Happy Memorial Day! What a very special day to honor those that have paid such a high price for the luxury of freedom. I know you have heard it before, but as a reminder....freedom isn't free.
As daughters our debt was overwhelming. We could never have paid the price. Thankfully we serve an incredible King and He paid our debt. Today as your remember those that paid the ultimate price for our freedom as Americans, honor the King as the one that paid the incorruptable price of Eternal Freedom!! Praise you God!!!!
I am so excited because our Chick Chat is tomorrow night!! As I have been praying about the time we will spend together I was reminded of one of my favorite My Utmost devotional days.
March 25th
"Goodness and purity ought never to attract attention to themselves, they ought simply to be magnets to draw to Jesus Christ. If my holiness is not drawing toward Him, it is not holiness of the right order, but an influence that will awaken inordinate affection and lead souls away into side eddies. A beautiful saint may be a hindrance if (she) does not present Jesus Christ but only what Christ has done for (her). (She) will leave the impression - 'What a fine character that (woman) is!' That is NOT being a true friend of the Bridegroom; I am increasing all the time, He is not."
If all Glorious Daughters does is showcase a lot of "good" daughters and "pedistool" us as beautiful saints - we've missed the glorious boat. I am praying and asking those that are following the expression of the King in this ministry to stand alongside me in prayer. Please pray that with every meeting we would grow stronger and stronger in our faith, becoming "all glorious within" (Ps 45:13), but that it wouldn't stop with just that...a beautifully whole saint....pray that all those that are around us as Glorious Daughters start to see Jesus in us.
More of Him and less of me...more of Him and less of you.....more of Him and less of us.....
I love you all dearly, and am praying that your confidence and beauty would grow more radiant everyday. But I'm praying that the confidence and beauty that is growing and being expressed is the radiant light of Jesus. Would you pray that for me too?
Cannot wait to see you tomorrow night and you might check back on this little blog tomorrow morning....I will be showcasing my new favorite coffee mug! Remember if you are coming to the Chick Chat feel free to bring your fav mug or tea cup too - I would love to see it!!
"The Lord bless you and keep you sweet daughter, the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance on you precious one and give you peace. In Jesus Name Amen"
xoxo,
Cari
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Good Evening Glorious Daughters
Hello, hello to you on this ridiculously beautiful summer evening in Oklahoma!! First of all, I want you to know just how much I love you and most important just how much Jesus loves you. You are a radiant extravagantly and lavishly loved daughter of the Most High King. You are treasured, favored, blessed, redeemed, and a royal beauty.
Second, our next Glorious Daughters Chick Chat is coming up on Tuesday June 1, 2010 at 7pm and I am super excited to get together again! We will have so much fun, of course! My motto is that fun people just have fun….and I’m pretty sure Glorious Daughters fall in the category of fun people!! Feel free to bring your favorite coffee mug and enjoy the special coffees, hot chocolates and teas that will be provided. We will also be hearing testimonies from two amazing daughters. My very sweet friend will be sharing a brief testimony about a wonderful volunteer opportunity with Meals on Wheels that has become more than just a stirring in her heart. She has actually been moved to action and will be mobilizing others to volunteer alongside her. Then we will share in testimony with a recent high school graduate that is so very precious and dear to my heart. She will be traveling to China this summer on a mission trip and on Tuesday she’ll be sharing with us her journey in making the decision to follow wherever the King leads. Tuesday night will also be a very intentional and foundational night in the ministry of Glorious Daughters. The Holy Spirit has really been pushing me these last several weeks to solidify the base of this ministry and Tuesday night I want to share that heart.
I have an overwhelming, and very direct passion to give voice to the emotion of feeling lost, lonely, abandoned and unwanted. The King has set His heart on chasing down His daughter. He is tired of the ground the enemy is gaining. I’m tired of the ground we are so carelessly giving him. I’m tired of yet another social club, media profile, celebrity remix or “overwhelming majority” within our respective realities that is attempting to solidify our worth as daughters. The King is exhausted with the abuse, the neglect and the rejection of His daughters. I want the Truth. I want freedom. I want to get so close to the voice of the Father that I hear HIS voice tell me I’m beautiful, worthy, accepted and loved. Then I want to operate in my everyday with that confidence in front of me. I want that for you too. The King has given a very specific challenge to share and I am literally sitting on the edge of my seat in anticipation for the sharpening power the Lord wants to bring His daughters. I’m telling you ladies the King is on the move and ready to mobilize His daughters to move forward in healing and wholeness. I’m all in! Are you?
Remember to bring your favorite coffee, hot cocoa mug or tea cup to the Chat and please stay connected by visiting the Glorious Daughters website as well as following the blog at http://www.gloriousdaughters.org/
“Now listen, daughter, don’t miss a word…..The King is wild for you!!” Psalm 45:10 The Message
Second, our next Glorious Daughters Chick Chat is coming up on Tuesday June 1, 2010 at 7pm and I am super excited to get together again! We will have so much fun, of course! My motto is that fun people just have fun….and I’m pretty sure Glorious Daughters fall in the category of fun people!! Feel free to bring your favorite coffee mug and enjoy the special coffees, hot chocolates and teas that will be provided. We will also be hearing testimonies from two amazing daughters. My very sweet friend will be sharing a brief testimony about a wonderful volunteer opportunity with Meals on Wheels that has become more than just a stirring in her heart. She has actually been moved to action and will be mobilizing others to volunteer alongside her. Then we will share in testimony with a recent high school graduate that is so very precious and dear to my heart. She will be traveling to China this summer on a mission trip and on Tuesday she’ll be sharing with us her journey in making the decision to follow wherever the King leads. Tuesday night will also be a very intentional and foundational night in the ministry of Glorious Daughters. The Holy Spirit has really been pushing me these last several weeks to solidify the base of this ministry and Tuesday night I want to share that heart.
I have an overwhelming, and very direct passion to give voice to the emotion of feeling lost, lonely, abandoned and unwanted. The King has set His heart on chasing down His daughter. He is tired of the ground the enemy is gaining. I’m tired of the ground we are so carelessly giving him. I’m tired of yet another social club, media profile, celebrity remix or “overwhelming majority” within our respective realities that is attempting to solidify our worth as daughters. The King is exhausted with the abuse, the neglect and the rejection of His daughters. I want the Truth. I want freedom. I want to get so close to the voice of the Father that I hear HIS voice tell me I’m beautiful, worthy, accepted and loved. Then I want to operate in my everyday with that confidence in front of me. I want that for you too. The King has given a very specific challenge to share and I am literally sitting on the edge of my seat in anticipation for the sharpening power the Lord wants to bring His daughters. I’m telling you ladies the King is on the move and ready to mobilize His daughters to move forward in healing and wholeness. I’m all in! Are you?
