H2O

  • Never

    “the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you, never nor forsake you”
    Deuteronomy 31:6

    Last Monday I was teaching a Bible Study about when the Israelites left Egypt and started heading towards The Promised Land armed for battle, thinking they could take on the world.  God knew that they weren’t that strong…how worn out they were from the 400 years of bondage.  As they headed out, they were sure they could handle everything, but the first sign of trouble set them into full on panic, ready to run back to Egypt. 
    Breaking free is always a difficult thing to do, whether it’s sin, a bad habit, an unhealthy relationship or a negative workplace.  Everything in our nature screams to keep things the way they are, to stay where we know what to expect.  The Israelites were no different than us.  They left Egypt with their feet, but not with their hearts.  For a time they waffled back and forth between wanting to move forward into The Promised Land and wanting to go back to Egypt.  Instead they got stuck in the desert.  Todd’s illustration of the 3 Signposts in my book is a great visual of this cycle.
    In order to help the people go the right way, God placed a pillar of cloud in the day and a pillar of fire at night.  It never left its place in front of the people.  It was a visual reminder that God was with them. The verse above tells us how God is with us, that he never leaves us and never forsakes, rejects or abandons us. How incredible is that! God wanted us to understand this so much that He “repeats” himself, with this same message, many times so we could be sure that it is true.  At least 10 times God sends this message to us in His Word!  Be encouraged today…God is with YOU! He won’t leave, reject or abandon YOU!  So don’t waffle back and forth.  Move forward today in all God has for you!
    Prayer:
    Father, help me to let Your Word sink deep in my spirit so I trust you when you say that you are with me.  Help me to be confident that You won’t leave me, You won’t reject me, You won’t abandon me.  Let me takes steps toward Your good plan for my life today!  Amen.
    Never will I leave you “Repeat” verses: Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:5, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 37:28, Psalm 94:14, Isaiah 41:17, Isaiah 42:16, Hebrews 13:5
    (WATER IN THE DESERT; Section 2-WATER PARTING-STARTING TO SWIM, pg.68)

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  • Book Signing-Family Christian Lake Orion, Michigan

    This day started out crazy as the store realized that the books weren’t there.  God is so much bigger than our problems!!!  I met amazing people and made lasting connections with so many!   It’s shocking when you don’t get down over things not turning out right and then God turns them into great things.  It was great to have my mother-in-law with me.  She’s been an encouragement to me for so many years!  Love this lady!
    I’m looking forward to coming back when I do have books and possibly my hubby’s devotional 40 DAYS IN THE MANCAVE beside mine!  Thanks Family Christian Bookstores!IMG_3033IMG_3034IMG_3035IMG_3036
     

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  • Repeats

    This was the first Soul H2O Devotion ever written.  It was first sent out in email and then posted on the blog when it was started in the fall of 2013, before I started adding #musicpic songs and Drawing From The Well verses to help you dive in a little deeper into the subject of the devotion to quench your spiritual thirst! Since then I’ve had the website rebranded a few times and sadly, lost the original graphics and comments but I hope it will still bring you the same encouragement it did at the beginning.

    DO NOT WORRY… DO NOT WORRY… DO NOT WORRY
    ~Matthew 6:25, 32, 34

    REPEATSLately, I keep going back to the Devotional in my Water In The Desert book called “DON’T BE AFRAID”.  The verses you lookup are so repetitive…and I mean that in a good way!  I am overwhelmed at how many times God encourages us in His Word to “not worry”, “don’t be afraid”, “do not fear”, “do not fret”. 

    In one short passage alone Jesus bluntly tells us “Do not worry” three times!

    Do Not Worry… On Repeat

    To paraphrase Joshua 23:3, God is saying,

    “You’ve seen what I’ve done for you and how I’ve been the one on your side!”

    Then, He starts to remind the people how He was there for them and what He did for them.  God is our father and all too often we act like little children who need to be reminded of what our dad does for us.  We need that spiritual “cold shower” to wake us up and remind us that God is with us, so…we don’t need to worry! 

    When I want to get my kids to understand something or not forget something, I repeat myself.  The more important, or the more bothered I am with them for not listening will determine how many times I repeat myself!  Do you get the spiritual similarities?  Our heavenly father does the same!  As you study The Word, listen to our father’s REPEATS.  Be encouraged to trust and not worry…He’s on the job!

