WARNING! RAMBLE ALERT!

No, I don't mean Amber alert. Sorry if I freaked you out. Just warning you that I'm not going to be as structured in this post :) or ever again... maybe...

I apologize that I've been MIA on this blog for a few months. Things have been tough. And when things get tough, truth gets tougher. It gets tougher because I expect truth to make sense. I expect it will open all the right doors and sort out my mess - that it will pay the bills and sweep the floors. 

But truth isn't always ideal. Truth just is.

So, what's been tough? 

1. Planting a church targeted for a generation about which we're passionate, but who've been told they don't need community to have a relationship with God... and often don't think they have time for Him regardless.

2. Just trying to balance the every day challenges of raising my babies, helping my husband plant a church, love on the individuals in my circle of influence - which can only be done during the hours of 2pm and 4pm because that's the only time I can have a coherent, uninterrupted conversation - keep up with the house work, our finances, not to mention time with my husband (what's that?) or time with Jesus...

There's more, but the struggles aren't the issue. My struggle has been to find their purpose. What am I suppose to be learning through all this?

I think, most obviously, every struggle is an invitation to lean more heavily on Jesus. Not easy, again, because we like control. But it's truth.

But in addition, for me, God continues to bring this verse back to my mind...

Galatians 6:9-10 ⁹Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Do you ever walk through the grocery store noticing people? Our heads down, our eyes focused, our patience thin because of the time or the lines or our children or the expense... I find myself - as the Christmas season draws closer - smiling like an IDIOT in the store just because people look SO cranky. 

We cannot give up; we can't weary in doing good. People are broken, hurting, desperate, dying, and afraid. Some days, I feel overwhelmed, and it's the smile of my five-year-old that reminds me it's not as bad as it seems. I want to be that for someone. I want to be the smile that makes them feel their not alone - the kind word, the helping hand, whatever is needed.

So... bottom line. The truth makes things whole - it doesn't make them simple. Truth doesn't make the pain go away, or mean the economy as we currently know it will disappear. But the truth IS... and "at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

What could Jesus be prompting you to do in this season? (Not just Christmas, but this season of life...) How can you be the light, the warmth or the hope for someone? Pray with me, that we can see God's opportunities for loving others in His love, and really making a difference. May you have the strength to fight for someone else today. Don't grow weary! :)

Pearls

So, a couple weeks ago, Dusty was talking about worship. He related the story of the pearls he bought me for my 30th birthday. It's a great story (one that makes my heart smile), and it's a good analogy of how our hearts should be toward God. HOWEVER, there is another SIDE to the pearl story. One that's a good analogy of how NOT to be.

You see, I'm a simple girl: T-shirts, jeans... maybe even the SAME T-shirt and jeans I wore yesterday. And, like D said, I don't wear a lot of jewelry. I think I've been wearing the same cross for 4 years, almost daily... and that is only because the one I'd worn for the previous 2 years came up missing. Needless to say, I put little time into understanding my "fashion" and any well-put-together outfit is pure luck! 

My friend Kimmie, on the other hand,... ALL girl! Her motto is, literally, "it's all about the sparkle!" So you can imagine why, for my 30th, I had sought ensemble approval from Kimmie. I had my dress and shoes all picked out - complete with a little trinket necklace to match. You know - one of those 8 dollar jobbies from Claires or something.

Then Dusty brought home the pearls. They were beautiful. I was mystified intently listening to all the details of his search and what made them rare and wonderful. There was only one problem... did they go with my dress? He really wanted me to wear them that night and I had NO idea if they would look right. Cuz I'm that girl :) I frittered and fretted and wrung my fingers... what to do? I called Kimmie. "Wear the pearls she said." Whew! 

It's amusing to me to look back on that and think I even CONSIDERED wearing a tin, trinket necklace over the beautiful, one-of-a-kind pearls my husband had given me. But I think it's a spiritual choice we make OFTEN in life. God offers us the pearls of His plan for our lives, and we scoff. "Oh, God, I'm not sure you know what's going on? That doesn't make sense in my five-year-plan." Like Jonah, we walk the opposite direction, relying on our own perspective, wisdom or opinion. We miss out on the pearls of God's vision, God's wisdom. We might even have to spend a few days in a stinky, fishy place. (Sorry, I have 3 preschoolers.)

