It is so amazing how one simple 3-letter affirmative can change a life.  I know it does.  Just by saying yes I am not the woman I was 29 years ago……

A simple “Yes.” brought Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, into my life at the impressionable age of 11.  It was s faint, nervous “yes.”  It was the answer to every question that the country preacher asked me.  I just knew that I wanted to know this man, Jesus.  The preacher made Him sound so promising and so cool.  I just wanted to know this guy.  And I did.  The minute the “yes” was whispered, the world as I knew it changed.

In 1993, I was online playing around on this “imagination network.”  There was no world wide web in 93.  I was asked to play checkers.  My answer:  Yes!  Found out through the course of this game, the man on the other end of the modem was kinda nice and had definitely peaked my interest.  The click of the keyboard… Y-E-S…. and we married in 1995.  Followed by a “Yes” one night lead to my beautiful daughter, Joellen and 4 years later a “yes” gave me my adorable son, Justin.  Again, that simple word changed the course of my life.

In 2005, I was offered a job in ministry.  I was struggling with answering “Yes.”  I really wanted to but my love for teaching Deaf children was standing in my way.  I was unhappy teaching and I was well aware of how it was affecting me.  But, I loved teaching and if I left it meant not coming back because the license was changed and I would not be Grandfathered in any longer.  It was a hard choice.  I had great teacher friends whom I loved dearly.  I had …. some… students that I was making a difference in their lives.  It was a battle for several minutes.  I responded with a big old “YES!”  I entered into ministry and yet again, my life changed.

After 2 1/2 years as a children’s minister, something changed.  Well, to be frank, I did.  I knew that I had to follow God’s call but I was relunctant.  You see, I preached one Sunday morning while our pastor was away.  For the first time, ever, I was comfortable in my own skin.  Speaking in front of our congregation felt right.  And those were my exact words to my pastor…. “It felt right.”  I continued as the children’s minister for another year but every time I spoke to the congregation, I knew in my heart that is what God was calling for me to do.  Stubbornly, I ignored His call and hardship arrived.  I felt like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole.  Nothing could ease the sinking feeling.  And I sank, crashed and burned.  Then I left the position.  Only to discover that I had identified myself with a title.  A teacher. A Children’s Minister. A stay-at-home-mom. A wife.   I pleaded with God to clue me into what I was to do.  I knew in my heart it was to speak but I needed to know.  I felt like God was keeping me out of the loop.  So, one morning, while walking, I kinda “put God into His place.”  I demanded to know what it was I was supposed to do…..  Got my answer the hard way.  I can identify with Moses.  When God speaks there is no controlling the body.  I fell to my knees right smack dab in the middle of the road.  I am sure my neighbors thought I was having a heart attack.  I was uncontrollably sobbing and holding my hands to my heart.  God said, “Speak and Motivate Women.”  I heard it as plain as day.  Sobbing, “Yes, Lord!!” was my answer.  And now, my life is taking another path.

I don’t know the path of this endeavor, but I do know one thing.  I will go through this quest as God opens the doors and my response will be “Yes, Lord.  Where you lead me, I will follow.”

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