Divine correlation's and connections. There is always a reason...

I was watching the History channel the other day and started a show about Hitler and Nazi Germany.  It was so heart-wrenching, yet I stayed glued because I was fascinated and broken over it.  So I started to research and watch some interviews of former Nazi's, and their views in hindsight on what had happened. Why did they blindly follow Hitler?  Were they brainwashed?  Was it fear, or warped belief in this man?  Was he their god?  How are they living with, and coping with the guilt and pain of this historical genocide now?  So many questions flooded my mind.  I did not really know why I was so intrigued but I wanted answers.  

About an hour later I went to read a devotional.  Let's just say that God was definitely showing His glory.  An excerpt from that day's entry was as follows:

"A hero to a generation of people who grew up after World War II, Corrie ten Boom left a legacy of godliness and wisdom. A victim of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, she survived to tell her story of faith and dependence on God during horrendous suffering.

“I have held many things in my hands,” Corrie once said, “and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that, I still possess.”

Corrie was well acquainted with loss. She lost family, possessions, and years of her life to hateful people. Yet she learned to concentrate on what could be gained spiritually and emotionally by putting everything in the hands of her heavenly Father.

Like Corrie ten Boom, we can find hope by putting everything in God’s hands and then trusting Him for the outcome. —Dave Branon

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live. —Van de Venter

It is so interesting to me, the way that God speaks to us and reveals things to us. There are no coincidences in His Kingdom. He shows us His Divine power and sovereignty through these seemingly "small" connections. There is always more than meets the eye, and to the story. More shall be revealed.  There is always a reason.  I will keep you posted.

** Two side notes of God's epicness.  

1. At work the other day my client was talking all about how her and her husband just watched "Saving Mr. Banks."  She went into detail about how much she enjoyed the film, and that I should watch it.  I went to my grandparents later than evening for dinner, and my mom wanted to watch a movie she had found On Demand.  Her choice you ask?!  Oh, none other than… drumroll please..."Saving Mr. Banks"   Yup.  I had not told her what my client had said about the movie only several hours earlier that day.  It's the little things.  God is always romancing us, and loving on us in these ways, if we will open our eyes and ears to see and hear.  

2. At church on Sunday I had some quiet time and opened my Bible to Joel.  The verse that stood out to me was: 

I felt expectant and excited about when God was going to bring autumn rains upon us.  We so desperately need them.  Only three days later I got a text from a couple of my close sisters in Christ who live in santa cruz.  They were praising God that it was raining over there.  We had just had an amazing prayer session together the day before, and felt God moving mountains in our lives and bringing abundant showers.  I send them a picture text of this verse from Sunday.  One of them replied that God had brought her to that verse as well only two days earlier. Wow!  Then Thursday morning comes, and we actually had RAIN in the bay area!  Autumn rains.  I know it wasn't much but Jesus brought the rain.  Abundant showers are coming.  Praising HIM for all the ways He moves! 

Father God-- Adopted.

"The moment we hear that voice- that voice of love that speaks tenderly to us without regard for our performance-our days in the orphanage are numbered."- Ed McGlasson (from the book The Father You've Always Wanted)

We look to Our Father for our identity. Our inheritance.  He replaces our shame and gives us our true name.  Imagine a child in an orphanage, waiting to be chosen.  Family after family comes through, and still they remain. No one has picked them.  That child might start to internally question "Am I good enough?  Am I worthy?  What is wrong with me?" Those are some very deep questions, especially during such a formative time in a child's life. A child's self-worth is shaped so much by their relationship with their father, and with their family.  Whether it is your reality or just metaphorically speaking-- we are all orphans.  Somewhere deep down, there is gnawing at our soul and a tugging at our hearts for more than this world has to offer.   A God-shaped hole, if you will.  We are seeking out that relationship with our Heavenly Father, and we may not even realize that's what or WHO we are longing for.  Because truth be told- His love is the only perfect love. No matter how amazing our father's or mother's have been- they are only human. Some go to heaven, what seems to be, much too soon.  Other's are with us for years and years.  Yet the only One who sees us through it all, and will never leave or fail us- is God.

