Fill Me Up...

Being in God's presence is my favorite thing about this journey of walking the earth.  Nothing on the earth compares with times of being still before my Maker and allowing myself to be fully and completely loved, transformed, and empowered.  I absolutely adore the intimate, soul-to-soul connectedness I experience when I take time to seek and encounter His presence.  There is no sweeter place to be on the planet than to be bowed in spirit, soul, heart, and mind upon the altar of His heart.  Tuly, it is the central source of my entire existence.  To have my heart so passionately pursued is the life-blood that fuels my devotion and commitment to confidently believing in and becoming the woman He has created, called, and desitined me to be.  As you spend time in His presence, you will see that it begins to color overtake every area of of your life.  Once you experience the reality of His presence, you will be hooked.  I promise.  Try it once.  I dare you.

You may be asking yourself, "How do I begin to experience time in God's presence?" The answer is to invite Him to abide and inhabit wherever you are.  He is wild about you.  He cannot wait to connect heart-to-heart with you.  Just ask Him to come and invade your space.  The completely awesome and totally astounding thing is: He will!  The way I seek time in His presence is through  times of soaking (and no, it is NOT in a bathtub).  Soaking is positioning yourself to love on God and to allow Holy Spirit to come and love on you.  It's really simple. Get in a really comfy place and just say something like, "God, I come into this time to experience your love.  Come and have your way.  Fill me up."  It may sound kooky or weird at first, but TRUST me, it will completely revolutionize your life.  Another thing, remember the really comfy place I told you to find? I'ts totally OK to get in that place and find that you may fall asleep.  The first time I soaked, a lady fell asleep so hard she snored really loud.  God knows what you need to receive.  Soaking really is coming to a place where your soul can rest.

I look at soaking as a radical weapon of warefare.  I believe it is an essential tool to have in any believer's arsenal.  It infuriates the enemy and totally annihilates any power he holds.  As you spend time in God's presence, you are completely untouchable to the enemy.  He cannot be anywhere that God inhabits.  I love that.  One of my favorite things about soaking is that in these uninterrupted, unhurried times of intimacy, God and His Spirit will talk to you, friend-to-friend.  Like anything else, it takes time to create a continual, reciprocal, relationship.  I promise you, once an intimate atmosphere is established, you will be given access into the heavenly realms and the heart beat of the supernatural like never before.  God's presence brings me extravagant joy.  It is the place where I am filled up in order to have something to pour out for the sake of the world. 

An Invitation To Go Deeper...

This week is Summit (formerly known as Lectureship) at ACU.  I went to my first Summit lecture of 2012 tonight.  Chris Goldman of Northwest Church of Christ in Seattle, Washington was the keynote speaker.  His text was Hosea 4:1-12.  His theme was the difference between knowing about God and intimately knowing of God.  The entire time Chris was speaking the Lord kept whispering, "I want you to know me deeply and intimately, Lauren." Throughout the lecture I could hear my spirit responding, "I say yes to your invitation to go deeper, Lord."  One of my very favorite things about God is that He desires to be intimately known by His sons and daughters.

The question I've been asking myself tonight is this: What does it tangibly look like to go deeper with God? I think He's revealed the heart of His answer.  I love that when I ask God a very specific question, He delivers a very specific answer. The answer to my specific question was really simple.  He said, "Spend time with me.  Spend time in my Word.  Meditate on and respond to what I say.  Don't make me an afterthought bringing only the leftovers of your energy, passion, and attention."  As I reflect on those words, I am reminded of the importance of making my pursuit of God my highest priority and my highest pleasure.  I want to create space so that He can reveal anything He wants me to know.  I want to live in a posture of constantly seeking Him.  I want to live a life that is completely lived around His agendas, timetables, and activities.  I want to be interruptible.  I want to go into deeper realms with God.  What specific things has He revealed to you lately?   

Overtaken by Joy...

Here's something you my not know about me.  I adore joy.  It is my very favorite fruit of the Spirit.  If my existence could be summed up in one sentence I pray that it is this, "Lauren was a woman who pursued and lived in joy no matter the circumsance."  I have a friend who has talked time and time again about a "no-matter-what kind of faith" and while I want that as well, I want to spread a "no-matter-what kind of joy" in the world.  In fact, more than that, I yearn to be overtaken by joy.  I pray that it defines every single fiber of my existence on the earth and in heaven.  Here are some things I've learned about joy:

Living in joy is so much fun.  The posture of joy invites fun into every area of life.  It lessens the pressures of life.  Part of the fun of joy is learning to let it spill out of you and onto everything you do.  It has the power to change circumstances, people, and atmoshperes.  That's fun.  My favorite fun part of joy is that it partners with heaven.  Every day is different and full of ways to trust, rely on, and place confidence in God.  To me, that is fun.

