Watch your step -

What an eventful past couple of days. It snowed and because I am from the south that means we made snow cream, and went sledding for hours. I also watched The Godfather for the first time ever and I have to admit I liked it. I also cooked huge meals because the girls have been out of school for 2 and 1/2 days.  We have really enjoyed this time away from the outside world. There is something about knowing you can't get out that brings about rest. It's as if we were forced to take it easy and just breathe & laugh without a care in the world all in our pj's. This morning I was reading in Proverbs and I stopped in chapter 4 verses 25/26 

"Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure."

To ponder something means to think or consider especially quietly, soberly, and deeply. I know for my own self I have made impulsive decisions based on feelings and my emotions rather than really praying and weighing out my options. In the end I found myself unsure and questioning the very sovereignty of God and calling on my life.  We like to equate success with Gods favor to the point of taking the factor of submission and the cost to follow Him out. We crave normacy in our lives.  From little girls dreaming of their white picket fence marriages, to perfect bodies, yummy Pinterest recipes and of course the perfect job. We want our lives to be full of love, laughter & wrapped in a pretty bow of perfection. We want our ways to be laid out before us. When we were sledding the other night I couldnt see any holes or sticks because the snow was covering them and because of that I hit a stick and suddenly I was on my face. I'm sore today because of that fall.  My path wasn't clear and I fell.  The last part of that verse says  "then all your ways will be sure". You see it's not up to me to choose the right path but it is up to me to keep my entire focus on Christ alone.  To think quietly means I have to soak myself in the word while praying and thinking about the things of God. No outside noise or people can dictate my steps if I am locked in on Jesus. To think soberly means I can't let other gods such as food, body image, dreams, ministry, along with other types of things take me away from really listening to the voice of my Creator.  His word alone will move me in the direction He is leading me to.  To think deeply means that I am not responding with my emotions I am listening with intent and just waiting for God to move first. Pondering takes us away from uncertainty and into that place of intimacy and being sure of our ways. Who has your ear today? Who or what is occupying your time and mind? These questions answer whether or not you are pondering the path of your feet. Remember wherever our heart is our feet will follow.

go ahead and stare ....

I absolutely love people watching. Sometimes I am sure it’s weird for them however I enjoy it.  It’s a sport that has been around for ages. I believe it started in malls with little old men sitting on the benches as their wives shopped.  Then I looked into the bible and saw that it happened way back. From the Pharisees watching for anyone including Jesus to mess up at any point.  The disciples always watching others and then glancing to Jesus for His responses.  This morning when I got to the YMCA I got two cups of coffee off the little coffee cart and headed into the Revolution church office with one cup of coffee in one hand and the other cup I had to put in my mouth because my other hand was full and I needed to somehow get the key in the door. Not one but at least three people passed by. One said hello, another just looked, and the other well he was determined to not make eye contact. I made it and thought to myself HELLO people I needed help.  I don't think those three people were jerks, self-righteous or even non-believers it’s just at times our thought process is often fueled around thinking people have it under control, or we just can't I mean it’s not intentional right?   We are so wrapped up with what others think at times we hold the hands and feet of Jesus hostage.  We aren't intentional about not giving to the homeless we just don't have any cash on us. We aren't intentional about not sending someone an encouraging text we just don't have their number. We aren't intentional about not praying with someone we just don't want them to feel awkward.  We aren't intentional about asking someone to help with our brokenness we just don't want to inconvenience them. We aren't intentional with our lack of passion for serving its just our time is so precious to us. We aren't  intentional about missing church it’s just the flu season and we don't want to get sick, or maybe our favorite team is playing.  You see we are not intentional at times but the enemy is always intentional with our time, money, and thoughts because he looks to steal the moments that will further the kingdom of God.  Those people that passed by me didn't spark resentment (if I would have dropped the hot coffee on myself however I would have been ticked haha) but it did spark within me this call to be intentional.  Will I choose today to build up the kingdom? My money is not my own and therefore at times I have to intentionally trust God and allow people to bless me. My time is not my own therefore I have to chase daylight to honor Him with my hands and feet. In Luke 11 Jesus was asked by a Pharisee to dine with him and instead of seeing the willingness, and thoughtfulness of Jesus saying yes He judged him for not washing his hands before eating. He only saw what He didn’t do.  The response from Jesus wasn't "oh sorry let me run wash my hands" no it was a moment to tell him what for.  I love when Jesus spoke up and out to those who looked for lines of religion to cross and even created those lines at times with the hope He would.  There are those people in your life even now that are waiting “unintentionally” for you to fall. They are waiting for you to mess up. Let that not STOP you but fuel you. Let your brokenness be the tool that brings you back to the feet of Jesus. Let your time, money and circumstances be the instrument of change. Others are watching you and some with eyes of envy, and yet others are truly needing to see a glimpse of Jesus.  Remember that wee little man Zaachaeus who climbed up a tree just to see Jesus? 

