TODAY … I’m super excited to introduce Elizabeth McNeely – “Biz.”
At 54, she’s forced to sell her trucking comapny where she’s managed crude and crochety men for over 25 years. She’s outspoken, controlling, and driven.
With too much time on her hands, she tries to fit in with the ladies at her church. Doesn’t take long to realize how socially inept she really is with other women, though. Not only that. She carries a lot of childhood baggage and isn’t even sure how much she truly trusts God.
But then . . . the pastor invites her to take over the church ladies’ group when the leader resigns. Oh, my!
Biz is NO DIFFERENT than US when it comes to stepping outside her comfort zone. Life gets comfortable—even if it involves a bit of confusion and struggle. We hesitate to change because we might run into bigger problems.
But what if you feel like GOD is asking you to attempt something new and frightening?
He does that, doesn’t He? Grows us up that way. Forces us to turn to Him for direction and to others for support and encouragement.
Well, Biz takes the decision seriously and talks to God about it constantly. And one night, He answers in a very interesting way.
***
The microwave dinged. I pulled out the plate of chicken. Nasty. White and over-cooked around the edges. Raw on the inside.
The mess so resembled my life. Then reality hit me.
That could be Corrine. Or Frieda, or any of the other ladies I was getting to know. Weren’t we all the same?
Life toughens our exterior and colors the persons we become. But on the inside, much of our past remains unresolved and messy.
I tossed the chicken in the garbage and looked up the number for Pizza Hut. A light came on in my soul along with an urgent desire to shed my shell and allow God to finish perfecting my insides. My heart.
A deep, reverent compassion for the ladies in our group filled my being. Could we do this together? Uncover our deepest beings and begin to heal from the inside out? Allow God to first do a work in us, so we might share his grace and love with the younger girls in our congregation at some point in the future.
At this very moment, I knew God was calling me to lead the group. Not because I was ready, but because I wasn’t. Because he could use me as an example if I was willing to be transparent and honest. Willing to give up my strength and allow others to see my need of God’s strength.
***
AND THAT’S JUST THE BEGINNING. Stay tuned for more snippets from my book A Second Wind. And PLEASE pray as I start the tough job of getting the book published. Love y’all! Barb
God-Moments
6/8/2019 11:46:00 PM by: Barbara E. Haley
When Life Happens!
1/23/2019 9:31:00 PM by: Barbara Haley
Great Deals for Christmas!
11/24/2018 3:18:00 PM by: Barb Haley
Guardian Angel to the Rescue
9/16/2018 3:52:00 PM by: Barbara E. Haley
Biz On the Go Now Available!
6/10/2018 10:35:00 PM by: Barb Haley
Nothing Compares!
4/5/2018 2:26:00 AM by: Barb Haley
STUCK in your Comfort Zone?
2/5/2018 10:04:00 PM by: Barb Haley
There's a Song in the Air!
12/15/2017 8:20:00 PM by: Barbara E. Haley
When you think you're finished, and then . . . God!
8/6/2017 8:18:00 PM by: Barb Haley
Those Branches HAD to Go!
5/30/2017 12:25:00 PM by: Barb
Eight Years Later ...
1/9/2017 1:00:00 AM by: Barb
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
12/16/2016 11:58:00 PM by: Barb
O Holy Night
12/15/2016 11:49:00 PM by: Barb
A White Christmas
12/13/2016 11:54:00 PM by: Barb
We Wish You a Merry Christmas!
12/12/2016 12:04:00 AM by: Barb
We Three Kings
12/11/2016 1:00:00 AM by: Barb
Birthday of a King
12/10/2016 12:54:00 AM by: Barb
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
12/9/2016 12:46:00 AM by: Barb
Hallelujah Chorus
12/8/2016 12:49:00 AM by: Barb
Joy to the World
12/7/2016 10:16:00 PM by: Barb
Do You Hear What I Hear?
12/6/2016 8:05:00 PM by: Barb
O Little Town of Bethlehem
12/5/2016 8:02:00 PM by: Barb
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
12/4/2016 7:59:00 PM by: Barb
Angels From the Realms of Glory
12/3/2016 7:55:00 PM by: Barb
Silent Night
12/2/2016 7:51:00 PM by: Barb
A Closer Look at the Christmas Carols
12/1/2016 7:47:00 PM by: Barb
When Prayers Take a LONG TIME to be Answered
10/19/2016 10:27:00 PM by: Barb Haley
Anybody Up for a Bit of Transformation?
9/24/2016 12:32:00 AM by: Barb Haley
Diving in the Wind
8/16/2016 by: Barb
Because I Can!
7/12/2016 by: Barb
Baby Steps
6/30/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
No Help From Me
6/12/2016 by: Barb
Day One: Do I Need a Blindfold, Lord?
6/10/2016 by: Barb
Depression? I'd Kick It if I Could
6/9/2016 by: Barb
God Has Our Backs
2/8/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
The Winner Is...
11/30/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Sample sections from A Second Wind
11/28/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Has Anyone Heard From the Lord Lately?
9/13/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
The Emotional Strain of Chronic Pain
9/8/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Why does God test us?
1/29/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Inciting Incident-What?s That?
9/1/2014 by: Barb
Act One?the Ordinary World
8/24/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Tell Me the Story of Jesus
8/14/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Story or Plot?
8/8/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
True Light
4/15/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Words of Love Last Forever!
7/19/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Alzheimer's-Not the Only Way to Let Go
7/9/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
The Hunger Games
6/26/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
What Would God Say?
6/13/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Keeping It All Inside
6/3/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
The Rest of the Story
5/29/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Trust and Obey
5/25/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Hidden Dirt
5/22/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
One Layer at a Time
5/17/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Welcome!
5/15/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb