Last weekend I spoke at an old fashion fly swattin', fan wavin', praise Jesus tent service!!! It was amazing!! Me and about 400 of my closest sista's in Christ learned how to live a more balanced life. I loved meeting the women, hearing their incredible stories of faith, and worshiping God together. Angela and Jane, who tireless gave of themselves to put the event on, were such an inspiration to me. Their heart for God and women to know Him more deeply was evident! They were expecting God to show up. And that He did! I was told over and over that God's presence was evident.

The topic was one of my fav's because I'm constantly, "Living in the Fast Lane and Looking for an Exit!" (That was our theme.) In fact, I don't even have the "B" in the word balance. I guess that's why I love this topic. It minister's to me over and over again.

Who isn't looking to slow down and find more time to spend with their family, friends, and God? Life comes at us hard and fast. There is so much to do and places to be that I sometimes I get lost in the whirlwind of of it all. Other times I find it hard to stay on course and wind up taking a unexpected detour. Then there are times that it seems every road leads to a dead end. I should probably take advantage of the dead end by hanging out there and resting for a while but "NO!" I turn around and keep moving. I guess that's why I'm so tired these days.

It's not just my time that's limited. My strength is limited, too. It gets used up quickly. I'm spent before I know it. That's why one of the most important things I can do is take time to sit at the feet of Jesus and get replenished.

I think as women, we give out and give out without taking time to get renewed and refreshed by God's Spirit. Then we become annoyed by the very people God puts in our lives. I don't want to live that way. I need, for the sake of myself and others, to take time to meet with God in prayer so that I can get renewed and strengthened for whatever the day may bring.

I don't have to live weak and unbalanced. God invites me to "draw near to Him and He will drawn near to me." Spending time with God strengthens me, it empowers me to fight temptation, it soothes away my fears and worries, and it allows me to know God. Meeting with God also helps me to put things into perspective so that the extra activities in life fall away leaving room for what's really important. With the time I have left over, I can then enjoy my family and friends.

May God's presence refresh you today!

Labels: According to Micca

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair. 2 Corinthians 4:8 (NIV)

I was away speaking when the tornado struck the mid-south where my family and I live. My children were in “lock down” at school for hours.

My husband felt helpless as our daughter begged from her cell phone, “Come get me, daddy. Please, hurry!” He was desperately trying to retrieve both of our children, but debris from the raging winds blocked his every path. Two hours later, he finally reached the school and found it, along with our children, untouched by the tornado. Our house had been passed over as well. Others were not as fortunate.

As I drew nearer to home, I looked on in disbelieve as I weaved my way through the devastation. It felt as if my town had been ransacked by intruders. I felt cold and naked as I viewed the homes of friends and business that had been stripped bare.

Then, I saw the church. It once was a magnificent church standing tall and proud in our community. It was the symbol of all that was good and right. Now it was wounded and exposed; stripped of her beauty and glory. “Not the church, Lord.” I prayed. As destruction surrounded me, I looked to the heavens and questioned, “How will we survive this awful tragedy?”

Jesus promised that we would encounter trials and tribulation in this fallen world, but we need not despair. Why, because our hope is in God. Hope helps us see the God of restoration instead of becoming paralyzed by the mess of destruction.

We were not alone. Volunteers, workman, friends and neighbors, who put their hope in God, worked together to rebuild our city. It was a precious sight. It was the evidence of hope and the reflection of love.

Right now, you may be surrounded by trouble too, but you are not alone. You cannot be hedged in because you are not without help. You have a great support. God is your helper. You don’t have to be perplexed, uncertain, or concerned about your future. God has promised to deliver you. Even if you are being persecuted by your enemies, rejected or cast down, God says, “I will never leave you.” There’s no need to fight your fears. Put your trust in God and allow His power to work through your weakness. Oh, friend. There’s no need to despair for God is still on His throne working on your behalf.

Months later this truth became apparent as I drove by the church. The yard had been cleaned and the walls patched. It looked as if she had been lovingly dressed up in second-hand clothes. Still recovering from near destruction, her message had not changed. Draped in a large sign that covered the front of her structure, she declared to all, “HE’S STILL GOD!”

In this life, will we be pressed—yes, crushed—sometimes, perplexed—often, but never in despair. Because no matter what storm we face, no matter what kind of trouble presses in; and no matter who’s out to get us, the truth remains the same “He’s—Still—God!”

Dear Lord, may we never live in despair when trouble surrounds us. Help us to trust in the fact that You’re still God and the battle is not our, but yours, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

until next time...God Bless

Labels: Wednesday in the Word

Where I live we’ve been experiencing a drought. Everything is dying. We lost a beautiful pine tree. The creek is dried up and the deer have been coming closer to the house than ever before looking for water. That’s not the only thing invading our home.

While I was working in my office, I heard my husband shout from the kitchen, “We’ve got ants! Where did all these ants come from?”Running into the kitchen to see for myself, I replied, “I suppose they are looking for water in their attempts to survive the drought.”

“But Ants don’t like water. I learned that in the movie, Bugs Life.” Pat confirmed.

I looked at him in disbelieve waiting for some sign that he was joking. When I realized he wasn’t, I explained that cats don’t like water either but they still need it to survive.” Pat looked as if he was thinking it through. “Well, I’ll call Pest Control in the morning.”
“Good idea.” I confirmed.

The next morning, we discovered that we were not the only ones with an ant problem. One out of every three calls to the Pest Control office was about ants.

We were advised to use Windex. The ants don’t like the ammonia and it’s much safer to use than bug spray especially in Kitchens. I was amazed that it worked.

