Change

Satan has kept me from blogging for awhile, telling me I had to have some kind of profound and life-changing study to share in order to post something. After a few days of studying for finals and not getting a ton of sleep, I moved back home and decided to take a nap. I could not fall asleep. My mind was racing. I was thinking about how far the Lord has brought me these last two years in college, the friends I made, the adventures I went on, and the people who have changed my life. I thought about some of my friends who have decided to follow the Lord even though there would be a huge change. I thought about how the Lord has worked in my life and challenged me to embrace change. I don't know why, but my loving Father and Savior made it clear to me I was supposed to blog today.

My old high school's graduation is today and it made me think about my days in high school. I remembered learning Spanish and honestly hating it. I never wanted to learn a different language. The thought of becoming fluent in another language seemed exciting but way too daunting. It takes time. It takes a willingness to make a change. It takes a leap of faith since you never know if God may call you to another country where you never saw yourself going. The Lord shattered that pride and started to give me a strong desire to learn French, especially since Madagascar's second language is French. I have never enjoyed learning a language until now. Why? Because God changed my motives. Languages are one of the best ways to show someone from a different country you care enough about them to spend time learning how to love on them through communication. How are we going to change the World and impact people if we can't even talk to people in different countries? How will we be able to work along side other Christians when we can't speak to them? Think about how many more opportunities there are to love on people and share the gospel when you can have a conversation with them. How is change going to happen if we aren't willing to make a change ourselves?

This year the Lord blessed me with an incredible job. During the school year, I get to work in DBU's international office, where I get to tutor students who took a leap of faith and came to DBU to learn English. I got to tutor and minister to students from all over the world, including Africa, Chile, Italy, Korea, China, Brazil, and many other places. I have been so encouraged by their willingness to make a change and go where the Lord led them. They were willing to follow the Lord and travel to a strange country where they could not even have a conversation with someone for awhile. Those students have no idea what kind of impact they made on me this year. One of my favorite memories of the year is when we took a group of international students to the Canton flea market and on the way we all sang the song "If You're Happy and You Know it." Here's the cool part....we sang it in 6 different languages at once and I got to sing it in French. I have never appreciated different languages and cultures until this year. Funny thing is, I used to be a home body. Now, I desire to travel so I can see other parts of the Lord's beautiful creation and see His creativity in other cultures.

As I am sitting in my backyard, I looked over only to see a bright green lizard change from green to brown. He wasn't afraid of change or where he was going next. He simply embraced it. If lizards did not change colors, there would be a lot of fear since they would have more predators seeking them. Selah on that for a second. When we don't embrace change, we live with so much more fear... fear that cripples us. Fear of the unknown. Fear of the known. If we are unwilling to embrace change, think about how Satan has a foothold. I believe one of the greatest ways Satan holds us back from loving on people is through our fear of change. Not only does this change include embracing the nations with Him, but embracing the people around you. Don't be afraid of change. Close your eyes, grasp your Savior's sovereign and loving hands, and dance with Him as He takes you on a beautiful and life-changing adventure. I promise you won't regret a thing.

Beggars of the King

I got back from Madagascar about a month ago and throughout the two weeks we spent there, the beggars flocked to us. Many of them see a white person and immediately see them as money. They see the white men as people who have what they want and therefore see Americans as gift-givers. While it is heartbreaking to see these people in desperate need, giving them money is not always the most beneficial response. They know we have money and we know we have the money. The problem is, there are so many long-term effects at hand. As a missionary, we want to be generous and seek out the needs of the people and teach them. It creates problems when we go about it the wrong way as the people can easily see us only as gift-givers and not as a friend. For awhile I was greatly annoyed at the amount of beggars since some saw me as a gift-giver and never had a desire to get to know me and hear what I had to say. I knew that just handing money over to them may bring them short term happiness, but would create long term obstacles. I'm sure by saying no to the beggars they saw me as a greedy American who had what they needed and was unwilling to give it to them, but I knew that as someone who loved them and could see past the present need, I had to do what I knew was best for them. I love the precious people of Madagascar, so I want to serve them and teach them how to find pure Joy in the Lord as well as teach them how to better their lifestyle and live according to their means.

