DNow 2017–“Overwhelmed”

Our favorite youth thing of the year… DNow!  We had a great weekend with a great group.  We have never had such an awesome group of kids, ever.  They make us even more grateful our jobs.  We have such a sweet group of seniors that are so close to my heart…  I love them like my own and am going to be a puddle of the floor come Senior Sunday.

We watched a video series about being overwhelmed.  All of my girls have stressed to me how much they worry.  It is sad to think about the pressures they face these days. 

Going through these lessons with our youth… is always going through a lesson for myself also.  In our first session together he talked about signs of being overwhelmed.  Ask yourself these ten questions:  Are busy and tired words I use to describe myself?  Am I always in a hurry?  Does my schedule make me stressed and anxious?  How am I sleeping?  Do I blame other people for my feeling overwhelmed?  Do I say that this is only a “season” of life?  Do I show less compassion to others?  Am I losing hope?  Am I withdrawing from family and friends?  When was the last time I genuinely had fun?

At the time, I was experiencing most of these “signs”.  It was almost funny how spot on everything was…. almost.  I wasn’t even aware of these overwhelming tendencies in my life.  Compared to the people I love most, I thought I was super chill.  This weekend was God telling me not to let the enemy use these tendencies to push me off an emotional cliff.  I have to fight for peace in my life!

In Matthew 26:36-46 when Jesus goes to Gethsemane to pray before his crucifixion, He is understandably overwhelmed.  In fact, the Bible says He was crushed with grief…. overwhelmed with sorrow… swallowed up with sadness. 

We’ve all been to a deeply painful place where we feel like we’ll never recover, but even in the every day where we don’t even think we are overwhelmed the same lesson applies… Look at what Jesus did.  He prayed!  This is a small but mighty step that can not be ignored.  We desperately need prayer…. Deep conversations with God where we can be honest, get things off our chest, and let go.

Jesus also asked his close friends to pray for him.  He didn’t try to carry this heavy burden all alone.  Close Christian friends are so important in my life.  I hope you have those special people in your life.  Knowing that I have dear friends that pray for me daily is one of the greatest blessings of my life. 

This first crucial step to overcoming the overwhelming is simple: We must pray!

Next we have to acknowledge what we’re good at, and what we should let go.  Don’t put too much on your plate…. If we stack all our plates too high, eventually everything will come crashing down.  All our responsibilities accumulate to increase our stress level.  Sometimes we just need to say “no”.  Perfectionists and people-pleasers have a hard time with this.  When you’re both, like me, it’s especially exhausting.  When you finally learn how to prioritize and give only what you can of yourself, the freedom of letting go is amazing. 

Lastly, we have to deny our fears and transform our minds.  Fear always plays a part in my life… I learned a long time ago that I will always have them.  I just have to deny their power over me and give every worry to God.  Looking to Him first will always make things better.  He will carry you through whatever you are facing.  Then when you are ready… dig into His word and further transform your mind by learning about Him.

So are you overwhelmed?

PRAY… LET GO… DENY YOUR FEARS… TRANSFORM YOUR MIND

Boom!

Thank you God and thank you Disciple Now.

Generous Compassionate Hope

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”  {Luke 23:13-15}

 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ {Acts 20:35}

…………………………………………………….

We recently went through a short series with our youth about greed.  It stood out as something I definitely need to remember and also, something I hope to always teach Mollie. 

The gist is… Greed will ultimately make you miserable.  To break the “gotta have everything…. and right now” selfish mentality that is so prevalent these days, we need to do three things:

1.  We have to offer generosity and increase the joy in our lives. 

2.  We need to pay attention to those around us and show compassion in any situation. 

3.  We need to offer the hope of Jesus to the world around us.

People are always wanting more.  It doesn’t matter what it is… money, clothes, electronics, make-up, cars, boats, houses, vacations… if it isn’t more of Jesus, there is probably a problem.  When this issue of greed comes up, I always think about seeing my friends sell everything they own and move to China to be missionaries.   It’s gut check time when you have to choose one tub of things to keep out of your whole house.  One tub, people!  How Christ-focused do you have to be to do that?  It is an awesome gauge to use…. ask yourself, if I was asked to give this up, would I be able to?  When the answer is no, you have become consumed with something that isn’t worth your time.  And then the more you have, the more it takes… or the more you want.

Greed will eventually steal your happiness.  Steal the joy that should radiate your life (if you know Christ).  And the easiest way to cure greed…. is to give.  Being generous is a wonderful trait!  One that I strive to have in my life.  And, one I’m constantly trying to teach Mollie.  I am blessed to know several generous people in my life but I would say my best friend Melissa, is the most generous person I know. 

She gives so much of herself and asks nothing in return.  I have seen her selfless attitude first hand so many times…. She gives her time endlessly to ministries at church.  Now that she has a great women’s ministry off the ground, she is starting a children’s ministry from scratch.  She gives her money to people in need or ministries at church, even when she needs it herself.  She gives her undivided attention to everyone she talks to… and plays with every baby or kid around.  Just last night I watched her play “Anna and Elsa” with my daughter through a whole football game.  And lastly, she gives her influence…. being open to talk to others about things she’s learned.

I know first hand that it is such a blessing to have someone like this in your life.  If we give of ourselves to others, joy will come.  And if we pay attention to needs and look for ways to meet people where they are, greed will melt away.  And if we can somehow spread the hope we have in Jesus… there are no limits to the blessings that will fall.

The challenge to take away is this….. Ask yourself where you can practice generosity… with your time…. with your money…. with your attention… with your stuff…. with your influence???  And make a conscious effort to get over whatever is holding you back and do it!  Always remember that the people around you need compassion.  Look for ways to serve them, help them, or stand up for them.  And pray that God would help you shine His light and show hope to someone that needs it.  If you take the time to look around, I promise there is someone right in front of you that is craving a generous act, compassionate smile, or word of hope.