Please make plans to attend the Glorious Daughter Chick Chat
Tuesday June 1, 2010
At 7pm
Fairfield Inn Conference Room
201 N. Nevada
Weatherford, Ok 73096
Remember to bring your favorite coffee, hot cocoa mug or tea cup to the Chat and please stay connected by visiting the Glorious Daughters website as well as following the blog at http://www.gloriousdaughters.org/
“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for GLORIOUS living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” Ephesians 1:11-12
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The Dazzling Darkness
“We may feel we have lost Christ and fear that he will never return. Now it is difficult to connect two thoughts about him. Prayer has become artificial. Words spoken to him ring hollow in our empty soul. Worse, oppressive feelings of guilt sharpen the sense of loss. Night closes in around us. We have failed him. It is all our fault.” – Brennan Manning, The Signature of Jesus
Today’s post is very near to my heart. It is difficult to articulate the dark night, but I have come to trust and know that the dark night isn’t really “night” at all….it is more perfectly stated, as described by Brennan Manning in his book The Signature of Jesus, as the dazzling darkness. Those of you that have experienced or are experiencing what I am expressing today will understand. And I am in desperate prayer to the Father that what He explains will penetrate all of our hearts with a trusted Truth about the experiences of the “dazzling darkness” in our lives.
My family has a cabin just outside Breckenridge in Colorado. Love that place. There have been some precious times spent in that cabin with my family and I could write an entire post about the memories made in that beautiful oasis. However, today I want to describe the nights. There have been times when we have arrived after the 12-14 hour road trip in the middle of the night. The dark that surrounds you is unbelievable. When it is winter the snow absorbs most of the light and makes it somewhat brighter, however in the summer it is D-A-R-K. Driving down the winding mountain roads can be pretty scary when it is that dark, even with headlights! I love coming in at night though. I love it because after you have spent what seems like an unending amount of time in the car, you emerge into the darkness of the forest only to look up and be dazzled by the light of an infinite cascade of stars! It’s awesome. You look up and realize that it isn’t really dark at all. It’s actually an almost indescribable dazzling darkness.
A couple of posts ago I was describing the feelings we can associate with not being worth remembering. Feeling that you are alone and left to die in the darkness can be very real. I am going to ask you to go a layer deeper with me today in that I am not talking about a literal darkness here. Like, you slept with a Rainbow Bright night light all growing up and when no one is looking you still pull in out and plug it in. No, today I want you to look into your heart or circumstance either presently or in the past and associate those feelings of anxiety of being in the dark without your night light, to being in the dark without a “soul” night light.
It is a place where maybe you have been skipping along in life and feeling pretty good about things. You love the Lord, attend church, faithfully serve, faithfully give etc. Or maybe you experience a loss, a heartache or a seperation from the life you have always known. One day the night light goes out. Relationships seem distant. Connection with the Lord is rarely experienced like you have known it before. You feel aimless in your attempts at accomplishing goals that used to be effortless. You as a person suddenly feel gravely misunderstood or worse that you have somehow missed the mark and messed up big-time. You start to believe the lie that YOU have misunderstood life and that there is no place for you. Because all you see is dark, which leads to more dark, which seems to lead to yet another dark room and somewhere along the way you start to believe the dark. That kind of dark night can swallow any daughter up, it almost swallowed me.
Maybe it’s a place where the night light has always seemed burned out. Maybe you feel as if your entire life has been in a constant dark night and there is zero dazzle to it. Maybe you’ve tried to share your feelings and only been met with confusion or rejection. In a very real sense you might have even spent a life time surrounded by thousands of people and always felt alone and in the dark.
Obviously in a single blog post I will not be able to expound on this intimate topic as much as I would like to, however I am praying that the little that I express will result in the Spirit cultivating your spirit to respond to the dark in a different way today.
Believe it or not, if you will release the “self”, the limitations, the aloneness, the weariness, the desperation, the thirst for intimate connection, the desire for empowerment to go on, the feelings of being misunderstood, confused, and the feelings of abandonment that whisper to your heart within the hollows of the darkness and surrender in humility asking the Lord to reveal Himself in lovingkindness I promise your dark night will start to emerge as a dazzling darkness. Your circumstances may not change. Please hear me…..your circumstances may not change, but if you can adjust your perspective and use it as a time to EARNESTLY seek the King you will establish a much brighter light than that Rainbow Bright night light. You will establish a soul light.
I highly suggest you reading The Signature of Jesus if for nothing else than to read chapter 7. Within the paragraphs of that chapters he states, “God’s love and mercy have not abandoned us. Clouds may shroud us in darkness, but above, the sun shines bright. God’s mercy never fails. The Christian who surrenders in trust to this truth finds Jesus Christ in a new way. It marks the beginning of a deeper life of faith where joy and peace flourish even in the darkness, because they are rooted, not in superficial human feelings, but deep down in the dark certainty of faith that Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever”
In my experiences of dazzling darkness, and yes I said experience”s” because it has caught me much more than once in my life, I have both grown and have stalled out.
When I have grown it is because I have humbled myself before the Lord, surrendered to His care, sought out the lessons He wishes to teach me while I’m there, quieted my spirit, trusted His hand and been as honest as I can be about my feelings to Him. It has required that I release the white knuckle grip I have on my life and live with my hands open to Him. It has taught me that no matter how hard it is that in order to illuminate the darkness I have to forgive and release, to seek and to pray, to submit and obey. That is a dazzling darkness.
But unfortunately I can say that I have had times of darkness where it has remained just that, darkness. Because of my rebellion, unwillingness to submit to the Lord, offer forgiveness, seek God’s will, or just make a choice not to obey it….it stays black. Pretty much remains a dark night.
Your dark doesn’t have to remain night. If you will allow it to it can become dazzling. Ladies, please don’t EVER buy the lie that the Lord will leave you or that you are alone in the dark…I can guarantee you will have the worst buyer’s remorse. If you have offered your life to Christ and become His daughter there is NOTHING that can separate you. If you have not become His daughter and given your life over to His adoring salvation He is with you and He is waiting to dazzle the darkness, please don’t wait for salvation. Accept His lavish love and illuminate your night.
Take the time to memorize this scripture with me today. Write it on a post it note and put it EVERYWHERE if you have to so there is no room for darkness. Dazzle your dark with God’s unfailing Word.
“But in ALL these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am CONVINCED that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39
Thursday, May 20, 2010
You are not lost
Good morning girlies! Hope you are having a beautiful start to your Thursday morning :)
So this morning we are starting where we left off yesterday. It will be quick today because my little people are up and we are going to be spending the day preparing for an awesome garage sale this weekend in the Trotter house! Hey, just keepin' it real people :) However, I could not wait to spend even just a brief minute with you today being encouraged by God's Word.
You are not lost. No matter where you are or what you are doing you are not lost. Did you hear that? Let the words sink in this morning.......no matter where you are or what you are doing you are not lost. You are not lost in your emotions, you are not lost in your thoughts, you are not lost physically, spiritually, or mentally. You are not lost.
You may feel lost. You may very well be physically lost and I am in no way discounting those that are lost in a literal since. However, today I am talking more on an emotional level. I know that there are times in my life where I have believed the lie that I am lost with no where to go and no help in my situation. Lost.
Have you ever watched just one episode of the television show LOST. The title of the show is perfect, they are lost. One question about where they are or how they got there only leads to another question. It is like an eternal rabbit trail and can blow your mind if you think about it too hard or long as to why they got there and what in the world the point of the whole show is! However, doesn't it bring up such a nerve prick? How many of us feel that exact same way? Lost with no where to go and one question only brings another question to mind.
Ever stand in the middle of your house looking at piles of laundry, a dirty kitchen, two toddlers asking "why?" over and over and over again, no food in the pantry, nap time like three hours away and pay day not till the end of the week and think...I'm totally lost.
