Stretch it out...

I love our young adult small group and in our time together last week we were discussing being stretched by God. I commented how I feel that's my life on a daily basis right now! It seems every single day God is presenting me new. pretty large, opportunities to grow and stretch. With that one of my friends threw into the conversation....

#IStayBeinStretched

After busting out with laughter, I took that on as my new life motto for this season. 

One of my daily prayers for so long has been for God to enlarge my capacity. To always give me new plates to spin for His Kingdom and the ability to spin them, WHILE passing off other plates to up and coming plate spinners. The thing about a prayer like that is God doesn't enlarge your capacity without giving you the things to do that will enlarge you. (Enter my current season.)

Just when I think I have hit a groove and am accomplishing things well, another plate or two come spinning my direction with my name on them. And to be honest....that's just as it should be and exactly how I want it.

God didn't create us to stay at the same capacity we've always been. 

If a student who enters high school as a Freshman has the same intellectual level at Senior year, there is a problem and that is very clear to us. Yet in our daily walk with God we choose to stay at the same level as when we first got saved and see that as normal or acceptable. We do just enough to get by and never seek to grow and then wonder why things aren't changing and developing for us. Friends, God expects us to enlarge our capacity, to grow in every walk of our lives and every facet of our relationship with Him; emotionally, spiritually, physically and mentally. Not for our own purposes, but for HIS purposes! To reach as many people as we can, to grow His Kingdom and to live this life He has given us to the absolute fullest. 

God didn't create us to be complacent or average.

When growth makes itself known in our lives we have 2 options. 

1. Step into it, unknown and all. (Grab those plates and spin em baby!)

2. Back away into comfortability.

Maybe God is asking you to spin the plate of "serving in Childrens Ministry" or "get your finances in order" maybe its even "write a book" WHAT IF, its all 3 of those at the same time?

If God has passed us the plates, He has equipped us to spin them and will direct us on how to spin them well when we trust Him. 

Growing pains aren't fun, but when we remember we are growing because God is entrusting us with more, then it turns growing pains into growing gains. Then, before long we look around and we're in a new place. What once was difficult, we can now do with ease. What once seemed impossible is just another part of our day!

Too many people, are backing away into comfortability when they know they are created for more. Shying away from spinning a new plate because of what it might cost them. Is there a cost to growth? Absolutely. But its a cost well worth it when we view it in light of the cost Jesus paid.  

Then He said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it. Luke 9:23-24

Who's ready to spin some plates?!

Signed 

Sincerely, 

#IStayBeinStretched 

Calling Your Name...

Having an almost 3 year old little girl is an adventure! She has entered the world of Barbies (already?), singing "Let it Go", dancing in circles when there is music in the air and even (gasp!) pre-ballet classes. She is a true girly girl; shrieking at bugs, twirling in dresses and loving all things Disney Princess.

I may be biased...but she is pretty amazing almost 3 year old. (insert cheesy grin)

A few weeks ago the three of us were playing and running around the house. My husband was sitting on the couch calling for our daughter as I was chasing her down the hallway. As she ran to my husband and jumped up into his arms she shouted "SAFE!" and giggled as she leaned back into his embrace. My breathe caught in my chest as I stepped back to take in that moment. The moment where my baby girl realized that no matter what, she is safe in the arms of her Daddy.

Friends, there is so much to learn from this moment in a toddlers life.

How often are we running into the arms of our Father and shouting, SAFE!

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;    he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Psalm 91:1-4

He is our rescuer. He is our safe place. He is our shelter, our protector and our promise keeper.

When my daughter is with her Daddy there is nothing like it. She is unafraid as she flies through the air on his shoulders. She is brave as she holds His hand. She laughs like crazy when he tells her a secret. She is loving as she is loved. She is comforted when he kisses her "ow-ies."

I absolutely love to sit back and watch their relationship. I love watching her begin to understand her value from the love and acceptance of her Father. I am often reminded, if her earthly Father loves her this much, how much MORE does her perfect Heavenly Father love her.

How much more does He love me.

How much more does He love YOU.

I recognize, some of you reading this may not have benefited from growing up with an earthly Father who loved and adored you and my heart grieves for you. However, it is time to awaken to the relationship available to you in your Heavenly Father! The Father who... makes you unafraid as you fly in life with Him and makes you brave as you hold his hand. The Father who whispers secrets to you that make your heart laugh, equips you to love others as He loves you and yes, even kisses your ow-ies when life gets the best of you.

He is a good Father. The best we could ever hope for or want. He longs to spend time with us, dreaming and planning. He longs to fulfill the deepest parts of ourselves that we never show to anyone. The hurts, pains, joys and celebrations...He is there cheering us on.

No matter our age, no matter our background, He is calling our name.
He calls us to His arms....

SAFE!

