An Extravagant Invitation...

We have an extravagant invitation as members of the human race. The extravagant invitation is a relationship with Jesus Christ. The sad thing is that everyone on this earth will not choose the path of relationship with Jesus. That realization honestly breaks my heart. Furthermore, it absolutely grieves the heart of God. There are so many broken, shattered, and hungry hearts in the world that just cannot accept the fact that the Son of God paid their debt once and for all. The Father longs to scoop those hearts onto His lap and sing His delight over them. He is earnestly seeking and roaming the earth to romance and pursue those hearts. For that, I am so grateful. I am also astounded at His stubborn faithfulness in a fallen and weak and broken world. There is absolutely nothing that is more urgent on the heart of God than the salvation of every person on the face of this earth. I've seen time and time again that this is His one pure and holy passion: to win the souls of hurting and hungry people. As believers, it is our calling to live lives that attract others to the feet of Jesus so that His aroma can be taken to every corner of this natural realm. We are to live as walking "Words" of God. Will you accept the extravagant invitation of Christ Jesus?

"[No] you yourselves are our letter of recommendation (our credentials), written in your hearts, to be known (perceived, recognized) and read by everybody." - 2 Corinthians 3:2

"But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of God's vicory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere. For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible, alike] among those who are saved and among those who are perishing. To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance living and fresh]." - 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Thin Places...

I recently had an experience with the Lord that has been etched into my mind's eye. This experience occurred in the midst of my soaking time on one Monday evening. In case you don't know what soaking is, it is a time set aside to wait in the presence of the Lord for Him to speak to our hearts in times of quiet reflection. Sometimes there is someone speaking with music in the background and sometimes there is only instrumental music. The really cool thing is that you are invited to get as comfortable as you possibly can so that you can focus and be present as the Lord spends time with you. I absolutely love it. Soaking is a thin place in my week.

A thin place is where God invades the natural realm and a piece of heaven can be seen or felt. Now, that is just my definition. If I really think about it, there are thin places everywhere because God is constantly on the move. He is always wanting to reveal more of Himself to those who earnestly devote themselves to looking for evidence of His presence. It is so much fun to search for God in everything. I constantly pray that I will have a spirit that is receptive and open to the Lord; that my spirit will be one hundred percent accessible to Him in all seasons, in all circumstances, and in all I do and say. Now I wonder if you have thin places in your lives. Take time today to ask God what the thin places are for you. It will most likely surprise you what He reveals. It has left me astounded at times. He truly is everywhere. Open your eyes and your spirit to search and find Him. He is expectantly searching and longing for you. He is especially fond of you and you are His favorite. That is one thing that the sacrifice of Christ bought us--the opportunity to be the apple of God's eye.

"Keep me as the apple of Your eye." - Psalm 17:8

Lasting Fulfillment...

There are so many things in this world that promise fulfillment. Money, status, and material possessions are only a few of the things on that list. Men, women, and children are constantly bombarded with messages that promise fulfillment, but rarely deliver. As I have gone through life, I have found only one thing that provides lasting, true, and ultimate fulfillment--Jesus Christ. Having a relationship with Jesus is the most soul-satisfying and fulfilling thing I have ever known. You may ask, "Why is it so fulfilling?" My answer would be because God does not measure success or failure by the size of my bank account, my waist size, or the size of my home. He decided two thousand years ago that I was worth the sacrifice of His only Son. Now, I think that is pretty remarkable. My job on earth now is to live a life that is worthy of that sacrifice and to let as many people in on this precious gift as possible. Are you looking for worldly things to fill the hole that was custom made for God? Are you wandering around without purpose or direction? Consult the Lord and commit your way and your life to Him. It truly is the best thing there is.

Soul Seasons...

Have you ever noticed that the soul goes through seasons? I sure have. My own soul has experiened many different seasons as it has been in a process of maturing in the Lord. I think seasons of the soul serve as opportunites to grow and become better equipped for the work the Lord has for us to do. Through different seasons of the soul, the Lord teaches us how to depend on Him and Him alone and not solely on our own strength. Seasons bring so much to our lives. These times bring nourishment, refinement, and ultimately growth that we could not achieve otherwise. Seasons of the soul truly benefit those who are in Christ because they teach us what we need to work on in order to become a stonger threat to the devil.

Confidence...

Confidence is very important in the world we live in. I have to point out though, that learning how to grow in humble, godly confidence is the way to go. Growing into a person of confidence provides peace and worth. Confidence allows us to go for our dreams and to realize that we have what it takes to see them come true. If a person is confident, they know that their worth is not measured only by success or failure, it comes from the person that they are. If men and women take the time to grow in confidence it will bring a deep and rich satisfaction that the world cannot destroy.

Confidence is a decision. Every day when our eyes open and before our feet hit the groud, we decide to be confident or to be overtaken by worry or doubt. Take it from someone who knows, choosing to be confident saves so much time. Another thing is that we honor and please God when we choose confidence. He did not create us to be ruled by doubt, fear, or inferiority. Ultimately, confidence equals true and lasting happiness. Choose to be confident.

Be Still And Know...

I never take enough time to be still. I live in a world that constantly bombards me with reasons to keep moving and to keep producing. To be honest, it gets old. My body gets tired and run down as a result of these messages and my mind races. This present world thrives on activity and constant motion. The world tells us our worth is measured by how much we accomplish and how prominant we are. Worldly success and noteriety comes at a very high price. The invitation of heaven is vastly different from what is seen in the natural realm, in what we can physically see and touch.

Heaven invites us to be still and to enjoy the presence of God that is all around us. God desires us to take time to ask Him what is on His heart. He wants us to move at His pace. Being still gives an opportunity to be refueled, repurposed, and redefined in God. I have a place where I am still every week. Monday nights are my time to be still and to ask God to allow heaven to invade earth. I am able to be still and to really listen and receive His love and mercy. Soaking ushers me into a time of stillness and content solitude with Him. It is only when we are still that the Lord can reveal His heart to us. I want more of that. I truly desire to see heaven invade earth. We need regular times when we are taken away with the Lord in order for Him to minister to us in ways that only He can. It is essential in order to be healthy and active. I hope you have a place and time when you are able to be still and know.

"Be still and know that I am God." - Psalm 46:10

Possessions...

My bible is my most treasured material possession on earth. People who know me well know that I have it with me almost all the time. I spend hours in it daily. It nourishes me, encourages me, and teaches me. It is a close friend of mine. Being in it is one of my very favorite things in the world. This Amplified bible is the one I study in and it has been very well used. It is safe to say that without this particular bible I cannot function. I know this for sure. I have had to learn to function while it has been missing before.

Last Sunday, I thought that I brought it with me to church and I thought I sat it down on the floor in front of my seat in the auditorium. I am usually very good about picking it back up before I begin singing the last song in our worship assembly. Last week when my family returned home, I realized that I had not picked up this bible and I thought it was a goner. I was very sad. I looked at church on Tuesday after Ladies class and it was gone. I let the staff in the church office know to keep their eyes open and to let me know if it showed back up. I mean I let every member of the church staff know. I was not going to leave one stone unturned. I was on a serious hunt. I just HAD to find this bible. As I pointed out before, it is practically one of my appendiges. I was so desperate, I had my group in Ladies class pray that I find it. Well after a week of searching, my mom found it...waiting patiently beside the door leading to my parents garage. My favorite bible and I are now joyfully reunited and deleriously happy to have one another again. Do you have a precious material possession such as this? I sure hope so.

Right Motives...

Do you ever have times when God checks your motives publicly? I had one of those times recently. I quickly realized that Satan had put words in my mouth and I was absolutely mortified. As soon as I spoke, I knew my motives, in that moment, were not pure at all. I desperately desire to have pure and righteous motives in everything I do, say, and think. But there are some days when God gives a test to prove whether we have correct motives. I am sad to say, I failed the test I took in that moment. I hate that. I would like to think that after sixteen years on the journey of discipleship, I have grown in this area. I guess I have some more growing to do and I am thakful the Lord showed me that.

Pure, righteous, and right motives are imperative if we want to go into deeper realms with the Lord. The one thing I have learned after all these years is that the one thing He desires more than any other thing is to have all of your heart. The bottom line is that God desires wholehearted devotion. Another thing that is really important is that we as His disciples, regularly check our motives to make sure we are being led by the Lord or if we are being led by our flesh or pride. Pride is just disasterous. It is evil. It is destructive and it breeds competition. Stay as far away from pride as you can. Being a person who walks with godly motives brings a freedom and joy that is unspeakable. I sure learned my lesson.

"And you, my son, acknowledge the God of your father and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind your thoughts." - I Chronicles 28:9

Living Water...

