tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24079606010605561312024-03-04T23:03:15.312-08:00To the Praise of His GloryAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00872329454366066440noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2407960601060556131.post-89571697951557603602015-02-03T15:09:00.000-08:002015-02-03T15:13:58.345-08:00Dependent..I've been married just a little over three months now and I could not ask for more! It has been a crazy adventure so far, so many goods, along with the bad as well. The main lesson I'm learning though is how to be dependent on God. In this time of "adulthood" where people get married, have kids, buy houses, get "real" jobs and anything else the "world" tells you that you should be doing as an adult, there is a big struggle to understand what it means to be dependent. How can I learn to be dependent when so many areas of my life require me to be independent?
But this is not dependency out of lack...although we will always be in lack compared to God's greatness...this is dependency in the midst of abundance. In this midst of distraction and freedom. So many things are calling my name, so many options with what to spend my time with. And me, I'm the type of person who wants to be in control of where my life is headed and my circumstances and being dependent on the Lord means abandoning that completely. Let's just say, learning this lesson is an everyday battle.
I mean, who wouldn't want to be dependent on God? He has everything. But my heart, with so much fear in it, is afraid of being rejected and forgotten. Being dependent on God means running to Him when nothing makes sense or when everything makes sense. My position is the former. I have an awesome husband, we are financially stable and things look good but it's not enough if I'm not dependent on Him. I can't depend on myself being happy, or my circumstances turning out "right" or even my husband or family being exactly who I need them to be. All of those things disappoint. Every time. The one thing true is Him. I can depend on Him.
I just remind myself that this life is short and things aren't going to work out the way I think they should. And most of the time my control of situations is just me trying to cover up my fear. But He is with me always and He will never leave me. He knows, He sees and He understands my dreams. At the end of this life, it is Him I will stand in front of. So in this life, I want to spend my days learning how to be dependent. Because in that day, it is Him I will lean on and only Him I will have.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNOhAXld29dKPRUjyId89QhskgUQcPZejNApf07pHQ4hCxmLzBK3N6iaYRWTzqsXaVtYVPXCRXBJ759F7OGkKklqGu7XnPXTzDLhH2_aBingCozlzD66HxVRP_4ty0rrslo3UKij35y0/s1600/118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNOhAXld29dKPRUjyId89QhskgUQcPZejNApf07pHQ4hCxmLzBK3N6iaYRWTzqsXaVtYVPXCRXBJ759F7OGkKklqGu7XnPXTzDLhH2_aBingCozlzD66HxVRP_4ty0rrslo3UKij35y0/s320/118.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00872329454366066440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2407960601060556131.post-40437703396874416652014-09-30T16:15:00.000-07:002014-09-30T16:15:05.090-07:00Fleeting Are Our Days..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmnCMymnumpRjoQs5KeOfTfL8xgp7yga9-lj2uSn_UTrQHqXwj5-gQDBd4DTpHSRcYhJ80bNq73_V9N_SxIgdhbQ-Gn6KZ0AI2a5LKPY9KjDVA3IMDrdDkik1qCUfMaxwRVyqDLRpyyM/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmnCMymnumpRjoQs5KeOfTfL8xgp7yga9-lj2uSn_UTrQHqXwj5-gQDBd4DTpHSRcYhJ80bNq73_V9N_SxIgdhbQ-Gn6KZ0AI2a5LKPY9KjDVA3IMDrdDkik1qCUfMaxwRVyqDLRpyyM/s320/5.jpg" /></a></div>
I keep telling my self I want to get a tattoo saying something something like "all flesh is grass..." because I know every time I were to look down and see it, peace would rise up in me. When I remind myself of the ever sobering truth that all flesh is grass and that our days here on earth are simply fleeting and nothing more than a vapor, it makes me happy.
To most people, this reality might make them scared. But for me, it could not make me happier. It's like God left us this promise so that we would never take our earthly life too seriously, because it is here today and gone tomorrow. All we are called to do is to know what God is telling us to do and to do it.
We, myself included, get so wrapped up in what we are supposed to do because society said so or family members that we respect tell us to do. But whatever happened to such a great fear for the Lord that we don't care what anyone else says? Where is the confidence in what God is calling us to do? And I'm not just talking about the "big stuff," like <i>the Lord told me to move to Africa</i>. I'm talking about the day in and day out simple acts of obedience...will we listen then despite what other people are doing or saying?