As a believer, I am made to abide in joy.  I love that pursuing joy is not supposed to be a passive activity.  I am supposed to dwell in it and its power.  God wants me to learn to stay in posture of joy through all that life throws at me.  As I choose to abide in joy, He supernaturally equips me to gain more territory in Him.  Abiding in joy ensures that I go to a deeper, richer, level of fullness.  I want that so badly.  Choosing joy allows me to saturate myself in the goodness and kindness of God.  I love that.  My prayer every day is that I will abide in a posture of joy.

Joy is meant to be spread and shared.  I want to be a woman who allows the joy of Jesus and life in the Holy Spirit to spill into the lives of everyone I come in contact with.  God created joy to be spread in everything we do.  He created it to be contagious.  That fact ignites a fire deep in my bones.  It gives me purpose every day.  All people deserve joy.  Life is so hard without it.  Joy adds vibrancy and life to the world.  Knowing that, why wouldn't we be looking for ways to spread it?  I found this little treasure today as I began a word study on joy:

"The ransomed of the Lord will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.  Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." -- Isaiah 35:10


 

Lessons in Intentionality...

I love being in the classroom of God.  I love the process of learning.  I love how things tend to settle into my soul as I'm being taught by God.  He is my favorite Teacher.  Every time I am invited into His classroom, I feel giddy because it is a phenominal experience to go beyond the veil of everything that I know and discover a new facet of His character and majesty.  The fact that He longs to teach me anything just gives me goosebumps.  I love that I serve a God who longs to be known and experienced by His kids.  What a treasure it is to be taught by and loved on by the King of Kings!

The most current lesson He's teaching me is intentionality.  I love how He times everything perfectly.  Just today I read a blog post about the importance of being picky and intentional.  It seems that the refrain to be intentional in every area of my life is constant.  I'm loving it.  I'm learning that intentionality takes time.  One of my favorite things about that is that God isn't in a hurry to teach this lesson.  He wants to be fully invested in this one so that the fruit that is born of it is beautiful.  A person learning to be intentional must take time to weigh the decisions and choices they make.  I really like that.  I don't want to live a passive life where I settle for second best.  I want God's best the first time.  Taking time to learn about intentionality will have big rewards later.

I loved this piece of wisdom from Holley Gerth in her post about intentionality: "Take time to look at the character of the people you trust in life."  I believe it is crucial to surround yourself with community that live lives that are full of the character that you are partnering with God to cultivate.  I want to be a woman who is first of all humble.  I want my heart constantly bowed upon the altar of God's throne.  I want to be a bold encourager.  I want to be fiercely committed to every bit of God's fullness for me.  I want to exercise the authority God has given me effectively to plunder the camps of the enemy.  I want to be wise.  I want to love people as fully as Jesus did.  I want to live in unapologetic passion and pursuit of God's heart.  I want to be a woman who knows and follows the coice of the Holy Spirit.  I want to remain teachable.  All of these are areas that God and I are working on and they are all opportunities to grow in intentionality.  For that I am immensely grateful.  Have a wonderful Monday, blogworld.       

Thoughts Change With The Seasons...

Hello friends.  It's Friday and its the beginning of September.  I don't know about you, but those facts make me giddy.  Remember, I'm a cold weather, autumn-and-winter-loving woman all the way.  Knowing that it is September and inching closer to fall just does something to me.  I love knowing that my favorite season is well on its way. Here are some places my head starts to go anticipating getting cozy for Fall:

Baking: I absolutely love baking.  Seeing as I don't cook at all, (the microwave is this girl's best friendas well as my handy-dandy toaster oven), I don't really know how to bake.  So, I guess you could say I love the idea of baking.  There's something immensely satisfying about the combination of autumn and baking.  I also adore the smell of anything baking away in the kitchen.  It is so welcoming. 

Crafting: Confession time.  There is not a crafty bone in my body (I need to spend time with my sweet friend, Ashley in the hopes that some of her phenominal creativity and inner craft goddess will rub off on me).  The closest I come to exercising my craft muscles is bringing out my knitting needles.  Is that an OK admission to make as an almost 30-year-old?  I have been browsing different colors of yarn and I've let out many a happily delighted gasp the last few days.  I don't have any shame in the fact that I'm a knitter.  I love it.  It brings me peace and the needles feel really good in my hands.

Candles: Every day during Fall and Winter you can find me burning a candle in my home.  I absolutely adore being welcomed by the wonderful smells candles bring into the atmosphere!  Candles burning make me feel embraced and at home wherever I am.  Smelling candles in a home also lets me in on a tiny peice of the favorite things of the homeowner might be.  Candles also signigy hospitality to me.  I love hospitality.  I need to get better at inviting people into my home.  I think hospitality is really important in getting a new friendship growing.  The Lord is talking to me as I type these things about hospitality.  It's about inviting people into your heart and life. 