I just had an amazing opportunity to record and share my testimony for my churches new sermon series in the fall.  In preparing my heart for this and praying over what God wanted me to share, He revealed so much to me in this area.  Here is a little blurb taken straight out of my journal:

I was the prodigal, orphan, fatherless daughter.  Now I am an adopted daughter of almighty God.   I lost my 'identity' after my dad died, and then I searched for it through everyone else but God. Yet He is so faithful even after all my wandering and running. He had my identity all along --hidden in Jesus Christ.  Our inheritance and name and standing is in our Father.   God gave that back to me. He gave back what was lost as a seven year old and redeemed it tenfold. My worth is priceless to Him. I am His treasure.

He kept highlighting the word "valuable" to me over the last few weeks. How valuable we are to Him. Precious.

Valuable (adjective)- Costly. Worth a good price.
a : having desirable or esteemed characteristics or qualities
b : of great use or service

Costly. Yes.  The cost of a perfect Savior's life.  Having esteemed characteristics. Yes.  God created us in His own image and is in an ongoing process of sanctifying us to be more like Jesus.  "He who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it."- Philippians 1:6  Of great use or service.  Wow.  God knows what we are capable of in and through Him.  We are of much use to Him, and great service for His Kingdom.  That is an honor.  If you start to ever question your worth-- look to Him and what He says about you.  You are of GREAT VALUE to the God of the universe.  Your Father has permanently adopted you into His family.  

If I have YOU, I have everything. God SHAKING the earth again

Haggai 2:3-8 "…to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? 4 But now be strong...all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.5 ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

6 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more SHAKE the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will SHAKE all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will FILL this house with GLORY,’ says the Lord Almighty. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Here we go again with God SHAKING the heavens and the earth. I literally opened up to this today in Haggai. I had underlined these verses above- a few months ago. It is clear that He is once again showing how He shakes everything down. "Does it not seem to you like nothing?" Once everything that was "desired by all nations" comes down-- there is nothing. Nothing but the foundation. Christ, the Solid Rock is our foundation. If He is not-- He will shake down the dreams, desires, things that are not in alignment with His will in your life. He will get to the bottom of it-- literally. Rock bottom. So that we are on ROCK bottom, on His foundation. "On Christ the solid ROCK I stand- ALL other ground is sinking sand."

Who saw this house in it's former glory? It is nothing- once all of those things are shaken down. The silver and gold-- everything we have, everything we are, belongs to God.  That may seem scary, or harsh. But there is HOPE. The GLORY of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house. We are that house. We are His house. We are carriers of His presence. Our bodies, our lives. He may be shaking things all around us and off of us, anything hindering His glorious work in our lives. But He is making us NEW.  Making all things new. As He makes things new,  us new, He is doing more than we could ever ask, think or imagine. And in this place (in us) He will grant peace. He declares it. He is filling us with Himself.  His presence.  Imparting Himself to us. "And I will FILL this house with GLORY."  Let us be FILLED with HIS glory, for HIS glory.  Shine bright in us JESUS. 

"If I have YOU,  I have everything. But without You, I have nothing"- Kari Jobe song off of new Majestic album.  

 We are His remnant (verse 3).  A people set apart to be saved by God.  To stay with God.  We are 'engraved on the palm of His hand.' (Isaiah 49:16)

Haggai 2
20 The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall...

23 “‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have CHOSEN YOU,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”


What is means to be GOD'S 'SIGNET RING':

"Ancient kings used signet rings to designate authority, honor, or ownership. A signet contained an **engraved** emblem unique to the king. Official documents were sealed with a dollop of soft wax impressed with the king’s signet, usually kept on a ring on his finger. Such a seal certified the document as genuine, much like a notary public’s stamp today. In1 Kings 21:8, the evil Queen Jezebel took King Ahab’s signet ring and “wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal.” The ring’s stamp gave her letters the king’s authority. In Daniel 6:17, a signet ring was used to seal a stone covering a lions’ den: “A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.” A royal signet ring is also featured inGenesis 41:41-43andEsther 8:8."

