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Two weeks ago, I got to have the experience of a lifetime. My family has heard me say more than once over the past several years that I wanted to jump out of a plane. So this year, for my birthday, they let me do just that. It was an amazing opportunity and one that was life changing. I have always been intrigued by the skies. Just ask my family or look at the pictures on my phone. My son once told me that instead of having pictures of him and my daughter, my photos consist of sunrises and sunsets. Planes and helicopters have always gotten my attention as well. I wondered what it would be like to be up there, looking down and seeing God’s creation. My family knows this all to well because if we are ever watching tv, or playing a card game, and I hear the sound of a plane or helicopter flying over, they pause and say “Go ahead”, and let me run outside to sneak a peak. I cannot help myself. There is just a pull there that I cannot explain. The sky with its majesty and beauty just has this grip on me and as breathtaking as it can be at times, it leaves me wondering just how glorious will heaven be?

I woke up one Friday morning and just knew that today was the day, it was going to happen, I was going to go skydiving. I’ve talked about it enough, time to put some action to my words. Time to quench this yearning inside of me. I called TN Skydive and asked some questions. I checked their online bookings to check availability at least a dozen times that morning. I even watched some of their videos on Youtube trying to prepare myself. I talked with my husband and decided to just go for it. I called and made a reservation to jump at 4pm. Once I made the commitment, my nervousness lessened. I anxiously awaited the time and finally it was time to leave. I remember calling my parents and telling them what I was on my way to go do, and if they wanted to watch they would need to come on over. It wasn’t a big surprise to them, they know me well. Once I got to the location, the process of getting ready was quite simple and quick. I met my trainer Justin, he went over a few instructions, and I got harnessed up. I cannot explain it, but once the harness was on, I was overcome with a sense of peace. I was excited, still couldn’t believe I was actually fixing to do this, because I had talked about it for many years. I boarded the plane with around 10-12 other people. Most were single jumpers, but there was 3 others doing tandem like me. This was their second tandem jump. The atmosphere in the plane was one of excitement and enthusiasm. It did get a little hot in that plane, but once we got so high up, they opened the door. The rush of cool air was a welcoming relief. The adrenaline started kicking in and I was ready to take the plunge! As we gained altitude, the views were absolutely beautiful. It was a gorgeous blue sky with white puffy clouds scattered about. We were close to the last ones to jump. Somehow beyond my understanding, standing at the edge of the door looking down from 14,000 feet, I was calm. I think I was more in awe at God’s creation and was so thankful that this adventure that I had dreamed about doing for so long, well it was about to happen. I remember Justin saying we would rock back and forth and on the third count, we would jump. I don’t recall any rocking, just falling forward into the big open sky. I am not gonna lie, I had my eyes closed for the first 5 seconds. They tell you to hold your head back and I assumed it was a safety measure. I opened my eyes to see the ground beneath me and felt the cool air hitting my face. You get up to 100-120 mph when you are doing the free fall and it last for 60 seconds. The funny thing is, you don’t feel like your falling. You feel like your just out there floating. I remember it being loud, so loud I couldn’t even hear my own screams of excitement. Justin pulled the chute and it jolted us back up into the sky. The ride down under the canopy was very surreal and peaceful. You have to be able to hold your legs up when you land, so the person you are hooked up to can land safely. A lot of times when you are landing, you slide onto the ground on your bottom to stop and that in itself had me laughing when it was over. Oh, the freedom and beauty of that jump just left me with a big smile on my face and gratefulness on my heart. I would have to say my favorite part was the free fall. There are no words to really describe it. Those that have skydived get it. No doubt, the rush of adrenaline and the freedom you feel while in the air draws people back to do it again and again. Would I ? Absolutely.

