I’m sad today. It’s not post sickness blues either. My heart is breaking for a mom I know. I first met this lady at Davidson Academy where our sons attended school together. After a few short years of knowing this family, tragedy struck. Cancer took the life of her young husband—leaving behind his wife and three children—two boys and a girl.

Having experienced the loss of my spouse too, I could identify with her grief. Yet, while my days grew brighter, hers grew darker. She and her children have encountered one hardship after another. It’s almost as if they can’t escape trouble. It follows them wherever they go. While I don’t feel at liberty to share all their misfortunes, I will share this one…

Last weekend, this mother lost her son. Word spread quickly that he had been shot in the neck in his room at school. He was rushed to the hospital, identified the shooter, and then died after surgery. It was his senior year of college. He had his whole life ahead of him. And then, just like that—it was gone. This time, I can’t imagine her grief. What I can do is pray for her. I would like to ask you to pray, too.

This is one of those situations that cause us to ask, “Why, God?” Or maybe the question for you goes something like this: “If God is good, loving, and in control of all things, why do bad things happen to good people?”

I’m not sure I’ve found the answer or at least the total answer, but allow me to share an excerpt from my book that might help.

“Each person in some way has tasted the bitterness of sorrow and tragedy. In spite of all that, this was never God’s plan. In His original blue-print, God didn’t design disease, exploitation, uncertainty, combat, sickness or death. These are the results of living in a fallen, broken, sin-sick world. Everything God created he said was “Good.” Then sin entered in and we’ve been a wild generation ever since.”

The message here is that God’s heart breaks too when a loved one dies. He is saddened when a child is abused, when the elderly is mistreated, when war breaks out, and when our children’s schools are overtaken by teenagers with shotguns. This was never His plan.

May I share more from my book?

“Peter suggests that our sufferings can come either from good or from evil. This is how Peter says it. “It’s better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than evil” (I Peter 3:17). Don’t misunderstand. Suffering is not always our fault! Our pain can be the result of our own rebellion or the rebellion of others. It can also be the product of a close relationship with God in which we are persecuted for our faith. Sometimes it simply comes from living in a fallen world."

Here’s what I want us to get…

“The only way to see worth in our pain is to realize it has purpose. Though we despise suffering, it educates us, transforms us, allows us to share in the inheritance of Christ, and give us a ministry of compassion for others who suffer. This is God’s promise. “God causes all things to work together for good for those whom He loves and are called according to His purpose.”

Yes, it takes time to see and experience the benefit. Once we do, we come to realize that “time isn’t what heals our pain. Time is the pathway that leads to the Healer of pain.”

Praying for this mom....

I'm not writing a long post today--I just have a few things to share. I'm still feeling under the weather and would appreciate your prayers. Thank you!

I'm excited to announce the winner of Gwen Smith's book, Broken Into Beautiful, is....

Jeanie at Jeanies Heavenly Treasures! CONGRATS, Jeanie!! I know you'll be blessed by Gwen's story. If you didn't win, I encourage you to get a copy of Gwen's book for yourself or for a friend who needs to know the God who restores wounded hearts. It's what you're looking for.

Last but not least...take time today to remember those who gave their lives for our freedom. Remember our Savior, too, who also gave so that we could find freedom from the war of sin that rages within us all. "For Whom the Son sets free, is free indeed!"

blessings on your Memorial Day!

For the first time in a month, Tennessee had a week of beautiful weather! What did I do on theses gorgeous days? Did I work in my garden? No. Did I enjoy a picnic lunch on my patio? No. Did I take a nature walk in the park, read a book on my front porch while sipping a cup of coffee, or take my dog for a drive along the countryside in my convertible? Nope, I didn’t do any of these things. Instead, I slept—through the entire week! Literally!

Last Saturday night, I returned home from a FANSTATIC weekend at the Gods Girls In Motion National Conference. Wow! I was honored to speak along side of some other great speakers, musicians, and 321 Improv—whose comedy act was hysterical! The women were precious, fun, and hungry for God’s Word. I was incredibly blessed to participate in this conference. More so, I was blessed by the women whom befriended me and shared their stories with me. I’ve tucked those stores into my heart and prayers.

