Crossing Beyond that Comfort Zone

Crossing your comfort zone is just another way of describing what it means to "step out in faith". 

Did you know without faith it is impossible to please God?

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6, NASB)

If you are someone today who is sitting still and begging God to turn things around, yet you are unwilling to do anything for yourself in order to make that happen, you are being idle. Pardon my bluntness, but you are being lazy and childish if you think this type of behavior is pleasing to God. It reminds me of James when he throws down the gauntlet and basically argues the point that true faith comes with action (James 2:14 - 26) because when you know who God is and you grasp mercy and grace and realize just how amazing it is that God concerns himself with us at all, you can't help but feel motivated to share the good news with anyone who will give you the time of day. 

When you pray for his help, you have to be willing to believe that he is going to come through for you, not that he is going to do all the work. 

I recently entered myself into a competition that requires me to not just step out of my comfort zone, it mandates that if I want to have any hopes of winning at all that I stride down the street, around the block and boldly into the next neighborhood. 

I hate the camera and to enter I had to select a minimum of one picture of myself to submit.

Most social media platforms work best with video and pictures, again, not a task I care to complete. 

I've been praying and singing along with this song "God turn it Around" ever since the first time I heard it. I darn near strip out my vocal chords each time it comes on because my desire to have my life change once and for all in such a way that it is the life I dreamed of, that this song has become my fight song in many ways. 

If you have been following my blog here recently then you are well aware that the last 12 months are what I refer to as the hardest year of my life. This time last year, I was in the choir with my daughters. I cannot explain to you how much I loved being a part of the choir and being one who was blessed by being a part of those that led the congregation in worship. I was also the front desk secretary for the church and I was even enrolled in the school of ministries. To be so imminsed in the word, in worship and in holding the position that allowed me to be one who helped others was awesome. There was only one drawback to all of it. Mike hated it. 

It was about this time last year that I knew I was losing him and that our marriage was in trouble. He was never at home and it was brought to my attention that the place he was hanging out at had a lady there that he was attracted to. I knew this because one day when I got home, he told me he wanted me to leave my job because he felt sitting behind a desk was killing me. He continued that he had met this couple and the woman owned her own cleaning business and she was hiring and he had landed me a job. He thought it would be a great opportunity to get fit and in shape. I looked at him and said, "I'm not cleaining houses Mike. I like my job." 

He truly got angry and as we continued back and forth, he stomped his foot on the ground and asked angrily, "Don't you think I deserve a sexy wife?" To say I was hurt would be an understatement, but I knew for certain then and there that he was attracted to this lady and while I had never met her I was certain she was sexy. I actually met her in person right before his birthday and she was indeed all that and a bag of chips. A month later, thanks to this couple and a very illegal act that he committed, my entire family was put in danger and Mike insisted that we flee the state. He had been threatened that our lives were going to be taken due to him being a witness . . . he informed me that he was a lose end. That to get him to bend to their will, they were threatening to literally put a bullet in the heads of his wife and children (us). 

I had to walk away from my life. He was supposed to stay behind, get our affairs in order and follow me to Indiana. The plan was to head to Reno for the winter from there. Even though he rented a uhaul on December 21st and had packed it as full as he could, I realized he had no intention of actually following through. Each time he called, I could hear women in the back ground. His claim was that they were girl friends of his guy friends and they were all there helping him get the house packed up and in order. I made him pan the house with the video feature on his phone and I immediately began crying. It was bad. Not a single room was empty. I accused him of having no attention of leaving. I even accused him of already cheating on me. He insisted I was crazy, that he had no interest in anyone and then he said his business had blown up and he really didn't want to leave anymore. He also stated that the threat was over as the person who we had run from had been arrested and had confessed to the crime so we were in the clear.

The children and I headed back the day after Christmas. At first when I got back, Mike and I renewed our commitment to each other. I began working with him and we were closer than we had been in years. The only bump in our road was a girl who had come in the picture while I was gone. I had this itching feeling that something was going on. I asked and Mike insisted I was crazy that he would never in a million years be with a girl like her. He went as far as to insist even if we weren't together, he wouldn't date her. He explained that the reason he was nice to her was because he felt sorry for her and went as far as to suggest that I friend her because she could really use a friend like me in her life. 

