A Woman Of Excellence

With Mother’s Day approaching and this being Women’s Month, like my sister, I found myself celebrating a remarkable woman who holds a special place in my heart—my mother.

My mother may not have stood on a big stage or written books, but her life was a ministry in itself. Through her faith, her prayers, her wisdom, and her quiet strength, she showed me what it means to walk with God and to serve others with love.

So much of who I am today—my faith, my heart for encouraging women, and even the ministry of Pausing With God Ministries—has been influenced by the example she set before me.

That is why I wrote my book, Women of Excellence: The Ministry of My Mother. This book is more than just a story; it’s a heartfelt tribute to the lasting impact my mother had on my life and still has today. It comes from the pages of her personal journals.

Her words, her faith, and her example planted seeds that are still growing. Her legacy reminds me that living with God has a much bigger impact than I ever imagined. It goes beyond our lives and into the lives of the people who come after us.

This Women’s Month and Mother’s Day, I celebrate my mother and the countless women like her whose faith and love continue to shape families, communities, and generations.

Perhaps it’s the perfect time to pause and honor the women who have poured so much into our lives. You might even consider gifting them this heartfelt reflection written for mothers and daughters to share together. 

Women of Excellence: The Ministry of My Mother
Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578432463

To every mother, mentor, and woman of faith who has influenced another life, your ministry matters more than you know.

#WomensMonth #MothersDay #WomenOfExcellence #LegacyOfFaith #MothersAndDaughters #PausingWithGod #EncourageEmpowerEngage #WomenInMinistry

For more information, contact us at PausingWithGod@gmail.com or (904) 610-4947.

Honoring Women Who Paved the Way

One of the priceless gifts my sister and I inherited from our father is a love for writing. He had a special way with words, and that gift has continued to grow in both of us over the years.

Recently, my sister wrote a beautiful blog post in celebration of Women’s Month, and I wanted to share a short excerpt with you. Her words are thoughtful and encouraging, reminding us of the strength, resilience, and influence women carry every day.

Reflecting on this month, my thoughts turn to the numerous women who made this celebration possible—women whose strength, courage, and determination paved the way and created opportunities for numerous individuals.

I think about the women from my past, the women who are part of my life today, and the countless others whose names may not appear in this blog but whose influence has helped shape the world around us. This month, I celebrate each of you quietly in my heart.

If it is in God’s plan, I will celebrate my 67th birthday on the 23rd of this month. As I approach this milestone, I find myself wanting to live more intentionally—not only during Women’s Month, but every day. I want to grow deeper in my relationship with God, practice greater gratitude, and walk patiently in the journey. He continues to unfold before me.

As we continue through this month, may we take time to appreciate the women who have inspired us, supported us, and walked alongside us in life. Let us also remember that each of us carries the ability to encourage, uplift, and make a difference in the lives of others. When women stand together in faith, love, and purpose, the impact can reach far beyond what we can see.

I invite you to take a moment to read the full article on her blog:

🔗 https://health-and-conditions.com/2026/03/08/womens-month/

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”  — Proverbs 31:25

May we continue walking in that strength, trusting God with the days ahead.

MARCHING ORDERS

Dearest Intercessors,

In January, we focused on surrendering — giving more of ourselves to the Lord. In February, we stood firm — putting on the full armor of God.

In the month of March, we are ready to receive our ‘Marching Orders’.

Each morning during our quiet time, we will ponder the themes, read the scriptures, and personalize the prayer points with an attitude of attention, readiness, and obedience.

Join us during your Early Morning Prayer time and let’s march forward — not in fear, but in faith.

March 2026 devotionalDownload

With expectation,
Sheri
Pausing With God Ministries
Encouraging, Empowering & Engaging

STAND FIRM

For the past 15 years, our PWGM Prayer Team has been meeting every morning. As we move into year 16, we are even more intentional about praying the Word of God.

We thought we’d share February’s 28 Days in Ephesians 6—a time to pause, pray, and put on the full armor of God. (attached below)

Each day, we’ll stand firm in truth, strength, and faith, learning how to walk boldly in the power of His might.

This month’s lineup is intentionally designed to help you PAUSE in the presence of God and realign your heart through Scripture, prayer, reflection, and journaling. Each day offers space to be still, to listen, and to be strengthened as we walk this journey of faith side by side.

Each day provides you with: A Scripture, a sample prayer, and a thought-provoking journal prompt.

Whether you’re joining us for the first time or you’ve been walking with us for years, February is an invitation to lean in, not rush ahead—to trust God in the waiting and allow Him to strengthen your heart.

PAUSE and join us as we grow stronger—together.

28 Days February STAND FIRMDownload

Standing firm isn’t always easy—but it’s always worth it.
If this message spoke to your heart, comment, like and share it with someone who may need encouragement today.