Anyway, after returning home late Saturday night, I felt extremely tired. Exhaustion is not unusual after a big event so I didn’t think much about it until the next day. I couldn’t stay awake! Later that afternoon, my chest and throat began to hurt and I developed a cough. Luckily for me, I was so fatigued that I slept through most of the pain. By Wednesday, I convinced myself that I had the Swine Flu! I just knew that I had picked it up from someone wearing a facemask in the airport. Even though I held my breath and turned my head when passing these masked persons, the germs still got through to my unsuspecting self.

Once my throat reached a level of pain that I could barely speak and I had to grit my teeth to survive a coughing spell, I asked my husband to take a look at it. He jumped back in horror and demanded I see the doctor. So, I did.

The doctor diagnosed me with an upper respiratory infection and put me on bed rest (duh) and antibiotics. Nothing changed. In fact, I got a few new symptoms. On Friday, I returned to the doctor and received two shots in the backside. Within in 15 hrs, I began to feel like a new woman—not a completely healed woman, but much better.

As I began to gain new strength, I developed an appetite. That’s when it dawned on me. Who fed my kids all week while I was passed out in bed?!

My husband is a take charge kind of a guy. He runs an office at work and he runs things at our house, too. He runs the dishwasher, the vacuum, and can clean a toilet better than me! (He was one of five children and trained well by his mother!) As good as those qualities are—he can’t cook. Well, I take that back. He can scramble eggs, make great pancakes, and use the microwave oven. So, that’s what he did.

The first night he found some frozen pop-corn shrimp and tater-tots in the freezer. The next night they had scrambled eggs, bacon, and biscuits—a favorite southern dish for both breakfast and dinner. After that he admits to serving fast food. All I can say to that is…Praise Jesus, the Lord Provides!

He does provide for whatever we need—healing, hope, comfort, assurance, understanding, forgiveness… and on and on His mercy goes. I pray that each of you will experience His mercy this weekend. And let’s not forget to thank God for His goodness. I will with each moment I grow healthier!

I’m going to extend your opportunity to win Gwen’s book through this weekend! You don’t want to miss it. Her story is one that begs to be told. Gwen writes as if she is sitting across the table with you having a conversation with her best friend. Check out her website too. Gwen does more than write. She speaks and is an award winning music artist! I’m honored to call her friend and serve along side of her in ministry!

Be well!

And the winner of Hidden Joy In A Dark Corner is....

...Oh, Dear!!! Yay! Congratulations!!! Please email your address to me at miccacampbell@comcast.net
I know you were blessed by Wendy's story and touched by God's redeeming grace. Thanks for all of your comments. I want you to know that I've prayed for each of you and trust that God will in His great mercy touch, heal, comfort and bless you all!

Now, grab a cup of coffee, iced-T, or cola and sit awhile with my friend, Gwen Smith as she shares about her book, Broken Into Beautiful. You're gonna love her! Gwen never meets a stranger. She is fun, personable, and has many passions--Jesus, family, music, and sharing the Word of God through speaking and writing.




Gwen, tell us about your family.

Sure! I’m blessed to be the wife of Brad, my hunky college sweetheart. We have been married for 16 years and have never, ever fought. TOTALLY KIDDING! ;0)~ We strain and struggle to stay connected and to place our marriage in the center spot of our family, like any other couple. We have three very cool and crazy-active children: Preston (12), Hunter (10) and Kennedy (8 1/2). We are constantly on the go, trying to complete homework, get to ballgames, music lessons, and practices on time. Fun stuff. Continuous challenges. Wouldn’t have it any other way!

Gwen, recently you felt the nudge of God to share a secret from your past. Will you share with us today?

Well, Micca, as a young person, I was a good Christian girl who loved Jesus, was raised by God-fearing parents, and made a fair amount of good choices. I went off to college with great momentum, great expectations from my life, strong morals, and a strong faith. Once I got to college, my faith collided with temptations and choices that left me broken. I entered a season of secret compromises that resulted in an unplanned pregnancy. When the stick of my pregnancy test turned blue, my heart turned black. I reacted by rushing past the values I’d been raised with, the convictions of my heart, and the fundamentals of my faith...to the blurred “solution” of death. I had an abortion.

You see, there was never a moment that I believed having an abortion was the right thing to do. I only stubbornly and naively believed that my choice was the only ladder to grab out of the horrible pit I had dug for myself. I was wrong. Dead wrong. There, in the sterile room of that stale clinic, I used an alias. I wasn’t Gwen. My charts did not say that I was Gwen, the girl who was raised by good parents, the girl who was raised in the Word of God to know right from wrong. The counselor I had met with said that using my name could have made me feel uncomfortable with the “harmless and legal procedure” I was having done that day. Nobody else needed to know. I was anonymous. It was my secret. A secret of chains that bound me in silence for the ensuing fifteen years - a secret kept because I mistakenly assumed that no one else could handle the ugly truth of my sinfulness with grace and forgiveness. I was a Christian girl.

