My Guy

I know a day late and a dollar short, but never too late to just mention if you didn’t already know how blessed I am to call this man my husband. Soon we will mark 15 years of marriage. I will probably forget as usual (thank you to Kimberly D Duplantis though for always reminding me) yet I never forget his birthday. Like all his birthdays, we wanted this one to be special. Yet, plans to make a gumbo and blackberry dumplings were delayed by a chaotic day. Car trouble, hacked checking account, daughter with a severe nose bleed and a close call car accident into a building set off several triggers for me - one being an accident nearly 14 years ago. It brought me right back into that moment and scared me. Even then I was losing control of quite a few things not just a vehicle being veared off by an 18 wheeler towards a bayou - loss of job, loss of home all due to a storm that rocked our lives.

I thank God for Claire & my safety yesterday as God’s hands protected us from further harm in each situation. I thank God that sometimes I am not in control and that He takes care of it. Just when we start to lose control in the storm we have to release the helm and give it to Him. Release all anxiety and let His spirit fill us with peace. For He is in control - He is our captain in the storm. I am so thankful that He guided my ship to Clint Gautreaux 19 years ago. No other man can put up with my shenanigans and crazy wife moments, no other man can understand me quite the way he does, no other man can comfort and settle my heart the way this man does. I slept the best I have slept in months and all it took was me being able to lay my head on his shoulders. Thank you Lord for these reminders even in the midst of our storms, you gave me a light - heck you have given me a great, big, giant, hairy fishermen’s lighthouse to guide me to safety and for that I am so thankful. I love you bae and Happy late birthday!!!!

Dry Bones

So what do you see here:

A toaster, a coffee machine, plugged in to a gray wall with a distressed and vintage counter and items surrounding it. You would assume that these appliances are working because they are plugged in, but my outlets have been dead for some time. No current flowing through them. My uncle came and fixed that today and it really put a fire in me. As though I was the one plugged up to that outlet. I praise the Lord in the little things and this is no different. It also got me thinking about when we are plugged into dead outlets in our faith. We are all hooked up and from the look of things we look put together and appear to be working. Yet if you look deeper we are not. There is no current, no movement, no productivity and we just appear to be working. But when we plug in with the right people that we can call family and plug into the right church that we can call home we work and the fire is lit. The current of the Holy Spirit is flowing and we are working!! I don’t do this often enough, but if you are looking for that fire or looking to get plugged in with family and a home - Join me tonight at 7 or Sunday at 10 at Victory Life! If it doesn’t flow for you, I encourage you to get plugged in somewhere. The current of the spirit is powerful and it overcomes many things. #drybonescomealive

21

Really missing this guy on his special day!!! Happy 21st birthday Seth! Praying North Dakota is gentle on you! Birthdays are not just a time to celebrate, but a time to reflect. When I look back on your life I see a journey that not only am I proud of, but God is. Though not perfect, He has favored you in so many ways. He has clothed you with garments of salvation. The greatest gift you have received is grace - Amazing grace! You are loved, you are chosen, you are forgiven, you are a child of God! May his hand be over your life forever more. We love you and miss you!

Too Much Credit!

We give the devil too much credit! He's like one of those people who file bankruptcy and still comes out with a loan for a brand new house, looking squeaky clean. He might look shiny and new, but underneath it all his credit is built on topp soft and shaky ground that will eventually crumble. There is no stability in what he offers. Our God is the alpha and omega, the rock on which we stand and the loan that never stops giving. We don't give God enough credit for what He has or can do. It's time to start not only believing what God can do, believing what He hasn't done yet, but also acting as if HE HAS ALREADY DONE IT!

He is Faithful!

I often feel frustrated with what I might see or hear on Facebook or other social media outlets, yet today was different. I have had a rough month, very busy, tiresome, and overwhelming. I stopped to take a moment to rest and just peruse through Facebook and when I clicked on memories it was so wonderful to read back that on this day for the last seven years there were posts I was tagged in that lifted me and boosted me. How does it happen that on the same day every year I would be blessed by others.

It reminds me that even when we think God is not working, He is. When we think we have lost the battle, lost the fight and victory will never come - in the distance God is lining it all up. God has been faithful for the last 7 years to remind me of the part I play in other's lives. that I am special, loved and chosen. His faithfulness has always remained, it is my mind that I have let wander - to be consumed by my own self-doubt, worry and frustration. His faithfulness to me has carried me through and remains steadfast. For that today, I share with you - He is the Alpha and the Omega, your creator, your rock, your stronghold, your mercy and grace and your victory! You are special, you are loved and you were chosen! HE IS FAITHFUL!

Be the Vessel

I am a visual learner, one who needs to see things to understand them. It is as if it comes to life and sets in my soul when I see it. When I saw "My Redeemer Lives" 11 years ago, it was as if the story came to life. It made what happened so real, it brought to life the stories I had read and they set in my soul. Since then we as most of you know have called Victory Life our HOME. We as time went by have played many parts in the story, but this year is so special. Hunter is a disciple of Jesus which is so fitting - his kindness to others this year shows the great love of Jesus. Claire dances as an angel and villager in several dances which has allowed her to do the 2 things she loves most - dance and glorify God. As for me, my story is one of many ups and downs and if you knew the former me then you will understand why this is so special. I will be dancing to Alabaster Box. A few months ago, I woke up one Sunday morning reading my devotional and praying to the Lord about being filled with the fragrance of God. I wanted people to not only smell it, but see it and feel it. That morning Pastor Danny preached a message on being the broken vessel and releasing the anointing. At the end of service, I raised my arms saying I wanted to be that broken vessel. Minutes later I was asked to dance the "Alabaster Box" dance. I have had a few set backs since and let seeds of fear and doubt be planted in my mind.

I pray you are able to come and see our story this weekend. And I say our story, because it is the story of the love God has for us all, even the broken! It is a story of redemption, joy and love that surpasses all understanding. You will never understand how great His love is until Jesus is enough.

Placement

I'm always in awe of who and what God places in my path. Sometimes I fight it, as if I know better. Yet, God sticks with me, even in my stubbornness. He is a faithful God, a loving God and the one true God! I didn't get many pictures, because I really soaked deeply in what God was showing me. But I am so grateful for God placing these ladies where I needed them when I needed them. He heard my heart's cry and knew I needed to be assured of many things.

What a powerful weekend! #allbelieversstruggle #speakasthoughtheywere #heistheagenda #riseandset #removethesplinters