Luke 19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. ² A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. ³ He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.⁵ When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” ⁶ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.⁷ All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”⁸ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”⁹ Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

 The eyes of Zaachaeus were locked in on seeing Jesus. Those around him were locked in on Jesus eating with a sinner. Jesus was locked in on meeting a need and making him new.  Your family, friends, co-workers church members may be climbing out of addictions, defeating thoughts, financial ruin among other forms of complete brokenness and they are looking to you to see Jesus. Let them stare, glare and watch you because our weakness, vulnerabilities only set us up for God to blow our minds. Be encouraged today and SHINE even when you feel as if there is no shine left. God is about to do something that will cause not only you but those who surround you to look UP! Hebrews 1:5  “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."   

castle in disguise...

This afternoon Richard, Rachel and I went outside in our backyard and worked on building Rachel a fort. They put up a tarp, hung a basket from a tree and tore down branches and it went from just a back yard to a castle in disguise. She was so excited and told us all the plans she has for spring. Richard talked about how he use to work on his forts for hours and then retreat with his star wars figures and play for hours on end. When Rebekah was small she would hang from trees and yell at the top of her lungs that pirates and fairies were surrounding us. She would literally say "mom don't  move" and then she would jump out of the tree and proceed to a sword fight.  When both my girls would dress up in princess costumes they would suddenly walk, talk and wave like royalty. One of the greatest things we can possess is our imaginations. Imagination means; the ability to form a picture in your mind of something that you have not seen or experienced. I have imagined many things both big and small from what it would be like to jump out of a plane to what Heaven is going to be like. I have never experienced either and yet I can almost get there in my mind. One of my favorite definitions of dream is this; something that fully satisfies a wish. When I look back at the last 10 years of my life it wasn't until I truly let go of trying to satisfy others by allowing them to dictate my dreams or allow my insecurities to push me in the opposite direction of this calling on my life that I began to fully walk in the completion of my Creator. Think about the definition again - FULLY satisfies a wish. For years a bag of oreos was my satisfaction. Getting alone and binging on food satisfied a longing that I couldn't seem to fill. Trying to be who others needed me to be led me into this place in my mind of trying to achieve that and then food was my escape. I wouldn't even say it was a struggle but a war that would always start in my mind.  I have lost a good bit of weight over these last few years and the battle of the bulge still wages on. I workout, eat healthy and some weeks I lose and others I don't and that's ok.   If I am honest there are also days that when things are going bad I truly believe (in the moment) a bag of oreos would fix it. What I KNOW is that nothing satisfies the longing of my soul but Christ alone.  Paul tells us to take every thought captive and because we know that the imagination can take us away from reality and the enemy starts whispering those insecurities that lurk and before we know it our actions have followed.  We must know that dreaming BIG is not bad in fact God births mighty things in us to allow us to see Him and His power along the way. It creates intimacy and really pushes us to move beyond the captivity around our hearts and minds. Today think about those dreams that you have been chosen by God to pursue and don't let anything other than Him satisfy that longing. You see just like Rachel's castle in disguise God wants to take all the things that keep you from moving forward and transform them, renew them and redeem them to set those beautiful dreams in motion. Its time you are set free to dream BIG.



Acts 2:17 And in the last days it shall be, God declares that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams.

