Does God Still Speak?

        Throughout the Bible there are stories of God's very clear presence in the lives of His people. He spoke to Moses through a burning bush, he spoke to Mary through an angel, Joseph heard from him in a dream, and the woman at the well spoke to Jesus in the flesh. But what about now and what about us?  It’s easy to assume that God is absent, disinterested or disconnected from our lives  because we don't hear about burning bush encounters or in-person visits from Jesus. I was thinking about these things and doing my best to believe that God was listening to me during a big transition in my life. 

I experienced His voice in a unique and powerful way within a few months of moving to Colorado Springs from Montana. I moved there to become a student in New Life Church's School of Worship program. Having grown up in Montana my whole life, transitioning to Colorado was a fish-out-of-water feeling for the first few months. I was used to the comfortable and familiar people and surroundings of my hometown. My entire senior year I had been praying for God to tell me what to do next, to give me a sign or to at least say something, anything. But I never heard him speak, I didn’t even get a feeling that what I was pursuing was right. Regardless, I did what I thought was right. I didn’t know anyone in Colorado and as I was trying to establish relationships and discover why I had even moved, I still didn’t hear God’s voice. “God, do you hear me?” I found myself asking quite frequently. Silence. I felt so alone. I felt like He had turned His back on me and with that feeling came a sinking sense that He also had no clue where I was at physically, spiritually, and emotionally. 

I attended Women of Faith in Denver a couple weekends into my move to Colorado. I was reluctant to go because I was really struggling and attending an event with thousands of other women I didn’t know was not high on my list of things I wanted to do. However, I agreed to go. I can’t tell you who spoke that weekend, who led worship or who I was sitting next to. I do remember one woman that I met and how she made an impact in my life. Her name was Jamie. Jamie, a few other women, and I went to Cheesecake Factory for lunch after one of the sessions but we weren’t able to get cheesecake before we had to get back for another session. She discovered I had never had cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory and later went back and got me some cheesecake and brought it to me at the end of the weekend. It seems like a small, insignificant gesture but to me it meant a lot. A little while later, I received a text from her. She told me that she felt like the Lord wanted her to tell me that I am seen and known, that God was aware of where I was and what I was going through. I was blown away. I didn't tell her what I was thinking inside and I had just met her. 

It didn't end there. The next day I went to class and sat next to Cyndi like I had grown accustomed to doing. Between classes I went outside of the room and came back to a handwritten note in my open notebook. I had to read it a few times to make sure I wasn’t inserting words I wanted to be there. Her note said almost the same exact thing that Jamie had said the day before. I was starting to feel like someone was writing out my thoughts on pages for people around me to see. 

Still, it didn't end there. The next day during our chapel worship time, Laura, one of the second year interns of School of Worship, came up to me at the closing of worship and said that she felt a nudge from God to come and tell me that He sees me and to give me a hug. Laura was not my leader and she didn’t know a whole lot about me, especially what I was feeling or thinking inside. I was feeling even more like I was being watched or tracked by a group of people that had maybe had a meeting about me with inside information. 

At this point I had received the same exact message through three different people in the time frame of three days. After my encounter with Jamie I figured she was just being courteous to a young girl who had just made a big transition and was trying to make my life a little easier with some sugar and kind words. I rationalized the message from Cyndi was a coincidence that two people would say similar things in two days. But after speaking to Laura, there was only one explanation; God was speaking. I heard His voice loud and clear. He was chasing me down and letting me know that even though I had felt abandoned, He was right beside me. 

Even though I didn’t have a face-to-face conversation with God, I recognize now that He is living and breathing in the lives of my friends, family, acquaintances, and yes, complete strangers. He sounds a little bit like Jamie, Cyndi, and Laura. I find myself listening a little closer and expecting to hear the unique forms of God’s voice from the people around me. Maybe you have experienced a similar situation and are questioning whether God is speaking to you. He often chooses to use broken and imperfect people to deliver His messages. Regardless of how He speaks, know He is still speaking and if we will take the time to listen we will find He's closer than we realize.

