The Time Is Now

My dear friend,

You are a treasure, you know that? I’ve been thinking so much about you during my move to Colorado. As I get into a new routine, learn the new routes to the new stores, I am so glad that you are my familiar face. (And may I add, it’s a gorgeous face.) You are my cozy, security blanket in this new, big world. And I’m so very thankful for you. The time we spend together is dear to me. I love working with you towards the same eternal goal. I long to encouraging you in any way that I can, because you encourage me so greatly. In my transition into the new & unknown, I’ve had some thoughts about what really matters. And I’d like to share them with you...

What would we do differently if we REALLY became eternity-minded? It is so, so easy for me to get caught up in the day-to-day routine of life. Laundry, dishes, errands, remembering to put deodorant on BOTH armpits. But what would happen if we grabbed hold of the truth that what we’re doing (or not doing) at this moment, will change the Kingdom of God? Would we be eager to share Jesus with the person we’ve been meaning to? Would be show more abundant love & grace to others? Would we mend our broken relationships with people? Would we ask someone for forgiveness for the hurtful things said and done on our part, even if we feel that we were greatly wronged by the other person? Would we not take offense so easily? Would this kind of mindset bring passion & meaning back into our lives?

And what would we be doing differently if we really lived like we believe Jesus is coming back? I know most of us have repeatedly heard, “Jesus could be coming back today!” But it’s absolutely true. What if we lived as if the realness of that statement was on our hearts and minds every day? I feel a movement happening inside of my heart; a shifting of priorities; a new realization of upcoming events. My spirit is stirring & so are the hearts & spirits of many, many others. I hear it in their words & I see it in a very tangible way through their selflessness and actions. I feel like we’re on the edge of something big; something that can’t be stopped. And today is a time of preparation. Preparation of our hearts. Preparation of our minds. Preparation of our bodies. I feel like we should be clothing ourselves not with fashions of this world, but with supernatural armor. Oh friend, the time is here. We are mighty warriors and it’s time to take our place & stand our ground in this battle. Make no mistake, regardless of whether or not we WANT to be a part of it, we are. The difference is the impact we’ll make. Will we close our eyes & just hope to pass through life unaware or un-phased of the dangers around us? That’s not going to happen. Or will we stand up and boldly claim our positions? We are daughters & sons of the Most High! There is no one stronger, greater, holier than our God. Do you believe it? We say it, but do we believe it? Has it seeped down into the marrow of our bones & to the core of our very being? Do you believe that you have a higher calling? You do, my friend! But not only have you been called, you have been given the armor and supplies you need to be victorious. God does not call us to something that He’s not also equipped us for. It’s all there. All we have to do is do it. The calling is there. The armor is there. The favor & anointing is there. And it’s ours for the taking! Let’s stand together in the greatness for which we’ve been created! It’s my honor to be a part of this adventure and journey with you! (And not to give away the ending... but we win.)

Romans 13:11&12 says, “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

I watched the Left Behind movie for the first time last week. (Yes, for the first time. And no, I haven’t been living under a rock.) It really gave me a new sense of how real the return of Christ is going to be. The chaos and confusion will be heartbreaking. The return of Jesus WILL happen & we ARE called to join in the crusade. Every where we go; the supermarket, our schools, our workplaces, our churches; there are hurting, dying people in desperate need of Living Water & the Bread of Life. And guess who God Almighty has called to share it with them? You & me. What a privilege to be a part of shaping eternity. Wow.

God’s Kingdom is real. His promise are true. This battle is crucial. And we’re a part of it all.

1 Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Stand up & hold strong to your calling. The enemy will try to beat us down, shut us up & tempt us with comfortable routine. But we will not be defeated. We CAN NOT be defeated. We will not bury our heads in the sand. We will not take the path of least resistance.

May you boldly fight & stay passionate about the vital position you are assigned. I pray daily renewal and refreshment over your body, heart & mind.

1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

God be with you, my fellow warrior & friend. I declare our God faithful!

