I love this translation of 1 Samuel 15:22. The prophet Samuel was in the middle of a rebuke of King Saul. Earlier in the chapter, Samuel had given very clear instructions on what the Lord required of King Saul, but he did not obey.

Samuel asked, “Why did you not obey the Lord?” Saul replied, “But I did obey the Lord.” (1 Samuel 15:19-20)

Saul obeyed some of what God said and then set out to justify his actions. Some might argue that his partial obedience is better than complete disobedience, but in God’s eyes partial obedience is disobedience.

I’ve also heard it said that delayed obedience is the same as disobedience.

Ouch! I know that I have been guilty of both of those scenarios. What about you?

Today, my heart is to encourage you to be fully and immediately obedient to the voice of God. Last month I shared about discerning the voice of God. If you missed that message, I encourage you to check it out here as I was privileged to have it published by Josh McDowell Ministry as a guest blog post. (https://www.josh.org/hearing-gods-voice-like-waves/)

Once we discern that God is speaking, we have the opportunity to choose obedience.
What I find so helpful is that God doesn’t require us to take 100 steps of obedience, just the next one! And then He calls us to trust Him as He illuminates the next step of obedience.

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105

And thus, my need to share with you God’s next illuminated step for me. I have submitted my intent to step out of my role as Women’s Minister of Cottonwood Creek Church and return to what I like to call Marketplace Ministry. I’ve been hired by Southwestern Consulting as a Sales and Leadership Coach. This affords me the opportunity to continue ministering through serving business owners, those in sales, and those desiring professional growth. I will also continue assisting my husband in his photography and videography business.

Please know that we will continue attending Cottonwood Creek and I’ll be here to cheer the new Women’s Minister on she takes up the mantle of serving the Women of Cottonwood! Please join me in praying for who God intends to fill that role. For now, you can expect to see me as usual through the end of 2020.

I’ll write more in December as I reflect on the great honor and privilege it has been to serve you. Thank you in advance for praying for me as I obey the voice of God in my life and trust Him in my next steps.

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Speaking of mothers, I am sure if we could sit across from each other over coffee or tea, there would be plenty of conversation over memories of our mother’s raising us into the women we are today. In the good, the bad, and let’s face it – the sometimes ugly, our moms did the best they could to equip us for life. With each passing year of our boys growing and maturing, I have a whole new appreciation for my own moms. Both the mother who birthed me and my step-mom who has loved me as her very own child, each have made a huge impact on my life.

This Mother’s Day, let’s lift praises to the Lord as we acknowledge our moms. If you’re a mother we celebrate you. If you desire to be a mom and you are waiting for the fulfillment of that desire, we pray alongside you for God’s perfect plan in your life.

Until we can be together again, I’m praying for God’s protection over you, His encouragement of you, and His light to shine brightly through you.

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