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Never is one of those words I don’t like to use. Because anytime I say “never” it seems that that never thing is what God calls me to! It “never” fails!

Joanne

I knew I couldn’t handle a disabled child.

Knew. It.

God granted me six incredibly wonderful children, the last being a disabled child.

You know—the one who is the delight of my life.

God is so tricksy! Thank you, Lord!!

LOL Oh yes He has I also went to LPL in B’ham and at the end of the conference God asked everyone to write down and commit to making an impact on this generation I wrote down several things that I would commit to God including public speaking - if that is what He called me to do - I even remember writing that and silently saying to God “but don’t call me to do that one ok?!” Well a year later He did and as He prepares us He also equips us I led several Bible studies over the yrs and it has been a true blessing! God is so GOOD and faithful! BTW: I think I was in that sermon that DP taught and it totally made me want to go to Africa - one day :) Blessings Kim

When my oldest daughter was small, I said I would NEVER homeschool my children. When she was 4, God totally changed my heart. I have been homeschooling her (and now her sisters) for over 6 years and I absolutely love it! I know without a doubt that God called me to it and equipped my disorganized self to be organized enough in this one thing. His way was so much better than mine. It always is!

I’ve been to 4 different countries in Africa in the past 5 years. The first time I went, it was actually because I desperately wanted to go. I’m sure you understand when I say that it was a trip that changed my life, but somewhere deep within my heart I decided that I could never go back. I was too devastated by what I saw, too heartbroken for all the children we couldn’t help, and too ashamed that there wasn’t more I could do.

But somewhere along the way my heart changed, and I did go back, more than once. I’ll go back again, Lord wiling.

God Bless, Jacqueline

Be a nun…

My family is Catholic. My father thought it would be wonderful if one of his children was called to life as a priest or nun. I always said “well, its not going to be me!”

I wanted kids and a husband and a career and to do something “important” (read: worldly success)with my life.

Slowly God placed a desire in my heart to pray. the more time I spent in prayer the more I desired to pray. And not for myself but for others and our world and for those who are in situations where they don’t even know how to pray.

And finally, God led me to community of Godly women whose mission in life is to spend their whole life in prayer for “all people, of all places, of all times” I knew that God was calling me to this place so I sought to join them submitting to God’s will but resigning myself to being miserable for the rest of my life.

And of course, the result - I have known more joy and happiness than I ever imagined.

God’s funny like that.

I grew up ( mostly ) in a city near a very large Army Post. And I grew up saying I’ll never marry someone in the military. Happily married 16+ years to an Air Force pilot and preparing for our 7th move next summer. I wouldn’t change a thing!

1) Get married young (I was 20.) 2) Have 4 children (I have four.) 3) Be a stay-at-home mom (I am one.)

Now I tend to not say never, when it comes to what I’ll do or not do.

My plans for my life were not the BEST. I’m so glad God helped me choose best…for I am one strong-willed child of His.

Absolutely! To tell my secrets! To speak in public! To fly on airplanes! Definitely NOT overseas!! (This is the only one of my NEVERS that has not happened……yet)

I used to pray (out of fear of the unknown) that I would never be sent to Africa when I was a child, and when I was a teenager and by time I was older and working - completely forgot about such things. God has worked so many good things in my life. I pray that He will use my children for His purposes - even if they end up in ‘Africa.’ I also “heard Him in church” a couple months ago tell me I would be going to Africa at some time in the future to help with a project short-term. Talked to my pastor about it. It will happen, just waiting on the time. :)

Have a big family. 1 or 2 kids would be enough, I said. Well, I have SIX now.

To homeschool (never dreamt of doing that!), then 15 years later to stop homeschooling and put the kids in public school (had always said I would never do that!).

To speak in public. Have had to do that tons these past couple of years - what a blessing that has turned out to be for this inherently shy woman.

To go in to chuch leadership. Me??? No way. Now I serve as Women’s Ministry Director along with being a Biblical Counselor.

Move away from California, my home state, to the Midwest and stay there 11 years. Then, I said I would never move back to California, but here I am!

I guess I have not learned to ‘never say never’!!!

Oh boy have I been there. Right after having my first child I said I could never do this again (I love children mind you and growing up I always said I would have 10). Well 10 months later I gave birth to identicle triplet girls. They were born early and had complications… so by the time they were old enough for Kindergarten, I was very excited. Things weren’t going so well for my 1st born special needs child and someone mentioned home schooling. I said “I will never home school!! Well you know what ended up happening! For 12 long years. I didn’t learn from that experience though and continued to say NEVER… having another child, moving to NH to an old home (never an old house, PLEASE), my husband never to own his own business, and my biggest NEVER… never Africa!!!! Well every “never” came to pass EXCEPT Africa. I’m hoping that I renounced that one in time! I have to say though that my husband (who has been to Haiti 3 times) and I just got back from Haiti which was an amazing feet. First, we had to ride in a PLANE (yes, that scares me) then leave the state and go to a whole different country. Now I’m home itching like crazy from something I picked up while there BUT I AM NOT SAYING “I WILL NEVER GO BACK”. I think I’ve finally learned. Between you and me(don’t tell my husband yet) I would love to go back. He would love to go to Africa. Need I say more?!

P.S. My 4 older children graduated and 2 entered college this Fall and you guessed it, I’ve started all over with our 8 yr. old. Who ever said God doesn’t have a sense of humor!!

Oh man.. have I been there? When I was married to my former husband we moved to Indiana to raise our children because we did not want them raised in California. Well, once we moved - my husband was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. During this 7 year battle, I told God that I was staying in Indiana - I had no plans to return to California. I was now home. Well, eventually my husband passed away and within 4 months guess where we were heading? Yup… you got it, back to California. God changed my heart so that I could move back here with my children and eventually find love again.

P.S. Now God is telling both my husband and I that it is okay to move to Indiana together. God really is awesome and totally in control!

my husband said- “I guess we’ll never date.” the first time we had a conversation. :) now we’ve been married 8.5 years!