All hell breaking loose? Congratulations! 🎊

Leadership and volunteers! #reunion

That 4am run

I got my cry out, drove back to the hotel (feeling broken and defeated), had breakfast, and got on the road to the studio. The leaders couldn’t believe what was going on. They had so much compassion (of course) and prayed for me around the clock. The podcast was a HUGE success!! Of course, it was—the devil tried to stop it from happening. (I’ll have to let you know when it airs.) Sydney, my daughter, joined the conversation about trusting God through a wilderness season. God used us mightily. Glory!! (They are so in love with Sydney and tried to steal her, haha!)

To make a long story short, my spirit was lifted! I felt great after the podcast, went shopping for a few things, and had a quick but much-needed nap since we didn’t get any sleep that night. I felt like the devil was saying whatever I do, she’s not backing down, lol. I had no more pain like that for the rest of the trip and didn’t even get the pills they prescribed because it wasn’t called into the pharmacy.

It was suggested that I wear the sling for my arm, but I chose not to. I felt like it was an attack because the Holy Spirit told me years ago there was healing in my hugs, and I wanted to be able to hug the women.

The best part? In my preparation time, God told me to extend the salvation invitation, and I did. Many came to Christ!!! On the stage, I said, “This is why I came all the way from Maryland.”

To God be the glory!!

That’s why you must PRESS when it gets tough.

When the devil can’t get to you one way, he’ll try another. If he can’t get you to sin, he’ll attack you emotionally. If he can’t reach you emotionally, he’ll come after your children. If he can’t get to them, he’ll show up at your job, your ministry, your neighborhood, your health—and some of you are dealing with all of the above. Well, guess what? Congratulations! You’re the perfect candidate to be used by God; you gotta pass the test!

“We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We often don’t know what to do, but we don’t give up. We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed.” – 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Here are three ways to PRESS amid the drama:

1. Keep going despite how you feel

We have feelings for a reason, but they don’t give us an accurate portrayal of the bigger picture. I wanted to give up, but something inside of me kept going. The devil will make it feel like it’s awful and like it’s doing a lot of damage, but it’s not.

You will want to do nothing.
You will want to quit.
You will want to go home (I did).
You will want to turn around.
You will want to back down.
You will want to dim your light.
You will want to sit down.

The enemy will say, “Who do you think you are?” You tell him, “I’m a child of the one true King,” and have a praise party to confuse him. Stay the course! When I stayed the course, the pain in my shoulder subsided dramatically.

2. Complete your goal because it has multiplication tied to it

There lies the breakthrough.

There is something you’re getting ready to do, and you’re so close. The devil doesn’t want it to happen; he’s trying to get you to say or do something that will thwart your part in the Kingdom plan. Close your mouth, ask God to rule and reign over your feelings and emotions, and keep it moving. Finish it NO MATTER WHAT IS HAPPENING.

Distractions come in all shapes, and sizes, phone calls, assignments, and conversations you’re not supposed to take on. If you fall for the distraction, the devil will take you down an emotional rabbit hole. Don’t do it!! Mel, who hosted the podcast and was the Friday night speaker, said to me: “This is gonna be good.. the devil tried to break your arm.” It was so nice to be around people who “get it.”

3. Pray

Pray before you work on it…
While you’re working on it…
After you’ve finished it…
And pray for it to reach who He wants it to reach.
Then, give Him Praise!

You did it! 👏👏👏👏👏

You beat the devil and pressed through what I’m sure was an excruciating ordeal, and you’re still standing. I was covered in prayer well before I traveled and prepared, prayed over in the midnight hour, and it’s still working because the messages are still coming! My daughter told me she was fasting, and I had no idea.

God strengthened me to PRESS, healed me, and I was obedient to be used as a vessel with Him telling me what to say. He was working on His daughter’s hearts long before I got there. There had been seeds planted and watered. Saturday morning was harvest time. [excuse me while I have a church run]

Whew! Ok, I’m back.

You. Will. Win! (So PRESS for that crown!)

Let me know how I can pray for you, Dearest.

I love you!

Kenya

My trip to Oklahoma City was second to none! The leaders, staff, volunteers, and the women were all amazing! From the women who sent me letters and prayed for me before I arrived, to the praise and worship, to the beautiful single mamas—God was there. I was so happy to reunite with my Oklahoma friends. It had been 10 years since I was there. For two years in a row, I was a breakout session speaker at this conference for single moms, but this time, I was the morning speaker with 400 mamas expected! My name was in the wind because it came up in a meeting (HALLELUJAH!!). And when I arrived, it was like no time had passed.

What you don’t see in these pictures is the behind-the-scenes fight that was going on. Before the trip, I had a suspected sprain or strain in my shoulder. It started as a little sensation, then went to a full-blown, “I need to see a doctor.” On an unrelated virtual visit, my doctor told me to take Aleve and apply heat patches, so I did. The morning of the trip, I almost went to the ER to get it checked out because it hurt bad, but I didn’t. I felt like the Holy Spirit was saying, “Just get there.” I was fine on the plane with hardly any pain. “Praise God,” I thought. We made it! On Thursday, I did a social media video to the single mamas, and we got settled. Then, at 4 am on Friday (day one of the conference), I woke up in agony and thought something would be very wrong if I didn’t get it checked out. I thought it was broken. I had never experienced that much pain before except maybe when I broke my ankle about 15 years ago and missed a medicine dosage in the wee hours of the morning.

My daughter and I went to the ER. They did X-rays, and they couldn’t tell for sure without an MRI, but diagnosed me with sprain, so they gave me a sling and prescribed me some strong meds. I was glad because at least I had peace of mind that it wasn’t broken. Sitting in the car, I broke down and expressed wanting to go home. (My daughter reminded me of that later because I didn’t remember saying it.) I was in such an emotional state. There I was, in Oklahoma—supposed to be the morning speaker—and instead, I was in the ER. I couldn’t even dress myself without help! Talk about being thrown off. I had a podcast to do that morning with the Oklahoma team, and because I know how the devil works, I knew I had to PRESS.