I've enjoyed giving you this little glimpse into my brain during my favorite season.  Where do your thoughts turn during Fall?

I'm a Fall Girl...

Hi my dear readers.  I'm so excited.  The calendar has turned to September, and for that I'm grateful.  I'm an Autumn girl to the core.  I love high school football, I love college football, I love the holidays that hit during the fall months, I love candles burning, I love the cool crispness that somehow is ushered in during the fall. I love the beautiful clothes, and accessories.  Fall could be a year-round season and I would be totally in heaven.  In my mind, Fall is the perfect mix of all the seasons.  It can be warm, but the crispness is a lovely touch.

I also love Fall because it holds my birthday month.  October is the best month if you ask me.  This year is very special.  I turn 30.  I am excited about that.  I'm really thankful that I was born during the Fall.  I absolutely love the coziness of my favorite season.  Wrapping up in a blanket, while burning a candle, getting lost in a good book, while drinking my favorite Earl Grey is just my definition of Fall perfection. 

I also love traveling in the Fall.  I'm thinking a birthday celebration trip is in the works.  Going on roadrips with my family is so much fun.  We love visiting Fredricksburg during the Fall.  Of course, we go to all the away football games on Friday nights and that is fun too.  One of the things I love is bringing the cold weather bag to football games on these trips.  It means my very favorite weather is upon us.  What are some of your favorite things about Fall? Where do you love to travel to in Texas?

Some of My Current Loves...

Since it is Monday, and almost 10 PM, I thought I'd go light on this beginning of the week post.  I don't have enough brain power to devote to meaty subjects at this time of night.  Here are some of thethings I am in love with right now:

Married To Jonas: I sat down and watched this show on E! just tonight, and I must admit, in my estimation, its a million times better than Keeping Up With the Kardashians.  I'm looking forward to my weekly dates with Kevin and Danielle Jonas on Sunday evenings.  Plus, whenever I did watch the Kardashians I felt really guilty and that I needed to find a cofession booth immediately or the nearest priest. Married to Jonas leaves me with a very clean conscience. 

Some of my readers may already know of my undiagnosed obession with scarves.  It is an addiction, but a very cute and fashionable one, if I do say so myself.  I always feel so put together when I add a scarf to my wardrobe choice for the day.  They make me feel sophisticated.  I'm only permitting myself to wear lightweight scarves right now.  There is no way I could do pashminas.  Texas summers are just too hot.  Scarves are a small accents that I can add to make it feel a little more like Fall has arrived and will be staying for a while.

Tea: If you've known me for any length of time you know of my adoration for tea.  I drink it ice cold in the Spring and Summer and piping hot in the Fall and Winter.  I feel like it also incorporates a tradition of another one of my favorite things: all things British (except for blood pudding. That's where I draw the line.)  I love the process of making tea, I love the smell of it steeping, I love its taste, and I love how a good-sized cup of it feels in my hands.  It's therapeutic to enjoy my tea.  My favorite blend is the classic black tea.  I'm very much a traditionalist when it comes to this.  It's always my drink of choice.

I'm loving that school is back in session.  It is during this time every year that I think of Kathleen Kelly's famous "...bouquets of sharpened pencils" line. There is a huge chunk of my family that are reachers or administrators so the beginning of school is always a huge life event every year.  I love everything about it.  It means a fresh start.  It means learning at deeper levels.  It means making new friends.  It means dreaming new dreams.  I love learning so when August rolls around, I'm a happy young woman.  Plus, this year is special because all of my family, my mom, dad, brother, and sil will all be back in the same town.  I am so excited.  The beginning of a new school year is always wonderful because in some part, I feel like the fantasy of becoming a real-life teacher might actually come true.  Playing school was always my very favorite way to spend my time as a little tiny girl.  I used to have a very strong Texas twangy accent when I taught, and the refrigerator make for a fabulous chalkboard.  Here's to those special memories...

What are you currently loving these days?  



 

Worship is Warfare...

Happy Monday, dear reader!  I hope your week is beginning well.  As most of you probably know from the info provided in my bio, one of the three most formative passions of my life has been worship. I flat out adore it and I have from the very beginning.  The act of worship is unfathomably powerful.  It breaks down walls, it is intensely inclusive, it ivites God to do the impossible, and it is one of the main points of access into the activity in the heavenly realms.  My very favorite thing about worship is that it completely incapasitates the enemy.  He absolutely has to flee whenever worship is a part of an atmosphere.  He abhors it. I love that.  When we worship, he loses all authority he may hold over any part of life.  All his lies lose power the milisecond one word of praise is uttered from my lips.  Is that not exciting?  I want to just stomp all over him in celebration and victory whenever and however I can.  Worship repels him and it steals his intentions.  The lessons I write about here are lessons that I have had experience with God in.  My intention is to share them as a means to show how a person can walk with God into all of His fullness or how someone may be able to find a way back to Him and in that complete freedom.  I am most certainly not sharing here to pat myself on the back or to shine recognition on anything I have done.  It is all to the glory, honor, and praise of my Papa God.  Now that that is said, I'd love to share three of my beliefs about worship and why I think it is so essential for a Christ-honoring and fulfilling inner life:

