Martha, Martha, Martha

I don’t know about you, but I can identify with Martha more easily than I can identify with Mary.  I am a Martha by nature.  Because my spiritual gift is the gift of service, I see things that need to be done and feel compelled to do them.  My daughter is much more like Mary and I admire that quality in her.  Mary really understood what was important, so she sat at the feet of Jesus to soak up everything that He had to say.

In Luke 10, we find that Jesus stopped at the home of Martha as He was traveling.  Martha was concerned about the preparations to feed Jesus and those who were with Him.  She asked Jesus to get Mary to help her, but Jesus’ response was not what she expected as is recorded below.

But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.  Luke 10:41-42

 I don’t think our Lord meant that what Martha was doing didn’t have value; I think He wanted her to realize how important the spiritual part of her life was and that she needed to give it priority.  I get caught up in making sure that my house is clean, the laundry is done and that whatever I need to do to help others takes priority.  It is much harder for me to sit at the feet of Jesus and soak up what He is saying.

One scripture that the Lord keeps bringing me back to is the first part of Psalm 46:10.  I like the ESV translation best:

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 ESV

I’m not sure why it is so difficult for me to be still, but it is.

Martha was busy making sure that everyone was taken care of and that food was prepared for her guests.  Her focus was not much different from that of the disciples in the story of the woman at the well in John 4:31, we find the disciples urging Jesus to eat and His response to them was not what they expected.

I have food to eat that you do not know about. John 4:32

The disciples took this literally and thought that someone else had brought Him food while they were in town.  Jesus was not talking about physical food.  He was talking about spiritual food; His Father’s Word.  I think this was the same message He was speaking to Martha in John 10.

It is quite necessary for us to care for physical needs.  However, our Lord wants us to see that the spiritual needs are really more important; our physical bodies will die, but our spirits will live on for eternity.  We need to be sure we are adequately caring for our spiritual needs, and this requires stillness before God and a focus on His Word.  We need to be still so we can hear what He has to say to us.  If we are constantly busy with the cares of this world, we may miss something important that He wants us to hear.

About the Writer:
Anna is a mother to three grown children, Nana to four grandchildren and enjoys coordinating Prison Ministry for her church. Her desire is to finish this life well by pointing others to faith in Jesus Christ and to a deeper reliance on Him.

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Good News/Bad News – An Obscure Woman Speaks Truth to a powerful Man

 . . . but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.  Acts 1:8

As 1978 ended, during one of the worst ice storms in Dallas history, electric power was out all over the city.  Our house was totally without power for a whole week!  That major inconvenience was a great reminder of how important it is to have power!

Many folks are obsessed with a desire for a different kind of power.  They want personal power in their jobs, homes, churches, schools, government, and everywhere else.  Power couples, power suits, power ties, power lunches, power to choose, political power, government power, police power, military power, girl power, kid power, super powers, power drinks, power bars, power positions, power lifting, power walking, the “elusive powers that be” abound everywhere.  There is no limit to the craving for power.

Huldah wielded a great deal of power.  This obscure woman was a prophetess in Jerusalem during the reign of King Josiah (2 Kings 22:8-20; 2 Chronicles 34:14-28).  Before Josiah became king at the age of eight, the people of Judah had sunk about as low as possible spiritually.  They worshiped Baal and other pagan gods, even offering their children as sacrifices on those heathen altars, consulted sorcerers and diviners, and practiced sexual deviance.  They had abandoned the worship of the Lord who had created and blessed them.  But Josiah desired to follow the example of King David and to please the Lord, destroying many of the pagan altars and initiating many reforms.  In the eighteenth year of his reign, he ordered God’s Temple to be repaired.  During the restoration, a priest discovered the Book of the Lord!  When the king heard the words of the Book, possibly Deuteronomy 7 and 8, he tore his clothes and sent representatives to “inquire of the Lord” about these words!  They went to the prophetess Huldah to receive God’s message to the king.  Huldah spoke the words from the Lord with grace, courage, and dignity.