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/Zerubbabel-signet-ring.html#ixzz39BUDv9wL

God talks and God moments

Okay, wow. God never ceases to amaze me. The ripples of your life go farther than the eye can see or the mind can know. You may never know how much your life is affecting those around you. And it has nothing to do with us and everything to do with God. So I wrote the earthquake blog the other day and I have been telling my friends and family about the dreams I had, and how God spoke through them and His Word. I woke up this morning to find a gratitude chain that my roommates daughter had written out. You remember those green and red construction paper links we used to make as kids to countdown to Christmas? It looks like that. Only it is about six links, and each one has a "thank you" to God. So precious. She is one of the sweetest nine year olds I have ever met. I see Jesus in her. She just got baptized about two months ago.






So back to the chain-- I read what she wrote on them. Maybe I shouldn't have. If so-- forgive me God, and forgive me Sophia. I would never want to breach her privacy. But I truly believe God had me find it on the couch this morning, and read it for a reason. Each one was so heartfelt, pure, perfect, beautiful. What really got me is that the first and last link said this:


First: "Bad thing- Paul and Silas were in prison. God sent an earthquake to set them free"

Last: "God sent an earthquake to set them free."


Holy moly. There are NO coincidences in God's Kingdom. None. So I have no idea how God has been revealing that to her heart, but the how doesn't really matter to me. I am just blown away. That me and this sweet daughter of God, Sophia, are on the same page. That Daddy God has been revealing to us the same message. Maybe she heard about my story from her aunt (my best friend) or maybe she didn't. The mystery is part of what is so beautiful about it and about God. One thing I do know- HE get's all the glory.





On another note slash things I have been contemplating:





So yesterday I had an epic talk with my mom at brunch, as usual. She sharpens me, and I hope I do the same for her. My relationship with her is so life-giving. Thank you Abba Father!!! I was saying that a lot of times we settle for shallow conversations and interactions with people and then wonder why we are feeling so empty. Especially for an introvert. Interactions are like withdrawals from the energy bank account. But they are also deposits into the spiritual account which can roll-over and go into the energy account, and obviously the JOY account. But I notice that the surface level ones can be more 'draining' than the deep or hard talks. I have just been noticing how much I crave- real, meaningful, deep conversations. I always walk away from them with my love cup FULL and overflowing. We must drink deep of the Living Waters. That comes from time alone with God, in His Word. It also comes from fellowship. That is what I have been desiring. And without even specifically asking God for it-- His Spirit has interceded on my behalf and interpreted that desire to God.





"They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor."- Isaiah 61:3


So we are like these huge oak trees, and we are only getting a cup of water poured onto our roots and into our soil. What we need is buckets upon buckets of the Living Waters. To be able to survive, thrive, grow…

"They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor."- Isaiah 61:3


So we are like these huge oak trees, and we are only getting a cup of water poured onto our roots and into our soil. What we need is buckets upon buckets of the Living Waters. To be able to survive, thrive, grow…etc. Sometimes I settle for a cup or two and then wonder why I am dehydrated, weary, and wilting. Fellowship with other Christ followers is essential. Have you ever noticed when you are around someone else filled with God's Spirit- you get fired up around them? You feel joy and you are excited to share what He is doing in your lives. Oh the sweetness of it all. Fight for those talks beloved. Sometimes it is scary to be the first one to be vulnerable or even put yourself out there like that. But you will never know until you try. I guarantee there is someone else in the room who is craving it just as much as you. They may be too shy to be the first one to go there. Once you open that door- it is only a matter a time before you are both deep-sea-diving with Jesus. Just start somewhere. The fruitful conversations and interactions that will flow out of that wellspring are innumerable and expansive. Take the first leap of faith. Be real, raw, open, honest, vulnerable.


