I long to be as close as she is...

Beth Moore. A Woman dedicated to teaching other women how to

LOVE and LIVE the Word of God.

I have been in several Bible study groups that used her materials....I cannot say enough about them. Not only do you grow spiritually, but you learn SO MUCH history and reasoning behind the stories we grew up reading in church. They become even more meaningful and applicable.

In April (yes, it's been a while) I had the opportunity to attend Beth Moore's Living Proof Conferences in Tampa with my mother-in-law Cathy) and her 3 friends (Sherrie, BRenda, & Michelle). It was incredible to finally see her in person!

She is SO REAL and so DOWN TO EARTH!

This weekend's topic was "FAMILY". I walked away with a HUGE realization (not that it wasn't right in front of me) that technology has taken over "family"..... basically taken the place of our relationships...We don't sit at the dinner table and discuss life over food; we sit on the couch in front of the big screen (or small)....and if we do sit at the dinner table, the TV is on for background noise so that the silence isn't awkward. When we go someplace in the car, we stay on our cell phones....there again, so that there isn't awkward silence. We crawl into bed and pick up our cell phones to check facebook one last time instead of conversing with our spouse.

I took a quick snapshot of my own marriage. The family we were creating was nothing short of all the things mentioned above. So sad. So true. When I got home that night I spoke with Mike about all these things and we both agreed to be conscious

of when and how we use our cell phones, tv, etc.

oVeRcOmE...

Monday through Friday I am face to face with people like you and I that are literally fighting for their lives....and each one of them in their own way exhibit and unbelievable courage and perseverance. I find myself reminding them often, that this (their situation) is only temporary, that this is only one chapter in the Book of Life, that there is someone MUCH bigger in charge, that they WILL OVERCOME.....Gee, if I would only take my own advice sometime.

As I get to know my patients, I learn that we all come from quirky backgrounds. We all have scars, hurts, and unpleasant memories that cloud our today.

Over the past year through being counseled and mentored I have learned that we can be whiners or we can be warriors (thank you Beth Moore). We can continually make excuses for our behaviors or we can change them (thank you Kathy Leggett). It sure hasn't been easy....but I can look in your face today and tell you that I have overcome so many little things that have made a real big difference in my life.

Last Sunday in church we sang a song by Desperation Band called "Overcome".... it wasn't the first time, in fact it was probably the 3rd or 4th, but I just never really "got it"....until now.

Because He overcame (the cross), everyone will overcome.

Lyrics:

Seated above, enthroned in the Father's love
Destined to die, poured out for all mankind
God's only son perfect and spotless one
He never sinned, but suffered as if he did

All authority, every victo-ry is Yours
All authority, every victory is Yours

Savior, worthy of honor and glory, worthy of all our praise, You overcame
Jesus, awesome in power forever,awesome and great is Your name,You overcame

Power in hand speaking the Father's plan
You're sending us out, light in this broken land

We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb
and the word of our testimony, everyone overcome