Don’t you just love unexpected twist and turns!  Well let me put it a different way, don’t you just love it when life’s twist and turns works out for your good?  I have had such a turn recently and as a result of an unexpected encounter, I had one of the most amazing days!

A few weeks ago, I went to the Library to do a  book reading and signing event for my latest Juvenile Fiction book Caleb’s Cereal.  

To make a long story short,I met a sweet woman with two daughters.   The lady that I met was involved in a home school group of wonderful kids.  As we talked one thing led to another and I mentioned that I painted.  When I did, it opened up such a wonderful and amazing door for me that today, I walked through.  I went to her home school group and taught about twenty kids how to paint a sunflower…It was so much fun for me.   I go back to teach this original twenty again next week, and then another twenty students the following two weeks after that! Now how awesome is that?  Nothing but GOD!

I have taught painting to many adults, and was involved in women’s ministry for many years, but I love the newness of where the Lord has me now. What I find so amusing is that I’ve had to develop relationship with the  women before I found out if they are real or  pretend,  with children, you know right away where they are coming from.   I use to be so intimidated around children.  I have two children of my own, and believe me please, when I say to you that children are brutally honest.  If they don’t like something, they will let you know.  They don’t care how much planning you put into your little project or anything else, if they don’t like it and don’t want to do it, you can talk until your lips are numb and it will not change their minds!  I sort of like that! “True Honesty,” if I will handle it well, will only help me to be better!  So as  I “do it afraid” I will walk  into their classroom and pray that every child will enjoy learning what I have to offer them.   I am so excited!

All of my comfort in the familiar boat has left me! I have heard his voice bidding me to launch out into the unfamiliar deep. You may be saying, ” But how can you know if you’re hearing the right voice?”  My answer is simply that I would rather get out of the boat and risk sinking if I thought  I heard his voice, than to stay in the boat and always wonder, what would have happened if it was  his voice  bidding me to come and I didn’t obey?   I’ve missed the Lord many times, but what I have found is that every time I have stepped out whether I miss him or not, his mercy has always met me.  His grace was always present to enable me. Would you abandon your children when they have tried to please you?  How much more would our Heavenly Father be there for us?  I thank Him that His mercies are new every morning, and so here I am Lord bid me to come!

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