1) Worship is a lifestyle.  It most certainly is not just something you do in a building or only on Sunday mornings.  Worship is tied to every single thing -- little or big; significant or insignificant that you do every minute of every day.  Worship is washing dishes, or changing diapers, or tithing, or driving in your car.  The thing that defines whether or not it is an act of worship is the attitude of your heart and spirit as you live it out.  Living life through a lens of worship makes us different.  It causes people to wonder, "What is the it that this person has and is receiving life from?"  An authentic lifestyle of worship leads to Jesus being seen most clearly.  I believe that a life lived every second in every day throughout every season is the richest and most formative way to live.  Worship invites Papa God into every experience.  Claiming worship as a lifestyle is full of rewards and blessings.  It allows you to go into community and communion with God in a deeper and richer way.

2) Worship builds community.  I believe absolutely anyone who desires to live authentically in worship draws people to them.  Authenticity and a true pursuit of worship also draws the activity of God into life in a more relational way.  One thing I've learned as I've gained some milage with God is that you cannot in any way, shape or form fake a life of worship.  You're either intentionally pursuing it or you're not.  God knows.  There is a marked difference.  Another thing, people can tell whether you are actively pursuing a life of worship.  People who are looking for life-giving and lasting community are not interested in fake or counterfeit worship.  Life is a beast and community needs to have a place in the church and in our daily lives.  A life given to worship builds the richest and most treasured community.  If community is not built on a foundation of authenticity it will not serve a godly purpose.  Community is so very needed in society today.  Don't be someone or something you're not.  Make a decision to live out of a place of pure worship and gratitude.

3) Worship invites the reality of heaven into every day.  Two of the purposes of worship is to usher something in and to help create an atmosphere.  As we worship, we release something.  I've heard it said that whatever you behold is what you become and whatever you become will be released into who you are and everything you do.  I can only speak for me, but, I want everything that heaven has.  It is entirely possible to live in the reality of heaven now as we walk the earth.  Jesus said it, so I believe it.  Try it.  All you do is use your mouth to invite heaven's atmoshpere.  It's that easy.  You won't be the same.  It will ruin you for anything less.  Worship partners with heaven to see the miraculous occur.  Worship attracts miracles. Relentless and intimate pursuit of God through worship makes Him eager to accomplish what is seemingly impossible.  It's genius.  It's beautiful to behold.  It's even better to experience. 

Bottom line: Worsip is the most powerful weapon we have in our arsenal.  I pray that we live it; that we begin to use it to build authentic community; and that we learn to partner with it to see heaven manifested on earth!  May you know that this is attainable for you.  Worship is a wonderous gift.  Learn to use it to see God move on your behalf.     

      

My Spirit is Full...

Hi, blogworld! It has been awhile once again.  I have been on a journey this summer, and let me tell you, it has been quite a wild, divinely-orchestrated ride.  As a result of this aforementioned journey, I've been filled up to overflowing with new posts.  You can expect to find a new entry in this space every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday/Saturday.  That last one is dependant upon which day I can most easily sit down and put the time and energy into organizing my thoughts.  I am really excited about sharing the parts of my heart that can be shared.  I realize that some of this journey that I've been on can only be between me and the Lord, but I'm hoping that by sharing where I've been, what I've learned, and what I think about a certain topic can help bring anyone who visits this space a little more authenticity.  I am big on authenticity.  Another thing that is immensely important to me is building a sense of community wherever I am.  I thrive off of these two gifts.  These two things take time to grow in any environment, and I am completely aware of this.  I desire this space to be a place where authenticity, vulnerablity, and community will break out over time.  I belive with all my being that the only way to fully enjoy and embrace this journey of life is to do it with complete authenticity in every area.

My hope and prayer is that this can be a space where anyone can come and find joy for their journey and also that they might find some tangible and life-giving steps toward knowing complete and unashamed freedom in their pursuit toward what lasting fullness of a life lived well looks like like. Many blessings to you, dear reader.  May you know how fully the Lord delights in you right where you are today!

Long Time, No Blog...