After this experience, I am more convinced that God places certain dreams into each of our hearts and he wants us to pursue after them. Not only to bring us joy, but to help us grow in our spiritual walk. I dare say, that most dreams people have tucked away inside are ones that require a bold action on their part, a stepping out of your comfort zone. It will make you dig deep into the inner strength and courage we all have inside. If they came easy, they wouldn’t be called dreams. When we push ourselves outside our comfort zones, we find out what we are made of and that our God will give us the strength we need. Sometimes the reward is not in the dream itself, but the awareness of our own courage and bravery it took to get there. I don’t know why for all those years I had that dream of skydiving, but it was one of the greatest things I have experienced. It changed how I see myself and I don’t know what the future holds, but maybe I needed that. There was purpose in that dream for my life and I am very grateful that God gave me the courage to fulfill it. It has just magnified that spark inside of me when it comes to flying, and I pray there will more opportunities in my future to get up in the sky again. I trust God with it no matter what happens. I pray whatever I was suppose to gain from the experience, I will grasp it and take to heart. And maybe it was just one of those joyful moments that God let me have. He wants to see he children happy. I think when we smile, He smiles. The experience left me with a desire to be more intentional with my days, and not go through the motions of living, but to truly live. Embrace each day as a gift. Choose to open your heart to God and pursue his calling and direction for your life. He wants us to love the life we have, and continue to move forward as we strive to be better Christians. If you have a dream on your heart, I encourage you to take that first step towards making it happen. It may not be easy or happen right away, but you can do it! When I get to the end of my life, I don’t want to have no regrets and no what ifs. If you haven’t listen to Matthew West’s new song “What If”, I encourage you to do so!

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W

Fear. There is so much power, if we let it, in that four letter word. A healthy dose of fear can keep us safe and give us boundaries, but so many times we let it become paralyzing to our lives. It can imprison us and chain us to the point we can’t move forward. It can keep us up at night, and it can cause us to lose our focus. Fear can take root and cause us to be physically and mentally sick. It can make us miss out on so much in life.

I have went round after round with fear and to be honest, fear came out as the victor many times. But I am tired of being defeated by a four letter word. Fear is a liar.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and sound judgement. 2 Timothy 1:7

Ever since 2020, God has been nudging my heart to overcome fear in my life. I have missed out on so many opportunities because of it. Not just adventures, or meeting new people, but doing God’s work. We tend to think of God’s work as being limited inside the church doors, but there are endless opportunities for him to shine in our lives outside those walls. Maybe it’s the fear of failing, or the fear of what others will think that causes us to hold back, or even keep us stuck in our Christian walk. I am learning that we have a God who loves us and wants so much more from us and for us. We cannot move forward in his plan for our lives if we are stuck in fear. It can cripple us in all aspects of our lives if we let it. Sometimes we don’t even realize the strong grip it has on our life.

I also believe that God plants in each of us certain dreams and passions. Not only does he put those dreams in our hearts, but he wants to see us fulfill them. I believe they fuel us and have a purpose. It may be hard to comprehend, but he can use all things to his glory. He knows our heart’s desires, but sometimes we must take action and move to achieve those things. We cannot sit back and wonder “what if” all the time. That is not living, and life is truly a precious gift so I want to make the most of it! I have spent way too many years watching from the sidelines. Some things that I have experienced this year, which took letting go of fear, are starting this blog, parasailing, and doing my first tandem jump from an airplane. On each one, I spent hours debating on if I should do them. I made a list of all negative things that could happen. If your like me, my first intuition is to list the bad, not the good. And the thing I am learning is that 99.9% of all that bad never comes to life. We fear it, we focus on it, we spend so much energy of our mind playing out all these aspects and it more than likely never happens.

With each task I tackle, when I come out on the other side, it has helped me find a little more courage in my life. I am not sure why God has put these things on my heart, but each one has drawn me closer to him in some way. He is helping me see that I am braver and stronger than I had thought. Not because of anything I have done, but because he lives in me and he wants me to enjoy this life he has blessed me with. He is a good Father and his blessings are overflowing. I do not deserve his love, but yet he pours it out on me daily. I would encourage you to pray and ask God to give you the courage to truly live out the life he has planned for you. There are many wonderful opportunities he has placed before us, but we have to take that step forward in making our dreams and passions become realities. Maybe that dream on your heart is just a token of his goodness to give you joy and happiness. Or maybe that passion deep in your heart is something that God plans to use to open doors in your life. We will never know the full impact if we don’t step out in faith. I do not want to get to the end of my life with regrets and “what if” questions. What about you? Let’s choose faith over fear!

If God leads, I plan on sharing how I pursued a dream I have had for over 25 years on my next blog. It took jumping over a huge mountain of fear to get there, but was totally worth it!!!

