Summer Days...

I am loving this summer. My family and I have already been quite busy and, to be honest, I like it that way. My mom has been traveling her little heart out, my Daddy has been working, my brother and sister have been tying up loose ends in Abilene to move to Lubbock on Thurday, and I have been enjoying great times with family, friends, and my Jesus. Truly, I have made great memories so far. The fun is far from being over.

This weekend should be tons of fun. I am attending a prophetic conference at FUMC in Abilene beginning on Thursday afternoon and it will conclude on Saturday evening. I am so excited about the lady who is coming in from Catch the Fire Ministries based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Her name is Isabel Allum and she centers her individual prophetic ministry out of the father heart of God. Then, on Friday evening, I will hop from FUMC's conference to go to a Chrysalis team meeting for the Girl's Chrysalis I'm working in July. There are so many people I love working on this team. My heart and spirit should be feasting all weekend. God has truly poured out His goodness in the season I'm experiencing right now in the deepest parts of my soul. I'm being filled up so much so that I can be poured out for the glory and purposes of Christ. That just excites me like nothing else. Please say a prayer for my mom as she is traveling through Vienna this week. She will return on Saturday morning.

Fathers...

First of all this is my completely precious and servant-hearted Daddy, Rob. I absolutely adore him and I could not even imagine my life without his godly influence and his commitment to living in humble excellence. I am so enbebted to him for many many things. I am a product of grace and anything I am is a direct result of God's goodness and my Daddy's Spirit-filled example of an earthly father.

Let me introduce you to my Pa, Bob Cunningham, my Daddy's dad. This man is one of my heroes. When I say hero, I mean a spiritual giant in my life. I just love him to pieces. I am so glad he's in my life. I have such precious memories of growing up spending time with him. There is no way I can repay him for all he's done for me. I guess I'll just have to wait until heaven so that God can repay him. That sounds good to me.

This couple ladies and gentleman, are my grandparents, Jerry and Stel Elmore. My mom is their daughter. I have learned more about the character of Jesus from these two people then they know. There are no two people who know scripture like these two. I know my grandfather as Papa. He and my Grandma moved to Abilene 5 years ago from Bakersfield, California. He served as an elder in their home congregation for 40 years. That's quite a heritage. I am beyond blessed to have Papa in my life and in my journey with Christ. I'm thankful.

(I couldn't find a picture of my Papa and me) I hope you've enjoyed this little family tour. There is nothing like family. I believe it is one of God's most awesome instituions and creations.

One Busy Weekend...

My friend and freshman roommate, Jordan, got married this weekend. I only made the reception. My Saturday was booked. She was a radiant bride. I was so honored to be able to celebrate her. God has used her in my life to speak truth, to encourage me, to challenge me, to pray for me, and to spur me on to higher things in Him. I am so thankful for and excited about her newly authored marriage covenant to Brent. What a lucky guy. I wish Brent and Jordan every blessing that God has to give. They both have waited a lifetime for this new adventure

I also was beyond blessed to attend an outdoor wedding on Saturday evening full of people I love. It was one of the most beautiful weddings I've been to in a while. It was so relaxed, laid back, and full of the personalities of both families involved. The neice of one of my most treasured mentors was the bride. My mentor's husband performed the ceremony and it was chalk-full of personal touches and stories from the lives of the couple. It was wonderful. I loved it.

Today, my family had a Father's Day celebration at my cousin's house. It was fun. My Mom and Daddy were not there but I made sure to call my Dad and wish him a happy day. I always enjoy times with my family. There are so many precious moments in the lives of families. I am blessed to have a great one.

Prayer Warriors Unite...

Please pray for baby Eydie Paige Stover. She was born yesterday, June 18, 2009, to Brandon and Kate Stover in Abilene. She is in the Hendrick NICU having difficulty breathing. She shows signs of improvement as of now. Please pray for Brandon, Kate, Eydie Paige and family members as they wait. Pray specifically for restoration of breathing and for Eydie's lungs as she is weaned off of the oxygen. Pray that the Great Physician would breathe on this precious little girl as He holds her in His hands.

Also please be in prayer for Reuben Whitfield, Jody Reese's father as he is on life support in Austin after suffering a fall off of a ladder. Jody, Lynn, and Kathy are all on their way to Austin to be with him and their mom, Naomi. Thanks so much for your prayers.

Hot But Blessed...

