taking it all in...

As I was driving into work the other day, I remember saying a prayer to God.

God, you know our needs even before we speak them.  You know mine, please provide for the need - and at the same time renew my heart and mind so when I receive your provision - my actions will prove to benefit You and Your Will...not mine.

How often we ask things of God, and how often He provides.  I think he provides more than we know.  However, if we do not ask him to change our hearts and minds, we can waste his provisions on what we want.....what we 'need', not necessarily on what He wants, want He needs us to do.

Recently, I wanted to get a group together to go back to Feed My Starving Children and pack some meals. I scoured through the site for a date/time that would work for most - and reserved my spot.   Usually with Feed My Starving Children you go, you pack, and you leave a donation (if you can).  However, due to the increase of need around the world, they are asking that for some of the packing time slots, the individuals all donate 20$ to use these slots.

At first I thought, oh no - I wont be able to get a group of people together if they have to pay 20$....then my heart was checked......

I had to be honest, "I" was shocked at the 20$....seriously Heather?  20$?!?  How often do you throw 20$ on something without even a thought??  Makeup, lunch out, a shirt?  What a revelation of my heart this was.

To that I realized my priorities - even though they have come a LONG way....still have a long way to go.

What do I do with God's provisions?  Do I ask, then do as I see fit?  Or, do I take the 'needs' of the whole into account?

Thank you God for this revelation, Thank you for revealing a side of  my heart that still needs to be softened, and a mind-set that is still based on the 'world' and not You.

settling in

It has now been two weeks since I jumped into my current life adventure.  Every day I feel so blessed to have been given this opportunity.

As I look around my office today, still bare and empty, with only a couple minor parts of me on my desk - I take it all in.

How did this happen?  Two months ago, I would have never even imagined this would be my place....my spot on this earth.

My mind is flooded with strings of thought, moments in deep contemplation - sometimes melancholy - of my life journey so far.

There have been many, many bumps in the road, highs and lows, struggles caused by others actions - as well as struggles caused by my actions.  I have been hurt, and I have hurt.  I have been loved, and I have loved.  I have laughed...and been laughed at.

However, all of it....every moment...was building this person...this me that I am today.

Far from perfect, I come completed with scars that are a reminder of a painful past - that have become a badge of strength.  Not by my strength, but the strength God provides - even when you may not ask for it - or you are too weak to speak - He looks down on you and just provides.

Here I am.  This imperfect, flawed person - undeservedly blessed by God.  I may never understand why, but all I can do is......

Take His blessing and in turn bless others
Take His forgiveness and forgive others
Take His strength and be strong for others

but, above all......take His love.....and love others.

knowing your now

I recently started a new devotional. 

Let me just say really quick....youversion.com....you absolutely rock!!

It is a Rick Warren devotional, and it could not come at a better time.  The topic....Focus Your Life.

"The next ten years can be the greatest of your life.  They can become a Decade of Destiny, where your life is focused and, as a result, you're able to make an impact in all you do."

I love this devotional as it is dealing with things that have been on my heart lately.  Change!

I love that it reiterates the need to "Know Your Now"...that has become my mantra.  For so long I avoided knowing my now.....I buried my head, not wanting to acknowledge my true reality.

For years (and years) I would tell myself I did this out of self-preservation.  I could not change everything that needed to be changed, so why even try?

I felt helpless, scared, a failure.  So, I just would 'pretend' it was not there, not happening, that it didn't matter.

Oh, what a trap of the enemy that is!  If he can convince you to build your own prison, and stay in it - what a victory for him!

It was not until I finally acknowledged that without God all of my 'fears' would become reality.  All of my 'try's would fail, all of my attempts would not be enough to change.

With God, however - you realize you have been looking at the world upside down.  You have been living in a prison of the enemy.  You have bought into all his lies.

With God, you see that YOU do not need to be anything on your own...He is with you.

I read an article by Joni Eareckson Tada once where she said that there are days she can't even bear to get out of bed.  She is overwhelmed, sad, weary.  And, on those days she calls out to God and says.....

