Dollar Signs

God has been teaching me {alot} about finances lately. Largely because I have been trying to seek understanding from Him so He has been making Himself known in the area of money. Let me first give you some background information of how this all came about! I was offered by my sister and brother-in-law to take over their lease sometime around October. After discussing it with a few people I trust, I felt at peace with moving forward and making the commitment to take on the lease when they are ready to move out. Although, I know I only make enough to live pay check to pay check. Which I concluded was fine, and it is a season I really want to walk out and an experience I feel like God is going to teach me a lot through.

Knowing full well that finances will be a key component of me moving out and how I will be living, I know that God MUST be intertwined in my decisions or else there really doesn't leave room to have faith. There are three main points that God has brought to my attention. These three point have literally impacted my whole perception of money and my thought processes. I pray that these points can add to your existing thoughts of money and how you handle your decisions about the topic.  

{Have Faith} 
{Put Forth Effort}
{Be a Steward}

I'm so excited to talk to you about what God has shown me about these three life changers!

HAVE FAITH

{ Luke 16:10 }

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much"

Faith is a really important component - With faith you can do above and beyond what you think. If you have faith when you have only a little or the bare minimum, you will most likely be able to build lasting faith when God blesses you. Faith allows God to intervene while on the other hand faithless living only positions yourself to get in the way of what God could be doing in your life. While faith is a huge factor in how I will be handling my finances for me it is partnered with effort.  Which leads me to the second aspect that God has been teaching me. 

PUT FORTH EFFORT

Put Forth Effort! I have found that it is crucial to have faith that God WILL show up but to also partner with Him and work for the financial aspirations you have. I know that I have a big part in making my finances run smoothly. If I am being lazy, not being diligent at my job or just expecting money with no effort, that logic has flaws in it. So while I am believing & having faith that God will provide an adequate amount of money I have recently asked my boss for a few more hours at work as a sign that I am putting forth effort that will tag team my faith goals & how I know God WILL be showing up in my life.

BE A STEWARD

Lastly, and the concept of being a steward! This point is really what initiated this blog post. While listening to Dave Ramsey and trying to see if God would speak to me about anything, Dave brought up the topic of being a steward. A concept I am familiar with simply from reading scripture and listening to offering transitions in church. Have you ever experienced hearing something over and over but never really {hearing} it? Until there is a point in life were it is applicable to you and the season you are in. The impact it has and how it resonates is way more personal when you are experiencing and walking through a particular season. The part that really struck me was when I looked up the definition of {steward} and it stated:

Stew·ard

A  person who manages another's property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others

The instant I read that definition I was impacted. I am only stewarding Gods money that He has so GRACIOUSLY allowed me to manage for Him. If everything is His in the first place than money is not exempt from that. I will conduct my life in a way that demonstrates first hand that God is the overseer of my finances. I am only being an agent of what He's given me, blessed me with and asked me to take care of.

The combination of faith, effort & stewardship that God has been teaching me, has allowed me to comprehend and understand my place in handling the way I see money and what I do with my money. I want God involved in every area of my life - money is a big area and I'm desperate for Him to be in the fabric and make up of how I conduct myself. Finances included!    

I give EVERYTHING over to You Lord

Confront Healing

"You Can't Heal What You Refuse To Confront"

When you are walking through different life situations, such as, relationally, spiritually or personally, you are going to face "something," right? Whatever the "something" may be will depend on the situation faced and the person handling it. The "something" may be hurt, confusion, disappointment, neglect, anger or sadness. Whatever it ends up being, at one point in life you will face a memorable hardship that will take time and energy to shake it from your heart and mind with the goal of eventually finding complete healing from it. Although, confrontation with the goal of healing will allow you to withstand hardships and the pain you may go through in order to be restored.

"Courage doesn't always roar.
Sometimes courage is the quiet voice
at the end of the day saying,
"I will try again tomorrow."

I have found that trying to run from the pain and hard issues in life never produce as much learning and growth as facing the problems and conflicts that arise. Ignoring the pain or living out of fear of being hurt will hinder your full potential of living. The same goes for bitterness and resentment, holding all of that inside will only hurt you, not the other person. I am really believing for this generation and generations to come to have the ability to stand up and face the issues in their life. To avoid the ease of being a society that try's to patch up and mask what's really going on in life and to simply deal with it. 
 

