Redemption Song

Old pirates, yes, they rob I. Sold I to the merchant ships. Minutes after they took I from the bottomless pit. But my hand was made strong by the hand of the Almighty. We forward in this generation… Triumphantly. Won’t you help to sing these songs of freedom? ‘Cause all I ever have… Redemption songs. Redemption songs. Bob Marley

Quicksand

It’s been a long time since I blogged. When my blog network crashed 5 years ago, my whole life fell apart. Everything turned to dust. All my money was gone, my friendships were gone, my reputation destroyed.

Before the crash, I had it all — money, recognition, security.  But it was all built on quicksand. Because I had no faith.

And now I’m all faith. So, as I have been transformed from the inside out, so is this blog.

It’s taken me 5 years to pick myself up.

And now I’m back.

And the honest truth is, I’m here for real for the very first time.

Whenever God means to make a man great, he always breaks him in pieces first. – Charles Spurgeon

Inspired

You see, I wasn’t inspired before.  I was not enlivened. I wasn’t living.

I had to be broken down and torn apart.

Cause you’re a sky
Cause you’re a sky full of stars
I want to die in your arms
Cause you get lighter
the more it gets dark
I’m gonna give you my heart
And I don’t care
Go on and tear me apart
I don’t care if you do
Cause in a sky
Cause in sky full of stars
I think I see you – Coldplay

Shampoo

If you told me that a few years later after my crash, I would end up in a network marketing company selling shampoo, I would not have believed you.

But we are only humans here on earth. We are not omniscient and omnipotent. But God is. And He has a plan for us.

And when we submit to His will, that’s when life becomes miraculous.

It’s impossible to lose your footing when you’re on your knees. – Fulton Sheen

Ministry

I spent the past weekend at Monations at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, along with 8 thousand other people who are part of a mission to spread the grace of God all over the world.

They may not have all realized that that’s why we were there… some may think they were just there to promote shampoo.

But as Jewely Stephens says, “It’s a ministry disguised as a shampoo company.”

You probably think that sounds crazy. Just a few years ago, I would have thought it sounded crazy, too.

Miracles

I saw so many miracles this weekend. Over and over, the same theme played out.

God breaking people down in order to transform their lives completely.

Story after story of the worst hardships: cancer, bankruptcy, foreclosure, losing their jobs, babies born with special needs.

And then they found a vehicle that led them to redemption. This ministry disguised as a shampoo business.

Sisterhood

It’s funny, because I was named after a nun. My dad, a Polish Catholic, named me after his favorite teacher, Sister Ann Marie.

When I was a little girl, I wanted to become a nun when I grew up.

And now I find myself in this Shampoo Sisterhood. Only it’s not a convent.  It’s a worldwide mission to uplift humanity.

You see, the shampoo is just a vehicle. It’s a product we sell and the way that we sell it gives us freedom.

It’s a model of distribution called network marketing, and I’ll be writing more about that in future posts.

Faith

And yes, I am a Christian now. I was a cradle Catholic, and, as I said, I was named after a nun.

I became agnostic at 7 when I learned about evolution in public school. I went all the way over to atheism…

And 40 years later, I’m back.

After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.  (Acts 7:30)

Ignite

Our theme for Monations this year was IGNITE.

When they announced the new skin care line, the stage literally set on fire. I’m not exaggerating. They had to bring out a fire extinguisher.

So many people… 8,000 of them in Nationwide Stadium. Singing their redemption songs.

I don’t want to set the world on fire
I just want to start a flame in your heartThe Ink Spots

Redemption

I never really understood before why they call God the Redeemer. Now I get it.

Redemption means freedom. Freedom from debt, or slavery. To buy back, or pay off a ransom. To be restored. To be set free.

https://youtu.be/QrY9eHkXTa4 “Redemption Song” – Bob Marley

Won’t you help to sing these songs of freedom? ‘Cause all I ever have… Redemption songs. Redemption songs.Bob Marley

Saved

By reaching out one by one, helping our neighbors out of bad situations, helping people solve their problems. this is how we uplift the whole world.

By taking the focus off of ourselves and our own problems, and putting the focus on others, this is how we free ourselves. By freeing others, we free ourselves.

And this is what it means to be “saved”.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!  (Isaiah 6:7-8)

Gratitude

I just want to say thank you to each and every one of my readers who has stuck with me through the years. Thank you, readers and friends.

I haven’t felt inspired to blog in such a long time. But I’m finally back.

And I’m here for real now. For the first time.

And I’m looking forward to share my whole heart with you. And doing whatever I can to help you solve the problems you face.

I’ve probably got another 40 years left in me and I’m looking forward to sharing it with you.

And yes, I’m keeping the name.  And yes, I’ll still write about food.

But there will be so much more.