God is good all the time ~ Even when things don't quite turn out

source French Press Mornings.

You've heard it a million times, God is good.

But is God good when things don't quite turn out?

When the test results aren't what you hoped for? 

When the pregnancy test says "not pregnant" for what seems like the thousandth time.

When the man you love walks out the door not to return.

When the lights are out and there isn't a nickel to pay the bill....

Is God good then? 

Recently two very different situations have unfolded around me.

In one God answered the prayers of His children just as they so desired. 

We prayed a prayer of thanks and praise and wiped tears and smiled with our hearts.

We even uttered "God is good"... Because He is, and things turned out just right, in our eyes.

But then there is another situation where God didn't answer like we prayed. 

He didn't move in the way we sought and in the way on this side of heaven in our earthly perspective seemed so perfect and so right and just so darn logical. He didn't. He answered in a very different way. 

But you know what? 

God is still good. 

We are even still uttering, God is still good.

He still loves, He hasn't forsaken, and He is still bigger. 

As I grow and learn and seek Him one thing I am finding is that we don't see as He sees.

His perspective is so much grander, it is so much broader. 

Right now we rejoice in prayers answered and we say thanks for blessings and healing. 

But we also say thank you for prayers unanswered, even though it may be more difficult to utter those prayers, because we have this confidence that 

He promises us in Colossians 2:9

"God lives fully in Christ. And you are fully grown because you belong to Christ, 

who is over every power and authority"

So that situation that didn't turn out well, He is over that. He is over you and me too. 

He promises He won't ever leave or forsake us. 

In a strange way there is also a small bit of excitement, the silver lining, so to speak, 

around the disappointment and frustration... and that is, God is up to something. 

And when God is up to something we better be ready to be blessed, and blown away, and amazed.

He does big things when we allow Him the room to move in our lives. 

It's going to be interesting to see how this all unfolds. 

So yes, God is still good, even when things don't quite turn out. 

He is for us, He desires what is best for us, even when we may not fully understand.
He works all things together for our good and He promises to give us what we need. 

Clinging to those promises, in the good and in the bad, in the things we may not understand

~ God is good ~

How is He moving in your life right now? 

Friday Faves ~ The Pearl Event

You've heard me say it a million times over, but I must say it again. It was amazing y'all. 

Today Sweet Sibi has a post dedicated to this event... and it brought me right back to this Friday in May.

Sibi is a talented writer and she pours her heart into her latest post about this day... about her Father, our Father and His heart for His women. See, Sibi and I we love women's ministry, we love seeing women come to know true healing in Him. Discovering who they truly are, a daughter of the Most High King.

Please go visit her today, read her post.... you will be so blessed. 

What Courage Looks Like

Happy weekend friends!

The Pearl Event ~ The Triple Strand ~

These women are amazing. 

Cherish, Sibi, and ChaCha... they are too cute. Too cute for words.

Their hearts are huge and God is doing awesome things in and through these women. 

Their stories of grace, redemption, forgiveness and identity are precious. 

Their pieces have been made whole in His lavish grace, which is my hearts desire.

Seeing women made whole in Him. 

There are no words big enough for this event. No words.

I will try and wrap words around this event but know it is so much bigger, so much more special. 

The Pearl Event is such a special event for women and if you have been before you understand.

If you have not been before, pray about attending next year.

One thing I can say with certainty is this was God's show.
We all just sat back and watched Him show up.
He orchestrated every last detail and oh my stars did He blow us away.
He blew me away.
It truly is amazing when you sit back and give Him the space to move using you as a tool in His huge scheme what He is able to accomplish. It will never cease to amaze me and it always brings me to tears.



This precious girl front and center was our worship leader, together with her band they led us in worship...
preparing Him room to move and work and heal and love.
Her name is Michaela McLaird
She has a fabulous new CD out called The Morning Sun. Available through the link above via itunes.
Y'all she has such a unique yet powerful and rich voice.



Yours truly had Session 1
All I can say is that there was such healing in sharing my story. Which really isn't even my story, it is His story, His story of what He has done in my life and His faithfulness to me.



Session 2 was led by the lovely Cha Cha ~ of The Heartfelt Home.
God has moved in her life in such a big way.
Those of you who follow her blog know some of her story but getting to know her over that weekend...
really hearing her pour out her journey of being emptied and then filled by Him.
Such hope, such promise... and there is so much in store for this lady.
He is using her in big ways in her home church in ways she never saw for herself... But God.
Just look at what He is doing!



Session 3 was led by the precious Cherish Pinson of Southern Soulmates.
Y'all this girl is a doll! Love her to pieces.
She walks with grace, beauty and such courage.
Her story is one of heartache but it ends with such redemption in Him.
It is a true testimony of healing, grace deeper than the sea and love that covers all.
To hear her speak brought me to pieces. I was a wreck.... What He has done in her life is so powerful.
She was such an encouragement to me....  there are just no words! No Words.



Our Sweet Sibi wrapped up the day with Session 4 and our HeartWork.
Her blog can be found here. 
If you don't follow, do yourself a favor and become a Pearl Girl! You will be blessed.
Y'all hers is a path full of challenge... Things that were meant to destruct and harm and to ultimately keep her from her Savior, from an intimate relationship with her Father....But God, as Sibi always says, But God.
Sibi's "But God" is amazing, there is no other explanation that it's all Him.
She is true woman of faith, prayer warrior and daughter of the King.
She seeks Him with all her heart and mind and obeys Him even when it doesn't make sense...
She trusts whole heartedly and He uses her willing spirit for His glory and drawing women unto Him.
Sibi has been such a kind friend to me over the years and I am so grateful for her life.
I am so grateful that she says yes to God and and shares the pieces of her story offering hope when
the world is crashing down on us.... she walks her faith and lives her love of Him.
Thank you sweet girl for putting this all together. For saying yes to Him, for listening to Him speak in the midnight hour... for sacrificing, for loving, for every detail down to the last pearl.
and as Rachel always says, "You are loved"



The infamous pearls....


Sibi and her graphic designer did such a fabulous job on the programs. Gorgeous...



If you have been to a Pearl Event you have seen this video... It brings me to tears every time.



You know I love this one with Love Being a Nonny, she's so stinking cute!

at the end we got to love on these women and hug their necks and adorn them with pearls like the princesses they are... and it blessed me beyond words. Aren't they precious?



Wish I had a better shot of the room... so gorgeous. What a setting!



The Green Room for the Speakers and their Hubbies.
Spent a few quiet minutes in here with my sweet guy before the day started and he spoke truth over me that I will never forget. It's written on on the walls of my heart....



The Gardens at the Entrance, these roses are to die for.
My Sweet friend Cherish told me what they were... and now I forget... but I want them in my yard.

 I mean really, look at these babies! That is beauty. God has such an amazing creative side.



If you have never been to a Pearl Event, when Sibi holds one again you can be sure I will post it all over this blog to let y'all know!!! But go. This is something you can't miss. Grab your momma, sister, cousins and friends, load up that car and head on over. Sibi will welcome you with a big ole hug a squeal and a laugh.
You will be blessed beyond belief.

friday faves

right now i am working on a post that will attempt to capture the pearl event, the triple strand.

however, life is happening right now and i can't give that post the attention it truly deserves. 

this weekend sweet friends, it will get done. honestly, i can't wait to share! 

in the mean time i do have a few friday fave pictures i just have to share.

this is thursday night, sibi took us to chuy's

this was new to my hubby and we and wow! 

it was amazing. loved this spot.

we snapped a quick picture after dinner. 

cherish, myself, sibi and cha cha

amanda pilkinton was my ticket giveaway winner,

however, miss amanda went and had herself a baby right before the event! 

so she treated her sweet momma and sister to the tickets.

