Deborah’s story is told in Judges 4-5. She was the only female judge in Israel and was a wife and prophet. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. God chose her to lead His people. It was a huge task that He fully equipped her for and one in which she fully embraced as she trusted God’s leading. As a judge of Israel she knew the law and administered it with the wisdom and discernment she received from God and as a prophet her main role was to…

Last fall as I was finishing the book “Royal Records of the Daughter of the King,” I was reviewing each bible character that would be featured monthly. I prayed about each story and felt that the right woman was in place for each and every month. Some I knew quite a bit about and others would be a new adventure to discover. Deborah was one that I knew a bit about, but for some reason it didn’t really spark a lot of interest for me. Until now. Her story is one of perfect timing then and now. We’ll learn more about then, later. But for now the stories’ timing is…

That’s the best way to describe how this month has started. My mind is not quite the same since the headache issue of last month and it feels like there is no clarity. I have been in a month long battle and I feel like I have been whooped, beaten down and that I’m loosing the fight. I feel lost, worn down, desperate, unsure and I have no energy for the calling that God has given me. As I thought about a new month and the story of Deborah, I didn’t even know where to begin. After speaking with my sweet friend, Veronica, she simply said, “You are under attack!…

For the month of May we will discover some of the many lessons that can be learned from studying the life of Deborah. Overview – Spiritual Leadership Deborah was a wife and the only woman called by God to serve as a judge over Israel.  She could see the big picture that often escapes those directly involved which made her a good mediator, advisor, planner and delegator.  But most importantly she had a remarkable relationship with God.  She did not allow cultural expectations to get in the way of God’s calling for her and her story shows how God can accomplish great things through people who are willing to be…

Looking around the neighborhood today I noticed the trees are starting to bud and the flowers are beginning to bloom. It’s such a beautiful sight! I saw a fence that had large old vines covering it and wondered if they would start to turn green soon. Without the leaves you can see everywhere the vines wander and grow. There is definitely some pruning that needs to take place as some of the vines have gone quite wild and set out on their own path. It’s was a good reminder to look at my own life. How am I growing? Am I staying connected with the One who is The True…

As I was walking today I was imagining that Jesus was right there with me. We talked about things that were on my mind and people that I needed His help understanding. He kindly helped me see the truth behind different feelings that I was experiencing and reminded me that He is always available and that throughout this life the path we get to walk is a gift from Him. As the Way, Jesus is our path to the Father. He provides clear direction to God. As the Truth, He is the reality of all God’s promises. He provides certainty to people whose lives seem confused and unstable. As the…

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;  and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26) Yes, Lord! I believe that You are the Savior of the world, the Son of God, who came into the world to save us from our sins and give us new life, abundant life in You! This is one of my favorite I AM statements. Jesus made this statement to Martha after her brother Lazarus had died. It was spoken to her during the lowest time in her life, when she needed the most hope. Everything in her…

Today’s message is especially touching to me because it is a very special day. It is my son’s 22nd anniversary of when he met Jesus face to face. On this day I can say with all my heart that Jesus is The Good Shepherd. Years ago the thief came to steal, kill and destroy our family and our faith, but Jesus stopped him in his tracks and replaced it with abundant life in Him. The bible tells us that when the wolves come a hired hand will abandon the sheep and run away, but the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He stands His ground and makes…

We recently built a fence around our home and added a large gate in the front yard. With that gate we can decide who enters and who leaves. The whole fence was built not only for privacy, but for protection for those inside as well as our pets. Knowing the gate is in place gives me such a feeling of security. The dogs cannot wander off and when my granddaughters are playing inside, I know that they are safe from any strangers that may pass by. When I think of Jesus as The Gate it gives me an even deeper feeling of security and protection. He is the only way…