Hello, blogworld! After a seven-month absence from writing consistently, I'm not sure I have any readers left.  You may or not be asking where I've been, but I began to feel like I needed to take a break from posting for a while in order to truly find the purpose of this space.  I feel like I'm just now beginning to resurface from a time of refueling and fillng by the Lord in my writing.  Out of this season of trying to listen to the Lord about what He wants to do through my writing I've come to rest upon three goals that I hope to use this place to accomplish.  First and foremost, I want to honor God and be authentic here on my blog.  I want to be honest and transparent, but I also want to wisely discern when to not put every thought and season of my heart's development on the internet.  I've learned that some things need to stay private.

Another goal of this blog is to encourage others.  Encouragement is one of the passions of my exsistence.  I believe I was created to encourage all people in all seasons.  As I've grown into my position in the Kingdom of encouragement, it has been so thrilling to watch and listen to the Holy Spirit as to who and how to encourage a specific person, family, or church. I feel alive when I encourage someone else.  It is so life-giving and energizing to point out the signifigance of people and God's activity in the world and in people's lives.  I love being used by the Holy Spirit to speak life into others.  I pray that this blog is a place where people can stop by and be filled with strength and the joy of the Lord.

The last goal of this blog is to become a place where I can grow as a writer.  I want to rake risks and begin to discover how the Lord might grow and challenge my development as a scribe for His glory.  I believe that God created me to write.  He has confirmed this in so many different ways and I want to develop this gift to fullest measure possible.  I have no idea how far He will take me in this area, but I am over-the-moon excited to occupy this medium in all of its levels! So, I hope to authentically lift up the Lord, to provide refreshment, joy, and to let all people who stop by that they are signifigant and fiercely loved by a huge, beautiful, and life-giving Father,

Humbled by the Blessings...

I'm not even sure where to begin. I'm in the midst of an interesting, rich season right now. Do you ever sit back and ask the Lord, "What on earth have I done to deserve or receive such beatiful blessings straight from Your hand?" It seems every single day the Lord shows His intense love and ever-increasing kindness to me in new and exciting ways. One of the richest blessings I've been able to feast upon in recent days is the answer to prayer that I've prayed for a year and a half. I spent a sweet 2 and a half hours having heart-to-heart-soul-to-soul time getting to know a woman from another one of my favorite Abilene churches, Beltway Park. As I was sitting in her home listening to the ways that the Lord has directed and ordained her journey as of late, I was absolutely covered with unseen Holy Spirit goosebumps! I left our time praising and thanking the Lord for divinely ordaining and orchestrating the absolute perfect time in both of our spiritual journeys to author what we came away agreeing is a relationship that is to benefit His Kingdom.

I've tried to find words to fit my depth of gratiude for the absolutely incredible relationships God is authoring in my life in this season, and you know what, I still can't find words to convey my feelings. I think the two words that may come the closest are humbled, intensely and extravagantly blessed, and fiercely loved. I truly want to soak up EVERY OUNCE of every single thing the Lord sends into my life in every season. The goodness of my God absolutely and utterly astounds and leaves me in complete awe. Happy Wednesday to all of you!

Visions of Fall Dancing in My Head...

It. Is. Hot. in Abilene, people. I know it is September 1st, and that it doesn't really begin to cool off until October, but oh, my goodness, the end of this summer-long extreme heatwave cannot come fast enough. I have said it on this blog many times and I will say it again. I love Fall to the core. It is my absolute favorite season. I'm sincerely hoping that cold weather will visit our fair city again soon. I don't like to admit this, and it may be TMI, but I don't think I've ever sweated this much in a summer in my life. I find myself pleading with God to bring West Texas some relief. Today our high was 98, so yes, I am thankful for the little cool front the Lord has sent. All I can say is please bring us 40-50 degree temperatures -- that is my optimal temperature. I LOVE cold weather.

In other news, I have been staring dreamily at my rather large collection of scarves and fall/winter accessories and praying that I get to wear them some time in the near future. I don't think I've shared this on the blog either, so here it goes: the one thing in my life that I cannot do without is my bible. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that it is practically an appendage. I love to do my reading out of it, I love to use it to do an intensive study, I like to use its concordance -- basically, it goes everywhere I go. My bible has joined me on many vacations, on family weekend getaways, it goes home to my parents house every weekend, it goes with me to Ladies Bible Class every Tuesday and on and on. It had mysteriously dissapeared for several months recently. Seriously I was really beginning to greive over it, thinking I'd have to replace it for my birthday or Christmas this year. I really did not want to replace it seeing as it has special notes, things the Lord has said over me, very special scriptures and other things. Another thing that I love about my bible is that it is marked up. I love to write in it. I was digging through my closet this week and I found my very beloved Amplified in one of my many bags. I was over the moon when I found it, I actually cried. Relief and pure gratitude washed over me as I hugged it close. I was so thrilled, but not surprised at all that the Lord had protected it and that He had kept it right under my nose. I didn't ever think that I could get so attached to an earthly possession, but it is God's Word, and it is the most important thing I own.

One C-R-A-Z-Y Summer...