You always have a piece of home here...

How do you capture the trip of a lifetime into one blog?

Im not sure I can, because in all honesty I am still processing everything I saw, learned and experienced on this trip. I know in the months to come I will STILL be processing moments, conversations and experiences I had while in Israel.

When I first received the email invitation almost a year ago I had no idea what to expect,  I was simply excited for the opportunity. Now being on the other side of that invitation, I am a changed person in every way. I grew deeper in love with Jesus, was challenged as a leader, and I was deeply inspired by their understanding of community and respect for one another as people. Being on the other side of that invitation I can now say I have a genuine love for Israel and her people.

As we were leaving our tour guide, Yoav, at the airport he said something I will never forget.

"Remember you always have a piece of home here in Israel."

That sums up exactly how I feel. In only 9 days, Israel left such an incredible mark on my life.

I worshipped in the middle of the sea of Galilee....the place where Jesus called the unlikely to follow Him. The place where Jesus spoke to the storm and the wind and waves obeyed. The place where Peter understood the best place you can be in a storm in close to Jesus, so he took a chance and walked on water to his Savior. In the middle of this sea, God spoke to me "Peace be still" and quieted my heart, just as Jesus quieted the storm so many years ago.

I stood in the Garden of Gethsemane....the place where the fate of all human kind hung in the balance. This was the very place that Jesus settled the decision to save my life. Amongst these trees Jesus spoke the words, "Not my will, but Your will be done Father." In the last 7 years Ive prayed that verse in moments that had life changing weight to them and now here I stood in the same place they were spoken and it wrecked me....here in this garden God spoke to me "well done, good and faithful servant."

I looked over into a Bethlehem field....where Ruth met Boaz. Where David learned to sling by killing bears and lions not knowing one day he would kill Goliath in the same way. Where David practiced faithfulness by tending his sheep and the place where God knew to find David to promote him to King. In this field the angels appeared to the shepherds to tell them the good news of the arrival of Jesus. Shepherds, considered in that time as low on the society chain as prostitutes...yet God made known the arrival of His Son to them first.

I sat on the steps of what was the entrance to the temple in Jerusalem....the place where Jesus was found by his parents as a 12 year old boy "about the business of His Father." The place where Jesus spent time with His disciples and taught. The place we read about in Acts 2, the location of Peters message that brought 3,000 to know Jesus all in one day.

I stood in the tomb....I spoke the words "why do you look for the living amongst the dead?" in the very place the angel delivered that message. I got to experience what it must have been like for Mary Magdalene as, in her grief, she arrived at the tomb that morning to find her Savior and friend was no longer there. What a moment that must have been when He appeared to her. Its not lost on me that Jesus chose to appear first to a woman and gave her the opportunity to run and tell all the others of his resurrection.

I sat in the presence of an incredibly brave Arab-Christian Pastor in Bethlehem, Pastor Steven Khoury. He has purposed his life to see Arabs and Palestinians give their hearts to Jesus. He has been beaten and his church bombed 14 times, yet he stops at nothing. Bravery and Courage lived out.

I listened to a Greek Orthodox Priest, Father Gabriel Naddaf speak in Aramaic of his love for Israel. He stands for peace, unity and love in his Holy Land. His desire is to build bridges between Christians, Jews and all Islamic people. Because of that desire he sacrifices his safety and comfort daily. Such a gentle man with incredible love for Jesus and undeniable strength.

I was invited into the home of Jewish family, The Cohens, to celebrate Shabbat (Sabbath) with them. This family has astounding love for people. They graciously moved all of their furniture onto the front porch in order to host over 34 of us. They cooked one of the best meals Ive ever had and they taught us traditional Jewish Shabbat songs all amongst laughter and dancing. The complete joy that exuded from their home wasn't just for us, it was who they are as people. Genuine love and community.

I had the opportunity to hear from Military and Political analysts and Israeli soldiers. A brave journalist and an Israeli Army Commander. Human rights activist and philosophers. All incredible people that I count myself privileged to learn from.

All in 9 days.

As I began, there isn't any possible way I could sum up my experience in one blog. Because of that you will probably be reading about this trip for the next couple of posts...hope you don't mind. :)

The reoccuring theme of the trip was, "you will come again to Israel."

I can absolutely say, I will.

Lost Wallet or Divine Appointment?

My husband and I went to the movies for our date night last week. The theatre we went to is my favorite movie theatre because you can eat your dinner while watching the movie and the food is super good. We saw Mission Impossible 4 which I loved, but by the end of the movie you are wondering if Tom Cruise is super awesome for doing all his own stunts or just super crazy....I'll let you decide the answer.

The next morning I was getting ready to leave for our Church Appreciation BBQ and thats when I realized I didn't have it. Have what you ask? My wallet. It wasn't in my purse. I re-traced all my steps and came to the conclusion I must have somehow left it at the theatre. I called them to find out I was the lucky winner of a wallet waiting in the managers office....yay me!