"To love at all is to be vulnerable."- C.S. Lewis. So if we are to LOVE our neighbors as ourselves, let's be vulnerable and do this.


etc. Sometimes I settle for a cup or two and then wonder why I am dehydrated, weary, and wilting. Fellowship with other Christ followers is essential. Have you ever noticed when you are around someone else filled with God's Spirit- you get fired up around them? You feel joy and you are excited to share what He is doing in your lives. Oh the sweetness of it all. Fight for those talks beloved. Sometimes it is scary to be the first one to be vulnerable or even put yourself out there like that. But you will never know until you try. I guarantee there is someone else in the room who is craving it just as much as you. They may be too shy to be the first one to go there. Once you open that door- it is only a matter a time before you are both deep-sea-diving with Jesus. Just start somewhere. The fruitand expansive. Take the first leap of faith. Be real, raw, open, honest, vulnerable.


"To love at all is to be vulnerable."- C.S. Lewis. So if we are to LOVE our neighbors as ourselves, let's be vulnerable and do this.

Redeem. Rebuild. Restore. Root.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

I will build you up again,
and you, Virgin Israel, will be REBUILT.
Again you will...go out to dance with the joyful.
Again you will PLANT vineyards...

the farmers will plant them
and enjoy their FRUIT…"

OKAY let me just start here-- So we went over earthquakes and burning down and tearing down yesterday. Now God is sharing the REBUILDING part. He is so encouraging and affirming. He doesn't waste any time in giving us even more HOPE. I love that He is saying over and over again that He will build us up again, rebuild, plant and root us in His love. That we will be fruitful for Him and for His Kingdom and others to enjoy our fruit (His fruits in us). The only way a plant can be fruitful is to be first pruned and cut back. That's where we were at yesterday-- going through the fire and earthquake to shake away and burn away anything that is not of Him. Anything that will not bring Him glory. We are trees of righteousness planted for His namesake to display His splendor. What an honor!


"See, I will bring them from the land of the north
and gather them from the ends of the earth...
They will come with weeping;
they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead them beside streams of water
on a level path where they will not stumble,
because I am [her] father,
and [he] is my firstborn son…

‘He who scattered Israel will gather them
and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’


That is just so beautiful that God is constantly bringing us back to the fold and pursuing us. He gathers us after we have been scattered. He lovingly leads us beside still waters to refresh us and watches over our every step so that we do not fall. What an amazing Father we have. We may flee to the dark, distant, lonely places-- but even darkness is as light to Him, and where can we flee from His presence? He is ever-present, always near. (Psalm 139).


"For the Lord will DELIVER [you]
and REDEEM [you] from the hand of those stronger than [you]...
They will be like a well-watered garden,
and they will sorrow no more. (v.12)
Then young women will dance and be glad,
young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
I will satisfy [them] with abundance,
and my people will be filled with my bounty (generosity, inheritance, plenty, reward,'declares the Lord." -Jeremiah 31:3-14

I mean. Wow. We get to be like a well-watered garden for God. He is the LIVING Water. His Spirit in us. Well-springs of life. He loves to turn our sadness into JOY and mourning into dancing! I just love the way He wants to satisfy us with His goodness and abundance. To FILL us with His reward. Not just 'meet our needs.' No. Above and beyond our needs and desires. To the FULLNESS of CHRIST. It is like a husband who goes to fill up her wife's gas tank and then comes back with a NEW car, full tank and all. That is how God lavishes His love on us.

Hope in the earthquakes of life

As I was reading my Bible this morning God was speaking this so powerfully and intimately to me.