Or, maybe, like Moses, we're frightened of what we cannot see. We doubt ourselves, and therefore, God's judgment. We may walk on in partial obedience, but we might miss the fullness of all He offers. 

Into the light...

Is there something God has offered you or asked you to do, but you've been hesitant to obey?

Is it your own understanding that's holding you back, or is it your fear of what you cannot see? Do you see how both of these mindsets are issues of control? Have  you really given your life over to Jesus? Is he really the leader of your life? What "pearls" could he be offering you that you will miss if you do not move forward?

Wielding the Sword...

Read the stories of Jonah and Moses (linked above). 

How did each man walk in his own understanding, rather than in obedience to God?

What did that cost?

Read Proverbs 3:5-6. What does this verse say to you? How can you use it in your life?

Read 2 John 1:5-6. According to this passage, what is obedience?

Take the pearls God is offering you, girl. The battle is real. You are needed. :) Loving you...

Freedom 2

Putting on the belt...

Ok, 'fore we get started, read this passage... 2Corinthians 3:12-18. Last week we talked about how a bent toward past sin OR toward legalism can keep us from freedom. We also covered that what our society deems as "freedom" can actually lead us to greater bondage than we've ever experienced.

I LOVE this 2 Corinthians passage!!! I love the comparison between Moses having to veil his face to give the Israelites God's Word and the idea of the heart being veiled. Don't know that story? It's cool. Read it here. It's as though because the people weren't willing to experience God's fullness, their hearts were veiled - they were shrouded from the potential that He had for them, from all they could be in Him.

I think that can be so true for us as women! Read vs.17-18 again "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is FREEDOM. And we, who with UNVEILED faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness..." Do you feel that freedom? Do you feel unveiled? This passage says that when we have Jesus, the veil is taken away! And if our veil is removed we should be radiant reflections of Him. I believe as women, though, sometimes we put the veil back on! We won't be vulnerable, or we won't reach out, won't try, or we are so pressed to push our own agenda... What would it be like if a bride came down the aisle only to leave her veil covering her face? It would feel strange, lack intimacy. The you-may-kiss-the-bride  moment would completely lose its awe! There cannot be true intimacy, true relationship, if there is a veil shrouding the other person.

Have you ever seen a radiant woman? Like the glow a lady gets when she's expecting a child. Even women some would consider plain stand out when they are expecting... Or a woman in love... oh they just SHINE don't they? I want to be radiant like that in Christ!  We can be!

Into the light...

1. Do you feel radiant in Christ? Why/why not?

2. Does a lack of being vulnerable or an attitude of pride keep you from feeling free and radiant? 

3. What would it take for you to remove the veil, to be a radiant life-giver to those around you?

Wielding the Sword...

Read Hebrews 12:1-3. What is hindering you? Can you throw it off? Who should we focus on/look to to give us strength and hope to move toward freedom?

Read 2 Corinthians 4:7. Where does our power come from? How does this relate to vulnerability?

Read Galatians 5:22-26. Our first passage said "where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom" - how can we see evidence that the Holy Spirit is in our lives? What do you think it means to "keep in step" with the Spirit?

Let me know what's on your heart. Leave me a comment, we'll dialogue. Loving and believing in you. Take off the veil; let Jesus radiate through you. The battle is now. Your presence is needed, warrior princess :)

Freedom Part 1

Hey girlies,

Ok, please forgive me for disappearing for a couple weeks.  I was traveling to and from Wyoming, with my sis, to see my mum and daddy! And... well, their internet speed is... annoyingly slow. I hope you all had a GREAT 4th of July. It was beautiful here. 

Putting on the belt...

I love the 4th. It's fun for me to think about all our country has fought for and was built on. And it makes me ponder what freedom really is... 

Is freedom simply the right to be ones own country? Is it the right to have a say in our government? The right to carry weapons? To choose this to choose that? Is freedom all those things? I suppose. But is that true freedom? Is freedom simply a right to choose? Or do we chase it, pursue it, aye DEMAND it because the true root of freedom is something so much greater?

