What dreamers do

We start.  We start dancing to the inner design that we know and love.

Find out what I have in common with a giraffe.

This place will soon be a site of memories.  God has birthed a new blog in me that has been a long time coming.  It's not that I want to leave you here though, I want to take you with me.  If you have the time to see what's going on with me, hop on over to this place and follow in the journey with me.

It would mean a lot to have company in this new free place that God has uncovered.  I'll explain as we go, but since time is short just come on over...

Happy Christmas blessings!

Light trumps dark in one small African community

I swallowed hard to choke back the tears of what I had just witnessed.  The place was Section 19, Swaziland, Africa.  The year was 2011, my first mission trip to Africa, and God was revealing many things to me in every stop, and at every work of our hands.  We saw many pains, hurts, smiles, joys and tears on that trip.  My view of God exploded within my heart to a measure that I had never seen before.

The love of Christ, when expressed in the sense of true compassion, always goes further than you think and leaves a lasting imprint on all those His power touches.  What I didn't realize then was the endurance of His love that transforms a community after you come back home.

God's power remains when sown and planted.

This particular CarePoint that had just been established in the middle of the sugar cane plantations in Swaziland.  The dark culture in that small two block wide community was palatable.  The heaviness of oppression was felt within every fiber of my being.  It was a squatter camp with abject poverty oozing from each mud hut threshold and every dirt doorway.  Poverty showed no mercy except in a corner of the lot.  A new feeding program established there.

This faith project had been activated by the prayers of many.

The team walked slowly to greet the down trodden with all the smiles we could muster.  My mind raced with questions.  "How do you raise children in the middle of this?  How can kids play in mud huts and broken spirits?"  How could a mother wrap her love around all the animosity that was felt there?"  "Where do they see hope?"

My strong questions demanded answers but my weak, broken heart had none.

The team stopped and I looked down to see a naked little girl sitting in dirt, staring wide-eyed and hungry, as if she was in a trance.  All of time stood still.  I couldn't move. I was paralyzed by fear, and as I looked deep into her big brown eyes, hers locked on mine.  I saw a reflection of the emptiness of my soul.  I swallowed hard and wanted to bolt.  Frozen in time, I couldn't even raise my arm to capture the moment on my camera.  I just stared as if staring would deliver her from that place of squalor.  

As if I could do something, anything, to love her like she needed to be loved in that moment.  My momma heart broke further.  I saw the face of my grandson, Avery, and then everything went blurry.

God was counting my tears in that moment.

A holy spotlight shone down and God quieted my spirit and my raging questions.  He whispered, "These are my children too, love them as I love you."  My heart, by what was strung together by a thread, snapped.  Anytime you hear His voice is changes you.  That's when I knew that Africa would always call my name.  This place was desperately hungry for God.

Teams bring the love and light as they show God's mercy and kindness to those who need love and care so desperately.  We are carriers of God's light and love to all we meet, there are so many love-hungry people in need.  I was one among them who needed God's love and care to put my perspective back together.  I heard Him loud and clear, "This is my family too."

I was overwhelmed by the light and power of His voice but remained fearless when I saw God's light emanating from the new CarePoint there.  I saw it glowing, gleaming in the sun with it's new coat of paint, absolutely stunning, shiny and most definitely a bright spot in a dark, dim corner of Swaziland.

I was encouraged by the Light that the psalmist David wrote about dark places once I returned home.  Psalm 132:15-16  "I will bless this city and make it prosperous; I will satisfy its poor with food.  I will clothe it's priests with godliness; its faithful servants will sing for joy.  Here I will increase the power of David; my anointed be will be a light for my people."  I thought back to the moment I crouched before that small child and received the annointing from God to pray for an increase of God's power and light from that day forward.

This small plot of a African community has such a big presence of God.  I was always stirred that it didn't have a name like the rest of the CarePoints that we had visited.  So I prayed over a new name for the Light we carried there.  "God give it your blessing of peace and love to those little ones that look to you to for hope, for food, for the love that they are needing.  Give this place your name, Lord, your blessing of favor and mercy."

From that first Africa trip,I have continued to carry God's light everywhere I go by the name I was given by our team translator.  She spoke a SiSwati name over us as evidenced in the teams strengths in us throughout the week.  My given SiSwati name was prophetic.  You may have noticed my different "middle" name on my Facebook profile is "Khanyasile" which means "bringer of light" or "has light shining".

Jesus teaches about being the light wherever we are.  Matthew 5:14-16  "You are the light of the world-like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.  Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."

The Light of the Gospel shines bright wherever it goes.  It floods the dark places and powers the weak, feeds the hungry, and reaches the least, the last, and the forgotten.  God's light trumped the dark parts of Section 19, now there are many communities glimmering with Hope.

Fast forward to December 2014, God answered my prayer for a name for the feeding site.  My dear missionary friend, Mitch Hildebrant, messaged me with the most exciting news.  Section 19 had a name, and is now known as "Khanyasile".  This news came right before I was due to leave for Africa to celebrate Christmas with kids in Swaziland.  On that Tuesday,  Mitch and his crew were singing and dancing in celebration of the new name "Khanyasile" with the kids at Section 19.

Also on Tuesday of my week in Africa, just several miles away while in Swaziland, my team was singing and dancing with kids in celebration of the Light of the World has come down for Christmas at the Christmas at the CarePoint parties.  I am amazed how Light births light and multiplies it in a powerful way.  What a beautiful partnership of so many bright futures for many kids this year!  Only God knew the timing of these two celebrations evidenced by His brilliant provisions!

The light of God's love is a big topic to tell but it's easy when our hearts swell with His Love that brings Light!  Such a good word to speak everyone!

Thanks to the churches of Beach, North Dakota who have truly sent and supported God's light in the Khanyasile community. Their support have also birthed two well run preschool programs to seed more light with bringing the gospel to so many children and enhancing their education, as well as feeding hundreds of kids. Truly God's light and favor has rested on this once dim and gloomy place.