This is what I heard Him saying…

He broke down the walls, he set fire to the temple, every important building he burned down.- 2 Kings 25:9-10

When I first read this I just thought-- okay God is tearing down to rebuild the temple.  But at a closer glance-- WE are that temple.  And Yes, HE is tearing down to rebuild, from the ruins, to the rebirth.  God is breaking down our walls, setting fire to the temples (our bodies are the temple of God- 1 Corinthians 6:19).  He is putting us through the refining fire to purify us and make us more like Him. He is burning down every important "building" (high, lofty, proud thing or thought that sets itself up against the knowledge of God- 2 Corinthians 10:5).  

That is powerful.  I see God's hand moving and doing this in my life, as well as many of my closest friend's lives.  What a promise that He gives us BEAUTY from ashes.  A new creation from the rubble, the pain, the trials and the ruins of life.  I had a crazy dream last night about an earthquake.  It was a dream within a dream.  I was running from the earthquake in the first dream.  Then I woke up in another dream trying to awaken, thinking the first dream was God warning me of a REAL earthquake.  I could not, however, get myself out of bed (in the second dream).  But I felt the quake all around me and couldn't run outside, or away from it.  I was in the midst of it.  Then when I actually woke up this morning my devotional was about God shaking the earth to BREAK all of my chains off.  Amazing.  He was preparing my heart in those dreams.  I read about Paul and Silas singing and praising God with theirs voices and the earth quaking all around them and breaking their chains.  Their worship set them free.  God shook the earth and everything around them, until it anything that was not of Him fell off.

*Interesting side note: did you know that there are earthquakes happening around us, all the time, that we don't even notice?!  So I checked out this website and found out there had been one only forty minutes ago.  Check it out: http://earthquaketrack.com/us-ca-san-jose/recent

Then I continued on with reading, and this popped out to me. 

2 Kings 25:28-30

He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kinds who were with him in Babylon.  So Jehoiachin put aside his PRISON clothes and for the REST of his life ate regularly at the king's table. DAY BY DAY (ODAT) the KING gave him a regular allowance as long as he lived.

WOW. That's a Word.  Dad by day, one day at a time, the KING of KINGS is providing for us.  Our every need.  He granted us grace and true freedom to truly take off our prison clothes for the rest of our lives.  Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.  He has given us access to His inheritance and set us at His royal table.  Spoken kindly to us and given us a seat of honor.  This is just my human opinion and what I felt God speaking to me through these verses.  The Word of God is living and active- Hebrews 4:12.  Ask Him to speak to you through His God-breathed Word, and HE WILL. 

Turn to the Lord with all your heart, soul, and strength- 2 Kings 23:25 

God's Not Dead

**Spoiler alert** If you haven't seen God's Not Dead-- and you don't want to know part of it-- don't read this. So in watching this movie the other day I was faced with some questions I had always asked God as a little girl. When my dad was hit by that drunk-driver, and he didn't die instantly-- did he have a chance to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior? Did he have a second chance to believe and come with Him to heaven? Every-time I asked God this question I got an overwhelming sense that he did. One of the last scenes of this movie hit home for me. "It was God's mercy that brought me here to you, that you did not die instantly. He is giving you a second chance." MERCY. Needless to say I cried so hard during this part of the movie-- I felt God's presence so strongly. Almost like he was showing me a flashback of my daddy, and comforting me through that loss with His truth and hope. Ultimately only my dad and Jesus know what happened that day on the pavement. Of course I hope for the best and believe in His mercy and goodness-- that my dad will be in heaven when I get to come home to Jesus. I want everyone there. We never know when that hour will be. When out of the blue we are at the crossroads of life and death. My dad could have never imagined or known at the age of 33 with a seven year old daughter and a wife left behind--none of us could have known. Here is your second chance-- don't wait. It is your choice, nobody can make it for you. All I know is that I want ALL of you in heaven for eternity. Choose Jesus-- He chose you and He LOVES you more than you could imagine! "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"-John 14:6 SO MUCH LOVE to you all!!