A brave recap

To be brave in 2015 was to...

• Admit publicly that I struggle with fear. To realize it's not funny or cute, but a lack of faith.
• Confess I battle food addiction and document 30 days of clean eating.
• Acknowledge all the progress I made in those 30 days has been lost and it's back to square one.
• Say goodbye to a place that had been home for years. 
• Say hello to a completely new place, new faces, new friends.
• Throw out a plea on social media and open my home for a Bible study.
• Surrender my words to God.
• Return to my home church in Oklahoma for their spring banquet, not to attend, but to be the speaker.
• Attend a run clinic with my girls and complete a 5K.
• Join a community center and attend group exercise classes for the first time ever. 
• Wear sleeveless workout tops. 
• Send our girls on a camping trip with mostly strangers.
• Adjust to B's frequent traveling & trust God with each trip.
• Be a wedding coordinator. 
• Join a women's lifegroup all by myself. 
• Mow my front yard.
• Realize some friendships are only for a season.
• Tribe coach with B.
• Open my heart and eyes to the Holy Spirit in a way I never have before.
• Support B in a new position at work.
• Be silent.
• Forgive. 
• Ask for forgiveness. 
• Friday night lifegroup with B.
• Monday morning Bible study.
• Body and Soul 
• Walk a very hard and difficult road with a friend and realize favor isn't fair.
• Be completely carless & rely on the generosity of friends for transportation.
• Sharing my story, along with B, to RealLife leaders.
• Watch our girls drive for the first time.
• Take a stand against Satan & recognize spiritual warfare for what it is.
• ... & so much more!

Whew! What a year! I don't share any of these examples as a way to pat myself on the back. Truth is, I wish I could say I have this whole "Be Brave" thing down. But I don't. Many times this year I failed miserably & stubbornly chose to not be brave. It will always be a work in progress for me. It will always be in my human nature to say "no, that makes me nervous" and then shrink back to the corner and hide. It will always require me to turn to God, the one who makes me brave, and choose faith over fear time and time again. It's only because I know He has gone before me that I can confidently walk whatever road is in front of me. It is all because of Him.

Thank you, friends, for being such an encouragement this past year. The texts, private messages, gifts, pictures, and kind words always came at the perfect time. I listened to Bethel's "You Make Me Brave" the other night, and with tears in my eyes I sang it in a brand new way. One year ago I couldn't sing it without feeling guilty. That night I sang it & praised God for His faithfulness & for not giving up on me. I can't thank you enough for being brave with me in 2015 and encouraging me along the way.

I'm ready for 2016! God has already confirmed my theme for the new year. I'm excited to share it with you soon!

“The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!”

‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭3:19‬ ‭AMP‬‬