In Revelation 7 John tells us that the Lamb will lead His children to streams of living water located around the throne. I love that. I believe that is part of the call of discipleship--to lead people to a place where they are able to receive Christ as a conduet of Living Water. As I think about living water, I realize how desperately I need to continually abide in and partake of the invitation Jesus extends to drink from streams of living water. I know this: I desire to be a vesel filled with living water so that those whose souls are parched, broken, and used up can come and drink to their fullest capacity. One thing I enjoy meditating on is the fact that these streams are always available. Twenty-four hours a day. Three hundred sixty-five days a year. Jesus stands ready and expectantly waiting for us as His disciples to take part in this redemptive and restorative action.

Being washed, renewed, and recommisioned continuously is healthy. It is good. This process brings a new demension as a beliver. Allowing oneself to be washed and cleansed opens them up to new levels in the spiritual realm. In the Word I see over and over that the Lord desires to use clean vesels to usher in His activity and His presence. I also believe that if we are continually renewed and cleansed, we can see new works that the Lord is calling us to. Have you ever considered that the call you received long ago is not the one and only work the Lord wants to complete and bring about through you? The Lord is never stagnant; therefore, a disciple should always want to be cleansed, refreshed, and propelled into greater things. I know that is what I want. Take a moment today to allow yourself to be cleansed by the streams of living water that are standing available to you. You will be blessed.

"For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water." - Revelation 7:17

"Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is who asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." - John 4:10

Light...

One of the things that I pray often is that I will be a woman of God's light. I desire to spread His light wherever I am. There are so many things I can get depressed about in the world today. I want to deliberately choose to bring light into dark places. Jesus says that He is the light of the world. He also tells His disciples that they are children of light. Those images are very powerful to me. When we love others around us we spread God's light. I adore that thought. Light is a very, very powerful tool. It brings life to things. It redeems things.

Light also dispels darkness. Wherever light is darkness cannot come. The light of Jesus is infectious and contagious. Whenever light is brought to something it receives power and it begings to have a stronger effect. Light brings victory. Darkness and depression bring defeat. Make a choice today to pursue the light of the love of Christ. It will revolutionize your life and the events of your day.

Power In The Blood...

Over recent years I have come to really understand the power that resides in the blood of Jesus. As a result of the knowledge I have gained, I have begun to revere His blood. It is the most precious and costly gift He has given to this world. It is one hundred percent our choice whether or not His blood will take its full effect. We have to use our mouths to appropriate the power of His blood. I don't know if you know this but every time the name of a disciple of Jesus Christ is spoken, His blood washes over him or her. That just astounds me. The power that resides in the blood has the potential to change your life. As I was growing up I heard the song There's Power in the Blood, but I never really understood what that meant.

One of my favorite aspects of the blood of Jesus is that it is a line of defense the Lord uses to protect His disciples from Satan. Every single time Satan tries to accuse us, the blood of Jesus stands ready to pardon and redeem us, if we appropriate it. Appropriating the blood of Jesus is really easy and it provides a strong sense of security. All you have to do is say with your mouth, "I appropriate the blood of Jesus over ____ and I ask it to take its full effect over their life." Do this and sit back and watch the Lord hand deliver you many blessings. Satan knows that if the blood of Jesus is covering a man, woman, boy, or girl, he cannot have control or authority over them, their families, or their lives. Go ahead give it a try. I promise you will see results.

Word Made Flesh...

Jesus is the Word made flesh, and today, Good Friday, He was sent to a cruel cross. The thing that blows my mind is that He knew what was God's will and He willingly went to pay the ultimate price for my sin. I didn't say that He agreed one hundred percent about this act of love. He did not desire to die in such a barbaric way. In fact, He begged God to release Him from death. This is the day that He died for the sins of everyone in this world. Today two thousand years ago, He cancelled the debt of those who put their trust in Him. Honestly, I don't understand all of the intricacies of the sacrifice of Jesus, but I am so humbled and grateful.

God wasn't interested in sending a savior that did not intimately know the trials of those He came to save. God chose to send His only son to walk this earth just like you and I in order for Him to know fully what humanity is like. That is just unreal to me. A king who belonged in heaven came down and took the nature of a servant in order to pave the way for believers after Him. That, my friend, is what the Word made flesh is all about. Thank you so much for dying in my place, precious Jesus. Your wounds made me free. Bless you. I desire to honor you with the overflow of my life.

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and and on earthand under the earth. And every tongue [openly] confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:10

Easter Prayers...

Father of Love,

I don't understand how you gave up your one and only son, but I am grateful. His steps through this tortorous week have taught me. His sacrifice has humbled me. Please, I ask that you would knit me to have a reverential fear and trembling concerning His most precious gift--salvation and cancellation of my debt. Teach me to evaluate myself each time I am given the symbols of His body and blood. They cost Him so much. Please grant me a pliable and teachable spirit throughout this earthly life. Thank you Jesus for the most beautiful gift and treasure of your blood that has washed me clean and has afforded me the opportunity to stand before you in perfect righteousness. I love you.

" I have come so that you may have life and have it in abundance and to the full till it overflows." - John 10:10

Victorious Warriors...

I don't know about you, but I know I want to be victorious in my life as a believer in Jesus Christ. In fact, God wants us as His disciples to be victorious as well as to enjoy this world He created. I desperately want to be a woman who lives in victory and in peace with everyone. Jesus calls me to be a peacemaker, not a person who destroys and weakens. God wants me to learn all I can about His character and His likeness. One discription of God that I adore is the one of Him being a victorious warrior. He is not shy. He is not timid. He is powerful and full of ultimate authority. I want to live the life of a victorious warrior, clothed in every piece of His holy armor so that I can deflate and defeat all of Satan's attempts to control my life and my destiny. I found a little book today on my bookshelf that was crying out to be reread. It is Joyce Meyer's The Word, The Name, The Blood. It is a tiny little book, but it is chalk-full of powerful lessons to gain victory over the ruler of this present world and I am all about that.

I want the demons to be afraid of the power I possess in Jesus Christ and the authority I exercise over their dominion. I am not about to allow Satan the pleasure of having control of my thoughts, actions, the attitudes of my heart, or the meditations of my spirit. I belong spirit, soul, and body to the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to be a student of God's heart. I want to be a strong warrior woman of my King. Take time today to learn to be victorious in all areas and arenas of your life, but also make a decision to live a victorious life within the confines of your heart, where the inner man is always being formed, renewed, and sharpened. Think victorious thoughts. Say victorious words. Then and only then will you be a victorious warrior clothed in the authority and promises of God.

Easter Traditions...

I am a person who absolutely loves traditions. I love to take part in things that have symbolism. What other holiday during the year has more symbolism than Easter? I know the one your thinking, Christmas, and you are right. Personally, I think Easter is better than Christmas because of the fact that we celebrate the finished work of the cross. In recent years, Easter has become my favorite holiday. I have to admit though holy week is difficult for me. This is because I have to face my sinfulness. Thankfully, the blood of Christ and His sacrifice, has cancelled my debt and I am able to stand confidently dressed in His righteousness. I can't even say how much peace and security that brings my soul. I am immensely thankful for the fact that Jesus defeated death and the power of Satan. I am so thankful to be redeemed and to serve a risen Savior. Jesus did not stay in the grave. He is now reigning in glory.

One yearly family Easter tradition is watching The Passion of the Christ at my grandparents house. I only watch this movie on Good Friday. To be honest, I can't really stomach it any other time. It always does my soul good to watch it at this time of year. To think that I could be in the place of those who mocked and spit on Jesus is just astounding to me. And really, I can get to that place quickly. The ingredient that gets me to that place is pride and I do not ever want to be a person of pride. I want to be extremely humble and intensely authentic in my pursuit of Jesus.

Another family tradition that I enjoy is Easter lunch. I just really like to be surrounded by people who draw me to Jesus on that particular day and the members of my family do just that in my life. I also really enjoy food. Who doesn't?

So there you have it, my favorite Easter traditions. What are yours?

Holy Moments...

I have had two very precious holy moments in the last couple weeks. The first one happened at HEB Camp last weekend. This precious two year old, Brynn served me communion on Sunday morning. After I received it from her, I wiped many tears from my eyes. She and her family are moving to Thailand in September so I am soaking up the last few months with her. I asked her daddy if he could leave her here but to my disappointment, he said no. This picture was taken right before we all loaded up and headed back to Abilene. I have such great memories of HEB Camp.

The second holy moment happened on Sunday night. My parents and I received a call that the elder JB Gibbs was in his last hours, so we headed over to their house. All three of us had the precious privilege of praying over such a wonderful godly servant leader as his family surrounded him preparing to usher him into heaven. I cannot say how much I have been given by the Gibbs family. They are just the best. Such wonderful, authentic servants who walk the walk with such beautiful sincerity. I have been thanking the Lord all day for that special gift.

A Love Revolution...

