Thrive!

I spent this last weekend working a Walk to Emmaus - #156. What an incredible blessing!! Forty-two women gathered in a conference room to hear and learn more about God's amazing love for them and how His grace is all they need. The transformation is what is usually so intriguing to me, from that moment they walk in to register looking somewhat apprehensive to downright fearful to that moment at the end where they are saying goodbye and hanging onto each other. The thing that was so different about this Walk is that they were hanging onto each other way before the end of this thing. These ladies bonded faster and more concretely than any group I've ever seen. I pray that God will continue to grow these relationships both with each other and with Him.

My job on this walk was to assist the director which found me at one point making a phone call for one of the ladies. The only place you can get cell phone service is upstairs at the end of a hallway. As I stood there making the call a hummingbird zoomed up within a foot of my face, hovered there for about 2 seconds and flew off. I was astounded. I honestly felt like God had sent that hummingbird to say, "Candy! I see you!" Then, because you never run out of God and there is always more - I looked over and saw the brightest red cardinal I have ever seen flying around out in the field, dancing, if you will (and I will). God is so good. He is always right there when we need Him or even if we don't. He is there. He's just waiting for us to see or hear Him. For me it's all about looking with spiritual eyes and listening with spiritual ears.

As I was walking back to load up my car and leave camp I passed by one of our incredible ladies from the praise team. In passing I told her what a blessing she had been to all of us that weekend. She stopped me and said this: "I've been watching you over the last 3 days." To which I replied, "You have??" She went on, "Yes, I have and I see now that you are a flower. The first day you were like a bud just beginning to open up. You were never closed up tight but just opening. As the weekend went on you became more full and open. Yes, you are a flower." Is that amazing?? This was God talking to me. You see, in November I'm going to talk to a group of young women ages 12-18 at a conference and the name is "Thrive!" and it's centered around a garden theme. With her words she had just confirmed to me that I am supposed to do it, and that God is already there. Did I mention her name is Rosetta? How good is God???

I'm finding out that when I am speaking to a group of people - no matter how large or how small - I become alive. I have never felt more joy or more alive than when God is using me to speak. Now, for those of you who know me, or have known me for any amount of time, you're falling off your chairs right about now. There was a time when I would have never considered speaking. In fact, I had no voice. I couldn't speak. Nothing came out. I had no words. He has changed me so much over the last 9 1/2 years. He has worked miracles in my life and He gave me a voice. I pray that I only use it to bring Him glory. I pray that I can give hope to others who are living in fear and suffering from the failure to thrive that I lived in for so many years. HE IS GOOD! HE IS GOD! Isn't it a relief not to have to be? (Well, we ought to be good but we don't have to be God, the job's taken!) That is very good news!

I intend to live like I know it.