Christians don’t get pregnant when they aren’t married, and Christians don’t have abortions, right? It was all too scandalous, and I was crazy afraid of the consequences. Most of that day was a blur. It was a dark, cold January day. Though the clinic was lit with bright fluorescent lights, the flame of dignity and hope in my heart had grown dim. I blocked out all the voices in my head as they contested what I was doing. I was desperate and scared. The love I had for Jesus was tucked into the icy trunk of my heart on that snowy winter afternoon.

How did God bring beauty from your brokenness?

For weeks following my abortion, I went through each day under a dark cloud of despair. I couldn’t reconcile what I had done with who I was, and who I was supposed to be. My heart was broken. I felt hopeless and was horribly ashamed. I hated what I had done, and I hated myself for doing it. I was responsible for the death of my baby. It was my fault. I knew it, and it haunted me.

Voices of accusation used to scream in my head. Condemnation kept me shackled. Without realizing it, I was a captive to my own acceptance of his words. The dark days turned into weeks, which turned into months. Although I could turn on the fake charm like water from a faucet, I was dying inside! I wept. I wept for both my baby and for myself. It was necessary. It felt right to cry. And though the tears helped my soul grieve, none were as healing as the ones I cried to Jesus when I finally turned back to Him and confessed my sins.

In that moment, I experienced God’s peace, and He began a process of restoration in my life. I didn’t deserve to be forgiven, but God forgave me...and His forgiveness is complete! But after that, I felt disqualified to serve God. I thought that I was disqualified because of the choices I made. The truth is, shame was still controlling my thinking and my life. I believed many of God’s truths, but not all of them.

Eventually, God showed me, through His Word, that the Great Commission is for all of us...not for the perfect among us. He began to peel back the lies I was believing and to transform my mind as He replaced those lies with His truth. The beauty and healing is found in Him. In His forgiveness, love and grace.

What advice can you give the woman reading this today who carries a similar secret?

God calls each of us to use our lives to point to His hope. Right before He ascended into heaven, Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, emphasis added). That call—that commission—will look different for each of us. While some might be called to share before groups of women or large congregations, many of us are called to share with a friend who is hurting, with a woman who is struggling to know freedom, with a sister who needs to hear that healing and forgiveness are always possible with God.

Whether you’ve had an abortion or lost a baby through a miscarriage—whether you’ve been sexually abused or have had an affair—whether you are divorced, widowed, single, or married—whether you’ve experienced infertility, infidelity, or insecurity, God can use your story to help others. If you have a child or spouse with a disability—if you battle depression, illness, a drug or alcohol addition, an eating disorder, or have anger management problems, God can use your story.

However God leads you, I pray that you will not hesitate to share the brokenness you have encountered and the beauty you now know in Christ. Use your life as a living testimony of God’s transforming power, “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). Ultimately, the love of God that radiates from your story will result in a reflection of that love back to God and to others who are in desperate need of His healing.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your story today?

I’m living proof that God delights to transform lives. If you’re like most women, you have things in your past you’d like to forget. The result? Guilt. Pain. Shame. You feel unworthy to move on, to serve God, to be free, and to know peace. While the enemy loves to shackle you with accusations, the Lord loves to extend grace and forgiveness. He is the God of the great exchange. We bring Him our hurt – He gives us healing. We bring Him our sin and shame – He gives us forgiveness. We bring Him our weakness – He gives us strength. The chorus of a song that I co-wrote that bears the same title as my book, Broken Into Beautiful, speaks to this perfectly. It says:

You change worthless into precious
Guilty to forgiven
Hungry into satisfied
Empty into full
And all the lies are shattered
And we believe we matter
When You change broken into beautiful

Your blog friends can hear the song by visiting http://www.brokenintobeautiful.com/. The song Broken Into Beautiful is featured on my latest CD, Unsearchable – which is available at my website (http://www.gwensmith.net/), Christian bookstores, or on iTunes.

Gwen, thank you for being my guest. Your story truly speaks of God’s redeeming mercy in each of our lives. I pray His mercy touches each of you today!