Ever slammed the door to your car at the end of a very long and exhausting day of not really being understood by your peers, throw your head on your steering wheel wondering how in the world you are going to have the strength to face another day and say to yourself....I'm totally lost.
Ever sat at the funeral of a good friend's mom or dad that died too young and say to yourself as you approach them in the recieving line....I'm totally lost for words.
Ever "graduated" into a new season of life and found yourself at a crossroads whispering to ...I'm totally lost.
Ever stared a God-sized project in the face and thought...I'm totally lost.
You are not alone in thinking that way, but you are not lost. The King has gone to great lengths to show us that. Consider these two verses and their connection...
Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. Psalm 84:3
Do not be struck with fear or seized with alarm; you are of greater worth than many [flocks] of sparrows. Luke 12:6-8
Sweet daughter be encouraged today because you are not lost from the protection, provision and wisdom of the King. If the King of the Universe will find a home for the robin red breast in my backyard oak tree He surely will find a home for the emotions that He created in me, the circumstance He sat me in or the words, wisdom or inspiration and direction I'm needing.
Honest confession: Just yesterday I said, "Toby, I just feel lost as to what to do next." And it was the leadership of my husband that set me straight. "Cari, you are not lost. The Lord has His eyes on you. You are His perfect creation and He knows the thoughts you have and He knows the thoughts He has on you and He will complete what He has started. He will provide, you just need to submit and relax. You are not lost my love." Thank you Jesus for my sweet husband's accountablity. I say we take that as accountablity for us all sisters.
"For I know the thoughts I have of you, declares the Lord. Plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be FOUND by you, declares the Lord." Jeremiah 29:11-14
Even if you have been lost for what seems like the longest season or have prayed and been seeking God for answers forever (I've been there) wait for it. He will come through with direction and revelation.
"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; it will CERTAINLY come, it will not delay." Habakkuk 2:3
So today let's trust God's love, lean into His truth, seek Him with all our hearts, confess where and how we feel "lost", and at the end of this day I want to challenge us all to have responded to the Lord and realized that we are not lost, but FOUND by Him and in Him.
1. Trust God's love
2. Lean into His Truth
3. Seek Him with all your heart
4. Confess where and how you feel "lost"
5. Respond to being found by and in the Lord
You girls are AMAZING!!!!!!!! I am so proud of you!! I spent yesterday in prayer for our next Chick Chat in June and I am pumped!! Make it a great day and remember you have been found, rescued and redeemed by the King! Is that awesome news or what!!
xoxo
So this morning we are starting where we left off yesterday. It will be quick today because my little people are up and we are going to be spending the day preparing for an awesome garage sale this weekend in the Trotter house! Hey, just keepin' it real people :) However, I could not wait to spend even just a brief minute with you today being encouraged by God's Word.
You are not lost. No matter where you are or what you are doing you are not lost. Did you hear that? Let the words sink in this morning.......no matter where you are or what you are doing you are not lost. You are not lost in your emotions, you are not lost in your thoughts, you are not lost physically, spiritually, or mentally. You are not lost.
You may feel lost. You may very well be physically lost and I am in no way discounting those that are lost in a literal since. However, today I am talking more on an emotional level. I know that there are times in my life where I have believed the lie that I am lost with no where to go and no help in my situation. Lost.
Have you ever watched just one episode of the television show LOST. The title of the show is perfect, they are lost. One question about where they are or how they got there only leads to another question. It is like an eternal rabbit trail and can blow your mind if you think about it too hard or long as to why they got there and what in the world the point of the whole show is! However, doesn't it bring up such a nerve prick? How many of us feel that exact same way? Lost with no where to go and one question only brings another question to mind.
Ever stand in the middle of your house looking at piles of laundry, a dirty kitchen, two toddlers asking "why?" over and over and over again, no food in the pantry, nap time like three hours away and pay day not till the end of the week and think...I'm totally lost.
Ever slammed the door to your car at the end of a very long and exhausting day of not really being understood by your peers, throw your head on your steering wheel wondering how in the world you are going to have the strength to face another day and say to yourself....I'm totally lost.
Ever sat at the funeral of a good friend's mom or dad that died too young and say to yourself as you approach them in the recieving line....I'm totally lost for words.
Ever "graduated" into a new season of life and found yourself at a crossroads whispering to ...I'm totally lost.
Ever stared a God-sized project in the face and thought...I'm totally lost.
You are not alone in thinking that way, but you are not lost. The King has gone to great lengths to show us that. Consider these two verses and their connection...
Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. Psalm 84:3
Do not be struck with fear or seized with alarm; you are of greater worth than many [flocks] of sparrows. Luke 12:6-8
Sweet daughter be encouraged today because you are not lost from the protection, provision and wisdom of the King. If the King of the Universe will find a home for the robin red breast in my backyard oak tree He surely will find a home for the emotions that He created in me, the circumstance He sat me in or the words, wisdom or inspiration and direction I'm needing.
Honest confession: Just yesterday I said, "Toby, I just feel lost as to what to do next." And it was the leadership of my husband that set me straight. "Cari, you are not lost. The Lord has His eyes on you. You are His perfect creation and He knows the thoughts you have and He knows the thoughts He has on you and He will complete what He has started. He will provide, you just need to submit and relax. You are not lost my love." Thank you Jesus for my sweet husband's accountablity. I say we take that as accountablity for us all sisters.
"For I know the thoughts I have of you, declares the Lord. Plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be FOUND by you, declares the Lord." Jeremiah 29:11-14
Even if you have been lost for what seems like the longest season or have prayed and been seeking God for answers forever (I've been there) wait for it. He will come through with direction and revelation.
"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; it will CERTAINLY come, it will not delay." Habakkuk 2:3
So today let's trust God's love, lean into His truth, seek Him with all our hearts, confess where and how we feel "lost", and at the end of this day I want to challenge us all to have responded to the Lord and realized that we are not lost, but FOUND by Him and in Him.
1. Trust God's love
2. Lean into His Truth
3. Seek Him with all your heart
4. Confess where and how you feel "lost"
5. Respond to being found by and in the Lord
You girls are AMAZING!!!!!!!! I am so proud of you!! I spent yesterday in prayer for our next Chick Chat in June and I am pumped!! Make it a great day and remember you have been found, rescued and redeemed by the King! Is that awesome news or what!!
xoxo
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Worth Remembering
Ever seen someone that you know you remember meeting, but in the moment they begin to walk your way looking so excited to see you their name completely leaves you. So you say something like, “Hey girl!” or “What’s up cutie!”. You want to be polite, but the teleprompter in your brain on who and how you know this person has totally gone out. As the conversation starts you begin rolling through the rolodex of situations you might have met them at begging your brain to snap to and remember. And then all at once it comes to you! Eureka! Being remembered is an awesome feeling, but we’ve all had a time when we’ve either not remembered or not been remembered.
