Abundance means “overflowing fullness.”  The abundant life refers to abounding fullness of joy and strength for mind, body and soul.  The contrast of this is feelings of lack, emptiness, and dissatisfaction.  I don’t know about you, but I want the former, not the latter.  Don’t we all when we spend some quiet moments really thinking about it?  Is it in our power to achieve?  Can we actually obtain it?  Well, of course, with some qualifiers, however. 

I grew up being more conscience of the spiritual part of things. I don’t actually know why.  I always had a desire towards God.  Even when my family didn’t attend church, I would get up early enough on Sunday mornings to attend church with my neighbor friend as a early elementary-age girl.  After my parent’s divorce and a move across the country, a friend of the family took me to church where I heard the gospel that I had a Heavenly Father who would never leave or forsake me.  The church and its community for the remainder of my childhood became a place of refuge and comfort.  The personal relationship I formed with my Father was sustaining and a major resiliency factor in my life.  It helped me formulate my trajectory path:  attending a small private Christian University, choosing Christian counseling as a career path, and creating curative spiritual disciplines throughout my life. 

My first job outside of college was on a church staff as the female youth director associate.  Even though I wasn’t too far removed from these teenagers chronologically, I was given the humble opportunity to be trusted into their intimate places.  During a week long church camp experience, we had the awesome task of hand-writing a special note to each camper to make sure they were seen and cared for.  So here was my prayer on that lower corner bunk in the dorm-style rows of hundreds, “Lord, what can I say to these kids so they get it?”  “What message can I send them so they know you, your love, and your care?”  He simply said, “Tell them what I have been in your life.”  God lead me to Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.”  This was the verse that encapsulated what I knew God had worked within my own life, giving me hope, strength and the capacity to live differently.  It has been my Life Verse ever since.  I share the hope and strength of Christ’s work in us often through this verse. 

Growing up in Oklahoma, the body of water for recreation was lakes.  Although there were good times to be had, when I was introduced to the ocean in my early adulthood... game changer!  Stunningly beautiful to the eye, the smell of saltwater, the feel of the warm sun, gentle breeze and sand between the toes, and the lulling sound of the gulls and rhythmic waves were now imprinted in my soul.  No other place makes me feel the bigness of God like the ocean. Do you know the song, “My Redeemer Lives” by Nicole C. Mullen?  A portion of the lyrics say, “Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?  Who told the ocean you can only come this far?  Who showed the moon where to hide to evening?... I know My Redeemer Lives!”  The ocean has always been a clarifying spiritual place for me and a reminder of God’s greatness, abundance. 

So, that’s it ladies.  All my loves put together. Exceeding:  A Journey to Finding Abundance.  This program is where we learn through spiritual, mental and emotional activities and interventions to live the abundant life God wants to do in us while in the company of like-minded community!  You will be seen and cared for!  It just doesn’t get any better than that!  You will walk away renewed, rejuvenated with specific tools in order to experience the overflow as you develop resiliency in your life.  Please join us!