At 9, I realized that my faith had to be my own, that there was not a family plan for the gospel like insurance or cell phones. I asked Jesus into my heart and began a great adventure. 

I am an educator, a storyteller, a mentor, and a mom, who loves prayer and people. I heard a speaker, Dawn Neely, say prayer began as desperation, became a discipline, and now is her passion. That is my story as well.

I have been running hard after the Lord all these years and He has shown up beyond what I can imagine. 

When my Mom was dying in 2011, I saw Him show up in every detail. He carried through something I had dreaded my whole life. I realized I could trust Him with the rest of my life. 

I found what I read in Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret referred to as the great exchange -  exchanging my wants, needs, desires, and life for His - to be true. Since my great exchange, God reminds me daily of His great love for me. One of those ways is through nature. With yellow butterflies by my front door and ladybugs on my windshield, He freaks me out with His scandalous love for me when I least expect it.

He is transcendent - infinite and huge, yet eminent - close and dear. The more I look for Him, the more I see Him. The more I surrender to Him,  the more He gives me peace and direction. As I rest in Him and wait on Him, I see Him able to use me more to further His kingdom. He shows me constantly the extraordinary in the ordinary. 

I'm excited for you to see it too! 

Love you!

Lanie