She Stands

Photo Credit: Joanna Kosihska Here it is post Valentine's Day and though I am not a huge fan of this particular holiday, I do find a tender sweetness of it's meaning. Sometimes being single has it's downfalls and holidays are a reminder that I am indeed single. Most of the time I am quite content where I am in my journey of singleness and then there are those times in between when I wonder if I will ever share my life again with a man. I do not ponder on that thought quite often as I know my daddy God has a plan and the right man for me.  This year Valentine's day was odd for me. I was not in a place of sadness nor did I feel sorry for myself. It was not a pity party holiday for me but yet I found myself wanting to hear I am loved. And I believe my daddy God wanted to show me as well. So yesterday as I read many beautiful post from what seemed like tons of flower pictures, and candy filled "I love yous", I secretly asked myself wh...

Photo Credit: Brigitte Thom       "Love doesn't hide, it stays and fights; it goes the distance. That's why God made love so strong, to carry us home."  - Touch By An Angel.   I heard that line a few years ago. It was a cold Thursday night and I was all bundled up on my couch having myself a "Touch By An Angel" marathon. I love that show; I love the message each episode brought. However that particular line has resonated with me for the last two years. While most see love as warm fuzzy feelings, pure happiness dripping in sugar and emotions that are in a constant euphoric state, the truth is love is a choice and once the newest wears off and reality sets in, many sadly choose to no longer love the one they proclaimed to go through life with. The happy happy, joy joy syndrome is now overshadowed with bills, running in different directions with kids, family crisis and daily life circumstances.Th...

 * Photo Credit *   There is a man that shows up every few weeks at my office. He walks in with eyes wide, fearful like, hands clasped together, clothes dirty and humbly says to me without fail ....  "Ma'm I haven't eaten in a few says can you help me?"   I look past his physical appearance and into his eyes and see his desperation. My heart breaks a thousand times over and I blink the tears back that form in my eyes as I hand him a few dollars. Some days I have none to give and I scramble to find him a snack from my bag.  And then without fail I hear the snide remarks made by others and see the shaking of their heads; I witness the lack of compassion . I continue to watch from the window and see him shuffle his feet across the street and walk into the store to perhaps buy him a sandwich or maybe just a small snack in which he can save the change for tomorrows meal.  I turn to go back to my desk, the sorrow I feel is great, and the...

Love..... a word used to express  heart felt emotion; to express the importance of feelings towards something or someone. But what if I told you love is not just a feeling but a choice? Let that sink in for just a moment......... How is that even possible? Real love is when we choose to love those who are set against us; those who are set against Christ. It is easy to love those whose beliefs are ones of my own. It's even easier to love those who love me , treat me with respect and stand in agreement with me.  The difficulty comes in loving those who rage against me, speak words of destruction, and engage in behaviors that are meant to break me. I have even found it to be strenuous  when those close to me attempt to speak good in my life but yet pick apart my heart with their words not realizing the impact of pain they have now caused. And yet I choose to love. Years ago I asked the Lord to use me as a instrument of  His love and in mo...

I don't recall a time in my life where my faith has ever wavered, I trust God. I believe in Him and His promises.   However in the recent events I am finding it's not my lack of  trust that has me on my knees, it's my lack of understanding . The grief that has consumed my community and our nation is smothering the very essence of my heart. So much death..... So much violence..... So much brokenness..... Division at it's worse. As a nation we grieved for Dallas and the loss of the fallen officers. Today as a community we grieve for our own. The three hero's, Montrell Jackson , Matthew Gerald and Brad Garafola , who lost their lives in a purposely orchestrated attack. A senseless act which has now placed Baton Rouge on the map of sorrow with others across the US. And one question that screams at us all............ WHY? I do not have the answer nor will I pretend to.  I wish I did. I pray my words of comf...