I adore that. Joyce Meyer got me fired up this morning. I truly believe that the first place this love revelution needs to begin is in the home. One of my favorite teachers, Sandy Ross, says that the truest picture of who you are is the person you are at home. I pray that God can say of me that I am a relentlessly devoted, intensely authentic worshipper and seeker at home who is full of the fruits of the Spirit and full of His light. What is born in the home is what goes out into the streets and other avenues of the world. This love revelution needs to begin in the hearts of children so they know and fully understand their worth and place in this world. We need to love them in a committed, devoted, and agape kind of love that is fervent about showing them Jesus in the truest sense possible--through the light and Truth of His Word.

The second place this love revelution needs to seep into is our churches. The Body of Christ needs new commitments and a breath of new devotion and passion given by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The church needs new direction. My prayer is that God will give us the grace of boldness to go out and make disciples of all nations. I pray that the Lord will give the church as a whole, a character that is authentically true to His divine will and person. I would love to see a Bride who is ready to receive her parner whenever He comes. I am so thankful that the Lord placed me in the midst of this time and this generation. There is so much work to do. God is calling for wholly devoted seekers and bearers of His likeness and His light in order to bring souls away from Satan's attempts to plunge them into dark places void of the Presence of God. Will you join me on this journey?

Delight...

I love to meditate on the concept of delight. First of all, I think the word itself is fabulous. But I believe the meaning is more wonderful. Delight is a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment; joy; rapture. Isn't that cool? I delight in a lot of things. Six things I delight most in are Jesus, family, friends, prayer, worship, and the Word of God. Can you imagine God delighting over His children? I mean wow. My finite little brain cannot even justify how profoundly the Lord enjoys Himself over me. I just love the fact that I bring Him immense and immeasurable joy. I want that desperately. I want to look at life from that vantage point. It is so much easier than the other ways of the world. And, it does my soul good, which is always my goal. In the book of Isaiah lies one of about a thousand of my favorite scriptures. I will share it at the end. Delight is so important. It is essential if I want to live my journey with Jesus to its fullest measure.

Delight does wonders for a person, as I've already pointed out. It drives away fear, doubt, and unbelief. How can you delight and have a heart full of unbelief? God is the author and ultimate creator of delight and all of its many benefits. There are many scriptures that command us to delight and take joy in Who the Lord is. Delight comes into the inner man of a disciple and fills it with bright light. Delight is a catalyst for much needed spring cleaning of the spirit. Its function is to drive out everything that is not of God. I love that. Delight cannot reside where God is not present and active. Delight is energizing in its fervency. So, delight in where you are right now at this moment, because the Lord takes great delight in you.

"And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting and longing] to be gractious and to bring delight to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show you loving kindness to you. Blessed are those who earnestly wait for Him." - Isaiah 30:18

God's Rest...

I have to say that God has been extrodinarily kind and gracious to me lately. I just absolutely love belonging to the Lord. There is nothing that is sweeter. This week, I had to say goodbye to a dream, and I am totally, one hundred percent at peace with it. Let me just say, my mom knows me well, I guess that comes from wisdom, combined with her being my best friend and safe place. God is showing me everyday that He is working out my future and that He will reveal it when it is time. In the meantime I am entering everyday in the complete and sweet rest of living in the will of the One who loves me in ways that I truly need even before I know it. That feeling brings an indescribable peace and security to my spirit. I just have to make a decision to claim the promises of the Lord on a daily basis. I know that my future is exceedingly good and that it is tailor made and specifically created for my deepest and most excellent enjoyment when God knows I am ready to receive it in its fullest measure. I am excited and thankful that the Lord has my name engraved upon the palms of His hands. I only have to continue to walk excellently and faithfully as He leads my journey.

Monday night I went to soaking and David Black, who is the Pastor of FUMC in Abilene, and who is becoming a fast friend said some really neat things about this season in my life. He said that God gave him a vision of me entering a time of sweet rest in Jesus. He elaborated and said that this season of rest did not necessarily mean inactivity. He said that I was simply at a place where I am surrendered and ready to receive whatever the Lord has. I loved that. I want to continually stay in that place through all of the seasons of my journey in some aspect. The Lord is doing some really cool things right now--planting seeds that I pray will bloom and become beautiful at His appointd time. I am in a place where my spirit is growing and learning new devotion to the Lord. It is good. It is sweet. It is fulfilling.

"Let Your mercy and loving kindness, O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping for you." - Psalm 33:22

Royal Inheritance...

I love to meditate and ponder the fact that I have a royal inheritance because of Jesus Christ. What a wonderful and glorious thought. Believers are ingrafted into a royal lineage. Think about it. Picture it in your mind's eye. Jesus constantly crowns us with His victory and lavish love. He cloaks us in his most worthy and costly blood. My favorite thing about this royal inheritance is that Satan cannot penetrate or corrupt it. It is completely untouchable; protected and saved for us when we get to heaven. We can also live in this inheritace on the earth. We can make a choice to look intently and to claim this inheritance given by God.

Take heart, if you are going through a season of uncertainty, trust and confidently believe that you can walk in the inheritance God has prepared for you--even now. Don't allow the devil to plant doubt, fear, anxiety, or shame in you. Those are poisonous to the work and will of God for you. Remember, you are His most glorious possession; His most prized creation. He delights greatly in who you are at this very second. He knows exactly where you are and what yuor situation is. Trust in His provision. Receive His rest. Fully expect good things to be born out of uncertain times. He is the God who never fails and is never late. He is more than enough. Allow your heart to feast on all of Who He is.

"But YOU are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light." - I Peter 2:9

Servant Stature...

One thing I constantly pray for is that I will always be a servant-hearted disciple. I hope to live in a low estimation of myself so that I can be fit to serve those who are around me. Christ calls me to humility, not pride and a puffed up spirit. I pray that I will be a person who extends a hand up to those in need. I ask the Lord often to give me servant stature just like Jesus did. My favorite story of Jesus is out of John 13 when He washed the feet of His disciples. In my opinion, this story illustrates the true stature of a servant like no other story in the New Testament, other than Jesus on the cross. That is servant stature in its most glorious form. What does a true, gospel-formed servant look like? I believe a servant is someone who relentlessly pours themselves out for the benefit and growth of others in their sphere of influence. I believe it is a peron who walks blamelessly in excellence, but also realizes that mistakes make them authentic tools of God's redemptive power. I believe a servant is someone who walks alongside someone else and assists them in knowing the Way of Christ, no matter how it comes across to those who don't know Jesus; a person who isn't afraid of living against the current of this self-infused world.

I have had too many examples of servants to even begin to list them all here. Do you have men and women in your life who model gospel-formed servant stature? I sure hope so. I am blessed to be surrounded by people who day in and day out choose to deny themselves and yield their lives to the call of the cross. For that, I am extremely thankful.

"Jesus got up from supper, took off His garments, and taking a [servant's] towel, He fastened it around His waist. Then He poured water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the servant's towel." - John 13:4-5

Passion and Purity...

I began a book this week that I have heard wonderful things about. I am reading Elsabeth Elliot's Passion & Purity. So far it is great, but I'm only into the introduction. There is nothing I desire more than purity. I want a pure and fully surrendered heart before the Lord. Josh Harris wrote the forward and I have read his book Boy Meets Girl which chronicles his romance with his wife Shannon. It was excellent. In case you are new to this blog, I will say it again, I LOVE to read. I am really excited to be sharpened by the wisdom and grace of the contents of this particular book. Every review I've read is just glowing. I'll let you know more when I am deeper into the story.

Passion and purity. These two words have lost so much meaning in our present-day society and culture. In the world we live in, love is cheap. Love means jumping into bed with someone of the opposite sex. I do not condone this, but I am called to love those who participate. Let me just say that I think passion and purity have totally different meanings. Last night I read a thought that I adored. She pointed out that, "It is possible to love passionately and stay out of bed." I believe with all my heart that that statement is true. To be honest, I don't want to be part of a romance that is not one hundred percent under the leadership and complete control and authority of Jesus Christ. I just think there are so many rich and glorious things God can teach me if I give him complete reign in the areas of dating, courtship, and relationships in general. I have never been one to date very often, I have only been on one actual date and the result of that date was a huge stain of cherry snowcone juice right down the middle of my shirt. Not a pleaseant picture. And another great guy called me once to come over and have dinner, but I declined because I had to go to a wedding of a dear friend. So, my dating history is almost non-existent. I truly believe with all my heart that God is preparing and equipping me and my future mate for His perfect time and season to manifest this most cherished desire of my heart.

One thought that I learned from Josh Harris is how I treat men in my life. He pointed out that they too, most likely will become a mate for someone--if not me, than someone else. I love that. It teaches me to respect and admire and to love them in a godly, gentle, and humble manner. Having that mental image of the men in my life being a spouse someday really helps me gauge how to appropriately honor and treat them. This brings up another issue. I want to love intelligently and in a way that honors and blesses the Lord. I constantly ask the Lord that I will be a woman who loves well. I want to use my head and to be led in wisdom as I love. I want to be a student of Scripture so that I can love fully, but also love in a way that honors God's Word. Another thing I do daily, honestly, many times a day is pray for my future mate and his family. I pray over his dreams, ambitions, his character, and his good in the heavenly places. There is so much more that I pray for, but those are the major things. It truly is a blesssing to put it entirely in God's hands. It brings so much peace. As I wait, I try to deepen my relationship with the Lover of my Soul.