Counterculture: Spoon-Fed Deception

Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears [has reverential awe toward] the Lord is to be praised.

This verse goes against everything pop culture and media tell us. Headlines in magazines and on news broadcast the importance of having ample charm and physical beauty while brushing aside the importance of inner beauty. Women believe they have to achieve physical perfection to ever be seen as valuable while men are also being told that the size of their muscles and how many women they can get in bed is the determining factor of their worth. 

But what about the counterculture message that is being so easily overlooked? Your physical beauty, the quality of your car, your income, what if none of that matters in the end? In Proverbs it tells us that charm is deceptive. Deceive means to mislead by a false appearance or statement. Some synonyms for deceive are: outwit, trick, entrap, ensnare, and betray. Deception leads us down a path that enables us to believe lies that we may not even know we are believing. Many forms of media have deceived us into believing that our physical beauty and our possessions are of more worth than what is inside of us. But let me tell you the truth: you are far more valuable than any physical possession on this earth. 

Your value does not come from the clothes you wear, the car you drive, the money you earn, or the compliments you get from people. Your worth comes from the Creator of the Universe, the One who breathed life into your very being. Your worth comes from the beautiful person you are without any makeup. Your worth comes from the person you are even when you have nothing to give. There aren't any achievements, awards, or praise you can earn that will improve what you are already worth. In the eyes of the Lord, you are already as valuable as you can ever be regardless of how badly you have messed up or how well you've done. 

What lies or deception has physical beauty and charm led you to believe? If you have allowed what you look like to be of more concern than who you are then it's time to step away from the deception that comes with valuing charm and physical beauty over who you are inside.

Counterculture: Rest

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ‭Matthew‬ 28:11 NLT

In my last blog I shared "Counterculture:The Importance of Celebrating Others" and I want to continue with this idea of counterculture by talking about rest. In our culture everything is fast-paced, and we constantly have advertisements, movies, and music telling us to get ahead we must constantly be on-the-go. We're told to be the best we must always be at the top of our game, and we dare never rest lest we allow someone else to get ahead.

Matthew 28:11 gets quoted so often I think we tend to dismiss taking some time to really think about the gift God is offering us in our busy, non-stop, "go-go-go" lives. Have you grown weary? Do you have some heavy burdens weighing on your shoulders? Is life overwhelming right now? Are you caught up in the lie that if you don't keep up with others that you will somehow lose?

God didn't intend for us to burn our candle at both ends until there was nothing left for us to give.

Recently, God spoke to me about taking time to REST, or otherwise have a day of Sabbath. I like to get through a day and feel like I've accomplished something other than relaxation as I'm sure many of us do. I found myself striving to achieve multiple things as I went through every day of the week and I quickly found that I was getting burned out. It was then that I realized that no matter how hard I try, no matter how much I accomplish, I can never do it all on my own.

The Lord says, "Come to me." He didn't say, "Run as fast as you can, achieve everything in your strength, and keep going until there is nothing left in you." He said, "Come to me...and I will give you rest". Trying to bear your burdens on your own will wear you out quickly, but going to the Lord in prayer will give you the rest and strength you need to keep going.

Think about a time when you were on your feet all day and you finally got home and got to sit in a chair for the first time in hours. Your back aches, your feet are sore, and your entire body seems to be aching in one way or another. When you finally get to sit down, the feeling of relief floods over you and pressure releases. That's what it is like when instead of bearing all the weight of heavy burdens ourselves, we go to God.

I'm not suggesting that there will no longer be burdens that we carry, but it will ease the pressure. God says He will give us rest. When we sleep, we wake up ready for a new day. In the same way, God offers to give us the rest we need to keep going.

Counterculture: The Importance of Celebrating Others

Can you remember a time when you caught yourself thinking, "I should be the one..."? I should be the one to get the raise. I should be the one to get the compliments. I should be the one to receive the thanks. I should be the one. In our selfie, me-driven culture, it isn't against the norm to, above all else, think of "number one". But, have you ever met people who promote and serve others above themselves? It's refreshing. 