Armor of God

In Isaiah 59:17-18, God talked about Himself putting on armor… In Ephesians 6:10-19, Paul tells us that we must put on armor that will work…. Only the best…. The armor that God Himself used.

Recently, I went through through one of the best Bible studies I’ve ever done…. Armor of God, by Priscilla Shirer.  This will be my cliff notes of this study.  Wonderfully important information and prayers that I do not want to forget….

Week 1:  Prayer

Prayer absolutely should CHANGE OUR LIVES! 

This world is not my home.  The things, or people, I struggle with are NOT the REAL problem.  Everything in the world is directly connected to the invisible world.  There is a war going on every minute… But because of our access to The Father, His Power is in us…. and He has the power to defend us.

“Spiritual victory is directly connected to your ability to “undisguise” the enemy.  To uncover him.  Unveil him.  Unmask him.  That’s half the battle.  But it’s the half your enemy doesn’t want you to pay much attention to, because once you do, you automatically begin to threaten his tyranny in your life.” (page 17)

Most of the time, I’m unaware of the lies and deception of the evil one in my life.  I need to daily unmask and identify him and his lies…. because they are there.  Every day I let evil change my mind, is a day that I’m not living the abundant life Christ has planned.  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  We always have hope, the home court advantage, and the victory!

Don’t let the worries of this life… Or the day to day, same ‘ol same ‘ol dull your alertness.  Lethargic Christian living will hamstring the church from achieving the purposes of God.  We must be proactive in prayer!

 

Week 2:  The Belt of Truth

If I don’t stand firm in God’s truth…. in His Word….The Bible…I’ll buckle under pressure rather than standing and persevering.

I must KNOW the truth, or I’ll easily fall prey to the enemy’s schemes.  It is time to adjust everything in my life to TRUTH!  Ambitions, feelings, fears, mind, will, emotions, instincts, intelligence….. all these things change…. Don’t let them guide you.  Everything starts with the truth.  The enemy is looking for weakness.  Through prayer and God’s Word, I can be spiritually refreshed and covered with power and strength.

1.  Stand firm in my faith

2.  Don’t hurt myself by staying angry

     -Offer grace/forgiveness.  Don’t be bitter.  Harboring anger will take over your life.

3.  Be strong and confident in His promises

     -He gives me holy courage and spiritual muscle to carry out whatever comes along.

 

Week 3:  The Breastplate of Righteousness

Righteousness is not manufactured.  It is released.

The enemy will try to entice me to chase after perfection, that leaves me discouraged…. And to compare myself to everyone under the sun, that leaves me deceived.  Those are traps.  My knowledge of Jesus Christ and my righteousness (imputed righteousness) through Him is the key to abundant life!

“The enemy is constantly on the warpath to keep you from realizing and utilizing this gift.  He doesn’t want you to rest in the fact that your sins have been completely forgiven, that your current status and position is one of complete righteousness before God.  He knows as long as you don’t see yourself as a righteous, holy daughter of God, you can never get around to wearing the breastplate that blocks him from successfully attacking the most vital part of your life – your heart.  He knows that your knowledge and acceptance of imputed righteousness is key.  So hear me loud and clear:  YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS” (pages 77-78)

I have to make a choice to receive God’s word and His promises and let them change me, save me, renew me.  We are to be righteous through and through.

 

Week 4:  The Shoes of Peace

A life without peace is simply unprotected and unable to move forward. 

Peace = Trust + Thanksgiving

When instability abounds, I should be steadfast.  When disappointment and confusion are near, I should still be capable of walking with Spirit-infused confidence.  Sometimes situations can keep me from being clearheaded…. consumed with reaching out to grab onto the wrong things to maintain my balance.  But, I must remember the peace of God within me that brings healing and restoration.

The only One who can truly satisfy the human heart in the One who made it.  ~Lois Evans

Peace is possible because of His great love for us.  Only Jesus gives true, forever peace.  Prayer covered in gratitude expresses a firm faith. 

But standing firm in faith and peace is not only about digging in – It’s about moving forward.  Pray and act!  Don’t wait to do what He is telling me to do.

A good picture of peace is skydiving. “It is your instructor guiding you, keeping you steady, assured, unwavering, even capable of smiling when everything in your environment says you should be screaming for dear life.” (page 118)

 

Week 5:  The Shield of Faith

Faith is not foolishness

The antagonist of faith is fear

Faith is when the dots don’t connect and you do it anyway

I have to have faith: Where others actively see evidence of God in my life….  Where I do what God asks, no matter how risky or intimidating the circumstances…. Where I act in truth even when I can’t see the outcome.

I can’t let the “internal fires” of fear, anxiety, doubt, guilt, hopelessness, or any other feelings, distract from the holy confidence and bold courage God has given me to move forward in faith and obedience. 

I cannot trust my feelings more than I trust God.

 

Week 6:  The Helmet of Salvation

Salvation doesn’t just involve escaping death, but also entering into a state of heath, wholeness, victory and safety.

The fact that He lives means our salvation flows into the everyday experiences we live.  He is always restoring and rescuing us. 

“Understand that living in the light of this salvation inheritance enables you to not only stop living below your spiritual station in life, but it also protects your mind against the enemy’s attempts to cripple your thinking, to convince you that you are worth less than you really are.  The ripple effect of this protection will be a change in mind-set, lifestyle, and the choices you make.” (page 158-159)

We must identify, confess and dismantle any strongholds we’ve created in our minds, that keep us from God.  Taking thoughts captive means controlling them instead of allowing them to control you.  When these negative thoughts enter our minds, we must resist the urge to agree.  We must never rehearse this negative thought.  Instead, replace it – repeatedly, diligently, verbally – until eventually it comes crashing down.

