Be who you are.

Have you ever thought about how plagued we are by the way we speak and how others speak to us?  Honestly and candidly, I get so wrapped up in how people treat me and forget that my hope isn't built on what others say and do.  Why do we think it works that way?  In thinking on what it is that has us so wrapped up in the opinions of others, I realized that our culture has shifted so far away from the Word of God and in turn we expect the instant gratification from others to somehow fulfill our needs.

The truth is that our hope should be built on Jesus -- He should be all the gratification that we need.  Still, I find that I rely entirely too much on my friends to supply all that I need (confidence, joy, comraderie, love, etc...) and entirely too little on what the Lord provides.  The Word sets out a clear path for us to follow in regard to our relationships and friendships and I know that I struggle to follow it. 

^"2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. ³ Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. ⁴ For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. ⁵ There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all." - Ephesians 4:2-6
 

I look at that scripture and see how I have failed at each word.  Humility and gentleness and patience -- all things that I want to be with my whole heart but also areas where I know I struggle.  And, lest you believe that I'm being too hard on myself, I am also encouraged by that passage.  In it I see the grace that the Lord has given that has so fully covered my "humanisms" and kept moving me forward.  In it I see the grace the the Lord has given me when I know a friend is intentionally pushing my buttons because they know I'll be bothered.  In it I see the grace that the Lord has given me when I feel lonely and how he has kept my eyes focused on what lies ahead.  In it I find encouragement to be who I am called to be. 

My message today is this:  Stop worrying about who you are in your flesh.  Truthfully, our flesh will never satisfy us or bring us peace.  All of our peace in found in Jesus.  He's not the author of confusion, He's the author and finisher of our faith and He's perfect.  We don't have to be perfect.  If you're struggling today because you don't feel like people are giving you grace, examine your heart.  Our hearts are the wellspring of life, but they can also be deceitful.  Don't be deceived by your heart, but remember the perfect grace that is alive on the inside of you because of Jesus.

Go in greatness today and be who you are.

Recognize your gifts!

Yesterday, I had the honor of sharing devotions to my company.  It was a blessing and I am grateful.  I was so incredibly nervous to speak to all those people but nevertheless, I am thankful.  I just wanted to share that devotion with you all so you could hopefully be encouraged as well.

My job is such a blessing because daily I have the privelege of working with incredibly gifted doctors and medical professionals who are using their gifts and talents in order to show Jesus to people all over the world.  They're sacrificing their own time, money, talents and resources to serve overseas.  Most of the time when I get their trip reports back following the conclusion of their trips, I'm reading how these medical professionals were significantly impacted and blessed by their trips.  That really started stirring up my thoughts about the gifts that the Lord has placed in each of us.

As believers, we've been specifically assigned and engrafted with Kingdom purpose.  We have to recognize how we've been gifted and start using that to our fullest potential in order to build the Kingdom. 

⁴ There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. ⁶ God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.⁷ A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. - 1 Corinthians 12: 4-7

Throughout the rest of chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians, Paul continues to make the correlation between the body and spiritual gifts.  Each gift, each "part of the body" fits together to build the Kingdom.  It's no coincidence, in my opinion, that the very next chapter he continues to say that building the Kingdom as one body is only possible if we keep love at the forefront. 

Surrounding us daily are the most brilliant and talented people on the planet.  An entire earth composed of people who fit together and compliment each other perfectly.  There are people with an incredible ability to encourage all the time.  There are prayer warriors.  There are people who's words flow together so perfectly that when they address crowds whole masses of people leave inspired.  The list goes on and on.  The gifts of the Lord are amazing and unlimited.

I believe that Kingdom purpose is two fold:

1. Recognizing our own gifts as given by the Lord. 
• No where in the Bible does it say that it's bad to recognize that you are gifted.  In fact, I believe that it creates an attitude of gratitude when you realize that what you're good at is only because the Lord made you good at it.
2. Recognizing the gifts in others so we can pull those gifts out of them and encourage them to pursue their purpose.
• We have to be sensitive to opportunities to encourage others to go after what they're good at.  Pushing people to use their resources to bless others creates a cycle of growth.

