sent him a vision and he walked 200 miles by himself to the Irish coast to escape and return to Britain.

An angel appeared to him in a dream telling him that he was to return to Ireland as a missionary. He spent 15 years in religious training and returned to Ireland after his ordination. Since he was familiar with the culture, he incorporated familiar symbols from the culture into Christianity to help communicate the gospel.

One example of this is his use of the sun, a symbol of life to the Irish, that he incorporated into the crucifix, creating what is now known as the Celtic Cross.

He also used the shamrock, a familiar and symbolic plant for the Irish, to explain the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

It is believed that Saint Patrick died on March 17, the reason this date was chosen on the calendar. It is a day meant for spiritual renewal and praying for missionaries around the world.

Join me in celebrating the real reason for Saint Patrick's Day - celebrating a person who was trafficked and God called him to return as a missionary to minister to the very people who enslaved him.

FWC Mission Week

Tomorrow, February 27, is the first day of Mission week at First Wesleyan Church. Vince and I serve on the Mission Committee and I have been asked to give a "Window on Missions" on the second Sunday. I am very excited to share with my home church of the ministry that God has laid on my heart. If you are interested in hearing how God is working around the world, the main events are:
Sunday morning worship on February 27
Wednesday "Taste of Nations" sampling of food from around the world
Sunday morning worship on March 6

I'll be speaking in the March 6 worship services. FWC has a traditional service at 9:00, a contemporary service at 10:20, and a Spanish-speaking service at 10:30. I will be at all three services.

Thank you for praying for this very important time for our church and for me as I share about my awareness and training ministry to fight human trafficking.

Square peg Round hole

It's not easy for me to fit in. I've always been the one to push the edges, looking for different and better ways to do things. I'm always questioning the reasons behind things and wondering how it could have been done differently so that more could be accomplished. It's how God has created me. When you are always looking to see who is lost, you focus less on the found. When you pay attention to the least, the most can feel slighted. When you choose the last, the first wonders why. When you friend the lonely, the popular feel rejected. When you include the left out, the majority can object. But I cannot stop doing it. Even though people are constantly rubbing their sandpaper against my square peg to try to make me round, I must resist. I cannot change how God has created me just to make people happy. This doesn't mean that I try to upset people or refuse to be kind. On the contrary, I hope that others see me as a person who is always trying to look out for their best interest. Lord, help me to know when to affirm and when to confront, when to give in and when to resist, when to compromise and when to stand firm, when to be quiet and when to speak. Most of all, let it not be me, but you, as you are the only one who can truly make a difference that lasts.

Snow

"And somewhere it's snowing
See the soft drifting down
As the snowflakes surrender
To the hardening ground
Like the good grace of Jesus
That covers our sin
In the kingdom of heaven
It's snowing again."

This song played on the radio when I was a young teen. I believe the artist was Stephanie Bosada. I'm not sure I'm spelling her name right.

Every time it snows, I think about how God makes things beautiful for us and takes care of us. The aftermath of blizzards in Oklahoma is not pretty, but if we focus on the beauty of the white fluffy stuff and remember that God is decorating our world, it makes it easier to enjoy.

It will melt and life will return to "normal." My question to you - do you want "normal" or do you want to make a change? Take this opportunity to let God clean up your act. I'm asking him to clean up mine.

a REAL response to Human Trafficking

My dream is for all Christians to have a REAL response to Human Trafficking. 
R ealize
E ducate and 
A ctivate out of 
L ove
You can't do anything if you don't Realize the problem and its scope. You must Educate yourself so that you can recognize what is trafficking and what is not. If you truly Realize and Educate yourself, you can't help but want to Activate and make changes in your life to fight this evil. However, if it is not done out of Love - the kind of Love that comes from God - you will grow tired and give up the fight or angry and do something that you will later regret.

In 1994, I was in Bangkok, in the middle of a mission that took me to the heart of the five major world religions and ministering with Christians to those who lived in each of the areas we visited. It was evening and we decided to head down to the souvenir market for a short time to see how life in Bangkok was lived.

            I had heard of brothels and massage parlors and prostitutes, but before that night, I had never seen it so up close and personal. Scantily clad women, some topless, were out in public trying to seduce men. The men in our group had to make sure there was a lady from our group as any man seen without a woman was approached and solicited openly and numerous times as we tried to talk with the vendors and look for appropriate souvenirs.