Mitch had this to say about the impact:   "We watched as previously drunken men in the community who used to harass us and shout at us now stopped, took their hats off and said 'thank you for caring for our children'."

Evidence that God's Light and Love are definitely alive and active in a once hopeless and uncaring place.

God's arresting Light trumps darkness every time.

There's a peace that God comforts your heart with after being wrecked by poverty.  I am always changed by God's genuine disclosure of truth when I see my own poverty through the lens of someone else's.  It is true today, no matter where you are in life when you encounter the Light of Christ, as it meets with your dark parts of your story, "Remember this is where the healing begins, where the light meets dark, when you come to where you’re broken within." ~ Tenth Avenue North.

Let God enlighten your world, lighten your load and be the Light for all the world to see.  His Light and Hope changes lives!

When you are scared to leap in faith

Psalm 40:4  "Oh the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols."

People in motion will bump into more opportunities!   That's a proven fact.  To get outside your circle of comfort you have to do something that isn't comfortable.  So why is it that we tend to hide behind our fears when making a move in faith?

In the worship song, Oceans, we sing at top of our lungs and it speaks to the fear that I am talking about.  It's from Hillsong Church and the song includes the line "Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders...."  

Do you really mean what you are singing?

Are you singing this because it's the current worship song on the screen?
Are you singing it with all the praise you can muster in your fear-filled voice?
Are you singing it with intention for God to hear?

To let your trust go to a place without borders, means that you are aligning your trust with God who has no borders.  God is outside of time and space so you can't order His plans for you.

God's plans are so big for you that you can't put a border around them!  You can't wrap your heart of trust around something that He has defined.  You can, however let your heart be led to that kind of trust by giving in to His sovereignty all the while as He defines His plans for you.

If you are praying while singing that song, you are asking God, who knows all, who sees all, who reigns over His church, to work in ways that will take more of Him to accomplish.  That very often leads us to a place or places where we have never gone before and it's filled with a lot of unknowns to get there.  

Our level of faith is where our trust kicks in, that's where our faith is activated.  Faith is like a muscle, if we don't use what we believe about God over what we don't believe, our faith will shrink and not grow.  If we let God activate our faith to a place that He can grow it, with a heart of full trust, it will grow strong and powerful.  It will be expanded to have great visions outside of ourselves to grasp what God truly has planned for us.  When we rely on faith that pleases the Father instead of the things we can see.  Faith is not about evidence.

We need to get to the place of trust that when it's our turn to step out onto the unknown we will not be fearful, because we have eye-lock on the one who is calling our name in those unknowns.  

"When we are under God's submission to His mission so have we been commissioned."  ~ Kris Vallotton

When we let our trust go to the unknown, it is always known by God.  

Incredible opportunities lie ahead for us when we trust God in new, never before seen, live in action and uncompromising ways!  This is the kind of trust you are singing about.  A trust that simply says, "Yes, I will go, wherever you lead me to go, no matter how."

You can't get to that kind of trust hiding behind those fears you are comfortable with. 

When you pray for more of God, you are praying with a heart of faith that will lead you to places that He has specifically for you.  He's God, He will hem Himself in around you to guard you, protect you, direct you and keep you.  Accessing this level of trust is matched by His boundless mercy, abounding grace, fearless faith and continual confidence.

To trust someone means that you don't care where you are being led or directed to, you just simply follow where God leads.  You trust the Plan Maker, your Guide, your Leader.  You simply put your questions aside and say yes.  To be lead like this you have to fine tune your hearing so that you only hear His voice above all the distracting voices that throw you off track.

You lead yourself in confidence, in turning to your Leader and not relying on yourself or what you could ever bring along to help God out.  In doing this we lean on His confidence!  Needing more confidence today?  Read Psalm 40, it will boost a holy confidence that can lead you to walking on water and taking a hold of God's confidence that will lead you to an awesome place of trust!

What fear gets in the way of you trusting God more?

God's economy

Just think....God took care of our forever need, first and foremost...with His eternal love attached.

We hear the term "God's economy" in church as it relates to realizing that our income and resources come from God.  I get that and agree that is true.  ALL that we have comes from God and it all belongs to Him.  But how often do we tend to think that God only blesses those He loves?   

How do we shift our perspective from pauper to princess?  Gratitude.

When I acknowledge that it's all God's, and that all gifts come from Him, then I become more grateful for everything that God has richly given to me. When I see Him blessing others and not me, I'm also joyful for them. 

The God I know won't run out of glorious riches. Ever.

One big life-changing gift that God blesses us with is one we tend to take for granted is the gift of salvation and forgiveness. Recently, I found myself in a season of unforgiving. I had forgiven someone from my past over and over, but I couldn't shake the nagging reminder to guard my heart to not be hurt like that again.  

One day, God's economy hit my heart about it all. 

In God's economy, with His forgiveness comes His forgetfulness.  It's a two part process.  I had forgiven but was hanging on to the memory of the hurt, to guard my heart against being hurt again. God gently reminded me that He forgets as soon as He forgives and that I must do the same.

God has enough forgiveness and enough forgetfulness to protect us from being hurt from our past and those who have hurt us.
From my tear stained heart and after many, many words of gratitude, I realized I had to forgive God's way, with the additional measure of asking God to help me forget those hurtful issues too. 

God's answer was my peace in knowing that I wouldn't be hurt like that again.

What a gift forgetfulness can be only when we aren't hanging on to hurts of the past. We must let God release His forgiveness but also unlock His complete forgetfulness.  I walked away with a smile on my face and more healed than I had ever felt before.

Be grateful for forgiveness, for the complete work of salvation, and the opportunities we can experience this on a daily basis.   Everyday is a renewing of His grace and mercy.

