Stay the Course

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I’ve put off writing while waiting for something amazing to happen to write about. I think in my mind there should have been this HUGE testimony by now to share. There isn’t. But… then there is. My testimony is this...I’m still here...I’m still fighting...I’m keeping the faith...I am not giving up!
Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have laid hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.
I guess I’ve been thinking who would want to hear about all of my struggles. Who wants to know that the last 18 months have been some of the most gut wrenching horrific times of my life. Who wants to hear someone whose life work is to evangelize and encourage others and seemingly lives a blessed life day to day…also struggles a lot day to day. Well, I found out, the truth is...a lot of people. God is teaching me that I can still encourage you while He is encouraging me. I can share how I get through these horrible days because of His great love and mercy. I can share that I refuse to quit, I refuse to give into the devil’s attempts to tempt me and I can keep on keeping on because God is my strength.


God has to be my strength. He has to be your strength. There is no other way. The enemy is seeking to devour you. Do you know what devour means? It means to consume destructively. Have you felt devoured lately? I know I have. I feel like every time I make one step of progress forward the enemy is literally there pushing me back 5 steps. And not just pushing me but knocking me to the ground and then attacking me with every weapon he has. It has been horrendous. Oh sure the highlight reel of social media makes it all look great. The book, the acting, the family...yada yada yada! Well let me tell you...the book didn’t come without a fight, for every acting gig I get there have been 50 that have rejected me, and our family has been put through a test of faith like nothing we’ve ever experienced. I could probably write 3 separate books on each of those things and the trials, mountains, hurt, rejection, scandals and tests that come before each blessing I post. But I’m still here. I’m still praising JESUS!
Ever since our women’s conference it feels like the heat in the furnace has been turned up. I know...I know...when you bless God, bless His people...the devil gets mad and therefore throws extra darts etc...well knowing it and living through it are two completely different things. Every time I get loud and proclaim my faith, he tries to one up me. I resist him and then he comes back with something else. He is relentless. And guess what? He doesn’t get tired. He’s spirit. Spirits don’t get tired. We are bound by flesh and we do. That is why we need to know that God is our strength when we are weak and that we don’t fight flesh and blood. (see Ephesians 6:12) Read this, study it, embrace it...then read it again!
Yesterday I was having a pity pot day. Just physically exhausted from dealing with literal fires and then mentally exhausted from fighting spiritual ones. I had a meeting that I had to go to. Honestly I was looking forward to getting out of the house. One of our AC units is broken...ugh...anyhoo...on my way to this meeting I was praying and asking God for some kind of reprieve. Just a small break in the midst of all this chaos. What I got was more valuable. I made a new friend. A dear sweet sister in Christ that shared her testimony with me. As she spoke she used this phrase repeatedly “stay the course”. She said this is what God was telling her to do during this particular time in her life...many years ago. It spoke so loudly to my heart I knew it was from God. When she finished I started to tear up. I told her that was for me and I thanked her for opening up and sharing with me. She teared up too and said, “Praise the Lord, I was wondering why God had me share all that.” Haha! Because He loves me! God loves me!

It may not be in His plan right now to let up on the testing and trials but He made sure I knew that He had heard my cry and He sent me a word of encouragement...right on time! I am blessed in the fact that God has revealed His plan for my life to me. Maybe not entirely...but enough that I know what course I’m on. I felt peace from her words, “stay the course”. It was like God was telling me to keep doing what I’m doing and He is working out everything else.
Every trial, every test, every mountain climbed, every valley drudged through has all been to give Him glory for getting me through. And even though the timing isn’t right for me to share every single detail...I can share this - Let me encourage you-
Stay the Course…
Don’t Give up…
Keep Pushing Through…
God has a Plan…
You are Loved…
It will all Work Out…
You are Not Alone…
This Will Make You Stronger…
Heaven is Worth It…
Please feel free to share this with anyone that you think could be encouraged from it! God Bless!

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