¹⁷ Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.  He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. -James 1:17

God didn't design you with gifts that he was unsure of.  It wasn't a probability equation at the time of your creation in Heaven.  No -- God designed you with certain gifts and talents with purpose and on purpose.  He knew that by using those gifts, you were going to be able to change the world. 

Recognize your calling and answer in obidience.  You will, undoubtedly, be immensely blessed.

reflections on the land of the free.

11 years ago today I vividly remember one of my 8th grade teachers Mrs. Lewis running down the hall and busting into our classroom and yelling "SHANE, turn on your TV...something really bad is happening."  Shane Andre was the other teacher on the team.  He was a South African exchange teacher in his late 20s.  He was teaching in the US for only a year.  He had no clue the significance of what would be one of the most memorable and significant events in history for our generation.  He shut the TV off and continued teaching.  Hours later, I got off the bus at my house only to find both of my parents in tears on the couch as they sat me and my brother down and talked about what was going on.  I've seen my dad cry twice in my life... on 9/11 and at his mother's funeral.  That was a day that will forever be burned in my memory. 

Here in the United States we are blessed beyond measure with all of the freedoms that we could ever want.  We have the freedom to do what we want [within more than reasonable limits]. We have the freedom to worship as we see fit.  We have the freedom to speak freely.  We have the freedom to vote on those who we believe will lead our nation well.  We live in a nation where dreams are supported and encouraged.  Here, in the land of the free, we are more than fortunate. 

Over the last few months we have been in a "political war" if you will.  Everywhere we look, we can see billboards, articles in magazines and newspapers, tv specials and news reports and everyone's favorite phrase "...and I approve this message."  In this "war" of sorts, I have seen people's true colors, wanted to delete Facebook 8 times at least and been so tired of the division.  That's just me.  And before I go forward, yes I do care about who wins the presidential seat, yes I do have an opinion about what's best for our nation, yes I do believe that informed politics is important, but NO, I will not engage in a war with my friends and acquaintances just to prove my point.  The truth of the matter is that our "one nation under God" was never intended by the God who created it and assigned it so many freedoms to be a nation divided over anything, especially politics.  We have to be careful, because over engaging in politics can quickly develop into us idolizing a political candidate and not honoring the God who gave us the right to vote and have a government. 

Today, however, is different.  Today we stand as one nation, not distracted and divided over discrepancies and political opinions, but united as the "one nation under God" we were created to be.  Today, although it commemorates a horrible event that forever shifted history, is a day that brings us together.  It is a day where we celebrate being connected and are thankful for our ability to be free and those that stand in battle to protect those freedoms.  Today is a day, even amidst election season, that I am truly proud to be an American.

Be grateful today for what you have been given.  Be thankful today for what you've been spared from.  Be thankful today that you live in a free nation.  Choose to use today as a day that you can love on those that need it most by setting aside your opinions and picking up gratitude and support.  Be proud to be an American today.  This is the land of the free and the home of the incredibly and sacrificially brave.

 

Taking Back Tuesday: Part 2

Today is Taking Back Tuesday!  Sorry for the week-long respite...but I'm back today and thankful to be here after an eventful weekend!

Taking Back Tuesday will center around things that have been on my heart to take back. As believers, we have the authority to claim the things of God for the Kingdom of Heaven. God's word says that His will is that the Kingdom of Heaven will exist right here on Earth. So, on Tuesdays, we're going to take things back!

Part 2:  Taking Back Joy

There's strength in joy.  Joy is a choice.  If we choose joy we have the keys to happiness and strength.  We cannot expect to be content in our circumstances (however good or bad they may be) should we neglect the decsion making process of joy.  Choose joy and be empowered.  Choose joy and see life differently. 

Now, this is not to say that you are not entitled to other emotions in times of distress.  This weekend, I went whitewater rafting with all the bridesmaids during the bachelorette weekend for my sweet friend, Natalie.  While rafting, we came into a rapid too slowly and it turned our raft around a bit and myself and another bridesmaid were swept from the raft and ended up "swimming" for about 200 yards down 4 other sets of class IV rapids.  Now, by no means do I consider myself an expert on rapids, but I do think (and now know from experience) that class IV rapids are no joke.  As I was fighting to keep my head above water and inhaling more and more water with every attempt to breathe, I remember saying "Jesus help me out of this water and fast"...I had no control over the situation and the water certainly had more power than my body in that situation.  I ended up being pulled out by a rescue rope with some bruised arm bones (and a pretty cool splint) and a sinus infection being my only injuries. I came out of that situation exceedingly blessed.