When we gain control of our thoughts, we are quite literally renewing and restoring our minds from a state of unhealthiness and deterioration, to a state of wholeness and strength in God.  Then when we read the truth of God it will come to life for us… informing our decisions, changing our perspectives, redirecting our responses and actions, allowing us to see God’s direction for certain situations in our lives.

Also, I have to find rest in my value as a daughter of God.  Find my worth in HIM!

Week 7:  The Sword of the Spirit

When there is a spotlight on a certain verse…. Or hear scripture concerning the same topic over and over…. God is speaking to you and handing you a sword!

The Waiting Game

WAIT:  verb (used without object)

1. to remain inactive or in a state of repose, until something expected happens

2. to remain neglected for a time

3. to look forward to eagerly

When I hear the word WAIT, the first thing I thing I think is…. “story of my life.”  Then I quickly survey my life and realize there are certain, very important, things where I didn’t have to WAIT too long. Like meeting and falling in love with my wonderful husband in the 8th grade.  But in every instance…. the WAITing ones and the not…. I can see God’s provision in my life.  There are still some things that I don’t understand, but I know in time God will show me a huge life lesson…. case in point: the year 2010.

The above definitions for the word WAIT give me mixed emotions: 1. sad, 2. depressed, and 3. hopeful.  When WAITing on anything, for just a short time or for years, it seems, maybe, as if God has forgotten you… He’s not hearing the cries of my heart, people… Or maybe the situation gets the best of you and you just quit praying all together.  That’s where I get when the WAITing game seems like too much to bear, where I feel totally “neglected for a time” and ready to sleep/eat my worries away.  But then sweet little definition #3 comes…. and I can continue to “look forward to eagerly” the blessings that God is going to give me soon.  And, look at all the beautiful blessings that are right in front of my face.

WAITing on God is something that is commanded:

“But you much return to your God, Maintain love and justice, and WAIT for your God always”  Hosea 12:6

“WAIT for the Lord, Be strong and take heart and WAIT for the Lord” Psalm 27:14

“Be still before the Lord and WAIT patiently for Him” Psalm 37:7

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you.  Therefore He will rise up to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who WAIT for Him!”  Isaiah 30:18

We WAIT for His providence, His salvation, and His blessings….. Especially these days, where we are privileged to live in an instant and selfish United States.  But there are some benefits to WAITing on God.  It leads to expectancy… It leads to hope… It leads to trust… And it leads to patience.

“In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice.  In the morning I lay my requests before You and WAIT expectantly.”  Psalm 5:3

“We WAIT in hope for the Lord.  He is our help and our shield”  Psalm 33:20

“I will WAIT for the Lord… I will put my trust in Him”  Isaiah 8:17

“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we WAIT for it patiently”  Romans 8:25

And, we can always know that we are not alone.  And that things can always get worse or be worse.  Everyone is WAITing on something.  What I do while I WAIT is what’s important.  I can’t let myself grow bitter and more selfish… only better and more reliant on The One who’s in charge. 

Thinking through the Bible… there are soooo many people that WAITed years for God’s promises to be fulfilled:  Abraham & Sarah, Zechariah & Elizabeth, Joseph, Daniel, David, Ruth, Esther, Moses, Jacob, Paul, and even Jesus Himself.  Everything happens in God’s timing and who am I to ask why something isn’t happening right when I want it.

As I am turning 30 in a few short weeks, I am grateful for the knowledge I have on this subject…. way more than the average lady my age, I know that.  It has made me into the woman I am today.  Though it has been a hard lesson to learn, it has helped me to be more grounded and more grateful.  Life is too short to worry about whatever I am WAITing on.  I have learned that it is so comforting and so beautiful to fully rely and trust God for the desires of my heart.  He knows my heart and I pray everyday that it would be pure and steadfast.  That’s the bottom line.  That’s the end of my WAITing game. 

(Some of this was taken from BibleGateway.com.  A great resource that’s always at your fingertips)

Disciple Now 2014: SURRENDER

This is probably my favorite youth event we do.  It’s a long weekend where we can just get away and grow closer to God and each other.  It’s not a whole week, so you don’t get as tired and I don’t have to leave Mollie as long.

This year, the weather was a little crazy.  We thought we were going to get snowed in at one point…  That didn’t stop us from having so much fun though!  We continued our traditions of adults vs. students dodge ball, hide-n-seek in the dark, ropes course, and having Durgan and David come from Rogers to do the music.

I love being a part of these girls’ lives and pray daily that they will see Christ’s love in me and want to know Him more!  In May, we will be saying goodbye to three special girls and one special guy.  I always hate that time… It’s like I am sending my own kids off to college.

 

Anyways, this year we talked about SURRENDER!

*Surrender my STUFF:

• What makes me absolutely content?
• Do I see that I am totally rich in Jesus!
• Don’t find security in things.
• Is God my first love?
• We can only have one master –> Seek first the kingdom of God
• A desire for money leads to moral meltdown
• Contentment is based on an awareness of God’s presence!

*Surrender my STATUS:

• You really can’t follow God and “fit in”
• Do I try to improve my status?
• How do I treat the outcasts?
• How can I put others above myself to become a servant like Jesus.

*Surrender my SIN:

• Do I have an urgency to stop my sin?
• Sin = Destruction
• Sin hurts our bodies, relationships, and our souls
• Sexual sin is more damaging because it’s mental, emotional, physical, social, and private.
• Love + Holy Spirit = Victory over sin
• Sin grows (example: if you go barefoot a lot, you build up calluses on your feet.  The skin “deadens” so you won’t be sensitive.  In the same way we build up calluses on our souls.  We stop feeling bad about it so it gets easier to sin.)
• Sin finds its own society – be careful whose advise you follow
• Sin has a cycle – sin, feel sorry, ask for forgiveness, sin… Romans 7:18-25
• Jesus rescued us from this cycle
• God’s spirit brings life!
• Sin doesn’t have to define us
• Repeat this:  I am a child of God.  I am His masterpiece.  He created me to do amazingly good things.  I want to surrender my sin and be lifted up by God to a life that is more alive that I’ve ever imagined.