I actually had an experience the other day where someone didn’t remember me. I was just breezing in and out of a business where I had been several times and interacted with the individuals that worked there on numerous occasions. I wasn’t looking for anyone to remember me, wasn’t even looking to have conversation with anyone just running in and out. But as I was interacting with a few people someone came by, looked at me and randomly in a very “Seinfeld episode kind of way” said…”I don’t remember you.” And it wasn’t in an “I’m trying to put a face with a name?” Or “I know we have met, I just can’t place when or how I know you?” it was like they wanted me to know they didn’t remember me and I was disturbing their reality. The funny part was I hadn’t even asked or expected this person would remember who I was. And then all at once that person walked on. It was one of those random run-ins in life where you just shrug your shoulders, chuckle and move on. However it got me thinking. It was as if this individual was saying “Who are you? We’ll it doesn’t matter because you aren’t even worth remembering anyway!” LOL is all I can say about that exchange! :)
Funny story, serious point. As daughters we can leave the emotions of unworthy and unacceptable hanging on the door of our heart way too long. Have you been abandoned? Have you been abused? Have you been orphaned? Have you ever been passed up by someone “better”? Have you experienced the pain of gossip? Has your character ever been misrepresented? Has any one person ever made you feel like you weren’t worth remembering? Have you ever felt neglected? Have you ever said out loud or in your heart, “I have no place.” Or “I’m not accepted.”
I love Extreme Home Makeover and just recently there was an episode I caught the tail end of that has found its way into the deepest part of my heart and I’m pretty sure I won’t forget it.
The family that was getting the dream home had adopted several orphans from Asia that all had physical handicaps. The oldest of the 5 that the family had adopted was blind and partially deaf. When the mother came into the oldest girl’s room her breath was taken away at how beautiful the room was. The mother started to describe all the deep colors and rich textiles, the furniture and help aids in the room. However the girl went right to the side wall where they said her books were. The show had provided an entire wall of Braille books made just for her. As she scanned the wall with her hands her mother gasp in tears and sat down on the bed. All at once the girl pulled one thick black book out and began to race her fingers across the pages as fast as she could. She gasped, pushed away from the wall and then raced back only to run her hands across rows and rows of the same black book.
With the sweetest overflow of heart the words spilled out of her lips, “They got me the whole Bible.”
Ladies, you are not forgotten. That little girl was lost, left to die and unwanted, deemed unworthy and unacceptable as a child in her country. However the King never took His eyes off of her. He went to such great lengths as to find a perfect family to adopt her. Then even within the walls of her dream home He prompted someone on a secular show to be so intentional as to purchase the whole Bible in Braille just for her. She was not lost. Her soul was not left to die in darkness. She was wanted. She was worthy. She was an acceptable child of the King. And His desire was to give her every blessing.
I shared kind of a funny example of someone claiming that I wasn’t worth remembering and really that experience didn’t affect me. I just laughed it off. However it made me recall situations where the whisper and opinion of the enemy has tempted me to believe the lie that as a created, bought, redeemed daughter of the living King I am not worth remembering. I am not accepted as a beauty, as a daughter, as a child. Some circumstances in life can leave us feeling as if our souls, thoughts or dreams are lost in the darkness of our own frame. Or that heaven forbid we feel abandoned, rejected or worthless. I hear too many women splashed across our modern media that are expressing themselves in degrading ways only to say they felt that while they were growing up they didn’t have an outlet for their heart or felt unaccepted so now they are just being “real”. Shame on us ladies. Shame on us if we are daughters of the King and we have remained silent. Shame on us if we have repressed our ability to love on and minister to those around us so long, that the ways of this world have taken over as the dominant voice and space for acceptance and love. Within the Bride of Christ we should be offering extravagant love, grace, space, acceptance and merciful Truth, training and equipping to every daughter.
I have an overwhelming, and very direct passion to give voice to the emotion of feeling lost, lonely, abandoned and unwanted. The King has set His heart on chasing down His daughter. He is tired of the ground the enemy is gaining. I’m tired of the ground we are so carelessly giving him. I’m tired of yet another social club, media profile, celebrity remix or “overwhelming majority” that is attempting to solidify our worth as daughters. The King is exhausted with the abuse, the neglect and the rejection of His daughters. I want the Truth. I want freedom. I want to get so close to the voice of the Father that I hear HIS voice tell me I’m beautiful, worthy, accepted and loved. Then I want to operate in my everyday with that confidence in front of me. I want that for you too.
If you have been abandoned, abused, neglected, disheartened, disenchanted, lonely, defeated or hopeless in your thoughts and emotions I am here to testify that by the Blood of the WORTHY Lamb and the word of your testimony….you will overcome and you have been found worthy, accepted and lavishly loved!
If you are in Christ and have accepted Him as Lord of your life say OUT LOUD:
I am not lost
I have not been left to die in darkness
I am wanted
I am worthy
I am an acceptable child of the King
I am worth remembering
And I am lavishly loved
If you have NOT come into the precious love of the King and accepted your place as a daughter please don’t wait. Pray with me right now….”I confess that I am a sinner. I ask you to take over my life as I lay it at your feet. I accept you as the Only Way and ask that you come into my life and save me. I accept my rightful place as your daughter and I thank you for your grace and lavish love! Amen.” If you prayed that prayer, go back up and pronounce the anthem of acceptance. The next several days I am going to be giving you quick scriptures to connect each statement to the Truth. I am so proud of you. I love you and I am praying for you sweet sister.
xoxo
I actually had an experience the other day where someone didn’t remember me. I was just breezing in and out of a business where I had been several times and interacted with the individuals that worked there on numerous occasions. I wasn’t looking for anyone to remember me, wasn’t even looking to have conversation with anyone just running in and out. But as I was interacting with a few people someone came by, looked at me and randomly in a very “Seinfeld episode kind of way” said…”I don’t remember you.” And it wasn’t in an “I’m trying to put a face with a name?” Or “I know we have met, I just can’t place when or how I know you?” it was like they wanted me to know they didn’t remember me and I was disturbing their reality. The funny part was I hadn’t even asked or expected this person would remember who I was. And then all at once that person walked on. It was one of those random run-ins in life where you just shrug your shoulders, chuckle and move on. However it got me thinking. It was as if this individual was saying “Who are you? We’ll it doesn’t matter because you aren’t even worth remembering anyway!” LOL is all I can say about that exchange! :)
Funny story, serious point. As daughters we can leave the emotions of unworthy and unacceptable hanging on the door of our heart way too long. Have you been abandoned? Have you been abused? Have you been orphaned? Have you ever been passed up by someone “better”? Have you experienced the pain of gossip? Has your character ever been misrepresented? Has any one person ever made you feel like you weren’t worth remembering? Have you ever felt neglected? Have you ever said out loud or in your heart, “I have no place.” Or “I’m not accepted.”
I love Extreme Home Makeover and just recently there was an episode I caught the tail end of that has found its way into the deepest part of my heart and I’m pretty sure I won’t forget it.
The family that was getting the dream home had adopted several orphans from Asia that all had physical handicaps. The oldest of the 5 that the family had adopted was blind and partially deaf. When the mother came into the oldest girl’s room her breath was taken away at how beautiful the room was. The mother started to describe all the deep colors and rich textiles, the furniture and help aids in the room. However the girl went right to the side wall where they said her books were. The show had provided an entire wall of Braille books made just for her. As she scanned the wall with her hands her mother gasp in tears and sat down on the bed. All at once the girl pulled one thick black book out and began to race her fingers across the pages as fast as she could. She gasped, pushed away from the wall and then raced back only to run her hands across rows and rows of the same black book.
With the sweetest overflow of heart the words spilled out of her lips, “They got me the whole Bible.”
