POWERFUL

Masculine & Feminine

This might sounds like a strange thought, but I have often wondered over the course of the years what a "man" relationship with God must feel like for a man...I mean, being called the "bride of Christ" and the image of a "Rescuer & Savior" or "falling so deeply in love with a Heavenly Father" have greatly appealed to my girlie senses and desire of a "knight in shining armor", but a man?
I really have thought of this before...multiple times! Yet, i know men have very deep, loving relationships with Jesus (bear with me); I've just always wondered what that feels like for them.

But then I remember that God made us in His image, which means that he is both feminine and masculine - in perfect harmony - which also gives credit to why he created marriage between man and woman to exemplify our relationship with Him in perfect harmony (that's another conversation).

Then today, riding home in the car, I got a glimpse of Jesus in my boys' hearts...in one of the "masculine" ways he created them - in His image.
It.Was.Awesome. And I wish I had it recorded.

But basically, it starts with Noah's question:
"Mom, how is Jesus going to come back and get us?"
And then the conversation went on with soldiers, swords, flying white horses, armies, war, conquer, and 2 sets of complete wide eyes and total excitement! I think we were all shouting at some points. Pure awesome.
Noah would express fears of getting hurt in the final battle, and Lincoln would assure him, "Noah, we are on JESUS' side - we can't get hurt!"
And then they asked if the swords would be like their pirate swords...to which Lincoln said "I bet Tucker throws me a sword when he rides by Jesus...and we will fight together!"
And that has to be one of the most beautiful pictures created in my mind at that moment.

Noah asked me what would happen, though, if he just "died on the ground" before Jesus came back. With joy I told him, no worries - he would go straight to Jesus, preparing for the war, and would ride in with Jesus to throw us our swords!

We often talk about our "mansions" that Jesus is building us and the life we were meant for in Eternity (they are fascinated by all of this), but talking about the WAR, the final battle, the ending, and the victory with Jesus was just plain awesome today.

It's so great to see their little hearts start to capture an eternal perspective (and so hard to teach in our culture!), so my heart melted when Lincoln said, "But before Jesus comes back to get us, we have to tell everyone about Him so they can join our army!"

And then he named 2 people he would pray for.

So great to see the masculine side of our Savior come alive in my boys' hearts today!

All Creation Declares His Glory

A sweet friend shared a video by a pastor I had never heard of. It was amazing and led to another link of another video that blew my mind. I am so thankful the Lord gifts people with ways to relate His message in fresh new ways. Same message of His love, but the fact that He can use people to speak it in many different "languages" that reach our souls in new ways is mind blowing.
What an incredible, living Jesus we follow, that even for someone like me - who has followed Him most of my life - He continually reveals more of His heart, His plan, and the Gospel itself continuously in my life.

These 2 videos are short and worth the watch. I've never seen anything like this before.

 

Song

Some friends and I have recently committed to learning guitar well enough to be able to lead worship among small ministry gatherings. I already know some basics and play by ear (from my piano days) and was picking out some of my favorite worship songs to practice to the other day. There was one in particular that as I figured out the cords and started playing/singing, the words, for the first time EVER completely overwhelmed me.
I had sung this song hundreds of times before, paying little attention to what I was actually pleading before my Father. I was overcome with emotion and began examining my heart "these are heavy words...do I really mean them when I sing?"
I desire to mean them...
I yearn for them to be sung honestly before The Lord, but I also recognize how deep of a commitment worshiping with those words entails.
And then I recognized how many times I have sung them in the past, in vain, and have not truly meant them at the core of my being.
But what a powerful song of total surrender to The Lord and his leading over our lives!!!

"Savior I come, quiet my soul
Remember redemption's hill, where your blood was spilled for my ransom.

Everything I once held dear, I count it all as loss.

You were as I, tempted and tried
You were human.
Your word became flesh, bore my sin and death
And now you're risen!!

Lead me to the cross, where your love poured out
Bring me to my knees, Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to you
Lead me to the cross.

Everything I once held dear, I count it all as loss."

Get Out of the Boat

We often hear/say to others: "we're just so blessed!" And while this is true in most regards, I have often found myself using this blessed term in regards to:

living comfortable lifestyles
being well-off
being safe & sound
living the "American Dream"

And while none of these are inherently bad, per say, something Jesus has been teaching our family lately is living in, and fully understanding the blessing of God - a lot of times - has to do with surrendering the above list, and fully abiding in His provision.

We've all heard the story of the ominous day on the lake where the Disciples got caught on their boat, in the middle of a gruesome storm. And how, in their fear and discomfort, they looked up to see Jesus walking on the water, out at sea, toward them.

The disciples were confused, still scared, rolling with the waves in their small fishing boat, when Peter cried out to Jesus asking if that was, in fact, Jesus.

