don't dare be silent...

hello all... it seems as tho winter is over... and i pray the coming spring is working it's way into your hearts and planting hope in you the way it is in me... i've been thinking a lot lately. and the reason i've been thinking is because the enemy has been launching missiles at me by way of my thought-life... as i'm sure he does with everyone from time to time. but recently for me it's been bad. and i haven't been fighting back.... i've just kind of been going with all the lies he's telling me about how i'm not good at anything i do.. a terrible leader... a terrible daughter.. friend.. etc..... he really doesn't let up if you don't make him. he will tell you ANYTHING to steal your identity from you, because he's so jealous of your standing with the King. so anyway, i've been losing the fight lately, but the battle is in my mind... and if i don't win there, i don't win anywhere else. but what sucks is the devil's so sneaky.. you don't realize he's been pounding you with lies until you're completely miserable and saying things out of your mouth that are so negative you'd bat your friends on the nose with a newspaper for saying it.

thank goodness God is faithful.. and we are over-comers by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.. this afternoon i had the pleasure of talking with a bright-eyed daughter named claire over coffee, and i got to tell her about all the places i've come from in life... and it stirred up in me a passion to keep going.. to keep fighting the good fight.. to get myself into the secret place and let God be my defender. thank goodness for God-appointed coffee dates ;)

anyway.. that's all i have for you now.. except for the life changing advice to get on itunes and by the A F T E R M A T H album from hills.... do it. just do it.

a little lyrical advice from one of the tunes on that album: "take heart. may His love lead us thru the night. hold onto hope. and take courage again." ... go ahead and do this too... :)

Also, never forget all the places you've come from... for it is telling of those places and pointing to Jesus... that will cause you to overcome... recently our church celebrated it's 10th birthday. and at that celebration we had these massive walls made up of testimonies from the people of the church... and these walls are loud about God and his saving power... we wouldn't dare be silent about our King.

the thrill...

hey friends...

lately i've been pondering mundane and ordinary living. It seems as though from the time i became a christian, someone was always telling me that I was going to do something amazing for God.. and that he had a huge plan for my life that was going to change the world.. and while this is probably still true, I think when i heard that I took it to mean that because I was serving God, my life would be this exciting and important thing.. and I think that since i was so young in my walk with God, I thought the things I was going to do for the Kingdom would be because of me and my talents.. because God had made me special.. and i was getting that confused with God's ultimate will and HIS glory. However, God has lovingly shown me that just because he has a plan for my life and He will probably use me to do a few things that change eternity for someone else.. doesn't mean that i can escape the trials of ordinary, every-day ins-and-outs of life that the majority of Christ-followers willingly endure throughout their earthly lives.

No matter what I am doing for the Lord.. If i make doing that thing my goal.. and if i'm seeking the excitement of accomplishing that thing... then i will miss out on the gift of salvation: simply seeking to know the Lord; just having Jesus. Jesus gave himself on the cross so that we could know the Him and be with Him.. not so we could live exciting lives doing things for him.

I'm reflecting on these things because I have been serving in the same church for 10 years now. And this is an amazing place to be.. I've always known that. But i guess I've kind of always thought I was meant for bigger things than Conway Arkansas, and that God was going to send me out as soon as possible (i know, so prideful!) But God has so opened my eyes to the blessing that staying put has actually been for me.. Knowing God and His goodness through ordinary and mundane times will prepare me for life's many, many valleys, because we know that we will face trials of many kinds. What a faith-saving lesson. And what is so amazing about God's grace, is that knowing Jesus, no matter if we are chained in a prison, or leading worship on a platform in front of thousands... means that we can bear witness to HIS awesome power.. a power that lives inside of us.. and it is an absolute thrill...

I love this, by the way:

"2 Here's my concern: that you care for God's flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously.[ 3 Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way. 4 When God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he'll see that you've done it right and commend you lavishly. 5 And you who are younger must follow your leaders. But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for - God has had it with the proud, But takes delight in just plain people. 6 So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. 7 Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. 8 Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. 9 Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. 10 The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ - eternal and glorious plans they are! - will have you put together and on your feet for good. 11 He gets the last word; yes, he does."

1 Peter 5:2-11 (The Message)