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?

He sees me.

Studying Isaiah 40:12-31 today and my heart is overwhelmed with the goodness of God. This entire block of scripture is about how great our God is, He has no equal! 

- "Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?"

- "Has The Lord ever needed anyone's advice?"

- "To whom can you compare God? What image can you find to resemble Him?"

- "He never grows weak or weary."

These are just a few of the verses within this block of scripture that knocked me out! God is so big, there is none like Him. When I begin to question where He is and if He cares or when I begin to question if He sees me, I have to come back to these truths.

He knows and sees all. Just because I don't understand His timing doesn't mean He's not there! These verses remind me, there is NONE like Him in all the earth...none even close! Vs 25 says "to whom will you compare Me? Who is My equal? Asks the Holy One."

He is the creator of all things and yet He knows me. Intimately. He loves me. Uniquely. He sees me. Individually. My God, who is unmatched, whom is all powerful, loves me, sees me and knows me....and you! He sees our heartaches, our struggles, our trials and not only cares about each and every one of them but promises us new strength when we place our trust in Him.

What an incredible love this is. 

"Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord ? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? Has the Lord ever needed anyone’s advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice? No, for all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand. All the wood in Lebanon’s forests and all Lebanon’s animals would not be enough to make a burnt offering worthy of our God. The nations of the world are worth nothing to him. In his eyes they count for less than nothing— mere emptiness and froth. To whom can you compare God? What image can you find to resemble him? Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains? Or if people are too poor for that, they might at least choose wood that won’t decay and a skilled craftsman to carve an image that won’t fall down! Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand? Are you deaf to the words of God— the words he gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant? God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them. He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing. They hardly get started, barely taking root, when he blows on them and they wither. The wind carries them off like chaff. “To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One. Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing. O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights? Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:12-31 NLT)

If Only...

Have you ever looked at someones life and thought, if only I could be them for just one day? Which of course leads to an entire list of "if onlys"....

Women especially are so good at this! If only I had their hair, if only I had their clothes, if only I had their confidence and talents. And the "if onlys" only get more serious the further you go..... if only I had their children, if only I had their spouse......if only I had their life.

Before we know it we've compared ourselves to believe we could never be as amazing as this other person and we've buried our self esteem 6 feet under in the dirt.

Why do we do this to ourselves?

Galatians 6:4 says, “Each of you should test your own actions. Then you can take pride in yourself, without comparing yourself to somebody else.” 
I know God has a specific lane for me and a race for me to run within that lane. When I start trying to dip into someone else's lane, not only do I mess up my race, but I mess up their race as well! The thing we must remember is God has made us all in His image to use our lives to glorify Him. He has made us all to run our own race with the talents and giftings He has placed within us. And the most incredible thing about that is this; the talents and giftings you have, I may not have and what I have, you may not have so we work together as a big team to see Gods will accomplished here on the earth!!

Funny how God knows exactly what He's doing isn't it?! ;)

Choose today to be uniquely you....exactly who God created you to be, doing exactly what God created you to do.