girls, these ladies are precious! aren't they cute?

miss amanda, i sure did miss meeting you but i do hope our paths cross soon! 

enjoy that sweet baby and congratulations on such a sweet blessing!

the pearls! what else can i say? ofcourse it is on friday faves, they are pearls

you can never ever have enough.

you dont even want to know how many pieces of jewelry i had on that day that were pearls.

i had a license to wear it all, and wear it all i did! 

loved every minute and i might start doing it more often!

the programs were gorgeous, sibi has such an eye for these things. love her style! 

and this just sums it up girls, lots of hugging and squeeling and this my friends is the lovely woman behind Love Being a Nonny, Do you follow her? if not click on the link, hop on over and subscribe. I have read her for a while and it was such a pleasure meeting her. If we lived closer we'd hang out! She is a doll! 

some of the sweet women getting ready to start the afternoon sessions

and pink peonies, there were many of them and i just adore them...

peonies and pearls, really? does it get any better?

girls there is just so so much i want to share, and share i will.

enjoy this little sneek peek and be sure to come back next week for more on the pearl event. 

lots of love

simple sentiments

you are enough

I have learned a lot about hospitality over the last few years.

Since getting married and hosting a myriad of holiday dinners,

 birthday parties, family BBQ’s and more!

I have learned exactly how much food to plan for 6 people or 50.

I have learned where to find the best prices on meat, flowers and invitations.

I have learned how to time it all just right so the food stays warm and the drinks cold.

As a new wife and mother, I admit, these were the things

 I thought were so important to having the perfect soirée. How foolish!

It was imperative that the napkins matched the plates and the flowers just the right hue.

Then it all changed.

Then I one day realized, it didn’t matter.

It doesn’t matter.

Yes all the trappings of a lovely party sure are wonderful for the eye.

There is a little shop in town that sells the latest Caspari’ products and I would be lying if I didn’t say I swoon over them every time I am in there or that I don’t buy them either!

I do, I love them.

Spoiling my friends and family in our home, well, that is my husband and I’s love language. 

We love, love, love, to have our home full of people we adore.

But what I came to realize is that there were times I would not host because the house wasn’t clean enough, or I didn’t have the time to make it all “just so”.

I came to realize the insanity of that mentality.

The people we were hosting loved us and enjoyed us just as much as we did them.

They weren’t coming to sample my latest pinterest appetizer 

or feast their eyes on the décor of the theme.

It was the connection we all wanted.

How often as women do we hesitate to extend our love, our hearts and our homes through hospitality because we feel we just aren’t going to measure up?

How many blessings have we denied ourselves because of that way of thinking?

How many blessings have we withheld from others?

For me, the number is higher than I would like to admit.

The measuring stick we all use is different.

For some of us the measuring stick is the latest edition of Coastal Living or Southern Living. Our family rooms and kitchens have avocado green laminate counter tops and dark brown cabinets and 70’s lighting instead of the crisp clean white cabinetry and granite counter tops gracing the glossy pages of the magazine. So we don’t extend the invitation.

How do I know? Ahem…

Or maybe your measuring stick is your best friends remodel

 or the figment of perfection you have created in your mind.

The message is the same sweet friends.

You are being lied to.

You don’t measure up.

You aren’t enough.

What will “they” think?

When this happens I want to encourage you.

Stop.

Stop, right where you are in that thought and 

think about the last time you had a wonderful time at a friends home.

What do you remember the most?

Do you remember what you ate?

Maybe.

Do you remember if her dog’s hair was balled up in the corner 

or if her sink had the mornings toothpaste still in the sink?

No. Likely not.

What you do remember is “who” was there.

What you remember is “how” you felt.

The special people around the table, the laughter, and the hug good bye

 and the “y’all come back now” as you went to leave.

Guess what?

That is what they will remember too.

They will forget if they ate on paper or china.

They will forget if they had pizza or filet and lobster.

But they will never forget their time with you and the way you made them feel.

As time has passed I’ve eased up on myself and my expectations.

I’ve forgone the real plates more often and picked up the Dixie plates.

I’ve been more comfortable accepting my guests offer to bring a dessert.

You know what happened?

I spent more time on the important things.

I spent more time reminiscing with a girlfriend over a glass of wine.

I spent more time watching the kids jump in the bounce house their stomachs aching from the laughter or play a game of tag with their friends well into the dusk night hours.

I spent more time loving on and leaning into the folks who walked through my door.

At the end of the night I was tired and my feet ached but my heart was so full.

One of God’s greatest blessings can come through hospitality.

Showing our love, His love, through such a practical demonstration of service.

Those friends who don’t know Him but love you….

Maybe they will get a glimpse of his unconditional love and grace through you.

Maybe it will open a door to a life time of freedom in Him

they would have not otherwise known.

The funny thing is,  the hospitality that we extend to love on and bless others is so much more than a meal to feed their bellies, it refreshes their spirit… and ours too.

Fellowship with others through service is such a precious gift.

Don’t let the enemy fool you into thinking you aren’t enough.

He is always trying to find a way to stop us from showing God’s love to the world.

Hospitality can be such a practical and hands on way to show those around us God’s love.

Don’t believe that voice that says “you aren’t enough”

You are enough.

All you need to do is open your heart and home to those around you.

They will remember your generosity and kindness for years to come.

You are enough. Your home is enough.

When He is a part of you and your home, it is always enough

made strong

how often do we tell ourselves, our kids or our friends, just be tough, be strong. 

we encourage them with words and though well meaning 

i believe we are leaving something out. 

something so powerful that can not afford to not be uttered from our lips.

yes we do want those around us to be strong when the waters rise.

lord knows i have been there more times than i can count.

too weary to take another step, life reduced to a breath,

 and being strong, well it was at times such a heavy load to bear.

 it was the hardest thing i had ever done until i realized

on my own i was weak.

on my own i was powerless.

on my own i am just a piece of flesh going through the motions.

but in Him.

in Him i am strong.

in Him i am powerful.

in Him i have life.

we are not meant to go through this life alone.

i believe that is why it is so hard.

we are designed to need Him.

we are designed to crave and desire something more. 

when we figure this out, we are free!

we are free to live because He carries those burdens for us.

this is also why community is so important.

a community of believers.

other women that can help you lighten that load by praying for you, 

encouraging you daily to spend time in His words and speaking words of life giving affirmation from His word when you just can't take one more step.

this week i am really spending some time meditating on this verse

from 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

" ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

He has called me to press into this and really examine what this looks like.

in doing this He is showing me and guiding some of my next steps.

as you know i am preparing for the Pearl Event III.

i am preparing to share with His daughters His message.

you see, i am mess. 

but in Him and through Him great and mighty miracles have occured. 

to not share how my weakness was made whole in His goodness 

well i just couldn't live with that.

i just can't help but want to share!

He is so good and so faithful 

despite me being the person i am.

alone, i am nothing. but in Him, i have life.

sweet, sweet friends, i urge you tonight, if you are feeling less than,

if you are feeling inadequate, like you have nothing but weakness in your bones...

run, run to the well spring of life.

run to source of all strength and all life.

He will meet you there.

He promises that.

there is nothing, nothing that can separate you, His daughter, His beloved, from Him.

He is just watching, waiting patiently for you to ask.

seek His face and His strength will supply all your need.