 Faithful, Merciful, Powerful, Gracious, Love, Aware Of My Struggles, , Ready to Forgive, Willing to Help, and The One Who Loves Me.  I am so glad God is God and I am not. I have a hard enough time managing my own little world sometimes much less the world of others. I am an imperfect woman, who falls in this life regardless how many times I try my best to be perfect. Perfect in my choices? No as I've made my fair share of wrong ones. Perfect in showing grace to all ?  Honestly here recently that has been a struggle in my life but I am walking through it with in baby steps.  Perfect in my actions towards others who hurt me? Not really sure how that one is going, but I am striving to do better and show the unconditional love of Christ, as He always shows me.  The older I get the more I see myself trying to NOT make mistakes. I am determined with everything inside of me to be all I have been created to be, and what I am learning time and...

Worldly greatness is defined in society by our bank accounts, our job titles, our homes and in many venues our social status.  The world deems the quality of success from who we know to what we do in life.  Everyone wants to feel important at one time or another; to have a sense of accomplishment, a goal met, or a dream birthed into reality, However I am finding as I get older what true greatness has become in  my life.  I believe in growing and bettering ourselves in life. I believe in prosperity and pursuing dreams and goals. But I do not define my greatness in things acquired of this world.  I am finding my greatness in the lives of those I love and those who love me.  As a woman and a mom watching my oldest daughter accomplish her dreams with determination and dedication with the knowledge she will go farther in life than I ever have or imagined.... That is a greatness.  To be able to see my youngest daughter become a mom at a ...

Making a decision that will effect the course of life is not always easy. It can be scary filled with uncertainties, plenty of "what ifs " and the dreaded anxiety of change.     There was a time I had made a decision I believed to be good.  After several months of much consideration and many conversations I finally made the huge leap that I was moving in the right direction. The pros at that point outweighed the cons or so I thought. Everything was falling into place with ease and I had no misconceptions or second thoughts. I saw the good and was walking from a place of trust. Sadly it was misplaced trust........ When it all came crashing in on me. I can honestly say I did not see my newly foundation start to crack and crumble. I did not see the writing on the wall. I never saw the failure of my choice getting ready to explode in my face. But explode it did.( Maybe I wasn't willing to see it and probably chose to ignore the red flags.) Once it did...

This morning as I sat and drank my coffee, I watched this momma squirrel teach her baby where to go to collect their breakfast.  As she ran up and down the tree over the wooden fence, her baby followed her every foot step. Stopping when mom stopped, running when mom ran and jumping to the next spot just like mom was doing.  It was a peaceful moment in time in which my daddy God reminded me of his love and care for all his children and his love for me. I began to think back on the many times in my life his footprints  guided me down the tress, over the fences and through the rough spots in my life,  The many people he placed in my path to encourage me through my brokenness.  The love of family and friends that feed me with words of strength and healing. I began to see all the times in my life he used me to feed others even through my own struggles. When I surrender to his will, my focus shifts from my own brokenness to their...

We were notified last week that the power  at work would shut off for a couple of hours today for some new power poles and lines to be erected in the area.   When I left work last night I cut the air down  lower than normal  in the hopes once power was shut off, the office would not become a sweltering hot box.   During lunch time today I sat in the the office thankful for the bit of  sun rays shining into the lobby allowing me to see to eat my lunch. Even though it had become a little warm inside, it was bearable and not suffocating.  With our phone system down , the guys in the back  piddling for things to do to keep them occupied, I was happy for the peace and quiet that surrounded me.  No noise..... Just me and my thoughts. Normally I would be counting the seconds until power came back on.  Living in the deep south summer time is brutal. It's not just the heat that can be unbearable but the high humid...

 It's been several weeks since I've blogged here. I have had days lately when my life appears to be a three ring circus..... Some days so  full of complete chaos I have felt as though I was being torn in a million  different directions, physically and emotionally.  Others so great I just wanted to simply bask in the joy of them...... Never to move again.  Life will do that. I am finding that here recently I have many questions jogging through my mind. Actually they are more like sprinting.  As one question pops up another is surfacing. " Am I where I need to be?" Am I loving those around me like you want me to?" " Do I continue to stand in the gap for this person or is my season completed here?" " Have I shown grace where grace is needed?" "Have I extended mercy and forgiveness instead of  anger and wrath?" "Can others still see your light shinning through me when the clouds of darkness devel...