AND THEN IT HIT ME....like a mud hole followed by boulders on the road in the bush....I am often like a beggar to the Lord.

So many times it is easy to see the Lord as a gift-giver who has the ability to give me anything I want, like a little genie. Sure, He has the ability to give me anything, but out of love, He limits Himself. Think about how many times your prayers consist of asking the Lord for things, and how many times your prayers consist of sitting at His feet and praising Him and wanting to learn from the King of Kings. I can't even begin to count how many times I or someone else has said something along the lines of God is not answering my prayers because he said no. Even a no is an answer to prayer. Sure, God could say yes to everything we ask for, and we may be happy, but our heart will not be after His. The Lord is not after us being happy, but transforming a heart into one of pure joy who is after the Lord's great heart. There are times when the Lord gives us what we want, but many times He shows His love through wanting to teach us and transform our heart.

 ⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
⁹ As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

Do you find your identity in the yeses you get from the Lord, or from the heart transformation He offers? As the daughters' hearts transform to the King's, we find ourselves looking to God as a gift-giver less, and sitting at His feet more, learning about His heart as we desire Him rather than His gifts. Think about friendships where you sought them only because of what they could give you and do for you and then think about the friendships where you wanted to get to know the person and serve them. Think about the difference in those relationships. The first may seem gratifying for a short amount of time, but the second one brings a much deeper and stronger relationship since your motives are not selfish, but those of humility and service. Think about the difference in our relationship with God when we seek after the gifts less, and His beautiful glory and presence in our life more.

Oh the beauty of sitting at the beloved King's feet as His precious and chosen daughters, seeking His heart and His desires.

Satisfying Singleness

Take a second to imagine a kindergartener who is sitting on a swing at recess thinking about how much he cannot wait to be in high school. He hates kindergarten and cannot wait to drive, take different classes, and be able to go out to movies with friends. He longs for graduation day so much that during recess time every day, that’s all he can think about. It consumes his thoughts. If you knew that, what would you say to that precious child? Would you say “yeah, kindergarten is awful; I can’t wait for you to be in high school too, since that is when life begins”? Or….would you say something along the lines of “sweet child, the times in kindergarten are precious and worth treasuring. High school will come eventually, but treasure the time you have now; you will never get a year like this again where you can run and play without worry and have the joys you have now. Sure, high school is great and there are plenty of blessings that come with that, but don’t miss out on the blessings you have right now”?

So many girls (myself included) wish away their time of singleness. We live in a culture that tells us if we are not in a relationship, there is something wrong with us and that love is our ultimate goal and we will not be fulfilled and happy until we reach that point. Ladies, can I just tell you that is a complete lie from Satan. The Lord created love and relationships; they are beautiful things, but the Lord did not create love and relationships to be things that fulfill us. There is absolutely nothing that will nurture, love, and satisfy like Christ.

 

Last year, the Lord brought to my attention an idol in my life that I had never even noticed. I found myself looking forward to a relationship, marriage, and kids constantly. Since I had never been a “boy crazy” girl, I always told myself that was not an idol of mine. The Lord is humorous and loves to humble us, so He brought that to my attention. He led me to Kelly Needham’s blog where she mentioned how when we say we are “just waiting on the Lord” it often reveals an idol, as we see God not for who He is, but for His gifts. If Christ is not your first love, you will never have the right perspective in a relationship and it will become an idol. That is when I first began to see singleness not as a curse, but as an absolute blessing. I had always thought about the image of running toward God and He would put someone right beside me to run alongside me. Then the Lord changed that picture.
 “Daughter, chase after me. If I chose to put someone in your life, he will be directly in front of you to lead and guide you, but you will never have to take your eyes off of me to look to the side. If I chose not to put anyone there, your eyes will still be focused on me, and you will be completely satisfied in me and will not even think twice about finding satisfaction in anything else.”

