days of praise: full to overflowing

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. -1 Peter 4:10

Graciously we have each been given unique giftings and talents, and it is in the pouring out of these gifts that we ourselves become refreshed. Serving is an honor when it is a natural extension of who we are, when it is viewed not as a have to but rather as a get to. I love stepping into life-giving environments where there always seems to be an air of easiness. Not that the work itself is easy, but people are busy doing what they love. Relationships happen naturally in these environments and everyone is encouraged to get involved and serve according to their gifts. Refreshed people exude joy and love and offer their gifts as sacrifices of praise, blessing those around them as they overflow with the blessings the Lord has given them. It's a blessing cycle; we receive in order to give. I love how Pastor Chris explains empowering environments:

Environments where those over you don't see your potential become life-draining situations very quickly. On the other hand, empowering environments will challenge you to your core in an atmosphere of encouragement. They will allow you to try--and even fail--and just keep trying. In order to live a "breath of fresh air" life, you will have to eliminate events, activities, and relationships that don't contribute to who you are and what you're about. When you discover your identity and unique gifts and then become empowered to exercise them, you need to prioritize and focus on what matters most, those things you're called to do that no one else can do. -Chris Hodges, Fresh Air

Recently I found myself feeling drained and tired, basically going through the motions. I often feel as though I'm spinning my wheels as most of what is required of me in my job takes me outside of my naturals gifts and strengths. I was talking about this with a friend one night and what I got was a big dose of truth in love. You are a high capacity leader and you have sidelined yourself. You know your gifts and you need to be serving in them--that's how you are going to be refreshed. He's right. I need to be serving, bending, pouring out to others. I cannot let difficulties take my focus off of serving the very ones I'm called to love. I hope you have friends in your life that know you, speak truth in love and spur you on in your calling.

The devil loves when we feel defeated, weighed down, and stop serving the Lord with zeal. Knowing our weaknesses is just important as knowing our strengths. We all have weaknesses that we need to improve with the help of others and the Lord and often as we grow and mature our weaknesses become strengths. However, we must also recognize the unique qualities that the Lord has given us and use them to for his Kingdom work.

Thank you, Father, for your lavish love. Thank you for your creativity in giving us each unique gifts and strengths. Please reveal and refine our gifts. May we always use them to give you praise.

days of praise: powerful words

Death and life are in the power of the tongue... -Proverbs 18:21

Words will never hurt me, a phrase from a popular children's chant, a lie. Words hurt people, and we learn this at a very young age. Children and adults alike know how to use words to cut others down. After all, hurting people hurt people.

I had been assigned a new program and was meeting with a prospect at a local coffee shop. I opened my brochures and began explaining our exciting new opportunity to serve in Asia, teaching Spanish. "You are the most disrespectful person I have ever met." I looked up, shocked, confused, appologetic. The words spewed out of his mouth like vomit. My spirit was crushed. I received every word, every lie spoken in those 5 minutes.

The thing is, I have been equipped in helping others find freedom from lies spoken over them. Yet still I received those words and, if even for a few short hours, believed them. I am so blessed to work with amazing men and women who rallied around me, praying and speaking truth over me. Where I was weak alone, my community was strong. Unfortunately, I know that I, too, have hurt others with harsh, flippant words. And, I'm sure that you, too, have been hurt by words. Receive these words today:

You are the head and not the tail,

above and not beneath.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

You are the apple of His eye.

You are precious in His sight.

You are so deeply loved by perfect, unfailing Love

that He sent His beloved to die for you.