Ouch........... I have had words spit from my mouth that tasted like vinegar. I have said things out of anger..... Reacting to the actions of others...... Allowed my emotions to overtake my common sense.... And spewed and spitted words before tasting them.  Can you say anger management?? And that is exactly what my daddy God did. He put me through His anger management program. Proverbs 14:29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,      but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. I was not expecting the process he had chosen for me..... I wasn't aware of how difficult it would be..... Nor did I realize the steps He would have me take.   Instead of allowing me to get my point across, to say what was on my mind..... Share my heart.... My hurt... And my disappointment.... He had me sit still. He had me say nothing at all. I was told to zip my lips and hush my mouth!! I was frustrated..... Irritated.... And angry ...

Photo Credit I fall down...... In my words...... In my actions....... I fall down in my thoughts...... In my wants..... In my needs....... My intentions. In my relationships..... Past and present....... I fall down. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.   To read more, pop over to  Shakin' the Foundation xoxoxo Stacey

Forgive me if I ramble....... So many thoughts and emotions today. I am trying to remove my flesh from it all.... Impossible on my own,  I know. I do not like the anger and bitterness that has infiltrated my inner being..... I feel as though I have iron bars wrapped around me and try as I might, I am unable to remove them. The hurt cascades over my heart twisting and turning into every crevice like spinney barbs ripping and slashing holes for anger and bitterness to to take up residence . Then the tears come....... Watching a loved one struggle can be most heart wrenching.... Feeling their pain on top of my own....... For me it's like watching a re-run of my past, which only intensifies the hurt. I have cried out to God asking Him " Isn't my testimony enough??" "My past mistakes should be more than suffice,  right,Lord??" "Why??....Just why Lord???" Silence penetrates my cries, for I already know my answer..... ...

Many times in life we all have chosen  to "bend" at one time or another. Make exceptions..... Extend grace...... Show mercy....... Love through gritted teeth..... Keep the peace. There are times when our bending seems we are on the verge of breaking. That we have nothing left to give...... We are scrapping the bottom of our "grace" jar. Mercy has fled..... Peace has dried up.  We are pulled and tugged in many directions..... Ready to run screaming....ENOUGH ALREADY!!! This is how my week has been thus far. From one extreme to another..... As I start to throw my hands up in complete exasperation..... Ready to throw in the towel.....  HE shows up in all his glory reminding me of who I am !! His child, His daughter....... A child of the Most High God. I am  blessed beyond measure to have so many who remind me daily through all my bending I will not break!! M...

I was broken. My heart was shattered like shards of glass..... My soul cried out in pain...... My physical appearance had begun to disappear. I literally was walking through my life in a state of hopelessness. And I had no clue........... By God's grace, I had several in my life that were called to stand with me and for me. Those who encouraged and lifted me up on a daily bases. Those who held me up when all I wanted to do was lay down.... Those who would not let me quit in life.  No judgement.......... They gave me hope..... The gave me love.  The broken need hope and to have hope, they need to be loved.  They need to see there is a light in the midst of the darkness..... For others to speak into their lives with a resounding voice of victory.  When we extend love ( light), the broken begin to have hope and faith then becomes a light.  God's word tells us in  1 Corinthians 13:13 13 ...

Turning a page in a book can be exciting....... The words written leave you wanting more of the story...... You hang on to every word and then...... You turn the page.  Over the last 23 years, my pages have all been written as the story of a mom .....  My words describe my girls.... All their accomplishments..... Their steps into new seasons of life...... Their lessons learned..... Tears cried..... Smiles of joy..... My title, "Mom"........... plain and simple. I have found myself starring at this page I am to turn..... My last child is getting ready to leave the nest. And when I say leave the nest, I mean her bags are already packed, her decisions are made and there is no turning back..... ( in her mind anyways) Eighteen-itis has set it and set in hard..... I am having a hard time enjoying her last few weeks of high school..... I do not want to turn this page..... I see my baby throwing herself into the world without thin...