The fact that our human bodies are simply the shell we are living in until we reach eternity should motivate us and convict us to live our lives differently. We should give all and expect nothing in return. Let go of any bitterness. Forgive. Move on and keep moving. Never look back. Let go of control. Release your grip on everything you think you are entitled to.
Trust God. He holds your world. Jesus never answered to anyone except the Father. He was misunderstood, hated, despised; but to Him it was all worth it if it meant being close to the one who gave Him abundant life.
We too should live this way.
<blockquote>I will climb this mountain with my hands wide open</blockquote>
Let Him be the only one that defines you and everything you do. Nothing else matters!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00872329454366066440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2407960601060556131.post-45875278222247828752014-09-16T14:09:00.000-07:002014-09-16T14:09:38.980-07:00He gives and takes awayMost people don't like hearing this truth about God because they believe that if He is really good, then He wouldn't take away. The Lord and I have been having discussions about this truth for months now and I've come to learn that when He takes it is so that He can give. In a season where it seems like a lot is being taken and changed, I know it is because He has greater things for me to enter in to. Now, that is a good God!
Nothing belongs to us. I like to think of it like renting a car. When we rent a car, it is almost like we are more carefree. We feel more free to go more places and do more things because we know that car actually doesn't belong to us. Now don't get me wrong, we are still called to be responsible and good stewards, but we cannot live our lives like anything is ours!
We are here today, for a moment, and then gone the next! I would much rather live like I know that is true instead of living with such a tight grip on everything and getting confused the minute God changes something or takes it away. If we know it did not belong to us in the first place, then when He takes it away, it isn't as hard.
That's freedom. Freedom to live and to love with everything, with no reservations.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00872329454366066440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2407960601060556131.post-72552438118430881332014-09-07T14:26:00.000-07:002014-09-07T14:26:55.379-07:00The Winds are Changing...
I haven't posted in a while, but I thought this was as good a time as any to catch up. How ironic is it that just as the seasons are about to change, so is everything in my life. If I'm honest, the last few months I have been kicking and screaming and throwing fits inside because I have had no idea what has been going on in my life. I've felt so out of control, unable to grasp anything. If anyone knows me, they know that I have this need (or maybe just a want) to know what is going on...always. But that's just not how God works. He is more concerned with a heart that trusts Him and knows Him more because of it.
Back in 2013, God spoke to me and said it would be the year of suddenlies-and that proved to be true. Who knew that 2014 would be the year of change. And not just change like most people think, but radical, seemingly out of control change. Things are happening in my life that I never thought would, and yes, I get angry about it sometimes, but deep down I know that unexpected is the best thing to expect. The places I'm going and the things God is taking me through I cannot do alone, so I know it is from Him.
My parents recently sold their house, my job has been ever changing, I'm almost done with school, my finacee and I are about to move 2,000 miles across the country and chapters from previous books are being closed in both of our lives. It could not be more obvious that God is transitioning us. I know this especially because I want to give up all the time. That's the enemy's way of distracting us so that we don't enter into what God is doing. But now more than ever I know we must strengthen our feeble knees and run the race He has set before us. We must be strong-and that can only happen with God.
My patience has been tested more than ever lately. Dalton and I are about to get married, my sister lives out of state, we are investing time in future things when we already have enough on our plates right now. Trying to balance family, church, wedding planning and still be intentional with each other can become difficult, because we just get tired. Although impatience, lack of peace, tiredness and frustration are evident in my life at the moment, I can say that excitement trumps all of these. This last year has been a season of preparation, and just like a kid getting ready for a big camping trip who can't sleep the night before, I am trying to not become restless in the waiting.
It's easy to become overwhelmed, but the Lord said to set your mind on things above, and that by worrying we do not add anything to our lives. What I have been discovering is that you cannot control anything, and sometimes my passion gets in the way of this truth. More than ever I am so desperate for the Lord to bring breakthrough, comfort, joy and peace into my life. Trusting him is the safest place I can be, so that is what I have chosen to do. Sure, I might stumble sometimes and grow weary and weak, but that is when His strength is perfect-when I surrender and say I have nothing without You.
So here's to the changing seasons, the changing winds..
I trust you Jesus.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00872329454366066440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2407960601060556131.post-14925345452864640752013-11-18T20:55:00.001-08:002013-11-18T20:55:43.504-08:00at the beginning of 2013 someone prophesied that this would be the year of "suddenlies."