Freedom comes in all shapes and sizes

Freedom happens when we realize we have no control over the outcomes of our circumstances. As human beings we spend most of our day controlling the things we can like our outfit choices, food choices among other things such as choosing whether or not we will work or call in sick. We allow our choices either wise or not to drive us from being out of control to thinking we have full control. Fear is something that is very real and devours the dreams and thoughts of ever getting us to take that first initial step of risk taking and stepping out in complete faith.  Fear neutralizes our passion and leaves us to feeling as if we are in control of our destinies. God sent His son to set the captives free and to bring us eternal life and we often miss the freedom part because we can't wrap our minds around what freedom really is. For some freedom scares you because it means exposing some dark areas of your heart and that's too hard to handle emotionally  and I get that I really do. Exposing light on a dark area doesn't mean you stand on the corner and scream out whatever you have done or what has been done to you but it means you stand before the throne of God completely bearing your soul to the very one who created it asking him to set you FREE.  That means no more control on your part of protecting it, no more hiding it because of having to deal with the emotional effects of it. God takes it and brings about a healing that eventually leads you into a place of FREEDOM.  I chose Peace as my one word this year because of the definition. It means freedom from oppressive thoughts or emotions. I am attacked in my mind more than any other area and because of that my emotions follow and I have found myself in defeat more times than none. I want you to also experience this freedom. The kind that when you wake up no matter what season you are in joy comes first. It's the kind that when life is literally spinning out of your control you see things in slow motion because you are locked in on the goodness of your Creator. The kind that comes from letting go of what doesn't matter and surrendering to something much greater than you. Freedom comes in all shapes and sizes and it's a beautiful thing to move from bondage and start believing and dreaming beyond the captivity around your heart! It's time for those bars of insecurities, addictions, regret or what ifs to come down. Walk in freedom today!!  

Galatians 5:1 It is for FREEDOM Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore nd do not submit again to a yoke of slavery - 

I need reading glasses... there I said it.

1 Corinthians 3:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. now I know in part then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

If there is one item I have learn to have a love/hate relationship with it is definitely the mirror.  If I wake up struggling with my body image and get dressed and look in the mirror and it suddenly tells me how big I am or how I don't look good in whatever it is I hate it but if it reveals something in my teeth or nose before speaking to someone or if I have i something in my eye that keeps me from seeing I love it (well love isn't the exact word but I am thankful in the moment).  I am coming to realize that I need glasses. I use to be able see things from far away and now as I near the age of 39 I find myself tilting things at an angle or holding things back at a distance so I can see without a blur.  I will at some point break down and do the whole reading glasses thing and start reading and seeing things with much better clarity.  As I read this verse in 1 Corinthians I realized that the way see things in this life whether it be in front of a mirror or in front of circumstances that seem beyond repair we can't and will not see things clearly until we first see Jesus clearly. He is not your punisher instead He is your redeemer. He is not waiting on you to once again screw up instead He is waiting with open arms to love you beyond your comprehension. I looked at this verse and three words popped out at me. The first word is dimly; it simply means limited or insufficient amount of light. Dim means skeptical, pessimistic attitude. The second word is fully; it means completely in a full manner and third word is known and it means to be recognized.  As I replaced those words with the actual definitions I read the verse as this...

For Now we see in a mirror with limited or insufficient amount of light with even a skeptical or pessimistic attitude. BUT then face to face. Now I know in part that I shall know completely even as I have been completely recognized.  

