A Call To Christians

This morning we learned of the passing of Reverend Billy Graham in to the sweet presence of the Lord. I did not expect that my heart would be hit this hard with this news, but it has been. I have spent all morning reading quotes, articles, personal posts, and testimony after testimony of lives changed because of the obedient life of this wonderful man. In the midst of reading all these words of acclamation, I've found my mind wondering where "America's Pastor" had struggles? It is easy in this time to think of him as above the human struggle, but from what I have read, I believe he would want us to remember that he was a sinful man forgiven and covered by the blood of Jesus, who chose to walk obediently in the call of God... and each one of us has the same opportunity.

You see, we all have sinned and have fallen short. But the message of Billy Graham's life was one of the grace given to us through Jesus. It's through Jesus' perfect, spotless sacrifice that we are able to be  alive. It is through the love of the Father that we are able to be saved through Jesus. And if you are someone that may not understand that Christian-ese lingo, I want to break it down:

"For God so love the world (us), that He gave His only Son (Jesus), 

that whoever (opened to ALL) believes in Him shall not perish (die a sinful death),

 but have eternal life (life with Jesus in Heaven and on earth)." 

John 3:16

(If this is new for you and you want to find out more about what Jesus has done for you, 

please message me or someone so we can explain and pray with you!)

Sometimes as Christians we forget that the simplicity of the cross and the Word is all we need to progress. We make it complicated, confusing, stressful, and hard to understand. But God is love, and He longs for us to love Him and the people around us in simple, tangible ways. It is the greatest commandment after all. And I am grateful for the trail blazed before us by a man that was not perfect, but walked fully in the grace of God, leading everyone he could to the feet of Jesus. 

And it sounds like I should be finished there, but I'm not. One of the biggest things that stood out to me in reading about BG's life was his stance in politics. I honestly don't know if we could ever find a Christian man more involved in the lives of presidents from generation to generation... And though he had all the opportunity in the world, he was not a man to turn his podium into a political rant. He was a man that understood the importance of praying for his leaders and offering Godly, scriptural counsel whenever he could. WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THAT EXAMPLE! 

I have seen so many posts by Christians on social media lately that are politicized and jabbing at those they would consider on the "other side"... but can I be candid? They aren't the enemy! And I would pose a challenge for us as followers of Christ to remember no matter how passionately we feel about legislation and politics that "we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)

Can we grasp that word? Can we remember that yes, we can have opinions on things, but they should never cause people to turn their heads from Christ and distract from His great name because of how we represent them! My goodness, if we could only be as passionate about serving the Lord and each other as we are about guns and gun laws. Yes, I went there. Live a life that causes people to turn their heads to Jesus. Don't let your legacy be one of ostracizing people through your political stances. Because ultimately, it just doesn't matter.

With that, I am sounding an alarm. I am making a call for us to lay down our divisive politics and remember that we are NOT each other's enemies. And if we call ourselves followers of Jesus, we need to be reminded daily who our fight is against, and who we are called to love. We are in a season of urgency for the love of the Father to be spread in this earth and that will not happen if we keep allowing the enemy to bring division... why do you think he's trying so hard right now. So, rise up! don't give in to his schemes. Let's see the Kingdom of Heaven invade the earth in a reviving of His church to walk out the harvesting of those who just don't know His love yet!

Lord, may we be a generation that steps up to the legacy that has gone before us. May we walk in love and dedication to serve, and may we release our strong grip on the politics that have so easily distracted us. May we be united in You! May we walk in the grace You have given us! And Father may we see each other through Your eyes. Help us to remember who our enemy is, and give us the wisdom on how to combat his lies. Help us Lord to see the harvest and to have a heart of passion for those in need of You still. Let our priorities align with Yours fully. And Lord, please comfort the Graham family in a huge way as the begin the process of this mourning period. Thank you for their father who was always willing to point back to you. In Your holy and precious name, amen!

