What? Are you kidding me?

I had no idea…I didn’t know it! Did you know it? 

 

I had no idea that His love could make me feel so complete that nothing else could matter. Like…nothing…life, school, work, money…nothing.

Maybe you've heard me say that we all have that moment…when we realize that we are nothing without Him. He will lovingly tap us on the shoulder again and again until we turn around and say “Jesus! Were you there this whole time?” (praying He didn’t see some of the things we’d said and done).

He’s patiently tapping us on the shoulder…sometimes if you’re hard-headed, He whacks you over the head with a 2x4….and then there’s those like me…He came in like a wrecking ball. (I won’t sing that for you…)

 

Brothers and Sisters, I never dreamed my children would wear their Dad’s ashes around their necks. I never dreamed I’d carry and miscarry 22 babies in my body. I never dreamed I’d have a “lump of something awesome” growing on my brain…(my list could go on, if I focused on the crazy life I’ve had) but you know…it all boils down to this: I needed some Jesus! Now that doesn’t mean that the hard times won’t come…they will.

Accepting Christ, becoming a Christian, doesn’t come with the free toaster oven…You don’t get a brand new car! Ok so we may still be driving that same old broken down station wagon…bald tires, radio knobs are missing, bent antenna, and spring sticking up outta the seat that pokes you in the behind and makes you talk to Jesus…but let me tell you Sisters…

NOW we’ve got AAA!

So there are days that I may appear to be running in fields of wild flowers, filled with joy and laughter…You may believe that I found it…that I knew it…that one thing that makes nothing else matter. Yep!  I am surrounded with love and laughter...and every day is an adventure. But that’s not always accurate…He’s going to bring me to trials that are going to stretch me in ways that are excruciating…so uncomfortable. But when He stops chiseling away all the ugly things in me, does that mean He sees no more potential in me? Well I say CHISEL AWAY!

What He chiseled me into:

Back in 2008, He’s made me a PWOC sister.

I'm the sister that shows up at birthday parties, celebrates each milestone and cries alongside you with joy. I'm the sister that remembers your anniversary, your birthday, and to just call to say "hello" and "I love you"...l'm the sister that surprises you with an unexpected gift, a word of encouragement, a Scripture that reminds me of you. I will text you words of encouragement, remind you that you're so so loved, and call you up just to hear you giggle. If you ask me, I'll coach you to achieve something, I'll hold you accountable, and I'll remind you where your focus should be when you're having a pity-party. I'll listen, I'll pray, I'll think of you. I'll tell others how awesome you are, so they love you like I do. I'll encourage you to stop focusing on your tiny flaws and see the great person that I see. I'll not just love you, but I'll love your parents, your spouse, your kids, and your crazy relatives too.

I will hold my breath as you open your letter from the university and hold your hand while you get your news from the doctor. I will deliver baked goods, and food, and send flowers to you for goofy reasons. I will send tissues and funny notes to you in another country. I will pay your power bill when you're unable and take you out to lunch when you need a pick-me-up. I'll giggle with you while we get facials and eat ice cream. I'll make you laugh until your stomach hurts and you wet yourself. I'll stand in for every single person in your life, that is missing, that is far away, or has passed on. I'll stand in for anyone who has ever hurt you and I will apologize to you and mean it. I'll cry with you as we explore those open wounds together and I'll help you to forgive them.

He gave me this message to deliver: l love you like no one else has ever loved you and more than anyone on this earth will ever love you again. You will know what it is to value yourself again. You will see yourself through My eyes. You are my beautiful beautiful child. You are royalty, by Blood, and no one and nothing can ever remove you from My hand!

New links!

I've neglected my blog for quite some time to work on a few projects. I did not intend to spread myself thin, but as I researched I witnessed a few main categories become apparent. So I am currently compiling the following:

A 12-week Apologetics study that presents prophecy from several fields of study.
(You can find some of the links on the right)

A marital study for both newlyweds and pre-marital couples.

A 12-week study in Servant Leadership (derived from the research in my dissertation).


(I know that may sound a bit "scatter-brained" of me, however, each piece of literature I come across in my research falls into one of these three studies.)

Francis Chan's Oldest Daughter Brought a Guy Home; He Shares Her 'Weird' Gauge-If a Man's Suitable for Marriage

Francis Chan Says Oldest Daughter Brought a Guy Home; Shares Her 'Weird' Gauge If a Man's Suitable for Marriage

Pastor and Crazy Love author Francis Chan answered the question of what makes a boyfriend ready for marriage on John Piper's Ask Pastor John podcast by recalling a time when his older daughter brought a guy home.

He recounted, "My daughter did bring home a guy a few months ago from college and some of my friends asked her, they said 'hey how serious are you with him' and they told me her answer was so weird. They said her answer was 'I just want to hang out with him long enough to see if God answers his prayers.' That's a weird answer but in her mind that was her gauge."
The California preacher went on to describe how in his home, answered prayer is the measure of strong relationship with God.
"Growing up she would see sometimes God would answer her prayer and I'd point it out to her and I remember times I would sit her and … my second oldest down and I'd go, look you guys you see the way God answers mom and dad's prayers and when it comes time for you to get married, that's why I want you so badly to just be with a guy who loves Jesus because if you don't you're forfeiting all of this."
Now that she is meeting potential suitors, Chan said his daughter is using prayer as an indicator of faith. He said, "She's spent these 18 years with a dad who prays to God and she would see man, my dad knows God; He answers him when he prays and so now when she's with these guys she wants to know, OK do you really know God, do you really know Him, is it a true relationship with Him."
Prayer, Chan explained, is a good measure of a person's spiritual growth because "prayer is conditional." He continued, "We see in Scripture God often hates our prayers. He says I'm not listening to that; it's a bunch of noise to me. You know, if there's doubting or selfishness or unrepentance, insincerity, it's a lack of reverence."
However, Chan said, "God wants to hear the prayers of those who love Him, know Him, are walking with Him." Additionally, Bible passages such as John 15:7 show that God  also answers the prayers of those who faithful to Him.
Chan was featured in this and three other episodes of the Ask Pastor John podcast to discuss You and Me Forever, a new book about marriage and family co-written with wife Lisa. In it, the couple encourages Christian husbands and wives to approach marriage and parenting with eternity in mind.
"The whole idea behind it is sometimes couples can get so wrapped up on things here to where they're not focused on the kingdom," Chan expresses in the trailer.
In a previous episode, Chan told podcast listeners his primary parenting goal is to ensure his six children love God before they leave home and said prayer is an essential part of that aim as well.
Outside of prayer, Chan refrained from issuing any other signs of a man's marriage readiness. "I don't want to get too much into specific actions – that can be almost religious. It's more gosh does this guy, does he really know Him, does he really love Jesus and is he truly known by Him to where that prayer life is so deep and rich."

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/francis-chan-says-oldest-daughter-brought-a-guy-home-shares-her-weird-gauge-if-a-mans-suitable-for-marriage-132297/#lvfHRkjCiepAumcw.99