Seasons IV

 January 1, 2012, Thomas preached at my parents home church. His text was Mark 4, Jesus calming the storm. The disciples had some questions. "Where's Jesus?" "Don't you care?"  We may ask the same questions in our boat of life. Yet our faith has to be in who is guiding the boat. No matter how big the storm, we can still trust the captain.

His sermon reminds me of a song I used to sing in church nearly 30 years ago. It was titled, "Master of the Wind."

My boat of life sails on a stormy sea
Ever there's a wind in my sail
But I have a friend who watches over me when the breeze turns into a gale.

I know the master of the wind. I know the maker of the rain.
He can calm the storm make the sun shine again. I know the master of the wind.

Sometimes I soar like a eagle to the sky
Among the peaks my soul can be found.
An unexpected storm may drive me from the heights
It may bring me low, but it never brings me down.

We may feel like our season of living on the rocking, fearful, wind tossed boat will never end. Martha Tennison says, "Seasons are certain, but not final." We cannot avoid them, but just because it's lasting longer than we want, doesn't mean it will never end.

In the months that followed Buck's passing, the Lord spoke so much to me about my faith. God led me to a devotion by Billy Graham that I have shared countless times in messages and one on one with friends. He talked about the Three Kinds of Faith. Quite possibly you can relate to one or more of these.

The first is struggling faith. We're alone, in the middle of the ocean, with no boat or life preserver. Arms flailing, we are struggling to keep our heads above water. We are doing our best to tread water but we don't really see or feel like we will make it. The waves of life seem stronger than any strength we could possibly have to conquer them.

Secondly, there's clinging faith. We've found the life boat, but all we have the strength to do is to fling one arm over the side of it and hang on for dear life. We have a little hope, but we are still being beaten by the waves and unsure what our outcome will be. We don't know just how long we can keep holding on.

Lastly, there is a resting faith. We're in the boat now, sitting, at peace. The waves are still trying their best, but Jesus is the captain of our life's boat and He knows how to guide us through every storm of life. In fact, we are rested enough that when another comes by, clinging to the boat, we reach done and help pull them in as well.

Let's be real. We all go through tough seasons when we struggle. I would admit I have probably camped out in the season of clinging faith the most. Yet when you know what to cling to, that's not such a bad thing. Don't beat yourself up if struggling is what you feel the most, just don't stay there.

"But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, You are my God. My times (seasons) are in your hands." - Psalms 31:14 & 15

Elisabeth & Jim Elliot

I've had several "heroes of the faith" over the years. There have been many who have spoken directly into my life face to face, yet some of the most impactful people, I have never met in person. Elizabeth Elliot is one of those people.  Her story is familiar to many. While serving in Ecuador, her husband and four other missionaries were killed by the very people they were trying to share the gospel with.

Elisabeth persevered through her grief and eventually saw the salvation of the man who took her husband's life. You can't fake that kind of love people, that only comes from Jesus. One of my favorite quotes from her is, "Faith does not eliminate questions, but it knows where to take them." True Story.

A fitting end is this song called "Worn." This may describe how you feel today, but listen to the hope in the chorus: Redemption Wins! Spoiler Alert! This is the title for next weeks blog ;)

Season III

Buck would occasionally come to the office with me and "work on his own projects." The main thing he wanted to get his hands on was my laptop. Usually, that's where I would be working and he had to be satisfied with paper and pens. Once in a while, I'd set him up to type his own "document" and boy did he feel big! He would repeatedly ask what my password was. That wasn't something I was anxious for him to know, but somehow he found out. Shortly after that (actually March 5, 2011) I found a piece of paper on my desk. I'm thinking he wrote it down so he wouldn't forget, but then decided to add the little note to me, so I wouldn't forget either. My computer password has changed many times since, but this reminder is timeless. Lord, may I never forget, I can trust You.

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His word;
Just to rest upon His promise. Just to know, " Thus saith the Lord!"
Jesus, Jesus how I trust Him! How I've proved Him o'er and o'er.
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus! Oh,  for Grace to trust Him more!
I'm so glad I learned to trust Him, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that thou art with me. Will be with me to the end!

You may have read the story, "Thankful for the Thorns". I heard it years ago and gave it little thought, but in recent years it has become more meaningful. Who would ever imagine having a bouquet of roses with no roses on them?!