Waiting Time...

Honestly, I don't like to wait very much. Throughout recent years though, the Lord has taught me just how valuable these times are. Seasons of waiting are part of the journey. In fact, we spend more of our life waiting than we do receiving from the Lord. God is teaching me patience, but I have to say that I still have a long way to go. Truly, seasons of waiting produce so much character and perseverance in a disciple. Waiting really tests how much we want something and it also shows how hard we are willing to work for it. God uses these times to weed out the excess in our spiritis and chisels away at any unneeded character traits. That is the hard part--sitting on the Potter's Wheel as He remakes, repurposes, and restores us as His vesels. A lot of his people come to Him in brokenness and that is exactly how He wants it because brokenness ushers in complete humility. When we are broken, we are at a stage where He can really use what we bring to Him in a way that is totally His and not hyped up on the way we want things to run in our lives. Brokenness gives the Lord a chance to fill us with His power and His life and light.

There are two things we can do during the time God tells us to wait. We can either be victorious and excellent and believe that He is performing a work that will make us better and more prepared and equipped for what we want, or, we can complain and whine and make ourselves, and God miserable. Personally, I choose the first option. God rewards proper waiting attitudes. He sees our hearts and knows our motives and how we wait. The Lord wants to make us stronger, more beautiful, and more into the image of His Son. Periods of waiting are meant to accomplish this goal. So, how do you wait on what you desire the Lord to bring to pass in your life? Do you walk excellently or do you say, "Are we there yet?" or "God, please hurry up already!" I confess that I've been there. I've done that. It dosen't profit me anything to complain. I want a believing, receptive, and expectant spirit so that God can teach and mold and grow who I am.

"Patience is not the ability to wait, it is keeping a good, godly attitude while waiting." - Joyce Meyer

"Humilility says, "God knows best, and will never be late!" - Joyce Meyer

"Lord, I want Your will, in Your timing. I do not want to be ahead of You nor do I want to be behind You. Help me, Father, to wait patiently on You. - Joyce Meyer

A Spoonful of Wisdom...

God is teaching me how important godly, humble, hard-to-swallow wisdom is in life. I desire earnestly to be a wise woman. I have combed the Scripture and I have seen the fruits that true wisdom can bring to life as a disciple, plus good old common sense. Wisdom is often overlooked by many in our society. The American way is excess. God dosen't particularly enjoy excess. There have been times in my life where I have made choices and I have moved ahead of God. In fact, one of those times occurred this week. I hate when I do that. Wisdom teaches to go step-by step with the Lord with our hands in His as He leads and pioneers our path first into something new and exciting. Wisdom employs quiet giftedness. The more gifted we are in an area, the quiter we should be as we carry out the fruit of the gift. I love that thought.

Wisdom also has a lot to do with maturity. Mature men and women know how to walk in wise, God-ordained paths. They weigh their words and their lives. They don't get one step ahead or behind God. They are right at His pace. They know when to speak and when to listen. They know how much of themselves to share. I want desperately to be that person. I am learning. Sometimes it is great, but sometimes God uses wisdom as a speed bump to make sure we are walking in godliness, purity, and His timing. God's speedbumps hurt. But, they produce much needed lessons that help develop thicker and more mature spiritual skin. Wisdom is very beneficial in more ways than one. I do not ever ever want to be wise in my own estimation. That is very very dangerous. It leads to pride and a puffed up spirit. God abhors that. I want to stay far far away from it at all costs. Pride is the devil's playground. He capititalizes on pride and it only brings misery.

"Do not be wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil." - Proverbs 3:7

Choose Your Thoughts...

I have been doing a study on the mind and I have to say that God has really opened my eyes and has shown me how emphatically important it is to have a healthy, sound, victorious mind. Did you know that we can choose our thoughts? This realization has brought me such joy and delight. I have recently finished Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer. I highly, highly recommend it. I am now in the process of going back through and making notes using the many sentences I underlined. My pen was very tired at the end. I'm sure it was throwing a party along with all of the other office supplies I own. Seriously, there was so much in this book that needs to be learned. I feel as though I am still learining and growing from the contents of this powerful book.

"The more time a person spends meditating on the Word, the more he will reap from the Word." - Joyce Meyer (Battlefield of the Mind, p.63)

Paul tells us that if we want to be governed to enjoy God's goodness, we must not be governed and given over to our flesh and worldly desires craved by our carnal, sensual nature (Meyer, 63)

I don't know about you but I want to be totally governed and consumed by the Holy Spirit and His thoughts. I want to be consumed with thoughts that are victorious, productive, encouraging, and edifying. I want to give Satan hell and I want my life to make him really really mad. I want to repel him at every chance that presents itself. I want him to shrink in the Light of Who God is in me. There is a definite war being waged in the heavenlies for our bodies, souls, and spirits. Satan wants to mak us his property. Thankfully Jesus has already obtained the victory upon the cross and through His ressurection. He has cancelled our debt and endowed us with his royal and cleansing blood.

"For the weapons of our warefare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds. Inasmuch as we refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Jesus Christ." - II Corinthians 10:4-5

Choose your thoughts and the things you fill your mind with very carefully. What you think is what you become. Whatever flows out of the heart is what is spoken and believed. (Taken from Proverbs 4:20)

Weekend Report...

My Pa and I before heading back to Abilene

This weekend the entire Cunningham/Glover side of the family gathered in Marlin to celbrate my Pa's 75th birthday. It was so much fun. We had his party at a very popular resturant called The Chicken Place. It is a glorified Chicken Express but they have a nice big room that accomodates our entire family. Laura made his cake and it was adorable. It was such a fun surprise for my Pa. I had such a great time making that memory. I just adore any occasion celebrating the blessing of family. Family is a huge part of who I am and it is so very important to me. Grant and Laura rode down with us so it was really fun getting to spend time talking with them and spending that time together.

Pa's birthday cake courtesy of Laura Cunningham, cake designer and decorator extordinaire

Everyone raved about the cake. I really think that sister of mine has a gift for making cakes. She also really enjoys and is passionate about it. She is thinking about doing it on the side while Grant is in law school, in addition to teaching. I love all of the little details.

We had fun this weekend. I hope you all have someone in your life that you can take the time to celebrate and love on. It truly is a gift.

Kindred Community...

There is something so special about having a group of people in life to share experiences, ideas, dreams, and prayers. I am blessed beyond what I deserve in the community that surrounds me. It is such a cherished part of my heart that I like to call this group my kindred community. I don't think it matters to God how many people surround us in life, but it matters immeasurably the quality of people we choose to surround us. My kindred community is big. But there are four specific members that I am thinking of especially today with a thankful heart. Three of the members are best friends. These are guys who are incredibly authentic disciples of Jesus Christ. I don't know what I have done to deserve such great friends and brothers in Christ. They are all gifts of grace that I truly treasure. K has taught me what a true and authentic worshipper and servant looks like in spirit and heart. B has taught me how to love others selflessly. J has shown me a devotion to people and to the Lord that is unmatched. These three men are incredible men of God who passionately and fervently pursue His heart. I am so grateful for their places in my life.

The fourth person who I am thinking of and thanking God for today is my precious and dear friend Kirsta. Her life is such a true-to-life picture of godliness and humble excellence. She has taught me to many lessons to pick just one. Kirsta has taught me to relentlessly pursue the Lord's character so that it may become mine. She has shown me how gentle and true wisdom are meant to guide and protect me. She is such an unbelievable woman of God and I am blessed to have her influence and love in my life of discipleship.

Kindred community is such a rare and precious gift that is to be cared for and maintained with gratitude, I believe. I can't tell how many times I have been on my knees praising God for this unmerited blessing. I am a better disciple and lover of Jesus because of all of these most precious people.

My Pa's Birthday...

Today, March 18th, is always a special day in my heart. Why, you may ask? Well, the reason is because it is a day of celebration in honor of my Pa's birthday. March 18, 2009 is made extra special because he turns 75. I ADORE my precious grandparents. They are two of the most authentic and generous people I have ever met. These are my Daddy's parents, so you also get a peak at why they are so cherished to me, because my Daddy is so precious to me. My Pa and I have always had such a wonderful and blessed relationship. It is one of the most cherished relationships in my life, for sure. His nickname for me is "Little Angel" and I'm not sure if that is true :) I have loved being so loved on and blessed by my sweet grandparents.

Another interst and love that my Pa and I share is Baylor Women's Basketball. You all know what a loyal and devoted sports fan I am. Now, I'm not as familiar with all of the Baylor women's names, but you can ask my Pa every one of their names and he can spout them off. It's fun to watch him be so excited. My Nana is absolutely hilarious to watch as she takes in a Baylor basketball game. I love when she gets so excited she starts screaming and hooting and hollering! It is such a blast!