Where I ended up being pulled out.

My "swim" of the day.

Today, I am joyful that I'm sitting here writing this blog.  I am joyful that I got to keep my life.  I am joyful that though that experience was beyond traumatic, I am here and (semi) healthy, but regardless I'm healthy enough to tell about it.  It might not seem like a huge deal, but being in that water, unable to breathe and completely out of control opened my eyes to my need to take back both my joy and my gratitude. 

 

Take today as a gift.  We won't always get another chance to walk in joy, so start doing it now!  Today is a blessing from the Lord; another opportuntiy to change lives with His love.  That's my challenge to you.  Let that which is on the inside of you out -- stop harboring all of your great gifts and start sharing them with others.  You're on assignment, but not by me -- GO!

 

Oh, and this is a p.s. -- Happy Birthday week to my sweet friend, Jessica!  I am thankful for your sassy, stylish, joyful, generous, truthful blessing of a life that you share with me daily!  May you always live your life with the elements of joy and surprise that this picture shows.  Love you.

 



Taking Back Tuesday: Part 1

I've never done a blog series before but I really wanted to and so today I'm starting a series that will go through the end of September.  The series is called Taking Back Tuesday.  The series will center around things that have been on my heart to take back.  As believers, we have the authority to claim the things of God for the Kingdom of Heaven.  God's word says that His will is that the Kingdom of Heaven will exist right here on Earth.  So, on Tuesdays, we're going to take things back!  Here's an idea of some of the topics I'll talk about:  gratitude,  joy, healing (uh-oh!), worship and a few others.  Get ready!

Part 1:  Taking Back Gratitude

Since when did we, especially as believers, lose our ability and desire to be grateful?  I was raised in the kind of family where forgetting your gratitude was totally a punishable act.  We were raised to be respectful, we were raised to be generous and we were certainly raised to be thankful.  I think I've mentioned before that if my brother and I were being hateful and arguing, we had to sit on the porch and say 10 things we were thankful for about our sibling.  Thinking of the obligatory gratitude principle that existed in my family really stirred up my mind this week about my own willingness to be grateful in my life now. 

I'm so quick to take things for granted.  This summer I really learned what it means to be thankful for good health when my mom was so ridiculously sick.  I would walk into her hospital room sometimes and immediately have to walk right back out because the emotion was too much to take.  I forgot, prior to this summer, that daily I should be thanking the Lord for my parents' health, for my family's health, for my own health.  The Lord has really blessed me.  I've never really had to want for much and I've always walked in a measure of favor that is completely undeserved.  As I was examining my life and blessings and journey, I realized that many more times than I had taken the time to say thank you, I had forgotten and received the blessing selfishly.  Shame on me.  I believe that if we ever want to see the Kingdom of God first hand on this side of Heaven, we've got to start with taking back our gratitude!

The word of God instructs us to do a few things in order to be in the will of God.  Let's face it... if you're a believer, you should have the desire to be in the will of God.  So this is what we have to do:

1. Be happy and glad-hearted continually. [check, who doesn't want to be happy?]
2. Be unceasing in prayer. [A little harder, definitely a convicting command]
3. Thank God in EVERYTHING. [Ah, I fail at this]

Friends, as believers, we have to do better.  We need to be encouraging one another to continually be thankful.  We should want everyone we come in contact with to know the goodness of the God that we serve and the God that loves people.  How can we show that goodness to the people who don't quite yet see it without first taking back our gratitude?

Every night growing up that my family got to [was forced to] eat dinner together, my dad used to pray the same rehearsed prayer.  This morning, one part of that prayer really hit me.  Dad used to say "...and Lord thank you for all that you've given us, and thank you even more for what you've withheld."