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W

I just came back from a great weekend get away with my hubby. Good times and fun memories were made. It was a weekend of relaxing and soaking in the peaceful surroundings. Then came Monday……and it came in like a wrecking ball, knocking that smile from the weekend, right off my face.

I let a situation that I was faced with today, totally consume my mind and day. My “to-do list” was pushed to the back burner, while my focus was solely on the problem at hand. I worried. I fretted. I murmured some “not so nice” words under my breath. I cried. I panicked. I sent email after email and even spent hours on the phone. To say I did not handle the issue at hand well is an understatement. I was physically, emotionally, and mentally drained. I felt helpless. I felt confused.

Have you ever felt this way?

Why do we let ourselves succumb to the problems that arise in our day? Am I the only one who can let them send me spiraling downward with no hope? Looking back now, still trying to ease the tension that I let take place physically, it all seems somewhat silly that I got so worked up. I could have approached it with a different mindset for sure.

You know what I didn’t do today. I didn’t stop and ask God to help me. I didn’t stop and take some time to quieten my mind, focus on Him, and pray sincerely out of my heart for help. Sure I said out loud, “God help me”, but it was out of frustration, it wasn’t heart felt. Not only did my actions cause me stress, but it also overflowed onto those who were around me. If you were one of those who it affected today, I sincerely apologize.

Looking back at today’s events, I just shake my head in disgust. Why do I repeatedly let faith so easily slip thru my fingers when troubles arise? Sometimes I can handle bumps in the road well, others, not so much. It is a struggle and then I am left with my head in my hands, wondering why I put myself through the things I do, when I belong to One who cares for me and who will help me along the way.

Casting all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7

I was reminded of this verse this evening. If I would have took the time to take my concerns to God earlier this day, I would have saved myself a lot of trouble and stress. I have been a Christian for many years, but as much as I hate to admit it, it is a struggle to seek Him first. Oftentimes, the weight of the issue presses down quickly upon me, and I find myself in such disarray that I find it hard to stop, breathe, and talk to God. I am glad he loves me despite my many faults and shortcomings. If I would have just went to him first, this Monday would have turned out so differently. I am a work in progress and God knows that. He knows all about me, but yet still loves me and still offers his help and goodness to my life. What a loving God we serve! I am thankful that every day is a new opportunity to strive to do better.

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W

A mom’s life. So many words can come to mind when it comes to the role of a mother. I do not think moms will ever grasp the full impact they have had on the lives of their kids. We can hope we are making a difference in the way we have raised and shaped our children. We trust that the hours of spilled tears, and silent prayers, the sleepless nights of worry and heartache were not in vain. We trust them into the hands of God who loves them more than we can imagine, which is hard for me to grasp sometimes knowing just how deep my love goes for my kids. A mother’s love is vast and goes deep into places of her being that only she knows. As my kids gets older, knowing that God has a specific role and purpose for their life brings peace to my worrisome heart. Seeing them grow in Christ is one of the biggest blessings I have had. There is so much we want to tell them and show them, things we hope that they will keep in their hearts long after we are gone, but if there was just one thing I could choose to leave behind that would stick with them it would be Jesus.

Seek and follow him daily with all of your heart. Never give up on him. He is faithful and his plans are far more greater than what our feeble minds can fathom. Trust his timing. Keep him first in your life. When there seems like there is no way, He will make one. Know his word. Ask for his guidance. He is worthy, even if it means standing alone for his sake, he is worthy of our time, attention and obedience. If you ever stray from Him, don’t stay there, find your way back to him because he is forgiving, and he will never leave you.

There are no words to express how truly grateful I am for my mom. She is one of my rocks here on earth. She taught me all about Jesus, and her life backed up her words. She just didn’t speak those words, she lived them every day and continues to do so. Being raised by a Christian mom was something I took for granted in my earlier years. Back then, there were times when I rebelled against her and God. It was when I got married and moved out, that our relationship started to improve. Then I got pregnant with my first child and was very sick and had complications, that was when my relationship with her got even stronger. I do not know what I would have done without her. She has become one of my best friends and she will never know just how much she means to me. I am who I am because of her. I will always cherish in my heart the things she taught me growing up and I hope I have passed those things on to my daughter. My mom is a loving, strong, and selfless women who has the biggest heart for serving others. She is a good example of what a Christian life should be. When I look at her life, it is Jesus’s love I see and it makes me want to continue to strive to become who he wants me to be.

