We would next like to introduce Cara Lee West, who has been married to Jeremy (College Pastor) for 5 years. Together, they have two sons, Jireh (age 2) and Elim (age 1).
Cara Lee is a homemaker, which is the place where she primarily puts her spiritual gifts of Service, Shepherding, and Wisdom to use. "Praying and serving my family is part of my job everyday. I also have taught some, and have had the opportunity to pray for girls in the college ministry." She also has a prophetic gift, which she uses, as the Lord "randomly" brings certain people to mind for her to intercede for, in prayer.
Cara Lee is passionate about being all that the Lord has called her to be as a believer, and in her various roles as mother, daughter, sister, and friend. She is also passionate about helping others along in their journey to walk in all that God has for them.
Cara Lee and Jeremy have faced the unique blessing and challenge of having a child with specialized healthcare needs, which is something she never imagined she would experience in her life. "I am still adjusting to having to make decisions, seek out answers, interact weekly with therapists, etc." However, she has also grown in her faith, as she has learned to simply trust the Lord with her family. "I am learning to open my hand and have faith to trust the Lord that His ways are best, and He knows what He is doing, and it's not up to me, my advice, research, or even prayers." Cara Lee has also developed a passion, through her experiences, to refuse to settle for what the world, doctors, and statistics say, but, rather, to pray in the Kingdom realm in her family, marriage, and community.
Having a toddler, while being married to a college pastor, created the perfect recipe for a recent "embarrassing moment" for Cara Lee. "Recently, while at a college retreat, I had changed my toddler's diaper in the back of the meeting room and told him to go throw it away. I pointed him to the large trashcan across the room. I didn't watch him follow-through, but he came back empty handed, so I didn't think anything of it. Later, during a break in one of the sessions, several college students screamed in disgust, and called me over to where the snacks and drink coolers were. Right next to the large trashcan were the cylinder shaped drink coolers that were the same shape and height as the trashcan. Yep, you guessed it! My son threw his dirty diaper in a drink cooler, and it was floating in the icy water with all of the drinks!!" Needless to say, Cara Lee got a little red-faced over that one! It's a good thing she carries her sense of humor with her!! Like most moms, she probably needs it!
For Cara Lee, freedom in Christ is all about choice. She chooses not to be bogged down by the junk of the world. "Whether it is bitterness, guilt, the pressure to be perfect, or just what it means to live successfully or to be important, it has to be a daily choice and renewing of the mind to walk in the freedom God has given us from all of the pressures of the world."
She also recognizes that healing comes only from the Lord, especially with regards to offense by others. She is learning that it is important to recognize and express feelings of offense, rather than "stuffing them in" or ignoring them. "I have to pray intentionally and share intentionally with those whom I have been offended by. I have to, bottom line, be healed by the Lord and can't expect to be fully healed by others' apologies or words."
In her spare time, Cara Lee enjoys painting, crafting, gardening, and "making ugly things beautiful." When she is stressed, she releases anxiety by doing any of these things, or perhaps by sleeping, praying, crying, or spending time with a close friend, depending on the circumstances.
Cara Lee is a beautiful, remarkable woman of God, and we are so blessed to have her as a part of the Beltway family!
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