Lord, you tell us in James 3 that the tongue, a small member of the body, has the potential to be destructive as fire. Set a guard, O Lord, over our mouths, keep watch over the doors of our lips. (Ps 141:3) Help us use our tongues wisely and, instead, speak words that are pleasant, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (Prov. 16:24) And let us be a people known for encouraging one another and speaking truth in love. Truly, let the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our Redeemer. (Ps 19:14)

days of praise: water walking

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. -Psalm 32:8

I spent the summer of 2010 leading a group of college students on a trip to China. While it was refreshing to return to a place that is woven into my very being and a privilege to experience China for the first time [again] through their eyes, it was also one of the most spiritually challenging summers of my life. It was the summer that the Lord invited me to experience more of his goodness, requiring my complete trust and obedience in letting go of my security. As I said yes, I felt like Peter stepping out of the boat and onto the water. Pressing the send button for the email containing my resignation letter was the first step. The boat was now behind me, the shore not yet in sight.

When I returned to Alabama I went through times of doubt, feeling the weight and pressure of my fear, drowning in my worries. And then I would cry out to him, allowing his perfect peace to wash over me, steading my feet once again on the water. In saying yes I witnessed miracle after miracle, yet even if he would have kept me in that place of unknown longer, not selling my house or providing my job (in record time) he would still deserve all praise. You see, obedience is risky and requires us to swallow our pride, lay down our own hopes and dreams and step out, to move. Comfort and safety are never guaranteed, but as we march each step of obedience boldly in the name of the Lord we take ground from the enemy, increasing our faith all the while.

In order to say yes to him, we must know his voice, know what he is asking. When we commune with him daily, reading his Word, talking with him and taking time to listen we begin to see him all around us, in everything. And we become like those sheep in John 10:27, the ones who know his voice, the ones he knows, and the ones who follow him. Being obedient to the Lord does not always look rational or wise in the eyes of the world, but it is always worth the cost.

Lord, I pray that we would be a people who praise you with our obedience. Give us wisdom and help us to recognize your voice over the noise and business around us. Draw near to us as we draw near to you and instruct us in the ways we should go.

Is the Lord asking you, in some way, to step out in faith? March on, sweet one. The victory belongs to the Lord.

days of praise

Words. They envelope us everyday. We read them, speak them, hear them, write them. By strategically placing words one beside another we create. And it is in the creating that we release power, making a choice to either tear down or build up. While there are some words that are seemingly meaningless alone, others beckon us to take another glance, dig deeper, find greater meaning.

In early 2012 the Lord whispered courage to me. One night I was looking up name meanings and sat stunned at what I read. Andrea: courageous, brave. I'd only ever known my name to mean [wo]manly, yet at that moment I realized the Lord was inviting me to become more Andrea, more of the woman he created.

One of the ways he is challenging me to take courage is in sharing the sweet truths that he speaks to me in the quiet moments or through words spoken by others. The Word is living and even though the words themselves are familiar the Lord reveals different truths to us when we are ready, refreshing us, encouraging us, teaching us. So, for the month of November I will be sharing about some of the truths that the Lord has been teaching me, some for the first time, others that he is simply bringing to mind again. It is my hope and prayer that these entries will encourage and build you up, inviting you to give him praise in your own circumstances and recognize the ways he is speaking to and teaching you.

Won't you join me in Days of Praise

movement

The trees sway in the breeze, releasing their golden leaves. The colorful blanket that covers the ground is too much to resist. Crunching, I kick and twirl through the beautiful bounty. This familiar changing of the seasons is welcomed. Crisp, cool nights, hands clasping hot teacups, sweaters, crackling fires. Yes, fall is good for the soul.

And just as things are constantly changing around me I find that I, too, must be willing to ebb and flow with life's current. Sometimes the waves are calm and I float easily, comfortably; sometimes they are rough, pulling me to my knees in sweet surrender. Help. I'm in over my head. But the truth is, I'm not in over my head. I have a strong anchor of hope to which I cling, a Helper in my very times of need. He saves me, He is Savior. I cry, He comforts. I hurt, He heals. I hide, He seeks. He lifts my head.

Look up. Who will I see treading the waters of life alone? Hopeless. Tired. Scared. It is in the reaching out that I find the goodness of His living water flowing abundantly through me. That truly it is not when I receive, but rather when I give that my cup overfloweth. When I share my blessings that I am rich. When I use my gifts that I feel full. That time in prayer is more energizing than hours of sleep. Knowing that I am only able to give love because I have first received love, perfect love. God's love.