The thing I am most thankful for though is the faith heritage of my Nana and Pa. It is such a rich blessing to watch them love and depend on Jesus. I am one blessed young woman.

The Letter...

On Friday, Grant received the letter he has been waiting for for months. This letter held a lot of weight. It held the answer to where Grant and his wife Laura would live for the next three years and start the next phase of their lives. It was a great day of celebration for the Cunningham clan. He got accepted into Texas Tech Law School. I am so excited for this future lawyer. The really fun part about this story is that our family and close friends have been lifting Grant and Laura and this desire of his heart before the Lord as well as the delivery to take place on his birthday. The birthday was on March 12th and the acceptance came on March 13th. Tech was Grant's first choice, so we are all overjoyed that the Lord answered our prayers on his behalf. Sunday night we had a fun family 24th birthday-law-school -acceptance celebration to honor Grant. The above picture is of he and I at that fun occasion. Our closest family friends as well as my grandparents were there. It was such a joy to celebrate this milestone. Grant and Laura are taking a survey trip to Lubbock soon. I can't wait to possibly attend some fun Tech sporting events. I love the Big 12 teams. I am so thankful they will still live in Texas and possibly only two and a half hours away. If they end up in Lubbock, I can foresee many fun family memories being made. Congratulations, Grant!

"Commit your way to the Lord and your plans will succeed." - Proverbs 16:3

Worship...

One of the three deepest passions of my heart is worship. I am ministered to by worship like nothing else in this life. My spirit is filled with a confident joy as I approach the Lord fervently and sincerely in acts of worship. I love to let my heart feast on authentic and extravagant worship. I love to bow all of myself--all of my weakness, humanness, and insufficiencies before an all-sufficient and glorious King. I love to lavish Him with deep heartfelt songs in my spirit. I also love the fact that I can defeat Satan with God's praise. Praise is powerful. I absolutely adore it. I have found a new young woman who is passionate about sweet, authentic worship. Her name is Kari Jobe. She is a worship out of Gateway Chruch in Southlake. I love the CD I downloaded recently. It is so rich. I praise the Lord for giving us the gift of praise and worship.

Baseball...

I love baseball. This has been a love I have cultivated after spending years watching my brother, Grant, as he played. Now, I don't particularly enjoy watching baseball on TV. I prefer to watch it live. Watching a live baseball game is so much fun. My love of America's pastime has even made it into my wardrobe. I really like to wear baseball caps, but I don't wear them very often. I like to watch high school baseball, professional baseball, and collegiate baseball. I love to make family trips to the Ballpark in Arligton to take in a Rangers game. I need to remind my family of that and suggest we make a trip this spring.

I have such great memories of watching Grant play baseball. My family spent years running the Key City Little League concession stand. If you ever are in the market for a concession stand worker, I have very hoaned and time-honored skills. I can make a mean snow cone. We spent many nights out at the ballpark enjoying baseball at its finest. We also enjoyed about ten thousand meals there too. Grant's position was always the catcher. Good thing that was his favorite position. I LOVED watching him grow and mature as a baseball player all the way through his senior year in high school. The love of baseball runs deeply in our family. I think I will always enjoy America's pastime. It has always been my favorite beside high school football.

Transitions...

Transition. That word brings up mixed feelings. In my mind whenever transistions come, I look at them as times to hold even more tightly to the hand and heart of Jesus. In these challenging times, I am faced with a choice. I can either wallow in the past or I can appreciate and learn from the past while looking with hope and certainty in the Lord into the future. I choose the latter. My heart and spirit are going through a season of transition right now. Yesterday during worship, my minister of eighteen years announced his resignation. I am so excited for this new adventure in his life and in his walk with the Lord. He is deeply passionate about this new opportunity. He and his family will stay in Abilene and at Highland and for that I am so thankful. I have sat under Mike's teaching since 1993 when I entered 4th grade. My brother, Grant, was in 2nd grade.

I am really very, very excited about this time for the Highland body. I expected there to be a loud gasp throughout the audience but there really wasn't. I am keeping Highland close in prayer right now because I know that Satan loves to capitalize on times when change comes in an attempt to plant doubt, fear, and dissention in a church. I foresee this time to be one of discernment, growth, and waiting expectantly on the Lord. I am really looking forward to seeing the family the Lord will raise up to lead and love our church. One thing I am immensely thankful for is our eldership. Highland is led by 42 Spirit-saurated and committed men who are ruthlessly devoted to walking in ways of excellence, integrity, and righteousness. These men are wise. These men wait until they know the Spirit is leading their steps. These men are committed to prayer. These men listen to the church body. These men are very pastoral. I am filled with an overwhelming sense of peace and joy in that fact. God is still God. He is still on His throne. He will lead and He will provide the person we need to bring us to the next level of our growth and maturity as a church. Please, please pray for Highland, for Mike, Diane, Matt, Jenna, and Chris, and for the elders as they begin a process of discernment. Pray for God's wisdom to permiate all they do. Mike will continue to preach through July 21st. God is in control and I am praising Him for His faithfulness and ultimate goodness.

There's No Place Like Home...

I love thinking about the concept of coming home to a special, cherished place. I adore being able to come to my parents home on the weekends to visit them and to visit my Westie, Sophie, who lives with them. My parents home just hugs me everytime I walk through the door. It is such a comfy cozy sacred space that is close to my heart. I love coming into a home where I know the Spirit resides. When my family moved into this home we did a very precious and memorable thing. We went through the entire home while it was in the sheetrock stage and wrote scriptures pertaining to the different activities that would take place in each room. For example, in the enrtyway we wrote scriptures inviting and ushering in the Holy Spirit and the presence of the Lord. In the dining room we wrote scriptures about food and the richness of the Lord. I plan on doing the same thing if I am ever blessed to build a new house for my future family to enjoy.

I also love and treasure being invited into other people's homes. I believe the things in a home really speak to what is important in a person's life and showcase their priorities. My theory in furnishing a home is to surround yourself with things that make you feel safe, welcome, and to fill it with things that make your soul smile. One of my favorite things to do in my home is to burn candles. It just fills my spirit with a homey feeling. There is nothing like stepping into your own space that the Lord has blessed you with to govern, keep, and establish. I always remember though that my home is indeed a gift of God's grace and that I am only a steward of the beautiful and warm little comfy cozy home He has given me. Everything that is mine was His first.

I hope you have a cherished place you call home. It is a blessing and a gift given by the Lord.

"I will behave myself wisely and give heed to the blameless way; I will walk within my home in complete integrity and with a blameless heart."

Senior Saints...

I adore elderly people. I think they are precious. This love has grown in me over many years and now I have a passion to serve them and to love on them. In one of my Social Work practicum classes I was blessed to work in a nursing center so I could be around senior saints all the time. I absolutely loved it. Every Tuesday all of the men and women would get together and play Bingo and I adored spending quality time with them as they interacted with one another and with me. One of my favorite things about the elderly population is that I learn so much from them. It truly is amazing what can be learned if you just sit and spend time talking and getting to know their stories. And the really fun part is that they are so eager to share with you. I think anyone can make a lasting difference in someone else's life if they show them a genuine interest and concern. I absolutely loved roaming the halls, knocking on doors, and stepping into one of the men or women's lives for a while. But as is the case in every nursing home, there were also those that were invisible to their families. By that I mean that some of the resident's families did not take the time or energy to come and visit them and to let them know that they were still significant and held an important place in their lives. There were some who spent hours a day just staring at the wall. That broke my heart. It seemed that their spirits were just wasting away and I found that these precious people were so hungry for meaningful interaction. Those are the ones who blessed me the most. After I spent time with them, it seemed like the Lord always found a way to say thank you for my effort and encouragement. In my mind, there is absolutely nothing that is more important than showing someone that he or she is immensely loved and significant. That is my passion. That is the mission of my life--to encourage others and to let them know that I see them and most importantly that their lives are worth something to me and to the Lord. I am so thankful the Lord gave me senior saints to amire, respect, love, and encourage.

Excellence...

There has been one concept that has been rolling around in my head, in my heart, and in my spirit for at least two months now. This concept is excellence. I have questioned what godly excellence looks like fleshed out and purposefully lived out in my daily life before God and before others. What does excellence entail? What are excellent qualities to God? How do I exhibit excellence in every single activity of my life? I earnestly desire to be an excellent woman full of grace and power. I want to be authentically excellent. I want the parts of my life people see and the parts they don't see to be excellent and blameless. I want to go the extra mile and take the extra time to be a person of excellence. I earnestly desire to be a disciple of excellence in everything I do and in everything I say. I do not want to be mediocre when it comes to following Christ. I want to go above and beyond. I have begun to study Proverbs 31 because this woman is not only a great wife, she is a wonderful, exceptional, and Spirit-saturated person. She is diligent. I desire diligence. She takes great care of her home. I want to be a good keeper of my home. She is a great threat to the Enemy. I desire to be a threat to the Enemy. She warns away evil things. I desire to warn away things that are not of God. She walks in righteousness and integrity in her house. I desire that. She is clothed in everlasting garments of godliness. I want those garments. She esteems and honors her husband. I want to honor and esteem my husband when I am married, but I want to do it even more now while I'm not married so that I will be fully equipped and prepared for the role of a godly wife someday. She honors and reverently fears the Lord. I desire to reverently fear the Lord with everything in me. Becoming a woman of excellece takes commitment and devotion, but I think I am up to the challenge :)

For The Love of Reading...

