My Feet Will Wonder Towards Adventure

Right now, I am able to look at my life and the things God is doing... and actually appreciate it! You know how some times we can miss what God is really doing in our lives? And the only way we really see the hand of God working in and through our lives is when we look back to past experiences and say, "Wow, I couldn't even see what God was doing." I know that I can't see all of His greatness working in my life, but I can see and even feel a lot of what He is doing. It is truly inspiring. To have a personal relationship with my Savior.

I was recently blessed with the chance to get out of town for a long weekend trip to Utah. I was mainly visiting my sister and my brother-in-law but had the chance to visit the church they are helping start. I have lots of amazing friends out in Salt Lake City who are serving Jesus, so it was incredible to spend time with them as well! I knew the trip would be a nice chance for me to get away, I just didn't realize how much it would impact me. But I was in for a wonderful surprise!

Since my sister was working a few nights when I was there, I had a chance to go to coffee shops and relax. I actually took that free time I had to read this book called, "The Next Generation Leader" (Which I sincerely love!) and I also spent that time, dreaming, praying, editing photos, updating my new phone, and driving around a new town. I am a sucker for adventure. I enjoyed my time in Utah so much. I love driving places and not completely knowing where I am going. I love the new views, smells, people, and atmospheres I got to experience. This trip did wonders. While I was spending time just talking with God, I could feel Him start to pour dreams and goals in my life that I have kind of left on the wayside. I have found this new appreciation for traveling. Like this undeniable, gonna die if I don't do it, kind of traveling. I feel like I have finally come full circle with some of the tough situations I have gone through these past 6  months. And I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it is a beautiful site to see! I would not be where I am if it wasn't for the unconditional love of my family and close friends and my ever growing relationship with Jesus. It is humbling.

So as I start to learn how God will have these crazy dreams pan-out, I will be prayerfully expectant for the new and exciting, while remembering the importance of my "now." Remembering that my current life is just as crucial to the big picture as anything else that will happen in my future!

Oh goodness. I am so excited to be alive and living out my dreams.

I give everything over to You Lord

Finding Rest in Business

I have been going through a lot. Usually people take that as a downer phrase, but let me clarify that phrase so that you can really understand where I am at and what God is teaching me. Things have been crazy! The best way to explain it is... Change & growth! I have been learning several new things about myself, as well as revising some past thoughts or struggles. Throughout my life and especially more recently, I have noticed a common theme. The fight to find rest. Sound funny? Well, I have been struggling with trying to balance my, seemingly, always busy schedule and also finding time to get with God and to reconnect with Him daily.

I have figured this out: I am going into a new season which means I need to know God in a whole new way. Deeper and more personal. My relationship with God is now at a place where I find it URGENT to be in relationship with Him. Desperate to be fed by His Word. Greatly desiring to serve others and to be passionate about the work that God is calling me to.

There is a fire lit within me that is so sold out to my Fathers business, no one can shake that from me.

So as I have been wrestling with this idea of business. I have been keeping my heart open to what God is wanting to teach me. Finally, I was listening to a message by Mark Driscoll and I felt like I heard a little bit of my life in his message.


Here is what I took from it: 
The enemy might not try to get you to deliberately sin, instead, his goal might be to keep you busy enough so that you don't have time to put the first things first. The things that I know I need to put first consist of making a daily goal of getting into the Word a main priority in my life. It is also spending quality time in intentional prayer and then praying without doubt but with full belief in God's capabilities. I also need to work on how to be able to slow down and to stop long enough to hear God speak to me. Finding a church family to do life with and to have encouragement and accountability has also been a huge factor in me being fed as well as me pouring into other people.

I have heard messages in the past about having distractions and even about how the enemy can keep us busy to avoid spending time with God. I understood the concepts of those messages and they were really impactful, but it hasn't been until more recently where I have been trying to apply what I have learned. If no one has even told you, those two totally look and feel different. Hearing and doing!

I wish I could end this blog post with some great revelation and life changing encounter, but I am still in the works of all my thoughts and prayers. I will tell you that I am slowly getting great insight into what I feel God tugging on my heart about. Although, I suppose IT IS a great revelation that I have been hearing God so much lately. We are in constant communication with each other, and for me, I am very pleased with that!

The goal is to be fruitful not just busy. Do not exchange business for fruitfulness. 
Instead of doing 10 things poorly, how about trying to do 2 things really well. 

I'd like to dedicate this blog post to a continual learning process through my life. That I may have the desire to always learn and to always seek God first.

I give everything over to You Lord

Gracious

When you have known someone for so long and, overtime, there is growth in that persons life, it is easier to tell the change in the individual. I have been lucky enough to witness a beautiful display of God and His grace. My families long time friend Robert decided to publicly dedicate his life to Christ by doing a water baptism at City of Grace. Although fear shook his insides and even though he literally left the church because he was scared, God pulled on his heart to trust Him. So Robert stood at the end of the line as, I'm sure, tons of thoughts ran through his head. I feel so honored that I can witness such an awesome journey from where God has taken Robert from until today. God is really concerned about the journey, not just the destination.

Here is his water baptism.

For the fear that may knock on Roberts heart, I pray that God will give him a measure of Grace that it leaves him so fulfilled and satisfied. I also ask that God would grant Robert an extra sensitive Spirit to what God wants of him and where He is leading Robert. I am excited to see the next 13 years play out in our good friends life. Tears came to my dad eyes watching this video because he also was able to see how far Robert has come. It is such a testament to Gods goodness and faithfulness in each of our lives. Your loved by the Starks family Robert!

I give everything over to You Lord