Into the light...

1. Are you free? No, not free to vote or wear polyester. Are you REALLY free?

2. Does your "freedom" ever lead you to bondage? Have you ever made choices with your "freedom" that saddled you with a whole bag of undesirable consequences?

3. What do you need freedom from?

Wielding the Sword...

Read Galatians 5:1 - Here Paul is talking about being burdened by legalism - extra Biblical practices by which some try to measure their righteousness, which isn't possible (see this verse). But we can also be burdened by some of the choices we've made with our human concept of freedom. Addictions, abuses, apathy... Which yoke are you most likely to struggle with - legalism, or rebellion?

Read 2 Peter 2:19 - Ponder this... how long does it take before the "freedom to indulge" in something, becomes "something that masters" us? Interesting thought...

Read Galatians 5:13 - How does this differ from our society's common view of personal freedom?

Read 2 Corinthians 3:17 - Who is it that brings freedom? If we are struggling to feel free in an area of our lives, perhaps it is because we have not give Christ and His Spirit permission to have control in that area?

Send me comments (I moderate them, so if you don't want them published, no one else will see them...) So talk to me... what makes you feel free? Where do you NOT feel free? How can we pray together? Let's walk the road toward freedom...

Feel like a failure?

Putting on the belt...

Hey girls! Today's post is the story of my friend Amy. Amy is an amazing, vivacious woman who is allowing God to use her in courageous ways. Her story is amazing and it's my prayer you'll be infused with hope as you read it - like I was :)

Amy says... My Lies...or what used to be my lies. 
 
I will disappoint you, because that's who I am. 
I will let you down, because that what i do. 
I will never be what you wanted me to be because I always fail. 
 
I would be the first person to tell you how much God loves and care about you, and I would believe that to be true....for you. But God doesn't love me that way. 
I never really could understand, believe, or accept His love for me. I didn't know why...I didn't think too much about it really. However, it continued to be a stumbling block for me even though I didn't know it at the time. 
I knew I wanted to know God...I knew I wanted to respect Him, honor Him, and, above all else, make Him proud. But I always felt I was falling short. 
 
One night just a few weeks ago, I was praying...and as I sat silent I felt the Lord speak directly to me - almost like he was downloading something right into my brain. 
 
He said that I could not accept His love because I felt I was a disappointment. He told me that I feel this way because of my family. He allowed me to feel the pain of their disappointment for only a moment... thoughts of so many family members thinking of me as a loser who has done nothing with her life and has little to no accomplishments to speak of. The pain was real...very raw. He allowed me to see that disappointment that my family had, so that he could show me why I feel the way I do about His love for me. I wanted to love God the way I saw other Christians loving Him. But how could I even begin to fall in love with a God I wouldn't allow to love me back? 
 
At this point I felt the Lord explain that all those things my family may have wanted me to achieve in life, were meaningless in his eyes. He called me to be me...(surprise surprise!) He said, "Where you are right now is where I want you to be." 
Wow, nothing more...nothing less. I'm not a professional anything; I don't have any fancy cars, degrees, homes, or even stories to tell...but God says, "My love is in abundance for YOU! You are right where you need to be. Those things that make you a 'somebody' in this world, don't mean anything to me."
 
I cried (ok I bawled like a baby with snot and drool too!), It was an amazing thing to feel that pain removed from me...and I didn't even know it was there! 
I know now that I AM loved. And with that I too can love! I'm still learning and growing, but its so nice to know I'm on the right path. 

Amy

Into the light...

1. Do you ever feel like a failure based on what others think (or you perceive they think) of you?

2. How do you define success and failure?

3. Are you chasing after who God wants you to be? Or are your own standards and the standards of others drawing you away from who He has called you to be?

Wielding the Sword...

Read Isaiah 42:6 - Who is it that calls you?

Read Isaiah 55:1-9 - What do these verses say about where we can find what is TRULY valuable in life? According to verses 7-9, will we find greater purpose in our own thinking? or by following God's thinking?

Read I Samuel 16:7 - How does this verse compare with what we tend to value in our culture?