We allow the things that blur our vision to take root to thoughts and then before long our attitude and actions follow. For some it is giving in to that addiction once again that has you consistently around the throat. For some its the dirtiness of your past. For others its the circumstances you have no control over that seem to continually strip you from seeing the FREEDOM and HOPE that Jesus wants you to so clearly see. Lean in,  He wants you to know that nothing ever surprises Him and that He loves you regardless of your current season. I love the very next verse it says this in (the message) verse 13 But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.  WOW!  We cannot see the big picture nor are we suppose to. To trust steadily simply means that no matter the outcomes you don't let it disturb you upset you or move you from the feet of Jesus because you are planted firmly. To hope unswervingly means that when the world looks to the chaos of your life, the consequences of your sin or the things that could and will knock you down that those around you do not see you falling apart they see you clinging to Jesus which is our Hope. To love extravagantly means you love without restraint. You literally blow peoples minds with your generosity. When you only see whats in front of you then you can't be thinking kingdom minded it becomes all about you just trying to exist.  I was watching a documentary on you tube about human trafficking and afterwards I sat there in shock. I cried, and I could feel this anger rising. I work with girls weekly that have been rescued and when I watched this video it hurt worse because I now have names and faces attached to this horrible thing that is modern day slavery.  I closed my computer and I could hear God say go read Psalm 111:7. I immediately grabbed my bible and this is what it says; The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; God so sweetly whispered into the depths of my soul "Holly its my hands that are faithful and just and I am using your mouth and your hands as my instrument to bring change." I was speechless. I was so focused on the big picture and that overwhelmed and swallowed my efforts up. But zooming back and seeing God and knowing He isn't surprised by the evil of this world is what pushes me to daily give of my hands and words. We encounter people everywhere we go and we honestly have no idea the back stories that follow frustrations.  I challenge you to embrace the truth of these verses. Your hands are His hands so serve and love with all you have. The end of verse 13 in 1 Corinthians says "and the best of the three is love". The only way people are going to truly see God is through your love. Do you love your husband without restraint? Do you love your parents, church, co-workers with elaborate measures. John 13:35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Today hold the mirror up to your heart and just like it tells me whats in my teeth or nose let it show you how you are trusting, hoping and loving today. Be encouraged and love without restraint!! 

check out www.fieldsofhopeusa.com for more information on how you can be a voice for the voiceless! 

cheating on my pumpkin spice latte...

This morning as I sipped on my peppermint mocha coffee I felt as if I was cheating on my pumpkin spice latte.  Last night at lifegroup I talked about seasonal treasures in our lives and how many treasures are meant for only a season.  For instance candy canes are only meant for the Christmas season, and candy corns are meant for fall. You can buy both peppermint and candy corns year round but there is something about eating them in the season they belong in.  We adjust our lives to whatever season we are in whether it is through clothing to the activities we choose to do.   For example fall means football, bonfires, colder weather and pumpkin everything and we adjust our lives by pulling out our football gear, buying boots, carving pumpkins and we buy out the pumpkin spice creamer section at Target because it is only here for this season.  What about when friendships end?  What about when you lose your job? What about that dream that you were so passionate about suddenly doesn’t seem so attainable? Are those seasonal things? YES! God tells us in Ecclesiastes 3 that there is a time for everything.  It is ok to be angry even mad at times but there is also the time you let things go, move forward and allow God to work in you and the circumstance that brought you to that place of your anger. He will use every emotion, every response, every thought to bring you into a more intimate relationship with Him.  I love this verse in Colossians 3 (the msg) “you’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete.” 

Just like when summer comes you don’t see people in full coats, gloves and boots nor do you see people walking around in the winter with bikinis on. We adapt to the climate and dress accordingly.  We love to get new clothes for each season because it makes us feel a since of newness as we enter that season.  We attach old memories, past mistakes and pain to the different seasons of our lives and we then allow those seasons to keep us in our old “clothing” so to speak. This verse says throw it in the fire which means you can’t get it back out and put it back on.  If you have been redeemed guess what your old self is NO more. We can choose to allow our thoughts and actions take us back into those dark places or we can choose to walk in the light and truth of God’s word.  Its time to replace the triggers you have through smell, hearing, touch etc that remind you of who you use to be or pain that has come your way.  It is so easy to smell something, hear a sound, or see something and it takes you back you to a past sin and you immediately feel dirty, guilty and then shame sets in. Instead of focusing on the details of that day or season in your life allow that to be a NEW reminder of your redemption.  Look at the verse again “stripped off and put in the fire” what a beautiful picture of being made new. Fire is mighty because it can destroy in an instant. When I was in high school my house caught on fire and we lost so many things such as pictures, clothing to my childhood toys. I still have a doll that has fire damage on it and when I see her I am taken back to my childhood instantly. I am able to touch and see something that what was salvaged in what seemed so devastating at the time in my life.  Even though I can still see those marks on the dolls face it no longer takes me back to that day when we began to sift through all the damage instead it takes me to that place of my tea parties in my room with just her and me. I can almost smell smoke of that fire just sitting here. I can also remember the coldness of the hospital room where my dad laid dead on a stretcher.  I can go back so easily to my teenage years of desperately wanting to fit in and be wanted. We all have memories and images that seems to be forever burned in our brains but God wants you know your worth and to know that FREEDOM exist. I want you to think about this image in your head.. You are standing before God with all those horrible thoughts, memories, images, regrets etc. and one by one layer after layer you allow Him to take those things that have kept you from experiencing a deep intimate relationship with Him. Let that sink in… It requires a level of vulnerability and surrender in a way that makes you feel naked.  I love the second half of that verse  “every item of your new way of life is custom made by the Creator with His label on it.“  You see you are no longer defined by those triggers or by the sin itself you are defined by the Creator.  Today as you go through this beautiful fall day look intently at the leaves and see gorgeous colors of fall, feel the wind as it blows at the perfect speed to remind us that winter is around the corner. Experience the pumpkin creamers and apple ciders that are perfect to the taste.  Fall may remind you of death or it could mean a past sin that you were entangled in, or it could be a season of renewal.   I don’t know what fall or this season of life you are in reminds you of but I do know whatever the season God has given us senses to see, touch and feel His presence no matter what.  Maybe it is time to replace some triggers…

