Two Most Beautiful and Life-Changing Words

I have often wondered how those who have been so wounded by life - much more than I myself could ever imagine - share their deepest, most vulnerable moments with the entire world to hear.

Laying it all out there for the world to see. 

Their stories, so foreign to many of us, seem too painful to bare time and time again. 

How do they get through their pain and tears enough to tell of the moments in their life where they seemed the lowest, the weakest, the most desperate?  My insecure flesh cannot imagine having to share the deepest, most tender places of my soul.  To expose my areas of weakness and greatest need causes feelings of sheer and utter vulnerability to well up in my soul.

Then I realize that my focus is on the wrong place, the wrong person.   I am looking at the mere human – flesh and bones.  There is a precious, most amazing part of their story that I fail to see. 

In all the Word of God, there is a little phrase that changes all circumstance.  Two words that changes the course of time.  Two words that hold the authority to do miraculous things.

Two words that…

Cause blind men to see.  The lame to walk for the first time.

Give power for men to walk in the fire untouched.  Cause the lions’ mouths to be closed.

Two words that give life to the deceased.  Heal the broken hearted.

Two words that give hell-bound sinners a second chance to live eternity with God.

Two words!

Two words!

Two words!

But God!  Praise Jesus! 

But God!

But God!

Hallelujah! I have had “But God” moments in my life.  Moments where I wanted to dig a hole and hide until it was all over.   Moments where I could not see the light and the end of the tunnel.  Moments where I wondered where the Light was.

Moments of hatred, despair, sorrow, grief, selfishness, disappointment.  Moments of loneliness, anger, uncertainty, hesitation.
Moments in life where….where I…where I misplace my focus forgetting those two wonderful words.

BUT GOD!

Don’t you see.  Those two words change everything!  Every life circumstance.  Every hurt.  Every pain.

It is in those vulnerable moments, where I am the weakest, that God can show His mightiness.  Where the circumstances seem impossible, but God shows up on the scene!  How precious are those words. 

BUT GOD!

Comforting! Encouraging! Hopeful! Promising! Confident! 

Peace, sweet peace in God!

You see, in my life I haven’t faced any real devastation when compared to so many others.  But I have experienced the grace and mercy of God. 

There have been seasons in life where I was so gripped by hatred that I could have literally pushed someone off a cliff and walked away smiling.  Yeah, that’s ugly.  The ugliest part of me that I wouldn’t want others to see.  But God!  God delivered me from the hatred!  Not once, but had to learn the lesson twice!

A recent season of life left me distant from all the things that I once enjoyed.  I built walls isolating myself from the outside world, turning away from all but a few people who I felt the most secure with.   Distance grew and walls got higher brick by brick.  My heart become harder and harder to those around me.  But God!  After allowing me to lick my own wounds for two years, God has said “Long enough!  No more!”  He has reminded me that there is more to life than my circumstances.  There are people who need to hear “BUT GOD” 

So after being challenged today to write blog post that “reflects a bit of my heart,”  I hope that you can see that the moments in your life, the one you may be facing right now, is a “But God” moment.   Remember that when all else fails, you can rest assured that God will show Himself faithful and mighty.  
When you look at your life’s circumstances and you feel vulnerable and without hope, remember…

BUT GOD! 

It changes everything!

But God! 

But God!

But God!

I would love for you to comment below and share a “But God” moment in your life. 

If you, like me, are ready for a “But God” experience, you should definitely check out the She Speaks Conference.  The She Speaks Conference is especially for woman who desire to serve God by serving others through speaking, writing, leading, and ministry.  She Speaks gives women with a common purpose the opportunity to connect with one another, and more than that, connect with God.  God has shown me through my most recent  “But God” moment that He desires obedience from me one step at a time.  My longing is that through my obedience I am able to serve Him and those around me.  She Speaks is an amazing opportunity that I am excited to share with you.  If you desire to serve Him and others through  speaking, writing, leading, and ministry please visit the She Speak website.  There are also a few chances to receive a scholarship!  You can visit Ann Voskamp's blog, A Holy Experience, to not only enter for a chance to receive a scholarship, but to read some of the most beautiful words that I have read.  This woman has been gifted with the power to use words in such a way that an exquisite word picture is painted before you.

There is also another opportunity at Next Step Speaker Services  to receive a scholarship.

A Heart in God

Something beautiful caught my attention today. 

Something that summarizes the entire purpose of this blog in one sentence.

