We.Are.Blessed.

Sometimes I look around and literally have to stop everything to really take in how incredibly blessed I am. From the people I'm surrounded by, the Godly influences in my life, the absolute beauty of the world around me (especially Lynchburg in the fall... Nothing better), an amazing university to attend and become better equipped to serve Christ, friendships that have powerfully changed and impacted my life, and ultimately, the pure essence of life itself. 

We always use the common phrase, "count your blessings", but how often do we really take even just a minute to recognize the hundreds of aspects in our lives where we are SO blessed?

How often do we take a deep breath in; the crisp fall air surrounding us, glance around at the changing leaves, the colors of fall, the bright blue, clear sky.. Or look around when we're surrounded by the most important people in our lives and be able to see how God orchestrated those relationships to grow you, encourage you, challenge you to grow towards Christ..

Why is it so easy to let the miniscule things ruin our entire day and completely fail to acknowledge the huge ways that God revealed Himself to us that day?

I, myself, am becoming convicted even as I write this, because if I'm being honest... there are days where it is hard to see through the stress, the frustrations, and the things of the past that bubble up from time to time. It's sad that it is sometimes hard to enjoy the little blessings in our lives daily but are so prone to let minor things ruin our entire day.

We're surrounded by constant beauty, and grace, and mercy, and love. Every minute, of every day. Whether we choose to see the good in things, or the bad in each moment, we.are.blessed. 

Every heartbeat. Every breath. Every smile.

Each moment of stillness when everything seems to feel 'just right'.

Every encouraging conversation. Each time we have a hand to hold, a tear of joy to shed, or someone to pray for and over us. 

For each time everything seems to be going wrong, we have a million reasons to smile.

For each moment where we feel as though we're breaking, we're in the midst of a moment where God is moving graciously around us.

For each day that we could let ourselves remain frustrated and stressed, we could be missing out on the beauty of God around us each and every minute.

A new look at "count your blessings", I think. 

I've been stopping so many times lately and find myself smiling to myself because I am so overjoyed and humbled by the blessings from a gracious and loving God.

Maybe our lives wouldn't seem so complicated and so disappointing if we'd realize that we are surrounded by the blessings of a loving Father... Which are far more powerful than the things that go wrong each day. 

 Change our perspective.

The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.
    How great is his joy in the victories you give!

 "You have granted him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. You came to greet him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—length of days, for ever and ever. Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord;
    through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken." Psalm 21:1-7.

Breathtaking Worship.

The other night, during Unite (college group), I had a little bit of a meeting with Jesus.

It was humbling, and breath-taking all at once.

A bring me to tears sort of moment.

And since I'm stillll not over it, I figured I'd share it.

There were maybe 25, maybe 30 people that night, all spread throughout the room.

Worship was super chill: acoustic, no mics, nothing plugged in.

Everyone sort of congregated to the front of the room to worship together, but I was still towards the back of the room.

Towards the end of the last song, '10,000 Reasons', Daniel (head honcho, mr. college pastor, etc.), stood up and read:

"Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens.

Praise him for his acts of power;
    praise him for his surpassing greatness.

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
    praise him with the harp and lyre,

praise him with timbrel and dancing,
    praise him with the strings and pipe,

praise him with the clash of cymbals,
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord."

Psalm 150 

 Then he threw in a little challenge for us too. He said, 

"If this was the last moment you had to worship God, how would you respond? How would that change the way you are worshiping?" 

For the next few minutes we continually sang,

"Bless the Lord, Oh my soul, Oh my soul,
Worship His holy name.
Sing like never before, Oh my soul
I'll worship Your holy name."

And, I wish I could adequately describe what happened in that room.

There weren't thatttt many people in the room, but the worship that had erupted, and the presence of

God was SO overwhelming it was as if there were far more people in there than there really was.

Suddenly, in the midst of it all, I had one of those 'glimpse of heaven' moments...

One of those, 'this is what heaven is going to be like' moments.

Every person in tune with God. Every heart focused on Him. 

Each person giving their absolute everything in worship.

Arms raised, heads held high, knees bent, voices loud.

It was perfect.

And I got a glimpse of heaven when we'll be standing before the

throne of God worshiping day and night, and as if we

never have before. 

Powerful, meaningful, focused, surrendered, beautiful worship.

I couldn't even sing anymore at that point.

I was completely breathless, and as tears were streaming down my face in awe of 

what I had just been able to experience,

I had to leave the room to gather myself, and spend some time alone with Jesus;

thanking, worshiping, and basking in His presence.

There aren't many things that can beat out moments where you're in a room

surrounded by your friends who's hearts are all sold out to Christ

and have surrendered their everything in worship of Him all at the same time.

Such an incredible experience that literally makes me SO stoked for heaven.

It's going to be pretty magnificent, and I cannot wait. :)

His Hand is Upon Everything.

Today I decided that considering that it was incredibly perfect outside, I was going to do my devos and prayer time out in my back yard.

As I was in the middle of praying and talking some things out with Jesus, I paused and began to look around at my surroundings.