PAUSE with us and grow stronger—together.

#PausingWithGod #Ephesians6 #ArmorOfGod #StandFirm #Encouraging #Empowering #Engaging

W.A.I.T.

What Am I Telling You!

Yesterday, I came home from my grandson’s birthday party to a dark house—the power was out. I received a text saying it should be restored by 6:30 p.m., so I stayed busy. I cleaned out my closet, set aside items for Goodwill, grabbed something to eat, and before long—the power came back on.

But then I noticed something unexpected.

The thermostat read: “System On — WAIT.”

In the back of my mind, I thought, Wait for what?
It was 27 degrees—one of the coldest nights we’ve had—and heat felt urgent.

I did a little Googling and decided to turn on the emergency heat. Of course, the warning popped up about how much it could increase my electric bill, but heat was needed. So I left it on overnight.

This morning, I planned to call the heating company. While I was on hold, I felt prompted to pause and look one more thing up. That’s when I learned something important: After a power outage your system may go into a protective delay (“WAIT” mode) to prevent damage to the compressor. During this time, emergency heat can kick in if the thermostat senses it’s too cold.

So I switched the thermostat back to regular heat. And in less than five minutes, the heat came back on.

WAIT.

Those letters rang a bell, years ago, I share with a group of ladies. W.A.I.T. “What Am I Telling You”

Why does God tell us to wait?

Because waiting protects us.
Because waiting builds trust.
Because waiting keeps us from jumping into “emergency mode” when God is already at work behind the scenes.

In our waiting, God strengthens our hearts. He teaches us to remain calm, stay firm in our faith, and trust that He is working all things together for our good.

As I waited for the heat to return, I also prayed for those who didn’t have what I had—those without heat, those without shelter, those facing the cold with far fewer resources. I thanked God for His provision and asked Him to provide for them as well.

Sometimes the message is simple.

When life feels urgent…
When fear says fix it now…
When the situation feels uncomfortable…

Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage…Psalms 27:14

What feels like a delay may actually be protection.
What feels like silence may be God working quietly on your behalf.

Reflection Question:
Is there an area in your life, where God might be inviting you to wait instead of rushing into “emergency mode”?

Can’t Touch This

Have you ever had a moment where God taught you something right in the middle of your everyday routine? That happened to me recently on my way to work.

As I was driving, I saw a state trooper on the side of the road with his radar gun. He looked ready to catch someone speeding. But as I passed by, doing the speed limit;  I noticed him throw his hands up like, “I can’t catch anybody today.”

Right then, God dropped a reminder in my heart. This is how it is with the enemy of our souls. He tries to set traps for us—speed traps, distractions, discouragement, confusion—but God covers us. God protects us. God provides for us. There are moments when the enemy has to step back, lift his hands, and admit: “I can’t touch them.”

When we walk with God, we walk under His covering. No trap, no scheme, no attack can succeed when God says, “Not today!”

Scripture of Strength – “No weapon formed against you shall prosper…” — Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)

This doesn’t mean weapons won’t form—but it does mean they won’t win. For you are covered. You are protected. The enemy can try, but he can’t touch this when God has His hand on you.

Pause and drop a 💛 in the comments if you’re thanking God for His protection today.

#PausingWithGod #PWGMCommunity #PWGMWomen #PWGMEncourages #PWGMEmpowers #PWGMEngages #FaithAndPurpose #CoveredInGrace #DaughtersOfGod #WomenWhoPray #CantTouchThis #CoveredByGod #GodProtects

Trusting God in Tough Times

Have you ever tried to figure something out on your own and felt stuck or overwhelmed? Maybe you had a plan that didn’t work out, or you prayed about something and felt like God was taking too long to answer. We’ve all been there.

This verse teaches us that trusting God is not about having everything figured out. It’s about choosing to believe that God knows what’s best, even when we can’t see the whole picture. Trusting Him often means releasing our need to control every detail and allowing Him to guide the way.

Letting Go Isn’t Easy

Let’s be honest—letting go can be challenging. We like to make our own plans and see immediate results. But God works in ways that are higher and wiser than ours. His timing is perfect, even when it feels slow. His path is better, even when it looks uncertain.

When we surrender our plans and trust God’s direction, we open the door for Him to lead us, strengthen us, and straighten the areas of our lives that feel confusing or stressful.

Trusting God When It Feels Like You’re Walking a Tightrope!

Pause with us and reflect on this:

  • What area of your life are you holding onto tightly instead of trusting God with?
    Is it your job, your family, your health, your future, or something else?
  • How can you practice surrender in your daily life?
    Maybe it’s praying before making a decision, giving your worries to God at night, or choosing to believe His promises even when you feel unsure.