Ladies, you are not forgotten. That little girl was lost, left to die and unwanted, deemed unworthy and unacceptable as a child in her country. However the King never took His eyes off of her. He went to such great lengths as to find a perfect family to adopt her. Then even within the walls of her dream home He prompted someone on a secular show to be so intentional as to purchase the whole Bible in Braille just for her. She was not lost. Her soul was not left to die in darkness. She was wanted. She was worthy. She was an acceptable child of the King. And His desire was to give her every blessing.
I shared kind of a funny example of someone claiming that I wasn’t worth remembering and really that experience didn’t affect me. I just laughed it off. However it made me recall situations where the whisper and opinion of the enemy has tempted me to believe the lie that as a created, bought, redeemed daughter of the living King I am not worth remembering. I am not accepted as a beauty, as a daughter, as a child. Some circumstances in life can leave us feeling as if our souls, thoughts or dreams are lost in the darkness of our own frame. Or that heaven forbid we feel abandoned, rejected or worthless. I hear too many women splashed across our modern media that are expressing themselves in degrading ways only to say they felt that while they were growing up they didn’t have an outlet for their heart or felt unaccepted so now they are just being “real”. Shame on us ladies. Shame on us if we are daughters of the King and we have remained silent. Shame on us if we have repressed our ability to love on and minister to those around us so long, that the ways of this world have taken over as the dominant voice and space for acceptance and love. Within the Bride of Christ we should be offering extravagant love, grace, space, acceptance and merciful Truth, training and equipping to every daughter.
I have an overwhelming, and very direct passion to give voice to the emotion of feeling lost, lonely, abandoned and unwanted. The King has set His heart on chasing down His daughter. He is tired of the ground the enemy is gaining. I’m tired of the ground we are so carelessly giving him. I’m tired of yet another social club, media profile, celebrity remix or “overwhelming majority” that is attempting to solidify our worth as daughters. The King is exhausted with the abuse, the neglect and the rejection of His daughters. I want the Truth. I want freedom. I want to get so close to the voice of the Father that I hear HIS voice tell me I’m beautiful, worthy, accepted and loved. Then I want to operate in my everyday with that confidence in front of me. I want that for you too.
If you have been abandoned, abused, neglected, disheartened, disenchanted, lonely, defeated or hopeless in your thoughts and emotions I am here to testify that by the Blood of the WORTHY Lamb and the word of your testimony….you will overcome and you have been found worthy, accepted and lavishly loved!
If you are in Christ and have accepted Him as Lord of your life say OUT LOUD:
I am not lost
I have not been left to die in darkness
I am wanted
I am worthy
I am an acceptable child of the King
I am worth remembering
And I am lavishly loved
If you have NOT come into the precious love of the King and accepted your place as a daughter please don’t wait. Pray with me right now….”I confess that I am a sinner. I ask you to take over my life as I lay it at your feet. I accept you as the Only Way and ask that you come into my life and save me. I accept my rightful place as your daughter and I thank you for your grace and lavish love! Amen.” If you prayed that prayer, go back up and pronounce the anthem of acceptance. The next several days I am going to be giving you quick scriptures to connect each statement to the Truth. I am so proud of you. I love you and I am praying for you sweet sister.
xoxo
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The "heal" charm
Just a quick pic of my baby doll taking care of her baby doll. Precious. I recently bought a charm bracelet with several charms on it that describe my Ainsley Belle and I thought I would share...A princess crown - Because she is a daughter of the Most High King and my mini princess :)
The letter "a" - To represent her beautiful name Ainsley
Amethyst birthstone drop - Ainsley's birthday is in February
A sterling silver disk with "mom" engraved on it - The obvious of course being that I am her mother. The deeper meaning being that I am reminded when I look at that I hold the keys to the Kingdom for my daughter and that her little eyes are on me all day every day. My job? Lead her to the Throne.
And finally a charm with the word "heal" engraved on it - The Lord created Ainsley at a time in the life of our family when we were in need of healing. Ainsley herself did not bring the healing, that would be unfair pressure on her. However her birth was a spiritual marker in our lives that Christ was still going to birth new things out of our lives. The King has been faithful to the promise that came with Ainsley's birth.
Just the other day I was watching the season finale of Extreme Home Makeover, which was so very tender, and was crying so hard as I watched the story of the precious family. As I was crying both Cade and Ainsley asked if I was okay to which I of course said that my tears were merely happy tears....which was the truth in part :). Cade gave me a pat and then went on his way, however Ainsley immediately bounced off to her room and came back with her blanket. She piled it up in my lap and said, "Here momma." as if to say this will make it better. She knew that even though I said I was happy, I still could use the comfort and healing touch of her blankie. Ainsley Belle is the glue to our family and she has, even at the tender age of two, allowed the Lord to use her as an agent of healing in our lives. Thanks for reading with me today. My heart was overflowing with love for my little miss. I just tucked her in bed and have had to love on her extra today because she has been sickie with a fever and cold. It's hard when your babies are sick and you can't do anything but love on them, help make them comfortable and trust that the Lord loves them more than you do and is working over time to get them up and running like new in no time. I love her so much and am so thankful for the radiant light she is to our family.
Praying for your daughters tonight as I write and praying for you as you love them up and lead them to the Throne. Praying for those of you whose daughters are sick from anything in between a cold or a life threatening disease. Praying for those of you who are loving daughters that are walking a fine line of rebellion. Praying for your daughter’s confidence in Christ to grow stronger and stronger every day. Be strong and brave as you love them courageously. Praying for peace to rest in your hearts as mothers and praying for you to seek wisdom and counsel from the Author and Perfector of our faith as you lead out, provide for and express love in their lives. I decided to share the prayer I have said over Ainsley every night since the day she was born as I tuck her in at night. Even though it has Ainsley's name in the prayer I am praying for your little princess too.
"The Lord bless Ainsley and keep her. The Lord make His face shine on Ainsley and be gracious to her. The Lord lift up His countenance on Ainsley and give her peace." Numbers 6:24-26
Sweet dreams pretty daughters...xoxo.
Friday, May 14, 2010
A few things
“For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed.” Romans 15:18
Girls I love you. Can’t tell you enough. I found this scripture this morning and I’ve read it a thousand times, but today it hit me in a new way. I want to challenge you to view your day as a day where not only is the King going to accomplish something in you, He is going to give you an opportunity to express that work and then inspire someone else to respond in obedience to God. You may think you only have a “few” things to give, or maybe you feel that you have nothing to give. Not true sister. If you are breathing you have something to give. The King has given you life; don’t be afraid to multiply it. I’ve heard women say before that just because they don’t feel like they have a “story” with loads of melodrama they don’t have anything to say. That could not be further from the truth! If you have had a blessed and provided for life full of health and happiness…..SHARE IT!!! Sweet daughter you have a story, you have a talent, you have a home, you have a voice, you have two hands and two feet…..please, please, please use the resources you have. Don’t worry about what you don’t have. We waste way too much time doing that. I can 100% guarantee that someone will respond to who you are today. Let the King show off His creation by sharing the beautiful daughter you are with the world.