Be sure and leave a comment and enter to win Gwen's book, Broken Into Beautiful.

LAST CHANCE! If you're interested in winning a copy of Wendy Blight's book, leave a comment on her interview below. I'll announce a winner tomorrow!

Don't forget to visit her site and sign up for her bible-study. You'll be blessed!

Here's a thought for today....

'I believe in the sun even when it's not shining. I believe in love even when I can't feel it. I believe in God even when he is silent.'"—Wayne Brouwer

What do you believe today? No matter what it is, God loves you and is working on your behalf for your good and His glory. Bank on it!

Stay tuned this week and read about Gwen Smith's story... how God can take our broken lives and restore it into something beautiful.

You'll also have a chance to win her book, Broken Into Beautiful!

The winner of my book, An Untroubled Heart, is Carol Z!! CONGRATS, Carol. Please send me your mailing address to miccacampbell@comcast.net and I’ll get your copy in the mail!

I have lots more giveaways this week so stay tuned!! You just might be the next winner!

Today, I’ve invited my friend, Wendy Blight to share about her new book, Hidden Joy In A Dark Corner. I’m honored to be on the same speaking team with Wendy at Proverbs 31 Ministries. However, I’m most honored to call her friend. Wendy has a heart after God’s heart. She is full of grace, feeds on God’s Word, and is a source of encouragement to me and those who serve along side of her.

Wendy’s story is one that will grip you, captivate you, and point you to the One who can restore both hope and healing.


Wendy, tell us about what you are doing today.
Today has been a typical day in the life of a mom! I woke up, made lunches, drove car pool, ran to the Y, spent some time on the computer, and arrived at a doctor appointment early only to wait 40 minutes! I spent the afternoon with my kids doing homework and making dinner. The best part of the day was having lunch with my husband and watching the season finale of 24!!

Wendy, you have a beautiful story about how God turns tragedy into triumph. Share your story with us.

Micca, just a few days after my college graduation, I was raped by a masked stranger hiding in my apartment. I spent many years angry at God, questioning God, wondering how God could have looked down from His throne in heaven and allowed what this man did to me. I finally came to a place where counseling, prescription drugs, and self-help books did not work. In a cry of desperation, I turned to my Bible. I asked God to show me why He allowed this man to rape me. After many years of living paralyzed by fear and being SO angry with God, I began amazing journey through God's Word...a journey that brought me to where I am today.

How did you cling to hope during that time?

My Hope and healing came from one place and one place only....God's life-changing, life-transforming Word.

At what point did you turn a corner and what role did God play in it?

My journey to healing and wholeness took about 20 years. But I have wonderful markers along the way where God showed me so clearly that He was right with me...teaching me, encouraging me, convicting me, and most of all loving me. My book, Hidden Joy, shares my story of healing.
What advice would you give to someone today who has been in a similar experience?
My advice is to surround yourself with godly friends who love you unconditionally and who know God's Word. Dig into God's Word with your questions. Invite Him into your pain and suffering and allow Him to do the work He has to do in your life. Trust Him!!

Wendy, is there anything else you’d like to share with us about your experience, God’s healing, etc…

I would love to invite anyone interested to join me for an on-line study that I am doing with my book, Hidden Joy. We will begin Wednesday, June 17th and go through the summer. To learn more about it, you can visit my blog at http://www.wendyblight.com/.

Micca, I live in the great city of Charlotte, North Carolina with my husband, Monty, and my two kids, Lauren (15) and Bo (11). My greatest passion is to teach women to understand the authority and power found in God's Word. My greatest joy outside raising my family is spending time with women in Bible Study, growing together in the Word of God. These past few years, I have taught two different Bible studies in Charlotte and LOVED it! I also have the amazing privilege of serving on the Proverbs 31 Speaker Team. In February, Moody Publishing released my first book Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God's Story.

Thank you, Wendy, for taking the time to share your story with us. I know many will be blessed.

Leave a comment today and enter to win a copy of Wendy’s book. It will bless you beyond measure! You don’t want to miss her bible-study either. Sign up today!

May the God of all comfort wrap each of you in His loving care today.