*Lastly, Surrender my SELF:

• Invest myself in what God wants
• Serve!
• Devos and mission trips need to be connected to a life that is connected to God.
• “Take up your cross daily” = Surrendering everything for Him! (freedom, reputation, our very lives)
• Let Jesus define my success!

I was challenged to INVITE HIM TO WORK MIRACLES FROM MY MISERY and BE PATIENT AND GET TO KNOW HIM THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HEALING.  God left us here on the earth to feel through our hurts.  We can’t even understand the good He has in store for us.

Stand and Fight!

Last weekend, we got to go to the Oklahoma’s Ladies’ Retreat at Falls Creek.  It was a great weekend away with some great ladies!

We heard from some great speakers like Kelly Minter and Angela Thomas.  Had some great worship with Matt Roberson.  And the best entertainment ever with The Skit Guys.  (Click on their names for more information.)

 

In one of the sessions we went to, Cari Trotter talked about how we are spiritually asleep, and we are raising spiritually asleep children.  Even though I don’t have children of my own, I can think about the youth we have in our ministry right now, and I completely agree with her.  She went on to teach us how to fight.

“Lift up your heads, O you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle. 
Lift up your heads, O you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty—
he is the King of glory.”

~Psalm 24:7-10

Have you ever heard of the movie Saving Private Ryan?  It is one of Nate’s favorites, but I can’t make it through the first five minutes.  Anyway, there is a great lesson in the middle of this movie.  They are in a battle… guns going off left and right… bullets flying in every direction.  One guy had one very important job, and that was to hand out the ammo.  Everyone else would do the shooting and killing, all he had to do was hand out the bullets.  So just picture this young man, in battle gear, covered with ammo to hand out so they could defeat their enemy.  All his fellow soldiers were screaming at him for help, but all he could do was sit there and cry.  He was frozen with fear.  He had all this ammo, but he wouldn’t get up.

This is a picture of our lives.  God gives us everything we need to get through whatever circumstance we may face, but we won’t get up and fight.  O don’t you want to stand up and fight?  Like the scared soldier, we don’t even have to do the work…. We just have to be willing to help defeat the enemy.  We have to release and surrender.  We have to understand that fear is intentional.  We have to define our areas of war, and not be afraid to go through the knots of our life.  We have to reject areas of darkness and run to our King! 

If we are daily in the Word and constantly in prayer we will be able to use the ammo God gives us.  We will be spiritually strong! We will be able to define the things we need to reject, and recognize the things in which we need to immerse ourselves.

O to be that mighty soldier… ready to stand and fight!

.

What do you think?  Are Hollie and I scary enough to fight the enemy ;)

 

 

Lessons Learned

Mission trips are a great opportunity to open your eyes to things we don’t think about.  Or maybe we do think about these types of things, but seeing them with your own eyes is a whole different ballgame.

I have been blessed to go on several mission trips.  The best ones are always out of country basically because people in third world countries are starving for a Savior.  Let’s face it… we are selfish North Americans that fill our lives up with everything besides Jesus.  I wanted to write a quick post about the things that touched my heart in Nicaragua.

 

Their Worship!

His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. ~John 4:24

Almost the first thing we did was go to church.  Churches there are a little different than in the states too.  For instance:  they go every day of the week except Mondays, the services last around three hours, the music is super loud, they may have 10 different solos… and so on.  But the main thing that was so wonderfully different was the freedom to worship however you wanted.  I could just tell that nobody was concerned with the others around them.  If you wanted to stand, you stood.  If you wanted to sit, you sat.  If you wanted to raise your hands nobody was staring at you.

Genuine worship.  Why can’t we do that here?  There are too many distractions and we let ourselves be concerned with everything around us.  Being in the church office, and the wife of a minister, I hear complaints everyday.  The lights weren’t right, the music was too slow, the music was too fast, we stood up to much, the lady in front of me put her hands up and I got distracted.  I do it too… every Sunday I am thinking about how the service is going, how we look to visitors, or how our song service is led.  Nothing should be on our mind besides Jesus.  We should be unashamedly praising His Holy Name!

In our very traditional church, people would flip a lid if I started to pray out loud while someone was praying on the stage.  In Nicaragua, when the pastor would pray the congregation would start praying their own praises and needs out loud.  It was a beautiful moment where the Holy Spirit was so evident.  The whispers of genuine worshippers calling out to their God is something I will always remember.

 

Their Boldness!

Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

~Acts 28:31

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. ~Acts 4:31

Not being able to speak Spanish, we had interpreters with us everywhere.  Getting to know them was one of the greatest parts of the trip!  They were always willing to help and wanting to learn.  I explained to Juan one day how much I appreciated his boldness to go up to a person and tell them the good news.  In the United States, it is almost impossible to just go up to someone and say, “Hi, I’m Whitney and I want to tell you about Jesus.”  But that is literally what our translators did everyday.  They went up to their own people and talked one on one about Jesus.  O that we would be that bold!

 

                Nate and I with Oscar!                                             Salvador and Jonathan

                 Oscar and Juan                                               Hollie and I with Javier

 

Their Poverty!

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

~2 Cor. 8:2

I don’t think of myself as materialistic at all.  Nate and I are happy with less than most people, but at the same time… I got really depressed when we were without a house of our own for a year… I wouldn’t mind having an iphone someday… my closet is full of clothes… and just the other day while Nate was watching basketball, I was looking up prices for a new truck.  After going on this mission trip, I would confidently say that nearly all North Americans are materialistic.  Even when we try not to be, it is just ingrained in our world full of newer and better.

