Beyond Belief

Each time I participate in a women's conference, I come away wanting to do so much more in service to my Lord. This weekend was no exception; in fact, I feel the calling on my life growing deeper and stronger than ever before.

The theme for the weekend (every women's conference has to have a theme!) was Beyond Belief. The keynote speaker focused on the life of Peter in her messages, beginning with his failures and ending with his victories and depth of faith that grew out of his adversities. As I listened to the words that God had given her, I felt God calling me to grow deeper in my own faith, to stretch in my trusting of Him, to go beyond my belief in Him and step out of the boat and onto the rolling waves, to take His hand and follow Him wherever He may lead.

I've been speaking for women's events for quite a few years, and I was asked to lead a session this weekend entitled "A Heart Beyond Belief." As I prayed and prepared for the session, as is often the case, God spoke to me about the condition of my own heart. As I studied about what it truly means to have a pure heart, a heart that follows hard after God and His will for my life, I realized that I needed to ask God to wash my own heart, to scrub me clean, to make me pure.

It is so easy to let little things creep into my life that cause a shadow to fall over my relationship with my heavenly Father. It is so easy to allow being too busy to keep me from spending the time I should in God's Word. It is so easy to make excuses as to why I can't step out in faith and follow God wherever and whenever He calls. The very morning I was to lead this session, I found myself on my knees by the side of my bed crying out to God to wash me, clean me, and make me the woman He wants me to be.

I think I would do well to learn from the example of David and cry out, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

It's Officially Official

Yep, it's officially official. My first book is now available on Amazon.com and createspace.com. There really aren't words to describe how it felt to view the pages and read the first review of my book. Maybe humbling would fit. Or maybe grateful. Or maybe excited. Or maybe even official. Or maybe all of those combined.

One thing I know for sure is that God is the One who should receive any accolades or glory because of the book. He is the One who gave me the words to put on the pages and the time to put them there. He is the reason I live and breathe each day, and He is the giver of all things. Without Him, I would be nothing.

There are many people to thank for their encouragement as I wrote the book, too many to mention here. You who offered support and words of wisdom ... you who told me to persevere when I wanted to quit ... you who read and edited and read and edited again. Each of you deserve my deepest gratitude for your help and my deepest appreciation for your unconditional love and friendship.

It will be fun to see what God has in store for the book as people begin to read it. My prayer is that readers will be touched and drawn into a closer relationship with God and with their families.

I often wonder if those who have gone before us know of things here on earth. If they do, I'm sure that Mom is in heaven saying, "Lord, help! She's done gone and wrote a book about me!"

I have, Mom, I have indeed.

http://www.createspace.com/3352848



http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Terrie+Dennard+Johnson&x=15&y=28