I though, whatever. Things happened back to back that weren't necessarily bad, but they weren't good. I've felt for some time now feelings of extreme restlessness-not because I was dissatisfied with God, but just because I knew something was missing and I had not idea what it was. BUT GOD. haha.
I was so busy trying to find out what was missing, that I was actually missing God's voice telling me where to take my next step. I was so worried about the bigger picture while he wanted to whisper in my ear, "put one foot in front of the other." He was teaching me to trust Him all over again.
I"m not even sure why I'm writing this, but I just needed to say it.
God's hand has been all over my life. His faithfulness is unbelieveable.When I took that one small step, He really did show me that this is the YEAR OF SUDDENLIES!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00872329454366066440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2407960601060556131.post-49747174043068883362013-09-03T12:24:00.002-07:002013-09-03T12:24:47.058-07:00The INbetweenLife is full of transition and hard decisions that need to be made. It's how you handle those situations that make us who we are. They shape you whether you like it or not. The easy thing to do would be to shrink back from anything difficult and because of that not be willing to take responsibility for anything. Almost like we are always on neutral ground. Why? Because we are afraid. I'm reading a book right now where the author says, "Let us live the lives we are afraid to live." This isn't just talking about skydiving or taking a crazy road trip. It means let's be bold, step out and face situations that would normally scare us to death. Let's do it for the sake of the truth and for the sake of the gospel. I refuse to believe that the day to day activities and hustle and bustle is all there is to life. There IS more, and I will do whatever it takes to be one step closer to the more. Some people might misunderstand, but that is a risk I'm willing to take. I am in the inbetween...where trust is a MUST. There is absoloutely nothing else to lean on, faith is the only option...and sometimes that is scary because we are used to controlling things and planning out our entire futures. We compare our lives to others and measure ourselves against society and what it tells us. This has to stop. God is interested in the process, and the decisions we make day to day. HE wants to be a part of all of it-to trust. This is the most beautiful surrender there is, to give up all options other than faith. There is no plan B. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00872329454366066440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2407960601060556131.post-28437112364403374392013-06-30T16:09:00.000-07:002013-06-30T16:09:26.246-07:00Go With the Flow...I've been learning that every moment matters. In the past I've always tried to "plan" everything out thinking that somehow by doing that I would be in control. What I realized is that this made me even more OUT of control. God has been teaching me to trust him in the moment. He loves it when HE is our only plan. So often we try to have a plan B, just in case He doesn't come through. When we learn to give up control it is then that He comes in and surprises us. Surrender is actually all a part of rest. But learning to rest is difficult. haha! It is all so backwards, and I'm learning to be okay with that! To be continued...
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8gsHKHr95P4lwTSCj1aL1EorQbuby5k0xqhlMsPuTrSYj_nL_vRdPi04T2Loz4BnLPa1m8NM6ecKxPlLyd9ZehHzkFfqwQ4dQ2OFSLIeMOBDP6dfilW-u_1faSzgB7eREVvyHxc7Yl0/s1600/IMG_2990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8gsHKHr95P4lwTSCj1aL1EorQbuby5k0xqhlMsPuTrSYj_nL_vRdPi04T2Loz4BnLPa1m8NM6ecKxPlLyd9ZehHzkFfqwQ4dQ2OFSLIeMOBDP6dfilW-u_1faSzgB7eREVvyHxc7Yl0/s320/IMG_2990.JPG" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00872329454366066440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2407960601060556131.post-73111364524795662562013-03-20T11:40:00.000-07:002013-03-20T11:40:22.877-07:00The Heart Behind It AllJesus is the truth.
We see throughout the gospels all the things that Jesus tell us or commands us to do. Don't hate. Don't do this, don't do that. But how often have we stopped to examine WHY He tells us things? I dare you to discover and ask.
Just the other day I was reading the sermon on the mount and I realized something I had forgotten. Jesus tells us these things because He knows what will awaken love in our hearts. Sure, it is all about Him, but He wants us to know His heart. And His heart is always good, always kind. He hopes all things in us. He loves us with everything He has. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00872329454366066440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2407960601060556131.post-68928989680609156812013-03-11T20:22:00.003-07:002013-03-11T20:22:17.460-07:00the reason..
