Pink: Live It 2011

Hey everyone...  This is kind of an update on where God has taken me these past few days!  Hopefully it will inspire someone else!

It might seem a little chaotic in thought because there were several, I do mean SEVERAL messages so these words are basically a short overview from the things God revealed.  The first thing that God did for me was confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt that the actions that I have taken when it comes to standing up for the truths of His word have not been in vain!  To not live in FEAR, OK, so that being said I guess I can call it a night...   ha ha ha!  (Christine Caine)  "God is not a God of expirations"  I mean take Sarah for instance, she was "Past the age of childbearing" and God certainly had the option to allow her to conceive at a "normal" age, but He didn't...  He needed to show Himself God, to make it so that no one but Him could receive the glory!
Then, Mary Faulkner taught on Abilgail and the fact that her leadership, her husband, was a Fool, Literally his name means "Fool".  She purposed that when his ignorance and arrogance had threatened her livelihood and the lives of her family was indangered because of him she made a choice.  She saddeled up her donkey and took off to meet David herself.  Then the unthinkable, she basically called him out, she said...  "You shouldn't have a troubled conscience because you spilled blood for no good reason and claimed your own victory" (1 Samuel 25:31.  Seriously, she called out David, the man who was coming to destroy everything that she held dear, and God spared her!  But the most impactful part of this message was the fact that , "When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground.  She fell at his feet and said, "On me alone, my lord, be the guilt...let not my lord regard this worthless fool, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he." 1 Samuel 25: 23-25.  Really, she humbled herself to fall before his feet, but then rose to speak with boldness and truth!  Wow, God is so good!
Then Charolette Gambill's Message on Influence, utterly amazing.  She taught on the passage in Mark 6 about John the baptist...  See, John the Baptist had confronted King Herod on the sin that he was living in, and his wife got ticked.  She was in fact so mad that she fumed and became obsessed with the destruction of John the baptist.  One day when his daughter had won favor in his (Herod) eyes he told her that she could ask for anything up to half the kingdom... and she went and saught the council of her mom... what did she say?  The HEAD!  See, it may not seem that impactful just reading my words and I definitey do her sermon an injustice, but the part that resonates with me is that sometime when you call something out in someone that affects them and they don't want to change it, well it honestly just ticks them off and they begin to fume on it, and stew on it, and when the "opportune time" presents itself they will stop at nothing to get "the head".  I have actually heard this sermon 3 times before and this time it hit me so hard because I am currently in that place.  I have taken some stands, had some confrontations and it seems like I am in the place where it won't stop until my head is on a platter!  But there is hope, because God will be glorifed, and the challenge that I take away is to watch....  To be careful to make sure that I don't become like this.  To always take the challenges from others if they line up with Scripture, and let it go.  To not pick up that grude and stew on it, and allow it to shade my life!  Always be mindful of your influence!  What fragrance do you give off, " love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, and gentleness... or strife, jealousy, fits of anger, and envy"?  Wow, what a challenge!

This next part was utterly amazing...  I promise that it was as if I was the only one in the room!  (Charolette G) spoke about allowing God to take us "the long way around" to be where he wants because in the process "He will get the glory".  See, sometimes it's easy to feel like God has just left us in a state of slow motion, like you're traveling through glue or something, but it's not just to be mean or cruel... there are things that He wants us to accomplish along the way, I will just share open and honestly with you.  I have been in a state of heartache for sometime now, because several years ago I surrendered to the call of ministry on my life.  I knew that I would be a wife, and a mother, and a worship leader.  Several months ago I was asked to come on staff at a local church as the worship leader, and Jeremy and I prayed long and hard, and sought many Godly counselors about it, and as we moved forward we knew that it wasn't the time or place!  It was devistating to me, but I knew that God was saying "prepare your heart, be ready to serve, and I will lead you where I want you."  That has been honestly one of the toughest things for me to do!  I know it's the call on my life, and I don't understand why the "not now" but I do have HOPE!  He hasn't left me, he's just taking me the long way around!  And in the mean time, I will ready my heart and tune in to hear his words!!!
Last but not least, (Chris Caine) spoke in 1 Corinthians 12:12, "For just as the body is one and has many memebers, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ"  Through this passage she was talking about the significance of each member and each calling we have on our lives.  Even when we are knowing that we are shaped to be a teacher, preacher, servant or prophet, there may be times when he stretches us and puts us in situations where we are growing in other areas.  For me, again as I've already shared, I went this week longing to hear from God...  That He hadn't forgotten me, that He didn't call me to take stands, lose friends, lose positions, and go through this time of despair and wondering for nothing...  He will use me!  I know the call on my life, and I know what He has fastened me for it, so until that time, He is just growing me, and shaping me to be the woman that He needs in order for me to glorify His name!  It's not with out hope, and it's not without questioning, but He is faithful....