In the end, this girl turned out to be someone Mike was indeed cheating on me with. They had struck their affair on Christmas day and had continued to carry on behind my back. The truth came out a week before Valentines Day. To say I was devastated  doesn't even come close to describing the state I found myself in. When he elected to stop the affair and apologized and insisted he didn't want to lose me and that we could make it through this nightmare, she became a literal "fatal attraction". I was cyber attacked, she took over my email account and blocked me out of my own email account and took over every social media site I had to promote my ministry. She gained access to all of it one night prior to Mike ending it with her because he literally allowed her access to my phone. A phone that had all the passwords locked in on it because Mike was constantly accusing me of cheating on him and it was just easier to allow him access into everything in hopes that he would realize I wasn't hiding anything. When he ended things, she pulled the trigger. She had used a parenting app to take control of my phone and all my apps. In a moment she had complete control. 

I felt like I was going insane. By April, things had gotten so bad, we decided that it was necessary for us to leave the state in order to get as far away from her as possible. In the end, we were forced to head back to Florida due to Mike's mother's health. Along the way three of our children elected not to come back to Florida with us and they each went to a different home with family members. In less than two weeks of returning, Mike was meeting this very girl behind my back. I knew it was coming and even accused him. He excused himself by insisting that in my mistrust, I was pushing him in that direction. In other words, him getting ready to cheat on me again with  her was my fault. I was manifesting it is what he literally stated. 

Long story short, I rented a car, packed up what I could and left. I bawled my eyes out for almost an entire week when I got here. I had lost everything. Out of 6 children, I only had the youngest with me. I don't have a car, I lost my computer, aside from clothes, a few pictures, and my Bible, I had nothing. I still had my stronghold in God and I began once again to ask him to turn things around. Within a week a friend had bought and sent me the laptop I am using right now. The computer is what I needed to fire up my ministry blog again and by the grace of God, one night I saw the contest I am in; Fabulous over 40. On a whim and a literal prayer, I submitted my entry and I was hand picked to compete. I began in 52nd place and am now in 5th place! Voting works  much like 'Dancing with the stars'. The public votes for the participants. 

Thus in order to win, I really needed to breathe life back into my ministry and my various social platforms. Not only did I need to get active again, in order to have any hope at winning this competition, I was forced to step out of my comfort zone. 

I have called out to God every step of the way. In a previous post I even share how I was asking God how I kept him first while pursuing ways to advance my ranking. After the reason I want to win this so badly is due to the ways in which it would help me expand my ministry. Winning will literally pave the way for me to quickly have the tools I need to blow this ministry of mine up. 

That brings me to my most recent "Out of my Comfort Zone" project. This You Tube song was created and thought of through praying to God. I've put it out there and I am praying that he rewards my efforts. I don't believe in coincidences. Tonight I moved from 6th place into 5th place. I just know that as long as I stay focused on God and my calling, that he will move this mountain and I will win this thing against all odds. 

With that being shared, I give to you, my latest project. A You Tube of me singing how I need votes, lots of votes. I pray that you enjoy it and become another person who casts their free vote for me each day. If you become that person, I also am asking that you like, comment and subscribe to my channel  and that you share it with your family and friends, I indeed am asking for your help. Thank you to all who do.

I realized that I left out the year in the link that I have posted behind me: https://votefab40.com/2022/wendy-glidden .

In closing I hope and pray that you follow me on various forms of social media. I pray for likes, kind comments and subscribers. 

Thank you to all of you who have helped to get me this far! May you take me all the way. In Jesus name I pray. Amen!

 Wendy Glidden

Flesh Eating Bacteria & The Topic of End Times!

Decade after decade it seems there are always people stepping up to sound the alarm that this is the final age; that the end of times is near, and for the world to turn back to God.

It is true there have been storms and fires and tragedies, but what sticks out most to me is that Jesus pointed to the real clue that we were getting close; He suggested we be on alert for when the world began to show signs of the times of Noah (Matthew 24:37-39).

I think more than ever, those signs are starting to truly reveal themselves. 

Today,  I stumbled upon a very interesting article that highlights 12 signs that the "perfect storm" is on the horizon and that we may be the generation who witnesses the end of times coming to fruition. 