 

How in the world is singleness a blessing? It is a trial, and therefore a beautiful blessing. Sure, it is hard, but so are relationships. Remember the story of the kindergartener? There are a lot of blessings that we miss out on when we wish away singleness. If you are not content in singleness, how do you think you will be content in a relationship or in marriage? That person will not be able to completely satisfy us. In Philippians 4, Paul talks about the importance of being content. He continues into the famous Philippians 4:13 where he says He can be content through Christ. It is a daily submission. The Lord promises to give us contentment when we ask! If we cannot learn how to be content in the Lord, the only one that can truly satisfy us, there is no way we will be content in a human. Perhaps your singleness is intended to draw you closer to the Lord as you rely on Him. Perhaps your singleness is a time to remember our dependence on God and the absolute beauty of chasing after Him and sitting at His feet, ready to hear His life-giving words.

 

James 4:8- “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

If you are in a time of singleness right now, take time to draw near to your King. Sit at his feet, RUN to His arms, and feel His embrace. There is absolutely nothing that compares to the way He loves and pursues us. When you do enter a relationship, you will have already learned the importance and beauty of total dependence and surrender to the one who created you. It will be so much easier to fall into the arms of your Father, even when another person fails you.

 

 One of the most life-giving things we can realize is the way the Lord faithfully pursues His daughters, drawing them in and shows Himself to be a loving and gracious Father.

“I enjoy those parts of the Bible where Jesus talks about how much He loves His bride. It makes me wonder if the trees and mountains and rivers are things He planned in advance, knowing they would wow us…I wonder if He thought each foggy morning, each soft rain, each field of wild flowers would be a quiet and audacious way to demonstrate His tremendous love for us” (Bob Goff).

 

Likewise, many girls (including myself) often say they wished someone would pursue them. They wished for flowers or chocolates on Valentine’s Day. Take a second and guess how many different kinds of flowers the Lord has made. Go ahead, guess! When I took a guess it was around 300 or so. Our Father has made OVER 230,000 different kinds of flowers. Let that soak in for a second. Feel loved yet? He knew His daughters enjoyed the beautiful colors and smells of flowers. He planted them all around us to remind us of the whimsical ways He loves and pursues us. If you are in a time of singleness right now, instead of asking what is wrong with yourself, or feeling unloved, know that singleness is a beautiful gift from our Father as it gives us time to recognize the true satisfaction found only in Christ as well as time to seek Him wholeheartedly.

Be Still

There are some words many of us hate. I personally HATE the word "bunion"... Every time I hear the word I make a disturbed famous "Shae face". Another word I used to hate was the word "solitude" because I couldn't think of anything worse than being alone. I used to hate having to stay home alone because there was nobody to talk to, nothing to do, nobody to kill spiders, and nobody to prank. Just me. I am such an extrovert and kinda go crazy when nobody else is around. Even my time with the Lord was usually spent around people. I  hated solitude until I truly understood what it meant and just how beneficial it is.

What does it mean to "Be still and know I am God?" (Psalm 46:10). We live in a society that glorifies busyness. Busyness distracts us from who is in control and keeps us from spending quality time with the Lord. I tend to look at my schedule and then find where I can fit some time in with my Creator rather than giving that the greatest priority and then making my schedule. Being still makes me think of sitting down, relaxing, and letting the Lord work on your heart and communicating with Him. It's so much more than being quiet, it's more like  releasing ourselves from all responsibilities we have and sitting at His feet with an undivided mind.

When God spoke the world into motion, He rested the last day. From the very beginning, God created a pattern for us to follow. He didn't intend for us to constantly be busy and working on something. He calls us to take time to rest, not only physically, but mentally. By taking rest, God is able to renew us and give us strength. When we keep going and going, we tend to believe we are in control and we don't need to rest. I think the Lord also uses rest just to humble us and show us we are not capable of going and going because He did not create us that way. I know when I am busy and do not spend much time with my King, I become weary, and do not have the wisdom I need. When we are still and sit at his feet, He reminds us of His presence, allowing us to be more aware of who He is, and how much He loves us. Isn't it refreshing to know we serve a King who pursues us and wants to have a relationship with us? I think about all the people who serve a false god who is just a statue but our God comes to us and loves and pursues us even when we aren't faithful to Him. The Lord has so much to speak into your heart and so many ways He wants to fill you with His presence. Will you be still and take time to spend with your Creator?

"In silence my soul waits for you alone, O God. From you alone comes my salvation...The Lord will fight for you and you have only to keep still." Exodus 14:14

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What is Love?