4 Reasons My Love For Christmas Runs Deep

Let me start by saying, Christmas is literally my favorite. Anyone who has known me for more than 5 minutes could attest to that. And tonight as I was sitting here watching "Elf" (for the gagillionth time) I started listing in my head some of the reasons this season makes me so happy. Lucky you that I decided to share a few of those thoughts, huh? :)

1) Gifts are my love language - 

   Don't take this first one the wrong way... I enjoy receiving gifts, especially if they are heart felt, but the thing I LOVE most is giving gifts. People often laugh at me because I start my thought process for gifts in the summer. I begin to listen to what the people around me are saying they are needing, things they want, but mostly thinking about a way I could show them they are loved with a gift. I am not a big input person, mainly because I have a terrible memory, but when it comes to presents, I WILL remember something you said from 9 months ago!
 
  You see, it's important to me that people know I have been thinking about and praying over their gifts. I don't want this gift to be something they just use or put on a shelf, I want it to be something that when they look at it their heart is stirred. I want their gift to remind them of a memory we shared or encourage them in the season they are in. Not every gift is a super deep gift, but that doesn't mean I haven't put a lot of thought in to it.

  I feel so fulfilled watching my people unwrap their presents. And I am so thankful for a holiday that gives me an extra opportunity to say, "hey, you mean something to me. Here is a gift to show you I care!"


2) Jesus is being worshipped constantly - 

  This one is sooooo amazing to me! Every year it never fails to make me giddy thinking about this. Have you ever walked in to a store or restaurant in the month of December and stopped to just listen to the music? If you haven't, you should! There are songs being played throughout the world declaring Jesus as King; honoring Him as the Savior. He's everywhere and it's amazing!

  I do most of my shopping online these days (because duh, it's so much easier! lol), but I will make up any excuse to run to Target in the month of December. I love standing off to the side and watching people singing lyrics like "O Holy Night" or "Away In A Manger". I can imagine where they are in their lives and how impactful those words, that they may not even understand, are going to be in their hearts. It's a great opportunity to pray for them to open their eyes to the truths of what they are singing. It's a miraculous thing. I would even wonder if we did a survey how many people would say they began to feel a stirring for the Lord around Christmas time because Jesus is all around? Things that make you go "hmmm"!


3) People are just so much kinder - 

  This might have something to do with the fact that they are walking around singing about Jesus (lol), but people really are just happier. Strangers will hold doors. They will look you in the eyes and say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays". There is a gentleness in the way the world communicates around this time of year. It's so refreshing. And every year I am grateful for it, especially in years where there has been a lot of heartache in the world like this past one. Something about the atmosphere of Christmas just brings out a tenderness.


4) It's a reminder of HOPE! - 

  This, too, probably ties in to the last thought. In a world where there is so much hurt and so many who are lost, this season is a constant reminder that there is still good; that God is still good! When we hear the story of Jesus' birth we are reminded that even though the Father knew there would be sons and daughters that still wouldn't love Him, He loves us so much that He sent Jesus for us. He gave us the option and opportunity.

  To me, this is the most special thought. This hope is something I cling to. Every year as New Years passes and we enter in to a new season, I think of all the good we just encountered. When the world is going to hell in a hand basket, I look back at all the people who sacrificed their time and money to serve the homeless on Christmas day; I think of the people who donated gifts to families that couldn't afford them; I remember the smiles strangers shared passing by each other... and I am reminded, God is moving. It may not look like Christmas all the time, but He has freely given us His joy, hope, and love all year long and we can share it with all of those around us. I am grateful to love and serve a God that really cares about us.


So, this Christmas, look for those amazing, joyful things and celebrate them. And then as we enter in to 2018, try to remember the good and let it be at the forefront of your mind through every situation. We can change this world one heart of Christ[mas] at a time.

Who Is He?

"Then he asked them, 'But who do you say I am?' ” 

(Matthew 16:15 NLT)

As I am reading through Matthew in my Bible I come to this verse and I stop. Because it catches my eyes and my heart. And I think, "who do I say He is?" I sit for a moment and ponder this question and then I continue to read.