Be grateful for forgetfulness.  By forgetting our hurts from others we are giving release to them in ways we will never know but you will grow so much closer to God in doing so that the hurts can't touch you.  Forgetting puts distance between you and the hurt that plagues you.

Be grateful for love... God's loving ways just keep on giving. I don't know where you are in your attitude of gratitude but when I think about how God has given me eternal salvation, something none of us deserve but is our most important need, then it makes sense to trust Him for everything else that I need to live a blessed life.  Even in my emotional economy. 

When I let His measure of love come against my hurts or wounds.  His grace and forgiveness mend each and every one.

Just think....that God took care of our forever need, first and foremost...with His eternal love attached.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
When we acknowledge the gift of Christ from the view of the cross, everything else falls into place regarding who owns what, who should have what, and what we need to focus on. Because God loves us so and gives us more than we need, deserve, and could imagine, why wouldn't we want to give him our ALL our life in response to His greatest and most rich gift?

What a gift of great wealth and value, such a rich response of God's heart!

What are you grateful for today because of what you know about God's great gift of love?

Spiritual stretch marks

Photo cred:  Kerri Weems

Have you ever had those days where it feels like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed?  The very first person that looks at you the wrong way, only makes you want to crawl into a hole and sleep for a long winter's nap?

Everyone has those days.  Outside of coffee cheering you up quickly I have only had one remedy that works effectively.  Stepping outside your comfort zone from the fear of man and step into a deepened fear of the Lord.  When everything on the inside feels undone, and it's been hours since you laughed out loud, and there is something gnawing on the inside that keeps you worn thin, you have to take action.

Every edge of me was frazzled and frayed.
  

No one likes change.  It's hard, uncomfortable and awkward.  God has changed my perspective on change however.  For me it is more uncomfortable my bury head in the sand.  I would rather attack a problem and deal with it to move past the issue.  God has shown me that His changes are always for my own good and are great opportunities to trust Him more with the places in me that still need a touch of His grace.

I've been the lady who just needed to touch the hem of robe of Jesus.  Spiritually speaking I needed some healing from a low-self esteem that was fed by some false humility.  I'd been wearing myself out a little over the years. Oh I wish we could swap stories and trophies about the things we've learned in the past year.

Ok, I'll start...

Perhaps it's because the dark times, the parts of our hearts that God hasn't touched yet that makes me appreciate the breakthroughs. We all have negative emotions from the past. Once we let go of those emotions, they are supernaturally redeemed and pave the way for the new fresh positive emotions. Perhaps it's in our sadness that God gives us His joy that is only complete when there is such a deep need for it.

New life in your spirit is where you need a makeover. And stretching you out of your comfort zone can bring a fresh filling of God's Spirit. When we look at our own needs through the lens of someone else's God brings a healing that you never knew you needed.

I write what I wrestle with. So journaling helps to sort out my uncomfy thoughts and lay them before the God, who waits with anticipation for us to release our grip on them. Is your past occupying too landscape in your thoughts?  It can do that so easily.

Our hearts are like layers that peel away slowly. This might be uncomfortable to talk about but what I know about comfort zones are they make good festering places for bitterness and unforgiveness bury deep and cover up a lot of guilt and shame.  

Growth takes place in the areas we allow God's healing to enter in.

How long have you been standing on those hills, those hills that feels like a part of you died on? God doesn't leave anything left for dead. He regenerates and restores. He renews and refreshes. God has already taken your place on that hill, stood in for you against your past to get you past those pebbles, stones, or even boulders that keeps tripping you. Only Jesus can bring an avalanche of grace and mercy forth to let all those negative thought patterns slide away.

Let the Spirit breathe truth and new life into those parts that still need the light of His love. What I know about God's love is that it is the most comfortable place you can go and there is always growth where love is sown.

I don't know where you are in all of this. We all have our pasts, we all have been hurt, and some of us have no one to turn to as trusted support that will hear your story. You may be fighting it hard today in pressing back the dark. Maybe you have been afraid to confront your past because it hurts too much. Maybe you just need a good nap. But there is someone reading this right now that needs to know that when you look at your past through the lens of God's unfailing love He will show you not the hurts you have suffered but the places where he wants to heal you to the depths that only HE knows you need.

God is not our accuser.   He is our Healer.

A year ago I prayed a simple prayer that reversed a lot of negative to become a whole lot of positive. This past year has been one full of spiritual stretch marks. And the knowledge I've gained isn't really about how I've learned but how I have applied the disciplines.  Living free a deep spiritual knowledge has brought me long the way in my healing. It took a lot of courage to get outside of myself to take a long hard look.

God has all the courage we need to make His greater changes. Courage is basic to living free and is composed of three parts - fierce hope and fearless faith and God sized love that takes our breathe away.

How do you start this kind of ripple effect that can propel you out of your state of feeling stuck and momentum towards God in a positive way? You simple lay your soul before God and ask how you need to change. In praying that you are opening yourself up to what takes more of the Holy Spirit to accomplish.  The Holy Spirit has been waiting to have His way in you. You have to make the first move to step out to find out. If you have to, even use your hands to reach out, stretching them towards heaven.

There is a part in a movie "The Croods" that hits me every time. If you haven't seen this movie, watch it. It's all about breathing in courage and conquering one fear one step at a time. The story line is of a  caveman family where the dad leads a survivalist trek across unknown territory with a courage he needed but never knew he had until he had to use it to save his family.  He has to go way out of his comfort zone to find it by conquering fears and gaining strength and confidence along the way. His daughter, Eve, has an intense hunger for courage and is a bit of a risk taker.  The part that speaks to me is at the first of the movie where she simply reaches to touch a outside world that she always believed existed.

I like reaching for God's way of courage.