Think about what Amy said - even though some may have seen her as a failure, she was right where God wanted her - and it was HIS opinion that was important. Who is God calling you to be, Warrior Princess? Are you walking in that truth? If not, ask Him to show you who He is calling you to be.

Read Isaiah 30:21 and James 1:5

I pray you walk in the truth and in joy today, sisters. You are needed. You are enough! :)

Free to Live

Putting on the belt...

So, recently a friend tuned me in to this pastor's twitter, and I started following him. Then I checked out his blog. I thought this one was SO great for us in talking about truth. Check it out and then we'll chat...

Choosing to Live

Good huh? Today is all we have. Yesterday is gone, with all of its mistakes and failures. Who knows if we'll have tomorrow to do what we KNOW we're suppose to be doing?

Stepping into the light...

1. How are the fears/lies you're under keeping you from truly living?

2. What would you do if you weren't facing those lies?

Wielding the Sword...

Read John 8:31-32 - What sets us free? Where do we find it?

Read Galatians 5:1 - Paul, here, is referring to a specific argument of legalism. For you, though, what is the "yoke of slavery" that you are burdened by? Pray and ask God to help you throw it off.

Read John 10:10 - What has the enemy stolen from you? What "fullness" is God wanting to give you if you surrender the past, your fear, your lies to Him? I linked this verse to crosswalk.com because of the study tools. Go back to the link and click on the commentaries at the right of the verse for a greater explanation of what Jesus meant by life "to the full."

Jesus wants to set us free to live. Choose to live today, sis. Be present in the battle. Love to you.

**Next post - another great personal story of truth and healing from another sister... watch for it.

Not Good Enough?

Hey, Ladies. This is a post by our friend Michelle. Michelle was brave enough to share her story with us. It's no easy task to put your heart down for everyone to read. Thanks, Michelle!

Michelle writes...

When I think through the many memories I have, I can think of many of a voice telling me "I am not good enough for......". It may have been "I am not popular enough or pretty enough to be with Jacob" (a guy I had a crush on for six years). It may have even been "I'm not smart enough to get the degree I dream of having". It may be "I am not a good mother or wife." All these thoughts have ended in me not being happy most of my life, because most of my life, I believed these lies. I do know that God's plan is already wrtitten for all of us. I believe the choices we make are based on those those plans. 

I had this lie for tweleve years. It started when I started my teenage years. I became one of the worse teenage girls a parent could ever have. The fights I had with my parents, even though most of it was my fault, I had the voice in my head saying that my parents didn't care what I said or felt. It turned me to be sucidal. I, even, ran away one night after another fight with my mother. It surfaced more when I was jealous of the realtionship my mom and my sister-in-law had. The voice in my head was letting me know I wasn't a good enough daughter for my mom, my mom had to resort to her DAUGHTER-IN-LAW. I never counted in that my mom has been close to all three of us; me and my sisters-in-law since my first sister-in-law came into the family fourteen years ago.I started to feel like I was loved when Tony came into my life five years ago. It wasn't until the Mother's Day sermon that I realized this was the lie Satan was telling me.

I am very close with my family. I have a GREAT husband, an INTELLIGENT daughter, I have 3 friends that I am close with that I trust with my life to and are awesome people who deserve the best in life. I do know I am good enough for everything.

Sincerely, 

The best mother, wife, daughter, friend, and everything else I can be,
Michelle Marcelina Martinez Cooper

Into the Light...

1. Do you struggle with the nagging feeling that you're not good enough? Not smart enough, Not beautiful enough, Not capable enough?

2. Who would be telling you that? Would the God of the universe, who created you by His own hand say such things about His own creation?

3. If God isn't saying it, then is it true?

Wielding the Sword...

Read Isaiah 42:6-8 - According to these verses, who makes us all we are called to be? Look at verse 8. Is God going to share credit? We cannot be enough on our own - but because of Jesus we are more than enough IN HIM.

Read Colossians 3:2-4 - The motivations that leaving us feeling like we're "not enough" are often human thinking rather than thinking like God. Here, Paul says we are hidden in Christ. We are not just ourselves anymore. We have the power of the Almighty God.