People who know me know that I love to read. Well that love has continued and grown the past couple of months. I have been very blessed by the books I have read recently. Right now I am thoroughly enjoying two great finds: Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer and The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace. Don't worry, I know I'm not married right now, but I want to be fully prepared and fully equipped for that role someday because I am believing God will bring that desire of my heart to pass in His perfect time. Both of these books are just excellent. I have always enjoyed getting lost in stories. I could be very very happy to spend an entire day at a bookstore settled in a big overstuffed chair with a wonderful book. I seem to not be able to resist the allure of good books. Plus, my thinking is if a book will help me mature in my walk with Jesus it is well worth the time. Reading just makes my soul feel really good. I find great joy in it. It is one of my all-time favorite pastimes.

Battlefield of The Mind...

I am reading a really good book right now called Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer. I have really been interested lately in the way the Lord created the mind and how to appropriately counteract Satan's attempts to contaminate my mind. There is nothing worse than a mind filled with the trash the world loves to fill it with. I want my mind to be completely controlled, governed, and authored by the Holy Spirit. There is a scripture in Proverbs that I have truly come to believe with all my heart.

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." - Proverbs 23:7

I want so desperately to be a source of light and life to this world. There is a ton of power in that scripture. It tells me that whatever I fill my mind with is what will come out in my character and in the offering of my life. The mind truly is a battlefield and I have a choice. I can either choose to be set apart for the use of the Lord or I can allow Satan to feed my mind lies that suck the life out of me as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I choose to be set apart for the Lord. I don't ever want to be used by Satan for anything. I want Jesus to seep out of every part of me. He is my Source and my Redeemer. I want my desires and my will to be crucified to His. Believe me, I have a long way to go in the war that is being waged for my mind in the heavenly places. But, I have confidence that the Lord has me on this journey for a purpose, in order to make me more into the image of Christ. I think it is essentially important to think about the things I think about.

My Neighbor...

This week in worship my minister challenged the church body to think about our neighbor. His message was centered around Luke's account of the Good Samaritan. This really got me thinking. Throughout his entire message thoughts rolled all around my head. How do I treat the poor? Do I spread the grace and love of Christ as I am commanded? Do I approach opportunities to give with an open and willing heart and Christ-shaped hands? Am I standing on the front lines to help the downtrodden or do I shy away in fear? Would I willingly give a homeless person who was hungry or naked the food I had or the shirt of my back? Would I willingly give away 10 or 20 dollars to a beggar? I guess what all these questions that were rolling around in my head yesterday boil down to is would I entertain each of these situations as if they were "Jesus with skin on" or would I stay in my comfortable complacancy? I do not want to ever be complacent or get to comfortable where I am. I want to take opportunities to grow and change and become better. Just food for thought.

A Few of My Favorite Things...

1) I LOVE to receive mail the old-fashioned way. I think there is something so special about seeing my name and address written out in someone's handwriting. God surprised me yesterday with an encouragement card from my church. Getting encouragement notes just does something sweet to my spirit. Affirmation is just pure power if you ask me, and there is not enough of it in this world.

2) I LOVE Earl Grey hot tea. It absolutely soothes my soul. I thoroughly enjoy drinking it out of my tall white mug with cherries all over it. Anything with cherries just puts a wide smile on my face. I usually drink hot tea during winter. I am a hot natured person, so it is entirely too hot outside for me to drink it in the summer.

3) I adore anything with scripture on it. I love being surrounded by scripture. It reminds me who I am and where I'm headed. I think there is something powerful in seeing scripture posted somewhere. I usually try to have some on my bulletin board in my bedroom and on my fridge. It is also a great reminder to stop and recommit and surrender myself again to the glory and use of the Lord.

4) I LOVE being around people I cherish. I am so refreshed by quality time spent with kindred friends. I draw such strength and life from being arund people who are committed to living as authentic, humble, Spirit-filled disciples. It is so good for my soul to be around men and women who promote and provoke me on to love and good works. Good quality friends are such a rare and blessed gift from the Lord. I don't know what I would do without my kindred community.

5) I LOVE pictures. My family and close friends laugh at me all the time becasuse I enjoy it so much. I carry my camera in my purse because you never know when a 'Kodak moment' will preesent itself. It seems like every room in my cozy little home has pictures in in somewhere. I love being surrounded by wonderful people and wonderful, fun memories. My fridge is full of pictures. Looking at the pictures every day reminds me to pray for my precious friends.

There you go. Another glimpse into the things that make me happy is complete.

A Spirit of Thanksgiving...

I am thankful for so many things right now in this season of my life. It seems that the more I surrender to the Lord, the sweeter my walk with Him becomes. There is nothing in this world or in this life that is more cherished to me than the relationship I share with Jesus. Truly, it is the most soul-satisfying, energizing, and most beautiful relationship I am a part of. God is teaching me so much. I feel like my brain and my heart can't hold it all in. My heart grieves when I see someone who desperately needs Jesus, but openly refuses Him. All in all I am thankful today for the many rich blessings God lavishes on my walk with Him everyday as I listen and try my hardest to follow the leading of Him and the Holy Spirit. There are days when I mess up, and on those days, I am grateful for His grace that readily picks me up, dusts me off, and sets me on the path one more time. Thank you, Jesus for the certainty I have in You. You are the joy of my heart and soul. Continue to have Your way in me.

My Love Walk...

I have been convicted recently to begin to work on how I love others. So, I am starting to work on my love walk this week. Loving others is the one emphatic command God gives me as His disciple in the New Testament. The entire gospel is summed up in one word. L-O-V-E. I sincerely desire my love to be rich, unconditional, deep, and abiding. I want the love I show to others, the love I show to my church, the love I show to my family, and the love I show to my kindred community to be faithful and steadfast. I want the love my life displays to be godly and supremely real above all other things. I want God to be pleased and honored by the way I love. This journey to work on how I love is going to take some time and some intense effort. Learning how to appropriately love takes a committed decision to see this task to its completion. Learning how to love takes devotion. I firmly believe with everything in me, that God will richly reward my desire to take this journey no matter how long it takes, because in the process of learing this quality, I will be transformed, sharpened, renewed, and I will be cultivated more accurately into the image of Jesus Christ. That is what I pray happens most of all throughout this entire time. That is the aim of my entire existence. I have been given three scriptures that I am claiming for my maturity in this area of my life.

"If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God's love for an in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." - I Corinthians 13:1

"Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest]; and earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowment of love." - I Corinthians 14:1

"Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]." - I Peter 4:8

The Power of Thoughts and Words...

This week Joyce Meyer has been teaching me about the impact and power of my thoughts and words on my life and the lives of others. The first part of her series was about how words and thoughts affect our health. To be honest, I've never really stopped to think about how the thoughts and wods that come out of my mind and mouth affect my physical health. It has really opened my eyes to the need to consciously account for the things that go on in my thought life. A person's thought life is very, very powerful and it definitely leaves either scars or blessings on someone's self-image and perception of themselves. I have been reminded of my need to repel Satan's attempts to pollute and contaminate my thoughts and words. There is a scripture in 2 Corinthians that teaches how to do just that.

"For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons, for the weapons are not physcial [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds. [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ." - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.

Now that is a powerful scripture if you ask me. That is exactly what I want to learn to do with every single thought that is contrary to the character and mission of Jesus. I do not ever, ever want my mind being controlled by demons. That just gives me the creeps. I desire my mind and my words to be under the complete authority of Jesus Christ.

Lifegivers...

I want to be a person who gives life to others. I don't want to be a negative person. Negativity produces nothing that is beautiful or godly. I yearn to be a life-giving vesel of the Lord. I desire to be a woman who is firmly rooted and established in the everlasting Source so that I can spill out blessing, goodness, and positive seeds wherever I am. Being given to positive things does wonders for the spirit. It is also healthy and fitting to overflow with life since I have been given the most costly Life there is- life in Jesus Christ. I want my words, thoughts, actions and the workings of my inner life, which is my reputation with God, to be consumed and centered in giving life. Filling people with worth and signifigance is so much fun. I always think that what I reap I will sow later, so I want all of my interactions to be life-giving.

