I really want to write the post about all the amazing things God showed me last week in New Orleans, but right now I’m just struggling to keep my eyes open.  I promise you pictures — and I’m delivering on my promise to post pictures — here are are most of the Breaking Free  Siestas (less Jenny Hope and Grateful in Georgia, Tammy who were riding the streets of New Orleans without their handy navigator).

We had a blast getting everyone together for this! (Of course, notice the sadness in my spirit — I’m saying… oh where are Jenny and Tammy… where could they be?  See the dramatic hand gestures).    

Excited bunch!

Here is me and Jenny Hope — love this funny and sweet chick.

Me and Grateful in Georgia, Tammy.  She and I just clicked!  So much alike  and in so many ways! Good thing?

Me and Traci — my ticket fairy!!  Love this chick — she’s so great.

Vicki, Nancy, Me, and Tammy — what a cool group of blondes… and then there’s me.

More information tomorrow — stayed tuned to this station.

Another night of Breaking Free and it just continues to blow me away!  How amazing is God?!  He is so very good to us that I can’t even begin to understand His goodness and love! 

I want to write this deep and meaningful post on the Bible study…. but I’m a bit brain dead, so I hope you’ll settle for something a little less. 

Love.  God is LOVE!  Cool, huh?  Not like we don’t know this, of course we do.  But think about that for just a moment…. chew on it.  

Look at 1John 4:19 - We love because He first loved us. 

Beth taught on this passage tonight.  “He first loved us.”  I’ve read this and heard this for years, but tonight I let it sink in and I soaked in it.  He first loved us.   How powerful.  I love because He loved me first. 

As I listened to this tonight, God just brought the Siestas to mind.  What a wonderful, ecletic group of women who love the Lord!  As we took pictures tonight and laughed together, I realized just how incredible this group of woman is!  We are together because of a love for the Lord and a deep desire to grow deeper in our faith and to our God.  I must admit i really didn’t get the whole Siesta thing until now…. and for anyone reading this who doesn’t get it.  Go to the Beth Moore, Living Proof Ministries blog and just read around.  I believe you’ll be blessed.  Amazing women who love the Lord and one another.  Amazing women who I’ve met this week and who’ve blessed me richly as I laughed with them and worshipped with them! 

How amazing is this body of Christ.  I love the women I’ve worshipped and studied with this week.  Some are Siestas, others are sisters in Christ, and there are also the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church women (who’re also my sisters in Christ) who’ve gone out of their way to make us all feel welcome.  They’ve helped us, served us, and guided us to the bathrooms.  They’ve done everything with the sweetest smile and kindest hearts.  I just pray that someone would feel so welcomed when they visit my church.

I know I keep promising pictures and I’ll get them up…. I promise.

Last night Beth taught about breaking free from the lies of the enemy!  Oh, how I needed to hear that message.  The enemy is out to make us QUIT!  Get this message — if he can get us to quit, he wins.  He will do anything to make us feel like a failure. 

I am Not a failure.  You are not a failure! 

Beth shared a story about how the enemy attacks those who are called to ministry.  I actually wrote her words down

“what do you think you’re doing in this position?”  Oh my word!  How many of us have felt that question just sweep over us? 

I know I’m dealing with those feelings right now!  As the book gets closer to becoming a reality, these fears just rise up… do I really believe that God called me to write this?  Why would He call me?  Why not someone who has it all together? Or even someone who has some of it together?  Anyone other than me — I’m just a slightly frazzled, but optimistic dreamer who loves the Lord and life as a wife to one and Mom to two (almost) grown daughters and one incredible dog!!

I’ll just walk where He leads and I will walk in faith that whatever He has for me is so much better than what I’d planned.  (Ohhh, I bet there’s chocolate involved!!)

More to come and pictures!!