Maybe it's in the form of a conversation where the other person seeks to ask about how you are doing before filling you in on everything concerning their life, or maybe it's a person who celebrates with you even when they have nothing to celebrate. I think the most effective way of overcoming jealousy and the urge to want to impress people with our accomplishments is to celebrate others. It's hard. Especially when all you want to do is complain about how she always gets the attention or he enjoys the promotion that you worked hard to get. However, I've found from personal experience many times that it makes me feel better when I take the time to re-orient my perspective and genuinely rejoice with those around me. It also encourages and uplifts the one you are celebrating. Have you been caught in the middle of "what if land" today or recently? Maybe it's time you really thought about how celebrating others can improve your attitude and your perspective. It feels good to have people who will celebrate you; your accomplishments, your dreams, your life. So why not take the time (and maybe even the money) to do for someone else what you want done for you? Take the time to celebrate others.

Life and College Algebra

It's so interesting to me the experiences one can go through in life and the valuable lessons that come out of unexpected situations. For me, some unexpected life lessons came in the form of one of my college classes...college algebra. 

To give you some context, this fall semester was my first step back into the world of education since high school. Having taken two years off after high school (two years I wouldn't trade), I decided to go back to school. All of my education to this point had been fairly easy for me, I excelled academically all throughout school and never had to work really hard for the grades I wanted. There was a very rude awakening headed my way. In the first week of my college algebra class, I was overwhelmed and feeling anything but prepared for the semester ahead of me. In the midst of completing a ridiculous amount of homework for the first test we were going to have in two weeks, I considered dropping the class and getting my refund. I thought, "why stay in a class I think I'm going to fail anyway?" However, I decided to stick with it and I am so glad I did. Here are some of the lessons I learned:

1. Giving up because you think you will fail is already a failure. 

Before I had even given myself a chance to think about the "what if I succeed," I was already thinking about the chance at failure. I didn't know I would fail, I just thought I would and that scared me. I didn't want to fail a class my first semester (or at all). But I realized along the way that trying and failing is whole lot better than never trying at all. Also, what if I were to succeed?

2. Hard work pays off.

As I said above, I never really had to work for my grades in elementary, middle or high school. I quickly realized to pass the class and get the grade I wanted, I would need to work hard; put in hours that I could be spending doing other things, study when instead I wanted to go to bed, and most importantly apply myself whole-heartedly to something that wasn't my most favorite.

3. We are so much more capable than we give ourselves credit for.

I had written myself off as not even passing the class from the very first day. However, throughout the semester I worked hard, received help, and exceeded even what I knew I could do. At the beginning I thought, "I'll be lucky if I even pass this class," but as time went on, I realized I was accomplishing a whole lot more than that small expectation. I ended the class with a B and finished toward the top of my class. When we set our minds to something and believe in our ability, we can do a lot more than when we limit ourselves to small thinking.

5 Free Gifts You Can Give This Christmas

1. Love
It seems cheesy and so cliche but it truly is one the greatest gifts we can give to others. Some of the most memorable moments in my life are times when someone went out of their way to say or show that they love me. Whether it was a card that expressed their love, a simple gift that said they were thinking of me, or hug that says they care.

2. Joy
Have you ever been around someone that exudes joy from every pore? It's refreshing and uplifting to be around those kinds of people. This holiday season CHOOSE JOY. Choose joy when the employee at the cash register has a bad attitude, choose joy when that one person you can't stand finds you in the store to say hello, choose joy when you burn the pie you were supposed to bring to the family dinner- simply choose joy. Those around you will be encouraged by the simple choice you make- JOY.

3. Humility
Christmas can tend to bring out the competitive side of us. We want to out-do and out-buy everyone else. However hard it is for you to simply do what you can do and be satisfied with it, try this season to be humble. When humility is a part of your character, others feel at peace with who they are around you. Let others be ushered into a presence of less striving to be someone they're not and more being who they are.