While storms, floods and volcanoes have indeed become more and more common, what catches my interest in the news is the mention of more and more diseases spreading across the world.

Right now the headlines focus on Covid of course, but also return of small pox, the mention of monkey pox, another round of ecoli, and now thanks to Hurricane Ian, a rise in a flesh eating bacteria that is already taking lives!

I have a lot of friends that are in Florida, not to mention family so, when I bring bad news, I like to deliver it 

in such a way that it is received without panic. 

This is the news alert I sent out to all those I love:

Xtra Xtra read all about it From the rooftops I'm gonna shout it

I read that Ian stirred up some serious Sh*t ; A flesh eating bacteria that just won't quit

The news claims when he came through, He left behind this bacteria that can kill me and you

I'm telling you that is the word I'm not lying it is what I heard

They say if your immunity is broke This flesh eater ain't no joke

It's dangerous ~ it can't be seen, So if you've got a cut, keep it clean

No matter what, avoid dirty water No playing in puddles as it gets hotter

This bacteria should it find its way in Immediately starts to eat your skin

I hear it is a beast Looking to feast

In a matter of days left untreated Those attacked can be defeated

It's a big deal Tis a killer for real

So please take care It's lurking out there

I'm not lying People are dying

The death count was at four With the warning there will be more

The news claimed the stats are high And they fear that more will die

I promise you What I say is true

Stay safe, stay clean Avoid all water that is green

You can do as you choose But keep an eye on the news

When outside, don't get hurt Stay informed, be on alert

Fellow warriors let's stand in agreement and pray That this flesh eater dies and quickly goes away!

This morning my mind was spinning. I'm in this crazy contest that I'm dreaming of winning.

I'm trying to figure out how I both keep focused on the kingdom of God, while I also diligently work on gaining a larger following who faithfully takes the time to cast one free vote for me every 24 hours. 

Matthew 6:33: But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

So today, I worked on my blog post. I talked to God about how I promote both him and myself and this is what I believe I heard:

Blog about something important (the danger present for my Florida Friends put in rhyme tied to the rise of disease connected to prophesies about end times. 

By bith blogging about that as well as my creation of another cute Youtube clip that closes or opens or who knows maybe both with the request that you take the time to cast a free vote for me and then set an alarm and come back day after day until I either win, which of course if my desire and my goal, or until I get cut. 

My shameless plug here is to please take a moment right now, or when your 24 hours are up. and cast your free vote for me . . . 

Thank you, thank you thank you to all of you who do help make this girl's dreams who walks with God come true.  Oh the wonderful works I plan to do.  In blessing me,  you'll bless you!

Wendy,  girl who walks with God.

If I Were in a Pickle and asked you for a Nickle . . .

 Tic Toc, Baby I can't stop. This mom of many loves her hip hop!

Back in the day, When the music would play 

Everyone could sing along

The lyrics sung were clear, They were easy to hear

Mostly poems that became a song

Now I'm using this platform, Which for me is not norm

But admittedly I like the style

You see this brain of mine, It tends to think in rhyme

And it often makes others smile

If I were in a pickle, And I asked you for a nickle

Are you the type to donate a dime

If you're one who answered yes, I need your help in this contest 

So I can expand this ministry of mine

I'm in desperate need for another promoter ~  I'm on the hunt for a consistent voter

Are you that person by chance? 

If you are, please hear my plea, I need you and your followers to vote for me

Cuz I really need to double advance

That being said, If you're following my thread

I stand here today specifically thanking Those of you that have helped me with my ranking

I have moved from 52nd up to 6th place

While that's awesome, it won't give me the win So I'm here begging you to vote for free again

To ensure that I finish first in this Fab after 40 race

For now my oh so special supportive friend, I'm bringing this rhyme of mine to an end

In closing I will leave you her url So you can use your free vote for this Fab over 40 girl

https://votefab40.com/2022/wendy-glidden

https://votefab40.com/2022/wendy-glidden

Would you Vote For Me if your Vote was FREE?

I've been praying for community support. 

A tidal wave of votes that come in each day.

A tipping point of faithful friends who vote for me

and those who also promise for me to pray!

I've been praying for #GodsFavor

For him to enlarge my territory.