Think for a second how you would describe what love is....

Many think of love as having those warm butterflies which honestly sounds a little creepy to me. Our world tends to view love through the eyes of self. People love because of what they get from another, whether that's gifts, satisfaction, or love back. Instead of loving the unlovable, we tend to love those who we know will love us back and seek out people whom we can gain something from. WHY?? BECAUSE IT'S THE EASY ROUTE.

Imagine you are in an area where a hurricane or tornado, or even an earthquake absolutely destroys your house, every possession you have, and even takes family members away. You have no money, no house, no possessions but the clothes on your back and you are left absolutely destitute with nowhere to turn to. Then, somebody who has no idea who you are and lives in a different state hears of your desperation and decides to pack up a truck full of supplies and drive to where your house was and rebuilds it without charging you, knowing you have absolutely nothing to repay him with. This is love.

In the same way, Christ came to us when we were absolutely destitute and in need of someone to save us. The beauty of the Gospel is often disregarded by Christians because they feel as if they have already heard the Gospel and do not need to hear it again. The Gospel is what sanctifies believers and reminds them what true love is. Jesus Christ came down to earth and died a harsh death, so that destitute people could have hope through His resurrection. Christ is perfect, and we are not. There is absolutely nothing Christ gained from this. He did it because He loves us. Love is costly because it involves sacrifice. It's as if love is a sign language rather than words. Words are easy to speak but actions show the truth. Love is not about what you can get, but what you can give. This is the beauty of Love.

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay his life down for His friends." John 15:13

I can think of so many times in my life where I have sinned against the Lord, not stuck up for Him, not treated Him as my Savior and Creator, yet He still loves me unconditionally. He loves the unlovable. He seeks us out. The King of Kings did not come to the earth to be served but to serve!!

Lately I have been reading Love Does by Bob Goff. One of the most impactful quotes I have read from this book so far is when he says, "There is only one invitation it would kill me to refuse, yet I'm tempted to turn it down all the time. I get the invitation every morning when I wake up to actually live a life of complete engagement, a life of whimsy, a life where love does. It doesn't come in an envelope. It's ushered in by a sunrise, the sound of a bird, or the smell of coffee drifting lazily from the kitchen. It's the invitation to actually live, to fully participate in this amazing life for one more day. Nobody turns down an invitation to the White House, but I've seen plenty of people turn down an invitation to fully live" (80). Every day as the sun rises, we have a new opportunity to live a life of love. For me, it's amazing to see how many times I get caught up in the business of life and schedule, and turn down opportunities to love on people. There are so many people who just need you to sit down with them and genuinely love on them. Love requires sacrifice. Love means so much beyond the word itself.

This week, let your love be loud and genuine. This may mean stepping back from a few things you are involved in so you are available to love on people, or it may mean being more intentional with where the Lord has placed on you. Think about where you are right now, whether its in a dorm, at work, in a community group, or wherever. Think about how many people you actually KNOW in that realm. It takes genuine love to get to know someone. It takes a sacrifice of time to love on people and care about what they are going through. Just remember, LOVE DOES.

Drops of Mercy and Flashes of Power

            Sorry there haven't been any blogs lately...I've been busy with princess fashion shows, making Mac&cheese, and swimming my fins off. AKA....Nanny life =)

I sit here tonight absolutely in awe of the Lord's power as my room lights up every second and rain pounds on my window. That is one of my favorite characteristics of the Lord, so thunderstorms are my all-time favorite God moments. Ever since I was little I have been in love with thunderstorms, getting chased home by tornadoes #oklahomalife...., and rain. From a young age God used his powerful storms to reveal His almighty power to me.

Think about it.....God is sitting up in Heaven holding every lightning bolt in His hand and directing each one where to go, while dropping each drip of rain (being a prankster, it's probably a good thing this job is in the Lord's hands and not mine). If this doesn't scream "I am in control and I LOVE you", then I don't know what does. I love reflecting on my life and looking at the parts where I didn't trust God....the one who made me, placed me where I am, has taken care of me every step of my life, and worked everything out for my good. I start laughing at myself because I can be so blinded some times. I, the short little french fry who is crazy and blah blah blah won't put 100% trust in God, the one who has always been there, loves me, works everything out, DIED for me, and healed a blind man? Talk about CRAY CRAY. 