I have been richly blessed to be surrounded by lfegivers in my journey. These people encourage, sharpen, and spur me on to do good things. It is just wonderful to be around people that give life in their words, in their actions, in their thoughts, and in their choices. I want the people who surround me and influence me to be full of Life so that I can stay vitally united with Jesus. Lifegivers are just the best.

I Am The Clay...

I realize that as a disciple of Jesus, I am on a journey. The journey I am on is one that most definitely goes through seasons. I must say that I am a person who loves to learn new things and grow in the process. I love when God has new lessons to teach me. I don't necessarily like the stretching He has to do sometimes. I guess clay needs to be stretched though. I love the image of being clay in the hands of God. This image portrays in my mind the vision of Him making me better. He is taking off all of my rough edges. He is chiseling away at all of the unneeded worldly and fleshly desires that are inside me. He is preparing me for something new and something I have not been equipped to do or partake in before. I LOVE to think about the fact that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is refining me so that His image can be the one seen by the world and not mine. I want to be pliable in His hands. I desire to be surrendered to being the clay and allowing Him to be the Master. He knows exactly what He is doing. He has the eternal picture of who and what I am supposed to be and do for Him so that His glory and renown are known. Hallelujah for that. The bottom line is, I am immeasurably blessed and thankful to be His.

Encouragement...

I love getting mail the old-fashioned way. I also love sending mail the old-fashioned way. I shout with glee everytime I receive a piece of mail with my name handwritten on it. I LOVE sending people encouragment notes. There is just something special about it to me. I adore making people feel loved and special. The other day, I looked in my mailbox and there was a handwritten encouragement note from a fourth grader at my church to me. The note is now displayed on my fridge for all to see. There is such power in encouragement. I am so thankful the Lord has given me a desire to help people see their own giftedness and significance. It blesses me beyond words to encourage someone else. I think God knew what He was doing when he created encouragement. Making someones heart smile is truly one of the best feelings in the world I think. Encouragent can make an eternal difference in the life of someone else. I plan to encourage others as long as I can breathe. It is just plain fun.

Covenants...

I am really meditating on a concept today. Whenever the Lord tells me to write here, I will heed His call. He asked me to write on this concept. The issue that has really stirred my heart is the issue of covenants. First of all, I love that word. In my mind covenant means permanent, decision, a determined purpose, solid, and so, so much more. I pray earnestly that my marriage will be a covenant between my mate, the Lord, and I. I pray that my future family will share a covenant relationship. I believe with all my heart that the concept of covenant is best demonstrated in the form of relationship. Right now, the most important covenant relationship that is in my life is my realtionship with God. I fervently pray that someday soon a marriage covenant will be added to my life, but I will wait patiently and expectantly for that to come in God's good time when He knows I am ready and that my mate is ready to embrace it. Covenants are all over scripture. I just really like the idea of covenant. The most beautiful thing the Lord is teaching me about covenant right now is that covenant relationships take lots of time and commitment to develop, mature, and bear rich and lasting fruit. God is teaching me how precious covenant relationships are. He is also showing me how very rare covenant relationships are in our society.

I believe this society holds such a cheap view of the relationships in the sacred institutions of marriage and the family. This society has demeaned the immeasurable value of these two gifts of God. It is my firm belief that these two gifts hold such blessing that they should be held in the highest esteem in this world. Marriage and family are two of the richest gifts of grace there are to enjoy in this world and in this life. God meant the marriage covenant and the blessings of family to deepen our dependence and intimacy with Him. I believe the marriage covenant is a lesson in holiness. It is a place to extravagantly love, serve, honor, and cherish a partner and a friend given by the hand of the Lord to bring us into deeper and higher places in His character and His ways.

I hope this is a tool of encouragement and blessing.

25 Random Things...

I was tagged by my friend Jordan Wesley to share 25 random facts, goals, and otherwise unknown things about me on Facebook. I thought I would share them on my blog as well. This was fun, but I had to really think to come up with 25 different things.

1. I love to encourage others
2. London is my favorite city in the world, however, I want to see more of the world
3. I secretly dream of opening a specialty paper and stationery shoppe
4. I love monograms
5. I really enjoy British accents
6. My favorite style of decor is French Country
7. I want to live in a cottage someday
8. Although some people might have trouble picturing it, I am a huge high school and college football fan. I could care less about the NFL
9. Three of my favorite shows are What Not To Wear, Jon & Kate Plus 8, and 18 Kids & Counting
10. I HATE scary movies. Every time a scary part comes, I flinch and jump
11. I HATE the sound of clanging silverware. Everytime I put my silverware away in my drawer, I absolutely cringe
12. Intercession is my passion
13. I LOVE Hallmark movies
14. I am a Food Network junkie
15. My name means "Victorious One"
16. I LOVE Spode china
17. I carry my camera in my purse. You never know when a you will make a memory :)
18. I perfer to be surrounded by friends that are committed to becoming serious and authentic disciples of Jesus
19. I love taking the time and making the effort to get to know someone well
20. I love to look carefully at every picture in the church directory
21.I love antiques
22. I don't know what I would do without the ministry and gift of music
23. Chris Tomlin is my favorite artist
24. I always keep a prayer journal
25. I am a product of extravagant grace

I hope you enjoyed this fast little tour of who I am. I love doing things like this.

Mentors...

There has been one area in my life that the Lord has outdone Himself. This gift in my life always leaves me very grateful and couting my blessings. This gift the Lord has lavished upon me is the gift and wonderful blessing of godly, Christ-shaped mentors. I honestly don't know what my witness of Christ or my life would look like without mentors in my life. I know this, I would be unrecognizable. Mentors are such a gift of God's infinite grace. I have several but I will only highlight a few here. Truly, I could write volumes about each of these people and how they have shown me Christ. But, I won't do that here. Here we go.

1. Jayma Savage: This is a woman who possesses a tenderness and relentless godliness like I have never known. Every apect of her life just oozes God. I love and deeply respect and admire Jayma's commitment to follow the Lord's commands whatever the cost. She has such a lovely soft gentleness and mercy about her. But, the Lord has also used her in my journey to speak hard truths to me. One thing that I really appreciate about Jayma is her commitment to my character and her desire to see me become the woman the Lord desires me to be. I am so very blessed to have Jayma's influence over my journey toward Jesus.

2. Mark Lewis: Mark is absolutely one of the most genuine disciples I have ever come to know and love. God has given Mark such an authentic and lovely faith. I have never met anyone who has a spirit that is so full of joy, exuberance, grace, and agape love. He possesses such a warm and inviting wisdom. When I think of someone who is completely sold out for God, I immediately think of Mark. He is such a rich and mature example of a godly man. Mark is a man of steadfast faithfulness. I have come to see the face of God through the gift of my relationship with Mark so many times I have lost count. He is a treasure that I am so thankful for.

3. Rebekah Zeller: Rebekah has taught me to love the Word of God in a deep and reverential manner. She has shown me the power that resides in Scripture to bring such richness to my journey. I have learned through her example how the Word of God can impact everyday of my journey if I give the Lord the first fruits of my time and my day. The Lord is still growing and cultivating me in this discipline, but it has been so worth it. I really can tell the difference between a day started offf in the Word and one where I neglect this commitment. Rebekah has such a beautiful way of teaching me what wisdom truly looks like lived out. She has planted a seed in me that has propelled me to want to pursue wisdom and godliness in a reckless way. I want wisdom and godliness to determine everything about who and what I am. I am so very thankful for Rebekah's place in my life.

4. Bob Strader: Bob has shown me how important it is to surround myself with commited, serious, and authentic community that is fully devoted to the ways and character of Jesus. He has also taught me to worship the Lord with everything that I have. Bob has given me a desire to surround my life with kindred people who will take me deeper and higher into the ways of Jesus. He has shown me how costly a journey with Christ is. Bob has exemplified in my life what a truly Spirit-saturated disciple is. These are people who are reckless in the ways they show love, grace, mercy, and kindness. Their relationship with Christ takes presidence over everything else in their lives. Everything they do flows out of their relationships with Jesus. I desire to be that kind of godly woman. I want Jesus and the precious Holy Spirit to be the central focal point of everything about me. I am so thankful for Bob.

5. Rob Cunningham: This is my precious Daddy. It has been such a rich blessing to have such a commited, humble, gentle, authentic, unwavering disciple live under the same roof with me. We don't live together anymore, but boy am I thankful for my daddy's influence, his wisdom, and his beautiful and vibrant faith to look up to. My daddy is truly one of the most precious gifts in my life. His life defines the words integrity, grace, agape love, authentic joy, and peace. He has taught me what being a godly father and husband is all about. It is about loving Jesus more than your family and your partner so that your love for them can flow out of the love of Christ. My daddy has shown me what it means to live a gospel-formed life. I have seen the gospel lived out in his words, in his interactions with others, in the life of our family, and in the life of our precious church. He truly defines and exemplifies what a shepherd is. I am indebted to him for showing me and for pointing me to the Lord. He is quality through and through.