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful with a FEW things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the JOY of your master.” Matthew 25:21
I believe in you. The King believes in you. And an entire generation of daughters is counting on you to share your life. xoxo
Girls I love you. Can’t tell you enough. I found this scripture this morning and I’ve read it a thousand times, but today it hit me in a new way. I want to challenge you to view your day as a day where not only is the King going to accomplish something in you, He is going to give you an opportunity to express that work and then inspire someone else to respond in obedience to God. You may think you only have a “few” things to give, or maybe you feel that you have nothing to give. Not true sister. If you are breathing you have something to give. The King has given you life; don’t be afraid to multiply it. I’ve heard women say before that just because they don’t feel like they have a “story” with loads of melodrama they don’t have anything to say. That could not be further from the truth! If you have had a blessed and provided for life full of health and happiness…..SHARE IT!!! Sweet daughter you have a story, you have a talent, you have a home, you have a voice, you have two hands and two feet…..please, please, please use the resources you have. Don’t worry about what you don’t have. We waste way too much time doing that. I can 100% guarantee that someone will respond to who you are today. Let the King show off His creation by sharing the beautiful daughter you are with the world.
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful with a FEW things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the JOY of your master.” Matthew 25:21
I believe in you. The King believes in you. And an entire generation of daughters is counting on you to share your life. xoxo
Thursday, May 13, 2010
A few words from my kiddos
Good Morning beautiful sisters!!! I hope that we are meeting up after a restful night’s sleep and you are being filled with the Power of the Lord to do and be who He has called you to be today! I actually asked my kids what I should share with you this morning. As they looked back at me with surprised eyes they tilted their precious little heads as if their sweet little spirits were in deep deliberation. I could almost see the miniature wheels in their brains pick up speed. With pure hearts this is what they came up with…
1. Tell them to “pway” – in my dear Ainsley’s pigeon English
2. Read in your Bible and in your books
3. Wash your hands every day
4. We need to eat and stay healthy
5. Take pictures - because according to my Cade man that’s what mommies do to remember good things….yes, I had a few tears on that one :)
6. They need to play
7. “Gi-Gi” loves us. (Ainsley cannot say Jesus just yet so she calls Him Ge-Ge…it’s really pretty stinkin’ precious)
And then just like that they were off! My little people thought of 7 practical ways to encourage us today and didn’t think too hard as they rolled off the quick meditations on their hearts. Shared their wisdom and in a blink they were back to their little people farm to give the animals hay rides. Childlike faith is awesome. If you settle on any one of those statements for any length of time they are actually pretty profound.
1. Pray – Simply put praying is when we can position ourselves in an attitude that is considering and then responding to God’s thoughts on our circumstances. Regardless of what is going on around you if you can quiet your heart and pray something will click. It has for me, especially on those brutally noisy days when you can’t catch a quiet moment. If I can just quiet my heart and utter a cry within my own frame peace, clarity and understanding starts a rollin’. When I forget to put myself in that intentional position my defeating thoughts are on auto pilot and all I can see and hear are the loud problems in front of me. Praying helps eliminate anxious thoughts.
“I love the Lord, because he listens to my prayers for help. He paid attention to me, so I will call to him for help as long as I live.” Psalm 116:1-2
“When a believing person prays, great things happen.” James 5:16
2. Read God’s Word –
“God’s word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts.” Hebrews 4:12
I could not agree more with what the kids said…to read your Bible and your books. The Bible is the ONLY source of true healing and wholeness; however the Lord has inspired many authors to encourage our growth and development as daughters of God. For me those authors risking relative comfort and life exposure and how the Lord has ministered to them have motivated my own personal study of the Bible.
“For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth.” 1 Thessalonians 1:8
3. Wash your hands ( and your hearts :)) everyday –
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
“Then I confessed my sins to you and didn’t hide my guilt. I said, “I will confess my sins to the Lord,” and you forgave my guilt.” Psalm 32:5
4. We need to eat and stay healthy….I think we could all agree that we need to literally eat and take care of our physical bodies every day. As women we usually put ourselves at the bottom of the list as far as serving our basic needs. Take rest for instance. I am coming off a couple of weeks were I can honestly say I was not so great at this bullet point. And boy did it hit me in the mouth. We have to get rest, nourishment and replenish what we give out every day! We have to ladies!! I also want to drive it home that you cannot miss a day of nourishing your soul. It isn’t out of legalism that I am saying this…it is out of experience. If you want to thrive you have to go to the Lord to be nourished with deep and long lasting soul food EVERY DAY. Your tank goes on E a lot faster than you let on. It’s just like if you are thirsty you’re probably already dehydrated. Don’t let your soul dehydrate.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
5. Look back/take spirit pictures to remember the King’s goodness – This point is so near and dear to my heart. First that my son would identify that “mommies take pictures to remember good things” says that I take pictures in his heart of good times, which would be a lot. Capturing special moments that remind you how far you’ve come, or grown, or changed is a good thing. Just the other night Toby and I made a pot of coffee and flipped through all the photo books we’ve made since dating and almost 8 years of marriage. We laughed, we cried, we remembered and we enjoyed ALL that God had done. I highly recommend doing that no matter what life spot you are in. I also recommend reading through journal entries that record the times just as specifically.
“Every good action and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon, and stars, who does not change like their shifting shadows.” James 1:17
6. We need to play – I LOVE this one! We do need to play girls. And by that I mean we need to live with way more exuberant JOY!!! Not relatively happy, but deep, abiding, unshakable JOY-FULL livin’. You know the kind of people I’m talking about. Those that just live with peace and simplicity, but have this kind of joy that is unexplainable. Happy fades with the next dirty diaper or overslept alarm. Joy overcomes those obstacles and keeps right on going. I LOVE being around JOY-FULL people. If you look at any 5 people in a day, especially when you are stuck in traffic you’ll see just how many people are missing joy.
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your JOY may be made FULL!” John 15:11
7. “Ge-Ge loves us.” – He loves us so much sisters. I mean like for real ladies. He loves us. He loves you. I feel so very burdened about this point and I am found in this moment with little expression to the point. So I’ll just lean on the simplicity in which my daughter shared it. With all her heart and cute tiny hands resting on her cheeks as she rested her elbows on the couch looked me directly in the eyes and with every confidence of a grown woman said….”Ge – Ge loves me.” I want to live that way.
“We know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love. God is love. Those who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” 1 John 4:16
Praying for you today and loving you so very much!!! Make it a great day and live beautifully brave the Lord is with you pretty lady!!!
xoxo
1. Tell them to “pway” – in my dear Ainsley’s pigeon English
2. Read in your Bible and in your books
3. Wash your hands every day
4. We need to eat and stay healthy
5. Take pictures - because according to my Cade man that’s what mommies do to remember good things….yes, I had a few tears on that one :)
6. They need to play
7. “Gi-Gi” loves us. (Ainsley cannot say Jesus just yet so she calls Him Ge-Ge…it’s really pretty stinkin’ precious)
And then just like that they were off! My little people thought of 7 practical ways to encourage us today and didn’t think too hard as they rolled off the quick meditations on their hearts. Shared their wisdom and in a blink they were back to their little people farm to give the animals hay rides. Childlike faith is awesome. If you settle on any one of those statements for any length of time they are actually pretty profound.