I have absolutely no strength of my own today, please give me Your strength God!

How wonderful is it that we can call on our God, the creator of the universe, when we are weak and weary and He will bring us Peace, Strength, and Love.

So, today as I venture out to wrap up the second to the last day of my current life chapter, I will go out 'Knowing my Now".

I will ask myself....

Where am I now?  Spiritually, Financially, Emotionally, Physically

Then ask God....

Where do YOU want me to be?

Three things I have learned that have helped me the most on my journey in, out and around my comfort zone.

1. Know Your Now
2. Ask God where He wants you to be
3. Remember, if you sincerely ask for His Will to be done....no matter what that is.....you won't be disappointed.

Countdown in 5.........

The countdown has begun!  There are three reasons why this week is going to be epic!

One - It is the last week that I will be working in the Corporate world.

Two - It is the last week before Convoy of Hope.

Three - It is the week that my Son will be on his first AIM trip.

However exciting, crazy, strange, and scary leaving my current job is for other ventures - the other two highlights for this week far outweigh this in my mind.

Convoy of Hope

There will be NINE (9) simultaneous Convoy of Hope outreaches going on through the Phoenix Metropolitan area this Saturday!  Each outreach is expected to reach 2,000 + children and their families - at least!


Convoy of Hope from OneStone Media on Vimeo.

I fee so blessed to be able to be a part of this amazing outreach to my community.

AIM Trip

My Son will be taking part in the youth Ambassadors in Mission (AIM) trip this week.  Even though he will be staying in Phoenix, he will be out working in the community every day for five days with over 500 other students from around the nation.

They will be working with multiple host churches from the Metropolitan area to help new church plants as well as help revitalize existing churches, they will participate in community service, sidewalk Sunday Schools, and will culminate with the Saturday Convoy of Hope outreach as well.

What a banner week for this family!  I am so excited to see what God will do in the lives of the people who will attend these events, be ministered to, provided for, and mainly LOVED!

I can't think of a better way to kick off the next chapter in my life, and see what God has in store for me next!

Blessings everyone!

Leap of Faith

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step."  ~ Martin Luther King Jr

 

Oh how I wish the reward of having faith is as quickly revealed as it is in this video below.  Who remembers Indian Jones and the Last Crusade when he has to literally take a 'step of faith' off a cliff?

I love the analogy of this video. 

First he sees what looks like an insurmountable task.  To get from point A to point B without dying first.

Then he remembers, 'Its a leap of Faith'.  However it does not bring peace on his face or ease his anxiety....he still has to 'take' that step of Faith.

Knowing you have to take a step of faith and doing it are two different things. 

While you know you have to, the reality ...... or what we perceive as the reality is staring us in the face.  And, what we have to do, in Faith, can seem illogical or even absurd at times.

Then you do it.  You take that step, and you don't fall.  The relief, the exhale of gratitude!

But its not done yet.  You still have to walk on the path that Faith lead you.

So many times in my past, I go so far as to take the step of faith, and begin to walk it - then at the first loose rock, or slippery gravel - take my eye off of the One who not only put me on this path but directed my foot on that first step.  Or I become tired of the path, it seems so long, too hard. 

Then I abandon it.  I turn around and return to where I came from, or worse just jump off and end up with personal turmoil and problems that were never intended.

This video clip, this reality is mine right now.  I took a step of faith, and I am confident that it is the step that God directed me to take through prayer.  However, there have been attacks along the way.

Fear rises up....what if 'this' happens?  What if 'that' happens?  My mind becomes obsessed with contingency plans, and the pit of my stomach begins to sour....just at the mere idea that something might go wrong.

Then I realize.  Yes, those fears are valid.  Something 'might' go wrong.  However, I am not alone.  As long as I stay on the path that is set before me, I am never alone.  