After Jesus asks His disciples who they say He is, Peter's response comes quickly: "... the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus says to Peter that He did not discover this truth on his own, but the Father has revealed it to Him. And I stop again. It's a selah moment.

I ask myself, who has God revealed Himself to be in/to me? I think of so many circumstances in my life (some great and some not so great) and I look for Him in those moments. I recognize Him revealing Himself to me in many different ways, in many different circumstances. And I begin to make note of all the amazing attributes of God that have touched my life:

Father

Friend

Healer

Debt Eraser

Lover of my Soul

Provider

Confidant

My Constant

Comfort

Warrior 

Victorious King

And my list kept growing. You see, Peter knew who Jesus was because the Father revealed  it to Him, and the same goes for me. Through every moment in my life the Lord has shown Himself faithful and revealed a little more about Who He is to me. From the first encounter I had with Him and finding His love for me was not just an emotion, but love is His very nature! To seeing Him provide in miraculous ways in my life, to Him healing my body... and so much more. 

In every season there is a new thing to learn about who He is and who we are in Him. And when I think about the Father revealing to Peter the identity of Christ, I can also clearly picture the part that follows where He reveals to Peter who Peter is. It's so much easier for us to know who we are as individuals when we allow God to show us who He is first. Reminds me of a few chapters previous where Jesus says to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." ( Matthew 6:33) 

I think I felt like I needed to share this today because someone is struggling finding who God is and who they are in Him. And I want you to know that He is faithful to reveal Himself. Look for His hand at work in your life even in the smallest of things. And if at first you can't see it, look again! Because He is there and He is working and He will reveal Himself to you. When He reveals Himself to you, you will begin to know who you are and what you are worth to Him. And my prayer is that as He reveals Himself to you, you will fall so in love with Him and your life will be forever marked by the infinite awe of all He is!

What's The Take Away?

If you have ever met me, ever had a conversation with me, I am certain at some point in our exchange of words that I brought up South Africa. How am I certain about that? Because what the Lord did in my life in that country 13 years ago CHANGED ME! Those who knew me pre-SA 2004 can testify to that last statement. It was not just a slight change that maybe affected me, it was a complete and total overhaul of my mind, heart, and soul. I entered that country broken, physically and spiritually; I left healed and whole! I had hurt and shame on my shoulders, but the Lord lifted it up off of me and filled me with His joy. The change in me permeated my entire life and being.

I preface with all of that because I got back from my second trip to South Africa this week. I am having a hard time re-adjusting to home because my heart keeps longing to wake up back there. I find myself in a processing stage, and it seems the more I process the more I find reasons to be in that beautiful country. I wanted to take a few minutes though to share some of the amazing things that God showed me, taught me, or used me for on this trip.

1) This trip was not about me.

    

   When the Lord called me to SA back in 2004 it was very obvious that I needed His touch in my life, because I was needing some major healing. And He did it! He was faithful and I found the freedom I was searching for. But this time around I knew going in to the trip that God had other plans in store. I asked Him daily to use me to carry His joy and love to the people around me. I just wanted to serve and honor. And the honest truth, I feel so filled up having spent 10 days doing just that. But it wasn't about me feeling full, it was about those I came in contact with needing to experience the full on joy of the Lord. 

    One of my favorite examples of this was a child that I found swinging by herself at one of the care centers. She had no smile, really no expression at all. And I knew that sweet girl needed the Lord to touch her. I didn't ask her if I could hold her, I walked over and picked her up and hugged her. She rested her head on my chest and I prayed that the Lord would fill her up. At some point I had put her down and lost sight of her. But as we were leaving to our van, there she was waiting on the side of that dirt road. I walked over and said, "Oh my friend!" and picked her up in my arms to give a big hug! When I put her down to leave she had the biggest smile on her face. And as I turned around I heard this sweet voice say, "bye friend!" You better believe I was a puddle! This child that would not smile 20 minutes prior, now had found her smile and a friend. This is why I went on this trip.

2) Testimony releases faith.