4. Friendship
Those who find a true friend, find a treasure. You have so much to offer someone who is lonely and need of companionship-the gift of friendship. So many people are more lonely than ever in the holiday season and it is your opportunity to come alongside a lonely soul and offer a listening ear, a place at your dinner table, and a sense of belonging.

5. Jesus
Do you know some people who are lost and searching for answers? Jesus is the answer and He is the reason for this holiday season. Now is a perfect time to invite them to church or to tell them about the One who can fill the void of emptiness in their heart. Jesus is the greatest gift we can all receive this Christmas as we embrace the love and hope he offers us.

Feel the Pain

Recently I heard lyrics to a song called, "Habits (Stay High)" by Tove Lo. I was shocked to hear the graphic description of how to avoid the pain and heartbreak that occurs in life. Here are some of the lyrics:

"You're gone and I gotta stay
High all the time
To keep you off my mind
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
High all the time
To keep you off my mind
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Spend my days locked in a haze
Trying to forget you babe
I fall back down
Gotta stay high all my life
To forget I'm missing you
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh"

Have we really bought the lie that staying high is a healthy way to avoid pain or the problems going on in our lives? I hope not, but this generation is being bombarded with these kind of lyrics and they are buying it (figuratively and literally). They're told to numb the pain, numb negative emotions through drugs, alcohol and sex. However, the thing the media isn't saying is that it creates more problems for the individual after coming off of that high or attempt at numbing the pain. Numbing the pain only works for a little while. John Greene says, "Pain demands to be felt" and I agree with him. Until we deal with the problems going on in our lives and feel the impact of the pain, we will never move past it. When we we numb negative emotions, we numb the positive ones with it. I think it's more effective to convey that pain is meant to be felt, that it is healthy to walk through pain without avoiding the side effects. 

It's Your Choice

I've been creating and writing this blog for about 3 years now and as I think about all the things that I've written about and shared with you, I realize that all of my posts have been lessons I'm learning as I go about my daily life. Some things small and others big, but lessons nonetheless. I enjoy writing and sharing the things that I am learning with you in hopes that I can offer encouragement and hope. 

I want to say thank you to all of you that have constantly supported me and taken the time to read my blog posts, it means so much to me. 

I'm in one of those seasons of life where I am learning so many necessary life lessons that help me grow and become a better version of myself. Even though it is difficult, I wouldn't change the circumstances to avoid the lessons that I'm learning along the way. One of those lessons is the choice that I have on a day-to-day basis to choose my attitude and my perspective about my life and the things that happen. I have a conscious decision to choose a negative or positive reaction and to see the negative or positive things in people and circumstances. I get the choice to choose joy over sadness, love over hate, grace over blame, and peace over anxiety. There's a quote that perfectly sums up what I've been learning and it says, "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." 

A Story Worth Telling

I was reminded again this morning just how powerful stories are. New Life Church had the privilege of hearing Ron and Lynette Lewis's story. If you haven't heard their story I encourage you to look it up and be inspired. The way they give glory to God and whisper hope into the hearts of those listening infuses life into the room. 

Stories have a way of connecting, touching and transforming. Stories unfold in movies that we love, stories come to life in books that we read, and stories are being built in our own lives and the lives of everyone around us. Stories. Have you ever taken the time to think about how your story can impact lives? Before you get to thinking about all the ways your story isn't exciting or worth telling, think of the ways you connect with someone else's story. Is it the way they had things all together at every moment of every day? Is it the way they never made mistakes or revealed their vulnerability? Probably not. We connect with stories of real humans living real and sometimes messy life. People who don't always have it all together and admit it. Don't you think your story has some piece of wisdom or hope for someone else to grab hold of? Your story matters, your voice matters. You will never know the impact of sharing your story with others until you do it. Your story just might connect with the heart of another and let them know their story is not over, there are still chapters to be written. You have no idea what hangs in the balance of someone who needs to hear what your story has to offer. Share your story, it's worth telling. 

