Now that life has settled down a bit here, I want to let y'all (growing roots in Texas) know
what I'm doing now. After a year and a half of working full-time and homeschooling, I thought
I should add another thing to my already full plate. I had kept holding out hope that I wouldn't
be the one who would have to fully support the children, but after several months went by without
any additional support, I made the decision to have a new career.
I'm now working with DFW homes.net as a Realtor.
Mike at DFW Texas Homes has been amazing to work with. He has taught me everything I know about marketing,
listing, and selling homes.
Hey....If you're in the market to buy or sell a home in the DFW Metroplex, don't hesitate to
call me - 817-914-4987 or drop me an e-mail
You also might like to check out my new real estate website,
DFW Homes Realty.com
The kids and I are doing great!
| Passion, Desire, and Love |
For years I sought in my life to squelch those things which seemed to
erupt from my very soul. I thought being a Christian meant that I
must live soberly, without feeling a real zest for life. I
resigned myself to simply living.This lack of desire for living,
permeated my very existence. The worst thing that happened though,
was when I would feel the Lord tug at my heart to live passionately
before Him, but I would hide beneath a guise of living for Christ in a
reverent manner.
I was far from reverent. What I didn't realize then was that
God didn't give me talents, passions, and desires to go run and hide
with them.
The swelling in my heart began to burn within me when my dear sister
took all of my articles I had written for a small homeschool newsletter,
compiling them into a book which she presented to me on Christmas five
years ago.
I felt God tugging and pulling at me, but still I continued to push
the desires deep, almost burying them completely.
Finally it took a "mountain top moment" for the Lord to get a hold of
my heart. On Feb 12th, 1998 the Lord took my heart, walked me
through the fire, and brought me out on the other side, refined and
ready to serve Him passionately. (If you would like to read about
my "mountain top moment" it is in my book I'm Going to be the
Greatest Mom Ever...Even it if Kills Me!)It was in this "mountain top moment" when for the first time, I saw
the Lord in all His Glory and Majesty! Then I realized what I saw was
just a smidgen of who He really is. The Lord that I serve is a Lord of
passion, desire and love. And all I have to do is live for Him!
The Amplified version in Zephaniah 3:17 says, "The Lord your God is
in the midst of you, a mighty One, a Savior--Who saves! He will
rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in
His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even
recall them]; He will exult over you with singing."
Can you even imagine God excited over you? I couldn't.
What would excite God about me? I was simply a homemaker seeking
to educate my eight children at home. There's nothing special
about that.
People ask me all the time, "How do you find time to do all that you
do?" My answer is simple. I have chosen to live
passionately! I have chosen to multiply what God has given me and
use it for Him.
One of my all-time favorite group of verses is found in Ephesians
3:14-21. The NKJV says, "For this reason I bow my knees to the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven
and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of
His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner
man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being
rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the
saints what is the width and length and depth and height- to know the
love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with the
fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations,
forever and ever. Amen." |
Recently I experienced what I believe
to be the "fullness of God." I almost felt like I could not hold
another ounce of Him within me. I could barely sit still as He
filled my heart to overflowing. But I had to sit, because I was in
an airport. My body wanted to jump, leap, and even turn
cartwheels. I felt it best to not act out on what I felt in my
heart though as I was a bit worried I would be carted away in a straight
jacket. Even Christians would perhaps question my sanity if I told
them that God had created within me a joy that was bursting at the
seams.
What in the world could have caused such a fullness of the Lord? It
was an examination of the condition of my heart. I had been to a
motherhood convention in which the speaker talked about Mark 12:30, "And
you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your
soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." NKJV. As I
sat, pondering her words, God clearly showed me that I was unwilling to
allow him complete access to my heart. He showed me that I had a
glass door on my heart. I did allow Him to peer into my heart, but
I did not give Him direct access. I even saw myself standing at
the glass door repeatedly wiping it with Windex™ to keep it clean.
He didn't just want me to keep my heart clean. He wanted complete
access. It was time for me to break down the door!
With almost every "God moment" I have in my life, I must be tested shortly
thereafter. A mere ten hours after feeling like turning cartwheels in the
airport, I was nearly shedding tears in yet another airport. The day had
worn on with many plane delays and very little food in my stomach. How
could I be full when I was so hungry?
I desperately wanted to get home to share my joy with my family, but the
delays caused me to not arrive at my destination airport until the wee hours of
the morning. I still had a two and a half hour drive home and knew that I
would be unable to make it. I had not budgeted for another night in an
hotel, but decided it was my only course of action. After several calls, I
finally found one that could come pick me up at the airport. I ventured out
into the sub zero temperatures, trudging through snow, struggling
to manage my three large bags. My hands trembled as I tried in
vain to zip my coat. Thirty agonizing minutes I watched as cars
picked up their passengers. Even the police car stationed in front
of the airport left. I was left standing alone. One tear
fell quickly from my cheek.
Suddenly I felt a warmth from behind me. I turned to see a small space
heater toward the top of the little plexi-glass enclosure. Turning my face
to the light and the warmth of that little space heater, the Lord whispered to
my heart, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." He then went on to
say, "your heart is safe with me." Moments later I was being warmed in a nice
hotel lobby. I didn't say anything to the person on staff about
not having eaten since twelve o'clock that day, yet she fed me. Once
again I was reminded that I must yield my heart over to the One who
created me, full of passions, desires, and love. I pray that as you
read the pages of this site, you will find yourself being drawn to the
Creator of the Universe who chose YOU to hold within you, all that He
wants you to be. - Terri Camp |
3-1.jpg)
1-1.jpg)
