God is About Dreaming Big

It's been two years since my last blog post. There's been alot of road traveled in the past two years! I may have seemed quiet, but focus was on building my spiritual self and seeking God on some matters. I've been pursuing healing and new vision.

In the past two years, I've gone thru a divorce, had two sons get married, moved twice and began a new career. What this tells me, is this...

God is a God of growth, change, momentum and moving forward. Regardless of the difficulty, God is faithful! In the natural, when I've been pregnant, there were times I looked at my body and thought, how can my body accommodate what's necessary to birth this baby?! In the same way, I've taken a look at myself, my soul and spirit and wondered the same thing. How can I birth this? I know God has more! I know God has put something in me that will make a difference, but how can I do this?!? How am I capable? We may all be asking this.

The truth is, I am not capable, in and of myself! Without God, it's impossible! I'm learning to position myself low, humbly, maintaining my relationship with Him. Allowing myself to be vulnerable and real, then run after, whole-heartedly, the desires of my heart. In Him we can do ALL things! Whatever you're going thru, have gone thru or dreaming of, this one thing I'm sure. No matter, how difficult or impossible something looks, He is Faithful and will accomplish all He has set out to do....for His glory!

Just as we are created to bring life, so we are to bring life and hope to those around us. He will accomplish His will thru us to the world, if we'll let Him! We have to be vulnerable, face our fears, be stretched and tell our stories.....to bring God glory and change the lives of those around us! We are pregnant with someone's hope, healing and change!

So, here I am, two years later....flexing new found muscles, inhaling fresh air and focusing on new vision....all for His glory!

"Let"

Earlier today, I read something about the word "let" that struck a chord in me. The definition of "let" is to not prevent, to give permission or opportunity to and to allow. The first thing that came to me is...

Are You Standing at the Edge?

I've been reading Joshua, the story of the Israelites. God told them to "be watching, He was going to do miracles for them."  He then told them to go to the "waters' edge and put their feet in." It was then that the waters parted and God took them to the "other side."

Sometimes, I get tired of "watching." I get caught up in life and lose sight of the things I'm hoping for.  "Watching" is a physical response to the word "believing." I wonder if we lose our  sight because we aren't believing, anymore?! (hhmmmmm)

When going to the waters' edge, we have to go the end of what we are capable of doing ourselves; only God can do the rest! Again, life carries me away and I don't maintain my stance, standing at the edge of the impossible for the things I'm believing for. The distance between where I'm standing and where I'm wanting to be, "the other side," is TOO VAST!

So my take on all this....Watch, Believe and Stand!

Pulling Those Weeds!

I've been doing my share of gardening, lately; whether it's been planting in flower pots or in the garden. Planting seeds, watering and now pulling the weeds, it's all beginning to sprout and bloom, the pretty flowers AND the ugly weeds.

I am the type of person that doesn't like missing the mark. None of us really enjoy seeing where we've messed up. For some, it's easy to blow off and move on, but for some of us, we might woller in failure, a bit, then eventually move on. Unfortunately, that is pride. Truth is, we all mess up, but because of God's grace...He is made strong, even in our weakness(es).

The other day, I was pulling weeds and a thought occurred to me, when I pull the weeds, I don't take time analyzing the weeds or studying them. I discard quickly. The whole weeding process is to exemplify and accentuate the beauty of the things planted...flowers and vegetables.

When we mess up and see the negative, whether it be in ourelves or each other, let's just discard the negative and move on! Let's not dwell on the negative, but let's "accentuate the positive" in our lives!

From Boy...to Man

My mom and I were sitting in a restaurant, today, and I watched a couple walk in. The woman was carrying a baby carrier on her arm. I felt myself cringe. Later, we went to a friend's house and watched one of their horses swagger with a full-term belly. Again, I felt myself cringe. In that season of life, when I carried a baby carrier on my arm or walked with, what felt like a "swag" (not sure if I just made up this word), being full-term and ready to drop, any day; I did it with a sense of pride. I was in my hayday. I loved being pregnant and I loved carrying my babies with me!

I guess I cringe, now, because I'm in a different season. This past weekend, we celebrated the graduation of our third son, Nathaniel. I felt pride as people embraced him, celebrated him, encouraged him, and honored him. I don't resent that other season. I'm currently fully embraced by this season. I can see in the future that the celebration of marriages will be the next season. It doesn't seem too far off. Whatever season you're in, embrace it and enjoy it! The seasons pass too quickly.

As the seasons change, and my relationships with my boys are changing, I'm honored to be their mom; their confidant, coach, encourager, Co-President, with my husband/their father, of their fan club....however, my heart aches, at times. Seasons must change in order to promote growth and natural stages of life

No matter the season, as one of my favorite authors puts it, "It's my job, my honor, to walk them, quite literally, from baby to toddler to boy to man." (Shaunna Niequist)

Calisthenics of the Soul

It seems, as this new year has taken off, my new mantra is embrace~release~breathe. As I say the words, it sounds like exercise; embrace~release~breathe (repeat) embrace~release~breathe.

Truth is, it feels like major exercise; calisthenics on my soul! 

The things God wants me to embrace are not natural. It takes effort and energy. It's unfamiliar. Embracing new patterns and challenges requires fortitude and intention. 

Releasing what is familiar and second-nature is NOT easy; especially when it's things that were good for a previous season and aren't good for this new season. It too, takes great, if not greater, energy, effort and intention. What my mind tells me and my will wants to do is in conflict with one another and both are wrestling my emotions. It usually feels painful and a little chaotic. At times, my soul is frantic!

Breathing is being intentional to rest and trust in God's leading.  In all the transitioning and pushing through these changes, breathing allows for increase in energy and strength. The Jewish pronunciation of God, or Yahweh is the sound of a breath. Even in living, God's grace meets us when we can't do anything in ourselves. When all we can do is breathe, that's enough. God's grace is sufficient. His strength is made strong in our weakness.

Is there something you're needing to embrace or release? Be in tuned to His leading. Follow your heart and....breathe. You can't go wrong. The strengthening of our faith and wellness of our souls is always for the good!

Being Brave,Together

Being brave can be scary. It can even be messy. Being brave means getting out of the boat and walking away from familiarity and safety. What does that look like practically?

For some, it may mean leaving a job to embark on a new career path. It might be taking a risk for sake of relationship. Or it could be simply getting out of bed and facing the day doing ordinary "life."  It's nearly impossible to be brave, alone.

When Peter was walking toward Jesus, Scriptures never say the waters were calm. On the contrary, they were rough waves, but as long as he locked eyes with Jesus, he never sank and he was never alone.

Life can be rough and circumstances can beat us up like fierce waves, that sometimes feel there's no break. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus and lock arms, with those around you, that have the guts and courage to walk on the water, as well. We will never get anywhere, of purpose, with people that want to stay in the boat of comfort and apathy!

I'm surrounded by strong, courageous people. TOGETHER, we bravely do this thing called "life." We have walked away from our safe mindsets, our religious boxes and our comfortable boats and we are endeavoring to walk on the waters, in our journeys ordained by God. We choose to abandon ship, together. Sometimes it's a daily choice, or moment by moment, but there's nothing I'd rather be doing than walking on the water (away from our boats), arm in arm with...my people!