I've been spared from harm because the Lord protected me.  I've had near misses with other cars while driving because God protected me.  I've had encounters with dangerous people and places and come out unscathed because God protected me.  More than I've been safe, I've been unsafe, and because I'm surrounded by a hedge of protection by the God that loves me, I am safe.  So today, I'm taking back my gratitude.  Will you join me?

Thank you Father for your grace, love, provision, protection, belief in me, assignment of health and prosperity on myself and my family, all of the things you've given me and more importantly, everything you've withheld from me.  You're a GOOD God who's mercy and love never fail and for that I thank you.  I break every assignment of the Enemy that might try to convince me that my blessings are somehow earned without your assistance.  I take back the spirit of gratitude for myself, my family and my friends and I pray that we all start being more thankful in order to lead people to you.  Thank you for your newness daily that restores us, protects us and leads us.  In Jesus' name.

direction for the journey.

There's one phrase in the English language that I believe holds more weight and significance than any other phrase; thank you. 

In thinking of all of the opportunities I've been afforded over the years, my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude.  Were it not for those who believed in me, provided for me, sowed into my future, supported my dreams and were always for me, I most certainly would not be where I am.  There's a lot of power in those 8 letters.  There's a lot of sentiment in them as well.  One of the greatest lessons I've ever learned is that no matter where I am, what I'm doing and what the specifics of my season look like, I will always have time and reason to say thanks.

About a month or so ago, I took a step in faith at the Lord's prompting, not really knowing the 'why' or direction of my future.  I officially stepped down as a member of the praise and worship team at my church and invited the Lord to do what he always does -- light the otherwise dark path ahead of me and give me the resources to start the journey.  As with any other journey, I learned quickly that I would have to be patient and flexible listening intently for God's direction.  For a while I've had bits and pieces of dreams and desires but wasn't exactly sure how they would all fit together to form a tangible direction for my future.   Since I graduated from my undergrad program, I've known that I wanted to go back and continue my education.  I've known for about a year that I wanted to deepen my understanding of the Word of God and ability to minister by attending ministry school.  I've known that the window for my time in Boone was closing. I just didn't know how all of those things would fit together.

I found out that a couple friends of mine were starting an awesome school of ministry here in Boone and I knew I wanted to do it, but I also knew that I didn't have anywhere to live in December and I needed to discern if the Lord was really opening that door.  Of course, the ministry school meets on Tuesday evenings at the same exact time that Praise Team rehearses.  That was my first confirmation that this may be the direction.  Then, in a way that could only be from the Lord, I was given a place to live in December through May and the opportunity to save money for my next step in the process.  I'm so thankful that because I was (reluctantly - thank you flesh) obedient to the voice of the Lord, I have been able to move forward and pursue some of my dreams, and I'm so grateful to those who have prayed, encouraged and provided housing along the way.  I was stubborn and fearful, and He was bigger than me yet again.  What a blessing. 

It's with great excitement that I announce that as of about 10 minutes ago, I officially enrolled in ministry school starting in September and lasting until May here in Boone.  I am expectant, believing that as the Lord leads me, I will learn more in this next 8 months than I have in my last 7 years combined.  I want to be able to minister in the way that I've been called to minister.  I know that ministry school, while challenging, will prepare me even more for a future that I cannot yet see.  I'm thankful for the opportunity.

One more big thing -- following the conclusion of ministry school in May, I will be starting graduate school at UNCG.  Yes, more dreams becoming realities.   I don't know all of the specifics yet, but I do know that this is a big step and will be a huge transition.  If you're reading this and you pray, please pray for me as I need a lot of wisdom and clarity.  I have a lot of huge decisions to make.  One thing I know for sure -- the Lord will provide for my needs and I have no reason to fear.  Just as he is the author of our faith, he's also the finisher.  He's the finisher of seasons.  He's the perfecter of plans.  He knows the way and I'm just along for the ride.  Thank you, father, for so sweetly lining up my journey to not only be encouraging but rewarding.     

we are the few.

How do you put into words the incredible?  How do you phrase experiences that were so rich in words that give the happenings justice?  How do you convey the feelings, emotions and blessings that changed your life forever?  How do you...?

