What are we doing?

As I was driving to get coffee yesterday morning, I heard a song on our Christian radio station – it talks about Jesus being a friend to sinners.

Listening to the words, I had to stop and think about how our world is today. I honestly don’t like to go on social media anymore. People are slinging hate speech and nasty words at each other. Everyone is so sure they are fighting for the right cause, on the right side, I wonder if they even know what they are fighting for. I truly wonder if people have clearly researched what they are standing up for. I know I haven’t researched all the current political firestorms to see where I want to stand. I wonder if they are fighting for a cause or a side because certain Christian leaders are fighting for that side. I think some stand up for what they were raised to believe – but is it truth?

Either way – I have to think the love of Christ is missing in these arguments. 

Listening to the song brought me back to one of the reasons Joe and I moved to New York. We wanted to be in a world that needed a light, a savior. We wanted to bring hope to people who were living day in and day out trying to survive.

I learned a lot there about what I didn’t know. We went to an incredible church that cried out to God and miracles happened. We were friends with a former homeless man, who went from $3000 a day in  a very successful career, to living in the subway. I saw a friend of his never giving up on him and having an entire church cry out to God to bring him to himself… And he did. Did you hear me? He did. That man not only came to Christ by calling on the name of the Lord, he became a living testimony of the GRACE of God.

I saw him used in a light that I had not seen before. Because this man fell to the very bottom of the pit and lived there a few years, he loved differently.

He would take in homeless, drug using, male prostitutes and get them into rehab. He gave everyone the opportunity to see Christ. The stinky, the unusual, the thrown away.

And that makes me wonder… what are we doing?

Is there anyone that does not deserve the love of Christ? Anyone? The bible says that ‘God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son (Jesus) that whosoever believeth on him shall not perish but have everlasting life’. (John 3:16 Emphasis mine)

So, I ask you; Who does God so love? The world. Does that exclude anyone? No.

Next question, who can believe in Jesus? Answer – Whosoever.

I looked up whosoever online. The first definition said ‘pronoun – a formal term for the word ‘whoever’... So, the definition for whoever is: [1]the person or people who; any person who.

Then I went even further and looked up the Greek word used for ‘’whosoever in the bible

[2]πᾶς - The English version is pas – which means all, every. It goes on to say, ‘it is also used to say - of every kind.’

So, to make my point, I believe God is saying: all, every and of every kind. Does that exclude anyone? No.

Sorry to belabor but I want us all (including me,) to understand that God sent Jesus for every single person. They have to choose to believe in him as savior, but don’t let us miss any opportunity to offer him. We are called to be lights – a city on a hill. That light is for those who need a light.  Let me be clear. This includes your neighbor, barista, co-worker, nurses and cna’s at the nursing home, friend or family member. It includes all those around us. Even those who watch us on social media.

Let’s look at what Jesus says in Matthew 5 in his famous sermon on the mount. (verses 13-15)

[3]‘13You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the house 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’

Upon watching my friend, Danny, I realized how much we get it wrong. We are put here to bring others to the throne of grace. Everyone needs grace. We need grace. I need grace. Don’t we all screw up on a regular basis?

When did we stop reaching out and just start reaching in to only the members of the church? When did we decide who can come to church? When did we stop inviting people to our church because we were afraid of how they would be treated? I remember the first time I was afraid to bring someone to church. It was someone who lived contrary to what the bible says. I approached a leader and explained the situation. I was not encouraged to bring them to church. Now, my momma did not raise me that way, so I was taken back when they told me to bring that person to an ‘event’ instead. This was one of the pivotal moments in my life that I realized something was drastically wrong. How are we supposed to win people to Christ if we can’t even bring them to church?

Who cares if they are different? Why do we expect people who are not ‘Christians’ to act like Christians? Is it not our job to bring them in, love on them, show them Christ and then teach them?

I’m still mad about this and I’m done with it. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE deserves the right to come to church -no matter color, gender, religion, beliefs

I know I’m preaching, but who did Jesus go to? And who rejected him?
People, we need to look to Jesus’ example of who is worthy of him.
Here’s a list:
Those hated by modern society of the time.