It's been 7 years now that I've really been walking with the Lord and through all the ups and downs I can look back and say-He is faithful. There has been hard times and really good times, but throughout everything, He has been the reason. I remember when I first fell in love with Jesus-it wasn't because I learned how to pray or because I knew what He could give me. I didn't know anything, yet I still fell in love with Him. Why? Because of how he held my heart. He drew me away and told me He loved me. It wasn't anything that I did. He CHOSE me and chose to love me unconditionally. HE IS THE REASON...for everything. He guides my every step, every decision. Sometimes I might look crazy based on the way I choose to live my life and the places I go, but I can honestly say, He is the reason. It's easy to make things so complicated when really He just wants me to love Him. His hands are wide open, ready to embrace me and give me all that is His. I just have to come to Him.
I remember how I fell in love with Him the first time. I just wanted to be close to Him. I still want that, but I want to fall in love all over again-just like the first time. I want to be intoxicated with His love. I never want it to get old. I never want to just get "used" to it. He is full of beauty and splendor. He is fascinating. He calls me His friend. I think of my best friend and how I share everything with them; not only possessions, but plans and secrets. My best friends know the deep things of my heart, my weaknesses and strengths, and they still accept me and love me unconditionally. Jesus wants this with me-He wants to share His plans and His secrets with me. He wants to laugh with me and just like a friend, sit and talk with me. How simple! He just wants to be with me. This truth awakens me and exhilarates my heart! Sometimes I can feel Him looking at me and I just weep because His love is so pure, so beautiful.
He's the reason I'm living, the reason I keep going, the reason I do what I do, the reason for everything. I pray that I would continue to find Him for the rest of my days.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00872329454366066440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2407960601060556131.post-30150571680011208792013-02-17T18:00:00.000-08:002013-02-17T18:00:02.368-08:00He is Wonderful in All His WaysThe Lord is so good at reminding us about who He is. So often we get caught up in circumstances or what we do have or what we don't have. We get hung up on the past and the future instead of focusing on where we are with Him TODAY. Recently I've been on a journey of finding out who Jesus says that I am instead of letting things of the past or ambitions of the future dictate it. No matter what, He is always good! He knows every detail of my life, my ins and outs, how I move and how I think. There is really no one like Him. I am FULLY KNOWN by Him and will be fully known by Him for all eternity! This brings so much freedom! I have absolutely nothing to prove to Him because He knows everything already. I'm also learning how to enjoy the journey...in everything. The journey with the Lord, in relationships, in everyday life. That's what He wants from me-to love Him in every little thing. He wants my heart, all of it! This requires me to be vulnerable with Him which is sometimes really scary. Why are we so afraid to let people in? Maybe we think that if we let them all the way in that they will find something they don't like. But that's the risk of it all isn't it? To love someone is to risk everything! The only difference is that when we love the Lord we risk everything, but HIS love never fails! It never falls short and it is always enough! We need to give Jesus enough credit. He did die for us! His love is STRONGER than anything we could ever face!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00872329454366066440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2407960601060556131.post-19692750436337149182012-10-09T09:53:00.001-07:002012-10-09T09:53:59.665-07:00I'm Not Afraid!It's been a busy couple of months! But God has been so good! I recently started working for my mom part time making calls for her company. At first I didn't want to do it, but the Lord has taught me so much patience through it. THere are so many crazy dreams in my heart and sometimes I just want them to happen NOW. But I know the Lords timing is perfect! He makes us wait for a reason sometimes.
Things are going great with the youth group. We recently started having a worship night once a month. Its a great thing just to worship with those that are hungry at the same time encouraging some of the youth and helping them steward their gift of worship. We have also started doing a lot of outreach. Once a month on Saturday mornings we go down to a homeless park and minister to the homeless. THis past weekend we took a group of the youth down to the 3rd ward, which is a dangerous part of Houston where people are living in poverty. Robberies, shootings are totally normal there. We went down there and walked the streets bringing the love of God to the people there. We saw healings and salvations. When we weren't ministering we had services where we trained and equipped the youth in worship, prayer and intercession. I can say that God totally gave the kids a new level of boldness and confidence.
I came back from that weekend with a new fire inside of me, a renewed hope to see everything that God has promised for this city!
Sometimes I get ahead of myself and I say "God, why can't I just go!?" while all the while I have already gone. I AM a missionary to this city! It doesn't matter where you are, it matters what's inside of you! I have the Spirit of the Living God inside of me...my cry is that For the sake of the world, God would burn like a fire in me!!!