    I had been feeling the Lord preparing me to share my testimony a month or so before I left. I am always so ready to share my testimony because I know how encouraging it is to hear from someone who has gone through something similar to you and has come out on the other side. I also think a lot about the scripture in Revelation 12 that talks about overcoming the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and the word of the testimony. There is power in testimony. Something happens in our spirit when testimonies are released and it builds our hope and faith.

    So every opportunity I got I shared my story. I shared the power of the Lord in my life. I rejoiced with people who were currently struggling through something, that God was already working. I asked the Lord to let the words of my story offer a peace in the midst of someone's uphill battle. And I saw Him do that. It was amazing the quickness in which He worked too. It didn't take me an hour of testifying for faith to arise, it would happen in minutes. It was really truly amazing and miraculous!

3) Some times tangible hugs are better than words.

    There were many moments that I felt like my words were not enough. Someone telling you how they felt they were failing at life and felt so defeated and overcome, it's hard to find the right thing to say. A couple of times this happened to me on the trip and I felt the need to just hug and hold them. A hug can be a very powerful and anointed thing. It can break down a barrier that someone has put up and open the door for a receptive heart. I want to always remember that hugs are a tool that we often neglect, and be more aware of when that tool may be needed.

and lastly... (for right now anyway lol)

4) Honor is important.

    The first Sunday we were in SA, we spent it in The Big Tent in Jo Burg. It was a special day because the church had come together to honor the 40th wedding anniversary of their Pastors, Bishop and Pastor Maggie. I watched in awe as person after person and couple after couple spoke words of life and honor over their pastors. It was amazing. It was powerful. It was a deep service. The service lasted for 5 hours... yep, you read that right, 5 hours! INCREDIBLE! 

     But the honoring was not just because they had stayed married for 40 years, the honoring was taking place because of all they had accomplished through their marriage. The many couples who shared of the spiritual mother and father that parented them in the Kingdom. It was amazing. They showered them with gifts and money and hugs and tears. 

    And it got me thinking... we are missing that in America. Often times the church congregation views the pastors as someone there to tend to our needs and so they must answer to us. But I believe we are missing out on some blessings because we don't revere and honor our spiritual leaders. God has ordained them and anointed them to do a heavy and hard job. We need to not only acknowledge that, but lift them up and encourage them. There is something to be said about a church that, doesn't worship their pastor, but honors the person God has ordained. 

So with all of that said, I'm still processing through. Everyday I remember something else the Lord did and asking Him to teach me through it. But mostly, I am thinking about the people and how much love I have for them. If someone put a check in front of me right now for a large sum of money, I would quickly be back on that long flight to SA. If I've said it once I've said it a million times: When you leave Africa you never really fully leave. There is always a part of your heart that remains there.  

And until next time, I will push in to the Lord and ask Him to do in me all that needs to be done so I can be ever more effective when He does send me back!

What Are You Fighting?

In light of the nation's present standings, I have been spending much time thinking about, praying for, and lingering in the battle between "sides". Over the last couple of months I have read countless blogs, journals, articles, and social media posts that not only enrage me emotionally, but stir up a righteous anger in me. But contrary to popular belief I have not found myself leaning one way over the other. I read things from both ends of the spectrum, agreeing with some and whole-heartedly disagreeing with a lot from both.

And this has been the place where I have felt a huge tug-a-war going on inside of me, which has made it difficult to pray at times. I don't like my country being disgraced but I also do not agree with having more passion in patriotism than in our relationships with Jesus. So many people are hurting and it just seems like we can't get past this place, this moment in time... and then I had this moment of revelation. I was reading an Instagram post by someone at Bethel and they shared a verse in Ephesians. I decided to look it up and compare translations. When I read this translation it really clicked:

"Our fight is not with people. It is against the leaders and the powers and the spirits of darkness in this world. It is against the demon world that works in the heavens." Ephesians 6:12 (New Life Version)

WOW! Why are we so angry at each other? Why are we arguing about athletes kneeling during the anthem? Why are we outraged over stupid comments people make? Why are we spending more time being offended at each other instead of breaking off the chains of the real enemy? Speaking to myself here as well!