Tax collectors: Zacchaeus (tax collectors lied, stole money, bullied, frightened and wrongly collected money.)

Prostitutes: Mary Magdalen

People living in sin: The woman at the well – who was also a minority

Who did Jesus use as his disciples and to do his ministry work?

Fishermen

Women

Prostitutes

Tax Collector

Tradesmen

Murderer of Christians – (Paul)Jesus himself was a carpenter.

Ok – Last Question…

Who does he use now? The same people. 

We are called to love. That means setting so many of our traditions and beliefs aside and seeing others in a different light.

I think it’s time to get on our knees and ask God to help us love in a new way.  Ask him to help us not see people through our traditional hang-ups or judgements but see them as a person God loves. We need eyes to see. Ears to hear. A heart that loves.

Matthew 22:36-40 New International Version (NIV)

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[a] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[b] 40} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. 

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[1] https://www.bing.com/search?q=define+whoever

[2] https://biblehub.com/greek/3956.htm

[3] https://biblehub.com/matthew/5-14.htm

Happy New Year!

It is time to start again.

Can you believe it?

I am ready for it.

2018 seemed to be a big year of transition for us. Moving, changing jobs, churches, even denominations!!!

So – on this note, I believe it’s time to reflect, learn and press on toward the goal of this race God has called us to.

To do this, I just wanted to pass along a few quick tools that have been huge in my life.

1.     Stick with God (obviously – right?) But I want you to know something. As I grow older, and hold onto him during whatever life has to offer, I believe he’s been curing me of things. Sometimes the weights that hold us back are beliefs that aren't necessarily the truth of God's Word. Here are some lessons learned.

2.       Follow the Bible instead of what others have taught or told you. If we believe every word we hear as truth, without searching for it on our own, then we do ourselves a disservice. We halt our growth. It’s time to dig in, read, and learn for yourself. Do Bible studies. ASK. When you ask God to show you who HE is over what you have learned – hold on, it’s an adventure to learn truth. Since I have been working on this, I will never look back to former ways.

Disclaimer: This should go for everything you hear. Don’t just believe what you hear or what ‘they’ say. Search and find out before you believe or speak. Wisdom goes a long way.

3.     Legalism in denominations. The Lord is God. Different church denominations offer different views on their take on the scripture. The point is not to judge others for non-foundational beliefs. Once again, when you start searching scripture and walking with God for yourself, you start seeing more truth and letting go of legalism in whatever form it has taken.  The important truths that should be in the denomination you are in.

4.      Jesus is Lord. God’s one and only son sent to Earth, born of a virgin, sinless, died on a cross to take on our sins, and raised back to life three days later. We serve a living God. Who came to us incarnate (in flesh) walked this earth, suffered, cried, was mistreated, tortured, misunderstood – and not believed by many that he was indeed who he said he was. Take this to realize he has walked roads we walk today and understands. Go to him.

5.     God created the earth. It’s the truth. He created the animals, vegetation, and man. Read Genesis 1-3.

6.      The eating of the fruit caused the fall of man, sin entered the world and created a need for a savior.

7.     The Bible is the inerrant word of God. Written by divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit and this scripture explains it:

8.     2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT) All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

9.     Jesus is coming back for us – and those who have claimed him as savior will be in Heaven with him for eternity.

10. Find people that inspire you, motivate you, and push you to study and move in the directions you are called.

a.     Here are a few pastors, leaders and teachers that have highly impacted my life:

b.          Beth Moore

c.      Jim Cymbala

d.     Mark Batterson

e.     Christine Cain

f.      Jo Saxton 

g.       Rachel Hollis

11. Find a mentor that knows more than you, is wiser and walks as you would want to walk with God- and walk along side her.

12.  Find a tribe of friends that lift you up, not pull you down.

13. Be friendly and outgoing in public. You never know who God is bringing across your path. Make friends outside of church and ask God for the courage to bring them to your church.

14.   Go to conferences with friends! Here are some…

a.     If Gathering – Just check out this site… it’s amazing and equips you to do life with your community.