He has done it for me. He will do it for you.

friends, "His power is made perfect in weakness"

jennie allen study continued - sad

source unknown (if you know do share so I can give credit) 

this week we have been studying chapter 6 in jennie allen's study, stuck.

our chapter was titled sad. 

after 2 tragic deaths in our circle of friends this past week, honestly it wasn't a chapter i was eager to jump into. we've had our share of "sad" and reality in these parts.

the past day or so i was really in quite the rut and emotionally just kinda wiped. 

the holidays and then the cold hard reality that we are never promised one more day was making me a little weary and cranky. have you been there? please say yes?

tonight with an ache in my spirit i sat down with my study materials, a candle and my tea and set out to conquer what jennie had to share... and my Heavenly Father had for me in his word. 

my heart still aches for the pains of this world but there is a new peace. 

we start with this promise from our Father

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the Glory that will be revealed in us"

romans 8:18

how's that for a promise? 

how's that for, "hey I got this, love God"

i read this over and over and over letting it be written across my heart and soul. 

i want to shout this promise, revel in it's goodness.

these sufferings, this "stuff", all this world has to throw at me and at you, 

it is not even worth comparing with the Glory that will be revealed in us!

that is such exciting news.

this is so exciting to me because my God, my Heavenly Father, when He creates He creates big and bold and beautiful ~ for goodness sakes we are told that when breathes stars were spoke

psalm 33:6 says "the Lord merely spoke and the heavens were created. 

He breathed the word and all the stars were born". 

that there my friends, that is my God. 

so if when he merely breathes a word our vast heavens with the sparkling stars in all their glory were created... can you even imagine, can you even consider, because I can't fathom it, what the Glory will be revealed in us when He intentionally creates that Glory? 

be still my heart.

in awe.

we are sad because we live in a fallen world. 

there is sin, and yuck and sadness.

when we focus on the things of this world, we come up sad and depressed every time. 

but what would happen if we focused on the things that were unseen? 

in 2 corinthians 4:18 we are charged "dont look at the troubles we can see now, 

rather we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. 

For the things we see now will soon be gone but the things we cannot see will last forever."

what if we did just that? 

what if you and i took our focus off what is seen and switched our view to the things we can't?

what would happen?

you know perspective is a powerful tool...

when i think about how awesome my God is, it is so often coupled with what a sinner i am and how awesome is He that he would even find favor me? how magnificent is it that He would call me His child?

my perspective is affected as i know i don't deserve the greatness and goodness that is all He is. 

my heart is overwhelmed time and time again that the God of the universe would call me unto Himself. 

what if i changed my perspective as i viewed the lens of my life?

would there still be sadness? yes i know there will be...

but what if i lived my life with the knowledge that no weapon formed against me will remain.

God is my victory, He is here and He is doing a great work in me.

this pursuit of happiness we're all on, i don't think it's bad.

it's wonderful!

our God made this planet with some of the most extraordinary creations my feeble mind can barely fathom.

we should experience all those things, we are created to feel love, enjoy relationships with others and community within our families and friends. those are some of lifes greatest blessings.

but what if in the midst of all of that we also focused on the things that were unseen? 

what would happen?

a few years ago i was faced with some tough mountains.

God got my attention in some pretty real ways.

what i learned is that happiness, true happiness, isn't in anything i can see.

what i learned is that what i desire is joy.

happiness we all experience, a baby playing peek a boo, a surprise party with friends.

those are happy times.

but joy, true joy, is choosing to be joyful even when the world around me may be falling down.

every day, every day i have found something to be grateful for.

there have been days, hours honestly when being grateful was reduced down to a single breath my son took.

each time his chest rose and fell in an hour, no matter what else was happening inside him made me grateful because it was one more hour i could behold his sweet little face, touch his tissue paper thin skin....

the best definition i have ever read is credited to the "gitzen girl" who sadly passed away in Sept of 2011.

but sara, the girl behind the blog was such an inspiration... and in her blog she defines what she believes is joy... and i have to share:

Joy: the unwavering trust that God knows what He’s doing and has blessed me with the opportunity to be a part of it… not despite what’s happening in my life but because of it. When everything earthly feels heavy He gives me an internal lightness that can’t be touched.

if you have never been to her site, please take some time, get to know her, and i promise in getting to know her, you will see Him. 

How do you define joy?