Movement is necessary, change is coming. The old is passing away, new things are beginning. With each step I pull away from the known. Venturing. And, just as the trees prepare for the next season we must too. Is it time to release? Time to harvest? Time to rest? But we mustn't stop, we must always keep moving, changing, growing--breathing Life into that which is dead.

familiar whispers

I'm a Bible writer. Well, I don't write Bibles, I write in them. I highlight, underline, date, make notes in the margins..and you know what, I'm happy about that. You see, not only are the printed words living truth for my soul, but God has actually used my handwriting in declaring specific promises, at specific times to me. Talk about personal. My favorite Bible has weathered the storms of my life with tear stains, notes from friends (and even some from those I've never met), circled promises that continue to impact my life and colorful Post-Its filled with insights and questions from past studies with folks who have sharpened and blessed me. There is a blue pen mark over Psalm 72:14 from Christmas Conference dating back to my Jr. year in college; my friend Gina accidentally made this mark and every time I see that blue line I pray for her and her family. This Bible is a journal of sorts, it went with me on my first trip to China and has made every international and domestic trip since. As I read about the miracles of old I remember the miracles I have experienced, along with the ones that I am still believing for.

Although there is nothing magical about this book it is familiar and I can easily navigate the pages. It is a love story from my Creator, but it is also our love story recounting how we have traveled together through blissful times and hard times. He reminds me that He loves me infinitely more than I can even imagine, and, sometimes even more amazingly, he reminds me that he likes me and likes sharing these memories with me. While He is indeed the Creator of heaven and earth, we are best friends. He does not just care about the big things in my life, he cares right down to the most minute of details, even the hairs on my head. He cares. He loves. Always and forever.

And these are good things to know during seasons where I, more often than not, find myself saying I don't know. I simply do not know why this is happening or why that is not. But I will continue to cling to His promises, the very promises that He loves to keep. I don't know what this stirring means or what He has coming up, but He does. I sometimes plead for a talking donkey, a floating ax head, a sea to part. Something big and undeniably from Him. Not during this season, though, and maybe never will I receive a sign like that. But what I have been receiving is so much sweeter than any of those. 

Whispers.

Sweet whispers that have reminded me that He is so near, representing intimacy, closeness. And, I don't have to wonder if these whispers are from Him because as He knows me I also know Him. I know his voice, I recognize Him in the mundane, I see Him all around. I know Him because we have walked together a long time. He walks beside me in the good times, holds my hard when I need a little extra encouragement, holds me when I am weak and sings over me always. So, even in these hard seasons I will pray on and hold on because I know the One to which I cling, and He knows me. He knows what I can handle and in His perfect timing He will reveal a little bit more of Himself and His goodness. And for that, I can't hardly wait!

I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know me. John 10:14

How is the Lord speaking to you during this current season in your life?

the art of waiting

In a room bursting with people my mind wanders. Struggling, I fight back the sting of tears. If even one liquid drop escapes the barricade we're going to have a monsoon. Not here, not now. But, why God? When, God? Why??? 


Like the stillness experienced under the canopy parachute 5,000 feet above the earth. Heavy. Real. Magnificent. You are. I wanted to scream at your beauty, your creation, but was silenced by the awe. Your height, your depth captures me, your attention to detail inspires me, your love envelopes me. Not dead, but alive am I--alive. Inhale. Exhale.

This wait is different. Stillness is not required but service--waiting on. Bending. Kneeling. Stooping. Realizing the lower I go the greater you become. That the act of putting others' needs before my own is supernatural. A spiritual act of worship. When my attentions are on others and less focused on me, my wants, my desires. You know. You care. My hairs are numbered, my tears are bottled. Your promises remain true.

Along with the breathtaking sunsets, the surprise rainbows, the shooting stars that hug my heart I say thank you, too, for this. Your thoughts are higher. With every breath I say yes. Giving you thanks. You know. You see. You are.

Selah.