We all have fears, we all have a past, we all are fearful of moving out of our comfort zones. But friends let me tell you it is the best way to live free because what you find at the end of your fear is more courage than you could ever need.  Let your hand reach out to find freedom from the hurts, the words, the pain, and plaguing problems as you reach for God's answers. Don't be afraid and get sucked back into darkness because of doubt that it's not for you too. Breaking free of your past is worth it. Every part of freedom is waiting to reach through from the other side and give you a gentle tug to the heart.

It's one thing to know freedom, but it's a whole new level to live free. Healing is what's quietly waiting for you and comes in the most unsuspecting way. Trusting God with those hurt places lets the breath of God invade your life....breathe in His healing that awaits...take in the light of His love in His living Word.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." Isaiah 61:1

Letting the Holy Spirit have His way in you is the surest way out of a dark place and receive the light of God's healing.  God will bring more rejuvenation and a joy you've longed for.  

It's running in the rhythm of His grace, His divine tempo for you.  What is stopping you?

If leaves could talk

I love this time of year in Oklahoma.  We tend to have extreme temps that bring either a quick end to summer with the cold temps or an extended summer leading into December with no mild season transition. But one thing is for sure...we have awesome sunrises and sunsets each day.

When fall actually comes with all of its colors a blazin', I can't help but be appreciative of the most brilliant display in the trees, the leaves, the flowering mums, the pumpkins as we prepare for the season ahead.

Today I was taking in the color and just praising God that through all the changes, He never does. Our God is so faithful. When I looked at the leaves waving good-bye in the gentle breeze I was just in amazement of the wonder of God.  I lingered a bit with awe at the hand-painted portrait of God's mighty creation. I wanted to enjoy His presence in those moments.  Then the Spirit quickened my spirit to know that really the leaves where just submitting to the Creator's process. He reminded me of what fall really was.

Not only is fall beautiful with a colorful canvas, but it's time of change, of transition, and of relaxing. Fall is a forced rest. As pretty as the leaves are, they will eventually fall on the ground, turn brown and be swiftly blown away by wind to collect in fence corners or just float in the breeze. 

Soon the very leaves that I was looking at would be gone, leaving trees bare, stark and exposed. The naked trunk will be exposed to the weather, the harsh elements, and the north winds full of snow.   This is the growing cycle of the tree. As the tree rests, the fruit of the spring is prepared in the rest or dormant season. It looks like everything is dead, but on the inside there is much growth.

The same growth cycle can happen in our spiritual lives as well. It's a process that happens in our hearts. Fall brings a natural and necessary time of pruning, cleaning or shedding of things that we have allowed in our lives. The process of resting is needed to drop, let go of or simply rest.  We need to prepare for the season ahead.

We know we need this but yet are afraid to enter a rest for fear of being stagnant.

Resting adds great value in letting God produce His fruit in us. There are seasons to bear fruit yes, but there has to be a season to give rest to the process that God uses to bear in us His fruit of the Spirit.

Trust the process. 

How often does time get in the way of letting God develop His gifts in us? Who of you thinks you are running out of time to do what God has called you to do? If you are rushing from idea to idea you are rushing yourself out of God's will with your own agenda and plans versus waiting upon God to develop, renew or rest the gifts He has planted inside of you.

Have you let the fear of productivity get in the way of resting? Don't worry, God knows exactly what He has put inside of you to use for His glory. Do you really think that He would forget that you sing with a heart of pure worship every Sunday from the pew? Or that you encouraged a friend in a way that she needed and have the gift of listening when no one else will? He hasn't forgotten that inspiring message you sent to a missionary either. 

When your desires to please the Father with the gifts that He has placed in your hands don't show up on your blog numbers page are you discouraged? Yeah, me too.

There are so many fears that get in the way of resting.

What really gets in the way is our need to feel man's approval instead of trusting God with the gifts He so lovingly placed in the appropriate seasons. Oh if only the leaves could talk and tell you that they are ready to rest.

It's been a long dry summer and that really is the result of a enduring season on limited water supplies, and hot summer winds brushing by. And it's been one that has taught patience and perseverance. So even though the resting feels unproductive, the pruning seems to fit awkward, or the letting go seems unwarranted, we have to trust the process of how God has laid out in our seasons of growth.

What we can relentlessly pursue and agree with is that God's processes are always faithful and fruitful, timely and perfectly planned, in season and out.  " I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me." John 15:1-4

Trust the rest process. Change brings growth, seasons change. Growth brings change. Change brings much needed rest. Keep pursuing God, let God pursue you. Allow Him to paint a new portrait on your canvas. Let go of your “leaves” with hopes of getting new brilliant fruit. God wants to do a new work in you. Will you let Him?

Our lives are the most beautiful when we are submitted to God's processes in any season.

What I need to hear often

James 4:8 "Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; for your loyalty is divided between God and the world."

We live in a noise rich community of sounds. In fact, when there is silence, sometimes it's freaky and weird. Most of us can't handle silence because we are so conditioned to hear something.

In the silence we have to listen closely to what's not there, or what we are trying to hear intently.

It's in the whispers, that we hear God. And there are times when only our spirits can hear what He is trying to tell us.

The Spirit has a language all His own.

When God placed His dream for me on my heart it was something I knew was right because I was prepared to "hear" it. I think about the times we often miss the directions that God has for us because we want it to make sense and want to know all the details first before we believe that our dreams are possible.

So how do you hear clearly what God wants to say? It starts in your heart.

Having a relationship with Jesus is first and foremost. He is our Designer and He has patterned you with your unique, only for you, inmost parts. Once you have given your heart over, fully, then your mind follows. When you incline your heart, your soul, and your mind to God. then, your spirit is ready to listen to the voice of God. It's like having an unseen hand on your car radio volume control. As the noise of the world diminishes, God's whispers are loud and clear.

I was once asked if God's voice was audible and how I knew for sure God speaks? Like He only spoke to those Old Testament Bible gurus. You have to know His words to recognize them as right and true. You have to talk to Him like the Friend that He is. You have be still and guard your mind to listen intently.

God speaks today.