I love the Lord's promise when He says He will never give us more than we can take. The rain reminds me of that promise of mercy and grace. Instead of dumping giant buckets of water on us like we were dying at a water park, He sends down little drops so the ground can absorb it slowly. Think about it...when trials come, He never gives us more than we can handle but gives us a little at a time so it can absorb and we can change.

Wherever you are right now, whether you are in the Dallas area feeling the rain, or just reflecting on a trial you are going through, take a few minutes to truly reflect on the Lord's power. Take the blinders off and see how powerful and mighty He is, and trust in His plans. He WILL work everything out for your good, whether that's a future plan that needs to happen, or something He needs to teach you.

Proverbs 31 part 3

Proverbs 31: 24-31

Vs. 24: "She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes."
     
      This verse is another picture of a diligent woman who contributes to her family's needs and uses her skills to contribute financially.


Vs. 25: She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."
     
       This is one of my favorite verses in Proverbs 31 because it shows a woman who is anxiety free because she trusts the Lord and knows who holds the future. She clothes herself with the Lord. Think about it...when you get ready in the morning and put clothes on, it is deliberate. You know that what you put on others will see. Do people around you see Christ when they look at you? She has no anxiety because she knows her family is well taken care of. Also, this is another picture of diligence as she has already provided for her family so she does not need to worry. I love when it says "she can laugh at the days to come" because it shows the absolute trust she has in the Lord. When we trust ourselves and look for security in relationships, in money, and other people, we will in no way be able to laugh at the days to come because our security and hopes are in things of the world that WILL fail us. When we entrust our lives to Christ and trust He has a plan (which is ALWAYS way better than ours!) then we can live at ease, no matter what obstacles come our way.


Vs. 26: "She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue."

      Since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the fact that she speaks with wisdom shows she fears the Lord and lives for Him. Out of the heart the mouth speaks. She is not someone who slanders people and gossips, but someone who encourages others and speaks wisdom into their lives. She is someone people can come to to receive instruction. She is not foolish but someone who is so in tune with the Word of God that her instruction flows from the Biblical instruction the Lord provides.


Vs. 27: "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."

       Just as a spy watches out for enemies and ways to protect others, a Proverbs 31 woman watches over her family and carefully watches out for ways to protect them from dangers. This would include things like watching over her children and not allowing them to be involved with people who are not of the same mind or people who could drag them away from their relationship with Christ. She is not idle but always diligent.


Vs. 28: "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."

       Her family praises her not because of what she has done, but because who she is in Christ. There is nothing that is truly praiseworthy outside of Christ. She is the Proverbs 31 woman because of who she has become in Christ. She trust Him, finds all security in Him, and obeys who the Bible has called her to be.


Vs. 29: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
   
       Sure, there are good moms and women who are not Christians, but because the Proverbs 31 woman is a woman after God's own heart and puts her family above herself as she seeks after the Lord, she surpasses them all!


Vs. 30: "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

      Unfortunately we live in a culture that praises beauty. People are getting face lifts and all kinds of treatments to look younger and be more beautiful. Women are obsessed with beauty and makeup and believe they can only be secure once they are beautiful (according to the world's standards). The truth is, those who are beautiful and young with flawless skin and have golden legs like an angel are going to turn into wrinkly prunes with sagging faces and crows feet. Why seek after that which is fleeting and short lived, when you could seek after something that is eternal and will not fail you? The truth is, every single girl is beautiful. God created you with diversity and made you beautiful in His eyes. You are fearfully and wonderfully made-He never once said "Oh, I think I will make this little morsel ugly and insecure"....that's not how our Father works. He is a jealous God who wants your time and energy focused on Him...the one who will NEVER fail or leave you, even when you are a wrinkly prune.
             "Use truth for your lips, prayer for your voice, pity for your eyes, charity for your hands, uprightness for your figure, and love for your heart."


Vs. 31: "Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."

      She does not use her good deeds to be seen by man and to receive praise from the world, but it is for her Heavenly Father. Hebrews 11:6 says God rewards those who diligently seek Him.