Eye Contact

Matthew 14:29-31 Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water."

“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

God has been using the story of Peter walking on water to teach me how to navigate difficult situations or seasons of life. The key thing that He's been pointing out about this story is the part where Peter "saw the wind". For Peter to see the wind he had to have taken his eyes off of Jesus and been overwhelmed with the obstacle he saw- and because he took his eyes off of Jesus he was afraid and began to sink. When I start to feel overwhelmed with a situation or just with life in general, I feel Jesus calling me to keep my eyes fixed on him. When I begin to sink I call out, "Lord, save me!" and Jesus reaches out his hand and catches me and says, "You of little faith, why did you doubt? Why did you take your eyes off of me?" It's a trend. Every time I take my eyes off my Jesus, I feel afraid, I doubt and I begin to sink. But all it takes for me to get back on track is to re-fix my gaze on Jesus. He is peace. He is strength. He is guidance. He is comfort. He is my future. And the best way we can avoid sinking in life is to keep our eyes fixed on His. 

God Does the Guiding

Everyone has an opinion. About almost everything. I've found this to be especially true as I've been navigating the direction my life is going and the decisions I have to make to get me going that way. "You should do [fill in the blank]" or "No, you should do [fill in the blank]." The voices of people I love and respect and even those of acquaintances and random strangers are rolling around in my mind fighting for control of the decision I should make. 

I'm not saying that we should disregard what others have to say or the advice they have to give. The Bible is clear that we are to seek wisdom and correction from those that are wiser and more experienced than we are. However, when we begin to go along with what other people are saying without praying and taking into consideration what God is saying then there is a problem. Aside from missing what God has directed us to do, we are also going to end up disappointing someone in our lives because not every person we want to please has the same opinion about what we should do. In Psalm 118:8, it says, "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust humans." If we base all of our decisions off of what other people say without listening to what God is telling us to do, we will end up far from where we're supposed to be with little or no peace, anxiety, confusion, frustration, etc. Things don't end well when we're so caught up with what other people think and what we can do to please them. Sometimes we have to make a decision based on what God is saying and what is best for the situation and that isn't always going to satisfy the people we love and respect and that is OK. You do you. 

I'm not sharing this with you because I have it all figured out or because I've grown a whole lot in this area. I'm sharing this with you because I don't have it all figured out and I'm still learning and growing as I go. I'm sharing this because I want you to know that you aren't alone. I think we all have the desire to be accepted for who we are, what we decide to do and what we don't decide to do with our lives. We want to belong. But sometimes the things God calls us to do are not going to be widely accepted, they aren't going to be seen as the best choice. Bob Goff posted a quote the other day that said, "Tell people who they are, not what they want. We do the loving; God does the guiding." Let's allow God to do the guiding. When we are in the center of people's will for our lives there's only striving and performance; when we're in the center of God's will for our lives there's peace and rest. 

The Gift

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

January 2014, I began to pray about what one word or phrase God had for me in the year of 2014. As I prayed, the word that God spoke to me was JOY. Joy, God? What does that mean? I thought about my life as it pertained to joy and I felt like I was lacking joy, zeal for life. The next few months passed and I ended up sitting at a table in Jason's Deli (of all places) across from my dear friend sharing with her the frustration I was experiencing with the lack of joy I was feeling in my life and the unsuccessful job I was doing at "finding joy". I poured out my confusion as she quietly listened. After I was finished, she so lovingly said, "Bri, I don't think joy is something you have to find or strive for, the Holy Spirit has given it to you as a gift." Right there, it hit me. I discovered the lesson that God had in mind to teach me all along. Joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness and self-control...they are all fruits of the Spirit. They are not fruits of Brianna (substitute your name). They are not characteristics to be obtained or searched for, they are offered, given to me, living in me as I operate out of the Spirit that is living inside me. I was so freed by this revelation because it was then that I stopped striving for joy and I was able to accept the gift of the Spirit that is living in me, with me at all times. I think it is so common to feel like we need to search for and find the things that we lack, but some things can simply be found by accepting the gifts that God has offered us through His Spirit living inside of us. Have you been feeling a lack of joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control? Maybe it's time you stopped searching and accepted the gift of the Spirit living in you. 

