It's Easter Sunday! I didn't expect to have snow, but here it is! A White Easter!

Happy Easter, everyone! May you be filled with all the joy of the Lord as we celebrate His resurrection that gave us new life and new hope!

He is STILL alive!

It's Been a While....

So....It's been a very long while since I have blogged.

I started a blog to keep you updated with my time in Poland, however, I stopped posting on that after the first 5 entries.

I'm a person who can't journal to save her life. Every time I try to start that discipline, it's lasts only a week before there's a considerable gap in my entries.

You'd think it would be easier with blogging, since it's so easy to come online, type an entry, and close it until the next day. However, as you can see -- my last post was almost a year ago -- and I can't promise anything different this time around.

However, I am going to TRY. I am going to TRY to blog everyday. I know, I'm probably too busy to add one more thing to my list of things to do, but I think it's valuable to archive my experiences in life. So, I'm going to try.

I'll be posting everything on here. Some of it will have to do with Graceland, others will just be my thoughts. It's not specific -- it's just me.

So, read if you like, and if not, I'll keep writing anyway.

I Always Thought Ministry was Hard...

...and, in many ways, it is. It's difficult. It's challenging. It's tiresome. Rejection is widespread and common. There's a natural resistance that weighs on us at times.

But, God can surprise us.

Even when we are not thinking specifically about ministry, God can do things with our lives of which we aren't even aware. Somehow, the Spirit of God in us is also at work.

Ministry isn't all about what we do or say to share the Gospel. Certainly that's significant and necessary for disciple-making. There comes a point where we must speak the Gospel using our words. However, I'm saying that ministry isn't all about what WE do or say sometimes. God is bigger, and works through our frailty and our weakness to bring Him glory. And, even when our hearts and minds are aloof and self-centered, somehow God can break through and reach out to others through us even while we are unaware.

I ponder all of this because of what happened at work today. Most of the time I work alone. I only briefly come in contact with people as they are passing through the building or looking for a certain person or room. I am not even in contact with my co-workers for very much time out of the day. And this particular co-worker, I only see for a few minutes in passing each day as I leave to go home and she arrives to work second shift.

This co-worker's name is Maria, and she is from Colombia. She speaks English, but still has a thick, beautiful accent. Today, she stopped me in the hall as I was headed out. She said, "when is your big trip?!" I told her. She said, "I am so happy for you. I have a daughter, you remind me a lot of her. I just really love you. There is something so special about you, something different. I see it - and I think it is the Lord."

I have never spoken of my faith with this woman before, and have only talked to her a few times. She knows that I listen to the Christian radio station while I work, because she makes comments about me knowing every song. She is also a Christian, as I later found out, but we've never spoken about our faith, the Lord, the Bible -- anything.

I feel blessed by her kind words. Not because I deserve them, but because I know that God must be using me in spite of myself. I love it.

Thankfully God is not so small that he needs our words and actions to accomplish His work. He does, however, desire and require that we be involved in His work in one way or another. If it were all up to us -- we'd fail miserably -- because we are human. But thankfully God works in us, with us, and through us -- and the weight is not all on our shoulders.

Thank you God for being a God that doesn't need us, but wants us for your work. Thank you for not giving up on us when we aren't necessarily pursuing Your work with all of our ability. And -- thank You for the work You do in us as we are continually being transformed into Your likeness.

There's Always Tomorrow...

"There's always tomorrow."

A phrase commonly used to express the idea that there's always time to do something, say something, be something -- later.

We did not accomplish what we had hoped for today, but we defer our plans to tomorrow because, of course, there's always tomorrow.

We know we hurt someone today, but we withhold the apology because, "There's always tomorrow."

We know there are aspects of our lives, of our individual and corporate journey through this life that need to change, and yet we remain unchanged because "there's always time tomorrow, next week, next month for that..."

We know God has given us each gifts that are to be used for His glory. Each of us who has been redeemed treads each day on this Earth carrying God's own Spirit, and with that comes the gifts He's given us. We have opportunities to discover and practice those gifts, and yet our insecurity begs us to wait another day to try them.

We feel a tug in our hearts, something that attracts us to make a difference in the world. We see the suffering and the pain in the world, along with a vast darkness that pervades our world - and we know we carry the light that scatters that darkness. And yet, day by day, we find ourselves shying away from the discomfort that being the light brings. We know that God has built us with not only a responsibility, but an inherent desire to be light in the darkness. But we're not sure how to get there, what to do, where to start -- and we defer that again to another day.