You have to get real before God, so you can hear Him speak from His heart of love for you. What I need most is to hear the love God has for me. His love speaks continually and it's the only love that matters. When you turn down the volume of the world, you can hear it too.

Why does the world seem so loud? As we know from raising children, the loudest gets the most attention. God's voice of truth silently speaks love in my life. You say you've never heard God speak? It doesn't have to be an audible sound,

I encourage you with this this: Your inmost being knows the sound of the Lord. God is a speaking Spirit. I know ...I just talked to Him.

What are you listening to the most?

"You're in trouble"

I don't even don't know how to start this post.  What I've said about me is that I could have ten conversations at the same time, as if ten people are talking all at once.  

About ten different topics.

It's so hard to put all those topics into words, to make sensible conversations, sensible truths and make them all circle back around and connect.  And yet, for me most days it happens.  

Every time I read the Bible, the Holy Spirit speaks to me on the very day that I needed to hear exactly what I needed to hear.  And when I think about that...it causes my spirit to stir.  Not just a "I'll think about that later" stir but a deep discovery stir.  I want to know more about the character of God.  

His stories stir my spirit.  So grateful for the supernatural work that happens when you crack open God's instruction book.  We tend to think of instructions of any kind as a negative thing, as disobedient children being called into the principals office to hear..."You are in trouble."  That's not true with God.  God is our loving Father and everything He says and does is out of love for us.  For me.  For you.  About ten times over.  

But God is right about one thing, we are in trouble in this world.  John 16:33 says, "I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.”

Do you know how hard it is to encapsulate God in a single blog post?  It can't be done, why even the greatest storybook, the Bible, couldn't contain all of God's stories.  And yet in the currency that is God speaking to us every we seek Him, He teaches us about His character over and over about every last one of our ten topics that are currently and deeply stirring.

By His grace, we are directed, instructed, and guided by the stories that were inspired by His Spirit long ago.  I learn more and more about God every time I ask and seek and listen to Him speak.  I love how current God's Word is, like it was written an hour ago.  Our challenge is that we must make time for the encouragement that is always found there.  As if it's the ONLY way to live out our days in whatever current situation, construction, restoration, directions and trouble of this life or in all the seasons we currently find ourselves in.

I find comfort in the fact that when I grip God's heart, as expressed in His words to me when I'm troubled or not, that it is perfect for whatever is stirring inside.  I need a constant reminder to remain in living out my days in God's peaceful and orderly plans.  I trust His rest in my best use of time about the numerous topics that are currently stirring my spirit.

What God starts are those things that He perfects.  Things, aspects, plans have already been perfected in us but yet undiscovered, or uncovered or to be restored.  The matter of your story, life crisis, life's joy, or whatever and all of the ten topics that are stirring deeply in your spirit or just on the surface, know that each story counts.  God remains in the restoration business and the encouragement of truth applied to our lives is available 24 hours a day, and seven days a week.  God is always listening to our cries, our spirits, our praises, our gratefulness and listens in our troubled, burdened tears.  

And friends, you want to know what I find as great encouragement about God's love and faithfulness?  It's the fact that He perfects me, as if my one little story counts, as if He only speaks to me, and He has all the time I need.  Each time, all the time. 

My time spent listening to Him has directed me to His faithfulness in how He listens, how He loves and how He shows His character.  When I come to His place, with so many topics, with my little ten conversations that stir the deep parts of my heart, I can see more of His supernatural perfecting in who I am, as He perfects me be more like Him.  

Wow!  I don't know how to start a post that says that.  Today I am out of words. How are you encouraged by reading the Bible? 

One of the big problems for this writer

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

"It's not what you do, it's who you are."  What I nice comment from my husband who just read one of the best blogs I've ever written.  "I'm encouraged after reading that."  He's so kind and happens to be one of my biggest cheerleaders.  Comments like that affirm what God is telling me to stay faithful too.
Writing.  Overcoming and more writing.

Only the Lord, knows how much I struggle to find my way into this big pond of authors.  Never let it be said that I want to promote my problems.  Certainly sorrow has shaped a lot of my stories.  But by honoring God in these posts, it helps me overcome my problem with posting.

I always what to share the hope of God in each post.

You see, sharing here is becoming safe place now.  I feel comfortable here.  It's been well determined that this isn't a topical blog.  This is a personal blog.  A place of sharing, caring and embracing this crazy journey called life that God has me on.

So one of my big problems is deciding which story to share today, or first or one that will move you to see God in a new light.  I don't take that honor lightly.

Please understand that I don't have all the answers.  I don't, but I am interested to know God answers about everything.  The enemy wants me to not be here, but this is about God proving fortitude in this little blog, perhaps patience, and yes even endurance in my little corner of the world race of faith.

I am mustering faith each and every time in writing.  It's God's way of building confidence, security and faithfulness.  It could be that another problem I have is using self-control.  I don't just share my stories, but I share heart with you.  Our wayward hearts are loaded with so many emotions, that they can be deadly and powerful, all at the same time.

A famous author once wrote this about his purpose in writing about pain.  "The only purpose is to solve the intellectual problem raised by suffering; for the far higher task of teaching fortitude and patience I was never fool enough to suppose myself qualified nor have I anything to offer my readers except my conviction that when pain is to be borne, a little courage helps more than much knowledge, a little human sympathy more than much courage, and the least tincture of the love of God more than all."

I bet he struggled with writing too and what to share.  You see when writing emotions intersecting faith it gets painful.  I'm really sharing some deep heart stuff here and putting my emotions on the line.  It's really my heart's response to what God is showing me through the storms of life and through His inspired Word.

For me, that's my honorable way to process.  It's God's way of teaching me what I need to know to cope with life, to be prepared for all situations, but also to become more like Him.  It's God's way.  Any time you play the God card, the game get's serious.  I don't take my big problem lightly but honorably.