A local churches reminder
to be thankful

Feel free to read the whole story, but the gist of it is simply being thankful for the" thorns", the hard places in life. Am I thankful that my son passed away? No. But, I am thankful for the comfort of the Holy Spirit and for His constant care through every season I face. I can truly say I am grateful for how I've come to know Jesus more intimately through this toughest season of life. Thomas and I believe we would not be walking through certain doors of ministry if it had not been for the specific life experiences we have gone through.

God I've thanked You so many times for the roses in my life, but today may I be thankful also for the thorns. "In every situation (no matter what the circumstances) be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMP.

I love this quote from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. "Trust and thankfulness will get you safely through this day. Trust protects you from worrying and obsessing. Thankfulness keeps you from criticizing and complaining."

Many times over the past few years I've gone back to what I know about my Jesus and His character, in relation to my situation. He is good and loves me and my family. So great is His love, that He wore a crown of thorns and died for me. I am thankful He endured His thorns so that I may have victory over mine!

Daily I am thankful for the hope of heaven! Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:19, "If we who are abiding in Christ have hoped only in this life (and this is all there is), then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied."  Every day we should wake up saying, "Today could be the day!!!"

When the time was right..., the sea parted, the walls fell down, the lions went hungry, the sun stood still, the star appeared, the waves were calmed, the stone rolled away, the Lord ascended...

And when the time is right,

THE KING of KINGS WILL RETURN!

God is never early and He's never late! He's always right on time and His plans for you are good!

Seasons II

Through every season of life, God has always been so faithful to speak His truth to me many ways. Two main avenues have been through His Word and through His servants. Often the trick for me is slowing down, taking time, and being still enough to listen! SSSHHH! "Be still and know that I am God! Psalm 46:10 Whenever I get quiet then I can hear Him more clearly. Can you relate?!

I'd like to share just a few of those times and I have to start with the compass. (If you haven't read the brief story behind it, click on the big picture of it or the title, The Story of the Compass, on the home page.)

Since finding Buck's compass, my prayer has often changed from simply, "Lord guide me", to "Lord, be my compass!" To me that's more than just asking Him to show the way, but also to correct me and keep me on His path! I feel His loving care over me as well because He will not lead me astray, if I'm listening to His voice and taking my cue from Him!

I heard a great minister relate an experience where he was asked by a non believer what it meant to be "Pentecostal". In his mind he quickly considered the many ways he could answer, but replied with just one word. "Dependent!" I agree. As Spirit filled believers we must choose to let God's Spirit take the lead. Many times we don't know what season is coming next, but He does. #trusthisvoice


April 19, 2012, God gave me three truths about my circumstances that I have gone back to many times. Most likely these had been preached before, but I had never heard them exactly like this until I wrote them in my journal that day.

1. My circumstances don't change who God is. God is still God no matter what happens in my life.
2. My circumstances don't change God's power. He hasn't suddenly become weak and unable to help.
3. My circumstances don't change the final outcome! He has already won the victory for me!

February 22, 2012, I received a phone call I'll never forget. Buck had passed 5 months before. God knew I needed a Word to hold on to.

The voice on the other end said, "Baby doll, your gonna make it!" I began to cry. Precious, powerful, life giving words from a Godly woman I greatly admired and still do.

 Rev. Martha Tennison knew what it was like to experience an unexpected, tough season, to say the least. She and her husband Don pastored a church who lost 27 members in one tragic day. It was a bus wreck that left many survivors badly burned.

When you see someone else remain faithful through great difficulties, it encourages you to do the same! She shared much scripture and prayed with me as only she can.


After my conversation with Sis. Tennison I pondered a verse that, in my opinion, has been misquoted. "...Lord you said you wouldn't put more on us than what we could bear..."

Actually the whole verse says, "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
1 Corinthians 10:13


To me this passage (and the verses around it) are talking about the subject of temptation, not trials. Truth be told, life is more than we can bear, that's why we need a Savior. He promised,

"My Grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12 :9. #graceenoughforeveryseason

June 2011, our family traveled to Springfield, Mo. for a special service. Thomas' parents were being commissioned, once again, as world missionaries. It was an exciting night!

