Set the World on Fire

Linking up with Charlotte and Ginger who every week host Spiritual Sunday

"Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire." St. Catherine of Siena   

I want to live my best life......and I've figured out....to do that.....is to give back what's been given to me......and I've been given so much. When I give back.....I feel alive and really happy.

I was asked to run a group for women....to share my story....and give them hope to see that nothing is impossible to overcome. I loved it. And mostly....they loved it.  I've agreed to do it again for the next two weeks. And I'm speaking again....on July 6th. It's getting easier. Mostly because the response has been overwhelming. 

I can see now that everything I went through...all those things I hated....those things I didn't want anyone to know...has given me an edge.....something that shows hope to others fighting their demons....their battles....who are living on the edge......And it's all because of Him....His grace....His gentle touch.....I want to live my best life. I want to set the world on fire...to see Him...to show that nothing is impossible to overcome...


How Long O Lord.....will you forget me?

Spiritual Sunday "Never Meant to Walk Alone"

Thanks Charlotte and Ginger for hosting these great Spiritual Sunday

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It's not."  Dr. Seuss

Thanks Guys...thanks for your comments last Sunday and on thursday. Thanks for being in my corner....and for believing in me.  Your words gave me courage to not give in to fear....to stand up and speak my truth. 

I was super nervous.....but I stayed....and pushed through the fear and spoke my truth. The response was amazing. They said it was powerful...that I'm a speaker...that they're glad I joined with them and they want to help me.  I felt totally wiped after....but something in me knows....He's preparing me..training me to not be afraid...to stand up....to shine His Light...the Light that lit up the darkness that I lived in. Nothing else could penetrate it. Nothing else could break through....only Him. He made the difference.   I know I need to tell...to give hope...to show nothing is impossible to overcome. And besides.....I owe Him....

March 30th 9:30-noon I'll be speaking to 75 women. I just got an email confirming that. 

Thanks Guys...thanks again for being in my corner.

We were never meant to walk this road alone...you carry me.....and I will carry you....be your strength...pull you through...

Spiritual Sunday "In the Presence"

Charlotte and Ginger host Spiritual Sundays. They're awesome. If you want to join in  post and add your name at Spiritual Sunday

"You can have the other words-chance, luck, coincidence, serendipity. I'll take grace. I don't know what it is exactly, but I'll take it. " Mary Oliver 

While I was writing my book, In the Eye of Deception....there were times I wanted to get in my car...close my eyes...and drive. It hurt so much to remember. At one point I wanted to find the rapist's family...to know who raised such a brutal man.  I googled their last name and found these singers with the same name.  And this particular song "happened" to come up.  I had never heard of them or the song. Although it's not usually my type of music.....I was pulled into listening to it over and over and over. The words held me. 

I started running in the hills near our house....in the heat...in the rain...all hours of the day and late into the evenings...trying to outrun the memories and pain. I wanted to know why He allowed it to happen. Why He didn't help me earlier...before things had gotten so bad.

The more I listened to the song...the more I spent time alone with Him in the hills....something started to happen. The words slipped into my heart and I slowly I began to realize....it wasn't His fault what happened. And in His presence...it didn't even matter anymore. In His presence.....the pain began to lift...and also the shame....and fear. In His presence..I finally found what I needed ever since it happened...peace...hope...freedom.

...and when I come into His presence....all my questions become clear....In the presence of Jehovah....

Spiritual Sunday "Hope"

Chalotte and Ginger host these great Spiritual Sundays. To join in just post and add your name at  http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/

"When you say a situation or person is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of God."  Charles L. Allan 

In April 2008, something happened....triggering memories I had fought hard to forget....

I started writing.....needing to get those memories out. I wrote in the third person.....in the dark...sometimes all night.....and most of the day.  I forgot to eat....even forgot to feed the kids. I struggled with why God would let me remember when I wanted so much to forget. I ran in the hills near our home....in the rain...in the heat.....everyday......desperate to outrun the pain.. There I heard His gentle whisper....'you're stronger now.....it's time to tell.' 

More than 400 copies have sold.....it won a national book award and was one of three books that recieved an honorable mention to The Word Guild's highest award. It's in nine bookstores in the province where I live and available in five hospital libraries.  I've recieved tons of gifts, dolls, jewelry, cd's, books, notes, emails.....people telling me....my story....my words....inspired them....gave them hope....

Janet

Wow. What an awesome book! I read it in two days. I"m not a reader so for me to read it that fast it has to be good. I was reading at work on nights and I had to get up and go to another room at one point, tears were falling down my face...your book has helped me to open up and gave me so much hope! It has made a difference in my outlook on my situation. 

Lisa

I got your book yesterday afternoon...I read late into the night and this afternoon....yours is such a beautifully written book, one that resonates with me on so many levels. I loved the descriptions, felt like I was right beside you, experiencing every situation with you. At times it was hard to breathe. Other times, I was moved to tears. Many times I was frightened for your safety, touched by your endless bravery. And then I was inspired.....I found the detail of the coaching advice affirming the very processes I am currently working on in order to change my own negative belief systems. I don't believe in co-incidence, your book came to me as a message of hope.  

Wanda

.....as I read your book...hidden wounds over my own wounded past began to surface and I KNEW that I would have to deal with them. I had come such a long way (I thought). I had written books about the healing of a soul....but reading through the section covering the time with your counselor, I felt I was there and she was gently leading 'ME' out of a dark hole into the light. Your book will touch many lives....I know...it has turned my world upside down. 

 
I had kept the secrets......choosing to live with the crippling shame and fear rather than to tell.....worried what others would think.  But I learned  - He redeems everything....and uses our worst experiences to bring hope....

My daughter fiddled around and made a short video trailer for my book. It's her first attempt. Funny thing.....I won't let her read my book until she's 18. She's only 14.