                                               i.     https://www.ifgathering.com/if2019/

b.     Women of Faith

c.      Check out conferences with your favorite speakers

Last thing… I am currently reading ‘Girl, Wash your face’ by Rachel Hollis. I am loving it, and she is quite the motivational speaker. Check her out here. She has awesome ideas for starting off the New Year!!!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GWynbqG03w&feature=youtu.be&utm_source=RACHEL+HOLLIS+list+subscribers&utm_campaign=3000e1e0d4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_10_25_04_13_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_22fdeef292-3000e1e0d4-104454153&mc_cid=3000e1e0d4&mc_eid=2cc2251053

Children Go Where I Send Thee

How shall I send thee?
Well I’m gonna send thee one by one
One for the little bitty baby was born, born
born in Bethlehem. 

Tis the season

Today – we are about 20 days away from Christmas and what a ride this year has been. Hurricanes, floods, moving, selling, relocating, new job… etc. Can some of you relate?

I am learning that the older I get, God is broadening my mind and belief system (along with my faith.)

To take steps of faith, we usually have to take a risk. Generally leaving comfort or something behind. Sometimes we have to start over.

And sometimes, we realize that God is calling us to the very place we started. I am seeing that my many moves over the last decade have been to clear me of wrong thinking, and to show me new ways to walk with him. Now, he's bringing me back home.

God is big. I have always believed that. There is more to God then we know or perceive, but we have to be willing to ask Him to show us.

I did. It was somewhere between the year 2003 and 2004 that I asked God ‘Isn’t there more to you? Is this all?’ 'This' being the things I had been taught and were seeing. 'This' being people who were not exhibiting faith or love. 'This' being the fact that surely, if there is a creator that created the Earth, sun, moon, and stars shouldn’t there be more to expect? More than going to church on Sunday? More than just believing what we hear or have been taught.

Isn’t there more?

Well, he answered me. In a big way. (By the way, the answer is yes.) He took us to New York with our heads spinning so fast we didn’t know which end was up. And there, I began my journey of seeing and learning 'more.' I saw people depend on the Lord for their well being, their rent, their jobs, their needs. I also saw him deliver or answer the same people. I saw spiritual gifts used and exercised that I had previously been taught but not seen. I saw the Holy Spirit come in and make time stand still.

I saw more.

Then, just like that, he moved us again… Back to Knoxville. To bring new knowledge back with us and to bring humility to us. When you learn new things, it’s best not to try to shove it down people’s throat. (I still apologize to those we did.)

With age comes wisdom. Hopefully we have more now. It was a great season where I laughed in the office more than I ever had in my life, and God brought many blessings and opportunities to serve with our gifts and talents. And I saw more.

Then, boom, we are moved to Asheville and God opens the door for Joe to begin his career as a Worship Leader. We will always be grateful for the opportunity to grow with that church – and love those people deeply. He brought close friends that love us unconditionally - to this day. He also gave us the miracle of our son, and an amazing group of people that prayed him into existence. I saw miracles. I saw the Holy Spirit speak straight through our pastor's mom to me.  She is a model of a godly woman that is sweet, and strong in the spirit. And she could pray fight. Something we should all learn. And, I saw more.

Then, you guessed it … another move. This time to the beach. It was a great time to serve with great people. I learned so much about studying the Bible in a totally new way. A great teacher lead us in a study of Genesis that expanded my view. God started increasing my knowledge of using my spiritual gifts in new ways – especially as a stay at home mom… I learned more.

And would you believe it, after two short years…We are back in Tennessee. Still in transition mode, and reeling a bit from that hurricane.

Why am I going through all this. Well it's to say 'ask for more'. Take risks with God. There is more – so much more than you know. He takes you places to increase your knowledge of him. He brings seasoned Christians along your path to teach you more. He demonstrates love, and lets you love in ways you didn’t know existed.

This season, I want to take what I’ve learned and tell others. God gave me a verse right before we moved back. Mark 5:19b “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you."