Pressed But Not Defeated

Have you ever been in a difficult season of life and thought back to a previous difficult season of life and now that previous difficult season seems easy compared to this more recent season of difficulty? That was a lot to think about in one sentence, but read it again and think about it. The days when children think it's hard being a kid, the days when high schoolers think that the drama they're involved in just might be the end of the world, when college studies seem like they'll never end (and I can't speak much past that, because that's where I'm at). As I've been learning, growing up comes with new responsibilities, new difficulties and it can make you long for the days when your biggest problem was figuring out what to do with all your free time. However, growing up has also made me realize how precious and valuable time really is, what a gift it is. It's SO important to enjoy the seasons as they come and to see those difficulties as things that will soon pass. They are but a vapor. I want to suggest that while we may not be in a season that is particularly easy right now, it will get better. The dawn comes with the morning. We are pressed but not defeated.

There's also something to be said of the way our trials look easier in hindsight. It's a sign of growth. Our trials make us stronger, they refine us and shape us to be better versions of ourselves than we thought possible before walking through a difficult season of life. While you may not want to repeat a certain season of life, you made it through. You came out victorious on the other side and that is what matters. If you're facing a difficult season of life right now, remember those other difficult seasons and remember that you are still here, you are still fighting and you're going to make it through this one too. Don't give up, don't lose ground. Take one step at a time and keep your head up high. You are pressed but not defeated.

A True Apprentice

Matthew 10:41-42 "This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. It's best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won't lose out on a thing."

Legend. Chances are, you hear that word and think of a name, you think of someone whom you may admire or aspire to be. Have you ever thought of all that someone else has accomplished and felt that your accomplishments paled in comparison? It's so easy to get caught up in all that other people are accomplishing and doing that we forget about the little things we do on a day-to-day basis that make a BIG difference over time. Today we see all the accomplishments that others are achieving through social media and even as we are surrounded by those people whom seem to be the modern day Mother Theresa, and let's be honest... it can be downright discouraging. You may feel like you will never measure up, you'll never accomplish as much, you'll never make the New York Times Best Seller list, you'll never be an inspirational speaker traveling all over the country speaking to crowds of thousands, you'll never have the best selling song on the ITunes chart (Ok, I'm probably fueling your overwhelming feelings of "I'm not enough") BUT let me encourage you with this: YOU ARE ENOUGH. YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE (even if in the little things) and YOU ARE USABLE. God is in the business of lifting us up out of our brokenness into the glorious work of drawing others into His family. Just like it says in the scripture above, "The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice." Every little thing you do matters, it counts. Don't be overwhelmed, don't be discouraged- moms at home with your kids, students in school, business men and women in the workplace, grandparents in retirement...you all are making a difference. Let us run the race set before us and stop comparing what others' accomplishments look like next to ours. "The smallest act of giving or receiving makes YOU a true apprentice." YOU. ARE. USABLE.

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders 
Let me walk upon the waters wherever you would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith would be made stronger in the presence of my savior."

-Oceans by Hilsong

You are probably familiar with the song Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) by Hilsong as I've written some of the lyrics above. Recently, those lyrics came alive for me. In a series of events that started with a mission trip to Guatemala (that I honestly didn't initially want to go on) and ending with an unexpected twist in my plans for next year, I discovered so much meaning in the lyrics of that song. "Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters wherever you would call me." That first line played in my head and even came out of my mouth as I sang it in my room in Guatemala realizing that I had, despite my resistance, took a step of faith and gone anyway. In that realization, I discovered so much spiritual reward that week as I served the Guatemalan people and received so much in return. 

However, the second line, "Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith would be made stronger in the presence of my savior" came alive to me after I retuned. Taking a shower, reflecting on the twist in my plans that I mentioned earlier, I heard God calling my name. "Brianna," He said, "Don't sing that song to me if you don't really want to trust me without borders and allow me to take you deeper than your feet could wander and your faith be made stronger." I was stunned. That simple statement brought to mind the many times I had been singing that song over the last few days without really wanting those lyrics to take root and action in my life. 

God, you can take me deep but not where I can't see my feet beneath the water. 
God, you can have my trust but I need some borders, some boundaries to be safe.
God, call me out to the great unknown but not Guatemala. Not anywhere I don't want to go. Not a place I don't know, with people I don't know.
God, allow me to grow but within my comfort zone. Where I'm safe and sound and I know everyone and everything. 

It felt as if God had taken both my shoulders in his hands and shook me. "Wake up daughter!!" "Can't you see that I'VE got this? You can no longer hold onto control. You have no idea the plans and paths I have for you to take, but I do! If you are ready to follow through with what this song requires of you to do, then let go. Trust me completely. Walk on the water and let me hold you up." 

I struggle with trusting that God has a plan, that he knows what's coming next and he will let me know what that plan is when the time is right. In my head I know it, but my heart wants to shout out the fact that time is running out for me to catch the train to my next destination or track in life. I'm a planner and I want to know well in advance what I am to do, go and be. But God has been teaching me especially over the last three years as I made the transition from Great Falls to Colorado Springs, that He is in control. He hasn't left me to figure things out on my own and he's not going to. I'm learning very slowly that it's OK not to have everything figured out in life, that it's OK to trust completely that God has it all under control and He's not going to let me down, that in life it's about taking one step at a time and allowing God to reveal the next one as he sees fit. There's so much more peace and joy in that assurance. I can't say I'll never stumble in this area again, but I can say that each lesson I learn, I grow more every day. I am thankful for that opportunity as well as the chance to share it with you. 

No Strings Attached

1 Corinthians 13:7 ...it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love. It's' easy to give to those whom reciprocate what we offer. God has been teaching me such a hard but necessary lesson concerning the topic. When I offer love to others, I want it back. Who doesn't? But that isn't always the case. It's opened my eyes to the love that God offers us every time we reject him, walk away from him, refuse to offer thanks for things he's done, or simply refuse to run towards him as he lavishes love on us. Not only does God love and run after those that want nothing to do with him, but he does it with those that do want his love and fall short of loving him in return. Love perseveres. Our culture has it so backwards. We've decided to say, "I'll love you, if you love me". Since when do we need to wait for others to love us back to love them and let them know that we do? Since when did Christ's love become so conditional? 

It's hard, especially when it feels as if the person you're loving doesn't seem to care or have any similar feelings in return. However, I just can't hold back my love from those that need it so badly when I think about all the times that God has unconditionally loved me. In spite of my failures, in spite of my flaws, in spite of my bad behavior, in spite of all of my short comings, he still loves. Who do you find yourself holding back love from because they aren't expressing any in return? Today I challenge you to reach out to them and let them know that you care, that you love them and expect nothing in return, no strings attached. That's when we find ourselves expanding our capacity to love as Christ has loved us. 

A Discipline of Love

Deuteronomy 8:5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.

Remember when you were little and your mom or dad would ask you to look at them when you were in trouble or did something wrong and you would maybe avoid eye contact but they would be adamant about having your eye contact before they continued with what they were going to say? The other day God gave me a picture of myself standing before him but my head was looking down and away, anywhere but his face. He then called my name and gently lifted my chin so that I was looking into his face. Rather than seeing anger, sadness, disappointment, or rejection, I saw unconditional love, grace, forgiveness, and compassion. When your parents disciplined you as a child (if they were in a healthy state), it was out of their love for you and their desire for you to be the best you could be even though a lot of times you didn't see it that way.