We went to a small village where every house was made completely out of trash bags and cardboard.  It was extremely humbling and honestly sad.  They were relocated to this small lot of land after a volcano took out their homes.  They worked the sugar cane fields for the government.  And, hearing what we did about their corrupt government, I wonder how often and how much they were paid.  I am sure it was next to nothing.  Actually a really good wage in Nicaragua was $100/week… $400/month… $4800/year.  Makes me think twice about every dollar I spend.

 

Their Hunger!

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ~Matt. 5:6

I’m talking about two types of hunger here.  Yes, they were physically hungry.  When I went to help cook for one of the feeding centers, I learned that they like to cut the bones of the chicken into bite size pieces because the marrow is nutritious.

But, the real hunger that stood out was how they were starving for a Savior.  They needed Him to provide.  They needed Him to heal.  They needed Him to be a friend.  They needed Him to listen.  They needed Him to perform miracles.  They needed Him!  A lot of times we run to everyone else when we are in need of anything, when we should have God as number one on our list to call.  We simply don’t need Him here as bad as they do in Nicaragua. 

 

 

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There are so many stories and so many other things that impacted me from this great trip.  If you have never had the opportunity to go…I encourage you to pray about it.  It is something everyone needs to see and experience at least one time in their life.

Today, take some time to think about your own worship, boldness, poverty, and hunger.  Let God work on your heart…. unless you’re perfect, we can all find things that need to change.

 

For more information on the organization we worked with, to schedule your own mission trip to Nicaragua, or to feed a child for an entire year for $45, please check out:

Voice of Hope Ministries

HE Will Sustain You

We leave the day after tomorrow for Leon, Nicaragua!  I am really looking forward to this trip and can’t wait to see how God works in the lives of the people we will meet, in our team, and in me.  There is something so special and wonderful about going to share the love of Christ!

I have been waiting to go to Nicaragua for some time now.  Ever since the first team went from Rogers… probably in 2008 somewhere.  I feel blessed and extremely excited to finally witness some of the things I have heard so much about first hand!

God has already been working in this trip and that is very evident in the almost $12,000 we raised.  Our church has been very giving and supportive, and when they hear about this trip I pray that more adults will be willing to go next time.

Nate told us last night that we need to be ready to give a short version of our testimony or a testimony about something God is doing in your life.  Here is mine:

“Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you.  He will never let the righteous fall.”

Psalm 55:22

I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home where my mom took me to church every time the doors were open.  It was very easy for me to come to know Christ and for that I am eternally grateful.

Like a lot of kids, I was always too scared to talk to anyone about anything, but when our church had a revival in November 1995 I could ignore the pulling on my heart.  I asked Jesus into my heart one night before bed and talked with my mom and pastor about my decision.

Since then, I haven’t looked back.  I always felt drawn to the local church and have been very involved my whole life.  Throughout my school days, with the help of my youth pastor and his wife, God was shaping and molding me into who I am today. 

I have a business degree and have had several secular jobs, but nothing fulfills my life’s calling like working along side my wonderful husband at church.  People I went to high school with would surely laugh if they knew I was the church secretary, but I don’t mind because I feel I am in God’s will…and happy and at peace.

The exciting part of my testimony is seeing how God has worked in my life lately.  He continues to teach me new things every time I study His Word.  Recently, I have been through some trying times where I was simply waiting on the Lord.  I found great peace in Psalm 55:22, which simply means that God will bare the weight of our worries.  Therefore, there is no reason to stress or cry.  He will sustain you. 

So, please know that God loves you very much.  That He sent His son Jesus to this earth, to live a perfect life and die a sacrificial death so you and I could be cleared of our sin.  His blood covers me, and I pray it covers you too.  And also please know, that if you are waiting on God to come through for you…. He will!  He will always come through, even after 2 1/2 years He will come through, and He will sustain you in the mean time.

“The Day a Weight was Lifted”

I strongly believe that one of the reasons God allows “storms” in our life is so we can help others that go through the same thing.  So we can learn about ourselves, and have a lasting testimony of our Lord and Saviors providential timing and see how He sustains us.

Last night in Nate’s talk to the youth he said that God wants to show His greatness to others through your storm.  The point of pain in our lives isn’t to suck it up or walk it off… It’s to show the beauty and grace of our Savior.

I have found that I am a becoming a writer.  I have kept journals since I can remember, but lately it has gone to a whole different level… I have to write to get things off my chest.  I have to write to vent my feelings.  I just have to write.

This is what I wrote in my journal yesterday…

Ah!  Sweet relief!  After being in Yukon and having our house in Rogers for sale for 2 1/2 years… It finally sold today!  Closing was at 2pm and we got a call around 3:30 with the good news.  That was 1,080 days of waiting on the Lord.  This was the 4th or 5th offer we got and I was so scared that they were going to back out too.  Praise the Lord they didn’t. 

Getting our papers signed and sending them off!

I feel like a different person without this over my head.  Many times I have felt sorry for myself… calling this “storm” in my life a nightmare.  Things couldn’t have gone worse.  At least that’s how I felt.  Nate and I were on our knees about this situation everyday.  Our minds, hearts, and money has been in two different towns.  We would go through “what if?” situations, like:  What if our first realtor would have priced it right back in October 2009?  What if our second realtor would have done a better job with the rent-to-own option?  What if we wouldn’t have let a bum live there for 10 months?

Now, being finished with the whole ordeal, I am saying “what if?” in a different way… What if we didn’t have the love and provision of our Almighty God to put all our hope and faith in?  What if our families didn’t support us and continually offer help and support?  What if I didn’t have such wonderful friends that prayed everyday for me when I couldn’t?  What if our church family didn’t love and support us?  What if God hadn’t provided the money we needed to live or places to live (like my brother’s barn or our church’s mission house)?  Seriously, what if?