Can I tell you in this that it is becoming less of a problem and more of an honor?

I bet C. S. Lewis thought so too.  He's the author of many books, essays, countless words of encouragement and the above quote.  From his corner of the world, in his writing place, I dare say he wrestled with what he would share.  I would call his writing honorable and share worthy.

Be encouraged today that the good works that God has designed from His craftsmanship, are specifically carved out for you too.  All that He has placed inside of you can be used in an honorable way.  Don't miss the lessons along the way as you learn His honorable way of sharing the good works He is doing in you.  By honoring God first in what He's designed you with, it doesn't take much for God to change the world through you.  All you have to do is listen to His voice, and use the creativity He places within.

All of the sudden your creativity bears your burdens God's way.   For me, this matters, and I don't have to use a lot of words to help you see that.  That's God's job and in honoring Him with mine, I know He will use them well.  

Before every battle we must face this

Ps. 121: 1- 3 "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?  My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.  He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber."
No matter what reality is surrounding you right now, know this, that God is with you.  That is a promise that you can stand on.  You can count on God.  Every time.

The Bible is full of stories as proof of His Presence.  I was reading in 2 Kings 6:13 - 18, the story of war between the bad guys and the good guys.  The enemy forces were sent out in the cover of night, in mass, to surround the city.  The next morning, Elisha, his servant, and troops went out to do battle.  It was known the force they were about to encounter.  Upon surveying the surrounding situation, the servant became overwhelmed with the view.  "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?"  All he could see was the view in front of him.  A looming line of soldiers ready for the attack. 

My mind goes to those John Wayne westerns that are often replayed in our house.  This scene is in about every one of his productions.  His character is usually the good guy in the well worn, trail-dirty hat, the Mr. Do-Good, fighting against the bad guys.  There is always that moment of sizing up the enemy, in the valley, the lowest place on his trusty steed, surrounded by his armed companions.  

There's that moment before battle...

...when he stops to evaluate, looks to the hills see who he is fighting.  He sizes up his enemy, he captures that scene.  As he looks up, he gathers his gumption, and his troops and sees victory.  He remembers why he  fighting, who he is fighting for and then courage comes.  He fights.  The good guys always win in the movie.  We watch John Wayne embrace the battle, and standing on what he knows.  

Life is full of battles...

When Elisha and his servant surveyed their options, Elisha said look again, "Don't be afraid, those who are with us are more than those who are with them."  The servant looked again as Elisha prayed for God to "open" his eyes.  The servant scanned the horizon.  He saw the hills "full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha".  Warriors of God lined the edge of the craggy hills, ready for the attack, ready to fight the battle.   God sent the back up team.

What a sight that must have been.  In their valley, they sought help from the Lord.  At their lowest point, they looked up and saw the Lord's help.  Let that soak in...that moment of victory, that moment before the battle sets defeat in their hearts and in their minds.   They saw hope. 

They lifted their prayers to the only one who could save them and they saw God help and hope,  from their valley, their lowest point.  

Don't miss this...there has to be a low spot to see the high points of faith.  We have to let the God who equips us, prepare us.  We prepare so that we can carry His armor, and to be ready to fight for what is important.  With God's help and hope we embrace battles His way.  We can't relent, retreat, or be lacking in bravery.  We aren't in life's battle alone.  God does not leave us in a bind, nor does God abandon.

He sees us through every battle.

You might think that you are the only one going through tough times now.  Sure it looks different in your house than mine.  You might have different stages of cancer, illness, loss, temptation, addiction or devastation.  We are all battling something.

There's a moment before the battle that we must submit or agree with God that we can't do life alone, we should never what to get a point where we think we can, nor should we excuse God from our current storm.  

Never remove His sovereignty from your situation.  

Whatever you are facing to day, know that your help comes from the Lord.  I have known this in the most personal way.  God's help is available for all.  He will line your "city" with the most awesome warriors too.  Just ask, seek, see and trust His sovereignty in every situation.  He's got this battle just like He had the last one.  See your moment of victory!

How have you seen God surround your "city"?

There was a day I thought I could mess this up

The process our growing faith is God's delight for His children.

In Philippians 2: 12-13, Paul writes:  "Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (NLT)

The last year has been a time of transition for me as I moved from my day job to my dreams.  One thing I didn't want to do is get ahead of God or mess up His plan for me.  Like I thought I could mess up His plans (uncontrollable laughter here).  I had to trust in what I didn't know or couldn't see at the time and instead of relying my own strength or try to make sense first.  

Stepping out to find out what God has for you is one of the most challenging things we do as His children.  We are the ones who make it harder than it should be.  We really need to rest more on His capable plans and trust that He is always working for us to benefit our faith and to bear His fruit in our daily lives.    

His grace has has really held me to believing that I can do what He has asked me to do as long as I keep seeking Him in this faith journey.  I also believe that this blog is like a spiritual bandaid.

Doing this process brings healing in many ways.  Research from the University of Texas  states that the art of writing allows people to take a step back and take inventory of their lives. Instead of obsessing unhealthily over an event, some write or journal their thoughts, therefore allowing their focus to move on or forward instead of dwelling on stress, conflict or a traumatic event.

My emotions are processed better on paper and before God.  For me it's the way I apply God's truth to study me and helps me be a doer of the Word, not just a hearer.  My stress levels go down and my spiritual health correspondingly goes up.  

God's biggest desire for us is to bring His wholeness and fullness to our lives.   By seeking God in writing this blog it brings my heart to a place of stepping back to see how God is working out my faith, but also brings a ton of spiritual healing that results in His fullness and wholeness that is added to my life.

I couldn't get that on my own, but only through the work of the Holy Spirit bearing His fruit in me.  You can't mess up God's plans for you, but you can resist His best for you.  Submitting to God, or agreeing that He knows best is always the best way to live.  

