I am back from California where I had a fantastic time road tripping with Fashionista Daughter. Due to Covid closings, we spent the majority of our time on the beach or poolside. It only took minutes for me to realize that my body is not what it used to be. I have never seen so many perfect bikini bodies. In a world that values youth and beauty, it can be pretty disheartening to face the fact that my body will never be like it once was. I am aging just like everyone else and

Joshua is one of my all-time favorite people in the Bible. He was brave, bold and undaunted. Joshua was a visionary. I’ve already scheduled a coffee date with Joshua in Heaven. I’m looking forward to hearing about all of his adventures. Joshua is famous for says “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15) Joshua was determined to make the right choice. I don’t know what dilemma you are facing today, but I want to encourage you to make the RIGHT choice. It

I chose the word “HUMILITY” for the year 2020 and I’ve made some interesting discoveries during the last 6 months. My idea of humility when starting this journey was: -not thinking of myself as better than anyone else; -not seeking personal gain; -and basically keeping my mouth shut (you have to know me to understand why this would benefit me a great deal.) What I’ve learned so far (beyond those initial ideas) is: -rather than comparing myself to others, I try to compare myse

“Those who keep speaking about the sun while walking under a cloudy sky are messengers of hope the true saints of our day.” Henri Nouwen – Catholic priest and author I think all of us are shocked by what is going on in our world today. We have lost our normal but it is imperative that we do not lose our hope. It’s time like these when our faith needs to shine not diminish. There’s a story in the bible about a man named Lazarus who was dying…his family sent word to Jesus to c

I don’t think it will come as a big surprise for me to tell you that we have postponed our 2020 Rescued Conference. There are just too many unknowns to ask my amazing team to put in the time and effort it takes to present the conference. Patti Beth, Susie and I truly want to do something special this Fall on a smaller scale but we do not know what that looks like just yet. Please stay in touch as we will send you any updates we have. Making a big decision is hard, but the pea

Are you like me…you’re always thinking about what you need to do next? I’m almost always planning something in my mind, whether it be ministry opportunities or meals for the week. I feel an obligation to be productive. I’m in a place in my life where I’m trying to figure out what’s next…where am I going? I am restless because I am not where I really want to be. I am very tempted to try to make things happen but there is a small still voice inside my chaotic mind…it’s almost a

I am so enjoying my new dog, Ollie. We’ve been working together on his training and for the most part, he’s doing great. I have full confidence that in time, he will be everything I want Him to be. However for now, every day is different. The biggest frustration I have with him is that he pulls on the leash when I take him for a walk. I hired a wonderful trainer and she has helped us gain ground in this area, but little Ollie still needs lots of practice. My desire is for Oll

So how are you adapting to your new Pandemic Lifestyle? We’re all making adjustments and many of us are discovering that there are lessons to be learned. I think I speak for all of us when I say we’ve learned a new gratitude for what we are missing…see our friends, going out to eat, attending events and of course SHOPPING without fear. But we’re also learning that it’s nice to spend time with family, be creative with our dinners, go for long walks and play with the dog more.

I decided to read the book of Ezra in the Bible this week. The first thing that gave me pause was found in chapter 1 vs 7: “King Cyrus gave back the things that Nebuchadnezzar (so glad I don’t have to write that name every day) had taken from the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem and had put in the temple of his own gods.” We are all know the pain and frustration of having something taken away from us that is rightfully ours. We feel violated, the world is unfair and something shoul

You may have noticed that I took a little time away from my weekly video and blog. Truth is, I’m supposed to be in Fiji right now – I had a spa day arranged for this very day. But then life happened…er should I say Corona happened. I was sure I heard from God and I was determined to go on my trip. I was not afraid. I was prepared to face whatever happened and just trust that I would be where God wanted me to be – quarantined people need encouragement too! The twist however, w

We are launching the 2020 Outside of Ordinary Women’s Conference!! Rescued! The Great Exchange Mark your calendars now for September 12th. The First Baptist Church of Grove, OK has offered to host this incredible event and many of the area churches are joining their efforts to insure an experience you will never forget. Consider this your personal invitation. Admission is free and I promise it will be a day filled with inspiration, joy, music and heartfelt sisterhood. We have

Often in our lives we are called to climb mountains…obstacles perhaps, or maybe just a challenge. Either way, we face a season of growth. When a mountain appears in your life how do you react? Do you: Deny the mountain exists and stay stuck in your present condition? Look for a way around the mountain or a short cut, some sort of easier way…and waste    precious time focusing more on the difficulty of the challenge than overcoming the challenge? Brave the ascent, taking on th

It’s Valentine week, or as my daughter once said in high school: “Make Me Feel Like A Loser Day”. I know from experience it can be a depressing time for many. Let’s face it, not everyone has that special someone who wants to make your day ooey, gooey, lovey, dovey. You may spend the day watching co-workers, neighbors and classmates receive flowers, chocolates and balloons while you receive a text asking what’s for dinner. It can be brutal. I couldn’t sleep last night and I fo

I  had a thought the other day while talking with Hero Husband: As Christians, we’ve become comfortable with sharing our prayer needs with our church family, Bible study group or our close friends. “I’m not feeling well, my friend has cancer, I have a financial need, my son is in trouble”…the list is endless. What’s not so common is sharing our ANSWERS to prayer, or what God is doing in our life, or what we learned recently from reading our Bibles or a good book. I tested thi

#Faith #humor

Ah…another week of trying to be resilient…or at least aware of my resilience. I had a great discussion with Fashionista daughter (who is staying with us temporarily) and Hero Husband, and gathered their thoughts on resilience. We talked about what creates resilience , and what hampers, or destroys it. Here’s our results: Resilience Igniters:                                                 Resilience Suffocators Overcoming hardship                                            Fe

I have fallen in love with the idea of RESILIENCE. I find myself hungry for it – I want to put it on as an overcoat to protect my emotions. I want to be a woman who can withstand whatever life throws at her. I want to see obstacles as opportunities. I want to be patient in the midst of chaos, and kind in the midst of anger. I want to keep moving forward. But how? I believe that resilience is birthed in faith. For some it might be faith in their skills, their past successes or

Hey Outside of Ordinary followers! I’m thrilled to announce my Life Coaching business is up and running. I have a new site I would love for you to follow on Facebook: Take My Hand Coaching My life coaching blogs that I’ve shared will be posted there from now on. And many other current and relatable topics! I have a fun and unique Christmas topic coming up that I need you to participate in, so be sure to follow my new page today! Thank you for being faithful followers! Have a

An important discovery when Life Coaching a client to find their purpose is unearthing blockades. Those are barriers that keep us from living fully, loving deeply, trusting others, being authentic, and serve outside ourselves. Blockades can be motives we use positively and negatively. It can be fears that stop us in our tracks or unresolved grief. It can also be negative self-talk that we believe about ourselves. Today, we’re going to look at our motives for our actions. I lo

My last blog relayed general information and biblical description of Spiritual Gifts. If you haven’t read that first, you might take a moment and review Gifted, Part One. As a Life Purpose Coach, it is important to help a client determine what gifts the Holy Spirit has purposely given to them. It may not be wise to coach someone into leadership roles if that person is an introvert, and not gifted with Leadership or Shepherding, but has high marks in Hospitality, Mercy and Giv