Whew, for the few of you who haven't given up on my blogging, I'm still here. I'm so sorry for the five-month absence. My summer can be summed up in one word: CRAZY. Let me share a little recap with you. Buckle your seatbelts. Here we go.

On June 10th, both my mom and my aunt (her sister) had hip replacements in Plano on the same day one right after the other. Both of them were stars in the Joint Replacement wing of Presbyterian. No one in that practice or hospital had ever had two related people on the books for surgery. It was fun and very noteworthy to everyone that met them. They were in the hospital for a night and came back to Abilene. The really extraordinary thing was that I was their nurse while they were convalescing(sp?) at my parents house. My aunt lives 3o miles out of town, which is hard when you are recovering. It was easier for my uncle to drop her off at Cunningham Convalescent Home and Adult Day Care (very fittingly named, might I add, by the on-call nurse) during the day and pick her up on his way home. I was affectionately called Nurse Ratched during those days. Honestly, that was the only thing I kind of hated. They are both doing really well and are just new women.

On June 14th my mom's beloved 11-year-old Yorkie, Rose passed away. We had known for awhile that her little body was completely out of control. Our vet told us that her white and red blood cells were so out of whack that he was shocked she wasn't having convulsions. She finally passed away after having about five seizures and rolling around on the floor in front of mom. It was devastating she told us later. We buried her in one of our flower beds under a concrete statue. If we hadn't my Westie, Sophie would have most assuredly dug her up. A few days later, our vet told us he thougt she had a huge cancerous tumor in her stomach. No wonder she was unconsolably grouchy and territorial in her old age!

Other than those two things, we've gone on a week-long trip with our family's besties to Telluride, CO, visited both my grandmothers in the hospital, one here at Hendrick and one at Scott and White, visited my uncle, (mom's brother) in the nursing home, had my brother home for the summer, gotten him back to his wife in Lubbock, and I think that is all.

In other news, our bestie family's daughter, Christin, is getting married in December so I'm sure we'll be super busy with that this Fall. I'm a member of the House Party. It was quite an honor that I wasn't expecting in the least. God has also given me some really cool opportunities to share some things this summer. I love that. Oh, and can I just say how much I adore my church? We have a new Preaching Minister, a brand new Worship Minister, a brand new Executive Minister, and a brand new Communications Director and I have to say, I love them all! Such a fabulous team God has knit together. We as a body and as a community are blessed immeasurably. Blessings on the days ahead of you.

Thankful Thursday...

I have been thinking about thankfulness a lot lately. Recently, I bougt Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts. Her book is all about being intentional about gratitude and thankfulness and the joy that it brings to life. I have not had the chance to begin reading it yet, but I thought I'd get a head start on thinking about the concept of gratitude and thankfulness. I want these two character traits to come to define my life. So, below, I will share a list of things I am very thankful for on this Thursday:

* I am thankful for Spring. I love Spring. My favorite thing about this season is its promise of new life. If you intentionally look, signs of new life abound in this season. One of my very favorite places to observe Spring is in nature. New life resides in the rising temperatures, the flowers that are raising their heads and so much more. I also love how this beautiful season brings renewal and promise. Somehow, every Spring, I feel a sense of new beginnings. Refreshment is around every corner during Spring. It seems to me, that every day of this sweet season brings a new sense of promise in the everyday mundaneness of life. There always seems to be a pep in my step during Spring.

* I am thankful for color. The gift of color brings such joy to my everyday journey through this world. It brings an instant smile to my face and uplifts my spirit. Color also vividly reminds me that the Creator is fully alive and working. I am often astounded at His intricate use and invention of so many beautiful colors. I yearn for my life to bring color to the people I come into contact with and every single circumstance I face. I love the idea of releasing color. Just think about it. Pretty cool, huh? :) This world would be so bland without this sweet gift from God.

* I am thankful for the fact that I can live in the full inheritance that Jesus died to give me. I can choose to live a victorious life. That fact fills me with unfathomable joy. Every time I see or come across a person who lives in the chains of the enemy, my heart aches deeply for them. I'm so thankful for the fact that I can live a life that celebrates and rejoices in the fact that I no longer live in those awful chains. Choosing to live in the inheritance of Jesus brings such abundant freedom and life. I don't know about you, but living in the light of Jesus is the best choice I've ever made. I am so thankful for the fact that if I choose to live in the overflow and reality of the inheritance of Jesus, every single day is filled with such purpose, and passion.

What are you thankful for today?

