Hands down the BEST concert I have ever been to. The most genuine, humble, kind people I have ever met in the "industry." The Isaac's are true Jesus followers. They exude the LOVE of Christ, on stage and off.
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Desiring God: Hope of the World Article
Win the World with Hope
- by K. Scott Oliphint
- Topic: Apologetics
"An unbelieving friend of mine, with whom I have been communicating the gospel over the years, returned from a business trip to India. It must not have been a particularly pleasant trip, because when I asked him how it went, he looked me straight in the eye and said, “Your God cannot exist. If he did, the massive misery that plagues this country would not be present.”
He didn’t specify what he saw, but sometimes the sheer weight of sin and evil in the world can easily discourage any enthusiasm for evangelism, or for defending the Christian faith.
But biblical eyeglasses require that Christians be hopeful people.
The Theological Virtue of Hope
I remember vividly speaking to a seasoned apologist in my early days as a Christian. I was going on and on about the state of the world and the challenges of defending Christianity in such a hostile environment. I will never forget this Christian warrior turning to me, with a finger shaking in my face, saying, “No Christian has the right to be a pessimist.” This was a man who knew, and lived, the hope of Christ.
The eyeglasses of Holy Scripture change our vision of the world. No other eyeglasses can give us a proper view of the world — not the daily news, or a poignant movie, or a great novel. Looking through other glasses is like looking at yourself in a carnival mirror — the world looks distorted and all out of proportion. A 20/20 vision of the world is only possible with Scriptural lenses.
One of the things that seems too often to be obscured in our Scriptural vision is the theological virtue of hope. Along with love and faith, the church has recognized a special place for Christian hope (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Fullness of Hope
But like a middle child, hope has been virtually ignored because of its other two siblings, faith and love. Reams have been written about the virtue of love. This is as it should be. Love is the greatest of the three virtues that Paul lists for us. We are also intensely interested in the faith that comes to us as a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). We relish in its saving efficacy for us; we rejoice in its singular means of justifying us before God. That, too, is as it should be.
But what about hope? If hope is set aside, then our biblical vision can easily become extremely near-sighted. Without Christian hope, we have trouble seeing beyond the present circumstances that are right in front of us.
The reality of hope in all of its biblical fullness is given to the church after Christ’s resurrection. This tells us a good bit about what our true hope is. Christian hope is grounded in the sure resurrection of those who are united to the One who was raised from the dead. The futility of our faith is thwarted because Christ has been raised (1 Corinthians 15:17). Without that resurrection, faith would have no hope; it would be devoid of any certainty for our future.
Hope with Real Content
I remember seeing a bumper sticker years ago that read, “I’ve given up hope and I feel much better.” It was meant to be a humorous statement, but it is tragically humorous. It is an acknowledgment that a hope that points to nothing is worthless; it might as well be tossed aside.
It is the kind of hopelessness that is expressed in Shakespeare’sMacbeth. “Life,” says Macbeth, “is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” The hopelessness of this statement can be seen in the phrase, “signifying nothing.” A sign points to something beyond itself, to a goal or destination. If life has no sign, if it signifies nothing at all, there is no goal and no destination. There is nothing left but sound and fury, mere noise.
To have no hope is to live a life that, quite literally, signifiesnothing; it is a life that has no sign pointing beyond itself. Nothing is left but sound and fury. But the life of the Christiansignifies Christ. And Christ is risen. And because Christ is risen those who are found in him will live with him, in the new heaven and the new earth, for eternity. Life in Christ is hope with real content, the content of the only reality that is permanent — the reality of eternal existence with our risen Savior.
Defend the Faith with Hope
When the apostle Peter writes to a group of scattered and suffering Christians, he tells them how to respond to the persecutions that they are experiencing. In the midst of his Spirit-inspired counsel, he tells them that they must be prepared to defend their faith:
. . . in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you . . . (1 Peter 3:15).
When hostile people approach you, says Peter, you should be prepared to defend what you believe. But notice how Peter characterizes the content of that defense. He doesn’t tell them to give a reason for why they believe, or even for what they believe, though both could be included in our defense. Peter commands them to be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in them.
The recipients of Peter’s letter were likely being persecuted by their government. In the midst of such persecution, life, for the persecutors, signified nothing but obedience to the emperor. Perhaps the persecutors noticed that the Christians they were abusing had more to live for than just their lives here. Maybe before their lives were taken from them, they were making it clear that death had no final hold on them. Maybe word had spread that these followers of Jesus had true hope. Peter says, “Make yourselves ready to give a reason for your hope.”
We Offer True Hope
When we engage with the world, when we find ourselves needing to defend our Christian commitment, one of the most powerful truths that we can offer our objectors is true hope. We can speak to them of an existence and a life that is only what it should be when it points beyond itself, to the life of one who is the life, and who is our only true hope.
We can show them, through our biblical lenses, what life looks like, not only here and now, but with a far-sighted view to the end time. We can give them good reasons for the hope within us. We can point them to the only true hope, in Jesus Christ.
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)
Oceans… Spirit Lead Me
This was a pretty special moment one of the nights in Kona that I haven't had a chance to write down and share with ya'll. Me, Holly, and Hannah were waiting for my mom at this beautiful restaurant overlooking the Ocean.