1. Pray – Simply put praying is when we can position ourselves in an attitude that is considering and then responding to God’s thoughts on our circumstances. Regardless of what is going on around you if you can quiet your heart and pray something will click. It has for me, especially on those brutally noisy days when you can’t catch a quiet moment. If I can just quiet my heart and utter a cry within my own frame peace, clarity and understanding starts a rollin’. When I forget to put myself in that intentional position my defeating thoughts are on auto pilot and all I can see and hear are the loud problems in front of me. Praying helps eliminate anxious thoughts.
“I love the Lord, because he listens to my prayers for help. He paid attention to me, so I will call to him for help as long as I live.” Psalm 116:1-2
“When a believing person prays, great things happen.” James 5:16
2. Read God’s Word –
“God’s word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts.” Hebrews 4:12
I could not agree more with what the kids said…to read your Bible and your books. The Bible is the ONLY source of true healing and wholeness; however the Lord has inspired many authors to encourage our growth and development as daughters of God. For me those authors risking relative comfort and life exposure and how the Lord has ministered to them have motivated my own personal study of the Bible.
“For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth.” 1 Thessalonians 1:8
3. Wash your hands ( and your hearts :)) everyday –
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
“Then I confessed my sins to you and didn’t hide my guilt. I said, “I will confess my sins to the Lord,” and you forgave my guilt.” Psalm 32:5
4. We need to eat and stay healthy….I think we could all agree that we need to literally eat and take care of our physical bodies every day. As women we usually put ourselves at the bottom of the list as far as serving our basic needs. Take rest for instance. I am coming off a couple of weeks were I can honestly say I was not so great at this bullet point. And boy did it hit me in the mouth. We have to get rest, nourishment and replenish what we give out every day! We have to ladies!! I also want to drive it home that you cannot miss a day of nourishing your soul. It isn’t out of legalism that I am saying this…it is out of experience. If you want to thrive you have to go to the Lord to be nourished with deep and long lasting soul food EVERY DAY. Your tank goes on E a lot faster than you let on. It’s just like if you are thirsty you’re probably already dehydrated. Don’t let your soul dehydrate.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
5. Look back/take spirit pictures to remember the King’s goodness – This point is so near and dear to my heart. First that my son would identify that “mommies take pictures to remember good things” says that I take pictures in his heart of good times, which would be a lot. Capturing special moments that remind you how far you’ve come, or grown, or changed is a good thing. Just the other night Toby and I made a pot of coffee and flipped through all the photo books we’ve made since dating and almost 8 years of marriage. We laughed, we cried, we remembered and we enjoyed ALL that God had done. I highly recommend doing that no matter what life spot you are in. I also recommend reading through journal entries that record the times just as specifically.
“Every good action and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon, and stars, who does not change like their shifting shadows.” James 1:17
6. We need to play – I LOVE this one! We do need to play girls. And by that I mean we need to live with way more exuberant JOY!!! Not relatively happy, but deep, abiding, unshakable JOY-FULL livin’. You know the kind of people I’m talking about. Those that just live with peace and simplicity, but have this kind of joy that is unexplainable. Happy fades with the next dirty diaper or overslept alarm. Joy overcomes those obstacles and keeps right on going. I LOVE being around JOY-FULL people. If you look at any 5 people in a day, especially when you are stuck in traffic you’ll see just how many people are missing joy.
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your JOY may be made FULL!” John 15:11
7. “Ge-Ge loves us.” – He loves us so much sisters. I mean like for real ladies. He loves us. He loves you. I feel so very burdened about this point and I am found in this moment with little expression to the point. So I’ll just lean on the simplicity in which my daughter shared it. With all her heart and cute tiny hands resting on her cheeks as she rested her elbows on the couch looked me directly in the eyes and with every confidence of a grown woman said….”Ge – Ge loves me.” I want to live that way.
“We know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love. God is love. Those who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” 1 John 4:16
Praying for you today and loving you so very much!!! Make it a great day and live beautifully brave the Lord is with you pretty lady!!!
xoxo
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Fix Your Gaze
“ And Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze upon him and said, “Look at us!” And he began to give them his attention expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you; In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene – walk! And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. And with a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God; and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. And while he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so called portico of Solomon, full of amazement.” Acts 3:1-11
I cannot tell you how amazing the first Chick Chat was to my heart. The precious group of women that were there were so open, honest and really set such a great tone for the direction of Glorious Daughter Chick Chat events in the future! And because of your generosity we will be able to continue to meet in the Fairfield Inn as well as provide additional resources for our Chick Chats!! Amazing, really amazing!! Thank you to all you beautiful ladies that contributed to such an overwhelming night for my heart. There are so many wonderful things that the Lord is in the middle of developing and I hope that you will take an opportunity to look at Glorious Daughters website splash page! I am so excited about the development of this site and would ask that when you do take a peek at the fabulous site you pray over it as a place where as daughters we can join together and find wholeness, healing, acceptance and be found worthy of the royalty we have been called to. And please pass the site info along!!!
http://www.gloriousdaughters.org/
I cannot thank you enough for the prayers that have already been offered for this ministry. Last Tuesday evening you took a step of faith with me and I will never forget that. I know I said that I would post up our talks here and I will. We talked about so many great things that I decided to break it up. I only have a few minutes today to post, but I could not wait another day to share.
“And Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze upon him and said, “Look at us!” Acts 3:4
It said in one commentary that I read that when any of the disciples “fixed their gaze” upon someone or something it meant that a miracle was about to happen.
Who doesn’t need a miracle? I do. I need one right now. I need to expose all that I am and I need to know that the King is fixing His gaze on me, that I am safe in His presence, that He is looking on me with love and that the King is about to showcase a miracle.
Like I said I only have a few minutes tonight, and I have to ask for forgiveness because I have been waiting for the ideal hour to get this word to you perfected. But I have waited and waited and everything you could imagine has kept me from you…even a tornado, literally. But In Jesus Name I have run to the local Starbucks in OKC to grab the last 15 minutes of internet access so I can just get this to you. The Holy Spirit is so pressing my spirit that someone just needs to know you can let God fix His gaze on you no matter how you look or where you’re at. Take a quick glance back at the scripture from Acts 3 at the top of the post. The man in the story that Peter was looking at was lame from birth and now in his 40’s was found begging for what would only barely satisfy OUTSIDE the Gate Beautiful.
Outside is a key word for us. Are you finding yourself sitting outside a gate, lame and in need of a miracle? How are you hiding the problem and not allowing Christ to fix His gaze upon you?
Don’t be afraid to look at your problems, your pain, your past, or whatever is making you lame. Let Jesus fix His gaze upon you and then anticipate a miracle.
“How long will you go here and there, O’ faithless daughter? For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes.” Jeremiah 31:22 and 25
The story in Acts goes on to say that Peter and John then healed the lame man that had begged outside the Gate Beautiful his whole life, they seized him up and immediately he was strengthened and they walked through the gate TOGETHER praising God the whole way!!!
In the Name of Jesus I pray for the daughter that has aimlessly been begging outside the gate her whole life. Give her the courage to look up and allow you to fix your gaze upon her heart, her circumstances, or her physical limitations and heal what has been made lame. You have created us for power and wholeness and right now I ask you to minister to the needs of your daughters. Give those of us that are whole in Christ the eyes to see those that need to be healed, encouraged and seized up to walk through the Gate Beautiful healthy, whole and rejoicing. Give us the courage to move our passion and piety to action allowing You the opportunity to express a miracle. Praise you God for your salvation and healing! AMEN.