I am blessed beyond what I can even believe.  There is no reason that I deserve so much.  There is no explanation as to why Nate and I are not in debt up to our eyeballs, in foreclosure, or homeless and hungry… Besides the wonderful provision of our awesome Lord and Savior, and the faithful prayers of His children.  I am so thankful for so much right now in this moment.

Celebratory Italian nachos!

I always say that we learn a lot from these “unforeseen storms” of life, and Nate and I aren’t to sure if we learned anything of great importance BUT I do know of some things.  We learned patience… with God, others, each other and money.  We learned that God will provide!  And that we are horrible landlords and should never own another rental property.  We learned how to look for a good realtor.  And what depression feels like.  We learned what it was like to face a huge crisis, and how to support each other in the midst of it.  We learned about short sales.  I learned I was a really good letter writer (there was no way they were saying no).  I learned the feeling of genuine community and dependence on the two best friends that I’ve ever had in my life.  I learned that Nate and I have a deep, un-shattering love for each other… even deeper than I thought.

Celebratory dinner with friends!

I’m sure more gratefulness and more things I learned will come to me in the following days, but today I will just relish the love of my Heavenly Father, my wonderful husband, my best friends, my family, and my church.  This leap year 2012 will forever be a memory in my life.  “The day a weight was lifted” I like to say.  A day that will live in infamy… just joking ;)

It is good to feel more like myself and hear Nate genuinely laugh.  It’s been a while and we are ready to make this whole “owning one house instead of two” thing the new normal.  Oh, what a life we get to lead.

So, if you are in the midst of a storm, and need some encouragment… know that this storm is not the end of your story.  Know that it will end some day.  Don’t allow it to take you over.  Allow it to shape you into a more faithful follower of Christ.

Goodbye darling house.  We will always love and cherish our time with you!

August 2005 – November 2009

3600 West Beechwood Drive. Rogers, AR 72756

DNow 2012 ~ Zipline!

If there are times in your life that you want to go back and watch over and over…. this would be one of them.

I have been to New Life Ranch around ten times now, and I was always terrified of the zipline.  I wasn’t necessarily scared of the zipping… I was afraid of the climbing.  I didn’t think I was strong enough… I was too fat… I wanted to let everyone else go… and the excuses continued.

BUT this year, I decided I was going to try no matter what.  I also had my great friend, Hollie, there with me.  We were determined to do it together. Maybe we wouldn’t make it up the whole way… Maybe we would pass out or pee our pants… Maybe we would die… but by-golly we were going to try.

Paige, Hollie, and I after the great zip.

Just like a lot of other things in my life, I don’t think I would have made it without her.  We laughed our way to the top… slowly but surely.  I wasn’t gonna back out because she was doing it, and she wasn’t gonna back out because I was doing it.

Eventually we made it (applause) and even jumped off the 60’ high platform to zip our way into the history books.  Okay, maybe not the history books, but definitely our “I can’t believe I did that,” autobiographies.  It was a great feeling…. conquering a fear… surprising yourself… seeing that you are stronger than you thought you were.

That is us up there.

And then zipping.  Me, Nate, Hollie, and Paige.

 

We are talking with the youth about the “storms of their lives,” and I can’t help but see a great lesson in my zipline experience.  I was terrified of climbing up the pole.  I let fear keep me from a feeling of accomplishment, freedom, and self-worth.  I never thought that the day would come, where I could actually climb the thing.  But, when you resolve to make the best of a situation, stay positive, and put it all in God’s hands, eventually things will work out.

  Sometimes it is scary.  Sometimes it is shaky.  Sometimes you have to laugh at your fears.  No matter how you make it through… You make it through.  And lately, I have been so blessed to see that God doesn’t expect you to go through those storms alone.  He puts people in your life to get you through… To help encourage and push you… To pray for you… To just be a listening ear…To love you through the storms.

”Hope in the LORD! Be strong! Let your heart take courage! Hope in the LORD!”

Psalm 27:14

All you who wait for the LORD, be strong and let your heart take courage.”

Psalm 31:24

Cast your cares on the LORD, and he will sustain you;
   he will never let the righteous fall.

Psalm 55:22

If you are in the middle of a storm, can see a storm coming, or just getting over one… know that God is in control.  Know that someday it will end.  Know that God will put great friends in your life to help get you through.

“Let go. And Let God.”

Have you ever prayed for something so much… over and over… every day… until you didn’t even believe that prayer was helping???

I recently got to that point.  I realized, that again, my prayers were completely selfish and I didn’t feel right about begging God for two certain things I wanted to happen in my life.  I completely let these two requests take over my entire prayer life.  It was completely ridiculous.  My heart was full of doubt and fear, as I would be on my knees begging and pleading with God to answer these petitions, and at the same time in my head I was thinking they are never going to happen.

This is my story of letting go and letting God.

Last Monday, during my quiet time I was having a fight with myself about praying for things too much.  It turned into a complete melt down within myself and I decided…. “I can’t do it.  I can’t pray about these things anymore.”  I read this passage out of James chapter 4 that further proved my point:

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

"You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way…"

It was true… The Bible is always true, but this passage hit me between the eyes.  I was asking with doubt in my heart because I had prayed about the same two things for over a year.  I am a spoiled child of God and it was sobering to realize I simply just needed to LET GO! AND LET GOD!

I know this.  I have known this.  I just got to consumed with begging God for things I thought I had to have.  So I enacted a plan right away to not pray for myself about these things and call on three of my good friends to do it for me.  I got a true feeling of genuine community as I completely trusted that God would come through because I knew my friends would be praying.

Side Note:  If you don’t have close friends like this…. find some.  God doesn’t expect you to go through things alone and genuine friends that truly care are there “for such a time as this” to help lighten your load.

Anyway, that was on a Monday.  By Tuesday afternoon I felt an amazing since of peace and freedom.  By Thursday God had answered one of the prayer requests!  This had been like a ball-and-chain around my ankle for the last two and a half years, and God had finally answered!  It has nothing to do with me. It has everything to do with the powerful prayers of wonderful friends and God’s providential wisdom, timing, and healing!

