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the Promise… the Hope

by Dedra on December 31, 2011

“Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!” Romans 15:4-6

Happy New Year – may the Promise and Hope of Jesus Christ guide you throughout 2012.

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update and a spiffy new make over

by Dedra on December 15, 2011

Well howdy. I had no idea that being in the season of the empty nest could be so busy. But indeed it has.

First and foremost.. thanks to my friend Alli for the recommendation.. and to the amazing creative genius of Hannah Braboy you are viewing a totally new blog..

Would love it if you began to follow me at dedraherod.com .. eventually after some more changes and more new stuff, we will completely transition away from justachick.com but don’t worry! I’ll let you know when those happenings are coming down the pike. yikes!!

Thanks for bearing with me during all the changes, He’s been so audaciously grand to this mess of a girl.

Wondering what has been going on? Here’s a quick update via camera photography:

1) Karen and I enjoyed our second 5k together the end of October 2) We celebrated fireside with a latte and yummy breakfast. 3) I worked incredibly hard to get our 2011 Biotechnology Guidebooks out to all the high schools across the state; 4) had lunch with some besties from youth group days – Cara & Bev (sisters) are the real deal; 5) shopping with sister friend, Suzanne we found a new desk chair for me – called GRACE! HA; 6) a day with my friend and mentor Tami Heim in TN. She’s amazing and has been blessed with a couple new roles. One at CLA and a grandmommy (2/12)! 7-9) Stinkin’ Mary R. Snyder blessed me and couple of buddies with a cruise trip of a lifetime. watching the sun rise/set every day on the water.. giggles and music.. blessed beyond 10)got off the boat and proceeded to get so ill.. won’t bore you but goodness fruit made it better! 11) Thanksgiving and college adults home.. bliss 12) Behold the Lamb with Andrew Peterson and sweet girlfriends.. no words. 13) i love my Kelly.. excited about our SSMT time in Houston in Jan. 14) inside out PB cookies for work party – YUMMO 15) decorating for Christmas 16) back at it after being so stinkin’ ill.. feels good.

What’s been going on in your world?

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loss for words…[day 26] … 31 days of expecting Jesus

by Dedra on October 26, 2011

I just can’t begin to put into words what these last 7-8 weeks have meant to my relationship with Him.

I totally get that it’s Him y’all. I get that.. but when I decided to lead Tammie Head‘s Duty or Delight? study.. I had no idea the POWER of His Words through her. I truly thought we were going to dig deep, but um, not to the life changing depths that He’s taken us to.

I had no clue.

I’ve done lots of studies. I have.. not to boast at all…but I’ve done a ton out of my desperate need to know Him more. Out of my desperate need to be held accountable. Out of my desperate need to fall in love with Him more deeply. His Word has changed my life forever.

I’ve been changed by the other studies.. and then I haven’t been changed by some. It hasn’t been the studies, or the women gathered with me, it’s always been me. My heart, my lack of obedience.

But y’all. I am having the hardest time putting into words what this study has meant to me.

It’s been an honor to study under Tammie for these last few months. But that sentence doesn’t even cut it.

He’s changed me. Completely changed our relationship. He’s doing a new thing.

Besides Crossings by my sweet Suzanne … and mama Beth Moore… this woman, with the Power and Knowledge of the To-Be-Able has devastated me for life.

If I could stand in front of Tammie and tell her anything… I wouldn’t. I would hug her, I would hand her a latte and I would stare at her with tears rolling down my face and I would pray over her.

I pray that He blesses her with every Spiritual blessing that is His to give… that her family is blessed for generations to come for her obedience.. and that He gives her more studies to share with us.

I pray with everything in me that if you haven’t studied Duty or Delight? that you will…

Have you completed Duty or Delight? Tell me what you would say to Tammie about how He has changed your relationship from one of duty to delight…

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amazed …[day 22-25] .. 31 days of expecting Jesus

by Dedra on October 25, 2011

I spent the evening on Friday with these women…

worshipping with Chris and Leah Catherine… basking in sweet fellowship, journal making, food and the Word brought by the Holy Spirit and Suzanne Matthews.

It was a COMPLETE gift. Suzanne taught out of the book of Hosea and has really left me speechless and introspective. Pondering so much…

Her message has ushered me into a whole new conversation with Him and he’s leading me back to the place where our relationship began. (Hosea 2:14)

The Biblical way to return to God (after a season, after we have run away, daily returning) is through repentance.

There’s a three-fold process to rebuilding a repentant heart:

Allow God to bind up our woundedness – unwrap your wounds and present your woundedness to Him. Unwrap yourself. Be honest with God.
Wake up. Be made alive. Let Him till the soil. Let Him fertilize the ground, rejuvenate your soul.
Let God (and only God) validate, fix you and make you better than you were before.

It’s worth the pain to get to the place of restoration. Only when we get to a place of repentance and restoration will we be able to serve Him…

And that’s just a smidgen of the few hours…

I am amazed at the thread of commonality. What He continues to speak over me.

He’s revealed a new season to me. But before He pushes me out to be about His business…

He calls me to cultivate a truly repentant heart. To till up the soil and let Him work out the muck and foreign objects. He’s calling me to turn it over, asking me to put my face smack down in the nasty of it all. He’s asking me to let Him fertilize the soil so that His harvest can flourish.

“The things of this world are in a bidding war over you. But then… Jesus walks into the marketplace to claim us just like Hosea claimed Gomer after unspeakable heartache and damage.” - Suzanne Matthews

Have you given all of the muck and mire to Him? Have you physically said the words “I REPENT” over the mess? Have you allowed Him to restore you? He’s claimed us.. and He chooses to do it every day because He loves us so scandalously.

I’d love to hear how He’s working it out in you..

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make a fresh start… [day 21] …31 days of expecting Jesus

October 21, 2011

I’ve written about the new season here and here and He’s changing me from who I have been. My prayer has been that during this time of fresh starts and lots of spaces of time for focusing just on me is that I won’t. Oh that I won’t focus on me at all. My prayer is [...]

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organization & simplicity LOVE.. [day 20]… 31 days of expecting Jesus

October 20, 2011

** alert ** I am about to get my geek on… feel free to avert your eyes. It all started with this tweet from my friend Robyn to my amazing sister, Lisa: Robyn had just shared on the Twitter that her Life Planner had arrived and how excited she was about it. HOLD THE [...]

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the calling….[day 19]..31 days to expecting Jesus

October 19, 2011

So, last night after an afternoon in the doc’s office (love her), a late afternoon steroid shot and a family member struggling with life in general, I asked my sweet friends on the Twitter (yes, I say THE Twitter) to pray. The warriors rallied and are continuing to rally on our behalf. I was moved [...]

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completely amazed.. [days 12 -18].. 31 days of expecting Jesus

October 18, 2011

Life literally got away from me. Can you tell that I am not a pro blogger? I didn’t have this challenge well thought out.. I didnt’ have an outline completed about what I needed to post or talk about. I literally jumped in! But I am so glad that I did. It’s forcing me to [...]

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letting Him take it all.. [day eleven]

October 11, 2011

I asked Him over the weekend through this AMAZING (no.. seriously.. you have to do it…) study by Tammie Head to take every bit of my life. I’ve shared with you that I’ve been struggling with some things/areas but that is a GOOD thing. Sessions 4 & 5 are tender and they need a little [...]

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wrestling with Him… [day nine and ten]….31 days of expecting Jesus

October 10, 2011

On days when you feel like my friend and I … here is what He has to say: 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.9What you [...]

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