 When our Father in Heaven disciplines us, it is out of his sheer love for us. Many people think that God is mad at them, unwilling to forgive them for mistakes they've made, when in fact, it is quite the opposite. God is rejoicing over you, singing melodies over you and loving you for who you are. Don't be ashamed to look in his face, don't avoid eye contact with him, it's in the loss of eye contact with him that we find ourselves slipping even further away from the love that he offers. The enemy would love for us to lose sight of God's face, to give in to self doubt and lies, but that is not where we are meant to dwell. God loves you and wants you to look to his face today. You may be surprised by the expression you see waiting for you.

Be an Example

Psalm 71:7 My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection.

Do you allow God to be your strength and protection? If so, your life is an example to many. When you are able to rely on God in times of uncertainty, weakness and fear, it relinquishes control. Our human frailties cause us to falter and lose control, but God never does. God's strength and protection in our lives is so much more of a testimony than relying on our own strength and protection to get us through. If you think about it, it's especially good news for non-believers. When they see an inner strength that doesn't come from man, they're curious and even hopeful for a love and strength and protection that can only be gained from a relationship with Christ. Let your life speak through your actions. Let your life be an example to many as you rely on God's strength and protection and not your own. 

Human Trafficking in Action

What would you do to save your child, sister, friend, mother, brother, or father from manual and/or sexual labor? Human trafficking is happening today and it is going on whether we are aware of it or not.
          1 Men, women, and children are being sold into slavery and an estimated 27,000,000 are being held against their will. The average age of a trafficking victim is 12 years of age and it is becoming younger as clients want "fresh" product. 1-2 % of victims are ever rescued and 1 in 100,000 European traffickers are ever convicted.

Awareness. One simple word that will help our nation come to realize the injustice that is going on around them. However, it doesn't stop there, ACTION is what it takes to change things around us. You can be the one who challenges those around you to rise up and be a voice for the voiceless. There are so many ways that you can get involved in abolishing human trafficking. Purchase merchandise that causes others to ask questions, write a blog, post articles that raise awareness on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., rally your friends/family for a fundraiser, give financially to organizations that rescue trafficking victims, create a YouTube video and post it, the opportunities to spread awareness are endless.

Here are just two great sources that will equip you to equip others:

The A21 Campaign is an organization that seeks to abolish injustice in the 21st century. The founder of the organization is Christine Caine and she is passionate about raising awareness and educating those around the world about the injustice of slavery. To learn more about the organization and their mission, ways to take action, purchase merchandise that raises awareness, and donate, visit the website at www.thea21campaign.org.

Another great tool in spreading awareness is to purchase Tiffany Pastor's book, Children of the City. It is a novel on human trafficking in America that captures your attention from the first page and stirs in the reader the desire to take action. Although it is a fiction novel, it is a reality that is real and happening among us. Purchase it at http://www.amazon.com/Children-City-Novel-Trafficking-America/dp/0996069801/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399395615&sr=8-1&keywords=children+of+the+city


1 "THE FACTS." The Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 May 2014.

Testimony of God's Faithfulness

God is so faithful. Especially to provide for things He's called us to do, whether it's that we are the answer to our own prayer or he sends someone else. As many of you know, my sister will be going on the World Race next year through A.I.M. (Adventures In Missions) for nine months and I will be going to Guatemala in June for a week on a short term mission trip. These trips don't just pay for themselves and they aren't cheap by any means. My sister received an anonymous donation of $8,500 and my trip was covered through the internship I am currently involved in. My sister still has about $3,000 to raise but we are standing in faith believing that all the funds will be covered. I just want to encourage you to dare to believe for BIG things. I think a trap that we all fall into is thinking that our dreams or the things that God has called us to do are limited by physical, emotional, financial, spiritual, or mental boundaries that cannot be overcome. But our God is bigger than any thing that stands in the way of the dream/vision that He has put in our hearts. My sister and I's story is a testimony of the faithfulness of God to provide in ways we never thought possible and the deep realization that God will always meet us when we step out on the waters of uncertainty.