I've been on mission trips before.  Twice internationally and numerous times in the states.  I've always been impacted in some way, shape or form on each trip, but I've never experienced anything close to what I experienced in Ecuador.  I left Boone on Saturday, June 30th with everything to gain.  It had been a hard 6 weeks with my mom stuck with tubes in a hospital bed and my dad once and for all proclaiming that our family as I've known it practically my whole life was no more by getting re-married.  I hadn't been in Boone except to work and sleep at all in 6 weeks and I was tired, emotionally, physically, spiritually.  I truly had everything to gain.  As I told you earlier, Ecuador was not going to be my testing ground.  I was going to go to Ecuador and prove that I was competent, could be trusted, and knew what my purpose was in Christ.  Plenty of times in the last few months, I've combatted feelings of insignifcance and confusion of purpose.  I battled feeling as though no one was for me.  I battled the desire to move and leave all that I knew to start a new adventure figuring that it would be the answer to once again regaining the joy and clarity that I used to have.  I was finished battling feelings.  I was tired of daily resisting the devil, because he was not fleeing.  I'm just being honest -- I had EVERYTHING to gain.

It wasn't until I set foot in the hotel in Miami that I realized that while I had everything to gain, I was after gaining the wrong things.  Sunday would be a monumental day for me.  We split up by gender and the ladies did something cool that I've never done before.  We spent a lot of time in worship and prayer and then wrote what we wanted to release on lanterns and physically released the lanterns that carried our burdens into the Miami evening sky.  We let the lanterns go...they floated higher and higher until we could no longer see them.  We circled up and sang "Break Every Chain" and prayed.  We attracted a crowd in downtown Miami and it didn't matter because we were each being significantly impacted in that moment.

It was at that very moment that I realized that what I would be gaining in Ecuador would be far greater than clarity for my flesh.  It would be spiritual breakthrough.  It would be understanding of love.  It would be the power of the presence.  It would be satisfaction in who I was created to be.  God was faithful in providing those things and so much more.

We traveled all day on Monday and set foot in Quito just as the sun was setting over the monstorous mountains.  Truly, the mountains in Boone are small hills compared to those in Quito and the pictures don't do that city justice.  It was the most beautiful city I've ever seen.  It was perfect in every way.  There was such a hunger and thirst for Jesus there -- an element that physically blocks much of the United States from receiving freedom in Christ.  I can't really describe to you what it felt like to fly into the active presence of God, or to look outside of my hotel room every morning to see only potential and thirst for truth and love and to KNOW that victory was already there.  No manipulation, just victory through Christ.   Quito was supposed to be the place where I released ministry...but trust, more that I gave my ministry, I was ministered to. 

Hotel room view.  See what i mean?

The first time we pulled into the church where we would be based out of all week, I saw them.  The translators who made our trip.  The translators who took time off of work and school without pay to help US out.  The 40 incredibly talented 17-24 year olds who will revolutionize and transform the city of Quito.  The most amazing group of people that I've ever met.  I could cry right now writing about how we had to leave them, but I could also rejoice knowing the fire that they have and the confidence that they have to see the city transformed in Jesus' name. 

We minstered in prisons, rehab centers, cancer centers, hospitals, city centers and community parks.  I learned that the presence of God has no limits, it has no specific timing, it is always available.  I learned that God is not a respecter of persons -- He wants to bless and provide for every one of his children all of the time.  I learned that my heart for reaching people isn't limited to overseas missions, but that I'm responsible to reach my best friends, my family, people in my office, people in the United States and all people that I have the honor of connecting with.  I learned that the ability to connect and form relationship is truly something to be cherished.  I learned that God's progressive and he's still a good God today.  He still releases people from burdens.  He still moves mountains.  He still fights for us.  He's still a healer and restorer.  He's still my father; a father who I can trust, who I can love unconditionally and who loves me with an unfailing love, a father who provides and a father who cherishes and knows the important things.  I learned what it truly means to have a trustworthy father. 

For you, Ecuador, I will forever be grateful.  You provided an opportunity for me to grow in grace, to abound in love, to exponentially challenge my mediocrity and develop an appetite for excellence.  I am not the same.