I want to leave you guys with one more thing and it comes from a Chris Tomlin song, "And if our God is for us, then who can ever stop us, and if our God is for us, then what can stand against"!  Dear friends, no truer words could ever come from my hands...  "Who can ever stop you, and what can stand against you"...  My God is for you!!!!!!

I pray that all who read will gain strength and encouragement and know that He loves you more than you will ever know!!!  Blessings dear one!

To speak the truth or not to speak the truth... that is the question!

So yesterday a conversation I had sparked some awesome thoughts in me...

Have you ever wondered... what is the cost of speaking up?  What does it gain you?  Does it make you seem arrogant?  Does it cause people to shy away from you?
These are some questions that I honestly can't answer yet!  Maybe I never will.  All I do know is that when I am in a situation where people are discussing controversial issues it is really hard to sit silent when someone tends to use their opinions or the opinions of others to base their discussion.  And what if you don't speak?  Who will?  I mean, you can say all day long that the sky is orange, and I can say all day that the sky is blue, and if it's blue then that's the truth!  Just because you want to believe it's orange doesn't carry any weight.  Especially if you were able to back up your reasoning with documented, founded truths that the sky is in fact blue! 
Now, taking it to a spiritual application, it breaks my heart to hear believers say, "Well, we just have to agree to disagree on our interpretations of Scripture"  Really?  How is that?  Seriously, could you say that homosexuality is wrong for you but ok for me?  Can you really say that we can just apply what we like to one area of our life and then leave behind the others?  Or reason that it's OK for one person and not for another... and don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about issues like eating pork, cutting your hair, wearing makeup, or even drinking... I'm talking about PRINCIPLES of God's Word.  The foundations of right and wrong, compromise and solidity.

So, my thoughts (take it or leave it),  I feel like I want to shout from the mountain tops:  Stand firm.  Give account.  Be brave.  Like God said to Joshua, "Be Strong and Courageous!"  There is no reason to be silent and go along with compromise when you have the chance to stand!  The truth is very simple you are either for Christ or against Him, and we need to be a people of walking the straight and narrow path (not narrow in loving the people of this world, but strong in our convictions and beliefs!)  How to change:  KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE!  Don't just take someone's Word for their teachings of God's Word.  Dig in, find out the truth, and be willing to question what you're taught!  There is nothing wrong with a right-hearted appeal!  


Many blessings!

I Will be Still And Know You Are God

A Time of Prayer

Well, here it is:  My first Blog!

I'm so excited, I definitely wanted to use this as an avenue to provoke thought, encourage and challenge myself and others that I know and will get to know!  (So, read if you dare!!!  he he he)!

Just to start out I just wanted to send out a word of encouragement, I was fortunate enough to spend some time praying with a few of my close women friends tonight and I was reminded of this passage in Matthew:  

"Truly I say to you, what ever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.  For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst." (Matthew 18:18-20)

So, not that Scripture need any rambling from me, but I would like to encourage each of you this day:  Spend some time together with your family and maybe a group of your close friends PRAYING!  Thank the Father for what you have, the blessings that He has given you (even for the trials), then spend some time interceding on the behalf of the local believers and leaders in your church, what the hey, why not even spend some time praying for the leaders of our Country.  Take this as a challenge, and don't worry we will get into some more juicy talks later!!!   Many blessings!