Birthdays and Books

I realized late last week that this week held a very significant milestone. April 6th, is a very special day. Why you ask? On April 6, 1993 I became a daughter of the Most High King. Today I celebrate 18 years of walking with God. When I look back on this day so many years ago, I am just overwhelmed with gratitude and thankfulness. I can truly say without any hesitation whatsover, that the decision to give my life to the Lord was and continues to be the absolute best decision I have made in this earthly life! Every day with my Jesus just gets better and better. I am beyond blessed to have the life that I do. My prayer is that I have authentically honored and glorified Him through my life's testimony. I do not want any speck of me to be counterfiet. I want to pursue His heart with everything that is in me. Thank you, Abba God, for claiming me and embossing your signature on my spirit for my time on this planet and the days of eternity. What an honor it is to be called Your daughter.

I am currently reading and praying through this most fabulous book, by Kris Vallotton out of Bethel Church (you can find a link to Bethel on my blog list). The title is "Developing a Supernatural Lifestyle". I have absolutely LOVED this read. I've been so challenged and immersed in God's ways. Its central theme is walking in the realities of Christ-like character and learning to make the realities of heaven a part of our every day experience on earth. It excites me that we can choose to flow in heaven's realites while we inhabit earth. Eternity begins now. Check it out on Amazon or http://www.ibethel.org/ and click on "STORE"

Another book I am currently reading is this lovely one written by Lisa Bevere entitled "Lioness Arising" It is absolutely wonderful so far. I just started Chapter 2 today and I'm already growing from its content. I just love how God does that. :) I believe that every woman believer in the Body of Christ MUST read this book. Here is the challenge found on the back cover: "Women, its time to awaken. God did not save you to tame you. Awaken to a life of fierce passion. Awaken to dangerous prayer, stunning power, and teamed purpose. Awaken, your respense could very well change the world."Doesn't that just make you want to dive right in? I know it beckoned to me. This book is utterly fabulous. It is very eye-opening and it has dared me to ask for more from God. He wants to accomplish big, impossible things through the women in His Kingdom. Read it, you will not be sorry.

I hope you' ve enjoyed a Spirit-filled week full of the Lord's Presence and His joy.

Spring Break 2011 in Review...

I meant to get around to updating this space last week, but somehow, I didn't get around to it. Lots has been happening in my little neck of the woods. My family's Spring Break was spent on a staycation. We stayed home all week and really enjoyed having some good quality time together. My mama and daddy work really really hard, so they needed the rest and refreshment. On Monday, I spent the afternoon with my family of choice and we shopped till we dropped. It was a blast. We had lunch at the Natural Food Center (which is completely delicious), browsed the mall, went to Target, and went to Old Navy. My second mother and her girls could be professional shopping relay winners. They are serious shoppers, let me tell you. It was a fun girly day that I enjoyed immensely. Tuesday-Friday were spent sleeping in, reading, cuddling with a Westie, a Yorkie, and a mutt, eating, and just being together. It was pure heaven if you ask me. Saturday was spent running errands, replenishing my perfume supply, and just having a grand old time with my mom. I picked up some perfume called Bohemian from American Eagle. It is completely delightful. It was a just-because-I-love-you gift from my mama. We finished our day by my daddy treating his girls to a delicious new obsession in the Cunningham family: Nikki's Swirl Shoppe. All of their yogurt is fat-fee, gluten-free, and some are even kosher. God has been teaching me an awful lot lately and I am so grateful for this growth spurt in my relationship with Him. I've been so hungry for His Presence and He has just lavished me with His affection. Being fully and completely loved by the King of Kings is just the best. There's absolutely nothing like it in this world. I'm just loving growing in faith in the impossible. To top it off, this past Sunday I was at a luncheon where Jonathan Storment, Highland's new Preaching Minister said this, "...the leaders of this church body are happy for all of the different things going on in all of the churches in Abilene. We are not trying to compete with any of them. Our shepherds and church staff are dreaming some big dreams and if we can accomplish half of what those dreams are it will be impossible." I LOVED that statement to its core. I'm just giddy about the direction Highland is headed. I hope your week is blessed.

One Simple Prayer...

For the last several months, I've had one very simple prayer and petition that I've laid before the Throne. That prayer is this: I want my faith to grow. I want to grow to foster a faith that takes divine risks. My desire is to put backbone and skin on my what I say I believe. Don't get me wrong, I love words, but I've learned that words alone are cheap. Unless there is action and the 'meat' of experience backing up what I say my beliefs are, a door leading to my foundation is opened to the enemy. He thrives on shaky and unstable foundations. Remember, his entire job description is to kill, steal, and destroy. So, my job as a believer is to make sure that my entire spirit, soul, mind, strength is anchored and fixed on the One who came so that I may have life abundantly. I yearn to live a life that thrives in the things of God.