But one thing I'm learning is - Tomorrow is only a hope. While the odds are seemingly high for us to experience tomorrow, it is not guaranteed to us. Today is all we have, these hours, these minutes -- this moment is all we have been given.

I didn't just make up the examples above, but they are things I've faced, and some -- still in the progress of growing through. I speak to myself as well as you with the challenge to live this day to the best of your ability, making the most of every opportunity, and using every moment to bring glory to the Father. I've seen too many times where people procrastinate on goals, dream, gifts, opportunities, etc --and then it's too late when tomorrow doesn't come.

Ephesians 5 is a good pericope to reflect on.

It addresses what our lives should look like as believers, and how we are light in the darkness. It also reminds us that we should be careful how we live - as wise and not unwise - making the most of every opportunity.

I'm speaking out of experience with being one who puts off to tomorrow what can (and should) be done today. But tomorrow isn't always guaranteed, and all I have to work with is today. So, it's time to stop wasting my time worrying about what tomorrow will bring (Matthew 6:34). It's time to focus on this day, this hour, this moment of my life.

What do I have to offer God today?
How can I bring glory to God in the tasks I have for today?
Where could I have an opportunity to use my gifts today?
What can I change about myself today that will honor God?
Who do I need to apologize to or forgive today?
Have I prayed and spent time in the Word today?

These are just some questions on my mind about how I can live my day today - making the most of every opportunity. I'm tired of wasting my life in the things that don't matter for eternity. I don't want to waste any more of my time focusing on things that don't matter, worrying about things I can't change, and being someone who remains unchanged. I'm still learning on this journey, and God is in the continual progress of making me into someone who resembles Him. I mess up all the time, but I'm learning day-by-day what it means for me to look like Him.

I've learned to ask myself this question daily: "What is the one thing -- that if I did or said today -- would make me look more like Jesus than yesterday." Ask that question and then spend your day in pursuit of that thing. And when the opportunity arises, seize it!
For -- you only have today.

Cling to Jesus and His Word

^“But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the Holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” - 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Following Jesus with whole, complete devotion means clinging to Him day by day. We need to hold on Jesus, and the knowledge and wisdom we gain from His Word. In one of his songs, Steven Curtis Chapman sings these words: “I will hold on to the hand of my Savior, and I will hold on with all my might. I will hold loosely to things that are fleeting and hold on to Jesus. I will hold on to Jesus for life.” Jesus is and should be everything to us. As Jesus-followers, we want to cling to Jesus as if everything about us is dependent on Him. Because the truth is – we are completely dependent on Him.

The Greek word meno means to remain, hold on to, or continue. The word is used 118 times in the NT. John uses this word the most in the NT, as the word occurs in his Gospel 40 times. In the gospel of John, the word meno repeatedly shows up in chapter 15. The NIV usually translates this word as “remain.” The King James Version paints a beautiful picture translating meno as “abide.” In The Message, Peterson uses the idea of “joined” in an effort to depict the meaning behind the Greek word meno. In John 15, and in most other contexts, the word “meno” paints a picture of “cleaving to something, or grabbing a hold of something and not letting go” (J.K. Jones). In 2 Timothy 3:14, the word meno is translated as “continue” in the NIV. It paints a picture of Timothy holding on to, remaining in, or grabbing onto the truths of OT Scripture that he had been taught through his grandmother Lois, his mother Eunice, and also through Paul. “What we want to do as Jesus-followers is “hang on so intimately to the things of Jesus and Jesus Himself that He becomes our home’” (J.K. Jones). In John 14:23, the noun monhn is translated “home” (J.K. Jones). As servant leaders, we need to cling to Jesus and his Word so that we become so intimate with Jesus that he is our “home” – the place where we abide. As Paul calls Timothy to cling to what he has learned in the Scriptures, we are called to cling to the Word and Jesus himself if we desire this abundant life that Jesus promised those who follow Him. Our call is to cling to Him as if everything about us depended upon Him. Everything about us and our lives really does depend upon Jesus!

A purpose-driven servant leader is one who passionately remains faithful in a lifelong commitment to Scripture (J.K. Jones). Clinging to Jesus is also clinging to His Word. God’s Word is many things to us as Christians. It is ophelimos which is the idea of something being profitable. What it is useful for? It is useful for didaskalian (teaching) - which is a doctrine word. It has to do with the idea that “Good teaching tells the truth” (J.K. Jones). It is useful for elegmon (rebuking) - which is the idea that it is valuable because it exposes lies. It is useful for epanorthosin (correcting) - which is the idea of changing behavior. The Word corrects our faults and straightens out our messes by transforming our behavior. And, lastly it is useful for paideian (training) – which is an athletic word. It is the idea that Scripture coaches godly living. We cling to the teaching from the Word because we are so in love with Jesus and desire to be intimate with Him. We also cling to the Word because we are called to grasp on to the Word and never let it go from our hearts. As we internalize the Word and soak up everything we can from it, we will grow in the knowledge and wisdom of the Word – and grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus.