Psalm 34:8 (the Msg) Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—
how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.

Dream a little Dream by Sharie King

I am starting something new on my blog this week.  I am only going to be blogging once a week and from time to time I will have guest bloggers. I love connecting with other women who cheer me on and also dream BIG themselves.  When I began praying for who I would first ask I knew I had to start with Sharie.  We met over 4 years ago outside of a coffee shop. When I first would meet up with her I would listen to her pour truth into me and now our coffee dates are often 3 hours full of truth, laughter, dreaming and maybe even tears.  I love this lady and I am so thankful she is in my life. She is an incredible speaker and has a heart for girls and women of all ages. She is definitely a world changer and I am so honored to call her my friend.  You can check out more of Sharie's blog post at http://sharieking.com/

Dream a Little Dream

photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography via photopincc

Have you ever found yourself waking up thinking, “Don’t forget this dream.”  Sometimes I still forget them, but on a good day I remember so my husband and I can have a good laugh.

I’ve shared many of my dreams (the kind I have when I’m asleep) with my husband, but the other day I realized I hadn’t shared some of my childhood dreams.  I wanted to fly, to swim with dolphins, and even to be Princess Leah in Return of the Jedi.

The other day I was reading Genesis 1:26, “Let’s make man in our likeness- so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky.”

This was the first time I read this verse and wondered, “How did Adam and Eve rule over fish of the sea and birds of the air if they didn’t have some sort of super-ability to fly or swim.”  They didn’t have submarines, boats, hang-gliders, or airplanes, so practically how did they any kind of interaction with these creatures? But, what if Adam and Eve, in their perfection, had some abilities which mankind lost in the fall?

I’ve always been that girl who has an affinity to super-hero shows.  I’ve wished I could have special powers and abilities so I could make a difference in the world.  I thought, “If we had super-powers, imagine what could we do?”

The sad truth is God’s power lives in each one of us, but we forget it’s there.  Scripture says, God is able to “do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”? (Ephesians 3:20-21). When we received salvation, Jesus invested in us by sending the Holy Spirit.  We have access to God on a daily basis, but we forget he is there just like we forget the dreams we try to remember when we are waking up.

Beth Moore once wrote, “Satan doesn’t have to get us blatantly thinking satanic thoughts to have victory over us.  All he needs to do is get us looking at life from man’s perspective rather than God’s.” I am convinced we each have had dreams of what God could do through us, but we don’t follow them because they seem impossible.  We let Satan convince us that the dreams God gives us are unattainable or too great for us.

But, what if we all pretended we were little children again and let ourselves believe in the impossible? I told you that one of my dreams as a little girls was to fly.  I believe that one day when I meet Jesus he will look at me and say, “Well done good and faithful Sharie, now would you like to fly, or perhaps you’d like to ride a dolphin across the sea with me.”   And I would respond, “Would I?  Yes, LORD.”

If you put your fears aside, what kind of hopes would spill out of that heart of yours? I bet God’s waiting for you to access his power that’s at work within you.  Imagine what God can do through you today.