Windex is growing more and more popular with me. I’m finding more ways to use it than ever before. Just this past summer we were boating with some friends when one of the children got stung by a jellyfish while swimming. Again, I was taken by surprise when near by boater tossed us a bottle of Windex and instructed that we spray it on the child to take the sting out.
Did it work? After a few minutes of continuous spraying…yes, it did!!

Who knew that Windex has so many other purposes than cleaning? I know it may sound strange, but it reminds me of God. He, too, is an all-purpose God. Whatever we need, cleansing, comforting, healing, or rescuing from some invasion, like Windex, God is right for the job!

Labels: According to Micca

No, my silence isn't because I've fallen off the face of the earth, I've just had a hard week. Saturday night, my husband and I were awakened in the middle of the night to find out that our son had fallen asleep at the wheel and totaled his car on the HIGHWAY!!

The amazing thing is he walked away without one scratch, cut, or bruise...not one from a car that had been smashed to pieces! That's not all that was amazing. A 50 foot guard rail caught his car as it spun out of control and kept it from crossing over into on coming traffic. Wait, there is more. The police officer spoke to my son as if it were God himself speaking.

"Son, I'm glad to find that you are clean of alcohol and drugs, but there's no good reason to be out this time of night. I've seen many wrecks like this one, and, well son, your parents should standing over your dead body in the funeral home this morning. If I were you, I wouldn't go home and go to bed. I'd head for the nearest church and thank God for saving your life. He obviously has good reason."

What a word of truth! The whole thing was unexplainable and undeniable. It had to be God at work. In the midst of immaturity and bad choices, mercy came running to protect my son from himself.

Although Mitch is not drinking or doing drugs, he is still living a life apart from God by simply living for himself. What happens to these teens once they get out of high school? We tried to make Mitch's faith his own. I often feel guilty and search the past for clues about where we went wrong. Then, God seems to whisper to my heart..."Micca, you did teach him. Still, each person has their own choice to make. You can't make it for Him. But don't you worry. Don't you fear. I've got my eye on him."

Never has it been so clear that God, indeed, has His hand on Mitch than in the midst of this wreck. You see, I pray daily for God to protect Mitch. I ask Him to make Himself real to Mitch. I ask God to give Mitch a hungry and thirst for God and godliness. Well, God answered.

Often times it is adversity in our lives that bring us to the end of ourselves and make us desperate for God. I'm convinced that is what God is doing in Mitch's life because he does have a plan and purpose for him. And...even though it appears bad, it's really a good thing.

I prayed and mercy came running. What a glorious God!!

That same weekend, a 16 year old boy who is in my daughter's youth group at church was not so fortunate. Depressed, he took a gun, held it to his head, and killed himself. Our church family is numb with grief.

As a result of Evan's death, my daughter asked me a some hard questions this week.

"Mom, why did Mitch live and Evan die? Mom, where was God when Evan was afraid, alone, and depressed?"

Those are hard questions. I don't know the answer but I do know that God is always the same no matter what. So I told my daughter that even though it may not look like it to us, in Evan's greatest hour of need...mercy came running. In fact, it came before then.

Evan attended the Labor Day youth trip the passed holiday and received Christ as his personal Savior and Lord. You might call that pre-mercy if you will.

So, I explained to my daughter that Evan was never alone because there's no where we can go to escape God's presence. Jesus was with Evan the whole time. When Evan lifted the gun to his head and pulled the trigger....mercy came running. Falling back into the arms of his Savior, I'm convinced that he heard Jesus say, "I've got you baby. Everything is alright now."

One lives. One dies. I can't explain that. But I do believe that in both cases mercy came running.

Until next time...God bless you and yours

Labels: According to Micca

Labels: According to Micca

“Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (NIV)

I read a story about a little girl who was very nervous at the prospect of her first horseback ride, even though she was to be perched behind her grandfather who was an excellent rider. As her parents helped her onto the horse, she cried, “What do I do? I don’t know how to ride a horse! I’ve never done this before! What do I do?”

Her grandfather said in a reassuring tone, “Don’t worry about the horse or about how to ride it. Just hold on to me, Darlin’, just hold on to me.”

This story reminds me of the familiar saying, “When you’re at the end of the rope, hold onto your faith.” That’s easier said than done unless you realize that the object of your faith is a person—Jesus Christ. We always can hold onto Him.

It’s when we lose touch with the Lord that we fall into fear and panic, but keeping our minds on Him in thought, prayer, and worship brings peace to our hearts and minds. Most of us have sung about this truth. Today let the words of this old faithful hymn sink deep into your soul.

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

We must grip tightly to our faith in Christ through prayer and mediation on a daily basis Then, whether our day is like a tried old nag or a bucking –bronco, holding on to our faith keeps us in the saddle until the ride is over. However, if we look to ourselves or at the “beast,” whatever that may be, then we will always feel weak, helpless, and afraid. Like the grandfather, who was an excellent rider, our heavenly Father is even greater.

Christ has both hands on the reins. He knows how to ride, which direction the horse will run, and how long the journey will last. All we have to do is hold on.

Dear Lord, No matter how wild the ride gets, I trust that You are in control and I’m safe holding on to You, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflections: What do you put your faith in—a friend, a family member, yourself or Christ?

Who is holding the reins of your life, you or Christ?

How often do you talk to Jesus in prayer about your burdens, heartaches, or trials?

According to this devotion, what brings us lasting peace?

Power Verses:
Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in Him.” (KJV)

Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

NIVHebrews 11:1, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” NIVJohn 14:1, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” NIV

Labels: Wednesday in the Word