Purpose.

I pray that as we all, as I, start school that I will not just show up.  But, I would show up with a purpose.  God has placed me on my campus, and no matter how many times I get discouraged about finishing school, about living so far away from campus, about paying for tuition, I pray I am reminded that GOD HAS A PURPOSE for everything (Ecclesiastes 3).  I am where I am, I am involved in the things I am involved in, I am friends with the people I am friends with for a purpose.  Show up God, show up in my life!!

Hillsong...in Indy?

Tuesday, August 26th, 7pm....Greenwood, INDIANA!!!
I'm so excited to get to spend a night worshipping my creator with 2 of the "fab 5", Erin and Katie.
I think we have long dreamed of being able to see BF (brooke fraser) and in a matter of hours we will be in the same building as her...a bit creepy, I know. I'm just excited to experience being led in worship by Hillsong.

Sunday.

I grabbed a few NOOMA videos from Erin's house tonight and have watched several tonight as I pack to start a new school year. The one video that just hit me was "Sunday." Rob Bell "hit the nail on the head" so to speak with this one.
He asked several questions that I have asked myself these past few weeks and ended up having a conversation about with a dear friend over breakfast this morning.

"HAVE YOU EVER ATTENDED A CHURCH SERVICE OUT OF A SENSE OF DUTY OR BECAUSE YOU THINK YOU'RE SUPPOSE TO?"
-I have grown up going to church, it is what I do. Every Sunday (unless I was out of town or sick) I would walk through the doors of E.Ville with a smile on my face and do the "church" thing.

"WHEN IT COMES TO CHURCH, WHAT DO YOU THINK GOD HAS IN MIND?"
-Bell said himself "A lot of times I find myself looking around thinking, 'Is this what God has in mind?" We have become so focused on "church" that we have forgotten that WE ARE THE CHURCH; not the walls, not the pews, not the music, not the programs, not the numbers...Matthew 23 talks of the Pharisees and how Jesus sees them doing everything for men to see. We have missed the point of salvation and are so caught up in the appearance of Christ. Church isn't a building, church IS people.

"IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE INTERESTED IN CHRISTIAN FAITH BUT BE TURNED OFF BY CHRISTIANITY?"
-Are we getting in the way of people are searching for God? In Isaiah God talks of His people honoring Him with their lips but having distant hearts. God doesn't need us to attend a church service once of twice a week to be effective. The church was designed to reach the lost and the walls we build are to house a place for fellowship and place for renewal and refreshment and TOOLS to go out and get our hands dirty!

"WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR OUR HEARTS TO START BEATING MORE AND MORE LIKE GOD'S?"
"HOW COULD THIS CHANGE THE WAY THE WORLD SEES CHRISTIANITY?"
After all, "the point isn't Christianity. The point is being a Christian. It means being a follower of Jesus..."

God's artwork.

This week I headed to Kentucky for a family vacation. I had a great time doing nothing, reading tons of books, and getting thrown off a tube...

After a weekend pouring a lifetime of learning and obedience to a faithful God, I felt so challenged today to "guard my heart." It's not easy...as Katie says, "It's not easy at all!". How true. But, the devil has no victory in this battle. My pray today has been that God remind me of all the seeds I've sown; all the truth from scripture, all the wisdom from women, all the knowledge I have from experience. As the new hillsong song "Desert Song" says: THIS IS MY PRAYER IN THE HARVEST, WHEN FAVOR AND PROVIDENCE FLOW, I KNOW I'M FILLED TO BE EMPTIED AGAIN. THE SEED I'VE RECEIVED I WILL SOW. May we remember to take our seeds and sow them, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we are obedient to expect God's faithfulness.

No Sweeter Name.

As I sit in my room with the hiccups trying to be discreet that I am awake and being productive at 3 in the morning, I am overwhelmed by that love that was poured out this weekend at Beauty Overflowing!  I really believe God showed up, did His business, and filled up his daughter's hearts with his spirit.  When I got home from tearing down the white house and encouraging Katie to finish the slideshow for sunday morning, I had 3 of the girls from the weekend at my house.  I was so discouraged when I pulled up to my house because I was so exhausted and wanted nothing more than to wash my face and just fall into bed.  However, as I have come to embrace, God has different plans sometimes.  I was summoned downstairs by the girls and walked into a room that was covered, every inch of the carpet, with paper and markers....the girls were scrapbooking scripture that they wanted to carry with them in their bible or place in the rooms.  I was encouraged by their diligence to surround themselves with truth!

God is so good....I don't know how else to describe it...even tonight as I felt so attacked by the enemy, God provided peace and comfort, strength and sustenance, the right words and the heart to execute them.  May I never forget the feeling of the beauty of God - the presence of His fragrance...for there is no sweeter name than the name of Jesus, there is no sweeter name that I've ever know.  May we all be reminded that He is the truth and the way, He will guard us with diligence.  

Refine me Lord through the flames.

"I will rejoice, I will declare, God is my victory and HE IS HERE!"

"I have a reason to SING, I have a reason to WORSHIP!"

"All of my life, in every season, YOU are still GOD!"

God is good all the time.....all the time God is good.

"I'm weak, I'm poor, I'm broken, Lord, but I'M YOURS!!!!

Hosanna....Hallelujah....