Rebuked

"He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise."
-Proverbs 15:31

Loud and clear, I heard it.
I felt that sinking feeling, the one we feel when we're reprimanded in front of the whole class. I messed up.

What I did may sound silly to you. You're probably gonna snicker and think "Helena, that's not even bad." Trust me though, it was.

You know when you go to a restaurant and you order the same thing, because you've had it before and you know how it tastes and what to expect?

I ordered cheese pizza.

Nothing wrong with cheese pizza, but as I looked through the menu, I saw different combinations, different foods, crazy toppings, and I was hungry.
I had decided in my mind that I would try something different, get a little crazy, if you will. Then, as the server took the order, I defaulted back to cheese pizza.


Menus taken away, server out of sight, chatter resumed, and then it hit me.

I found myself waiting for cheese pizza. Seriously?

Enough time passed for me to think about this decision, and I realized that I do this in several areas of my life. I default back to what I feel is familiar, choosing things I feel I can control. When I got home from the race, for example, the first thing I did was apply to a hospital. Why not work at a place I've worked for the last 3 years? That's logical.

However, the Lord has given me an alternate plan and a deeper hunger.

It takes a lot more faith and trust to go on a limb, try new things, allow myself to be surprised, and not order the cheese pizza of life.

Jesus is teaching me that courage.
He keeps assuring me that there is more in store for me than I can imagine and keep trying to choose for myself.
He is daring me to try, to ask, to seek, to knock.


In His rebuke, He said 'you know better than to ask little of me.'

Busted. Rebuked.

More, please. Surprise me. 

you're going to have a great day

I'm coming to terms with the fact that the Lord sometimes tells me things. Not in an audible voice, but enough for me to go "really Daddy?!" and either do what He says or just be able to react to it. He's told me to sell things, to change routes on the road, He's told me to write checks, to stay, to go, and well...

...this morning, He woke me up. I kid you not, because I would have slept through every alarm :) I stayed up til nearly 2 am talking to Beka on Skype because sometimes good conversation cannot and should not be interrupted.

Anyway... He woke me up and told me I was going to have a great day.

hahaha ooookay. 

It was enough for sleepy me to pop out of bed like ready toast and rise to meet my day.

Daddy wasn't messing around :) 

1) I got to worship in the car, and everything was funny. Holy Spirit much?

2) I get to work, and it's a good day. Boss is happy. I walked into a good day.

3) I get a few patients, knocked out quality control quickly, and got 3 patients who were sweet and talkative, and super excited about my mission trip :)

4) As I prepared to go to lunch, I see my phone all lit up like a Christmas tree. My friends showing me love from 6 different states :) gotta love the World Race family.

5) Then a coworker bursts into the lab breathlessly, "there's cake in the break room!"
hahaha shut up. No way. Free cake. I love this.

So I head to the break room and find a table that resembled the scene with the monster in Pan's Labyrinth... minus the monster.

Not only cake (delicious, multi-layer chocolate cake) but also cheesecake, brownies, cookies, chips & salsa.. The works. Really, Daddy?

6) Then I get back on the computer and I made the WR daily :) This rocks. What else could You possibly have for me?!

7) Oh, He wasn't done. I've been praying about something. Something good. Something I don't exactly understand or have the ability to explain. All I will say is that there was something in the air, something I saw a tiny glimpse of and it's been gone since. Something. And that something popped up a little bit today and I about fell off my rolly chair. "No way?! Hmm. Daddy is this part of my great day? Is this something I should even be excited about? Check me! Ahhhh!" :)

So, I proceeded to giggle the remainder of the afternoon. And then I asked the Lord to put me in check, and to protect me, and to let me focus. (after I texted my girls, duh)

Thank You for my unexpected blessing. I pray for him. Whether he's for me or not, he's remarkable. Bless him.

8) Came to starbucks after work, and I was presented with a heaping pile of candy on my coffee. My God, You really love me. I told the girls thank you, and I was thiiiiiiis close to bursting into tears. Happy tears. No, not from coffee (although coffee is totally cry-worthy) but from the love and the blessings the Lord gave me today. 

What ever did I do to deserve such a great day, Father? 

I love Him. Love love love Him. Not because He gives me "great" days, but because every single day He is with me. Right beside me. Good or bad, rainy or sunshine. Today just so happened to be a really good, sunshiny day. And it began with His presence. 

Thank You Lord. I praise You for today. I praise You for every day.

And while I'm sipping my amazingly sickeningly sweet diabetic coma cup, shaking my foot to the beat of a worship tune, I just have to say: God, You are good. All the time.

Immeasurably More

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21


I can tell you this morning that God has been doing immeasurably more than all I asked or imagined in my life.

I am being encouraged and prayed for by more people than I ever thought possible.


God has provided a home church that not only loves me, but wants to send me as a missionary and support me.


My heart is so full of compassion right now. I'm ready to share His love with others.


The Lord has been equipping me and teaching me more about the gifts He's given me.


God has brought somebody into my life who is very very special. I got to hear from him again today. What a joy.


I saw the sun rise over the ocean this morning, and I felt a renewed sense of peace that He's at work for me, for my good, and that I need to rest in this peace. Everything will come together. He reassured me with Exodus 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."


God is so faithful. I'm overwhelmed by His grace in my life.
You know well, dear friends and family, that I've gone through really terrible hardships, for the glory of God.


Had I not gone through those trials, I'd never understand or come to trust in Jesus like I do now. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4


"As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." James 5:11


Because He is so compassionate and merciful, He made the twisted roads lead to where I am today.


Right here, I'm SO happy. I know trying times will come again, but wow. In this glorious morning, my heart is full. I can feel His hand leading me through. I trust His beautiful timeline.  I praise Him wholeheartedly.


I cried tears of joy this morning, for the glory of God.
My Creator has plans to prosper me, not to harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future. It no longer matters to me whether these plans have anything to do with what I hoped for myself, because I trust that the Creator of my heart knows what I need and will continue to do immeasurably more for me than I can ask or imagine, for His glory.