So many wonderful works I could do

Should I win this incredible opportunity 

I've petitioned for Him to enable me

To become who he created me to be 

To have a huge platform to share my love for him,

To have the public purchase the book he called me forth to write again

I pray these things all for his glory,

Tell me LORD it is finally time for you to use my story? 

Is it time to use my coat of colors, 

And the battles he's seen me through, 

To share the truth of How he loves all his children; 

He desires for all to be saved: He misses you. 

Please help me by casting your free each day 

for the kingdom of a God, I've so much to say

In Jesus' name, I pray!

Just go to https://votefab40.com/2022/wendy-glidden

Verify your identity through fb and cast your free vote for me  every 24 hours ❤️ Thank you I've been suggesting that everyone set a daily alarm so that they vote close to the same time each day.

As time goes forth, your continued support is going to be what puts me in first place. During the contest they give opportunities for organizations to provide contestants with votes that count as 2 for 1 in exchange for a tax free donation in support of breast cancer research. This entire contest is designed to bring awareness to this charity. It hits close to home for me since my 94 year old grandma just beat the odds and is today cancer free!

To make it into the contest, we were asked a set of questions, here they are along with my answers: 

What is your favorite tip to stay fabulous? Do what you can do when you can do it! When cooking or washing dishes, implement stretches, squats, lunges, etc. When driving, each time you stop at a light, work in some core holds. When it comes to goals & dreams, create a dream board & post it in a place you see first & last each day & include a list of steps to get you there as quickly as possible. Most importantly, guard your mind; what you elect to listen to & watch matters! Last but not least laugh!

What advice would you give your younger self? Don't get caught up in what other people think. Life is short, go for what you want, set goals, take chances, learn how to dance, sing loudly, learn something new every day, love yourself, always be you, surround yourself with a network of positive people who know how to laugh at themselves and those who rise above daily challenges, be kind, learn to hold your tongue, weigh the pros and cons.

What would you do with the $40,000? I would purchase a minivan, get it wrapped with my business/ ministry marketing and a pop-up at a phenomenal cost, I would also invest in ways to better expand my ministry, for example getting help with writing grants and I would travel.

If you are a reader who loves triumphant True Life Stories, consider purchasing mine!

Below is an audio introduction into the first few pages of the content found in part two of 'The Proof is in the Pudding' . . . This section is titled Marriage Motherhood and my Moral Meltdown!

May my life story bless you in multiple ways, if you are touched at all, again, please vote for me every day!

A Must Read for All Victims of Negative Words!

