Bursting with Potential

God has given gifts to each of us, waiting to be fanned into flame. It takes effort on our part, and it's key to stay connected to Him to bear fruit.

I believe God looks at each one of us like this bursting milkweed pod. We are filled with potential, and every seed that makes its way to fertile ground can bear fruit. Staying connected to Him brings the nourishment for those seeds.

Abiding in Him is keeping that margin of time, even in the busiest of seasons, to read from His Word, to listen for the way He is speaking into my life. I never want to miss those sweet words!

In 2009 I felt the Holy Spirit impress upon me that I needed to share my thoughts on journaling at the next Women's Breakaway. Public speaker, me? No way! But after I said yes I became very excited and passionate about it! He called and then He equipped.

I never would have imagined that now, seven years later, I will be at the Breakaway again -- sharing my story and the book that I have written! Praise God, this is an incredible dream come true for me. I have always, always wanted to write a book.

I want to give all the glory, honor and praise to God for all He has done. He has brought me here! Click the tab above for more information about my book, Life, Love and Loss.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving me a passion and a purpose and giving me everything I've needed as I trusted you step by step. 

Is there something God has been prompting you to do but you have been afraid? I know the feeling, but I'm so glad I trusted God and did the next thing. What unmet potential is living inside of you?

Humble Beginnings

A young Minnesota man with a very noticeable speech handicap has now risen to success as a vocalist and musician. His voice is smooth and rich with a wide range -- and no sign of stuttering when he's doing what God designed him to do! According to Christianity Today, "he is one of Christian music's best kept secrets." As a stutterer, Jason Gray's music focuses on finding strength in weakness. He shares his stuttering story, reminding us that God can make beautiful music out of our brokenness. I recently fell in love with Jason's hit singles, "More Like Falling in Love" and "Blessed Be (All the Lonely Losers)." Jason is a vibrant picture of God's love in action. He's been recognized for his civic leadership and humanitarian work through World Vision with children orphaned by AIDS in Africa.

A North Carolina farm boy was expected to follow in his father's footsteps, taking over the farm someday. He was once rejected for youth group membership, then was almost expelled from a Christian college and told by his superiors, "About all you could amount to would be a poor country Baptist preacher out in the sticks." Ah, but God knew the potential in this humble man! Who was this farm boy? None other than the Reverend Billy Graham, who is one of the most admired people of the 20th century, who has preached in person to more people than any other preacher in history, and who has been spiritual advisor to 12 U.S. presidents! Now in his nineties, his life continues to be one of the most compassionate examples of humility, love and grace available in our time.

More stories like these abound in the Bible. As a young boy, David killed a giant with a simple stone in a slingshot when all the brave warriors' tactics failed. Moses killed an Egyptian in his early years, but later was used by God on a huge mission. A prostitute named Rahab offered shelter which saved lives at a critical time. Saul (Paul) persecuted Christians, but when the scales fell off his eyes, God used him to save souls all over the known world and to author half of the New Testament. John Mark deserted Paul on an early missionary journey, which caused a huge argument between Paul and Barnabus about trusting him on another trip. This is the same man who later wrote the Gospel of Mark.

We have many reminders of how God uses weakness, humility and brokenness. The Bible says, "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." (1 Cor. 1:27 NIV). He does this so no one can boast. "We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us!" (2 Cor. 4:7 NIV)

So what about you and me? Whose lives will be impacted by ours? Where will our feet carry the good news? Who will experience God's love administered through our hands, His grace through our kind words? Don't you wonder what treasure lies within, just waiting for God to call it out?

The common denominator here is that we need to be yielded, surrendered and willing to let God use us in whatever way He chooses... and to God be all the glory!


Oh Lord, I want to be fully available to you -- no hesitating, no "gatekeeping" of my talents. It's all from You. It's all about You. Let me be Your hands, feet, voice... wherever You lead me.

Five Loaves, Two Fish

We read in the Old Testament about how Moses felt inadequate... “Who am I? I am slow of speech and tongue,” he said when God appointed him to go to Pharaoh and get his Israelites out of Egypt. (Exodus 3)

But the Lord said, “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

Yet Moses fearfully replied, “Please send someone else to do it.”

Ever felt this way?

Now let’s move to the New Testament… In John 6:9, a great crowd followed Jesus, eager for the wondrous healings and the teachings they had heard about. It was now late and they were all hungry, and Philip estimated it would take eight months’ wages to feed the whole crowd.

A young boy had five loaves and two fish. The meager supply seemed inadequate to feed the hungry crowd at hand, but the boy willingly gave what he had… and Jesus blessed it, fed 5,000 and even had leftovers!


Reflecting on these two stories, I surrendered. “Who am I to decide if God can use my unpolished skills, my limited supply?”

Dear Lord, even when I’m anxious, I will give you all my skills, abilities and passions. While they may not seem enough to me, they do to you, because you already know their full potential. Use them for your glory.