Devotions of a High Heeled Warrior

  My husband preached a really sermon this morning about thankfulness and living a life that blesses others. He asked a question that challenged me, and I hope challenges you. "Has something you've done been the answer to someone's prayer?" If we live a life of gratitude to God, then we recognize that every breath we breathe was given by Him. In that gratitude, we make the most of those breaths by pouring into those around us and loving as Christ loves us. As we enter Thanksgiving and Christmas, you have the opportunity to be the answer to others prayers, whether it's showing kindness and a smile to a cashier, leaving a good tip for a worn-out waitress, or providing a meal to the hungry . Is there a neighbor alone for Thanksgiving that could use friendship and a good meal? Is there a young family that could use some help for Christmas? Or is there an elderly person or friend who will be experiencing loss or loneliness for the holidays? Ask God to show you how yo...

  I believe in the power of prayer. Over the years, I've seen God answer prayers faithfully.   Before meeting my husband, I prayed that God would bring the right person into my life. At one point, I told my mother God would need to drop the guy he had for me in my lap because I was waiting for God to move. A few days later, while attending a conference, this guy shows up late and the only place to sit was on the floor next to me. And, you guessed it, he lost his balance and fell in my lap while trying to sit on the floor. Two years later, we married. I watched God provide a place to live. As young missionaries, my husband and I felt God moving us to a mission's position in another state. The location had no place for us to live yet, and we were giving up our jobs, so we were moving with no income or place to live. We prayed that God would provide and loaded the moving truck. The day before the move a person called saying they felt like God wanted him to let us stay at a house...

  Yes, I've entered the years I've heard spoken about by many who have come before me- the perimenopausal years. This year, I turn (enter year her) years old. Actually, it's the big fifty. I can still remember my mother turning fifty. It's just hard to get my mind around the fact that I'm now my mother's age. As I turn the big 50, I also face hot flashes from down below, and I'm not talking Australia. At church, my congregation has started BYOB (bring your own blanket) just to handle the Artic cold after I've crossed paths with the thermostat. I thought I would be kind today and leave the air conditioner alone, only to leave the stage soaked with sweat. I now carry a fan with me on stage and behind the scenes. People know that I'm either channeling a Victorian mindset or suffering a hot flash. It doesn't matter what the temperature is around me. When I'm hot, it's an internal thing. It's not regulated by my environment. What if our f...

  As we've finished up Pastor Appreciation Month, I wanted to say thank you to our amazing congregation. Being a pastor is hard, but a good congregation can make the pastor life worth it. Many congregations have honored pastors all over the country, but I want to give a shout out to all the pastor's families behind the scenes. They are the support team that aren't always noticed. Here's a few things that let you know you might be a pastor's family if... You might be a pastor's family if you're the first to arrive and the last to leave the church. You might be a pastor's family if you have at least one phone call during every vacation. You might be a pastor's family if you know all the good hiding places in the church. You might be a pastor's family if you can estimate exactly how many food dishes need to arrive to feed a potluck, or perform an episode of Chopped at the last minute to feed the unexpected masses. I've seen my children vacuum...