It is so cleaver how the enemy of you and I knows exactly what buttons to push.  And, for a moment or two we may allow him to take us there.  But when we are there, the reason it is so scary, so frightening, so bad.. is because you envision yourself...alone...trying to figure out what to do...by yourself....and then failing....on your own.

Isolation and Fear

Those are his weapons.  However, we are not alone.  We are never alone with God, and He does not give us a spirit of Fear.

So when you are faced with stepping out in faith, and you are caught up in the fear of what 'might' happen.

Stop.

Pray.

Listen to God.

Everyone would have understood if Ruth decided to stay in Moab, but she showed great faith by going to Bethlehem. By taking that step forward she placed herself in a vulnerable position where she had to trust God to protect her, to open doors and to provide for her. Interestingly, it was this very move, this very step of faith, that opened her to the relationship with Boaz, who became her husband.
When we take that step forward we force ourselves into a dependence on God that wouldn’t be possible if we just sat on the edge of cliff....waiting.

We are God's people, and his promises in the Bible endure forever.

Hebrews 11:6 It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.

In fact, if you want to feel energized, just read Hebrews 11.  All of Hebrews 11.  It is an amazing account of time after time when people stepped out in Faith!

feed my starving children

 18,000 children die of starvation or starvation related causes each day!

$88.00 will feed one child for an entire year.

$264.00 will feed two children, and their mother for an entire year.

$440.00 will feed a family of five for an entire year.

$4,380.00 will feed 100 children in an orphanage for six months.

Those numbers are pretty staggering.  18,000 children die every day in the world due to starvation, or starvation related causes.

For only $88.00 USD a one of those children would have food for an entire year!  That is only $7.33 per month or $1.69 per week.

Think about it, only $1.69 per week could save a child!  That is pretty humbling.  Especially as I reach through the drive-through window at my local Starbucks.  This one cup of coffee could feed so many!

My Husband and I took our family to volunteer for Feed my Starving Children on Saturday.

If you do not know about this amazing organization, I have a link to their site on the right hand side of my blog, please click on it to find out more.

I have to say that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED it.  It was such a great experience.  Not to mention the fact that after our 2-hour shift - our group had packed enough food to feed 29 Children for ONE YEAR!

I would highly recommend, if you have a Feed my Starving Children location near you....GO!!  If you do not, then you can still support this amazing organization financially.

and with this step...

If I had to sum up the past few weeks in one word....that word would have to be WOW.

Yea, just WOW.

I have made some major changes in my life - some that I was planning - others that I was not.

I took a major step outside of my comfort zone. 

I am leaving my job in the corporate world, and have accepted a job with my Church.

Now, with that change comes a ripple-effect of change touching a lot of areas in our life.  One, is the financial aspect.  I will be taking a pay cut.  Churches/Non-Profits, etc. can not compete with Corporate Wages.  However, even with that I am excited with the change. 

I know that this is what God wants me to do, and when you are in His will.....there is this feeling of peace He provides that goes beyond my understanding.

I am excited too because the schedule will allow me additional time with my Husband (one on one) and also with all of my Family together.

This is important, since most of my working life - I put my career/job first.....and they had to deal with the left overs.

Now, God has dealt with me on that issue...a lot.  I say a lot because I didn't listen at first.  I had reason after reason as to why my life had to be the way it was.

However, He finally reached me about 3 years ago.....and I am so glad He did.  It was not overnight, but over the past 3 years my heart has changed, my priorities have changed, and in turn my life has changed.

When I gave my notice, my boss thought I was crazy.  He can not believe I would give up any amount of money, in fact he tried to buy me to stay.  He didn't understand that it was not about the money.

Will I have times of fear?  Yes, because my mind thinks on one level..  However, when I take that fear out, and look at it, I realize one thing. 

God is my provider, not me.

I need to make sure my heart stays in the right place, and the rest will fall into its proper place.  Not that we wont go through trials, or tough times - life is life.  But, God will be there to sustain us in our minds, and in our spirits. 

Really, all you have to say is God will be there.

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 1 Peter 5:7