There are five of my mentors. My life has been made so rich because of their examples of faith, grace, love, and truth. God, thank you for your immeasurable gift of mentors. I am richly richly blessed indeed.

Current Loves...

First of all, I must come clean. I am barrowing this idea from my precious friend Chelsie. I haven't done this in a while so I thought I would revisit some of the things I am enjoying at the moment.

1. I am loving being in God's Word everyday. Doing this focuses my day and gives it purpose. Now, by no means am I where I want to be in this discipline. I desire to be a woman of the Word. I want to be challenged in my attitudes, my thinking patterns, and my daily walk with the Lord. Usually I choose one scripture to meditate on. Today it is "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37:4 . I will spend the rest of the day thinking about what it means to fully delight in the Lord before anything else. It has been absolutely wonderful to commit my day to the Lord.

2. I have loved listening to Joyce Meyer teaching CDs. I just finished a teaching called When God When that focused on the concept of waiting on God to manifest His desires as well as my desires in His own good time. I am about to begin a teaching called Holiness by Joyce Meyer. I just really like Joyce Meyer. Sometimes she kicks my butt, sometimes she brings out something I hadn't thought about, but the time I spend listening to her and learning form her always benefits my attitudes and character. I really admire her no nonsense approach. She is one serious and fully devoted disciple. I yearn for that in my relationship with Jesus.

3. I have loved spending time reading. Right now I am reading Ruth Haley Barton's Sacred Rhythms. It is fabulous. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for deeper intimacy with God. It has caused me to think and to re-evaluate my priorites. Some of my favorite authors include Francine Rivers, Beverly Lewis, Jan Karon, and many more. I love getting lost in stories. I would be happy to hunker down in a cozy bookstore and spend the day being enveloped in books.

4. I have loved watching movies. I just purchased Fireproof this week and it is already one of my favorites. It is a powerful movie. I really like love stories, but I enjoy any clean movie really. Some of my all-time favorites are Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Father of the Bride, The Notebook, Cindrella, Facing the Giants, and Anne of Green Gables. I have many more. My favorite way to watch a movie is with friends in a cozy home. I have great memories of doing this with my close commuinity of friends at ACU. Fun times for sure.

5. I have loved going to Ladies Bible Class on Tuesday mornings at my church. This has been such a rich blessing. Ladies Bible Class has given me a wonderful opportunity to get to know women who I long to emulate in thier devotion to Christ. Beginning in February, we are going to be studying Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The study is called Opening The Windows of Blessing. The study has been written by one of the women in our class. I am really really excited about it. It will be fun to see what the Lord teaches me through this study.

So there you go. There are my five current loves at the moment.

Let Me Be Consecrated...

For the past few months, I have prayed a new prayer. I have voiced a new desire to the Lord. This new desire of mine is this--to live a life that is fully and completely set apart for the Lord's honor and His purposes. I desire my entire being to be consecrated to and given over to the glory of the Father and the inhabitation of the Holy Spirit. I want my days to be totally consumed with agendas prompted by the Spirit. Now, this does not mean that I run away from the world, but rather, to live intentionally and to be sensitively tuned to the spiritual realm. I want to be different. I want people to be able to leave my presence totally drawn to Jesus. I want people to wonder,"Who does she serve?" I know this is a desire that will take time and effort to cultivate. But, I also know that I serve a big, powerful, mighty God who wants me to ask big things of Him. He specializes in bringing to pass big things in our lives. I want to be able to receive all of the blessings the Lord desires to lavish upon me. I don't want to live a mediocre, ordinary life. I want to relentlessly pursue my God. I want to be taken deeper and higher. I want to know all of who my God is so that I can honestly say I know him intricately and intimately. I want to closely and continually dwell in Him so that He is able to dwell in me in richer ways. I want to be able to wash the feet of others, just as Jesus did through my words, actions, and thoughts.

I love how Oswald Chambers defines concecration. This is my desire in its most fundamental and basic form.

Consecration - is a continual seperating myself for one particular thing. I have added some of my own thoughts to the definition. It also means to be fully devoted to the pursuit of one goal; to be wholly given and invested in its cultivation.

Lord, may my entire being be consecrated unto You. May you guide my thoughts, words, the works of my hands, my acts of worship, and the meditations of my heart. I give all of myself over to Your authority. Have Your way in me.

My Papa...

My mom's dad, who I've known for 26 years as my Papa, is one special guy in my life. He has taught me so many invaluable lessons. I love him for so many reasons. One thing that I have been richly blessed to winess is his 62 year marriage covenant to my Grandma. My Papa is a man who is righteous, God-hungry, Spirit-saturated, compassionate, very, very affectionate, and so faithful. I have seen the face of God through the gift of his witness so many times I can't even count them. Our family has a tradition in which we celebrate birthdays with a brunch. Papa's birthday was actually January 20th, but we celebrated him today. I always LOVE taking part in these cherished celebrations. It is so much fun to celebrate anyone special in my life, but I especially enjoy celebrating my family members and their very treasured places in my life. My precious Papa served as an elder in his church in California for over 40 years before moving to Abilene. Boy am I glad he moved here. I get to enjoy him and my wonderful, lovely Grandma so much and I absolutely love it. Papa has given me many wonderful gifts as his granddaughter. But, I think my most cherished gift I have ever received from him is his strong heritage of faith and his staunch and ever-deepening belief in Jesus Christ. He is also a man who fervently and relentlessly holds to to his belief in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. I am so thankful for my Papa. I thank the Lord for his influence, his love, his faith, and his joy. My Papa embodies the man of high favor depicted in Psalm 1 in such a lovely way.

"Blessed is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scronful and mockers gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, and the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. And he shall be like a tree firmly planted and [tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth fruit in due season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper and come into full and complete maturity." - Psalm 1:1-3

I love you, Papa.

Goodbye Sweet Jenna...

I have to confess something. I don't understand why five-year-olds have to die. My church family and I have been interceding and lifting up a little girl who has had cancer since 2005. I have questioned God, I have cried out to Him concerning this, and I have rested in my belief that He alone is sovereign, He alone is God, and He alone is in complete control of this world. I know God has His reasons, but I still can't wrap my mind around children having to only know pain, suffering, and hurt. I also know with everything in me that God grieves when His children are hurting. He grieves when little children die. I think this is one of those times when I am supposed to just trust in His mystery and realize that I am not supposed to figure everything out about Him or His ways. His ways are higher than mine. His ways are perfect. I lavish praise on Him for this. One of the last emails I got from Jenna's mom was telling me that Jenna had asked all of her immediate family to write a note to take with her to Heaven to give to God. So, as requested, every member of her family wrote a note. I cannot even imagine writing a note like that knowing it is my last for my little girl. When I read that I absolutely sobbed. Praise the Lord Jenna is dancing in His Presence today. Give God a kiss for me little one.

A Historical Day...

I don't get into politics much, but I will admit, it has been fascinating to witness the inaugural festivities for Barack Obama today. I do have my questions though. For instance, how in the world does the White House staff transfer the incoming President's and his family's many belongings into the living quarters of the White House as they move the former President and First Lady out? I watched the Fox News coverage today with such optimism for our country. I am still amazed to think that we have our first African American President. The United States of America has truly come a long way, but the country still has a long way to go. I couldn't help but remember today as I watched everything unfold, that I as a believer have an obligation and an immense honor to pray for President Obama, his administration, his protection, his family, and for the policies he will sign into laws that will govern our nation. My most fervent prayer comes from 2 Coronicles 7:14-16:

"If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will always be there."

Almighty Father,
I pray for a spirit of divine wisdom to fall upon President Obama and all of those in his administration who will structure policies that will govern this nation. I boldly ask you to align his presidency with your will. I ask you to cultivate within him a spirit of humility, mercy, gentleness, steadfast trust in You, and an uncomprimising hold to righteousness. Fashion him to be a leader of godliness, faith, love, tenderness, and an unswerving commitment to seeking your face to guide his many decisions. Clothe President Obama, his closest confidantes, and aides, as well as his family members in tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of themselves, gentle ways, and an enduring patience. Give them gentle and forebearing spirits that are very quick to forgive. Clothe them most of all Father, in your love so that they may be able to administer your grace in their daily obligations. Help President Obama to be an imitator of You. May Barack Obama be a man and a President who fully and completely honors Your beautiful name. I ask you, O, Lord to form and shape him more into the image of Jesus Christ so that at the end of four years, and possibly eight, he will come out as a beautiful new reflection of Jesus. Cover him in the blood of Jesus so that he may govern out of a spirit of love, hope, faith, and peace.

I love you Father, because I know that no matter what the outcome of this new administration is, you will still be sovreign, you will still be God, you will still have all the authority, and you will still be a passionate, all-consuming God who pursues and lavishly loves His people and those who don't know you in this world. I give you praise for this Lord. You are so good and so very worthy of all my praise, adoration, all of my heart's affection. I am thankful that I belong to you. Please hear this prayer and attend to these desires on my heart.