    Prayer

    Father, Help me to be aware of who you are and all you’ve done for me.  May I not take it for granted or minimize all you do.  Please help me to focus on your greatness and your goodness so that I don’t worry, but live in confidence! In Jesus Name, Amen

    (Inspired by WATER IN THE DESERT; Section 2-WATER PARTING; Don’t Be Afraid Devotion).  
     

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  • ICRS 2013

     
    The International Christian Retail Show was a pivotal time for my life.  I’m so thankful that Todd was there to help make it the success that it was and to make it as fun as it was!  On our drive down to St. Louis, Missouri we stopped for lunch.  As soon as Todd turned off the car I could hear a drag strip in the background.  When the line-up was really long at Bob Evans I asked Todd if he wanted to go to his first ever Drag Race. He was in!  We had so much fun!  Funny, but the track was called “Crossroads”–Godincidence maybe 🙂   The first night of the conference was great!  We got to finally meet the owners of the Gospel Lighthouse Bookstore Chain that have been so good to me.  Marna Mugford and Lynda Schoffro are wonderful people.  We sat together at the service and enjoyed worship led by Laura Storey, special music by Steven Curtis Chapman and preaching by Max Lucado.  All have impacted my life through their ministries.  Later we got to hear a concert of some talented singers hosted by Matthew West.
    I had paid to have a book signing at the trade show in the Xulon Press booth and was scheduled for the Monday afternoon at 2pm.  UPS made so many mistakes and didn’t have my books there.  The people at Xulon Press we so great that they allowed me to have the signing booth for Tuesday morning at 10am.  I had to tell people who came that my books were held up at customs and that I would have them tomorrow at 10am.  I was trying to be calm about it, but when we got back to the hotel room and the books weren’t there I panicked, then I decided to trust God to do work it all out.  Todd and I even went out for dinner and up the Arch.  God did some miraculous things and a driver brought the books back after 7pm.
    The next day we got to the trade show not knowing if anyone would show up since it was advertised for the day before.  God did amazing things and we couldn’t even get set up before line-ups started.  I was signing books from 9:30am until just before noon!  If only I were selling the books 🙂  The security from the building had to actually re-route the line because it was hindering so many other booths!  I met so many great people who owned or mangaged bookstores,  ran ministries, authors, publishers, radio, television and internet media connections.   We were especially blessed to meet Julie Cantrell, NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author and winner of two Christy Awards, one for Debut Novel of the Year and a 2nd for Book of The Year, along with her lovely mom.  Thankful to God for allowing us this opportunity!

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  • Book Signing-Gospel Lighthouse Hamilton, ON

    So great to see some new and familiar faces in my hometown of Hamilton, ON!  A few of my “youth” members stopped by to get signed copies.  It was encouraging to hear how some of “my girls” were using WATER IN THE DESERT for their Bible Study together!
    If you’re in a group or know of a group using my book for their Bible Study, please have them contact me by using the email link to the right of posts on “Contact Us” and send a picture of their group so I can post their pic!  Thanks Gospel Lighthouse!
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  • Beside Joel & Book Signing–Indigo Book (St. Clair Shores store)

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    Todd and I were so excited to have WATER IN THE DESERT beside Joel Osteen’s books!  Joel and Victoria Osteen’s ministry has been such an encouragement to us.  Hope to one day meet them and thank them!
    A couple week’s later  I had a book signing at this store.  My first Indigo/Chapters book signing.  This is a gorgeous store in the Windsor/Tecumseh area.  The staff was so helpful at teaching me how to do book signings!  Great help from my daughter Shelby and her friend Tamara setting up.
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  • Beside Joel & Book Signing–Indigo Book (St. Clair Shores store)

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    Todd and I were so excited to have WATER IN THE DESERT beside Joel Osteen’s books!  Joel and Victoria Osteen’s ministry has been such an encouragement to us.  Hope to one day meet them and thank them!

    A couple week’s later  I had a book signing at this store.  My first Indigo/Chapters book signing.  This is a gorgeous store in the Windsor/Tecumseh area.  The staff was so helpful at teaching me how to do book signings!  Great help from my daughter Shelby and her friend Tamara setting up.

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