The following is a link to a 'friend of a friend's' blog which I found profound, interesting, and insightful. I have no agenda or stance other than saying Love wins. I believe in the sanctity of the marriage institution as God ordained it to be but I believe Jesus loves and He saves, heals, and delivers. I believe in looking at all people and asking Jesus to show me the story behind their eyes and I realize that pain is real yet not a part of God's redemptive plan. I long and pray for people to be set free in the manner Jesus wants them to be free, not what I 'think' it 'should' look like.
http://oddmanout.net/post/28571733360/chick-fil-activism-part-ii
And the first part:
http://oddmanout.net/post/28484026012/chick-fil-activism
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
An overview of today...
Well, today...that is what we have right now. I am learning so many lessons through the disease of cancer and the face of physical death over the last year and a half but I have to say that God will work it to good because I believe and I love Him and I am called to His purpose.
Losing my brother last March was tough; we had a month in the hospital with him and I have witnessed many good things come from him walking into Eternity. Last week, his wife, mother of their 3 children, and my sister-in-law walked into Eternity and it is so much different; maybe the finality of them together? I can't exactly put a name to it or put a finger on it yet, but I can say it hurts. Memories of the two of them come and I smile then I cry. Shortened lives in my human view of things....I don't question God's sovereignty; I just mourn. I join many in grieving and many are joining me. I rejoice in knowing where they are and the majesty they are witnessing. I rejoice in the fact that cancer did NOT win; God does! I rejoice that there is no more pain in their bodies. I rejoice that they have 3 beautiful, intelligent children who all love the Lord. I rejoice in knowing that I will one day see them again and be joined as the great cloud of witnesses with them. I rejoice that I have wonderful friends and family who hold me up. BUT, I hurt. Plain and simple, I hurt. My heart feels ripped into pieces. Joy is not gone....just pain is mixed in. His joy is my strength and I am leaning heavily into that truth.
I really wish I had something different to write about today, but this is just the place I am in and I know God will see us through and He will heal our hurt. I know He is good and always will be. I know He has blessed me beyond words and I know that nothing can separate me from His love. I know that this suffering is short and has to be shared to also share in the glory of the Lord. I just hurt and hope if you are reading this, you will pray for me and my family.
Losing my brother last March was tough; we had a month in the hospital with him and I have witnessed many good things come from him walking into Eternity. Last week, his wife, mother of their 3 children, and my sister-in-law walked into Eternity and it is so much different; maybe the finality of them together? I can't exactly put a name to it or put a finger on it yet, but I can say it hurts. Memories of the two of them come and I smile then I cry. Shortened lives in my human view of things....I don't question God's sovereignty; I just mourn. I join many in grieving and many are joining me. I rejoice in knowing where they are and the majesty they are witnessing. I rejoice in the fact that cancer did NOT win; God does! I rejoice that there is no more pain in their bodies. I rejoice that they have 3 beautiful, intelligent children who all love the Lord. I rejoice in knowing that I will one day see them again and be joined as the great cloud of witnesses with them. I rejoice that I have wonderful friends and family who hold me up. BUT, I hurt. Plain and simple, I hurt. My heart feels ripped into pieces. Joy is not gone....just pain is mixed in. His joy is my strength and I am leaning heavily into that truth.
I really wish I had something different to write about today, but this is just the place I am in and I know God will see us through and He will heal our hurt. I know He is good and always will be. I know He has blessed me beyond words and I know that nothing can separate me from His love. I know that this suffering is short and has to be shared to also share in the glory of the Lord. I just hurt and hope if you are reading this, you will pray for me and my family.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Serial Killer in our Church
There is a serial killer loose in the Church today and he must be stopped. He uses many masks, often masquerading as virtuous friends like wisdom, stewardship, thoughtfulness or peace to access the door to our souls. Yet once inside he begins to kill our dreams, paralyze our promises and derail our destiny. His name is FEAR and he is on God’s most wanted list. Many Christians harbor this violent fugitive by reducing their God given exploits to accommodate their fear. What these baffled Believers refuse to understand is that the dogs of doom stand at the doors of their destiny. There is always a strategically placed giant in our God-given promise land. When most people hear barking dogs or taunting giants they hide in the wilderness of mediocrity, perpetually wandering through slave camps like boredom, discouragement or meaningless living. It’s time to arrest this dream killer and apprehend our promises.
Kris Vallotton Ministries
I think that there are many, many people who have been stifled and paralyzed by fear today and this is what keeps so many from reaching the full potential of what all God has in store for them. This statement above from KV Ministries really hits it on the head. When we ask God to show us the way to approach the 'giant' in our way to the Promised Land, He wants to show us. He has good intentions and has never wanted us to fail. God has instilled a sense of greatness in each one of us and He has a good destiny for us. He promises us good things and ways to walk through the suffering that will come; He never said that we would have a perfect life or live in the middle of roses all the time. He did say that He would never leave us or forsake us. He did say He would empower us with grace to overcome, walk through, rise above.
My prayer for all of us is that we will grab onto the TRUTH of God's promises for us; grab HIS Hand and walk through life with a sense of WHO lives in us moreso than what comes at us. He overcame and He lives in us! May we all take hold of the faith that He has given us and elevate us and may we all step out in areas where fear might have stifled us. There is power in the Name of Jesus!!