The very, very, “bad news” came first.  Because of the debauchery and rebellion of Judah, God would bring about all the curses the were described in the Book!  But the “good news” for Josiah was that these terrible events would not happen in his lifetime since he had humbled himself and repented on behalf of his people.  Josiah led the Jews in the greatest revival and celebrated the greatest Passover that had ever been observed in Judah!

Sadly, however, the repentance of the people did not last past the death of Josiah.  Unfortunately, the kings who followed led Judah into the same depravity as before.  Those who rejected the Lord, in wickedness and perversion, were ultimately exiled, though they had been warned and given a chance to repent.  Huldah had spoken powerful words of truth, leading that great, though temporary, revival.  Where did she get such power?  The power came from the Holy Spirit of God Himself!  The good news for believers is that we have the same Holy Spirit that Huldah had!  All who trust in Jesus as Savior receive the Holy Spirit to dwell within them forever! The power He gives is not the power the culture is seeking – power over other people, to control or intimidate.  The power that comes from the Spirit enables a believer to share the gospel with those who are perishing in sin, speak kindly to one who has been rude, release the desire for retaliation, rejoice in a time of loss, find wisdom in the Word of God, stand for “right” even when no one else does, have peace in the middle of turmoil, continue to trust when prayers seem unanswered, resist the temptation to sin, forgive even when brokenhearted, persevere in doing good when relief seems far away.  The power Jesus demonstrated was the power to choose to be humble and submissive in spirit, not seeking fame or the praise of men, but serving others instead.  This is the power we should “wield.”

“Dear Heavenly Father, empower me to be humble before You and others, to serve them as though I am serving You, never to be prideful or desirous of worldly power, but only the power that comes from You!”

About the Writer
Diana is a former high school teacher, Sunday School teacher, and Women’s Bible Studies teacher. For many years a stay-at-home wife and mother, she is now also a grandmother to three young Oklahomans, who call her “Gigi”.

 

In this Upside Down World, How Can I have Comfort?

Look up comfort in a dictionary and you’ll find a definition like “something that promotes a state of ease or provides freedom from pain and anxiety.”  Is comfort something we try to obtain through materialistic means – anything from new clothes, to drugs, drinking, sex, luxurious homes, cars, etc.?  Today’s culture would lead us to believe this is true.

Note this excerpt from a recent devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley:

“According to God’s Word, when consolation or comforting is needed, the only true solution is the indwelling Holy Spirit. In Greek, He is called paraklētos, which means ‘he who stands at one’s side; he who comes to one’s aid.’  Believers don’t have to rely on outward remedies or distractions to ease their mind, because help is available from the ultimate Comforter.  Even before the Holy Spirit was sent to indwell believers. (John 14:26),(Ephesians 3:16) Scripture identified God as the one who comforts His people. (Isaiah 40:1)(Isaiah 49:13).  The Lord personally provides consolation and reassurance because no one knows our hurts the way He does.”

“I like this anonymous quotation: ‘When we have gone into the furnace of affliction, His hand is on the thermostat and His eye is on the clock.” God allows hardship, and as a result, we become stronger believers, wiser servants, and more humble people. But He stays by our side through the entire experience, sustaining us and limiting the intensity and duration of our distress. The Spirit’s reassuring whisper to our heart gives more comfort than the solace of family or the encouragement of friends.”

In the life of David in the Old Testament, we find numerous times that he sought out the Lord for comfort, reassurance, and instruction. A few of those instances were:  when fighting with Goliath (I Samuel 17) and running from Saul (I Samuel 19-22).  He wrote the Psalm below describing how our Lord provided comfort and reassurance.