I recall the speakers message very clearly. The title was, "Living Life Palms Up!" His example was Moses. He started out as a reluctant leader who didn't want to speak. God let Moses know that He could use him and what he had in his hand, a simple rod. Yet one day Moses position of power brought him to a moment of disobedience to God. Instead of speaking to the rock so they could have water, he struck the rock. It was as if Moses, with a clinched fist wrapped around his rod, told God, "It's my rod! I'll use it as I see fit."

The speaker said that everyday during his prayer time, he physically opens his hands palms up and prays, "Lord, everything I have You have given me. If you choose this day to take something out of my hand, I willingly give it to You!"

His challenge to us that night was to let God have control. May we never get to the place where we tell God with a clinched fist, "It's my marriage, my family, my ministry!" We must daily commit everything we are and have to God and His loving care. #fullsurrenderineveryseason

Seasons I

Buck's football at Razorback Stadium

When I was 12 years old, my parents resigned the church they had pastored for over 20 years. We prepared to move out of state to a new one.

I remember sitting on their bed crying as I didn't want to leave my friends. My dad told me something that day that has stuck with me my whole life. "Life is full of changes. If you can get past this change, there will be an even bigger one down the road.  You'll make it through that one because you made it through this!"  In my young mind, I couldn't imagine anything harder happening to me.

Dad's words of wisdom proved true. We stayed at that next church just two years and then hit the road as evangelists. For the next five years we traveled to a new town every week. Talk about changes! My whole life has been a series of continual changes and adjustments, each one has prepared me for the next! This is truly God's plan. #seasonsofchange

Shortly after the accident, the Lord began to speak to me about the seasons of life. Inevitable. Necessary. Embrace them. In the months that followed many of the messages He gave me were directly to the subject of "Seasons".

Labor Day weekend  2012,  I had the honor of speaking at our PK Retreat in Hot Springs. If you're not familiar, it's a getaway just for preachers kids.  It had been almost a year since Buck had passed. I recall at that Friday night service I held one of Buck's footballs in my hand and talked about "tough seasons". I used the Razorbacks as an illustration. LOL! Everyone understood though and we could all relate. Change is a given, we will all go through seasons in life, that's the way God planned it. Over and over in my mind I have gone back to that pivotal conversation with my dad. It has helped me to accept the new changes and challenges life has brought to me. #seasonschangeyourloveremains

The Lord gave me a very personal and literal visual of this. One evening, about seven months after the wreck, I stopped by Buck's school. This was the last place I saw him. (I am forever grateful that on that final morning together, the Lord prompted me to get out and hug Buck. Usually I just drove through the line pausing long enough for him to jump out.) There was the bush we had stood by. The branches were full of green leaves.

A few months later I went by again and it was barren looking. There were no leaves, just dry branches. That little bush has been a constant reminder to me that life is ever changing. I will have fruitful seasons that produce growth and then there will be times I feel dry and barren. Yet I know there is still life down in the roots and my season will change and bring a harvest again. Ephesians 3:17, "...let your roots down down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love!.."

I received this card in the mail the day of the accident. It was sent to me by a dear friend who is a mentor and prayer warrior. Handwritten on the inside, "God says, Stand back and see what new thing I have prepared for my servant. I challenge you to embrace change with confidence that it is all in God's plan and purpose."  Do I always understand everything that happens? Of course not. Do I believe God always has a plan? Absolutely! 
Romans 8:28, "...all things together for good!..."

The Christmas following the wreck, Jenel gave me a book. Inside she signed it and wrote, "If I could wish anything for you; That your latter would be greater than your past. The Best is still yet to come. I wish blessings and more anointing and favor than you've ever had."

Countless times after the accident, I sat in the hallway of our home listening to Lexa play her keyboard and sing, "I'm not going back. I'm moving ahead. I'm here to declare to you, that my past is over. In You, all things are made new. Surrender my life to Christ. I'm moving, moving forward!"

I must state the simple fact that, our daughters are my absolute heroes. They have displayed such resilience throughout every change they have faced! What GRACE they have walked in. Their commitment to Jesus challenges me. What a Complete Blessing they continue to be to my life!!
#redemptionrunsinthefamily

Please check out this amazing song and it's powerful lyrics.