It has been oppressively hot in Abilene this week. I am constantly thanking the Lord for air conditioning and for lukewarm showers in the middle of the afternoon. I have been remided of the Houston heat this week and I have a very tangible sense of what my friends the Thompsons and Sargents must live with throughout steamy-hot South Texas summers. I truly have a new-found appreciation for you guys. I honestly don't know how you do it day in and day out.

Those who are close to me know what a stuggle I have in extreme heat. I HATE it. It takes major determination to fight my flesh and combat the heat and my desire to give into the temptaiton to complain and be miserable in the midst of being hot. I much rather perfer cold weather any day. Right now, I am wishing my family had a pool that I could just jump into any time I felt the urge. Last week it got up to 102 degrees.

In the midst of this heat wave that has come over Abilene, the Lord has also provided much-needed fellowship with mentors and other sweet friends. I am so glad I don't ever have to be in this life alone. There is SO much value in friendship and the journey of discipleship. I have been humbled, corrected, extravagantly loved, and nurtured this week by many dfferent outlets. I am extravagantly and immeausrably blessed.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart; with all your soul; with all your mind; and with all your strength for that is the will of God in Christ Jesus." - Deuteronomy 6

Spirit, Train My Tongue...

Words contain unspeakable power. I learned that this weekend. My tongue needs to go back to school to be taught to be used. I desire to speak and invoke blessing over people's lives and I fail that desire so many times. I desperately need the power of the Spirit to teach, cultivate, and grow the words and works of my mouth. I am asking the Lord to set a guard about my mouth and to refresh and reuse the filter that He created. I think I just need a complete rehaul in the area of my speech. Thankfully, I serve a God who is more than willing to guide, teach, and mature what comes from my spirit into my mouth. I was reminded today in my prayer time that God gave me two ears with which to listen and one mouth to speak. I think He wants me to listen twice as much as I talk. That is SO hard. But, I know I can do it with God's help. I am asking the Spirit to employ the 10-second rule when I speak meaning that I desire to think about what I say for 10 seconds before I allow it the authority to come out of my spirit or my mouth. That is going to take work but I can do it. I praise the Lord that he redeems, forgives, wipes clean, and restores us as His vesels. I am thankful for courageous people to come and correct and tell me when I have done something wrong or something that is completely ungodly. I need that in my life. I want to be a spring of blessing. I want to be a safe place where people can share their hearts and know that what is said will stay in the strictest confidence. God is good.

Cultivating a Lovely and Gentle Spirit...

I desperately yearn to possess a lovely and gentle spirit in the sight of the Lord. I can't say I'm all the way there. Thankfully, we are never quite where we want to be in our relationships with Christ. It is a process. It takes time. That is something that the Lord has had to teach and show me as I have grown in my walk of discipleship. I am so grateful that He has made a covenant promise to me to walk beside me and guide me by the power and promptings of the Holy Spirit. I always have to remember that grwoing in loveliness and gentleness will never be finished as long as I walk in this earthly life. Don't get me wrong, I make mistakes. My flesh shouts almost daily. I am the clay He is the Potter..., I am the clay, He is the Potter...

Boy, am I glad that growing comes in stages and that the Lord constantly is promoting us onto greater things in His kingdom. Being promoted and matured in a fruit of the Spirit comes as the Lord figures us out and tests us in order to see if we are being real and not skipping anything He has in store for us. We cannot miss one of His purposes because He uses each one to make us stronger, sharper, and more into the image of the One who is eternal and steady. Our innermost foundation MUST be established in the reality and certainty of Who He is. He must author everything that we are about in order to be fully known in us by the world.

"Let your beauty come not from outward adornment, but let it be found in the beauty and authenticity of your inner person, the person of your heart. A gentle, lovely, and a quiet spirit is of great worh in the sight of the Lord." - 1 Peter 3:4

Make Me a Warrior Woman...

I want to be a warrior-saint. I want to go boldly into places of darkness and lack in order to envelop and illuminate them with the light of the Lord. I want to make the devil cringe. I want him to know my name and to have my number. The Word says that if we resist him long enough, he will get bord becuase he realizes that we are not going to be put of course. He knows our gaze is fixed and firmly established to the One who is victorious. I love that. I mean seriously, I want to be that invested and focused on heavenly and excellent things. I was listening to a prophetic word on CD by one of my favorite people, Graham Cooke, and he said this, "The devil repelled by authentic, relentless, and reckless praise." Graham also shared this little tidbit, "Fear or anything contrary to the nature or character of God attracts attack and demonic activity." Wow. That is some hard-core truth. To be completely honest, I'm still in the process of sifting through, in my mind, much of what I heard on the CD. There was so much that was beyond my mind. But, I still opened up my spirit and received what Graham called forth and spoke over my heart. It truly fed my spirit. It was as if God was pouring His goodness and His deep abiding revelation into my being.