I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but I am certain of this, "God loves me immensely!" I don't know where I would be today if I was not absolutely certain of that truth, for this last year has been the most brutal year of my life. My husband / partner for the last 19 years cheated on me again. This time was the worst because we were actually closer and having more fun and more intimate than we had ever been. If he'd willingly gamble me away at that juncture what hope would I have in times of trouble? To make matters worse, I had felt something was up and had asked him to be honest. He was able to look me directly in the eye, claim I was crazy, and insist that nothing was going on. At one point he suggested I friend this individual. The pure audacity of it all makes me sick to this day. When the truth came out, he somewhat ended the affair, and in that, she turned against me. I was cyber attacked, bullied and had my identity taken. He had given her my phone and allowed her to gain access to all of my social media accounts. She took full advantage by changing my passwords and successfully blocking me out of everything. I lost everything in my cloud. He actually shared with me how she joyfully deleted content from my phone. She left the titles of my written papers / blogs / outlines for future projects, but deleted the content in every single file. She even deleted a ton of family pictures that I'll never get back. By the grace of God, I had copies of many pictures thanks to sharing them over the course of time with others as well as under other email accounts with their own clouds that were not loggged into on that phone. Regardless. the havoc she brought upon me all but stopped me in my very tracks. Add all of that to the things I endured from Mike up until a month ago, when I finally packed up most of my personal items, rented a car and drove back to Indiana, leaving him behind in Florida and even I am amazed that I am once again rising from the ashes. To say that his words were harmful to my very being this last year would be a simplification of just how deadly they were designed to be. In the end, I know who was speaking those awful things to me; yet it did not make it any easier to hear or to ignore them. I am human after all. For the first 10 days after I left, I found myself bawling my eyes out. Waves of emotion would hit me so hard, they literally and physically took my breath away and left me exhausted and darn near ready to tap out for good. Thank the LORD that my stronghold is the LORD or God only knows where I would be today. Instead of my story ending badly, I have been blessed to have found myself handpicked as a participant in an incredible competition. If I am blessed enough to be the last girl standing, I will win an opportunity to truly expand my territory, my ministry and have the ability to truly make a difference in the war being waged against humanity. That being said, I have found myself rebuilding my brand. I have gotten back to blogging and networking. In other words, I have stepped back into my calling and I cannot begin to tell you how incredible that feels. My heart is back on fire for the Lord and I am exicted to see what is around the corner for the first time in a complete year! This competition works a lot like Dancing with the Stars. you stay in the running by public vote. Today I come boldly forth and ask that you cast a free vote for me every 24 hours until the end of the competition. I also ask all prayer warriors and those whose lives I have impacted already through my ministry to pray for me to be victorious. To support me simply click here. You will be asked to verify yourself through facebook for free. You can also buy hope votes which count as double for the following 7 days after your donation. ON Weds, they put them on sale for the day and your initial donation is also doubled. So the math goes $10 = 20 votes and if you vote for the next consecutive 7 days that will become a total of 34 votes for $10! Another are of my life that seems to reblooming is my creative side. My ability to rhyme off the cuff and often somewhat acidentally is returning. An example of that would be this facebook post that I copied and pasted in this blog update: The battle is big, the war is real, so drastic that it is something I literally feel. It took me all day to put my thoughts together, my hands and feet plagued by the weather. I hate the cold, it actually hurts me, my body goes into spasms until it locks up. I may draw on the strength of God, but this body ~ it's fragile my spirit is tough! Tonight I proclaimed enough is enough and I made myself homemade heating bags with rice and unmatched socks. Two for my hands and two larger ones for my neck and back. I throw them in the microwave for a minute or two and they help stop the attack. That being said, my progress to get ahead came slow; yet you know what they say about pace; slow and steady will win the race. That being said, these are the thoughts I managed to get out of my head. I hope and pray you take the time to read them today. Should they inspire you or touch your heart in some way, I ask that you share them in your thread today . . . and friends and family and strangers alike, I stand her once again asking if you could cast a free vote for this stranger or if you know me, your friend. Thank you to all who do, I'm certain the LORD will bless you, for you time, your vote, your support of me, my calling and my ministry <3 The grey icon bar is the one that provides you with the opportunity to cast one free vote via face book. I need every free vote I can get because for those with wealthy friends, they just enticed the option to pay for votesw with an offer to double all "hope" votes . . . these are votes that cost $1 all the way up to $250 and all proceeds go to support breast cancer research. A great cause, but the majority of those willing to support me are those just as broke as I am! So to all who cast a free vote for me today, tomorrow, and every day after; many thanks! May the good Lord bless you ten fold <3 For those in life who are currently falling victim to negative words being spoken into your life, I encourage you to venture into the word of God, discover the armor He has provided and prepare for the battle we all face in this world. The evil one is real and his one mission is to destroy you. That was never God's plan. I could go on and on about the truths I have discovered in his word, and in a way that is exactly what I did in publishing my life story ~ if you are in the midst of surviving but not thriving today, purchase a copy in print or ebook and begin living an abundant life today!
I love our Father for he is always Faithful, even when we aren't 100% faithful ourselves. His love is amazing. His grace is amazing. He IS AMAZING. My heart breaks for all who have not found their way home. For all who are longing for a relationship with the Lord but don't know where to start. Start in His word. Start with simple prayer. Talk to Him as if you would a friend. When trouble smacks you in the face, before you pick up the phone to vent or discuss with a friend, I encourage you to get to your knees and connect with God. The more you seek Him, the more you will recognize Him. You see, He is already around you, watching and waiting for you to invite Him in so He can better help you. The Father of Lies will always be working on destroying that relationship for when you draw close to the Lord, he loses more of his power. This does not make him happy and he will work harder at taking you out of your happy zone. Don't allow him to take that from you. Make sure to put on your proper fighting attire every day. If you are not sure what this is, I covered it pretty well last week. Check out my blog entitled 'Are you Dressed for Daily Battle? Here's the link:  http://youareworthytoo.blogspot.com/2013/10/are-you-dressed-for-daily-battle.html