Ps. 16:8-11  I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Notice in this Psalm the steps he took:

1. Kept his focus on the Lord – “set the Lord continually before me”
2. Demonstrated faith, peace, and security in the Lord – “I will not be shaken”
3. Recognized his joy was from the Lord – “my heart is glad”
4. Knew he would never be left alone – “You will not abandon”
5. Recognized where his joy and pleasures came from – “in Your presence  . . . In Your right hand”

Sometimes on this side of heaven, we may not know the purpose for trials and tribulations, but we can be sure that our God is Sovereign, and will provide true comfort, peace, hope, and reassurance through His Holy Spirit.  Lean on Him, let go, and let God.

About the Writer:
Beverly is former educator, administrator, and Sunday school teacher, who is a wife, mother, and grandmother with a passion for sharing God’s love.

Keep Your Eye on the Ball

Recently I attended my three year old grandson’s Blast Ball game. Blast Ball is the precursor to T-Ball. The athletes are three or four years old and the object is for them to learn the basics of the game.  Their coach is constantly telling them to keep their eyes on the ball.  It is a very simple instruction, but if it is not done, they can’t play the game well.

King David is described in the Bible as being a man after God’s own heart.  David loved the Lord and wanted to follow Him, but even David is guilty of taking his eye off of the ball.  Scripture tells us:

Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.  2 Samuel 11:1

One of the worst choices David ever made was simply to stay at home and not go to war with his men. It was a simple choice that he was entitled to make, but it was a choice that took David’s eye off of the Lord and the business that the Lord had for him to do.  David’s decision not to go to war with his men set the stage for the temptation that followed, and a series of events that drastically affected David’s future as well as the future of his entire family and his kingdom.  If David had gone to war with his men, he would not have fallen into sin with Bathsheba.  He would not have needed to resort to having Uriah (Bathsheba’s husband) killed in battle.  It would have changed the future of his family and his kingdom.

Can you identify with David? Have you ever made a decision that didn’t seem like a big deal at the time but later came back to haunt you? Taking our eyes off of what the Lord would have us focus on always leads to disobedience and sin.  In hindsight, we can always see clearly where one simple choice got us headed in the wrong direction.

The good news is that the Lord is always willing to forgive when we are willing to admit our failure.  David wrote Psalm 51 after he sinned with Bathsheba.  Take a moment to read and reflect on Psalm 51 and remember to keep your eye on the ball!

About the Writer:
Anna is a mother to three grown children, Nana to four grandchildren and enjoys coordinating Prison Ministry for her church. Her desire is to finish this life well by pointing others to faith in Jesus Christ and to a deeper reliance on Him.

Don’t Worry, I’ll fix IT

I’m a fixer.  I fix things.  It’s what I do.  Someone’s got a problem?  Tell me, and I’ll fix it.  My friends even gave me the nickname “Miss Fix It” in high school.  This personality trait can get me into trouble, however.  I have the tendency to attempt to solve the problem immediately in a manner I think is best instead of consulting the Ultimate Fixer, God.  I can be impatient, determined that the problem must be solved ASAP, and convinced that my way is clearly the best.

Abraham’s wife Sarah and I have this trait in common. God has told Abraham and Sarah that their descendants would be as numerous as the stars, despite the fact that they are both very old and at the time childless. We then learn in Genesis 16 that Sarah takes the matter into her own hands and tries to fix it. She sends her slave, Hagar, into her husband’s arms:

“Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Genesis 16:2b

Notice the keyword “I” in that verse. Long story short, this plan doesn’t work out. The results of that decision include hostility, catfights, and homelessness. We may not have much patience but thankfully our sovereign Lord does. He has the patience to let us make mistakes but receive us with open arms afterwards. Even though Sarah tries to fix it, God still blesses her with a son and her and Abraham’s descendants are indeed as numerous as the stars.

