For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ NLT)

This past Sunday, I received some great news from Lacy Beach. Lacy is an amazing young woman who chose to stay in Cambodia beyond our 2014 Mission Trips to assist the ministry of Cambodian Care. Lacy has been instrumental in establishing the Light of Future #1 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia that now has enrollment of 175 children. She has also been invaluable in starting the children’s ministry at the Light of Christ Fellowship that meets in the school every Sunday morning.

On Sunday, eighty (80) children, youth, and adults were baptized in water. Lacy tells the story of that day on her blog post
“As He Lives”. I believe Lacy has been so successful in transitioning to a new culture and being a pioneer because she has been willing to expand — what I call — her Faith Zone.

Being so far away from home, Lacy has had to deepen her faith in the midst of a new environment and new challenges that stretched her beyond what she thought was her capacity.

In a recent sermon, I encouraged people to increase their own faith zone by expanding their time in prayer, praise, and in prophesying (declaring) the goodness of God in their lives. Whenever I feel like I am in a situation that is over my head and anxiety threatens to overwhelm me, I take a “time-out” in my own Faith Zone. I have established a Faith Zone in my home, in my office, and in my car. And I am not ashamed to let people know that I am in a self-imposed “time-out.” I shut the door, turn on my worship music, and spend time in prayer and in speaking out what I know to be true about God, myself, my purpose, and my fabulous future. When I emerge from my Faith Zone, I feel re-energized and ready for the challenges ahead of me. Do you have a space where you can establish a Faith Zone?

On February 16, 2015, my husband and I were honored to be invited to the State of Florida’s Black History Month Reception hosted by Governor Rick and First Lady Ann Scott at the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee, Florida on February 16, 2015.

The theme of this year’s Black History Month Reception was “African-American Innovators and Inventors.” African-American Leaders from across the State joined Governor Scott and his wife for this wonderful event. The highlight of the evening was the awarding of three, $17,000 Florida Pre-Paid College Scholarships to three African-American young people who had written award winning essays on the event’s theme. We had a great time!

 

“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” ~ Herman Melville