Girlfriends, God, and Grace is good!  Not according to me, but according to my publisher!  She said it’s good!  I’m humbled!  And I’m blessed to work with two incredible women — DW and JS.  Don’t know if they want their names plastered all over my blog, so we’ll just leave it at that for now.  I’ve learned so very much.  JS is the copy editor and I studied over her redlined pages looking at what she deleted and trying to figure out why.  She has taught me to structure my work better.  As for DW - this is one amazing lady!  I’m thrilled to have her talent working on my book.

I can’t believe it is time to take the next step on the journey.  The step into ….oh, I don’t know what comes next??  Typesetting, I think.  Endorsements!  Yes, endorsements!  I’m thinking

Anita Renfroe (y’all know how much I love me some Anita!!! Any chick who thinks to juse the center of the toilet cover as blotting paper is someone I want to hang with!)

Beth Moore (another one of those, y’all knoOw how much I love me some Siesta Beth!! )

Neta Jackson (YADA YADA Prayer Group — ’nuff said! )

Lisa Whittle (Behind Those Eyes - I love this woman!  She rocks!  Her truth and love for God’s Word inspires me.  And I’ve heard she plays a mean game of tennis!!)

So many more that I would be honored to have endorse my book!!! 

What an amazing day God has given me!  Lord, I know it’s time to take that next step on the journey,  but can I just stay here.  I’m finally gettig this part to make sense.

Off to do a little happy dancing….. Snoopy style…..

There are so many more!!

Can I just beg forgiveness?  Can I say that I’m not in control?  I relinquished that to the Lord.  I don’t have my vehicle here — working out that control issue thing. 

So all the Siestas in New Orleans met for lunch …. but not me.  Nope.  I was wandering the streets of New Orleans.  Actually the super sweet new friend, Stella, a local, gave us  a tour of the Garden District and it was wonderful, but I didn’t make it to the lunch gathering.  I wanted to cry — of course, my friends (non-Siestas) don’t quite get the whole blogging friend thing.  I think they think I’m a bit nuts to run up to people and shout — oooooh, Grateful in Georgia!  Jenny Hope!  Di in ohio!!  I know you! 

They didn’t quite understand that this is the one chance I have to meet up with my Siestas!  At least for a good long while . . . .

So I planned the lunch and didn’t show!  How incredibly cool is that? !  I’m too cool to even show up at my
(and Sarahs’s ) own lunch.

As a point of clarity — Sarah (another super cool blogging chick) planned the lunch, I just blogged about it and then didn’t show up…. I’m asking God Almighy to give us another chance to gather for fellowship in New Orleans and I’m trusting Him to be in control.  It’s quite obvious that we don’t need to put me in charge of anything!! 

I missed the lunch but I’ve been blessed beyond measure by the Siestas that I’ve met!  All amazing, each one.  All precious and all here because God has a plan for her!  AMEN! Please pray for Beth as she prepares and for each woman present that the Lord speaks to her heart.

Now I’m going to slink away and hide my red face……

More to come and pictures too……

God is so good!  I don’t even know where to begin. My notes resemble something you might see scratched on a cave wall — I’m  having trouble deciphering most of them.  I do pretty good with the whole fill in the blanks part, but then I have to jot down more stuff.  It’s some serious good stuff and I don’t want to forget it. 

I write bits and pieces of stuff on the paper:

 the MORE I’m meant to be (AMEN! )

some people don’t want to be set free (hard to hear, harder to live, but it’s truth)

Jude 24 (let me  read that …. Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless and with great joy)  AMEN and AMEN!  He is able!  And because He is able I can stand blameless and with great joy!! 

in that moment just before (who now that can preach!  In that moment of temptation, in that moment when you can still call out to Jesus to rescue you, in that moment HE IS ABLE! In that moment claim Jude 24!  In that moment He can protect you from stumbling!)

Moments to milestones (triumph in our moments to make it to our milestones)

Do I believe God can be all powerful through me - Through me!  (Do I believe I am who God says I am?) 

So many little jotted down notes — so many blanks filled in, but none would matter if I didn’t hear God’s Word to me tonight.  Triumph child!  You are within arm’s reach — all you have to do is break through!  Praise Him!  And His holy Name!  I’m busting through that border!  It’s time to move on.

