Unapologetically and Honestly Loving Others with Reckless Abandon

As I know that change is inevitable there are very few times in my life that I actually desire it. The first time was when I wanted 20 stairs in my house. I remember being like 3, 4 and 5 years old telling my mom as I walked through my one story house kitchen, "I am going up stairs mom to my room. I have a lot to do." She just smiled and nodded at me as I pass her making cookies. The next time was when I wanted my best friend, who while I was growing up was my life, to near me and go to school with me. God answered the school prayer first, and then the moving situation. As I grew things in my life changed and I was the one holding on and fighting with all my might. I still tend to fight change but I know now the fight in me is for another reason. I was always afraid of the unknown before, then for a while I was all about change ALL the time. I got bored and wanted to just let change rule me. Now I have come to the middle ground. I am not all about it like I was when I would...

I was listening to an amazing podcast yesterday and I was really inspired to show the world more and more of who Jesus is. Ok, this may go against all the traditional beliefs and things that I know I was taught in Sunday school. This reality showed its face to me and I really want this to be my heart for people. He told this story of a Pastor who was visiting in Hawaii and couldn’t sleep. He was hungry at 3am Hawaii time and so he started to walk around in Honolulu. He came upon a diner that was the only place open. He went in and had a donut and coffee. The owner walked over and without a plate or napkin handed him the donut on the countertop. Now here in Orange County we would totally think about that and not eat it but he was hungry so he did. Well as he was sitting there in this dirty diner, 6 prostitutes walked in for some breakfast. Sitting around him they began to talk and then one of them said, “My birthday is tomorrow.” Another one said to her, “So, Agnes, why did you tell us...

Imagine walking down a crowded street with the smell of animals rising in your nostrils, the yells and screams of children, the pushing and shoving of everyone trying to get to the same place at the same time. Sounds a little like Christmas to me. This day though is more important than Christ’s birth, although important. This day makes Christ’s birth more significant. If it wasn’t for this time of the year. Christ’s birth would just be another day, admired by some but mostly forgotten. Today is where the rubber meets the road, if you will. “He was obedient unto death, even death on the cross.” I know that this is somewhat hard to conceive but I always want to get a better grasp on it as best I can. I am glad that as this time is here again we can refresh ourselves in the AMAZING GRACE that truly was poured out for each of us. My prayer is that for you this weekend, if you don’t know the Amazing Love that was given for you, that you come to know it. There was a man who came to this ear...

Today has been real eye opening day for me. I have been sitting here thinking and praying for my friends. I know that today has been a hard day for us all in different ways but I am glad to see in me what I never thought I would. I have been trying to be a support and a friend today as well as a counselor and a listening ear for those who need that from me. I have it in me to know that God is doing things in the world today that are causing some strife in lives around me. I can see it first hand. I know that I have had a hard time lately with the Sweet Sting of Loneliness coming over me but today I choose that instead of strife. That may seem weird or that may be something that you have chosen in the past but I know that I am exactly where I am supposed to be in my life. If I had strife today as well I wouldn’t be able to be a listening ear and a counselor for the ones who needed me. I am very grateful that God has given me this burden to carry so that the ones I love can benefit. That...

Can I just tell you how much I love Jesus??? I just love that He truly meets us RIGHT where we are, and yet wants us to move forward. I heard it in two different places by two different teachers yesterday that we need to MOVE FORWARD, we need to make that choice to move ahead and to continue to move even when we are unsure. Abraham was called to do that and what better example could we have then the "Father of Nations." I believe that just like a car or boat can't turn around unless it is moving, I believe that we need to atleast move. My friend tells me often and I love it, God can turn the whole world around to make sure that we are walking in the right direction. He may not always but HE CAN if that is what needs to happen. I have definately needed to hear that lately. I have walked through some things and I am glad I am out of them but there are those moments in my life that I question if I REALLY hear God or if I am just making things up and then I am reminded that, ...

Ever looked at a picture and wondered what was going on right before and after that? I have, I always wonder if what is captured in that picture is actually what was happening before. Have you ever thought that when God shows you something in your life, it is a snap shot of what God has for you? Have you ever thought that maybe the things that you see in that picture aren't always the way reality plays out? I believe what the word says, "Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7 I also believe that in the New Testiment in 1 Cor. 14 it talkes about receiving gifts from the Holy Spirit and it says, "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement an...

I have to say that lately I have felt forgotten. Others lives are changing in very drastic ways and mine isn't at all. I know that in reality that probably isn't the case but I seem to feel that way. I am not sure why, I am not one who wants all that glory or the spotlight. Believe me that isn't how I want to be at all. I would just like to be remembered everyonce in a while. I don't want the pressure of this life that I live to be all about me, it isn't and I am totally happy giving God all the glory it is just that I sometimes would like to be remembered. In my family it happens alot and I know part of it is just because I am not a fighter like most everyone else. I CHOOSE peace, peace with God, peace with others and peace with myself. I am sure that has soemthing to do with it. I see others close to me fighting to be KNOWN and for others to pay attention to them. I am not sure why but I am grateful that I don't have that need, but I know that in my case then ...

I love when God requires obedience from me. Even at 6 am on a Saturday. I know that God always stays up and that it doesn't matter what time it is for us He is outside of that. I know that God has plans for us outside of our time frame. Last Saturday morning, while I was at our Churches Women's Retreat, I got up around 6am to use the restroom. Which I hate doing in the first place when I am sleeping. As I laid back down God in His loving, and gentle way urged me to get up and get into the shower. He said that He wanted to tell me something.I started to have a headache and so I hesitantly at first, Then obediently got out of my bed and returned to the bathroom. As I walked I prayed God would take away my headache or atleast lessen it as I was obedient to get into the shower. Well, Faithful that He is, God met me. It wasn't like this huge revelation but I knew that if I was obedient then He would match that with Faithfulness. It felt like He had wanted to share this with me a...