My backyard is filled with pretty large/tall trees completely encircling my house, and I began to think about what it takes for a tiny seed to grow into this massive tree that my dad is currently building a tree-house in for my brothers. I considered the amount of rainfall needed, the amount of sunlight, the nutrients in the soil, etc.

As I was in the process of admiring the trees themselves, I began to notice the birds fluttering around them, the nests that were built within the tree branches.. These nests that provide rest, storage, and safety for these birds..

And then, as much I hate them and greatly fear them, I noticed the bees buzzing throughout my backyard also. I thought about pollination, and what it takes for a tiny, seemingly insubstantial bee to even survive...

And it hit me..

The God of the entire universe created each of these things. He knew exactly what it would take for each type of tree to grow into such a large, grand part of nature. He recognized the amount of water fall it would need, He knew the perfect amount of sunlight it would need for it to not simply dry out and die, He knew the exact soil nutrients it would need to grow and thrive. 

And the birds. He knew they would need such a place for safety and protection. Somewhere high above the ground so it didn't become simple prey for other animals. The bees, He enabled the pollination process, He knew that such a miniscule insect would do for plant life, He knew what each one needs to survive...

All that to say, it occurred to me as I sat there admiring some of the creations of God, that if the mighty and powerful God of the universe.. Who created absolutely everything, can provide a way for tiny insects to eat and contribute to the sustenance of plant life; for the birds of the air a place to raise their young, remain protected; and for trees, to grow into all their grandeur...

How much MORE are we cared for, protected, provided for?

Lately, I have been struggling with trying to understand God's plan, and purpose, and future for me. I became mildly frustrated as I wrestled with fear and doubt that God didn't have a plan for my life.. That what I desired for my life is clearly is not determined by me, but by Him.. And that certain things were going to play out differently in my future than what I may have originally dreamed up.

But in that moment, I was able to rest in the knowledge and the promise that who am I to fear and to doubt His provision and protection and plan for my life when right in front of my eyes He was abundantly providing perfectly for His creations that surrounded me?

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
 Matthew 6:25-34.

What right do I have to worry about the future before me? Who am I to doubt the plan that God has for me? And who am I to doubt the purpose in which I am created for?
 He has all the details on how to raise up a portion of wildlife, I'm pretty sure He can handle each detail of the magnificent plans and purposes He has for our lives. 

We have no reason to fear or worry or doubt the abundance, provision, planning, or the hand of God upon our lives. Rest in the truth and reassurance that regardless of whether we can see it or not, God has something for each of our lives far greater than we can imagine, and therefore we have no reason to fear or worry. 

Amen to that.  

Maybe a Little Focus Shift.

How often do we reallllly think about those around us..? I mean really think about them:

 The people we frequently see at our usual coffee shops, the people we work with, or even the people we spend the most time with; in and outside of our families.

I feel like I have many of my Jesus smacks me in the face moments either while I'm at work or while I'm driving, and lately I've been having the same kind of revelation moment in both of those situations.

One of the women that I used to work with, has since quit our store and works right across the way at Hallmark. I texted her today, since I knew she was working, and told her to let me know when her break was so we could go get lunch together.

At around 1:30, we started walking towards the food court as I was telling her how much of an off day I've been having.

*(Throughout the duration of the morning, I had hit my head twice, broken a few cookies, spilled multiple drinks on myself, broke a cookie cake... All over the place. Hah. I was a cookie lady mess.)*

I finished my rambling when she says, "If anyone should be out of it, it should be me. I have tons going on girl.." 

*(Amanda; mid-thirties, been married for 14 years, mother of two girls, and an adorable little boy.)*

So, I asked her if she didn't mind sharing, what was going on?

 She said, "Well, for starters, my husband and I are pretty much Splitsville.." 

Shocked, I asked her what had happened, and with no real explanation, she basically told me that he had decided that their marriage was over and he wanted out. 

My heart broke for her, and for her children, and I still ache for them, but there was something she said that I didn't completely expect from her:

"After that conversation, I went and I got down on my knees.. Completely on my face before God and laid it all at His feet. If he wants to leave, there's not much more I can do except for pray. And after that moment I had before God last night, I feel so much peace knowing that I'm putting everything in His hands."

Wow. 

Suddenly I felt semi-guilty about rambling on about hitting my head too many times, when she has suchhh big things going on in her life even as we spoke. 

And she's just ONE story. 

Lately, while sitting at red lights, I've been looking around at the numerous cars that drive by me; just in the duration of that one light. 

My heart breaks as I look around and wonder how many of those faces I'm going to see again in heaven.. I wonder where they're that in their lives.. What they themselves are wrestling with..

I think of the sixteen year old girl that I work with often, whom I can tell is desperately searching for something, but she hasn't figured out yet that the partying, and drinking, isn't going to fill the space where Jesus is supposed to be.