Our pettiness has reached an all new level of surreal, and I am so thankful that the Lord has opened my eyes to this tonight. We need to address the root. We need to align ourselves with the Spirit of God and follow His guidance in prayer. What if we spent 5 minutes in the morning putting on the armor of God to avoid allowing the schemes of the enemy to deceive us. That way when someone says something that would naturally offend or get us riled up, because that is inevitable, we would already be prepared to let those arrows bounce off. How about that for not bringing glory to the enemy? What if we spent our time focused on the Lord and what His heart is instead of letting the enemy be exalted through our petty flesh?

There are people out there really, truly hurting. People who do not know Jesus and the hope and joy that He gives. But if I am being completely honest right now, for the most part they aren't seeing a great representation of His hope and joy in His church right now. Church, we have to rise up. We have to fight for this nation in the ONLY way that will benefit it, by humbling ourselves and praying! We want healing? Then let's follow the guidance the Lord has already given us in His word (2 Chronicles 7:14).

I am asking you right now to join me in repentance and battle. May we stop focussing our vigor on each other, and may we turn our fight towards the real enemy! I believe we can see a healed nation. I believe God will still move in a mighty way. And I believe that if we can align ourselves rightly that He can do it quickly! Join me in joining Him!

Together We Are Better

I'm pondering the world events that are and have taken place over the last few months; from rallies, to protests, to natural disasters. I am thinking about all the notifications that have popped up on my phone telling me when another bombing has happened. And then I think about all the news reports and headlines about what this politician has done and what that politician has said. So many pointed fingers that have stirred up so many arguments and debates. I don't understand it all, and I'm not even going to try. But I think there is a lesson for humanity in it all and I want to dig into it a bit.

I grew up in the same area where I was born. We never really left the borders of where we lived, where our church was, my grandparent's house, and the grocery store. But when I was 14 I had the opportunity to go on my first missions trip to the country of El Salvador. As I prepared for my trip I had no concept of what it would be like, not just the scenery but the people, the culture, and the atmosphere. I had never traveled so I didn't have a basis to form conclusions. I left American soil with a very narrow outlook.

When we arrived my eyes were quickly opened wide within minutes of stepping off the plane. I could feel so much hurting, poverty, and discord. I think back to our first conversations with the missionaries and their warnings for us to not look people on the streets in the eyes because it would entice a challenge; or that hand gestures we as Americans thought of as friendly waves actually representing calls for prostitutes there. My mind was blown. How could so much strife exist so plainly, I thought. But then the information continued. We learned of battles between neighborhoods, the Guerrillas against the military, and even battles between the Catholics and Protestants. On top of all of that, the country had suffered thousands, not just one or two, THOUSANDS of earth quakes in the beginning of the year. Leaving the already unstable country in shambles. At one point while we were on our bus we had military men with automatic rifles jump on to offer "protection" from the neighborhood we were driving through. 

At 14, that is a lot of information and activity to process through. I was having a hard time looking at the people as people and not just seeing situations. But then we held our first ministry service. And my perspective cleared up a bit. The foggy precepts faded to the sides as I watched hurting people unite together in the presence of the Lord. I watched them serve each other food, hold each other as they cried, and literally lift each others arms up in worship. I remember thinking how amazing it was that all of this craziness was going on around them and yet they gathered together and hope was shining bright. To me that says unity enables hope. It was when they were together for the same purpose, to reach the same goal that unity overcame the heaviness of the it all.

If we stop and look back at Jesus' time here on the earth we can see that He knew the necessity of unity, being together. He is the Lord and He still chose to gather with His disciples to change this world. He didn't just choose to be around the people who talked most like Him, or the ones who looked like Him. He chose to encounter men and women of all kinds... because their differences did not negate that they were people who needed love.

"How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!"

 Psalm 133:1

About a month after I got back from El Salvador 9/11 happened and my theory was proven. I watched as our country stopped the politics, stopped the finger pointing, stopped the words filled with hate, and in place of all that junk they loved each other, they fought for each other, they were unified. In times of real struggles, people will come together. 

