New Direction/Colorado Bound...

Sorry for the long break since the last post. But it's been really crazy (in a good way of course) since I last blogged. So many things have been changing this year. I left my job in June to pursue full-time ministry and stay home with Lily, Brian launched his own plumbing company called Plumbing Works, and we are right on schedule to move to Colorado in three weeks. So... needless to say, we've been on the run!

Here's a synopsis of the last couple of months...

In June, the Lord transitioned me into full-time ministry. Since then I have been teaching the Word of God and ministering regularly at bible studies, healing bootcamps, seminars, etc. In fact, I counted it up the other day and I have been averaging about 5 speaking engagements a month since June. It's been awesome to watch the Lord open the doors and move. In other news, I have been training to run the Chicago marathon, which was last weekend. The race was actually cut short due to the heat, but I did get a medal and run 18 miles. Not to bad for a former excercise hater...

As for Brian, he has been supporting me of course in all these activities, while at the same time building his own plumbing business. For awhile he was working a full-time job with the union and doing his own plumbing work. But in September, he began working for Plumbing Works full-time and is loving it - praise the Lord... Can you say increase??!!

But regardless of how busy it's been, both Brian and I recognize that it's time to begin to setup systems to support the ministry's growth and enable us to stay in touch with people after we move. So moving forward, my goal is to post an entry at least once a week. Also, since so many people have been requesting a monthly coorespondence, I'm also checking into starting a monthly letter and launching a more user friendly website/blog with the ability to download teaching articles, submit prayer requests, download mp3 teachings, and make donations. So, if anyone has any thoughts, suggestions or time to donate towards these projects, please let me know!

In other exciting news, I am currently working on my first mini book that should be released before year end. It's called "ATTACK ON LACK" and is based on the Psalm 23:1 - "The Lord is my Shepherd and I shall not lack." The focus of the book is to teach Believers how to stop being complacent about the areas of lack in their lives, whether they be financial, relational, physcial or spiritual, and to go on the offense using the word of God as their weapon to eradicate every trace of lack in their lives. The word of God is chocked full of promises for abundance. Therefore, as the Body of Christ we are not without the means to overcome insufficiency in every area. I could go on and on about this topic and what the Lord has been showing me, but suffice it to say that I'm really excited about this project and looking foward to getting the book into the hands of the Body of Christ.

Lastly, please continue to lift Brian and I up in prayer as we prepare to move our family to Colordo at the end o the month. God has already made miraculous provisions for us during this year of transition and we expect nothing less as we take this next step of faith.

Until next week... Keep Dwelling in the Secret Place!

Luv,

Schlyce

P.S. The picture was taken from Colorado Springs (where we are moving), it's a great view of Pike's Peak with Garden of the Gods in the foreground.

WE'RE BACK!!!

Ok, wow - it's been since September since I last blogged. Well, I guess if you look on the bright side, at least I'm not addicted to blogging...

So what have I been up to in the last 9 months? No I didn't have another baby, yet... But I have made some major life changing decisions. I have resigned from my ministry position at Living Word Christian Center to stay home full-time with my daughter, Lily, who is now 15 months old (picture above). Also, I needed to free up more of my time so that I could focus on planning our family's move to Colorado Springs in October. Yep, you heard right. We are leaving good 'ole Chi-town.

It's definately bitter sweet. These last seven years in Chicago have been the best of my life, and we've loved living here. But, it appears that the fire cloud is moving so to speak, and the Lord is leading us to leave our comfort zone once again. It's been an awesome learning experience working with the Lord during this decision. As a matter of fact, now that I think about it, it's been about nine months, since the Lord spoke to us about leaving Chicago. No wonder I wasn't blogging. I was too busy hanging out in the secret place asking the Lord - "Is this really you I'm hearing? This doesn't make any sense? How could you be telling us to leave, when we are so at home here?????"

But, after spending lots and lots of quiet time with the Lord and praying this over with my husband, we feel that yes, in fact, these are God's instructions to us. At the end of the day, of course we have to believe that we've heard God by faith. He didn't come down himself and appear to us nor send an angel, he is just leading us by an inner witness and his still quiet voice.

Ya know, one thing I've learned over the last several years of my walk with the Lord, is how to have confidence that I can hear from him. I remember when I met the first couple of Christians that actually seemed to hear God talking to them. I remember thinking, these people have something that I don't. God doesn't talk to me like that. And honestly I was jealous. I wondered, does God love them more than me? But rather than get upset, I remembered the scripture in Acts 10:34 that says, "God is not a respecter of persons." So, I decided that if he could speak clearly to the people in the Bible and the ordinary Christians that I knew, then surely he could talk to me too.

So I started journaling and talking to the Lord in writing, and waiting to see if I could hear anything. It took a little practice and definately some faith, but after a while I began just trusting that what I was hearing was not my own thoughts. I stood on scriptures like Jer. 33:3 that says "When you call, I will answer, and show you great and mighty things that thou knowest not." and in John 10:4 that says (I paraphrase) "My sheep hear and recognize my voice."

Pretty soon, I began to hear God just as clearly as those other folks. I learned to trust that as long as what I'm hearing is in line with scripture, then there is no reason to fear or doubt that it is from the Lord. And the really cool thing that happened was that the Lord starting showing me things to come as promised in John 16:13. I remember one time, when he told me to get ready to receive a call from Pastor Winston to preach and sure enough the next day I got the call. It was really cool.

Since then, I have learned to rely on this voice more and more and trust that it is truly the voice of the Holy Spirit, my helper, my guide, my teacher and my stand-by. I am so thankful for this voice and for His guidance. So as my family and I venture into this new chapter of our lives and step out into the unknown once again, we are confident that the Good Shepherd is leading us one step at a time into more and more of His goodness for our lives.

Till next time, which I promise will be soon, be blessed and take some time just to hang out and listen to the Lord!

Love,

Schlyce