I just want to say, every day how we live our lives is being watched by those around us. Whether you have kids of your own or not, we have a generation who is watching us. How we choose to act every day, and who we chose to serve matters. Will it be self or will it be God? We will never know the impact our lives have, but I do know we were made for more. God can use every single one of us to point others to him. Be willing and be obedient to what he puts on your heart.

I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day!

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W

My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me.   John 10:27

Last fall, I started walking two dogs for an older gentlemen in my neighborhood. They were Border Collies and their names were Mila and Abby. Mila was six years old and very protective of her owner. Abby was nine months old, spunky and full of energy. Both dogs were very intelligent, and I learned right away that I had to earn their trust as they saw me as a stranger. Over time, we developed a friendship and when I would arrive each day, they knew I was there to walk and exercise them. But when winter came and brought colder temperatures with it, the job stopped. As Spring arrived, I messaged the owner and he said he would like for me to pick up the job of coming over 2-3 times a week to walk and play with them. I agreed but was a little nervous about meeting them after a few months of not interacting with them. I didn’t know if they would remember who I was or not. One day last week, I drove to his house and pulled into the driveway. Mila and Abby were in the fence in the backyard, so I got out and immediately they started barking as to alert that an intruder was here. I called out their names but they were frantically running around so I wasn’t sure they heard me . I saw Mila take off running to the back deck and she slammed into the screen door. She was trying to get in the house, to come out through the front door to get to me. She came back around to the backyard and once again I called both their names. Both dogs came to a halt, and the barking stopped immediately. I could see their whole demeanor change as they recognized my voice. With wagging tails, they both went and grabbed a toy and eagerly waited for me to come inside the gate to play with them. As this happened, the scripture in John was impressed on my heart, “My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow me.”

As I pondered on this verse this past week, I am thankful that I have a Good Shepherd and I know his voice. I am not ashamed to be a part of the flock, those who are believers in Jesus Christ. Not only do I know his voice, but God knows mine. Even when I stray from him, which happens more often than I would like to admit, when I come back and pray to him, I don’t have to introduce myself all over again. I am his child and forever will be.

There are times when this world is so loud and distracting, that if we are not careful, we let it drown out God’s voice in our lives. When we put our expectations or worldly things before God, it usually doesn’t end well. We must choose to follow him daily. The Christian walk is not an easy one, but it is worth it. We must be intentional and give him time and priority in our lives. He is our Good Shepherd and will guide us if we will just follow him. No matter what you are facing today, I encourage you to trust him with it. The evidence may not always be right where you can see it, but know he is always working on your behalf. I believe He is always working “behind the scenes” on our stories. We can make all the plans we want, but if it is not God’s will for our lives, we must learn to loosen our grip on what we think should be and know that His ways are far greater than anything we can imagine. I pray that if your struggling with a burden today, that you can find the strength to lay it at his feet. And if you do lay it at his feet, do not pick it back up! I am guilty when it comes to this. I lay it down, only to pick it back up, only to lay it down again. Quite frankly, it is exhausting, so if you lay it at his feet, leave it there!! God loves you, he cares for you, and he wants what is best for you. He knows what lies ahead in your future, so trust the process and lean on the Good Shepherd.

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:6-7

Last week, something happened that was unexpected and hit me like a ton of bricks. When I saw the “For Sale” sign in front of the land that borders our property, my heart sank. Immediately, dread and anxiety started to well up in my soul. I quickly called my husband, and then I called my mom. I was in a state of panic and just needed someone to tell me it was going to be okay. Looking back, this is where I should have asked for God’s help, but I let my emotions take the reigns at that moment, and I suffered because of it. Over the next few hours, I found myself grieving over something that was never mine in the first place. We knew the property was bound to sell sooner or later, but for whatever reason it shook me to the core that day. I have always considered my home a sanctuary. It is a place of safety, protection and yes, a place where I can worship and praise my Creator. Our house sits back in a perfect little nook in between nursery trees and farmland. The views are absolutely stunning as the seasons come and go. There is an abundance of nature and the serenity that this property offers soothes my soul. So the idea that things could change around us, just crushed every ounce of my being. I know to some, it sounds so petty to be so upset about this situation, but it was more about what it revealed to my heart. And there lies the deeper issue……

As I started praying, I asked for God’s help in processing this mountain of fear that overshadowed my thinking. God impressed on my heart several different perspectives that helped usher in clarity and peace.

