Female in Motion

Fey Fae original drawing Last week, I helped to plan three parties. Yes, it was hectic and I was stressed. Party#1: A "Bon Voyage" party for a young co-worker and friend who was returning to her home country. Party#2: A retirement party for my boss, who has spent a lifetime as a CPA and now wants to spend the rest of his life with his family. Party#3: A wedding reception for a sweet couple who are starting all over again. All three of these parties brought big changes to the lives of those involved. And change is a source of major stress. Along with the fear of the unknown, transitions bring pain in view of radical transformations. Life changes can bring grief, like a death, but they also provide joy and growth in new experiences and perspectives. When I accept new challenges and even embrace them, I mature in my faith. Be assured, your value to God is constant and will never change. When change comes, and it always does, we can accept a new reality and grow ...

Original entry date: February 6, 2012 A letter came in the mail today. A dear friend is going through hard times. A missionary to troubled teens in the Kansas City area, this man also works full-time at a secular job to provide for his family. Last week, he was fired from his job for something he did not do. He's discouraged. I know a woman who is waiting on a sign from God. Her life is in a holding pattern. She has a family, a great career, loving friends, and she wants more. This woman wants to step out by faith on a new mission, but God hasn't said the word yet. She is discouraged. Last week I got two rejection letters for my writing. After two years of submitting my work to publications, I still have no success. My blog is gaining new readers and I am networking with lots of talented writers, but I want to be published. I am discouraged. Elijah the prophet was discouraged, too. God sent him to preach to the people of Israel, but King Ahab worshipped Baal and the altar...

Photo courtesy of Smithsonian Magazine John 16:33 (KJV) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.  I'm a Christian, why isn't my life perfect? It should be easy, according to some very popular doctrines. Just believe God and He will make sure everything is great, right? Um, where does it say that in the Bible? John says that in the world we will have tribulation, aka problems. Our Savior will give us peace, though, because He has overcome the world. What an amazing promise! Our lives here on earth won't be perfect, but we will have our Precious Lord beside us, every step of the way. *** Notable Quote: "In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular."--Kathy Norris

Artwork courtesy of  Tabatha "Fae" Waldroupe Exodus 20:9-10 (KJV) Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: A dear friend gave me an amazing gift--a devotional book called, "Sacred Rest" by Cheryl Wunderlich. Each night before bed, I savor two pages of hope and encouragement, centering on the need for a Sabbath. The Scripture quotation above reminds us that rest is a commandment from God. And while we would never consider breaking God's laws like "do not murder" and "don't covet your neighbor's wife," we don't think twice about blowing right through a Sabbath day of rest. I have a tough time with this one. It makes me feel lazy when I sit around all day, reading, calling loved ones and nappin...

Fae's first "doodle" I am extremely pleased and honored to introduce you to someone special. Fae Waldroupe, a gifted young artist, will be providing visual content to Female in Motion's weekly blog posts.  While leading a ladies small group at my church, I noticed Fae sketching on a plain cross handout. What she did (which Fae calls "doodling"), was astounding.  Please join me in welcoming Fae to the blog and make sure to give this talented woman some positive feedback. Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV) It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  Sometimes it feels like our souls are battered and bruised from trying, from waiting, from failure, from rejection. We feel profoundly flawed. Take time to remember that so many in the Bible--Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Daniel and Joseph were all flawed and human. That's how God knew that He would be ab...