And when I reflect back to where our country currently stands it proves my theory all over again. Yes, there are not so wholesome, and some down right inhumane things happening in our nation. There are some people who's ideologies and perceptions of the world are completely out of whack, with extremism on each side. There are politics that we do not agree on, and there are politicians we do not like. BUT, when we have groups of people, from every background, gathering together in Texas at this very moment to save as many people as possible in a natural disaster, it says something. People driving from thousands of miles away to bring their boats to rescue those stuck in the floods. People sending clothes, food and money to help offer some hope. Not caring what color, shape, size, sex, or age they are. They are united together and it is creating an aroma of hope.

So I think my point in writing all this is to say: when the flood waters fade back from Texas, and the world returns to a (semi) normal state, people are still going to be people. We will disagree at times; we will all have our own ways of thinking. But I urge you, to not let your perspective narrow. Remind yourself daily, maybe even hourly, that our differences and disagreements don't matter when it comes to the important stuff, and it shouldn't take us waiting till the next natural disaster to recognize it. If we will just take the time to love each other past all of that, unity will happen and hope will be stirred. We aren't too far gone, and we can still accomplish so much together! And together we are a better country, family, friend, neighbor, person!

Where Will My Help Come From?

In the past few months I have been going through a transformation of mind, or maybe I should say a renewing. You see, my whole life I have been someone who would fight for what I thought was right, or just. It really irked me all the way to the core when someone would say something false about someone, anyone. I would be quick to correct them and let them know it wasn't ok. It's this justice thing inside of me.

But lately... the Lord started speaking to me about me allowing Him to fight my battles: "The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. (Exodus 14:14)" Silent?!?! Do you know how hard it is for me to be silent? ESPECIALLY if someone is not acting justly! At first this lesson seemed hard. How was I going to be able to just not speak my mind in situations that I felt deserved it? How would I be able to sit by idly and let things happen? But the Lord is faithful... if He is going to take us through a lesson, there will be grace for us to learn through it.

It started off with smaller things, someone would say something and I would be quick to want to speak but the still small voice of the Lord would be quick to remind me, "I've got this battle!" Then some bigger things happened, to the point where I scheduled meetings to address them, and the Lord reminded me: "I will fight this battle, let Me be the implementer of justice!" And so I cancelled meetings to be obedient to what the Lord was teaching me.

And then something big happened. A situation that took my breath away... literally. Something that in my heart was not justified. And it hurt. And it confused me. But most of all, it made me want to stand up for myself. I wanted to come against every negative thing that had been said against me. But in the midst of it, I could feel the presence of the Lord. I could hear His voice saying: "Let Me justify you!" So I am.

Was it easy to not fight? No! Did I ask questions? Definitely. Did I get emotional and shed tears? FOR SURE! I think this scenario was one of the hardest things I've been through, outside of my health. But can I just say again how faithful the Lord is? Because He is so good.This whole time He knew these situations were coming and though my mind and emotions felt blown away and confused, my heart knew the Lord was at work.

I love how He began to prepare me to not fight. He started teaching me months ago in little things to let Him have it. So when I reached this pinnacle moment, my heart was already ready to let Him take the reigns. Like I said previously, just because my heart was prepared doesn't mean it was an easy thing. But what it does mean is that I can focus on the Lord filling me up instead of focussing on having to prove myself to those around me.

This scripture comes to mind today: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)" Instead of letting myself be robbed by the enemy and his schemes, I get to be full of the abundant life the Lord has for me. I get to trust that His plan is already at work because I have given my life over to His hands.

I just want to encourage you if you're reading this: Sometimes this world and the people in it will smack us around, but our hope does not lie in them, our hope lies in the Lord. And when we place our lives (hurts, fears and joys) into His hands, we can trust that we will prosper (Jeremiah 29:11) and He will work all things out for our good (Romans 8:28).

My journey isn't over, I've still got many lessons to learn along the way I'm sure. But one thing is certain, I have learned that letting God fight for me is way more beneficial for me and the people around me!