As much as I love the nature we are blessed with out here, God reminded me that people are his creation too. I am not going to lie, that one made me a little uncomfortable and when I felt that being impressed on my heart, the word “Ouch” was whispered under my breath. This thought caused me to examine my heart a little deeper. Maybe I should be more focused on the souls of those in my community, and living a life in a way that points them to Jesus. Perhaps I needed to heed the call a little deeper when he told us to “Love thy neighbor”.

God reminded me that no matter what happens to this land, it doesn’t take away my access to him. This was one of those moments when the light bulb went off in my little mind and it had a significant impact on me. The anxiety I had was brought on by the fear of losing my peace and closeness with God. You see, when I venture outside, I often slip into a state of wonder at his creation and it reminds me of his presence in my life. It brings about a much needed calmness to this occasionally, weary soul. He gently reminded me, that he is everywhere and as a child of God, he lives in me. I don’t need the beauty of his creation surrounding me to feel his presence, those are just extra benefits that he wants me to enjoy. When I got saved, I got 24/7 access to him and he has never left me. And as much as I love my home, the reality is, I am just passing thru. It is temporary, and not my final destination. I have a home in heaven waiting for me, one so beautiful that I cannot begin to comprehend how grand and glorious it will be.

I learned last week, that if I am not careful, I will put my hope and confidence in things that are worldly and undeserving. True joy and lasting peace cannot be found in places, things, or even people. God is the only one who can offer us those. It is in those worrisome moments, that if we would learn to lean on God and trust his word, then we can receive the peace that passes all understanding. As we celebrate Easter this coming weekend, I pray that you know God as your Savior. Our lives were never meant to be our own, for they were paid for by the blood of Jesus. He gave his life and arose on the third day so that we could live and live abundantly. Don’t take that for granted. We all have a home waiting for us in eternity, the question is “Where is yours going to be?”.

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W

Hiding my thoughts. Hiding my passion. Hiding my words. Hiding my notebook.

Though it may sound silly, that is what I did. I hid from that deep down calling in my heart. Why?

One word. FEAR.

Fear of failure. Fear of disappointment. Fear of criticism. Fear of rejection.

For years, writing was a thought I had quite often entertained. Frequently, it would cross my mind only too often to be pushed down deep where it could be forgotten. My mind would shift from the possibilities of helping others through the words God had given me, to focusing on all the “what ifs” that I could fathom up in my mind. It seemed so out of reach to a simple, southern girl like me. I’m just a homeschooling mama, who loves the quiet, simple life. The idea of putting myself out there for others to see and read my words is quite frightening.

Unqualified.

Yes, that would be one word to describe how I see myself. I don’t have a college degree. I don’t have some adventurous life with grand experiences, but I do have God, and what I am learning, is that he is more than enough. He is capable and he is worthy to talk or write about. I have seen him move mountains in my life. I have seen him turn impossible into possible. I don’t know why the God of the universe would choose to use someone like me, but I do know He created me for a reason. I love him and I want to live my life serving him. I have learned that God tends to push us outside of our comfy zones, because it is in the those places that we can grow and experience his power and love on different levels.

If you can relate to these feelings, this fleeing from what God has put on your heart, let’s band together and step out in his truth. No more running from the calling stirring in our hearts. I want you to know that you matter, you are loved and were created for a greater purpose. If you feel God nudging at your heart, join me and let’s take a leap of faith and move forward in that calling. If God calls us, he will equip us with whatever is needed for that journey. All we have to do is be obedient and leave the rest up to him. If God can use a simple, southern girl like me, then there no doubt he can use you too!

We don’t have to be great; God is.

We don’t have to be perfect; God is.

We don’t have to be qualified; God is.

We just have to be willing to step out in faith and take the path he leads us to.

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W