my journey so far

Wow! 5 years have passed since I made the huge decision to leave my family in Georgia and move back to Texas! I had no idea why I was moving except Texas had my heart and even though I didn’t have a personal relationship with The Lord yet, I knew I was being “called” here for a purpose. That was in March of 2008 and just a few months later, July 15th to be exact, I had a powerful encounter with my Jesus who forgave me, healed me, and accepted back into His family once again! I had no idea the journey I was about to embark on or all the goodness He had planned out.  Within a week, I met and later moved into a house with 4 amazing women of God who began pouring into my life by discipling me with so much compassion, grace, and love. 

I was fully immersed into a beautiful life giving community at The Oaks learning so much and dealing with my past.  So many amazing things happened over the next few years at my time at The Oaks.  I began learning to hear and recognize the voice of our Father; I learned I could have fun without drugs, alcohol, or partying – just good old fashioned FUN; developed lifelong friendships; began pushing myself physically (Ridewell bike rides, Pike’s Peak, leading Biggest Loser groups, jumping off a cliff!!); freedom from addictions; dreaming BIG again; and The Lord calling me out of my safe & reliable career in insurance to pursue finishing my degree and bringing me closer to my destiny!

Which brings me to this last year! As I mentioned earlier, I left my very comfortable salary position in insurance to pursue school and figure out my next step.  Soon after I left the insurance industry, I was fortunate to be brought in to live in a safe house for pregnant homeless women as a House Manager. This work was very challenging but so rewarding and while I was there I finally felt my heart burn and knew this type of work is what I was created for. Caring, loving, empowering, and sheltering the brokenhearted. My time at the safe house was very short, but oh so profound! I had to end my time so quickly because of another commitment

I chose to ride my bike from Nova Scotia, Canada to New York City over 3 weeks in the summer!! Crazy, right?  YES! Most of you know I’m not the athletic type but I was determined to accomplish this goal even if it killed me AND it almost did! 

But there was purpose, we were riding to raise funds and awareness for women in many places around the world who had been abused, neglected, trafficked or worse.  Once again I found my heart burning, only this time I didn’t have an outlet to “work”.  Something happened to me on that trip, even though it was only 3 weeks, those hours I spent peddling, I learned to put all my trust on The Lord and I began interceding! I prayed for everyone – the women we were biking for, the men who were in bondage who abused these women, my family, my friends, and my life! It was very NEW for me and very powerful and I knew this was my place before The Lord interceding for the brokenhearted. 

Then, last October, I had the amazing opportunity to intern with HOZ: Dallas House of Prayer. Words can’t do my experience or the impact on my life justice but here are a few of the highlights: miraculous provision (tuition and free housing for the 6 months of internship); I was taught, experienced firsthand, and grew to LOVE the supernatural; seeing healing and miracles as if they were the normal; became more tender with The Lord; TONS of personal deliverance and inner healing; I began seeing myself as The Father sees me for the first time; learned so much about The Word in our amazing classes and SO MUCH more! I could go on & on but what was the most impactful was being in the prayer room and having so many real encounters with Our Lord. During my time in the prayer room, The Lord began speaking to me about my destiny and what He was calling me to do.  I began having clear dreams and all of my life experiences were coming together in a clear vision. I have a big dream to one day own land –a beautiful big Texas ranch with several houses on it for many women to come and live with their children.  While they are here, they will go through intense inner healing and life skills training.  I also see a business on the land where weddings and corporate events will be held to help fund the women and children who live there. After a year or so in the program, I see the women shifting into working in the business to learn some sort of trade or skillset to take with them when they leave to care for their families on their own.  Obviously this is a huge endeavor but I can already see God at work. There are so many people that I have met in just the last year that I know will be a part of this.  I believe The Lord already has the land and is preparing it too!