Kris Vallotton Ministries
I think that there are many, many people who have been stifled and paralyzed by fear today and this is what keeps so many from reaching the full potential of what all God has in store for them. This statement above from KV Ministries really hits it on the head. When we ask God to show us the way to approach the 'giant' in our way to the Promised Land, He wants to show us. He has good intentions and has never wanted us to fail. God has instilled a sense of greatness in each one of us and He has a good destiny for us. He promises us good things and ways to walk through the suffering that will come; He never said that we would have a perfect life or live in the middle of roses all the time. He did say that He would never leave us or forsake us. He did say He would empower us with grace to overcome, walk through, rise above.
My prayer for all of us is that we will grab onto the TRUTH of God's promises for us; grab HIS Hand and walk through life with a sense of WHO lives in us moreso than what comes at us. He overcame and He lives in us! May we all take hold of the faith that He has given us and elevate us and may we all step out in areas where fear might have stifled us. There is power in the Name of Jesus!!
Monday, January 9, 2012
A New Generation Arising in His Name
Jeremiah 31:3
The Message (MSG)
2-6This is the way God put it:
"They found grace out in the desert,
these people who survived the killing.
Israel, out looking for a place to rest,
met God out looking for them!"
God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will.
Expect love, love, and more love!
And so now I'll start over with you and build you up again,
dear virgin Israel.
You'll resume your singing,
grabbing tambourines and joining the dance.
You'll go back to your old work of planting vineyards
on the Samaritan hillsides,
And sit back and enjoy the fruit—
oh, how you'll enjoy those harvests!
The time's coming when watchmen will call out
from the hilltops of Ephraim:
'On your feet! Let's go to Zion,
go to meet our God!'"
This is one of the many verses that remind me of the generation who is rising up!!
I am literally overwhelmed with God's goodness the last few months. We were at the West Texas Girls Conference a few months ago with over 600 middle and high school girls...WOW!! (That's one of God's miracles that I was in the middle of kids!!) Seeing the difference (from my school years) in what these young girls face and the ways that shame has already entered their lives is just mind-blowing to me. Then I read some of the responses to what goes on in their lives and I am blown away again at the next generation that God is building...I hate giving the enemy too much credit or any fame so I want to just think about the ways that God is loving these young people into a revolutionary generation. I want to be a part of it!!!! I love asking God to use me every day, I am not regretful; only BLESSED!!
The Message (MSG)
2-6This is the way God put it:
"They found grace out in the desert,
these people who survived the killing.
Israel, out looking for a place to rest,
met God out looking for them!"
God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will.
Expect love, love, and more love!
And so now I'll start over with you and build you up again,
dear virgin Israel.
You'll resume your singing,
grabbing tambourines and joining the dance.
You'll go back to your old work of planting vineyards
on the Samaritan hillsides,
And sit back and enjoy the fruit—
oh, how you'll enjoy those harvests!
The time's coming when watchmen will call out
from the hilltops of Ephraim:
'On your feet! Let's go to Zion,
go to meet our God!'"
This is one of the many verses that remind me of the generation who is rising up!!
I am literally overwhelmed with God's goodness the last few months. We were at the West Texas Girls Conference a few months ago with over 600 middle and high school girls...WOW!! (That's one of God's miracles that I was in the middle of kids!!) Seeing the difference (from my school years) in what these young girls face and the ways that shame has already entered their lives is just mind-blowing to me. Then I read some of the responses to what goes on in their lives and I am blown away again at the next generation that God is building...I hate giving the enemy too much credit or any fame so I want to just think about the ways that God is loving these young people into a revolutionary generation. I want to be a part of it!!!! I love asking God to use me every day, I am not regretful; only BLESSED!!
I witnessed 2 precious young ladies alongside over 25,000 others at One Thing at IHOP, Kansas City, MO, this year for New Years. WOW!! Again, I am humbled by this generation and on fire to sow into it. I am inspired that Passion 2012 raised over 3 million dollars from 18-25 year olds to fund anti-slavery/human trafficking this year. Rise up and take back from the enemy what he has stolen. I am in prayer for this younger generation and hope you will join me.
I have had the absolute privilege to walk alongside some younger ladies now in my life and I would not trade these minutes for anything. They inspire me, stretch me, challenge me and love me. Oh how much I love them!! I honestly cannot imagine not having them to share life with now. God took my hard heart toward younger people and did His miracle work in softening it to flesh and stirring in me a new heart to help build the next generation. ONLY God could have done that....I was the one who would NEVER have children. Now, I know part of the 'why'; I believe I am called to sow into others' lives by my time, any and all resources God has given me, and my life. Thank YOU, Lord, for allowing this and placing people in my path as only You could do!
I have had the absolute privilege to walk alongside some younger ladies now in my life and I would not trade these minutes for anything. They inspire me, stretch me, challenge me and love me. Oh how much I love them!! I honestly cannot imagine not having them to share life with now. God took my hard heart toward younger people and did His miracle work in softening it to flesh and stirring in me a new heart to help build the next generation. ONLY God could have done that....I was the one who would NEVER have children. Now, I know part of the 'why'; I believe I am called to sow into others' lives by my time, any and all resources God has given me, and my life. Thank YOU, Lord, for allowing this and placing people in my path as only You could do!
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