God cares as much about our living out of His grace as much as our beginning of faith.  He cares about what He gives his grace to.  It's another reminder that I don't have to figure this grace thing on my own, that He is bearing fruit that only He can give and His grace keeps us from messing up what He already has figured out.  

It all boils down to the attitude of the heart and how we position ourselves before the Father. His grace paves the way, holds us steady and unwavering, and holds us close to protect us along the way.  

I love knowing that grace is something we don’t have to earn, and a gift we can’t lose - even when we blow it.” -Renee Swope, Proverbs 31 Ministries.  I would like to add my own little thought to this great wisdom...a gift we can't lose even when we need more faith to believe.    

How has God surprised you with His grace?

"Stick with Me kid, I'll take you places"

I know it's labor day, I hope you are getting the rest you need.  I have been traveling down memory lane lately and found this.  This is my most embarrassing work.  Finding it has caused a great concern.

Why am I concerned about this video making the rounds again?  I reminds me that I have been a bit calloused toward my freedom, perhaps I haven't celebrated God's work enough.  Friends, a look back will always remind you of the journey in which you have just overcome.  Reminders are good in that it helps you stay where you need to stay, in a place of overcoming a huge battle to victorious living.

Today I once again, on this Labor day, celebrate my freedom from food in finding that freedom God's way.

Overcoming a life long battle of the bulge is dreamy and something I have been longing for...well, a life-time.  May I never go back to being a slave to food.  No longer will I hide behind my own imperfections.  I don't speak about it often but it's time to let this little secret out.

I don't have a big story to tell but I do have a big story of God's telling in my struggle of how I have overcome a HUGE battle, one that has plagued me since I was born, or at least since I can remember.  In the losing of 132 lbs. of excess weight, I have uncovered a new me.

Guess what friends, I am not chopped liver.  I am a lovely redeemed daughter of the King and am free to tell His glory story.  I am free.  No longer do I have to make food behave because I have learned to behave myself around food.  Addictions of any kind are just that, addictions, and we all have them.  Mine doesn't make me better than you nor more shameful.  I was just desperate enough to seek God's deliverance from it and in my searching, God revealed His loving character and truth.

I had been looking for love in all the wrong places.  There is hope for all of us, the least of us, the lost part of our dreams, and the last in line.  There is hope.  Jesus says to his friends, "You are truly my disciples if you live as I tell you to, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." ~ John 8:31-32 (TLB)

The Janelle Keith paraphrased version is this:  "Stick with Me kid, I'll take you places"

I am free indeed, and I have hope.  It's come with a great price but every step has been worth it when you see from where you came from to your new place in this world.

Freedom changes everything, one decision changes everything, small changes add up to make a big difference.  The results are worth it, the courage and bravery I have found in me are refreshing and oh so lovely.

Freedom, truth and courage run hand in hand.  Run with me to the land of courage of being honest with yourself to take a look at where you have been, and to discover God's best life for you, and where He wants to take you to, the land of truth and freedom.

Here is where I once was, my most embarrassing moment.    Below see the me that has been set free.

Dear you, It's been six long years,

Today I am celebrating the work that has been accomplished here.  I am so taken aback by your generosity in linking arms in my mundane to see God in our everyday life.  It's an honor for me that you spend time to read the thoughts that have spilled out here.

Why do I come here often and write to you?  Because...

It's my heart's response to what God has already done in my life.  It's my expression of God's glory to do the work that has been placed in my hands.  It's my heart displayed for you to see.  Sometimes when you come around you cheer for me, and I thank you for that, it encourages me to continue the work that God has begun.

Honestly there are days I have to remind myself of why I do this.  Being transparent with you is probably the hardest part of doing this.

Sometimes when you don't come around, well you don't encourage this.  I've learned how to get past the doubt in living my spiritual life online.  It's not about that, it's about having faith in knowing this is my calling and then being obedient to write what God has placed on my heart.

I don't show up to highlight my problems.  I'm here to show you who God is in my everyday life.  So thank you again for your cheers in lifting the name of Jesus high in the thoughts that are spilled out before you.

It's the shoes that God has fitted me with.  Ironically, my very first post six years ago was all about shoes.  Little did I know the pair of shoes that God was fitting for me today.  I wish for you is that you too would go in and discover the difference written from that place to this one.

Thank you for believing in the fact that this pair of shoes fits well.  I'm learning how to go the distance in this faith gig, this dream, this what I call a crazy life.

Everyday we all have the opportunity to display God's glory when we do what He has lovingly designed us to do.  My pair of shoes will never look like yours, and that's okay.  Your shoes will pinch my little stubby toes, or the heels you wear might be too tall.  I have to learn this balance this dream for myself, with the Holy Spirit as my teacher.

But friends as you discover what pair of shoes that God has for you, as you recover the dreams laying deep inside that you think will never happen, have hope today.  Don't give up in seeking God's best for you.

God's dream for you is to know who He is in your life.  You just want to do God's will?  Know who God is, then His will is evident to you.  If your prayers are asking for what He wants in your life, then believe me, and if you listen to nothing else that I say here, lean in on this...

God loves you.  You don't have to earn His love, you don't have to look to your husband, or food, or your earthly parents to love you like you long to be loved.  You don't have to look to anything but God for the love you yearn for.  Lift up your eyes and see the keeper of your heart, your soul, your future, your destiny, your calling and just receive the love that HE has created you with.

Once you know the depth of God's love for you, things fall into place and you stop searching for all those missing pieces in your life that you long for in your dreams.  So far in my trying on shoe after shoe, dream after dream, I have found that God's love, his words to me, the fullness of His love is all I need to get out of bed.

I know nothing can separate me from that kind of agape love.  It's all I need in my life, in my dreams, in my today, in my tomorrows, in my full life.  If you never come back, please know that this is on my heart today.