A Simple Reminder

Trusting God is a daily choice. You don’t have to be perfect at it—just willing. As you release your worries and plans to Him, you will begin to see Him lead you with clarity, peace, and purpose.

Pause and let today be a fresh start to trust Him more fully. He’s already holding your future, and He knows exactly where He’s leading you!

“How to Turn a Power Outage Into a Pause”

​My Ring Doorbell was pinging…The Lights ​Went Out​!

We’ve all been there—sitting at home, minding our own business, when suddenly click… everything goes dark. No TV. No Wi-Fi. No hum of the fridge. Just silence.

The first thing I always remind myself is this: stay calm. Grab a flashlight, and make sure everyone is safe. But after that moment of scrambling, I’ve found that power outages can actually become a little unexpected gift.

One of my favorite things to do when the lights go out is to pause and pray. I pray for the reason behind the outage. I pray for the workers who put on their gear, often in bad weather, to figure out the cause and fix it. And I especially pray for those who don’t just lose power for an hour or two, but live without it regularly or for long stretches of time. It’s a humbling reminder of how much we take light, ​a​ir conditioning (for us Floridians), and convenience for granted.

‘Family light burns bright’

Of course, prayer isn’t everyone’s first instinct—and that’s okay. If that’s not your thing, here are a few other ways you can turn a blackout into something more than just an inconvenience:

Stay Comfortable

  • Conserve your phone battery (low-power mode is your friend).
  • Avoid opening the fridge or freezer to keep food cold longer.

Stay ​E​ngaged

  • Play a verbal game or a round of “20 Questions.”
  • Share stories you don’t always take time to tell.
  • Laugh together, sing, or just soak in the quiet.

The truth is, when the lights go out, we get an opportunity we don’t often take: a pause. A chance to put the to-do list aside, look around at the people with us, and make a memory that no screen could ever replace.

So the next time your house goes dark, don’t just think of it as an interruption—see it as an invitation. To breathe. To connect. To pray. And maybe even to smile at the simple gift of stillness.

Imperfect, But Still Useful

As a published writer, there are mornings when I read Our Daily Bread and wonder if maybe—just maybe—I should submit one of my journal entries someday. But until then… I’ll keep practicing right here, with you all, through the PWGM blog. 😊 Thank you for reading, reflecting, and growing with me.

Yesterday, a friend and I were crafting greeting cards for convalescent homes and rehabilitation centers. As we glued the small crochet hearts on the cards — leftovers from a past  ‘Crafting Conversations’ event that we hosted — I noticed some were imperfect. Some hearts were stretched, others lopsided.

As I kept sorting through them, I felt my excitement start to fade.
“Are you getting bored?” my friend asked.

I paused and realized, no—I wasn’t bored. I was discouraged. Several of the hearts just didn’t seem good enough to be used.

That moment made me stop and reflect: How often do our thoughts creep in and steal our joy or motivation? Imperfections, disappointments, and insecurity can distract us, discourage us, and even derail us from finishing what God has called us to do.

Sadly, I confess that I discarded some of the hearts. But afterward, I paused again—this time with a deeper thought: Maybe those hearts were a picture of us.

Many of us walk around with bruised, broken, or weary hearts. And yet, God doesn’t toss us aside. He lovingly uses us—even in our imperfection. He strengthens us, guides us, and reminds us that His power is made perfect in our weakness.

Once I laid down the discouragement and remembered the purpose behind those cards, the joy returned, and the crafting became a ministry again.

Pausing With God Signature Card

Next time; I won’t be so quick to toss what seems too flawed to use. Instead, I’ll remember that God doesn’t waste a thing — not even what looks like scraps to us. When we surrender what’s broken, God creates something beautiful.

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Prayer:
Lord, help me see the beauty in what seems imperfect. Remove discouragement from my heart and remind me of the purpose behind what You’ve called me to do. Thank You for using me, not because I’m perfect, but because You are. In Jesus Name – Amen.

Super Mom’s Day

Mother’s Day is approaching, so we’d like to pause and give a shout out to all the Super Moms out there. Yes April 27th is marked as Autism Super Mom Day, but I’d like to include all parents that daily take care of a special needs (SN) child – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; your hard work and sacrifices do not go unnoticed. You are the true heroes, and your love and care make a world of difference in your children’s lives.

Unless we have first hand experience, we cannot know how what these parents or caregivers mentally, emotionally, physically and financially go through. So whenever your paths cross, instead of staring or ignoring them; why not pause and celebrate them by acknowledging their strength, courage, and determination. They need our support, understanding, resources like https://momofspecialneeds.com/– most of all to know that we see them!

Wishing you SUPER MOM’S the happiest of Mother’s Days! 🌸