I'm still in the process of getting a monthly support team together so that eventually I can give myself full time to the ministry that I"m doing.
I am going to Honduras in late November for about 10 days! A friend of mine has connections down there. We will be mainly hanging out with youth down there and focusing on discipleship, and also sharing the gospel!
I am so thankful for what God has allowed me to do! and I'm choosing to not be afraid of the calling He has over my life, to not be afraid of where He is taking me! I'm running, running hard after Him! He proves Himself faithful over and over!!
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<a href="theeffect247.org"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00872329454366066440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2407960601060556131.post-24337756231708614532012-08-09T14:57:00.000-07:002012-08-09T14:57:19.999-07:00If things aren't easy...don't give up. I've only been back from Uganda for a couple weeks and the Lord has already been testing me in the things He has given me while I was there. There were 2 words He spoke to me: STEWARDSHIP and INTENTIONALITY. I've been learning that in order to grow, we have to steward what we have. To be filled up daily, we have to pour out. He never leaves us dry! When we intentionally set aside time to seek what He is saying to us, He will answer...every time!! His word does not return void!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00872329454366066440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2407960601060556131.post-84137887645798683812012-08-09T13:44:00.001-07:002012-08-09T13:44:30.901-07:00WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT. God is totally testing me this, teaching me that HE should be my only expectation. I cannot be disappointed, because He is enough. He really is teaching me to hold onto His promises. It's funny how we doubt Him so often. His timing is perfect, but it is a lot different. I've never seen Him fail me. There have been things that I didn't understand, but I wouldn't change one thing...why? BECAUSE GOD KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING!!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00872329454366066440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2407960601060556131.post-4831312170871052632012-07-31T10:58:00.000-07:002012-07-31T10:58:08.086-07:00This is a season of NEWNESS for me!!! I just got back from Uganda and youth camp! So I have been gone for a month! God has been so good and has spoken to me about a lot of new things that He is bringing me into!<br />
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When I was in Uganda my heart came so alive because I was doing what I was created to do! We spent our days going out into the city of Gulu sharing the gospel. Once we made connections with people we would then meet with them on a consistent basis to disciple them. I met a girl named Miriam who is 22. I got to lead her to the Lord and after that I met with her almost every day to teach her more about Jesus. She was super hungry! I shared with her how to spend time with the Lord on a daily basis, how to share the gospel, about the Father heart of God and the Holy Spirit. By the middle of the trip we were meeting with her and her friend Job, who is 20, to start a small group. We eventually started going to her village so she could invite her neighbors to be a part of what we called a 'lifegroup'. the vision for lifegroup is acts 2:42-47 where the disciples had all things in common and unity of mind. We would play games, worship together and study the word together! I saw such a transformation in this young woman! She always wanted more!<br />
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While we were there we also started an intercession group among the youth at the church (antioch, gulu). We taught them what intercession is and to do it. The group is still meeting and is being led by a couple of the boys among the youth!<br />
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We saw healings, salvations a<b>nd even got to pray for someone to be raised from the dead!</b> While I was there I realized the simplicity of the gospel and how it really works! God has given us AUTHORITY! and we can rest in His work! I saw Him work powerfully in me and through our team while we were there!<br />
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I came back and went to youth camp with the youth at our church. God moved so incredibly! Many of the high school girls that I work with recieved freedom and inner healing and a passion for Jesus that they never had before! The Lord even worked in me while I was there!<br />
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I am so excited for what God is doing in this season! He is calling me to be focused and attentive to what He is doing. I am learning about STEWARDSHIP and INTENTIONALITY! those are my 2 words for this season. And God won't let me forget that He has filled me up to overflowing and that He will NEVER LEAVE ME DRY! ahhhhh!!!!<br />
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I"m in the process of raising a team of people to support me. I am in full time ministry under the youth pastors at my church. (encourager church). I am really focusing on discipleship with my high school girls that I teach. I desire to see them be who they were created to be and for them to realize what they carry inside of them! I will also be working with the youth concerning worship so I am excited for that! As I pour out, He continues to fill me up!!<br />
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Be praying for strength and grace! For my ears to be even more opened to hear His voice!!!<br />
Thank you for all of your support!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00872329454366066440noreply@blogger.com1