So to begin... I simply want you to know there is more. We will never be able to grasp or comprehend who God is. Why should we? Do I want a creator that is on my playing field, or one that is more than I can imagine? 

I am going for the one who is above all we can imagine. I am going for the one who is able to do more than we can ask or think. He already has, and I'm only half way through life. (Ephesians 3:20)

So are you ready to ask for more? You'll never know where He may send you - but I say go.

Get Up and Go!

I don't want to do it anymore. I don't want to get online and read other people's stories and wish they were my own. I don't want to subscribe to someone else's newsletter or blog to see how they do so much. I am not that girl - the one balancing 400 things with a goal to finish the next project. I wish I were. I wish I could balance a lot, like starting a business, designing something, becoming a top executive, a speaker, a blogger, or an author.
But I can't.
Not right now.
RIght now, I am a mommy; and honestly, I feel like I'm not doing so great at that...
I'm tired, I'm old. I have great respect for and don't know how people do it with more than one child.
During the last few years (almost 3 to be exact) I have had to realize just exactly how much I am NOT a 'Betty Crocker' cook or a 'Better Homes & Gardens' clean house girl. I'm doing good if I can do laundry once a week. (and that's if I remember to even get the wet clothes out of the washer and put them in the dryer...)
I'm not exercising or walking anymore because it is too cold outside.
My child is having a hard time adjusting to the new change of location, and I feel like I have failed at helping him with it.
I have misplaced All of my winter coats (had to buy a new one because it's so cold...)
I have cried several times and just want to lay in bed. 
So today, while laying in bed, with Joseph coloring at my side (and on the sheets I might add...) I was reading Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson. I was on day 30 (which I have been on for 2 weeks,) and I read the words 'Abide in me.' (John 15:7)
To put it mildly, this has been a difficult season - selling our house, the hurricane, a new city, etc. I've become 'down trodden' for lack of a a better word. So reading that today was like a breath of fresh air. I realized once again that I need to stay in the word and pray. Doing both are the ticket to refreshment during a dry season; (or really any season.)
During my reading, I suddenly remembered the new book I just got,'Girl, Wash Your Face" by Rachel Hollis. So I grabbed it and began reading. This book is truly amazing, and is just the kick in the pants I need to 'Get up and Go!' 
God did not give us the spirit of timidity, (or fear,) but of power, love and of a sound mind.(2 Tim 1:7.) God didn't put us here to sit idly by in our self pity and timidity. His word says he put a spirit of power in us. 
This led me to think, 'Why in the world am I sitting around sulking?' I have the power of God within me to do the very thing he has called me to do. And upon reading the verse that precedes this one in 2 Timothy (1:6,) Paul says to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you. So the verse about timidity is in actuality saying to not be timid with the gifts God has given you, but to fan them into flame. To go for them. How? In His power. 
If we truly get to the bottom of this thing, we realize that this is not about us. God placed us here with a purpose he designed for us to do - before we were ever born (Psalm 139:16.)
If we sit and focus on the surrounding circumstances, it is easy to get caught up in the what ifs, the whys, the why nots... BUT, if we get back to Jesus, back in the word, back into the purpose he has for us, then we can walk forward in assuredness and confidence of the gifts he has given us, and in the power of his might - not sit in timidity. 
Did God bring us back to Tennessee? Yes he did. Does he have a purpose? Yes he does. And I praise him that He not only uses His word, but brings us tools that others have written to help us get up off our catookas  and fulfill our purpose.
To sum this up - stay in the word. Pray. He's there and listening and ready to talk to you. He's ready to guide you in the path that is best for your life. (Psalm 25:4)
And... Find tools to help you walk in your faith. 
I am recommending 2 tools today...
1. 'Girl, Wash Your Face' by Rachel Hollis.
2. 'Draw the Circle' by Mark Batterson (Read The Circle Maker by him too - it's an awesome resource for prayer.)
None of us have it all together. God has given us each other a support system on the earth. It's time we come together, be there for each other, love, support, check on, encourage and listen to each other.
Basically, it's time to get off our tail and do what God has called us to do!
Amen.