Following Directions

"You have arrived at your destination."

My car's GPS system announced I was at the address I had entered, a large hotel in North Carolina where I was attending my first writer's conference in 2008. My actual surroundings differed however. I was right in the middle of a neighborhood, late at night, and very confused.

I turned around and headed to the closest convenience store to park and call the hotel for directions. They got me going, and soon I had truly arrived at my destination. It was strange, I had followed the GPS directions perfectly, but it hadn't gotten me where it stated it would.

The world often gives us directions on how to get to heaven. The world says all good people go to heaven. Or there are many ways to to get to heaven. Or even there is no heaven. If we follow the wrong directions, even when they seem as reliable as my GPS, we might end up in the wrong place...and very confused.

This week I'm going to another writers conference at that same hotel. Only this time I am not trusting my GPS. Instead, I've printed directions off of the hotel website. The hotel knows directions to the hotel, by definition. It will get me there safely.

Obviously, God knows the way to heaven. I can find accurate printed directions in the Bible. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He is the only way, regardless of what the world's GPS might say.

If you want reliable directions to heaven, don't trust the world's GPS. Go directly to the source, the Bible, to find directions right to God's door.

She Speaks 2011 - Perspective

In less than 1 week I leave to head to She Speaks Writers and Speakers conference. I am very excited. What's not to love about having all your meals cooked for you, served to you, dishes cleared and washed by someone else? Your bed made (by someone else) every morning and the bathroom cleaned every day! As a housewife, this is a close to heaven as it gets on earth!

Then there is the camaraderie of being with 649 other Christian women praising God and having daily worship. Wow.

Then there is the education, learning how to be a better speaker and writer, how to be a brighter light for the Lord.

It's ironic, usually I would be so nervous and freaked out about going. I have to give 2 talks while I'm there, a 3 minute testimony and a 5 minute teaching talk, which will be reviewed and judged by my peers and a professional speaker. While that's nerve-wracking, I am completely peaceful.

After the loss my family has experienced in the past few weeks, I realize that what I'm about to experience is small in the big picture of life. It is certainly not something to worry about. It is something to enjoy and rejoice about. What a great perspective to take with me.

Are you going to She Speaks? Let me know, I'd love to connect with you.

Is God Enough?

In the past couple of weeks, my family experienced a terrible tragedy; a six-month old infant died, and the family was left shocked, saddened and confused.

At a time like this, you are left wondering why. Why would God allow such a terrible thing to happen to someone so young? Where was God? And is God the same "good" God he was before?

To find out the answer, join me over at Titus 2 in Action, by clicking this link:
http://titus2inaction.blogspot.com/2011/07/is-god-enough.html

Don't Look Back

I was recently riding in the car as a passenger in the front seat. I sat sideways and chatted with the people in the back seat. After a few minutes, however, I became quite nauseous. I think I was car sick. I turned back around and looked out the front window, and my stomach settled. I tried to look back again to chat, but found that looking back made me sick again. I had to keep looking forward to feel better.

Often in our lives we have done things that cause us pain and regret. Whether those things are accidental or not, continuing to look back can make us sick. To feel better, we have to keep looking ahead.

That's not to say you never glance back. Glancing back in the car enables you to change lanes and travel safely, so you don't hit anyone else. Glancing back to glean wisdom from your past mistakes, to come to terms with them is a good thing. As long as you are just glancing back and not looking back.

Look forward. Or better yet, look up. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Just don't look back. It will make you sick.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1,2

I'm NOT okay.

Up until this point in my life, if anyone asked me, "Are you okay?" the answer would be a resounding "YES!"

Kelly, your mom tried to kill herself again. Are you okay? YES!
Kelly, a family member has been hospitalized. Are you okay? YES!
Kelly, {insert any situation here}. Are you okay? YES!

The answer was always, "YES, I'm okay," because to not be okay would be less than perfect. I had to have perfect faith, and be perfect, and act perfect, and be perfectly okay.

But this week something has shaken me to my core. The tragic death of a young infant in my extended family. It was an accidental death, and the family has huge grief. And while we all know Jesus and love him, the pain is overwhelming.

And so I need you to know 2 things.

1. I am not trying to be perfect anymore. I am just me. *and*
2. I am definitely NOT okay.

The World is Looking for Leaders

The world is looking for leaders. That was the message at church last Sunday. My skit debuted. The actors and director did an excellent job of bringing my thoughts to life. Thoughts that no matter who you are you have moments that you feel overwhelmed, and that no one understands. Thoughts that everyone needs a mentor, advisor, coach, leader or friend.

We can all be that person to someone. With the help of God, we can all help lead someone else. Whose life can you change today, by being that person of influence for them?

Here is the link to the skit if you'd like to watch: Looking for Leaders.

Fearless

I've been gardening lately...much to the surprise of my family and friends. You see, I am not an outdoorsy girl. I don't like outside. It is hot. And buggy. And there is wildlife, and I don't like wildlife. I don't like snakes, and truth be told, I'm not a fan of birds either. Birds on the other hand, love me. I'm like Snow White. I go outside, and birds flock to me, much to my fear.

Fear. I'm discovering that I've been living in fear. Fear of failing, messing up, getting hurt, getting scared, whatever. So I don't try new things. Because I don't want to risk not being perfect. But writing has helped me become fearless.

To write means to risk rejection. Well, more accurately, to submit your writing means to risk rejection. But to seek publication, one must submit. And I'm getting acceptance! Yes, rejections come too. But the funny thing is, they don't hurt so much. So I don't fear them anymore.

The gardening? The first week I saw 6 snakes! Literally I haven't seen a snake in years, and SIX?? Was that the devil saying "get back in the house!" I don't know, but I kept "digging." I've also had 3 ticks. But I'm fearless.

And yes, the stupid voles have eaten some of what I've planted. But so what! I'll keep digging. Because the end result doesn't have to be perfect. The important thing is I'm doing it.

The only thing that's been holding me back is me. And I'm letting me go. And I'm trusting God. And I'm fearless.