“Our own power or piety did not heal this woman…..it was on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this woman whom you see and know.” Acts 3:12 and 16
(my own interpretation)
I’ll close these brief thoughts today with one of my most favorite songs. Please let the words spill on your soul as you surrender to the gaze of the King.
“Fix your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the Light of His Glory and Grace”
I love you sweet ladies with all my heart. Be encouraged and seized up as you get up and walk through the Gate Beautiful!! xoxo
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Welp...here it is. It's Go Time.
“He’d had it all along. Planned it to a tee. Didn’t mean for it to be complicated. Wasn’t interested in a flawless delivery. Didn’t even need it to be great. Any jar of clay would do because anything happening on the visible platform was virtually incidental…as long as it didn’t quench the Spirit. All God had in mind to do was cut through the layers of technology until we could see straight into the beating heart of the Gospel: Jesus Christ can change your life.
That’s it. Plain and simple.
I love the mysterious side of God. I love that we can’t figure Him out. I love that He honors us by choosing us and humbles us by not even needing us. I love that He is wholly beyond formulas and manipulations, because goodness knows I’m not.
I love Him.
So, what do we do with all of this since we don’t know one iota more than we did? Just keep doing what we’re called to do. In season. Out of season. When we feel good. When we don’t. Believe Him to do something huge. Trust Him when you can’t even tell He did something small. Keep your heart in it and your big head out of it.
He’s the only one who can make it happen. As for us, we don’t even know what “it” is.
“The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us.”
Deuteronomy 29:29 NLT”-Beth Moore, Living Proof Blog
And then comes the Jesus I can hardly believe I know. The Jesus with a word so divinely appointed I will NEVER forget it and from a woman that He has chosen to use a thousand times in my life. In no way am I comparing myself to her or to the works that God has called her to do, however I am receiving the word spoken through her by the Holy Spirit to encourage my anxious heart that was tempted to be very overwhelmed today. I know she would never remember me from the OSU Women’s Conference almost 10 years ago and laying hands on a small circle of college girls, me being in that circle sobbing because it was “a burning bush moment” for me. I will never forget her words, “I pray that greater works than these women’s ministry works would be done by this next generation of daughters”. I have never forgotten that moment, and honestly have only shared that experience with that small group of Bible study girls, a few mentors, my mother and my husband. Having Beth Moore pray such an anointed charge over our lives was humbling beyond explanation and definitely beyond what clever wording I could come up with on a blog.
Glorious Daughters is so very precious to my heart. I feel the need to be incredibly vulnerable and honest this morning about my heart and passion for Glorious Daughters. Maybe even a little sloppy and if it doesn’t make sense, that’s okay I just need to get it out. Because it isn’t about Glorious Daughters as a ministry or some sort of achievement, or culmination of events and experiences in my life….no Glorious Daughters is about having been radically redeemed and saved by a Merciful, Magnificent, Lavishly Loving and Extravagant King and I cannot be silent. It’s about me being a “leprous woman of sorts” (2 Kings 6-7:3) and recognizing I have been given Great news that I have to take to the King’s household. And most important I want companions (Psalms 45:13-15). However this moment of stepping in to this “calling” has come with a fair amount of cost and as stated in Beth’s blog, which I HIGHLY recommend you reading, there have been more moments than I could possibly express where the enemy has whispered defeat before I’ve even begun as well as working overtime to coerce me to just walk away and forget the whole mess. And then here she is again, this woman that’s just as human as me, reminding me that the calling, the anointing, the ministry, the deliverance, the healing….all of it comes from the One that is greater. From the Source of it all. Even as I have studied for tonight and have recognized that any thoughts I might have studied to “give out to others” were actually the very words God wanted to work in to my very own heart. I am holding on to dear life the scripture that God so graciously revealed this morning as I sat down in my “tizzie mess”.
“And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know.” Acts 3:16
Jesus is the One that brings the strength to weak hearts, not Glorious Daughters and most assuredly not anything I would ever say independent from Christ. So tonight as I finally step into the “calling” and launch the ministry Glorious Daughters I am simply stepping into the sandals of Jesus whose already been talking. He’s just come to a place where He needs my mouth and the expression of Glorious Daughters. He’s already in the middle of a number of works in His daughters. There is no perfect “talk”. No perfect thoughts strung together by any eloquence of my own manipulation that will bring life, wholeness, healing or restoration to a wounded heart. It’s just Jesus. That’s it. Period. I have to surrender and agree with the words that follow in Acts 4:13 “Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” That’s it plain and simple, “recognizing them as having been with Jesus.” Oh, that He would be so merciful to us so that when we, as daughters, go out and deliver a message of Hope the greatest thing someone could say or feel was that they had walked with Jesus.
Thank you sweet King for the power that you have equipped so many courageous daughters before me to have all these years of ministry in expressing the wondrous gift of being your child. Thank you that they have never backed down or been silenced from sharing the deep residing Truth of your Healing Word. Thank you, thank you, and thank you for such a time as this you have called a beautiful collection of daughters to royalty. I am humbled to be your daughter, your servant, your vessel. Have your way with today and have your way with me. I love you Jesus. I love you my King. I adore you my Savior and I am surrendered to your goals and vision for Glorious Daughters.
In Jesus Name and with His Seal I will surrender to sharing the word of my testimony and allow the Blood of the Spotless Lamb to bring the healing. Praise you Jesus!!!!
Monday, May 3, 2010
First Glorious Daughters Chick Chat!!!!
Okay ladies starting tomorrow, Tuesday May 4th at 7pm in Weatherford, OK I will be hosting the very first Glorious Daughters Chick Chat. The first Tuesday of every month will be a time to get together as Glorious Daughters. We will spend time with sweet sisters chatting about life, laughing, eating something with chocolate in it, of course coffee, receiving fun gifts as well as gaining strength and encouragement from studying God’s Word. All you need to bring is......YOU!
I am very excited about this and cannot wait to see all that God wants to do in our time together. For years I have hosted events like this in my home, but never with a focused goal in mind. What's the goal now you might be asking?
I want to see Jesus alive in the relationships of His daughters. I want to see generations of daughters LIVE out the beautiful heritage of Hope they have been given together, hand in hand in extravagant Joy!!!
We get together all the time and usually it is while we are running from here to there. We chat about this and that and yes at times look like a group of chickens bouncing our heads up and down while we "pick a little talk a little". LOL! In college my grandpa used to tease me when I would come by their house after a sorority meeting saying "Well, did all you little chickens hash it out over at the sorority house!" Funny thought, but too true! :)
I need fellowship with friends, with sisters, and most important I need fellowship with Jesus. This just brings the two together.
We had a change in location and I am excited to announce we will be having our Chick Chats at
The Fairfield Inn Conference Room
201 Nevada
Weatherford, OK 73096
@7pm
On the first Tuesday of every month
I will be posting the "talks" here on my blog so if you can’t make it you can still receive the fellowship and Truth that God brings from the time together. It will be so fun and I am sooooooo excited to move forward with God in this step of obedience. And please remember the invite is open so feel free to invite others! If you would like to help in any way please let me know! Cannot wait to get together and see you little chicks soon!!!!
Love you big time sisters!!!
xoxo,
Cari
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