More to come

Wow!  What an amazing day 2!!  The Lord God is good!  He is so amazing!  So incredible! and just so MUCH MORE than any words I can write.  HE IS MORE!  And I am ready for MORE in my life.  I am ready to drop the chains of bondage and live in freedom — true freedom, the kind of FREEDOM that only comes through Christ Jesus, my sweet Lord.

This morning I asked the Lord to send me some divine appointments. I prayed Lord, don’t let me miss one sweet soul you have for me. Lord use these sisters in Christ to speak to me. Lord use me to reach them for You.

Oh and He did! And He did it big! I was blessed to sit beside a woman, Barb, who serves here in New Orleans on the mission field — and oh, what a mission field. This couple have sold all their “stuff” and live here in the city with their three boys. Amazing stuff God is doing through this obedient couple. WOW! And while she’s sharing with me she asks me this question “Where’s the Church?”

This is a question we’ve all probably asked from time to time, but this question is huge for me. This words are the title to a blog post I wrote long ago. It’s more than just a blog post, it’s something that burdens my heart. Where’s the church? Divine Appointment. I hear you Lord.

As for the title — Breaking Free from the Madness.
Words from a song we sang tonight, One Touch, by Nicole C Mullins.
It’s all madness — life can be madness, and mine has drifted into this area from time to time. I’m claiming myself FREE and free I am in Jesus!

I’m Breaking Free to fulfill my potential. And not just any potential but HIS potential!! Does it get any better than this?!
I’m not buying into satan’s lies — he wants to make each of us ineffective and living in bondage. And we have the power to be free! It’s ours, bought and paid for.

Today, I saw the grave of Marie Leveaus and it was covered in offerings — coins, beads, candles, candy, and all sorts of things. Items tossed in front of a crypt from people who are crying out to be free! Lord, these people need you! Pour out your spirit on this place. Give the Christians of New Orleans a boldness in their spirit and a sweetness in their souls. Lord, break through their madness and let your garment brush through the crowd. Touch me, Lord. Just one touch and I am whole!

Lord be with us as we go into another blessed day in this place!

I think there’s a lesson in this title! 

I’m NOT in the driver’s seat of my life and I’m not in the driver’s seat on this trip.  When this posts, I’ll be about halfway into my trip to New Orleans, heading to the taping of Breaking Free w/ Beth Moore.

I wanted to drive!  I really did and I almost drove my vehicle.

I use the word vehicle  because I drive a Buick Rendezvous, which is hard to spell and it’s not a car, not a truck and technically not an SUV, so what do you say… I drove my Buick? Nope, sounds too …. well, a little older than I am.  Do I say I drove my Rendezvous?  Nope, who says that? Drove my car? wrong. Truck? wrong again. SUV? not hardly.  So, let’s stick with vehicle.

We had five of us traveling down in a Lincoln Navigator — big ol’ SUV, but we also have lots of luggage.  Women equal lots of luggage. So, I thought, I’ll just drive my vehicle and then I’m in control!  Right? wrong.  I’m not in control, God is.  I just like to sit in the driver’s seat every once in a while. I usually get in a mess and God steps in to take the spot. 

Today, I got a call from one of our ladies.  She’s sick and can’t make it. That makes just four in the big SUV — so I’m going along with the group and I’m NOT driving.   This is a big step for me — I know that sounds silly, but it’s a really big step.  I feel out of control and vulnerable,  Is this my first step of Breaking Free? 

I’m I supposed to Break Free from always wanting to be in control?  Who Me?  Never.  Nope. Not me.  I’m fine with NOT DRIVING, REALLY I’m Just great! Not panicked at all. 

What happens if I want to stop and the others don’t.  What happens then?   What about eat?  What if I have to eat? NOW!  What am I supposed to do if the others don’t want to?  Will I starve?  Maybe I will. I hope not!  Okay, I know I won’t starve unless we plan on being in that car for over two months, and then I’ll start getting a little hungry.