Pressure, it’s everywhere. It sneaks into every part of our lives. We have pressure in marriage, pressure to keep up and have more, and pressure to give our kids the latest gadgets. We even experience pressure for our time. No doubt about it, life today is stressful! And with stress comes fear. We fear losing it. We fear we won’t be enough for our families. We fear failure. So, we work longer and do more, all in the name of fear. Even though adding more is not the way to handle pressure, we do it anyway. Before we know it our lives can resemble a three ring circus as we try to juggle it all on top of a high wire. One of our greatest fears is having someone discover the truth: We can’t really juggle it all.

Think about your own life for a moment. What stressful circumstances are you facing that seem hopeless? Do you often feel like everything depends on you? Perhaps, you fear that you won’t measure up or you fear what others think of you. Maybe you fear missing out on opportunities so you stretch yourself thin dipping your controlling fingers into every pot. Could it be that discontentment with life is adding undue stress and pressure?

When the pressure is on in my life, it’s a sign that my priorities are out of balance. When this is true, I need to make some adjustments.

As a Christian, my life doesn’t belong to me. I shouldn’t be the one ordering my days. When I do, my life becomes unstable. When this happens, I’ve learned to do a quick review of my life by using this acrostic on priorities in order to re-prioritize my life:

P - Pray. Ask God for wisdom. Ask Him to show you His priorities for this season of your life.

R - Review God's priorities for your life. Study God's Word to determine His priorities for you as a woman.

I - Take Inventory Examine the activities that consume your time. Keep a time log for a week. Then ask hard questions. What are my true priorities? Are they the right ones?

O - Order your schedule. Ask, “What is important?” Make the hard choices based on God's priorities for your life.

R - Resist the "tyranny of the urgent." Don't let the urgent keep you from focusing on the truly important.

I - Input from others. Seek input, counsel, and accountability from authorities, your husband, godly friends, and mentors.

T - Take advantage of the time God gives you. Don't waste time. Do all to the glory of God.

I - Identify time robbers. What saps your energy and robs your time? Activities, attitudes, distractions, interruptions?

E - Experience this season fully. Be all there in this season of life. Weep, rejoice, work hard, and celebrate with all your heart. Don't waste time living in the past or future.

S - Sabbaths. Take regular time outs to refresh, regain perspective, reflect and evaluate, and reprioritize. Make adjustments accordingly.

I hope taking this assessment helps ease some stress in your life and helps you make time for what’s truly important.

For more practical tips on overcoming pressure, fear, and anxiety in your life, career, finances, and family leave a comment and enter to win my book, An Untroubled Heart.

What are you living for?

We just finished a series called, “One Month To Live” at church. The question our pastor asked each week was, “If you only had one month to live, how would your life change?”

Most agreed that we would change our relationships. We would spend more time with the people we love letting them know how important they are to us.

If we only had one month to live, we would also become more intentional about the legacy we leave behind. Most would strive to pass on their faith, family traditions, and values to their loved ones.

We agreed that we would change our list of priorities allowing those things that just kept us busy to fall away. That way, the really important stuff would take the lead.

I was really challenged in our small group by a guy who has spent most of his life in a wheelchair. He said he would want the people around him, family, friends, co-works, and his church family to know he was more interested in them than his troubles. Wow!

Some mentioned things on their “bucket list” they would like to do as well as accomplish some unfulfilled dreams. But mostly, if we only had one month to live people and our relationship with them is what we would change most. A common detonator was…we would love others more.

Hummm...

A few years ago, my son’s teacher had them interview their moms for a Mother’s Day project. One of the questions on the survey was, “What do you want people to say about you after you’re gone.” I answered this way. “I want people to say that I didn’t waste my life, but I made it count for God’s glory.”

I meant what I said but after going through this series, it made me ask myself “What does that look like tangibly?”

I believe it would look like someone who loves God and others passionately. Don’t get me wrong. This is a challenge for me. My life is busy, and honestly, sometimes the people I love most get the leftovers. That’s NOT how I want to live. I don’t want to just go through the motions either and come to the end of my life with regrets. I want the people I care about most to know they are loved. I want to pass on my faith. And I want others whom I come in contact with to know the love of God because I took time to show them. Whether it’s a passing smile, a door held open, a devotional written, or a simple “hello” it could change someone’s day—perhaps it will change my mine.

What would you change if you only had one month to live?

I didn’t take the time to discuss it with my parents or even tell them where I was going. Within the large arena, I leaped out of my seat and ran toward the stage. I was running to Jesus.

