Category: Abide – Spiritual Journey – John 15

By the winter of 2012, my life was a complete mess. I’d been raped, lost my friends, and was trying to get out of another abusive relationship. My business was on the rocks and I was drinking too much. Everything I thought I could keep together wasn’t working. It had always worked before, but this time, nothing I seemed to do pulled this vast mess into shape.

I had nowhere else to go so I went to church. After all, don’t we usually turn to God when the chips are down? I felt like a hypocrite though—an interloper. I’d told God years earlier, about 2005, that I didn’t need Him. In fact, on one drunken night, sitting in my dining room, I’d called Him out. Yes, I challenged God, “If you are there…if you really can help me, then talk to me. Just say or do something.”

Nothing, of course. Thinking back now, I imagine God in heaven, looking down at angry little me and thinking, “Dear one, this will not end well, but I love you enough to let you go.”

When I consider my ultimatum, I know I turned from God because I wanted to do it my way. I’ve always felt a strong Spiritual connection and I’d always felt guilt when doing the “wrong” thing. I simply could not stay committed to God or even really acknowledge Him in my life and then do the things I knew He would not want me to do so I left Him that day in my dining room.

Coming back in 2012 was a big deal. No matter the stage in my life, I always held integrity and I am not a half-measure person. I was either in or out. That February day, I picked in and my life has been a whirlwind ever since. There’s so much change, so much adventure, so many blessings—new rewards and perspective. It’s simply been amazing. It’s been a beautiful little miracle. I’ve created this blog to share some of it with you and to maybe make your journey a little brighter.

I now believe, without any doubt or reservation, that God brought me through all that craziness to bless me with greater compassion and understanding. I see now that He plucked me out of that mess I’d created so I could walk with Him in the utmost confidence that this is where I belong, and if you are reading this, at this exact moment, then this is where you belong too.  Come rest with us…

 
+

The World is Your Neighbor Luke 10:25-37

Praying over the city at Woodland Hills Church. September 9 at 7:09 AM · Saint Paul ·  The World is Your Neighbor Yesterday at church we talked about how it seems that many Christians, too many of us, are on a path and a trajectory that is far from God’s ideal. The Pastor evenRead More

+

We Are All The Same 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Praying over the city at Woodland Hills Church. September 23, 2018· Saint Paul · Last night I had the supreme pleasure to get to know a lovely woman named PJ. When I use the word “lovely”, it fails to encompass all that PJ represents. I found her to be thoughtful,Read More

+

Into Hiding 1 Samuel 22

Praying over the city at Bread & Chocolate. September 22, 2018 · Saint Paul · Sorry I haven’t been writing. In fact, with all this turmoil and additional consciousness stirring in the #metoo movement brought on by Dr. Ford’s brave stance, I’ve been hiding. A friend asked me for prayersRead More

+

Build Treasures Matthew 6:19-21

Praying over the city at The Salvation Army – Saint Paul Citadel Worship & Service Center September 17, 2018 · Saint Paul  This passed Saturday I was blessed to help Communitas Twin Cities with their Street Church. During this event, participants have a lunch, participate in a Soul-full message, and gather some necessitiesRead More

+

God’s Way Isaiah 55:8-9

Praying over the city at Mn Adult & Teen Challenge. September 15, 2018 · Minneapolis ·  This is the third installment in this healing series. You’ll find the other two at our blogging website: http://wrongwaylizzie.me. Be sure to LIKE us, http://facebook.com/wrongwaylizzie.me, if you don’t already. I mentor a lovely, bright, and lively young womanRead More

+

Letting Go: 1 Peter 2:1

Praying over the city at Caribou Coffee (757 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN). This picture is from my walk last night. I’m writing this midday, but I loved that crescent moon so much. I wish I could have gotten a better picture, but there was only so much my phoneRead More

+

God Works for the Good Romans 8:28

Praying over the city at Coffee Bené. September 11, 2018 at 8:35 AM · Saint Paul ·     Today’s ride took me a different direction. Nina’s is being renovated so I thought I would head toward the river, this time not stopping until I hit the coffee shop. When I got here toRead More

+

Hurt People Hurt People Luke 23:34

Praying over the city at Claddagh Coffee. September 12, 2018 · Saint Paul · This morning I woke unsure where to head. Nina’s being closed has thrown me off. I listened to a podcast yesterday about the routine and mundane balancing us—grounding us. That’s certainly true for me—I need my routine. I decided toRead More

+

Biblical Based 12 Step Recovery — Christ Centered Ministry

More than a few years ago, I was blessed to work on the expansion of a Christ-Centered Recovery ministry for a local mega-church. They had offered this ministry at one of their locations and wanted to expand to other sites. I was part of the launch team and while volunteeringRead More

+

Into The Light Matthew 11:28-30

Praying over the city in Saint Paul, Minnesota. September 4 at 7:43 AM · I miss my bike. I miss the sun. I miss my normal schedule and it’s interesting how quickly things can get out of whack. I just do not have the same focus, the same drive, orRead More