So, say a little prayer for me as I Break Free from my need to control everything.  And pray for all those traveling to New Orleans today.  Pray that we’ll come with open hearts to hear what God has for us.  Pray for our teacher, Beth Moore, and pray for all those working on the event.  Pray that God is real to all this week.  Pray that God uses Beth to reach out to those who are walking in bondage and to those who don’t even know Him. 

I’m off to finish packing.  I can sleep tomorrow on the way - did I mention, I’m not driving so I can sleep.

Here we are in New Orleans.  It’s my first time in this city and I’m amazed at the beauty and the devastation that seems to exist side by side.  A gorgeous old tree, limbs spreading out in all directions stands in front of a house that wears the impact of Katrina.  Beauty and Devastation. 

 Franklin Avenue Baptist Church is home to some of the most wonderful women I’ve ever met.  These sisters in Christ herded 1000 women into their church and they did it with the sweetest spirits.  They offered tips, advice on where to stand, park, and wait. They laughed with us and probably at us.

  While we waited on the doors to open we roamed the halls of the church  — well, we had a plan, we were headed to the bookstore.  I bumped into one gracious and beautiful lady who introduced herself as Elizabeth Luter, the pastor’s wife.  What a joy and  a treasure she  is!  I tell you I was blown away by the joy in these ladies.

Tonight’s worship was amazing!  The worship leader, forgive me for not remembering her name.  She leads the worship for Beth Moore’s Tuesday night study in Houston.  She’s incredible! 

Beth brought an amazing fresh word from God tonight.  I watched the Lord move among the women.  I met some wonderful ladies,  Jennyhope and grateful in Georgia (Tammy) and their friend from Iowa, also Traci from Kentucky and Stella (who I met in the parking lot and just had her join us). Divine appointments all.  God has work to do in so many hearts, mine included. 

Tonight we laid the groundwork for this week.  We opened our hearts to hear what the Lord would have us hear.  I walked away with two powerful messages:

Bondadge is anything that hinders me from the fullness of who God wants me to be. 

I am meant to be profoundly effective! 

Another thing that struck me was the word on isolation — strongholds lead to isolation.  

I’m ready to take God up on His offer, to trust Him completely, to submit to Him fully, and to experience a freedom beyond anything I’ve ever imagined. 

Pray for Beth over these next few days.  Pray for all of us attending. 

I’ll keep you all posted on new friends and messages.  

Have one incredible day!  

I leave in less than 12 hours! I can’t believe it.  It seems like forever ago that Beth called and said “hey did you see that thing on Beth Moore’s blog about her taping Breaking Free in New Orleans?”

And now it’s time to go, almost.  Saturday morning  I was getting ready to head out shopping with my girls, one of my favorite things to do, and I had a thought — why am I going to New Orleans?  What am I getting ready for?

Whamo!!

That struck me right between the eyes! Why am I going to New Orleans?

Am I going to hear Beth Moore? 

 Was God even in this equation?  I know that He has a plan for this because it’s only through His grace that I was able to go.  The event was sold out by the time I found out about it.  I prayed for God’s guidance (and for a ticket!) and the next thing I know I’m holding an envelope with my ticket inside!  I was humbled and awed that the Lord made it all happen.  Thank you Lord!

Since then, I’ve focused more on what I would wear than on why I’m going. 

I’m more focused on who I’m going to meet than on why I’m going.

I’m more focused on what we’re going to do than on what I’m going to recieve.

Starting now, I’m going to focus on why I’m going and why I’m there.  What is it that the Lord wants to teach me in this week?

 It’s exciting to be under the teachings of a dynamic teacher, like Beth Moore. But it’s not about Beth Moore, it’s about God’s truths that He has for me.  It’s not about the fun with friends, but about where God is leading me on this journey of life.

Breaking Free — that’s the title!  What is the Lord leading me to or preparing me for.  He has a plan and I’m just exciting to be along for this ride.

I’ll keep you all posted on the blessings, the lessons, and the happenings in New Orleans.