 *(I was blessed to be able to have a conversation with her today about my church, and about missions, and about the incredible atmosphere at Crossroads, and I'm interested to see where other conversations with her lead as I see her searching for something greater.)*

I think of the wife I saw today pushing around her apparent cancer-stricken husband around in a wheelchair through the mall just so he can get a peanut butter cookie. Or the single moms struggling with their fussy young children...

We see SO many faces everyday. We encounter so many fragile lives, all in completely different stages of life. We see sons and daughters of the Most High God; some struggling to see Him in the midst of their circumstances. 

Do we really care about these people?

Can we allow ourselves to feel for them; pray for them;

love on them?

Even if that means we stop rambling for a little bit and shift our focus from ourselves to loving people as Jesus did; as we're called to do?

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us...

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them...

We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister." 1 John 4:7-16; 19-21

 

Boldly. Fearlessly. Confidently.

As I was standing at work today, I was almost overwhelmed with the numerous things that I could write about. Then it occurred to me that I haven't written anything since... Early January. Sooo, I decided it was time.

Lately work has been more on the slow side and most shifts I have many times where I have no customers for awhile. In my boredom I typically end up with a Sharpie in hand writing the same thing on my hand alllll the time. 

"Pray boldly."

It's such a good reminder throughout my day, to be in an attitude of prayer throughout the day, but today it struck me.... Do I even know what that really means? Do I seriously understand the power of those two words together?

"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." 

Mark 11:23-24

  

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place." 

Hebrews 10:18-20

  

"This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."

Hebrews 4:15-16

These three verses predominantly explain the simple but powerful phrase.  

We already know to pray. We're called to pray. Jesus prayed. He's the perfect example.. Therefore, we know that we too, are to pray. But the concept of prayer takes on a much deeper value once we realize that we can boldly approach the throne of God with our prayers and petitions.

Jesus' death on the cross tore the veil that separated man from God. Because of his sacrifice we are free to come before a gracious and understanding God who endured all trials that we endure. We can now confidently run into arms of grace and mercy and lay our most desperate prayers and circumstances before an almighty God who is gracious and loving enough to meet us exactly where we are, where we need help the most. 

The power of prayer is evident in SO many aspects of our lives whether we continually see it or not, and there is so much strength in understanding that if we believe that God is mighty enough to make something happen.... simply believe in Him, without a single doubt in our minds, it will be done.

So, to answer my own question, what does it mean to say 'pray boldly'..? 

Because of the blood of Jesus we are able to confidently, courageously, boldly approach the throne of God; lay before Him our deepest pleas, believing that He has the authority, strength and desire to help us when we need it most. 

We have no reason to be timid in our prayer time with Jesus. He sacrificed his own life SO that we don't have to be. The veil is torn. His arms are open. His mercy and grace are waiting. Let's run to Him.

Plead confidently.

Petition certainly.

Call upon fearlessly.

Pray boldly.

Arise.

 "Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 

When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, 

“Young man, I say to you, get up!” 

The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country." Luke 7:11-17

You didn't have to be IN the Georgia Dome during the 2012 Passion Conference for God to move. 45,000 people in the Dome, and another 42,000 watching online, and God showed up. In such powerful ways.

I could literally write for days, just about the incredible things that have happened in the last through days during and through Passion. But there was something so unbelievably powerful about the story in Luke 7.

Think about the scene here, Jesus is entering this city with a large crowd already at his side, and he walks straight into another large group of people. As soon as Jesus sees this widow mourning, his heart breaks for her and he has compassion on her. Through the massive crowd, Jesus sees this one woman who is torn apart, broken; first a widow and now without a child, and just then he feels great compassion and love for her. 

After he says the words 'Don't cry' to her, I imagine a quiet falling over the crowd. Why? Because who enters a funeral procession and tells the parent of the dead to stop crying? Clearly, Jesus, because he already knew what was about to happen. 
He walks over to this stretcher that the boy was carried out on, places his hand upon it... And simply, but firmly tells the boy to get up. 

Get up, arise, awaken.

And instantly, the he sat up and began speaking. Alive.

Louie Giglio taught on this passage so well, that his words have stuck with me. 

He asked if we, were in the middle of our own funeral procession. If we were being carried out of town for burial. 

If we were in need of a command from Jesus to ARISE. 

Jesus sees us in the middle of the crowd. He singles us out in the midst of our mourning, even when we feel as though we are unnoticed. The God of the universe has compassion for us. And then, the powerful act of his love? He calls us to awaken from the dead. 
Healing. Strength. Power in Him.

There's a lot to be done. This world needs to be impacted, with full force. 

27 MILLION people enslaved.

4.5 BILLION people who don't know Jesus.

It's time for us to arise.

Time for us to get up in the middle of our funeral procession, and become alive in Christ again.

After the crowds had witnessed Jesus raising the boy from the dead, news of him spread in the surrounding country, and the people PRAISED GOD for all they had seen. 

We've got to arise. Arise from doubt, arise from pain, uncertainty, shame, darkness. 

And when our generation rises up for the sake of the Gospel, our Father's name will be praised and His power, His might, and His glory will be spread throughout the entire world.

Get up. Rise up.