Why Blog?

Ruin- complete collapse or destruction, the remains of something destroyed Exactly what I've felt on a somewhat regular basis for awhile now.  Sad, I know.

Radiant- shining, glowing, beaming with happiness
Not exactly even close to any word I use to describe myself on a regular basis.  Again, sad.

But we can count on God shaking us at times for what I believe are very specific and strategic reasons.  John Bevere lists these five purposes for shaking an object in "The Bait of Satan":

1.  to bring it closer to its foundation
2.  to remove what is dead
3.  to harvest what is ripe
4.  to awaken
5.  to unify or mix together so it can no longer be separated

In short, God is making it clear that numbers 1, 3, and 4 apply pretty directly.  And I covet all three of those things, so why be down and out?  It's no accident that the eWomen Conf came at the time it did, that I was able to go and that a couple of the speakers hit the nail right on the head.  And, it's crazy amazing how Pastor Terry's message last Sunday fell right in line.

I want to make a change. I'm called to make a change.  So even though I don't completely feel the whole radiance thing, I have a mustard seed of faith and I know that nothing but the sweet grace of God (and your accountability) will change my pragmatism into optimism.