There is absolutely nothing that is more precious to me than intimately communing and spending time with my God. It really is the only way I will ever be who I want to be, a woman completely yielded and wholly abandoned to the purposes, passions, and heart cries of my Savior. I take such joy and faith in the fact that the Lord knows my reputation with men and in the heavenly courts. I take comfort in the fact that I am fought for in the battle that is raging all around me in the heavenly realm. I am hidden in the secret place with Christ as God fights my battles and calls forth my destiny. I want to give Him absolutely everything I can so that He can sharpen, shape, and create in me the person and eternal being that He has had in his mind's eye since before the foundations of the earth were put into place.

A Reason to Love...

I have enjoyed a wonderful weekend. Friday night, my family and I enjoyed great time with very close family friends. Saturday morning and afternoon were spent with my best friend besides Jesus, my precious Mom shopping, running errands, and having my sister help us pick out my Mom's new glasses. Saturday evening my family and I went to a wedding at one of my favorite chruches in town. I love to witness weddings. I teared up many times as is very common for me. After the wedding my Mom, Daddy, and I enjoyed a coffee date with another very close couple to our family. It has been a wonderful couple days, for sure.

My favorite part of the weekend came this morning as Randy Harris gave the message to my church body. I was very convicted as I sat listening and feverishly scribbling down notes. It was excellent. His message was taken from Luke 10:25-37. I loved the title of his message, "The Menimally Decent Samaritan." He focused on the fact that the Good Samaritan showed the injured man extravagant compassion, mercy, and kindness. This guy went the extra mile in excellence and provided for the injured man. One thing that Randy said that I loved and paraphrased was, "Jesus is calling all His disciples and servants to a radical ethic and way of living." Another thing that I caught was the idea of the Lord wanting us to go beyond ourselves and our flesh and to live beyond menimal decency, but to love extravagantly and to lavish the grace and love of God on people. I absolutely love that idea and I pray that my life embodies that in my everyday existence.

All in all it was a rich, soul-satisfying time of encouragement and being sharpened and challenged to go deeper into the character and call of Jesus on my life as His servant. To top it off, my Daddy and I got to eat a wonderful home-cooked meal at my brother's house one last time with my grandparents before my brother and sister-in-love begin their move to Lubbock in the next two weeks. Grant is beginning law school at Texas Tech in August. Laura will teach 1st grade at a wonderful, innovative elementary school in August as well. Please pray for them. This entire process has been one-hundred percent Spirit-led and the Lord has really provided and led every step of the way.

I'll leave you with a concept that I paraphrased from today's message in worship:

"A Gospel-formed love can only come forth out of a person who is intimately acquainted with the radical, extravagant love of Christ Jesus first before it can go beyond us and help usher in His Presence and his purposes for His ultimate glory in all things seen and unseen."

Earnest Honor...

I pray everyday in my spirit that I will live in earnest honor of the Lord. I know this is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is not something I can achieve on my own. I need to be constantly immersed in a power that resides in Someone higher. If it were left up to me alone I would live in the low place of my flesh. Honor is a concept that has gotten lost in our present day society. It seems like every aspect of this society is centered around demeaning or destroying something in order to recieve honor and respect. I really strong dislike that. I want that mentality to change. I have the power to decide whether or not to live that way. We all have the power to make that decision. For that I am grateful.

In my mind honor means serving another person in some way. It means loving another person more than I love myself. It means blessing them in order that they may go out and bless, edify, and encourage others to seek higher things. Honor is something that is earned. It deserves reward. The funny thing is, if you seek the right honor, the reward comes after denying yourself and walking in selflessness and humility. This is extremely hard. It definitely requires power that we in our humaness do not possess. I earnesly pray that my life depicts an earnest honor in all areas. I want to go beyond myself; to serve others passionately in order for them to see Jesus in my life and to attract them to the One to whom honor is due.

My Rough-and-Tumble Sophie...

This is my Westie, Sophie, whom I love very much. Ever since I was a little girl I have wanted to own a Westie. I have always thought they were just adorable. Sophie is spunky, mischievious, smart, and a complete joy. She definitely makes life fun and interesting. I do believe she has THE most ear-piercing bark I have ever heard in my entire life. I'm so thankful she is part of my life. I seriously love the fact that God created dogs. I think He realized what sweet companions they are. There will never be a day of my life without a dog, that is for sure.

Sophie lives at my parents house and I go home and visit her every weekend. It really works out well because she adores my parents and they have two other dogs, a fence, and a big yard for her to play and dig in. I wish she could live with me, but I live on a very busy street and I'm afraid she would get run over. I have really enjoy her I-will-not-be-ignored personality. My mom kids me all the time about how different Sophie and my personalities are. She always tells me I should trade Sophie in for a Maltese, but then my precious Westie does something endearing and the teasing stops. I wouldn't trade my Sophie for any other dog. I'm glad she's mine.

Yield To Jesus...

I have heard several times over the years that what you yield to is what controls you. I have to say that I totally believe that is true. Like I have said many times, we have a choice to either yield to our flesh or to yield to the Spirit. It is critically important in the life of a beliver to not yield to the desires of our flesh. That is really hard. There are rewards the Lord sends when we surrender ourselves and totally give into the way of Jesus. When we consciously yield to the higher more excellent way, our image is being transformed into that of Christ. Make a decision today to yield to the Holy Spirit.

Warn It Away...

Over the past several years I have learned a great deal about the authority that exists within the instrument of my mouth. I am still in the process of learning in this area, but the Lord has shown me how much power and victory I have over the Enemy when I exercise His Word coming forth out of the words I speak. Warning doubt, fear, and distrust away is essential if I want to live a victorious, Kingdom-focused life before God. It has taken a lot of prayer in my own life to unleash the boldness it takes to warn spirits contrary to God away from my life and the lives of my loved ones, but it has totally been worth it.

Absolutely any time the devil comes at me with a thought that is not of God I have a choice to warn it away or to allow it entry into my spirit and thought life. I think it is time for believers to ask for and seek boldness in order to exercise the authority that Jesus died to give us on the cross. We have to verbally speak to spirits of darkness so that they lose their power and effectiveness over our lives. It is critical that we learn to discern when the Lord speaks to us and when the devil speaks to us. When he does, we need to learn to warn away anything he brings to us. I have learned that warning things away truly does bring peace, freedom, and joy. It took me a while to get over feeling silly about doing this and to realize that its importance. Now, I try to remember to do it whenever anything contrary to God comes my way. Try it for yourself. It really works wonders.

Teachings...

I LOVE to listen to teachings in my spare time. When I say teachings I mean speeches or sermons that encourage, uplift, and challenge my faith journey. Two of my favorite women to listen to are Sandy Ross out of San Antonio and Joyce Meyer. I can't say how satisfied my soul is after taking time to sit down and really listen to these two women. They walk in such authority and authenticity. One thing that I truly appreciate about both women is that they acknowledge that they make mistakes. Let me just say that my journey with Jesus has been immeasurably enriched by the lives they live.

I was introduced to Sandy Ross by my college roommate Kirsta and I have absolutely adored her ever since. Sandy is the founder and pastor of Women of Excellence Ministries that is based out of Summit Christian Center in San Antonio. I can honestly say that Sandy has helped me mature in the Lord in ways that I have only dreamed of. She is so humble, authentic. authoritative, and kind. She is just a lovely woman who is truly a woman of excellence before the Lord. I can't say enough about her. The Lord has used her to minister to my spirit in powerful ways.

A New Name...

I love Isaiah 61 and 62. There is such Spirit-infused power in these two chapters of scripture. In these two passages Zion goes from being destitute to being rich; the land goes from being barren to plentiful. I think there is so much symbolism for us as people in these two chapters in Isaiah.

Before the Lord found us we were destitute in sinfulness, now He has given us a new name. He has allowed us to rise out of the pits of misery and shame. He has bestowed upon us His garments of holiness and righteousness. That, to me, is just mind boggling to comtemplate. He has exchanged our rags for his glorious riches. We have gone from slaves to priests. I just love that and all that it means. We are no longer known for our humanity and for the things that we did wrong. God knows us as His possessions and treasures. God knows our giftedness, not our inadequacies. He knows our potential, not our sin. Yes, we were once sinners, but now we are purchases of the one true and living Lamb who lives to bring immeasurable joy and everlasting hope. Come into the inheritance of your new name in Christ. He is ready and waiting to receive you and to bestow upon you His glorious riches.

"You shall also be [so beautiful and prosperous as to be thought of as] a crown of glory and honor in the in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem [exceedingly beautiful] in the hand of your God." - Isaiah 62:3

Unchanging Anchor...

One thing I am very thankful for is the fact that God is an unchanging anchor in a world that is so turbulent and uncertain. If God is in our lives we have an everlasting source of certainty and assurance. He beckons us to a life that is sure; a life that is built on a foundation that cannot ever be shaken. His unchanging nature anchors our lives in an ever-increasing hope and redemption. Boy, that floods my soul with such joy. On days when we cannot seem to find our bearings, God stands ready to step in and live through us using His power and strength. He always welcomes us into the communion of His presence. So, when the winds of this world are threatening to undo you, step into the hope that anchors life in God. It is a wonderful and life-giving place to be. It is an everlasting source of peace and comfort.

Heaven Bent Focus...

I believe that what we focus on is what we become. It so easy to be consumed by and focused on worldly things. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit to be committed to a heaven bent focus. Our flesh wants to indulge in the easy way. The Lord yearns for us to be solely focused on higher things. He wants to infuse us with a focus that looks past short-lived enjoyment and sufficiency. A heaven bent focus affords us eternal rewards. These rewards go far beyond anything the world could or would offer us. A heaven bent focus requires fierece determination. If we commit ourselves to consistently acquiring a heaven bent focus, the Lord will bring things into our lives that are far beyond our wildest imaginations. A heaven bent focus is worth the time and energy. If we give ourselves over to it, we will enjoy a communion with God that is ultimately satisfying and sweet.

An Incorruptible Seal...

I love to think about the fact that I am chosen by God. I am ingrafted into the lineage of Jesus. That fact is just mind-boggling to me. That thought brings me unspeakable assurance and security. I am an adopted child of the Most High King. Wow. As I have gown in my journey of discipleship, the Lord has taught me that there are immeasurable benefits to being His property.

One of my favorite benefits is having His seal of ownership. To know that I have the incorrupible seal of the King of the Universe is absolutely indescribable. Having that knowledge gives me a humble confidence to live out my dreams and to go about doing things that make Him attractive to others. I yearn to make Him famous. His impenetrable seal affords me the honor of carrying His divine signature upon my life and most importantly upon my spirit. Satan may try to gain entry into my spirit but God has the ultimate victory and I am totally and completely His. When Satan attempts to come at me with all of his schemes, God takes me away and places me between His shoulders and underneath His wings of protection and comfort, a place Satan is not welcome. The best part is, he knows it. I am so grateful to have God's seal upon my life. My job is to live a life worthy of that seal through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Certainty of Christ...

Today I am certain of one thing: I serve a risen and victorious Savior who paid the ultimate price for my redemption. He is not a mere prophet; He is not a myth. He is real. He is present. He is risen. He is reigning in this world right now. His certainty to me is like the air I breathe. His certainty is a sure as anything I've ever known. I am thankful to the depths of my soul for the certainty that resides in Jesus Christ. I am grateful that He longs for deep intimacy and communion with me as His child. I am thankful for the fact that He desires a relationship with a sinner like me. Most of all, I am thankful that I am covered in His righteousness and purity as I stand before God. It excites me to the deepest core of my soul to know that His power resides in and infuses itself into me as I learn to totally surrender myself and all of my desires and plans into His divine safe keeping.

In The Midst of Memories...

Do you ever have days when you are overwhelmed with memories of a very special person? That has characterized my day today. The really good thing is that I know that God is in the midst of this day of memories. I am very very thankful for the many memories I shared with this particular person. He was a very gentle, kind, and tender spirit. Our best family friends experienced a death in the family. Daddy Don was one of my very favorite people. He was such a wonderful and quiet servant of Jesus. I learned volumes about how to serve others and how to flesh out the mission of Christ just by being a witness to his life. He is now dancing with Jesus and for that I am thankful.

Jesus Colored Glasses...

I have been reminded recently how God sees me and it has been so refreshing and comforting. As a child of God, when He looks at me He only sees Jesus. He dosen't see my sin. He doesn't see my inadequacy. He doesn't see any speck of unworthiness. I am seen by Him through Jesus colored glasses. That just thrills me to the core of my soul. I am so thankful for the fact that God only sees me through His righteousness. Every day I praise Him for the price Jesus paid to allow me to be ingrafted into His heart. I can live a life free from worry and anxiety because I am an heir along with Jesus. That thought just really excites me. I can unashamedly approach God and ask Him to do and provide big things in my life and the really neat part is so can you. Know this, if you have accepted the invitation of Jesus to live His Way, His Life, and His Truth, you are always welcome to ask whatever you wish. Remember, God sees all of His beloved children through Jesus colored glasses won through the redemption Jesus provided for us on the cross.

Humble Holiness And Awe...

Holiness is something that is of utmost importance to me. I believe it is a concept that is sorely lacking in this society. Every day before my feet hit the floor, I silently breathe a prayer asking the Lord to fill me with a reverential holiness and an awe that causes me to bow down to His ultimate sovreignty and authority in all things. I also believe a proper dose of reverential holiness and awe is vital to a healthy and ever-deepening life of discipleship and love-sick reckless abadon to the desires that govern the heart of the Lord. I can only hope and earnestly pray that my heart is governed and stirred by what concerns and delights my God.

What does holiness look like? What does a life given over to the dictates of holiness entail? I have come to learn that true and authentic holiness and awe that moves the heart of the Lord comes out of humble and relentless surrender. Holiness requires a firm and permanent decision to move according to the promptings of the Spirit. Holiness is not something that is pushy, outspoken, or developed out of a spirit of pride. Holiness moves gently. It is a way of life. It is gentle and quiet, but also demanding because holiness asks that we as fervent worshippers and dearly loved saints, live according to God's power instead of our feelings or our flesh. It asks that we live counter culturally and totally against the grain of this present world or society. Holiness sets us apart for God's plans and purposes. It sets apart to live a life totally enraptured by His glory and life set on things that are higher than our humanity. Choose holiness. It leads to a life that is so rich and satisfying. Its rewards are everlasting and eternal.

Pray Constantly...

Father of Grace,

What an honor it is to kneel before you knowing that what you see in me is Christ. Thank you for the privilege to walk with you and to talk to you as a friend confinding in a kindred spirit. I ask this day that you would open your veil so that I may look upon you in all of your fullness and bask in Who you are. Please through the precious blood of your Son, gird upon me and fill me up with fresh oil so that I may wait for you expectantly ready to follow when you call. Dress me appropriately in your armor so that I may be fully equipped to contend for my faith. Give me strength to defend and honor you. May my life be a continual prayer to you, the One whom I treasure above all things. This is my prayer in the name of Jesus.

Realms of Faith...

I have been a disciple since April of 1993 and I can't believe its been that long. I have to say that it has been quite a ride. April 6, 1993 started out the same as any other day, but somehow, I didn't know just how precious this day would be to me as I have launched out to pioneer my own unique journey of faith. On that momentous April evening a small flame was lit inside the very depth of my soul. Throughout my years of discipleship, that little flame has grown, and sometimes it has threatened to be extinguished as my spirit and the very core of my faith has weathered trials in order to ultimately be romanced, pursued, and drawn into the center of the Lord's certainty and unrelenting authenticity. There have been times of stagnant complacency, but there have been many more seasons where my faith has had to make a decision to grow, mature, and press on to higher realms.

God has used the image of light in order to show the depth and degree of my faith. From that first moment, as I came out of the waters of baptism, the little flame of faith has been on a journey of its very own. During my adolescent years I held to my faith with white-knuckled determination as I went through the turbulent winds of finding my identity. To be absolutely truthful, it has been my goal since those middle-school and high school days to persistently and confidently hold to the reality of the Lord. I have had to depend on something deeper and higher all of the days of my life in the natural realm.

I can confidently say that my journey these days is just the best. It truly is the most fulfilling part of my life because out of it flows everything else that resides in the core of who I am. My prayer is that my faith is seen by God in the heavenly places as a roaring fire that is ever-deepening and growing, and becoming brighter and purer with every passing day. It is my life's mission to learn to love God with a ruthless abandon; to not allow the world or humanity define the confines of my relationship with Him. This road I have chosen is one filled with joy, challenge, trial, rich fulfillment, and ultimate satisfaction and sufficiency. How has the Lord shown you the degree of your faith? Are you at a place of growth, complacency, or dormancy? May you desire to let your faith become like a raging glorious fire set on the altar of the Lord.

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.