As I’ve gotten older and tried to fix oh-so-many things, I’ve learned that life is a lot easier if I sit in the back seat and let Him be the driver. He doesn’t even need me to be the navigator! I can take a nap, drink a Coke, listen to music, and do whatever I want (I’d probably choose the nap option to be honest).  And, that’s not a bad way to live. Consider Jesus’s own words in Matthew 11:28-30 NIV and let His peace wash over you:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

The Message translates the last part of verse 30 like this, “Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Wow, what a concept! The Creator of the universe doesn’t need me to fix it . . .

About the Writer:
Natalie is a stay at home mom to two young boys. Additionally, she occasionally works as an emergency room nurse and is studying to become a Nurse Practitioner. She and her husband have been called into the medical mission field and are excited to see what the Lord has in store for their lives.

Finding Comfort Where God has Placed You

When you look up the name Joshua in the Bible, you find words like conqueror, leader, and warrior – all inspiring titles. But from where I sit, my days look anything but heroic.

I know there are many lessons to be learned from Joshua’s courage and obedience during his conquests towards the promised land.  However, in this season of motherhood where I find myself battling the world’s pressure for an explanation of my life’s purpose, I crave a way to connect more deeply with Joshua’s story. All of our stories start somewhere, after all, and as someone who feels as if I’m floating around in that ‘somewhere’ part of life, I wanted to look at where Joshua came from. What made him who he was? How was he able to discern the will of the Lord so clearly? How was he able to lead so confidently?

The very first mention of Joshua in the Bible occurs in chapter 17 of Exodus. We open on his life somewhere around the age of 40-45 years old when Moses chooses Joshua to lead the Israelites against Amalek. Moses tells Joshua,

Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. Exodus 17:9-11. 

After Moses’ arms grew weary on top of the hill, Aaron and Hur supported his body as he held up the staff until the Israelites had won. Verse 14 continues, ^“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.’ ” (Exodus 17:14).

We see God giving Joshua an opportunity to learn first-hand what courage and obedience looked like in Moses, a man who knew God face-to-face. Moments like this were used by God to prepare Joshua both mentally and spiritually to become the successor to Moses who 40 years later in leading the Israelites into the promised land. Now you and I may not be leading a nation anytime soon, but the message I take from this is to live today exactly how God has instructed you. Walk in obedience. Absorb every moment. God has divinely planned these circumstances to teach and prepare you for the purpose to which He has called you.

Our obedience fills the gap between having faith IN God and experiencing victory THROUGH God.

Every time I read this story, I linger on verse 14; God tells Moses to recite it back to Joshua after writing it down. Joshua needed to be trained from the beginning of his leadership role that any victory experienced was a demonstration of God fulfilling His promise.Women, we are to recite the faithful promises of God to those around us. Through this, glory will always be given to God and we will recognize how our obedience in faith can be used by God to accomplish victory.

Just as Joshua’s future was forever defined by the example he had in watching the faith and leadership of Moses, we too can learn from the generation before us. And then we can turn around and fill that same role for the generation  after us. You are exactly where God wants you to be. Lead and be led.

About the Writer:
Audra has a passion for encouraging women in their roles at home in both marriage and motherhood. She enjoys sharing her journey of refinement and learning through these important transitions on her blog called The Homegrown Project.

Put Your Family First . . . Right?

Wife.  Mother.  Daughter.  These titles come with joyful responsibilities (most of the time.)  We work hard to take care of our families.  All other commitments are under the umbrella of our primary task which is to provide for those we love.  They are “our job;” very often, they are our responsibility in addition to the work outside the home, making them our second, third, or even fourth job.  Many times, we sacrifice ourselves to ensure they get what they need.  But in our determination to fulfill these responsibilities are we forgetting the One who gave us this task in the first place?

Abraham is known for being a faithful follower of God.  He was always willing and ready to do whatever the Lord told him to do, even sacrificing his only son.  According to Genesis 22:2-3a

He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey . . . 

Abraham obeyed. The Bible never mentions him protesting or coming up with an alternative plan.  In fact, in Genesis 22: 12b (NIV) we read, “Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”  God stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son Isaac and provided a ram in some nearby bushes.