One Body

Friend! Friend! How I’ve missed you! After a whirl-wind month, the husband, doggy & I have officially relocated to Denver, Colorado where my husband is working for a mission’s organization. This move is just one more example of how good and how faithful our God is. Our time in New York was so precious. We were put in a position of completely relying on God. Financially, emotionally, spiritually. We had nothing without Him. It was a stretching & growing time. It hurt. Some days badly. It was uncomfortable. My flesh cried at times because I didn’t know what the next day held, but I was filled with hope and encouragement because I did know Who held the next day. The verse that says the joy of the Lord is my strength has penetrated my soul. I grew up singing it as a song, not really thinking about the meaning. It’s now become a verse that has “clicked”. I love when that happens! Our time in NY allowed us to purposefully rely on God’s goodness, promises and grace. I love standing under the heavenly showers of His love! It was a time of preparation to ready our hearts for what He has next for us. What an honor to be on an assigned journey where the Creator of all things, is right there beside us every step of the way. We don’t deserve it. But boy, do we accept and appreciate it! We have seen very detailed and specific cries of our hearts be answered in such a powerful way that it’s obvious it was ONLY God that could have heard us & taken detailed action on our behalf. Big things are happening & all glory goes to our God. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. We worship an active, living and all-powerful God who loves to work through us & bless us. Thank you, Jesus.

This will have been the 3rd time that we packed what we could fit in our car and moved cross-country. So I like to think of us as "seasoned professionals". One might think that very little could fit into a PT Cruiser. I beg to differ. When you marry a musician, packing the drums are a high priority. So I’ve learned to just go with it...I filled all the drums with clothes. No space wasted, I get me clothes, he gets his drums. And I’ve learned that leg room is over-rated. I’ve discovered how to strategically place books, pillows and small accessories around myself (No, I wasn't driving). Sure, it took 15 minutes for my husband to unbury me each time we stopped, but it worked. And let me tell you...it’s incredible the things you see when you drive cross-country in 2 days. (I could see out my window if I looked over the winter jackets and pillows.) Torrential downpours and tornado warnings in one state & a few hours later in a different state, total sunshine & dry roads. Oh yes...there was getting completely lost...in cornfields...at midnight...literally. No exaggeration there. (Sidenote: By 9pm in Adel, Iowa, EVERYTHING is closed. So if you need directions and your GPS isn't working, you'll be sad. However, the police dispatch are extremely kind & can navigate any lost commuter out of even the thickest of cornfields...even in the middle of the night.) Oh, what memories. I do have to tell you, my husband is the BEST road trip buddy though. We load up on snacks & hit the road. One hour later, his wife is terribly parched. Possibly to the point of tears. So he’ll pull over to a place that has iced tea and head back to the highway. Yes, tea’s not the best road trip drink, but that doesn’t matter. Then 2 hours later, that tea is trying to make a super quick escape, so of course, an urgent bathroom stop is desperately needed. What a patient (and really good looking) man. But as many wonderful things that we were able to see along the way, there are definitely a few bathroom stops I’d like to forget about. I don’t care if you’re bathroom is dirty, I’ll just go to a different one. But don’t advertise ‘clean restrooms’ when it’s a total and complete lie...and FYI, I think to be considered a "bathroom", it must have a toilet. False advertising if you ask me. Unfortunately, some images can never, ever be erased.

As we drove through state, after state, after state, I kept thinking about how big God truly is. It was so special to see all the churches along the way. So many different houses of worship. A little tiny chapel nestled in a wheat field. A huge stone church smack dab in the middle of a downtown. Fellow brothers and sisters that love our Lord. We don’t know their names or stories, but they are definitely there. And God’s working in their hearts, their hurts, their lives and communities. So awesome, isn’t it? Be encouraged. We aren’t alone.

I’ve seen how God is moving powerfully in my own church & community and how people’s lives are being changed. And it’s incredible to think that as personal as my God is to me, He’s just as personal and intimate in the lives of believers around the world. We truly are one body, with one Father.

Romans 12:4-6 says, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well...”

The little church in the wheat field will touch the lives of people that you & I will never meet here on earth. The huge stone church in a busy downtown is refuge for hurting people whose faces we will never see. I am so encouraged and appreciative for this visual I got as we traveled. It has stirred an excitement and longing in my heart to faithfully pray for my brothers & sisters. I pray for daily renewal of their hearts & minds. May their words not be their own, but straight from the mouth of God. May the people around them be healed & transformed by Jesus through acts of kindness, love and truth.

1 Corinthians 15:58, “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

Nothing we do for the Lord is useless, whether it's a small act of kindness or a huge act of love. How encouraging! I pray that the people you & I come into contact with will be forever changed. I ask God to place a sensitivity inside each of us so that we can recognize how to love, help and serve others. May our actions and words towards others reflect their Maker’s love for them. You are precious, my friend and I love you.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 13:11-12, “Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet each other with Christian love.”

I declare God faithful.