on lies and how their twisted

Sometimes God has to remove us from situations we're in in order to identify the areas of destruction we've allowed to fly under the radar.

Standing farther from the painting gives a more complete view of the whole.

The fruit we thought was sweet, we didn't recognize, or really taste. This fruit may start as sweet, but when you pause long enough from eating it- it tastes bitter and almost repulsive compared to the sweet fruit of TRUTH.

Unearthed.

When I was little I dreamed of this beautiful place with this beautiful language, and a culture of whose I wanted to experience.

A few years later while standing at the bus stop, my sister shared a book that revealed that same dream.

I thought that I had to be different, and that we both couldn't carry this dream.  So I let it fade in my heart and let her hold it in hers.

YEARS later. Man posed this women with a question, seemingly out of the blue, "When are we going to Paris? Let's go to Paris" My heart thriving on adventure, especially of the spontaneous sort, responded with something like, "Let's go! Whenever you'd want!" And even though that question came and went like the breeze we sat amidst, it echoed within my heart.

It awakened this long lost dream. One of many treasures that had been buried was now unearthed.

Oceans seem like lakes, and country lines like neighborhoods to me now.

It's with overwhelming excitement that I share with you that I get to see this dream take shape and pour toward yet a couple more. Tomorrow- I'm going to Paris! :)

A Kingly Heart.

Had a little essay contest at work about the impact that Rev. Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a Dream" speech has had on my life.... this was what I submitted :)

Looking out at a sea of people-
I see smiles.
I see tears.
I see the beauty that life holds.
A sense of community, a sense of belonging-
An ability to embrace all that these hearts hold-
Hearts with the strength to stand beside one another-

This is what King did for us.

This is the impact he's made.

No longer barriers between tribes, tongues, or nations.

Uniquely individual, yet intrinsically  connected.

He's enabled me to see and embrace this beauty-

To dream bigger, to dream louder.

Tis the Season

Seasons change, as do people.
It's a beautiful part of life.
You get to go to new places,
and meet new people.
But.
The people from my past,
aren't really part of the past at all.
They are part of my present.
They've helped shape who I am,
Who  I was,
Who I am becoming.
They are part of my heart,
and all that it holds.

When Jesus Knocks

I love how beautiful Jesus is.
How He meets us where we're at.

I'm in this process, allowing Jesus to breathe life into my heart again. I endearingly call this my deiceification process. One of the areas of my heart that He's breathing life into is my heart for the nations- and one continent in particular - Africa. I'm not in a place where I would go right now. So God brought someone to me. :)

I'd probably only been awake for a half an hour, still recalling the dreams that I dreamed last night, when I heard the doorbell ring, not once- but twice. I answer the door expecting a salesman, but to my surprise there was a 12 year old (soon to be 13 year old) girl named Elizabeth asking for directions to her school.

I told her- but then noticed there wasn't a car around at all, and asked her if she had walked. She had taken the city bus from another town, to my town and had been walking quite a ways in the opposite direction of her school. I offered her a ride... pause here... The car that I drive only became drive-able not even 48 hours ago! I love this...


While I was gathering my keys and purse, she noticed some photographs that my mom has on her walls.

She asked if they were of Africa. I had said yes they were from when I had gone and then and asked her if she had family there- she shared that she was from Liberia, and then later when asking her if there was any way that I could pray for her- she shared that her mom dad and brother were still there. We talked and I just got to know her a little bit as I took her to school. It turns out that one of the buses was early and many kids missed the bus today.

I love that of all of the houses that she could have knocked on, she came to mine. Jesus knew how to take care of each us- her in her need to get to school- and me in my desire to reach out, and give.

Another little fun thing is that her name in the Greek means "oath of God" or "God is satisfaction" Two realities that are very near to my heart right now.

Life in Jesus is the best.

Relentless

I started to work out for a period of time. And pretty early in the morning at that!

I'd wake up at 4, bike to meet my friends, workout, hang out at Starbucks, and then bike home.

That was my morning routine.

There was one day in particular that will stick with me for the rest of my life.

The cool of the morning hadn't quite lifted, as the sun was just about to make its move, and take position in the sky. And as I passed through a particular neighborhood I noticed something was off. Well... something was on, and it wasn't quite right.

Someone had left their car lights on over night. I froze, and attempted to balance on my bike while I figured out my next move. Someone may not be very pleased if this car doesn't start, and they aren't able to get to work or wherever they need to be for the day. It could throw their whole day off. I left my bike at the curb. I had to act.

I walked up to the house that the car was parked in front of and knocked obnoxiously loud. Mind you, this was still within the early part of the six o' clock hour and I may have been needing to wake someone from sleep. No one answered at this house, so I proceeded to the apartment complex nearby.

The first person didn't know whose car it was, the second pointed me to the next complex over, and finally the third person pointed me to whose door I should have been knocking at all along. A young woman answered the door with an initial look of hesitation and awkwardness. Her expression changed drastically to gratefulness and relief as I explained the reasoning for my early knocking. She'd been having issues with the lights of her car staying on, and was immensely appreciative of my sharing with her as she had recently just experienced some rougher hiccups in her days dealing with it.

Satisfied that all was well and right in the world for that moment, I climbed onto my bike to head home. As I did, I felt the Lord whisper something like this to my heart, "THIS is how I want you to be with My Gospel"

This pretty much knocked me off my feet. I had been RELENTLESS. I didn't care how many people I woke up and dragged out of bed, or who didn't come to the door- I was on a mission.  I was going to find the one person whose day could have been dramatically changed by this news.

This is how I want to be with sharing the Gospel- unhindered, with nothing held back; unashamed, with nothing to hide; without any hesitation of closed doors- simply, openly, and beautifully .... Relentless.

Listening to that which beats within Your chest beyond the wrinkles of time

I love you- and that will never change-

not with the passing of time-

the wrinkling of the face-

not with mistakes, nor misspoken words.

I love you and that will never change

You cannot leave My presence- I am always near.

I'll bring peace to your being, peace to your <3

There will be rest for your <3 in all this, rest for your soul.

                                                      In Me. In Me. 

                                                      ...

How do I stay in you?

...

My Word