Tuesday, April 26, 2011

it's cofee time, world!

Forgive me for not sharing my exciting news with you earlier...I'm going to be a Missionary Barista! Yes, that's right...some of you might be thinking that I made up this position, seeing as I have a heart for missions and being a barista is a dream of mine, but you'd be wrong-o. God's just cool like that--hand-crafting opportunities specific for each one of us! Thank you for loving me THIS much, Lord! :)

What opportunities have surprised and excited you lately?

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Simply

I'm smiling. And not because I'm particularly happy, nothing extraordinarily grand happened today. In fact, I have shed plenty of tears just this afternoon over some pretty major changes that are happening in my world, good changes, but hard ones none the less. You know why I'm smiling even as the tears fall? Because lately I've had some great encounters with my Maker.

The ugly truth is that the Lord has been revealing sin in my life. Things like selfishness, judgements that I cast so easily upon others, my impure thoughts about those whom I'm called to love and my casual attitude towards worship, just to name a few. And, the other day He completely convicted me about the pity that I feel towards others--people don't need my pity, they need love.

The prayer of my heart is that my Father would break my heart for that which breaks His. That He would purify my heart, words, thoughts and deeds so that I will be a better, more pure example of Christ to my community. I've been praying for Him to increase and me to decrease. I want to love Him with an all consuming love. I pray that I will boldly let Love live in me, shine through me.

Want to know a little secret? My passion is ministering to women, and it both excites and terrifies me to think of speaking into the lives of women. That's a huge honor and one which I don't even scoff at for a moment. And then I become overwhelmed; I have no business taking on such a responsibility. You probably know what's coming next...the loving rebuke of my Abba when He reminds me, yet again, that it's not about me.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." -John 3:30

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Keep Calm and Carry On

Hiya! I have loads on my mind this morning, but will do my best to keep this post from becoming a novel. Plus, I cannot write about everything that's on my mind, a girl's got to have her secrets, right?

This weekend I was reminded that things can change in the blink of an eye, literally. I was in a car accident--I'll spare you all the details, but both cars were smashed right up. I was in the back seat, right behind the driver--we were hit on the driver's side. Once I realized what was going on and that everyone in the car was okay I opened my door to examine the damage. You know what? There wasn't a single scratch, dent or ding on my door. Not one! It really struck me, I just couldn't get over it! Not only had the Lord kept me safe, but he didn't even allow my armor, (in this case my door), to be touched! And in that moment the Lord reminded me that He's got huge plans in store for me, that He's got my life and my days. Teach me to number my days, oh Lord, that I may present to You a heart of wisdom (Ps. 90:12). The Lord really used this accident as a way for me to draw closer to Him, to press into His goodness. And just like those moments with Him under beautiful stary nights His whisper was loud and clear, I LOVE YOU.

My favorite shoes are my red Toms. I'd seriously wear them everyday if they matched everything and were considered "professional." They're comfortable and fit my style to a tee, (define that as you will). Anyway, I remember looking at my shoes right before the accident; once we stopped the top of my head was pressed into the driver's seat and when I opened my eyes they were the first things I saw. "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Rom. 10:15). I'm not talking about my shoes here, I'm talking about my two little feet. Where are they willing to go? To the ends of the earth? And, are they happily skipping, running, jumping to take the good news to the people around them everyday?

Where are your beautiful feet taking you?