Yes, God you have prospered this writing in very long loving way.  Thank you God for the journey you have given, may I faithfully serve you with all the love I can give back in response to your great and everlasting love.  When it comes to words to encompass your love for me, well I don't have them.  You are everything You promised You are.  It's not just words I proclaim here, it's your Word, it's Jesus, who's name stands forever.  Amen.

There are some changes coming soon.  So excited for what's ahead.  Thank you for joining in!  So thank you for the encouragement you have given in your comments, your prayers, your cheers along the way.  Please holla back anytime.  I love to hear from you.

Love, lattes, and laughter all along this way,
Janelle
your word nerd

My Midge personality

When I was a child I played with dolls.  At the mature age of seven, I wanted a Barbie for my birthday.  I got a Midge doll instead.  I was very disappointed that year.  My sister had a Barbie doll and I wanted one just like hers.  So I pretended my Midge was a Barbie.  Every time I played dolls, I measured my wild imagination against something that didn't exist.  

My Midge doll never measured up to my sister's Barbie doll.

I never told my mom how I really felt about my Midge doll.   I packed it away in my personal paraphernalia, neatly folded in my heart and became skilled in comparisons.  I didn't unpack that cluttered thought  until years later when it hit me that I would never measure up to be "Barbie" perfect.  

As a child, I was compared to my siblings in everything.  In school, I was lacking in any sport skill.  I was always the last to be picked for a team.  I was the first out in kickball.  The last to grab a swing on the playground, the slowest, the weakest, the least, and the heaviest.  I compared my worth to the abilities I saw in others.

I grew in wide stature, thinking everyone was my competition.  My efforts in everything centered around pleasing people with what I could do.  I could make people laugh, I could be a good friend who tolerated just about every kind of treatment, and I was loud.  

On the inside though, I just wanted you to like me.  Days upon days I used to wrestle with just seeking approval.   Gratefully, I have moved from that insecure place, those feelings of failure in the life department.  My past comparisons don't  hold a fearful grip on my thinking anymore.

How did I kick this bad habit of self-comparison thinking?  I signed up for God's Triple A Team.  I am approved, accepted and anointed because I am His.  You are too.

What teaches us to measure ourselves as unacceptable, unworthy and longing the discovery for our place in this world?   We pin our hearts on what the world says about us instead of believing what God says about us.  We look to Pinterest.com to find our best look instead of seeing God's reflection of His deep love for us as recorded in Psalm 139.  We train by imperfect sources.  God longs to perfect us, for His creation to know and live from His approval.  

Our worth is from Jesus who has already compensated for our imperfections.  Your worth was worth dying for.    This changes everything.  

Comparisons are deadly. Comparison breeds discontentment. 2 Corinthians 10:12 says, "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise."  It's not a good practice to measure yourself to the standards of man. The danger of comparison is no matter who you compare yourself to, there is always someone whose prettier, skinnier, smarter, faster, more connected, reads faster, blogs better or is in a more prominent position than you.

Comparisons create pride. "We say that people are proud of being rich, or clever, or good-looking, but they are not. They are proud of being richer, or clever, or better-looking than others. If everyone else became equally rich, or clever, or good-looking, there would be nothing to be proud about." ~ C.S. Lewis.  Comparing only makes me think I have to measure up to man's imperfect standards of success.   It leaves me wanting more of what man has accomplished.

Comparison leave us resentful.  We become resentful of God's blessings when we compare His goodness at work in our lives.  We ignore God's mercy with the idol of entitlement.  We receive God's grace and mercy by faith in the proven worth of Jesus.  Knowing that should drop all the competitions for the the blue ribbon comparisons that we seek.   "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. " Philippians 4:11-12.

Know who you are. Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." God loves you, and has chosen you to be His child before the foundations of the world were created. Accept that He loves you uniquely just like He has gifted you individually and with a specific purpose.  We are to use what He's planted inside of us to bring Him glory.  

Stuff or people will never fill a need that only God can fill.  God doesn't compare His children.  In fact, God hates comparisons.  We are created and gifted individually by God who loves us the same.  Knowing who are in Christ is also knowing who you don't have to be. 

The danger of comparison is that we find ourselves looking to other people for our value and determining our worth by how we compare with other people. It's fine for bargains, cars, apples and shoes but not for people. When we compare, we become the focus.  We pinpoint ourselves, we hang ourselves in the noose of man's judgement, above God's proven love for us.  Our long lists of who gets the "what"...the car we wanted, the job we needed, the spouse we desired, the most gifted children, the bigger ministry, the greener grass on the other side of the prettier fence, this dwelling in the land of shiny things  is meaningless.  Searching for our dreams at the mercy of man's measurements will never satisfy. 

Man's measurements can't compete with God's measure of us.  Live from God's approval and don't look for man to feel approved, accepted and loved.  Knowing the deep love my Heavenly Father brings all the acceptance I need.  I am His daughter accepted, approved, and anointed.

What sorts of comparisons seem to have the most negative impact on your life?

The science behind building rockets!

Did you know that I am a rocket scientist?  It's true, did you know that every domestic engineer knows how?  It's a strategy that I have recently uncovered.

Everyday, well...almost, I am faced with this problem.

Every day I have the choice to build a rocket.  Every day I get to practice how build a rocket.   Everyday I practice building.  Every day I practice what I know about building my rocket.

I practice rocket building.  I practice dreaming.

Dreaming is not rocket science.  Neither is replacing an empty toilet paper roll.  Dreaming takes practice.  Every day you get to practice your dreams.

So just dream.  Practice building.  Practice your start, building your why.

Then, when God says it's time, let Him push launch.  Let Him start your "go" button.

Watch your dreams soar.

Do the next thing.  Build your dreams, practice what you know.  Believe in what you know about God over what you can do on your own.  He will make your dreams soar.

Just ask your Dream-Weaver how to build.  Then do the next thing.  Start building and practicing every chance you get.

You will be come a rocket scientist too.  I've always wanted to build rockets.  It's a brilliant strategy!

How about you?