Jesus confirmed it was He, and then invited Peter to step out of the boat and walk to him on water, in the midst of the raging sea.

NOW STOP. For Peter to do this was not safe/sound/comfortable (obviously). But He did it. He had immense faith in Jesus, and while the other disciples were too scared to ever do such a thing, Peter got out of the boat and walked to Jesus. Imperfect Peter...who even as He was walking to Jesus, lost his faith for a moment and started to sink, but Jesus, again, lifted him.

You see I find it most profound that Jesus never rebuked the clan of disciples who didn't want to get out of the boat. They were fine to stay. But Peter, in his faith, got to experience the blessing and power of Jesus in a way no other human has since experienced.
And while walking to Jesus, he was still weak and imperfect and needed a Savior as he lost faith and started to sink.
God uses the weak. Amazing.

I believe Jesus is doing BIG WORKS and massive movements for His kingdom all over the world, ever second that passes.

I also believe that He can accomplish such works all by Himself. He is God Almighty.

However, the God of the Universe INVITES US...you and I....to be a part of the great work He is doing. He invites us to partner with Him and be used as a missile of His power to penetrate the hearts of unbelievers and bring them to His Kingdom.

I have realized I can either sit in the boat and watch His work unveil, or get out of the boat, in total surrender and faith, and be a part of His great work...

What a privilege.

What a true blessing.

We only get a short lifetime to be a part of His work on earth before we join Him in His kingdom, yet we find ourselves concerned with menial things like making sure our kids are the best dressed, or that our houses are big and nicely decorated, or that our appearances please those around us...I am guilty of all, and like Peter, fail in my focus time and time again.

But our family has been praying lately to be more like Peter in the sense that we leave our comforts and surrender the safety of the boat for the sake of Jesus and experiencing Him in a way we never could if we clung tight to the boat.

That above list? I believe that is what awaits us in HEAVEN. Those things we long for in terms of security, safety, wealth, prosperity...we will attain those in perfect harmony living with our Savior in a very SHORT while. So why pursue that now, when God is preparing such things for us in Heaven?

(***my dad shared some of this about Peter with Jason and I, 4 years ago when we were making some tough decisions, and since it has grown like wildfire in my soul. It's a scary prayer to pray, but rich in blessing.***)

Jesus is BIG

I just love how Jesus can give us random ideas in our quiet moments with Him, and even if they seem big, hard, with lots of unanswered questions, He just asks that we "run with it" and watch Him tie up all the loose ends.
One of my favorite things about Jesus.

I've blogged about this some before, but for over a year some friends and I have had the complete PRIVILEGE of getting to know some incredible women from India. Thanks to Walmart, there is a massive Indian population here in our small Bentonville community, and bridging the two cultures and loving on each other has been such a blessing from the Lord.

This summer a few of my friends and I decided to minister to them through organizing a "kids camp" of sorts. Most of friends don't drive and they've told us how the kids get bored at the apartment complex when they are out for summer break.

Yesterday was our first camp and Jesus provided BIG. We got numerous donations from vendors, parents, families, for the snacks, games, and crafts, and then a ton of our cell group girls came to help, as well as some of their mothers. We ended up having about 50ish Indian kids/mothers show up for this first one which is INCREDIBLE. It was total chaos, total fun, and I left with such a full heart. We have so many amazing stories from those 2 hours of Jesus just showing himself and his love for all of us. How great we serve a Jesus that loves EVERYONE...regardless of your culture! He came to save us ALL!!!

I can't wait to see what He is going to do and how He will provide for the rest of the summer!!!

The Mango Won

I discovered a new found love.
Mangos.
A few weeks ago they were sampling them at Sam's and I actually turned around and bought a box (that sample stuff never works on me...until mangos).
They are smaller and juicier than typical ones you get at the store. They are amazing. I ate on average about 2/day until the box was gone, then went and bought another box.

I found myself saying more than once as I would cut one "I bet in Heaven, mangos don't have seeds and are easier to eat."

Then a few days ago, I realized the seeds in mangos were the least of my worries.

After a series of strange symptoms (mouth severely chapped, cracked, red, and swollen), I discovered through Google (of course) that I am allergic to mangos.

Incredibly disheartening.

Did you know that the same poisonous substance found in poison ivy is the SAME substance found in the rinds of mangos??? And that if you are allergic to poison ivy, chances are you will have problems when coming in to contact with rinds of mangos?

Yeah. True story. Who knew. oh - and I'm horrifically allergic to poison ivy.

The reaction has also spread to my left eye which is horribly red, swollen, and incredibly itchy. Fun times. Watch out for those mangos. Or just cut them nicely instead of devouring them in the manner that one eats orange slices (like I did).

Consider yourself warned!