Notice how many times the phrase “your only son” is used.  Throughout this chapter the Lord uses this phrase 3 times. The first time He used the phrase He made a point to say “whom you love,” just to be clear.  The Lord emphasized this phrase because this account was foreshadowing how God was going to save us.  He sacrificed His Son, His only Son, whom He loved as a sacrifice for us so that we might believe and get to spend eternity with Him (John 3:16).

God wants all of our heart.  And he should get all of our heart.  He sacrificed His only Son for us after all.  He demands to be our top priority, even ahead of our family. Nothing can be more important than Him (Exodus 20:3). We have been given stewardship over the blessings God has given us, and that includes our families. Anything that replaces God as a priority in our hearts becomes an idol, even the blessings He gives us to manage.  Abraham realized this and lived it out, despite not having an example (or multiple examples) of faithful men before him as we do.

About the Writer:
Natalie is a stay at home mom to two young boys. Additionally, she occasionally works as an emergency room nurse and is studying to become a Nurse Practitioner. She and her husband have been called into the medical mission field and are excited to see what the Lord has in store for their lives.

Will he know where I am?

I can remember this one Christmas at the age of  six or seven.  We were making the trek to Dallas from Houston, and the only real issue I had with this trip was that this was the year I was supposed to get an American girl doll.  It was a big deal, and I needed to know if Santa would know where I was.  Would he be able to find me and bring me my doll?  Would my doll be all alone in Houston while I was in Dallas?

For my little girl heart, it was a real question.

Later in life I learned the truth of Santa and the realization that my doll was never going to be alone in Houston.

But have you ever asked yourself these questions of God?Will He know where I am? Will I be alone in this new city or new adventure?  Will He be able to find me?

The beauty of Christmas is the reminder that God loves us so much He sent His son for us.  In that truth, there is the hope and peace that He knows where we are always, and loves us so much that He sent His son to this world so that we may be saved through Him.

What a calming peace!

I remember walking down the stairs Christmas morning to see my doll there waiting for me.  The joy that I found at that moment is one I can still remember.

How much more joy is found in knowing that I never have to question if God knows where I am.  I never have to wonder and wait for a sign. I can stand boldly on the truth that he knows everything about me.

Psalm 139 teaches us this:

Lord, you have examined me
    and know all about me.
You know when I sit down and when I get up.
    You know my thoughts before I think them.
You know where I go and where I lie down.
    You know everything I do.

As a child of God, I am sure He knows me, and,  if you are a believer, He knows you, too.  There is no question, no reason to wonder! This Christmas rest on the truth that Christ came because of God’s love for us.  And, in that loves comes the truth that He knows us personally.

About the Writer:
Liz, just a girl who spends her days teaching 6th graders the value of math and science while also displaying the love of Christ, and her evenings with her friends laughing and challenging the definition of community to be something much deeper. If you need her you can probably find her watching Dancing with the Stars while on Pinterest.

Christmas Traditions That Point to Jesus

Many Christian moms strive to make sure the Christmas season doesn’t get swept away in commercialism, but is truly a time of joy. What an opportunity we have to celebrate with our family the greatest miracle the world has even known!  God coming to earth as a baby named Jesus to rescue us from the curse of this world is worthy of jubilant celebration. Christian moms know this and desire this for our families, but cutting through the expectations of the season and getting to the heart of Christmas can be difficult. What’s the solution?

There is no formula. What works best for one family doesn’t create a mandate for others to do the same. Some mothers excel at and relish in Pinterest-worthy advent projects.  Others find doing simple things like reading stories that point to Jesus’ coming in the Old Testament best for their family. I humbly share a few things our family does with our young children to celebrate Christmas. Perhaps one of these strikes a chord with you or gives you an idea all your own.