This brings me to another aspect of risky faith. I cannot speak for you, but I want a faith that makes Jesus shake His head and MARVEL. I've been claiming and trying to walk into a deeper portion of what I like to call, "faith in the impossible". I yearn to experience Jesus in all His fullness, and I think part of maturing in this thing called risky faith is asking to be taught about "faith in the impossible" so that it can be a very real part of my everyday experience. I want to walk in signs and wonders and in complete rythm with the supernatural realm. My prayer is that I will learn through the gift of each moment and new experience with God, to flesh out the heartbeat of heaven. I do realize that these are huge and dangerous prayers, but, do you honestly want to know the truth? I'm tired of being content when God gives me favor and victory over small steps and hurdles in my development as a living and breathing expression of Jesus. I want to see God do GIGANTIC, MIRACULOUS, IMPOSSIBLE things in my finite, fleshly, vapor of a life in this realm that we can see. I long to see Him reach into and beyond my "GOD BOX" and blow my mind. What about you?

Say Hello to a New Love...

I found this adorable little lady and her fabulous small business today. Let me introduce you, blogworld, to Maggie Whitley, the master mind behind the gorgeousness that is known as Gussy Sews. Many of you may have been clued in about her for some time now. If I really think back, I vaguely remember browsing my friend Chelsie's blog and locking my gaze on Maggie's sweet little accessories. Can I just say that I am in love with her designs? I really like her one-of-a-kind bags, purses, clutches, totes, and headbands. Check her out on Facebook, Twitter, and Etsy. She is definitely worth a browse. I can tell you that today will not be the last time I check in on her. I'm already plotting my first buy.

I've also been enjoying my newest CD purchase from iTunes. Passion has released their newest album, 'Here For You' . My little ears have been so happy to hear new songs from such artists as Chris Tomlin, Christy Nockels, David Crowder/Lecrae, Kristian Stanfill, and Matt Redman. This CD is fabulous. It is best listened to turned up pretty darn loud! Love the songs and lyrics, the beats, and the beautiful voices behind the songs. What lovely things have you discovered and been comforted by this week? I hope the rest of your work week is great. Happy Thursday. :)

A Day in Dallas...

Last week, I went on a little day-long getaway with my mom. It was heaven. She had some appointments she had to take care of in the morning so I went with her and read while she took care of her business. After finishing her meetings, we had lunch at Sclotsky's and went to TJ Maxx. Whenever mom and I walk into this eutpia of a store we can go kind of crazy. I can admit it, I went a tad scarf crazy. Scarves are one of my very favorite accessories in the world. By the time we walked out of the store, we had stuff that we didn't need in the least, but each thing we bought made us smile. I walked out with three scarves, a super cute note cube, a fabulous new ironing board cover, some monogram 'L' notecards, and a precious new hot/cold beverage cup. The fun, however, did not stop there. Just when I thought our getaway couldn't get any better, we ate dinner at my all-time favorite resturaunt on the planet, La Madeliene. It was so much fun to escape with my mom who happens to be one of my favorite people for a day. We had such great girl time. I hope your week is great.

A New Month and Other Tidbits...

Yay, it is FINALLY March. I don't know about the rest of you, but February seemed extra long to me this year. I like celebrating a new month. It holds untold possibilities and potential. Another thing that I love about March is that the promise of Spring is so close I can taste, feel, and smell it. Plus, another reason I love March is college basketball March Madness. I mean, how much better can this month get? Spring Break is an extra bonus too.

Here are some things I am looking forward to this month:

1. On Friday, my mom is being honored by the ACU Department of Curriculum and Instruction. She is being given the Grover C. Morlan Award of Excellence in Education. I am so excited to celebrate her many accomplishments in the education profession. My mom was very gifted as an early childhood teacher, and now she is exercising her strong gifting as a school administrator. My mom's side of the family is full of educators. She, her sister, her brother-in-law, and her daugher-in-law are or were at one time wonderful teachers. ACU couldn't have chosen a more deserving or humble recipient for 2011. I'm so proud of the wonderful prfessional that she is and I love that God is using her to shape the lives and futures of young children in our city.

2. An out of town adventure with my mom. I love traveling anywhere with her. She is one of my best friends. I love the fact that I can say that. We've always shared a very strong and fierce bond, I think it is one shared by kindred spirits. Most of the time, she will speak what I am thinking a second before I open my mouth to say the exact words. I really like that we know each other that well. Sharing a brain with her is entertaining and a blessing. I can't wait to see what kind of fun unfolds with her as we head out on the open road.

3. I am looking forward to welcoming Spring. I love this particular season for so many reasons. In all truth, I enjoy all four seasons. Spring has always had a special meaning to me though. I think it must have something to do with creation around me coming back into its fullest life. The colors of Spring are just gorgeous. Knowing that the parts of God's beautiful creation that have laid dormant for many months are getting to be recreated is just a beautiful thing. I love that Spring brings new and vibrant life to everything it touches. Getting out the lightweight layers to add to my Spring wardrobe isn't bad either.

What things are you looking forward to most? I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the week. :)