What's this all about?

In two more days, I will have pulled off one of the largest events of my life - my first 5K. Not running one, planning and executing one. But not me, God! And a team of extremely gracious volunteers who have given so much time and so much of themselves to help pull this off. 


Will this event go off without a hitch - likely not, that's just life. I'm prepared for that, but in planning this event, God has shown me so much about Him, His grace, and His mercy. He has shown me this: When He gives a heart of compassion to others; when He shows others what is breaking His heart, He will help pull off both large and small feats. 


What is this all for? It's about surrendering my will, my agenda and making my life what He wants it to be. Some days, the days are so busy and the days never seem to have enough time in them, but I would not have it any other way than knowing I am living out my faith. God did not call us here, on this earth, to simply exist - to be comfortable. He did not call us here to COEXIST. 


What God did call us here for was to be the salt of the earth. In Matt. 5:13, Jesus says this, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."

Why are we here? Why do we choose to exist just for the sake of existing? What is the purpose in that? Instead, Jesus calls us to,  "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." - Matt 28:19

I'm reading this amazing book right now called, Radical, by David Platt. In this book, Mr. Platt challenges the reader - me - to really examine what that means. If we are called, and make no mistake, we ARE called, to go make disciples, then we need to wake up out of our wealthy American Dream and look at the world through the eyes of the 26,000 children that will breathe their lasts breaths today because of starvation. Or awaken our eyes and minds to the 1+ BILLION that live on LESS THAN one dollar per day, or the 2 BILLION that live on less than 2 dollars per day. We need to wake up to the reality that there are millions of children sitting in orphanages around the world and in our own country's foster care programs. We need to wake up to the fact that there are 20-27 MILLION slaves today. That is more now than there ever was during the entire trans-Atlantic slave-trade error. Men, women, and children, ensnared in the traps of the sex-slave trade and forced labor camps - being beaten, raped, drugged, and starved.

What are we going to do about these - and SO many other atrocities that are happening in our world? David Platt says this, "Anyone wanting to proclaim the glory of Christ to the ends of the earth must consider not only how to declare the gospel verbally but also how to demonstrate the gospel visibly in a world where so many are urgently hungry (and I would add hurting, abandoned, violated, and more!) If I am going to address urgent spiritual needs by sharing the gospel of Christ or building up the body of Christ around the world, then I cannot overlook the dire physical needs in the process."

This isn't about "faith by works" because God was pretty clear that we receive salvation through Him and Him alone, but God was also pretty clear with what He wanted us to be doing with our lives. 1 John 3:16 tells us this, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." 

Again, I will recite Matt 25:40, "The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

As I continue to fight for the freedom of women and children that are trapped in the sex-slave trade, as I fight to bring new hope and life to their lives, I am reminded of and encouraged by what God did for us. He sent His one and only Son to live a perfect life here on earth. Furthermore, He sent His Son, knowing that Jesus would take on the burden of ALL of the world's sin, to die a brutal and gruesome death - FOR US! For me! He cared enough to save you and me!


What a loving God I serve. 


Our lives are about loving God and loving others. That's your purpose. That's your mission. If you need help, or want to know where God is calling you, let's talk. Maybe I can help you figure that out. 


When the disciples asked Jesus what the GREATEST commandment was, He could not list just one.... He HAD to list two. Read what Jesus answered in Luke 10:27, "He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself."

Blessings to you.

Fully Surrendering to God - not the mess and chaos!

Ah ha! I've finally done it (even if only temporarily!) I have surrendered to God and not the OCD and Type-A characteristics that have plagued my existence!


Yesterday, we had a house FULL of people! I was away speaking at a church the entire morning and part of the afternoon. My husband was not feeling great and the kids were making mild progress (that's what I call it when they don't completely tear it apart from one end to the other while I am away) on the house. I arrived home in just enough time to to stir the marinating chicken and begin to cook the orzo before company began arriving for the large BBQ we were having. There was no time to dust, sweep, vacuum, wipe down the bathroom....etc. It was just "come as you are, this is what it is." 

But, listen.... growth happens! You can evolve as a human and grow in wisdom and maturity. You can overcome severe strongholds in your life. 

As our guests (numbering somewhere around 35-40) began arriving yesterday, I did not stress. I didn't panic. I just welcomed them in and didn't even give an explanation as to why everything was not perfectly in it's place, perfectly set out - awaiting their arrival. They came through the door and I greeted them with a smile and hug, and continued on making my orzo salad. 


Why do I share this story with you? Because, as I stood in my kitchen, I was fully aware of God''s Presence with me. I was reminded of the Mary and Martha story in the gospels. While I wasn't entertaining Jesus himself (although one could argue hosting a loving and warm environment where we would soon be discussing matters of our faith and growth in Christ IS, in fact, like hosting God... but that might be a stretch. :-D), I thought about my reaction to people showing up early.... and just in general, me not being ready. I was quite surprised by my own reaction - or really, lack thereof. 


That is growth! For a highly Type-A (to a fault) and OCD-type personality, that is growth! And that growth, I believe, has come through spiritual edification and sanctification. Time with God. Reading His Word, studying, journaling, and reading books by fabulous people sharing in my faith! 


In Luke, chapter 10 verses 38-42, you find the story of Jesus, coming to the town of Bethany. Sisters, Mary and Martha, live there. As Jesus arrived this is what unfolds:


³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
   ⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

All Jesus required was the presence of his hosts.

Isn't that all Jesus requires of us? Our presence. 

Galations 1:10 says this, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." 

We are servants of a King - of a God who cares enough about us to work out even the small details in our lives, like perfectionism. Yes, there may be "bigger fish to fry", but God loves us enough to care about what matters to us. And more than that, He cares enough for us that all He really requires of us is our time.... our presence, our dedication to Him and the things that concern Him.

Ephesians 3:7 says this, "I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power."


Are you a servant of the gospel of God? God's grace in our lives is palpable. You need only to open your eyes to the daily victories you are winning. Maybe it's that one cigarette you didn't smoke. Maybe it's that one time you didn't yell at your spouse or your children. Maybe it was getting your bathroom cleaned and the laundry done. For me, it was not stressing over company coming and the house and food not being perfectly done and presentable.


What victories can you find in your day? Find God's grace in your life.... then praise Him for it! Praise Him for the small and the large victories. Give God ALL of you... even if that means, when you are giving him your "check-list" 15 minutes per day, that you give Him your FULL and undivided attention. 


God will honor that. 

Jeremiah 29:13 says this, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Seek Him! 


If you would like to know how to really seek God, ask me. I would love to help you.