My mother called my name and begged me to stop. As I looked back at her, a sea of people began to fill the gap between mother and me. Normally, this would have been freighting for 7 year old child, but it didn’t seem to matter. I was captivated by the words of the evangelist as he described Jesus as the Savior of the world. The pull of Christ’s invitation “to come to him” was much stronger than the fear of being separated from my mother. I kept running toward Jesus.

That divine night, the Lord opened my eyes and helped me to understand His message of hope and Jesus became my Lord and Savior. At that very moment, I felt the love of God being poured into my heart in such a way I sobbed with joy until strings of snot hung from my nose. No, it wasn’t pretty, but that didn’t matter. I had Jesus! That’s not all… I had a hope and a future.

1 Peter tells us that Believers are born anew to a living hope. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who, according to his great mercy, has caused us to be born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

From that verse, we learn that the aim of God in restoring sinners is to give them a living hope. That’s the good news. The bad news is we are also born into a battle to maintain the assurance of the hope as we live in a fallen world. We see this truth all around us today even though Christ gave us this hope. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:32). Jesus is saying that finical trouble will come, our health will falter, children may rebel, and loved ones will die…but He has overcome it all. Christ is bigger than any trouble you and I face.

Yet, the battle to maintain our hope is on. In the midst of a failing economy, massive layoffs, job loss, foreclosures, and bank failure many are losing hope. News reports tell us that the number of people who are seeking unemployment benefits have risen to levels not seen since 1982. This kind of despair is causing more than it should when unlikely people are committing crimes or taking their own lives.

While trouble may surround us, we are not alone. We cannot be hedged in because we are not without help. You and I have a great support. God is our helper. We don’t have to be perplexed, uncertain, or concerned about our future. God has promised to deliver us when we put our hope in Him. Where do find hope in God? We find it in His Word.

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by the endurance and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4

There are three truths of hope in this verse we can cling to.

1. All the Scriptures are for our instruction. Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. You and do not have to go it alone. We don’t have to guess at life or wring our hands in worry over a decision to be made. God is our counselor!

2. All the Scriptures are intended by God to give steadfastness and encouragement. I love the encouragement found in Isaiah 40:31. “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Steadfastness means endurance. It's what you have to have to keep on going when you feel miserable and when you meet all kinds of opposition. Your opposition may be that sandpaper person you work with, or your marriage. Maybe it’s your job, or the loss of a relationship. We have this hope. Those who hope in the Lord will endure, be strengthened, and not grow weary. Remember, it took endurance for the snail to make it to Noah’s Ark.

3. All the Scriptures have this goal: to sustain our hope. Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The bible is full of stories about people who accomplished great things even when their faith was stretched beyond what they thought they could stand. These stories benefit our lives and provide us with hope when we read them, believe them, and follow their example.

You see, friend, living hope isn’t what you’d expect. It’s not wishful thinking like, “I wish I would win the lottery.” Or “I hope I don’t gain weight.” It’s much greater than that! Hope isn’t something you and I do either. It’s not something we muster up in our own strength. No. When you and I place our faith in God to do what we can’t, hope is what we receive in return.

I hope you had a wondedrful Mother's Day!
I spent mine doing what mothers do--being a mom to her children. After church and a nice lunch with my kids, I spent the rest of the day cheering for my youngest son as he played a double hitter!

I'm seriously thinking of pitching a tent at the park. Why not? We live there most of the time!

Now, for the GIVEAWAY!!
Do you have a troubled heart? Listen to Micca share how she moved from fear and grief to a life of freedom and peace tomorrow at 7am on 106 FM The Light--Ashville, NC. Plus, they will be GIVING AWAY 5 of Micca's book, An Untroubled Heart.

Tomorrow, I'll post some practicals ways we can find hope in despairing times.

A girlfriend sent me this, and I could relate. I bet you can too. Happy Mother's Day!!

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom .

Dear precious heavenly Father,

I acknowledge you today as the one and only true God. I acknowledge your authority over all things; all people; all countries; and over heaven and earth. I praise you for your love, mercy, grace and forgiveness.

Lord, our government has turned a deaf ear on our requests, but you hear the cries of your people. Turn your ear and your heart toward America today. Hear our cries and heal our land.

Lord, thank you that in times such as theses you have given us your word so that we know what to do. Your word calls us to repent; to turn from our wicked ways; and to seek your face in prayer. We look to you God to do what no other person can do—not our pastors and not our government. You alone are our hope. Today, we put our hope in you.

Forgive us, Oh God. We have sinned against you in countless ways. Create in us a clean heart. Bless us with repentance. Set us ablaze for your truth. Give us a hunger for righteousness. Lord, be merciful to us even though we have dethroned you and set up idols in America. Be our God and make us your people. Do not take away freedom of worship or protection from the evil one. Bless us, Oh Lord! Restore us to that shining city on a hill—one nation under God where justice and liberty is for all people. In Christ’s holy Name I pray, amen.

Have you ever left the house wearing two different shoes? I have! In fact, it was last Friday. After visiting the Chiropractor, I decided to take a stroll through mall. What else helps a girl feel better than shopping—right?

I was searching for a pair of white pants to match my new spring top and jacket that I happen to be wearing that day. While in the dressing room, I noticed for the first time that I had on one brown wedge shoe and one black wedge shoe.

“Good grief, Micca! What a fashion statement!” I said to myself. I realized then I was either losing it or I was much busier than I realized!

My next move was to get out of the mall without my mix matched shoes being spotted. It didn’t happen. A lady stopped me to compliment my top and jacket.

“Oh, how cute!” she exclaimed. “Where did you get it?” She questioned. Then, without taking a breath she added, “I never look put together like you do now.”

Put together??? Obviously she hadn’t looked lower than my waist! That’s when I fessed up.

“Look.” I said sticking out a foot and pointing downward toward my flawed feet. We both burst into laughter!

Driving home I pondered about why these sorts of things happen to me. Then, I remembered. It’s God’s way to teaching me about spiritual things. I just wish He didn’t always have to use His sense of humor!

As I thought more about the situation, it reminded me of the Pharisees. They always looked good on the outside, but the inside wasn’t always so neatly kept. In fact, they were compared to white-washed tombs—clean on the outside but stinky on the inside. The Pharisees’ were more concerned about their outward appearance than their inward heart.

Ouch! The truth is sometimes you and I can be more concerned about our outward appearance than our inward heart too. I know this because American women spend millions of dollars each year on beauty aids, clothes, and procedures that make us look younger. What if we spent that kind of time and money on beautifying our soul?

We’d live in a different world.

I spent the rest of that day praying this prayer. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Praying for a pure heart is not only a necessity for the Believer, put for our country as well. May 7 is the National Day of Prayer. The theme this year is American’s Hope based on Psalm 33:22.

"May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You."
Please join me this Thursday in praying for America. To lean more visit www.NationalDayofPrayer.org

I’ve been down and out this week—literally. Last weekend, I hurt my lower back. I think I did it while cutting the grass. Yes, I cut the grass. I actually find it relaxing. Strange-huh? Anyway, do you know what it’s like not to be able to stand up straight or bend over all the way without experience incredible pain? I do!

I lost my mobility, and that, my friend, is disabling. Putting on anything below my waist became a major ordeal. At one point, I thought I was going to need someone to dress me—but I managed—in pain.

I first injured my back three years ago while jogging in the park proving my theory—all exercise is evil! Ever since, I’ve had reoccurring back troubles. With each set back, my friend encouraged me to see her Chiropractor. (Did I spell that right?) Anyhoo, I’d never seen one. This time, the pain was so great that I gave in and made an appointment.

After my examination, the Doctor said I had jammed my spine and we needed to reopen it. He put me on a stretching machine. Right away, I saw two benefits of the stretching machine which I’m sure has a technical name that I’m unaware of.

One: It was going to reopen my spine

And… two: perhaps it would make me taller! (I can wish can’t I?)

Miracles do happen. I’ve never felt better! I’m not 100% yet, but most of my mobility is back and that’s important. I didn’t like being dependant on others.

While mobility is a great benefit to the physical body, dependence is the key to survival when it comes to our spirituality.

While lying on my back, I realized the importance of this. I didn’t like being dependant on others while I was down and out. Yet, dependence is the very thing we need to succeed in our spiritual lives. You and I were created to rely on God’s Spirit for all things. Most of the time, our problem is we’re too dependent on self.

Such things as selfishness and worldliness can injure our benefits in Christ. If we’re relying on self, Christ can’t live His life through us. We stop the mobility of the Spirit working in our lives. On the other hand, when we acknowledge our dependence on God, the Spirit is free to move in and through our lives providing us with everything we need…power, love, strength, peace, joy…

Just as the doctor has restored strength to my back, God’s spirit provides strength for our daily lives.