  

How beautiful is that? 

At the time that I began the blog, my heart was consumed with becoming the Proverbs 31 woman.  The verses of Proverbs 31 were and are who I want to become.  

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?

She is more precious than rubies.

Her husband can trust her,

and she will greatly enrich his life.

She brings him good, not harm,

all the days of her life. 

                       Proverbs 31: 10-12

To be found as a virtuous and capable woman!  To be more precious than rubies!  To be such a woman that my husband can trust me!  That I may greatly enrich my husband's life!  To desire to bring him good ALL the days of my life, not some, ALL! 

This is but a small portion of the beauty that a Proverbs 31 woman possesses.  Not beauty that is seen on the outside, but the beauty that radiates from within.  Beauty that reflects God's very character.  Beauty that reflects the heart hidden in God, and God alone!    

I long to be that woman!  I pray that this desire to be a woman of God, to be a woman hidden in God, will never cease.  My heart’s longing is that when my husband looks at me he will find the beauty within. Thus this blog was born:

Finding the Beauty Within

She Speaks Because HE Speaks

Have you ever had that thought, that quiet thought of something that you felt you should do? You didn’t know why or even where it came from, but your mind just kept replaying the same thought of really needing to do this one thing. Like maybe asking the little old lady who was walking in the rain if she needed a ride somewhere? Or giving someone, who everyone else considers an outcast, a few dollars to buy the can goods they just told the cashier they didn’t have enough money for? Or how about to apologize to someone that you knew you had turned your heart away from?


I certainly have had these thoughts. I must confess that I failed to listen to that still, quiet voice more times than I can count. The very situations that I mentioned above were not random ideas for this blog. They were the gentle voice that urged me to respond in my own life. I failed to do one of those situations and it haunts me to this day. I will probably never have the chance to do it again.


This still, quiet voice has encouraged me to do other things in my life and I have neglected to follow, but not anymore! I am determined that when I hear the magnificent voice of my Lord whispering to me, I will no longer make excuses or pretend that it is just me making up the thoughts. So here I sit typing these words. You got it. I felt the need to begin a blog several months ago and I did.  But what would I write? How would I start? Who is even going to read it?  It has sat lonely and empty until now.


In response to a scholarship contest, I decided now was a good time as any to begin my blogging debut. To be completely honest, I thought of taking the other option and just reply in email form for those who had no blog. But in my heart I knew there was a blog waiting for me, waiting for me to begin my journey of obedience.


The She Speaks Scholarship Contest is an amazing opportunity to receive one of two Cecil Murphy Scholarships that is being given away this week at http://lysaterkeurst.com/. She Speaks is an annual conference for women who have the desire to live out the truth of Proverbs 31:26, “She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” I am not sure how much wisdom I have to bestow upon you, but I know that I am ready to prove myself as a faithful “Jesus Girl” as Lysa TerKeurst would say. The past several weeks God has began calling me to a deeper walk and fellowship with Him. Leading my first “official” Bible study at church was my first step in obedience. What a step of faith it is! (That discussion will have to be for another day though.) I believe that attending the She Speaks Conference would equip me to be a more effective Bible study leader and student of God’s Truth. What better way is there to grow than to sit under the teaching of someone who is seasoned in the field?

Conference attendee's have the choice between three tracks:  the Speakers' Track, Writers' Track, and Women's Ministry Track.   Each track is designed to encourage and equip woman as they seek to communicate God's word in their area of specialty, whether it be through leading, speaking, or writing. 

Going to the conference on my own abilities, financial or otherwise, is not an option at this moment of my life. I had come to the conclusion that I would wait until next year and try to save the funds over the course of the year. But I still feel the quiet, gentle voice encouraging me to seek out the opportunity to attend the She Speaks conference. When the hope of being considered for a scholarship presented itself, I knew I had to give God a chance to show Himself mighty. Whether or not I am chosen for the scholarship, God will do mighty things through my obedience to Him. I am certain of that. Even if it is only for my benefit!


If you have been hearing that gentle whisper calling you to do something that is nothing short of God’s glorious plan, listen to it! Give God a chance to prove Himself mighty in your life! Prove yourself to be faithful! You have nothing to lose when you are following in obedience.



For more information on She Speaks you can visit the conference blog at http://shespeaksconference.com/blog.


For more information regarding the She Speaks Scholarship Contest you can visit Lysa’s blog.