We are called to a life-long commitment to Scripture. If we want to be faithful servants, we need to faithfully stay anchored in the Word. Scripture grows mature people. As servant leaders, what we have to do is get close enough to Jesus that we can hear Him. When we cling to the Word, we grow closer to Him. As we grab on to the Scripture and never let it go, we move forward in our relationship with Him. So soak up the Word, grasp on to Jesus, and listen for His soft whisper speak to your heart today.

Daniel...

I’ve always wondered about prayer. It puzzles me to think about the fact that God hears our feeble pleadings, our humble requests – and He responds. Why does God listen to us? We are so small, and God is so great. He knows infinitely more than we do, He is the grand and marvelous God that transcends our capability to understand – and yet he relates to us on our level and not only hears us, but listens to us. We plead and cry out to him – God-followers have been doing it for ages. When we spend time in communication with God, that is when we can open ourselves up to hearing God’s voice. That is how we can get to know God’s voice. Daniel knew God’s voice because he lived in prayer to God.

· “When Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before” (Daniel 6:10).

· "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day” (Daniel 6:13).

Daniel was not in prayer just because of the circumstances of his time. It was a continual discipline for Daniel. He was rightly connected to God, and God heard his prayers and answered them. I can rightly confess that my prayer life is not as strong as it should be, and the time I spend communicating with God does not amount to the time I spend communicating with others that I care about. From this, one could deduce that God is not the most important in my life or that our relationship is not very strong. Maybe that’s true. I don’t like to admit my struggles – especially in a public form like this – but I struggle with prayer. When I do take time to pray, I usually am begging God to change a certain situation or crisis. I forget that prayer is a conversation, and that I need to spend time continually seeking God’s voice. That means – I need to be quiet and listen for Him, seek him, spend time getting to know Him so that I can recognize His voice. The only way to recognize someone’s voice is by taking time and allowing them to speak. Not only do I need to slow down and make time to talk to God, but I need to take time to listen as well.

Daniel’s fierce dedication to the spiritual discipline of prayer in his life convicts me of the weaknesses in my own spiritual disciplines. Following Daniel’s example, I desire to grow spiritually through the spiritual discipline of prayer. God did not mess up with this – there are enough hours in the day! I am getting serious about this and making a change. I desire growth and change –enough of this weak spiritual life for me.

"There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God."
~Brother Lawrence~

To Mexico I Go...

It's been a LONG time since I've blogged.

And frankly, my words are few tonight.

BUT ~ I did want to let you all know that I will be headed to Mexico City next Friday for a week of awesome fun working with the children of Ninos de Mexico. Ninos is a Christian outreach organization that focuses on loving and caring for children. There are 4 children's homes that are part of this organization, providing housing and care for children who otherwise would not have a home. I am GREATLY looking forward to being a part of this work!

Please pray that God uses us mightily in His work, His ways, and His timing!
Pray also for safety and security of travel.

Thank you all! Love you much!

"If You Want to Make God Laugh, Tell Him Your Plans."

God is funny. Down-right hilarious if you ask me.

It's funny how things never go the way we plan, yet in the end, they always end up better than we planned. Sometimes I think God sits up in heaven and laughs when I tell Him what Im going to do. God has bigger and better plans for me than I could ever dream of myself. Sometimes, it feels insecure not knowing what is going to happen next, or where you'll be in 10 years. But...it's all about faith in a faithful God.

It's funny how He works. How things come together at just the right time. How people come in and out of your life, yet through the pain, things always work out. How you wait for years for closure, and after 6 years He brings it. How He always comes to the rescue when we need Him most. He's good.

Sometimes I don't understand what God wants to do, or why things happen the way they do, but it's all about faith in a faithful God. Even through the toughest circumstances, God has ALWAYS been faithful. He always has and always will be. So, whatever God is trying to do in my life, I just sit back and smile because I know He is faithful and good.

Consider this...

I stumbled upon this quote from C.S. Lewis:

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”

This is something I have been working on. I've been trying to allow God to break down the walls I put up around my heart and let myself be truly vulnerable. The fact is, no one wants to be vulnerable. No one wants to be hurt. But the truth is, we need to allow ourselves to be vulnerable, or else, our hearts will become "unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable."