This past season was eye-opening. While battling anxiety and depression, I found myself trying to change myself to please others.
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Jesus pricked my heart and whispered, "What are you doing? I made you. I created you. I formed you in your mother's womb. You are my daughter in whom I am well pleased." ​I began to realize I was unchangeable. With me, what you see is what you get.
I talk way too loud. My mama tried for years to break this habit. Nothing worked. I laugh too much. I ask people lots of questions. My son would often say, "Did you get their social security number, too?" I care a little too much for others which sometimes leaves me feeling depleted and heartbroken. I am passionate. Kind. Genuine. Patient. Funny. Positive. Friendly. Encouraging. Driven. Likeable.
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Those words are not my own but the words of others. I am now able to accept these compliments not because of anything I have done but because they are the fruits of my Heavenly Father. When I think of how I am described by others, I am filled with joy knowing that one day my Savior and King will receive crowns in Heaven for my behavior here on earth. What a glorious day that will be!
When I was younger I swore I would never have children. I think the younger siblings of my friends turned me off from wanting children. I am so glad God gave me the ability to learn to love children in college while playing the piano for a middle school choir.
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While in college, I met my husband Greg at the church where his dad was the pastor. We met in September and were married the following May. Marriage takes work and comes with its share of highs and lows. Our marriage is imperfect and it's only by the grace of God that Greg and I have been married for over two decades.
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I am blessed to have had two normal pregnancies with two beautiful babies. I know for many of you, this was not the case during your pregnancy. Please know I pray for you often. Conceiving a baby and giving birth successfully nine months later is nothing short of a miracle. I thank God often for my two boys.
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I am very proud of all my guys and cannot wait to see what God has in store for them in the future. Family is truly a blessing from God.
One of my spiritual gifts is teaching. I was the kid who placed her stuffed animals in front of the chalkboard in her bedroom and taught until their little glass eyes rolled in the back of their heads. It was no surprise when God called me to teach in Title 1 schools.
I spent twenty years ministering in schools. Seventeen of those years were spent in a classroom and the other three were in leadership. It took a few years, but I finally realized that teaching was my ministry field. When your passion and career collide, it's simply amazing. I recently resigned from education to pursue a job which will allow me more time to spend on a new ministry.
Dwell with Me Ministries came to fruition while teaching ladies in my Sunday School class at church. I realized through this class my passion for sharing the love of Jesus with other women and the desire to watch them grow in their spiritual walk with Jesus.
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I love how God makes our paths clear when we stop and listen. All He requires of us is to trust Him and obey this calling. I cannot wait to see what God will do through Dwell with Me Ministries.