I have clung and will continue to cling to Psalm 55:22 until the second prayer is answered.

“Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you.  He will never let the righteous fall.”

In the mean time, let me encourage you with this… Let go. And let God.  He can handle it.  If you find yourself praying passionately for something for a long period of time, and it becomes too much… Let go.  And let God come through for you.

What has God been showing you lately?

For the last six weeks I have been going through Beth Moore's Esther Bible Study with about 25 ladies from church.  I have learned a lot in these weeks, and enjoyed every minute. It has been challenging, but great at the same time. I have come face to face with my insecurities…. and at the same time feel God’s comforting peace. A couple of my favorite things have been in the last two weeks.

Many of you know that I have lost two dear friends very suddenly. Back in June of 2008 when Courtney died, I can pin point the night that I let fear take over. Since then the enemy has been using this against me. I have been fearful of everything…. Sure there were times when I let my faith lead me through the valleys, but really… I was a scared little girl inside. In session four, Beth Moore said some things that really opened my eyes to this bondage. She encouraged us to be brave and courageous, saying we are only one decision away from the most important step. We don’t deny our fears, we just deny it’s power over us. She continued the idea of having freedom from fear, teaching us about conditional faith…. It’s not enough to believe that what we fear the most will never happen.

I needed to hear this lesson in the worst way. I have been praying constantly that God would increase my faith and decrease my fears. I want to make decisions out of wisdom, not fear. God offers us His very presence… so I can be convinced that I am brave and courageous. Courage is not the absence of fear… It’s knowing that there is something so much better! Take that! Take courage! Do not give in to vain imagination.

The second thing that I just loved and have been thinking about every minute since she said it on Monday is the concept of waiting on the Lord. I have heard this sooo many times… It was even read at my wedding… but it never clicked like this before. Session five was about the importance of knowing when it’s time. We all get impatient and things in our society just keep pushing immediate gratification, BUT if we cannot wait on the Lord, we will not fulfill our destinies.

Too many time we are waiting on the thing. Right now I am personally waiting on several huge things in my life. Our strength will just continue to expire if we continue to wait to the thing…. We wait on the Lord. The longer we wait on the Lord, the more our strength is renewed. Exalt God to the position to fight for you, humble yourself, and live a life full of passion and patience.

What has God shown you lately?  Please comment and let me know!
I have also shared this story at our women's ministry blog.

Incomparable Beauty

What's the first thing you think about when you hear the word.... beauty?

When you google it tons of pictures of "beautiful" women pop up.  The image below caught my attention.  Does it make you feel good to know that all those models have on tons of make-up and are all airbrushed and stuff... or is it just me??

I am going through Beth Moore's Esther Bible study with the ladies at my church right now.  The scenario from week 2 is still on my mind, so I thought I would type it all out.... for myself, and anyone else that ever struggles with the same insecurities.

I have found, that it doesn't matter how beautiful a girl is, there is always something they want to change... there is always something more they want to fix.  The outside things we do to beautify ourselves are in no way bad, but who are we trying to impress?  Who's eyes do we want looking at us?  Beth Moore put it this way, and I love it...

There are women that.....

 ...want all the other women to think they're beautiful. And they are miserable.

...want all the men to think they're beautiful.  And they are dangerous.

...want nobody to think they're beautiful.  And they are depressed.

...want a select few to think they're beautiful.  (like your parents and/or husband...) And they are on the right track, but still need to remember these verses.

^"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority"

~Col. 2:9-10

"I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me." ~Songs 7:10

"And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us, confirming the work that we do."

~Psalms 90:17

I need to remember that there is a beauty that is not comparable!

And, that is the beauty we have because Christ is in our lives.  Esther was no doubt beautiful on the outside, but what made her different from the other girls... how she won the favor of all those around her... how she became the queen of Persia... is because of the beauty our God gave her on the inside.  She was humble, likable, endearing, obedient, wise, patient, and beautiful!

He has clothed us with salvation and righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), and He makes us holy & clean (Eph.5:25-27).

May we all strive for the incomparable beauty of The Father to shine through us.

I’m Telling This Story For a Few Reasons…

Last weekend our new Women’s Ministry at church had our kick off event… Mugs & Muffins.  It was so great, and God blessed all of our efforts and answered prayers!  Our guest speaker, Glenette Russell, challenged us all to get involved and open our eyes to where we need to serve in this new ministry.  When she had finished I gave a short testimony to kind of…. encourage all the ladies to not waste their lives.  I didn’t get to say all of the following, but this is what I had planned…

I am going to close with a story.  This is the story of great friendship… the kind that lasts a lifetime.  Let me start by saying I’m not telling you all this to make you sad or depressed or anything… I’m telling you all this story to show that God is sovereign.  He is in control.  He still works miracles, and most importantly to remind all of us to not waste any of the time we have left on this earth.

Nate and I got married right after he graduated from college, here at OBU.  I still had three years left (yes, Nate is three years older than me) so when we moved to Arkansas, I went to the U of A.  When you are married and in college for a degree, and not to party you quickly find others that are like you.  I had one great friend in college, Courtney.  Courtney and I met in my first class in business school.  After that semester we coordinated our schedules and took every possible class together.  She was full of life and always stretched me to get out of my perfectionist ways.  Like whenever I would doodle all through class, Courtney would bump my hand and make me mess up, or just draw a big line across the page… If you know me, you know that is a big deal.  As I look back at that time I treasure those memories because Courtney taught me not to take things so seriously.  She taught me how to slow down and see the big picture.  After we graduated from college in May 2008 we make plans to go to dinner so our husbands could finally meet.  Nate and I just had to go to one youth camp first.  It was Wednesday night of camp when Courtney’s dad called me with the news that she had died.  That was June 18, 2008.  So instead of going to dinner together, I went to her funeral.

