Devotions of a High Heeled Warrior

  I woke up on Saturday extremely sore. If I were an exercise guru, then this would make sense. However, I haven't set foot in my gym in quite some time. I wasn't doing construction on my kid's homes. I had actually spent a relaxing evening in the previous night, so what was wrong with me? My legs ached as though I had run a 5K race. My first thought was maybe I was having symptoms of a bigger issue- low iron, vitamin difficiency, or low potassium. Even though the siren of online medical advice called, I declined. The temptation to think the worst was great, but I reminded myself of a women's retreat where I shared about the power of our words and thoughts.                         2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. It is so easy to believe the negative thoughts that ...

  Have you ever been roped into situations you had no interest in doing? As an introvert, almost anything social involves me being coerced. My husband is not like this. If someone suggests something, he is all in for an adventure. His latest adventure happened last night. He is starting a new position as a dean of students at a small school. Part of his initiation into this position was participating in a school FFA fundraiser rodeo. Originally, they wanted him to ride a bull. I reminded him that he was over 50, had never ridden a bull, and recovers much slower than years ago. They decided he and some of the administration should compete in a calf-dressing competition. What they didn't realize was what they thought was the 200 lb calf was actually a 600 lb yearling. That meant the calf was really big and angry. My husband walked away from the event a little sore, really dirty, but unharmed. Has God ever challenged you to do something you feel completely unqualified to do? I told Go...

  My husband and I are celebrating 29 years of marriage today. We have been through many things over the years. We've cried together at injustice. We've clung to each other as we prayed for God to heal our daughter and protect her through brain surgery. We've laughed  through absurdities. And We've forgiven through hurt and betrayal. Ultimately, we don't just agree to stay together. We choose to stay together. I think of the show, The Bachelor . Of all the options available, the bachelor chooses one woman to begin a commitment. Of all the options available to us, we chose each other to begin a commitment. If you look at commitment in the Bible, commitment was an absolute, wholehearted dedication to obedience to God. It involved sacrifice, denying selfish desires, enduring hardship, and love through action. Luke 9:23 ESV And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Taking up a cross, for Jesus, m...