Read Psalm 139:13-16 - What does the psalmist say about how well God knows you? Do you believe He can complete what He has started in you?  (Read Philippians 1:6)

The TRUTH is, WITH Christ, we have the power to be made new, to be complete, to be all we were created and called to be. If you've never crossed that line of faith - confessing Jesus as your forgiver and leader of your life, you can do it right now. Just open your heart to Him. Tell Jesus you know you've been trying in your own power, that You believe He is the Son of God, that He died for you and rose again to gain victory over the wrongdoing and death that want to control you. Tell Him you want that relationship with Him. Say it like You would say it :) Then send me a comment so we can rejoice and pray with and for you. Because of Christ, we ARE enough! In Him we can walk in truth and overcome the lies. 

The Lord is with you mighty warrior... princess :)

Faith like a child?

Psalm 40 (the whole thing, but especially vs. 1-4)

Cinching the belt...

At lunch, Dax (my five-year-old) and I were talking about waiting on God to provide for our needs.

Dax - Mommy, does Jesus give people what they need right away? Or does He only help people SOMEtimes?

Mom - Well, buddy, Jesus ALWAYS give us what we NEED - but sometimes not what we WANT or WHEN we think we need it. God knows when we REALLY need things - like when I tell you you have to wait for dessert because it's not the right time - He knows what's best.

Dax - Yah... but, Mommy, one thing... Sometimes I know best too...

LOL! Isn't it typical. I mean, at first I had to acknowledge there was doubt in what I was telling my son. To be perfectly honest... in the midst of the waiting, sometimes I wonder if He'll provide THIS time! And don't Daxton's words ring true of our hearts SO often? "Jesus, one thing... Sometimes I know best TOO..."

But who are we not to trust? Even if it's a battle to do so? Who are we not to wait? Who are we not to believe? Jesus wants to come through for us, but He wants us truly trusting and waiting on HIM - not a paycheck, not a government, not a human relationship...

Into the light...

Is the enemy more likely to tempt you with the lie that a) God will not come for you/you will be abandoned? or b) That you don't need God to make things happen?

Do you have truth that you use to combat the lie?

Wielding the Sword...

1. Read Jeremiah 29:11-13 - What does God say about your future? What does He expect before you can fully understand His plan? 

2. Read John 15:4-5 - What can we do apart from Christ? Does this truly mean we can't do ANYTHING?

3. Read Psalm 18:6-19 - Is this the picture of a God who abandons His beloved? What part of this picture of God the rescuer is most compelling to you?

Even childlike faith isn't always unhindered. Faith can be a battle. God will come for us, but we only know the joy if we wait on Him, trust in Him.

Here we go...

On Mother's Day, Dusty and I spoke about the unique battle satan fights against women, the necessity for us to see the lies he tells us and the fact that our hearts are needed in battle. God has called us. It's time to stand and fight.

But it can't end in a weekend talk. We need to take it farther - to encourage one another, to stand together in the battle, to be sisters in truth. Reading the heart of other women inspires me to keep on, to be in the Bible, to trust God.  That's what we want to do here. We're going to try to post weekly, and you can submit your comments or questions privately if you desire.

I won't be the only one posting, and, in that, I hope you'll be engaged by the stories and hope of other ladies. For today, though, I want to leave you with these thoughts...

Putting on the belt: 

God did not create you to walk in lies. Whether lies are based in pride or shame, they are not of God, and He is calling you to shake free of their trance to walk in His strength and victory. Some of you received this question from me, but I'll ask it again... what is your lie? And if you now know... what are you doing about it?

Stepping into the light:

It's tough, sometimes, to be vulnerable, but if we keep things hidden, they keep their power over us. Bring your lie into the light. If you haven't already, confess it to God. Ask His forgiveness for letting it keep you from being all He's called you to be and ask Him to help you walk toward freedom from it - "to guide you into all truth." If  you can, share the lie with someone else - someone who can encourage you in truth.

Wielding the Sword: Check out these scriptures... 

•John 8:32, John 14:6 - According to these, how and by whom are we set free?

•I John 3:18-20, 1 Corinthians 13:6 - What do these passages tell us about the connection between truth and love?

•Galatians 5:7-8 - Who/what has cut in on you and kept you from walking in/obeying the truth?

•John 16:13 - How does God speak truth to us?