Kristin and I got to know each other in middle school and by the time we were eighth graders we had a bond that couldn’t be broken.  Do you notice how your friends are a lot like you?  Well, Kristin and I were that way… We had the same morals, the same mind set, and the same dreams.  I don’t think about middle school or high school or my wedding without thinking of Kristin.  In middle school we would draw pictures of our futures with our husbands.  Then in high school we would go on all kinds of choir trips and she would make me tapes of her singing for my birthdays.  She lit up the room with her laughter.  She was a red head that could always make anyone smile.  On July 29, a few weeks ago, while Nate and I were in Wal-Mart of all places, Nate got a call.  It was someone close to her family giving me the news that she had died while on vacation with her family in Hawaii.

You are probably wondering… how did Courtney and Kristin die?  Well, on motorcycles…. but that isn’t important.  What is important is why I felt like I needed to share this story.  I am 25 years old and have lost two of my best friends.  I spent a lot of time in prayer after these two deaths, and especially after Kristin died a few weeks ago just trying to go see a sunset with her husband.  I asked God why?  I started to throw a pitty party for myself asking Him, If this normal… to have two good friends die?  Couldn’t Kristin and JD just waited one more minute to leave their hotel room… then that truck wouldn’t have hit them.  Couldn’t Courtney have waited til her husband got home to go for a ride?  There were endless questions.  But last Thursday after Kristin’s celebration of life ceremony, I felt at peace, which is why I am able to stand here and talk about it right now.  God worked a miracle of peace in my heart and in Courtney’s family back in 2008.  And God worked a miracle in my heart and in Kristin’s family just a few weeks ago.  I feel that it is my job to keep Courtney’s and Kristin’s story alive.

The best thing about both of my friends… they were dedicated, authentic, faithful followers of Christ and I know where they are right now.  Courtney served in her church every time someone came to know the Lord.  She was there counseling with them and standing there with a towel when they got baptized.  Kristin was an extremely gifted singer and had been leading worship in her churches since high school.  Their lives were not wasted, and today I feel like I’m following God’s prompting, getting way out of my comfort zone, and telling this story for a few simple reasons….

Sure, so my friends’ memories will live on, but more than that….. So we won’t take our fragile, temporary lived for granted…. So each one of us can look forward to Heaven and carry that hope around with us every day…. So we, as women, will not take for granted the friendships we have or the ones we need to make… So we can get past ourselves and get our focus on what really matters, and that is the Lord, Jesus Christ….. And mostly, so we can search ourselves and see what God is call us to do.

What is God calling you to do in your own personal relationship with Him?  In your family?  In your church?  And, if you are a part of FBCY, in this new women’s ministry?

 

For more information on Ladies Of Love Women’s Ministry, click HERE

Why Do We Suffer?

On July 29, 2011, I got a call with some shocking news.  One of my best high school friends was killed in a motorcycle accident while on vacation in Hawaii.  It makes me realize how fragile and temporary life really is, but more than that it makes me thankful that I have the hope of an eternity in heaven.  I also know that Kristin had that hope in her life, and lived out her faith.
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I don't think of high school without thinking about Kristin and everything she meant to me.  We had a lot in common and were always dreaming of our futures.  When we were in 8th grade we drew out a picture of how we wanted our lives to go (below)... hers with JD and mine with Nate... It is pretty remarkable that both of our dreams came true when we married the men we started dating in 8th grade (and are still married to them).  It is also heart breaking to know that Kristin's plans for a family with JD will never come to be, and I feel a little guilty that I still have that chance.
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(Notice the details... We are pregnant, and those are churches in the background where Nate and JD are youth pastors)

Kristin had a way with people, and was friends with everyone.  She didn't overlook the outcasts and had a smile and laugh that lit up the room.  I will never forget some of her looks and one she would always give me when she sang on stage.... kind of a "I'm doing this because you pressured me, but I love it" thing.  She used her singing talents for the Lord, and will leave a lasting impression on everyone that ever got to listen.  I will also always remember her fun, shoot me in the arm, personality.  She took me to Hooters on my 19th birthday just to see my face turn red.  I woke her up on her wedding day and documented everything, and she was a bridesmaid in my wedding. And, I will forever count her as one of my best friends.

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I know that Kristin's life was not wasted and am very happy to have the peace that she is in heaven right now in the very presence of Jesus, who she loved so much.  I also know that she would want the love of her Heavenly Father to be preached a little, and this sermon from a few weeks ago has been on my mind, so here goes....

Why We Suffer?

*Suffering is a normal part of being a Christian... but the suffering doesn't win!

4 Reasons We Suffer As Christians

1- Sometimes we suffer for the cause of Christ.

"We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.  For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body."

-2 Cor. 4:10-11

"...though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

-1 Peter 1:6-7

When we suffer the right way: we start to look more like Christ, and God is glorified.

2-Sometimes we suffer for the benefit of others

"We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection (salvation)."

-2 Cor. 13:9

We want others to notice our perfect peace in difficult times.  People should say, "look at the way the handled ____."

The difficult times set us, as Christians, apart from other moral people.

3-Sometimes we suffer for our own inner renewal.

"Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."

-2 Cor. 4:16

As we get older, our body wears out more and more, but your relationship with God should be growing more and more.

"Jesus Said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me..... For when I am weak, then I am strong."

-2 Cor. 12:9-10

4- We suffer because our treasure is in heaven.

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

-2 Cor 4: 17-18

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Kristin had a personal relationship with Christ.  She understood that there is life after death.  If you have questions about your eternity, get it figured out today.  You are not a Christian just because, you were born in America or because you're a good person.  Don't be sad for Kristin because she isn't up in Heaven wishing she was here on earth.... But seriously examine your own heart and make sure you will be seeing her again.