            You may ask – why did you go there? Every place where there were products for sale, people were also for sale. There was no way to escape it. It was overwhelming and drove us to our knees to pray for all of those who were buying, selling, and being bought and sold.

            In 1994, I didn’t know the words “human trafficking,” but that is exactly what I witnessed. Many like to think this only happens “over there somewhere,” but I must tell you it is in our own backyard. Trafficking happens in Bartlesville, in the state of Oklahoma, and all over our nation. So what do we do about it?

            In the fall of 2009, I attended a special training at Wesleyan World headquarters in Indiana, where I was given tools to conduct awareness and training events for those who want to stand up and fight against human trafficking. This training was given through FAAST (Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking) which includes The Salvation Army, Assembly of God and The Wesleyan Church, to mention just a few. Hands That Heal has been tried and tested and found to equip church members and communities in the fight against trafficking.

            I have spoken to our District Superintendent, Rev. Max Colaw, and the DBMD about my passion for this area of ministry. I have attended the past two years of District Conference, sharing my vision with pastors and lay persons in our district and plan to continue to attend these conferences to network with churches and people in the Tri-State district so that we can work together in fighting this incredible evil.

           The DBA of the Tri-State District has officially sponsored me as I go out and speak to Wesleyan churches, mostly in the Tri-State District, or other places as I may be asked to go and conduct training seminars and do awareness events. They are specifically helping me in four areas:

1.     Financial accountability – I want to be able to show that all monies receipted are responsibly used for ministry. The Tri-State district manages mileage and expenses to show that I am not in this to make money or take advantage of the goodwill of others.

2.     Tax-free donations – If there are persons who want to donate towards expenses or fund initiatives to fight human trafficking, donations can be made to the Tri-State District, who will provide a tax donation receipt.

3.     Prayer support – My home district will be praying for me as I go out and speak in various locations.

4.     Family support – My home district will also be aware of my families needs and help take care of my parents, husband and son while I am away.

This initiative to raise awareness, educate Wesleyans and promote prevention and recovery efforts was started with World Hope and is spreading throughout the denomination. The Tri

      My plan is to charge only $50 plus actual expenses for any church or group that wants me to come and speak at an awareness event. I would charge $100 for conducting a training seminar. The actual expenses would include airfare and/or mileage, meals, lodging, and materials needed for each attendee. The fee would help cover the training materials that I have already purchased, expenses to get the training needed, and any future training and materials I would need to update my portfolio. This money could also be used to contact and advertise my services to churches and groups in our area.

            If you want more details about the specifics of the various topics I would cover when speaking or the detailed training I would conduct, I would be happy to meet and talk with any who are interested.

Frustration

Anyone frustrated? I want things done NOW. I don't want to have to wait for days, weeks, months, years, to accomplish what I think is before me. I don't want to WAIT at all. I've always been one for action, and it frustrates me to have to think through things, get approval and do the groundwork so that things take off right.
Reminds me of when a new building is constructed. They spend quite a bit of time talking about it, dreaming, designing and planning before ground breaking. Then, it is months of digging and laying foundations before you see anything that even resembles a building. Once the foundation is secure, the actual building itself feels as is if it going up quickly. That's the most exciting part for me - watching it change day by day and seeing the finishing touches go on.
Lord, help me be patient as you are wanting to build a new building in my life. I'm not even sure I've made it to ground breaking. I'm a dreamer and I want to see the building NOW. Help me to endure this part of the journey as a good foundation is essential for anything to last.

Bumps in the road

Ever had a bump in the road? I have a physical bump - a MRSA infection under my right arm a bit towards my back. It's an annoying, itching bump that I will have to visit the doctor, get treatment, take drugs and deal with for days. I had one of these on my back about 3 years ago. My husband and son have had several over the last 5 years. There's nothing we can do to completely get rid of these things. There's nothing we can do to protect ourselves 100%. We just have to learn to live with them and deal with them. Reminds me of the Apostle Paul's "thorn in the flesh." I've copied the text from 2 Corinthians below. Lord - help me to remember that these bumps in the road are only there to help me remember to rely and you and remind me how powerful you are.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 says, ". . . in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But 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. ¹⁰ That 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."