Forgiveness doesn't change the past, although it give a hope for the future.

I read a quote that said, "If you're lucky enough to get a second change, don't waste it." Although I understand what this quote is implying, I find that it takes away the true magnitude of Grace that God extends to us. If I could reword the quote, I'd say, "Every day you wake up is already a second chance, if you are living to God it will never be a waist."

"Do not let projections of the past or future affect the present." But, be willing to let go of the life you have planned for yourself and surrender it completely to the life that is awaiting you, according to Gods plan.
You have permission to feel angry, hurt, confused, upset, delighted, joyful or all of the above or none of the above. You have permission to feel however you feel. Your feelings are valid, understandable and they are important enough to process through them. So take the time to confront what you are experiencing so you can move on with a healed and whole perspective about life and about people. Often times people feel like that have to just hurry up and get over issues. I have found that to be a really damaging position to place yourself in. Because if you don't get down to the heart of what has happened to you or the situations your facing it is bound to surface again your life. "Confront the situations in your life, don't ignore them, so that you can remember what it has taught you and leave behind the hurt that it has caused you."


"It is better to be hurt by the truth than to be comforted by a lie." Because, while numbing the pain might feel good for awhile, it will only make it worse when you finally feel everything you have been avoiding. Remember that it is okay to change your mind about things you once thought you never would. Because if you are truly following God's plan for your life, He may have you go a different direction than you once thought you were headed.

If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough! So dream. Dream passionate, daring, outrageous, huge, inspiring, world changing dreams. If you believe in the dream you will actually be able to accomplish it.

I give everything over to You Lord

A Crucifixion Type Of Love

My hearts desire...

A beautiful way of demonstrating the relationship between God and the Church & man and wife.

God I surrender my desires to you. My everything to you God.
Your love is emasculate. 

I give everything to You Lord

You're Not Comparable

Your words entangle my body.
It's more comforting than any touch.
Your smile is better than the softest kiss.
Your love is the difference of satisfying my flesh and satisfying my soul.
Your strength keeps me fighting even in my weakness.

I've never been so close to someone and have no physical representation of what we have.
Except everything that only you & I have experienced together.
The air has been the witness of our every conversations.

I thank you.
Because.
When I walk next to you...
I stand a little bit taller.
Feel a little more confident.
Smile a little brighter.

I never knew the sound of your laugh could invade my whole being.
I laugh along side of you because I haven't found anything sweeter.
& I never will.

I put on a dress for you..
Knowing full well that I wouldn't even see you.
It's because in the morning I think of you.
& If there is a chance I'll run into you I want to be ready to hold your hand and slow dance.
Even if the whole world is watching.
I will always be ready to take your hand.

I love this process of learning every detail about you.
Every time you let me in I'm reminded how comfortable it feels to know you.
I've never met anyone that my words mingle better with.
Than yours. 

I can't even call you my favorite because that would mean your comparable.
& you're not.


I give everything over to You Lord

Don't Fear Darkness

I had a revelation! Although it has been several gradual realizations that have culminated into this one “Awe” moment for me. I am so excited to share this with you.

While at work I decided to put on a Youtube video of Christine Caine while I was finishing up a few projects. I clicked on a message that was 26 minutes long, and began to work. Everything Christine was saying was absolutely beneficial to me and was getting me amped while I sat at my desk. {I was attempting to focus more on my work then on her message but she’s good!}Out of the 26 minutes it wasn’t until the last one minute that God used something she was saying to completely confirm, affirm, encourage, challenge and excite my spirit. My God is so faithful to graciously be answering my prayers. I have been praying for vision and direction and guidance for where and what I am going to be doing in this next season of my life. But listen, I haven’t just been shooting prayers to the sky and hoping that God hears me. I’ve been praying with diligence and a desperation and fervency. Not just prayers that imply that I want to hear from God, rather, I need to hear from Him. I am desperate to do what He has called me to do and my passion is overflowing. I just want it to be able to leak into the areas that God has planned for my present and my future. So here is what reached my heart from what Christine Caine was speaking on. 