Did I mention this super cool theatre is a 45 minute drive from our house?

Im not sure I could have been more annoyed with myself for leaving it there. So with a bad attitude I told my husband I wouldn't be making it to the BBQ because I had to go pick up my wallet and off I went.

Realizing I had a bad attitude I figured I should probably turn Spotify to a worship station so I could get myself right and this is what began to play....

"Away, away from the noise alone with You
Away, away to hear Your voice and meet with You
Nothing else matters, my one desire is.."

My first thought? Ok God, youve got my attention.
Then the song continued....

"To worship You I live
To worship You I live
I live to worship You"

And right there in the car I came undone in the sweet presence of my loving Father.

This drive that began with such frustration quickly became a divine appointment with God. See God can speak to us anywhere and in my car that day, 45 minutes to the theatre and 45 minutes returning (my wallet was complete!) God and I had quite the conversation. He turned what seemed like an annoyance in my day into precious time spent with Him where He spoke to some areas I have going on in my life.

When we take time away with Him, away from the noise, away from the distractions and tune in to our Fathers heart... oh the peace He has waiting for us! The joy and the love, the direction and the vision He is just waiting to download into our hearts!

When is the last time you really got away with God? Away from your cell phone, away from your laptop, away from whatever that thing is that distracts you the most. Don't be mistaken, getting away doesn't mean you literally have to leave and go somewhere different. You can get away in your bedroom, your kitchen, your back porch...it simply means you are quieting the noise and sitting with Him, not out of obligation but out of relationship. Talking with Him, worshiping Him, reading His Word. Sitting still and allowing His presence to be real in your life.

There is a Norah Jones song from back in the day called "Come away with Me"

"Come away with me in the night
Come away with me and I will write you a song...

I want to walk with you on a cloudy day
In fields where the yellow grass grows knee high
So won't you come

Come away with me and we'll kiss on a mountaintop
Come away with me and I'll never stop loving you"


Our gracious Father is asking us to come away with Him. He longs to walk with us on the mountaintops and in the valleys. He longs to be near to you and whisper to your heart.
Wherever you are, whatever you have going on, no matter your attitude.

Wont you come?

Message Prep and Potty Training....

Today is Wednesday, and I love Wednesdays!  I have youth service in the evening so my Wednesdays are usually spent in preparation for that. Message prep, final video edits, prayer, texting students, final service prep,  etc....
However today in the midst of my final message prep I found myself sitting on the bathroom floor encouraging my 2 and 1/2 year old to go potty in the "big girl potty" and I had to laugh. All I could think about was the message I am preaching tonight, yet all she could think about was getting this potty out and into the toilet!
I have a very special situation in that my office is at home and certain days of the week my daughter is home with me while I work. I treasure this and realize I am blessed for it but even bigger than that....I recognize Gods grace all around it.

"Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 
2 Corinthians 12:9

I love being in full time ministry and I equally love being a full time Momma and Wife....I wouldn't trade any of it for anything in the world and so Ive had to learn to do it all together AND know that ONLY with Him I CAN do it all together.
We run three services on Sunday mornings and this past weekend in between each service where did I find myself? Yep you guessed it....I was in the bathroom encouraging my daughter to go potty while putting my in-ear pack back in place! Don't misunderstand me, this isn't to pat myself on the back, its to give God glory and also to encourage women to know it IS possible to do it all AND have fun while doing it!

We try so hard to compartmentalize our life rather than accepting Gods grace to do it all at the same time. Wherever I go I am a Wife, wherever I go I am a Mom and wherever I go I am a woman in full time ministry. There is never a time where I take off one hat to put on another. I have found when I keep Jesus first and center then everything else I do and everything else I am works AROUND Him.

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." Mathew 6:33

He graces me to walk in my callings....ALL of them. He strengthens me to run and not grow weary. He equips me in the tough days to overcome and laugh at hardships.

I am because He is.....now back to the potty....

When God says, "Do it"...

Well....here it is! The thing I've been challenged to do...write!

As you can see if you scroll down...my last blog post was in 2013. I am a serial procrastinator when it comes to keeping this blog updated. 

This time is different. This time I know God is stretching me and telling me to write...asking me to share. Share what, you may be asking. My journey, my story, my studies and my day by day learnings as a follower of Jesus, a Wife, a Momma and a woman in ministry and leadership. And ya know if God asks you to do it....ya better just do it....faithfully!

My hopes are for this blog to encourage you, inspire you and maybe even challenge you. We have been given one life to live and its not so we can live it safe. God calls us to live boldly, rising up to be the people He made us to be, created in His image, designed to do the work of the Kingdom. 

Won't you join me?