1. Our girls love playing the “Star from Afar” game. My husband and I move the star every night, and the girls wake up each morning to search for the star. Upon locating it, they move the wise men under the star as they follow it on their path to meet the new King! When my girls wake up Christmas morning the star is over the manger and they along with the wise men find the Savior!
2. We host an annual Happy Birthday Jesus party, normally on Christmas Eve. It’s small and simple. We have a cake and sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. We sing a few Christmas songs and read the Christmas story from Luke 2. The children put on a play of the Christmas story using things we have around the house like sheets, sticks, and blankets as costumes.
3. We snuggle on the couch and watch a YouTube video of Joy Williams song “Here with Us” set to scenes from The Nativity Story.

Children thrive on rhythms and routine. Having a few traditions in your family that clearly point to the wonder and awe of Jesus’ birth will seal in the lives of your children the miracle of Christmas. Celebrate and rejoice!

About the Writer:
Caroline is a wife and mom who loves Jesus. She also has a career in commercial real estate investing. God has given her a heart for encouraging other women. She and her husband, Eric, are the directors of the Fellowship Class, a young married Sunday School class, at First Baptist Dallas.

Strong Hand With a Soft Touch

I use to dream of being gentle. Then I was hurt. Again. Again. Again. I wanted to be mean. I wanted to be heard. If not for the grace of God, I would be that person still. Then entered the gentleness of God (1 Kings 19:12) like a soft breeze speaking words of truth and direction.

God, among other things, is gentle. He was described as gentle by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 40:11). Jesus even called Himself “gentle” (Matthew 11:29) and said those who are gentle are blessed (Matthew 5:5). He called us to be gentle (Ephesians 4:2). He said gentleness is an expression of the fruit of God’s Spirit in the life of a believer (Galatians 5:23).

What then makes the gentleness of God possible for Him and difficult for us? For me, it is desiring my gentleness to be rewarded—naively holding onto something like a chimera, the idea that, if I am thoughtful and kind enough to someone else, he will be happy and never do me harm—quite different from God’s calling to walk in gentleness.

When Christ showed gentleness, most people were mocking Him, spitting on Him, saying false things about Him, even crucifying Him. Yet, He was gentle. When Apostle Paul said, in Philippians 4:5, “Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near,” he was in prison. In 1 Peter chapter 3, where Peter was urging wives to be gentle in their attitudes and behaviors to their husbands, it was amidst an exhortation to women with unbelieving husbands. None of those situations promise a change of heart or a good response from the ones we are called to show gentleness to. 

Someone once said that “gentleness is a strong hand with a soft touch.” It is the ability to speak the truth in love, guarding overtones and expressions so that the truth might be more easily received. It is a tender, compassionate approach toward others’ weaknesses and limitations. 

So why do it? Why not speak the truth without love? Why not close one’s heart when it hurts so deeply? Why put up with someone else’s weaknesses when you could even more easily abandon ship? Why not write off others’ faults as “their” problem? The answer is clear! Do not think for a moment that you can experience the abundance of the kingdom of God while walking in opposition to Him (Galatians 5). 

The promise in the Beatitudes for the gentle is that they will inherit the earth. And, in Psalm 37, this promise is again repeated: 

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;

Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

Cease from anger and forsake wrath;

Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.

For evildoers will be cut off,

But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.

Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;

And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.

But the humble will inherit the land

And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity…

Wait for the Lord and keep His way,

And He will exalt you to inherit the land;

When the wicked are cut off, you will see it. (Psalm 37:7-11, 34)

If the hope of God’s faithfulness to a courageous woman who trusts in the Lord is not enough, if rising up to the example set by Christ Himself is not enough, if compassion towards the weaknesses of another sinful human being is not enough, ask God to whisper His Word in your heart…”A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice” (Isaiah 42:3).

About the Writer:

Lyndsay has been many things in her past, but no career, experience, or calling define her more than the desire to follow after Christ in response to His gracious work in her life. At present, she teaches movement classes and works as a wellness consultant in addition to loving her amazing husband and raising her daughter to know and love the Lord.