Christine Caine told a story of her little girl and how she bought her daughter a flashlight. While in Walmart, Christine put batteries into the flashlight and as they were getting ready to pay, her little girl turned the flashlight on. Since there was so many florescent lights in the store here daughter couldn’t see the flashlights light in contrast to the other lights in the store. Christine’s little girl looked up at her and yelled, “MOM, my light doesn’t work in the light, we need to find a dark place.” It was then that Christine turned to look at her daughter and completely paused. She stated, "My daughter couldn’t see the light because of all the other light in the store, which meant her light was ineffective in the midst of all of the other light that there already was." Christine then challenged the audience {myself, via the Internet}on how we should not be a people who are scared of the DARK since we are called to be the LIGHT. We can only truly be seen or useful if we venture into the dark places of our generation where our light {By God’s Grace} can be distinguished from our surroundings.

I have been told from my Pastors Erica & Jason Parrish that they really believe that I am called to the dark places of the world. Since Erica, Jason and myself have a pretty extensive track record and have been in relationship and ministry together for 7 years, I trust their words and I know they saw and still do see a vision for me. I have heard their words when they have told me this over the years, but it hasn’t been until recently that I have actually experienced what they really believed I am called to. It has turned from “Pastor Erica & Jason believe this,” into, I believe that this is truly my calling - To go into the darkest places of God’s world, where not everyone is privileged to go into and to bring God’s light. A light that is so piercing and bright that not even the people who are bound tightly to their sin can deny it. A light that demands freedom, restoration, physical healing, spiritual wholeness and the acceptance and acknowledgment of Jesus Christ.

I don’t know where my platform will be. Who God will have me build relationships with  or how I will connect with, or the encounters I will find myself in. I can’t even imagine what I will face and the fight that will rise up in me. But I have caught the vision God has been slowly laying out in front of me, and I am running with His truth and promises over my life. I am thrilled to be living this life. Through all the hardships and trials I still understand the worth fighting to make God’s name famous! I love my God!

My goal is to dispel the darkness with my little bit of light.

Matthew 5:13-16

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

I give everything over to You Lord

Project List

In the process of incorporating everything that I am passionate about into a piece of art work/film. It may take a few months, but I want to create my testimony through a visual presentation. I'm so excited and thankful that my girl Meagan wants to help me with this project! I'm so stoked right now. No amount of exclamation marks would serve it justice!!!!

I give everything over to You Lord

Keep Pushing On

If the weight of this world is a constant reminder that you are in desperate need for God to show up daily in your life, don't worry, you are on the right path. If you feel like you are always praying for strength and endurance to go through situations in life, don't worry, your praying, so you are on the right path. Although all of us can and do have bullets shot at us from time to time, it is comforting to know that God is our bullet proof vest, extending grace to the least of us. In your pursuit and journey with God, building a person and meaningful relationship, no matter how difficult it becomes, no matter the distance or space you may feel wedged between you and God, keep running the race. Keep pushing on. You are fighting a worthy fight! If you realized and really understood how much is being thrown at us each day, you might be able to appreciate the small victories with God. We are constantly being told how to live our lives from television, music and even sermons. There is so much information, ideas, suggestions and input being shoveled into our brains and hearts that it can be overwhelming and daunting if we allow it. Yes, ALLOW it. Our goal should be to keep God's word in its purest form and to not cloud His promises and truths. Instead, cling to Scripture, prayer and a healthy body of Christ to be a constant reminder of who we are called to be and the worth our Father has installed in us. Keep pushing on, you are on the right path. While it may be easier to explain to someone else how much they need God, even though they really might be desperate for Him, try your best to look into the mirror and work on letting God renew your mind and spirit first. "You can have pleasure in life but you can't live on pleasure alone, without ever partaking in discipline in order to be a balanced person" {Joyce Meyer's} Personally become a balanced person so that you can assist in changing the world around you, when God makes a time available for you to do so. If you are serving the One True God, you are on the right path!

Keep pushing on.

I give everything over to You Lord