Coffffeeeeee!

       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.
                                              Isaiah 40:10 




     There was a time when I didn't put all my hope and trust into the Lord. In fact      I did knew him, but I did not know of him. I was living my life for myself and when a crisis came I would fall apart, because I did not have God in my life to help carry me through the tough times.  I was working non stop to succeed in a career that would benefit my family.What I found out by not being there for my kids I was losing them.  I was not being the mom God called me to be.  They say that in a blink of an eye a person can lose everything.  That is what happened to me.  One day I was on top of the world and then by the evening of that day I had lost everything except my kids.  I still had my job, but I quickly found out that my kids were more important.  It was the beginning of a journey for me that I had no idea how it was going to end.  Then God stepped in and made a way for me to get to know him better.    A close friend introduced me to something wonderful.  This wonderful thing had a name, Jesus.  Jesus gave my life back to me, but in a way I had never lived it before.  A life filled with a sense of purpose, a life filled with a desire to be the best mom I could be, and a life filled with hope.  I can remember one morning I got up to spend time in his word and in prayer.  I went into the kitchen to make some coffee. As I reached my hand towards the cupboard to get the coffee down. A still small voice spoke to me, "I will be your coffee".  I paused and reached my hand towards the coffee again, then the voice repeated itself, "I will be your coffee".  When I realized what was happening I turned around and went into the living room picked up my bible and sat down.  I can honestly say the time I spent with the Lord that day is probably one of the best. I didn't make coffee on that day nor did I stop and get some on the way to work.  Jesus had filled me with such love and peace I didn't need my daily coffee.  I had an energetic faith filled day and I was thankful that Jesus loved me enough to show me his strength that he had for me.  I still have my struggles to get up for prayer and devotions, but I know with God's strength it can happen.  God is waiting to do the same for you all you need to do is ask.
                                                                   ``~Missie 

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  Matthew 7:7

"What Do Miracles Look Like?"

By Stephanie Nelson

Miracles are often wrapped in packages labeled “tragedy,” and miracles aren't always the shape and size we think they should be.  Sometimes the miracle we receive from the Lord looks completely different – dare I say, opposite – from the one we are praying for.

My husband and I lost our baby girl to Congenital Heart Disease four years ago.  We decided to step out on the water and beg the Lord for a miraculous healing.  At that time I would have shunned the idea that the opposite of what I was praying for was the miracle. 

But there are many things about Christianity that are opposite of natural reasoning:

Wounds that bring healing.

Losing everything in order to gain something.

Death that brings life.

Being last in order to be first.

This same natural reasoning presses us to seek the safe and comfortable on a day to day basis.  When the trials of life blindside us, we often get so lost in the fury of the situation that we never stop to consider the beauty of God’s opposites. 

The blood He shed on the cross heals my sin-sick heart.

He lost His life so that I could gain eternity.

His gory death brings me new life in every situation.

The last thing He thought of was his own comfort; He first thought of the redemption of my soul.

This God of Heaven and Earth came to seek and save the lost..

It is a miracle. 

Before I lost Evelyn, I was scared to die because I imagined Heaven to be one big fluffy cloud that I would sit on while playing a harp (in a diaper, no less!)  I mean, come on, that might be better than the fiery pit of hell, but not much better! 

I learned that eternity isn’t for chubby cherubs and cotton-candy clouds, it is for people!  I had to lose Evelyn in order to gain a longing for eternity.  I realize that isn’t very spiritual of me, after all I should long for eternity just to be with Christ (which I do!) But it is very motivating to know that I have a daughter there that I will be reunited with some day!

I also learned that I have absolutely nothing to fear.  Seriously, when you are catapulted into your very worst fear and you are clinging to Jesus, depending on Him for comfort and the ability to think biblically, you see that everything Fear told you is a lie.  There is no despair.  Great pain?  Yes.  But not hopelessness.  All things really are possible.

Now I experience the beauty of salvation every day, wherever I can find it.

The package may have been hideous, but now that I have unwrapped my miracle, I have no regrets.

Stephanie is the wife of Chris and a stay-at-home mom to Clara and Jonathan.  (And Evelyn.)  She blogs about politics, current events, American culture and worldview topics on The Civic Arena.  You can read more at www.thecivicarena.org.  She is also releasing her first book, a memoir about her journey with Evelyn Hope.  See  You in a Breath will be available Saturday, February 23 as an e-book on both Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook for $2.99.

Our thanks goes out to Stephanie for sharing her story with us.  Our prayer that her story will bring hope and healing to many who have gone through this, to bring strength to those who are entering this season of life.  ~Missie

O my Strength to you I sing praises, 

for you, O God, are my refuge,

the God who shows me unfailing 

love.                                                                                                                                                        Psalm 59:17

                                                                                  

 Photo Credit:  Kelsey Ebeling at Divine Design

Getting to know us...

     Residing in Meridian, Idaho with my four children Quigan, Talyn, Amyah, and Aunaka and serving the developmentally disabled population has given me a heart for people. It's my passion for women to see themselves as God created them. I hold onto Luke 1:45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord and all the promises it holds for my daily walk.

~Jennifer




 He has showed you, O man, what is good
and what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly, and to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God
                                         Micah 6:8


This verse really speaks my passion on what God wants for me.  My heart is to encourage and uplift women to serve God in their lives.  I am enrolled at College of Western Idaho working towards getting my Bachelor of Science in  Nursing.  I  live in Meridian, Idaho and I have four children named J.J, Melanie, Jacob and Corry.

~Missie

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

     It was her 18th birthday and she was homeless, an alcoholic, and just came from a visit with the son she would soon lose custody of,  when something started stirring inside her.   Jeremiah 31:3 I have loved you with an everlasting love I have drawn you with loving kindness. As she hitch-hiked to the next town where she had been sleeping under bridges and already attempted ending it all twice before.  John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  She was there again, she'd had enough, and was desperate for relief, Psalms 62:5 Find rest o my soul in God alone my hope comes from Him. She cried out to an unknown God, Psalm 61:1 Hear my cry O God, listen to my prayer. "If you're really real, and I can know you, and you can get me off these streets...Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
...send a man who knows you personally! The next car was a blue 280 Z with a man inside who had a light about him, Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation. He introduced her to Jesus,
 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation the old is gone, the new has come. and his parents where she stayed for the next six months where she began her road to hope and healing. 1 Corinthians 15:19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ. 

     This story is about my mom all those years ago- since giving her life to Him has continued to persevere through life and all it's ups and downs all the while WALKING WITH HIM.

LOVE: John 3:16 For God so loved the world He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

SIN: Romans 3:23a For all have sinned.

ONLY WAY: John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

CONFESS: 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

INVITE: Revelation 3:20 Behold I stand at the door and knock, If anyone hears My voice, and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me. 

~Jennifer