Only a few feet away was a man playing the ukulele and singing beautiful Hawaiian songs. The mood was set. As we were walking out of the restaurant the same man looks at us girls and says, "Aren't you going to sing?!" He proceeded saying, "C'Mon! Sing Oceans!" I couldn't believe it. We looked around at each other, and giggled. Then I realized he was serious, when he reached the mic out to me. How could he have known that I sing Oceans all the time?! Or that I even sing? Or that I would be sooo utterly blessed by this moment and this night. Well maybe he didn't, but GOD KNEW, and God prompted him. How special is that?! What a wonderful Father we have!! So I walked over to him and we started singing 'Oceans' while overlooking the Hawaiian ocean. It was dreamy, God is dreamy. I think the locals at the restaurant were just as shocked as I was about how it all fell into place so perfectly. By God's grace alone. THIS was just ONE of GOD'S GLORY moments on our trip. The way He orchestrated it all makes my inner child jump around. Divine Appointments all around. God blessed and encouraged my heart so much in this one encounter. More than that, I pray He did the same and unleashed His heart, joy and presence upon everyone in that restaurant-- locals and tourists. The ukulele player and singer kept singing Jesus ever so sweetly in the background. It was a moment that I will never forget. Seriously. Pure JOY. Glory to GOD, all the way around! I saw and felt His hand and presence in it all.
Only a few feet away was a man playing the ukulele and singing beautiful Hawaiian songs. The mood was set. As we were walking out of the restaurant the same man looks at us girls and says, "Aren't you going to sing?!" He proceeded saying, "C'Mon! Sing Oceans!" I couldn't believe it. We looked around at each other, and giggled. Then I realized he was serious, when he reached the mic out to me. How could he have known that I sing Oceans all the time?! Or that I even sing? Or that I would be sooo utterly blessed by this moment and this night. Well maybe he didn't, but GOD KNEW, and God prompted him. How special is that?! What a wonderful Father we have!! So I walked over to him and we started singing 'Oceans' while overlooking the Hawaiian ocean. It was dreamy, God is dreamy. I think the locals at the restaurant were just as shocked as I was about how it all fell into place so perfectly. By God's grace alone. THIS was just ONE of GOD'S GLORY moments on our trip. The way He orchestrated it all makes my inner child jump around. Divine Appointments all around. God blessed and encouraged my heart so much in this one encounter. More than that, I pray He did the same and unleashed His heart, joy and presence upon everyone in that restaurant-- locals and tourists. The ukulele player and singer kept singing Jesus ever so sweetly in the background. It was a moment that I will never forget. Seriously. Pure JOY. Glory to GOD, all the way around! I saw and felt His hand and presence in it all.
Songwriting...
Here is another clip of one of the songs I wrote and am bringing to the songwriting conference. Gearing up for Indiana. Can't believe it's less than a week away!! Can hardly wait!!
📝🎸🎶🎼🎤
#songwritingconference #newsongclip#singanewsongtotheLord #Jesustakethewheel
I will SING to the Eternal, for He has won a great victory...The Eternal is my STRENGTH and my SONG, and He has come to save me; He is my God, and I will praise Him. He is the God of my father, and I will exalt Him.-Exodus 15:1-2
📝🎸🎶🎼🎤
#songwritingconference #newsongclip#singanewsongtotheLord #Jesustakethewheel
I will SING to the Eternal, for He has won a great victory...The Eternal is my STRENGTH and my SONG, and He has come to save me; He is my God, and I will praise Him. He is the God of my father, and I will exalt Him.-Exodus 15:1-2
Bragging on God: Caregiving
I just have to brag on God here. One of the MANY reasons I LOVE caregiving. I feel SO blessed. I just received this sweet email from one of my clients…she sends me emails like this often…this one especially touched my heart today and I had to share a glimpse of the JOY I get to experience on a daily basis helping her and others. Caregiving is like therapy, counseling, rehabilitation, Christian ministry, personal assisting, nursing…oh and so much more. It has highs and lows. Somedays are really hard, tedious and beyond draining physically and emotionally. I come home and just crash, I have nothing left to give to anyone or anything. There are days when you feel like you are not making any progress with a client, or things are getting worse. Then there are months of just baby steps and progress-- little by little, day by day-- loving them with God's love-- and all of the sudden you see those seeds planted months ago begin to be watered and grown and blossom by God. Like today one of my client's shared with me that her husband has started praying and building a personal relationship with God. This is colossal. He has always erred on the side of "religious" and distant and rule-oriented with God. Not ever really have a real relationship with Him. Me and his wife have been praying and planting seeds for months and to finally see those blossoming…well I can't even tell you how amazing that is. When she stopped to tell me that today, I almost cried. I let them borrow the movie "God's Not Dead" last week, and we were both praying God would really move in his heart through that movie too and he would be open. He was. That was a sweet surprise as well. She has always wanted to share her faith with him, and hers has been growing stronger and stronger especially over the last eight months. Now she is realizing he needs his own faith and relationship with God before they can share anything. What is so encouraging is that he is building that. This is such an answered prayer, you have no idea.
Also another client who had been battling major depression after a breakdown and major physical surgery, has had so many breakthroughs over the last few months. Just to see her laughing again, her joy is back, her fervor, she is a new woman. Getting to walk, pray, and counsel her through that crazy intense fire was a privilege I don't take lightly. Sometimes I forget why I do, what I do…or it feels mundane, and then God hits me over the head (not really haha) ever so gently and shows me these beautifully amazing opportunities I get to be a part of, with Him, in the lives of His children.
So needless to say the highs are so high and so wonderful and SO rewarding. To see how and why God has placed me in my client's lives specifically is so humbling and honestly breath-taking. It is so worth the lows or the hard days. Just in AWE of Him. All GLORY, all HONOR, All Praise to YOU God. Thank you for letting me be a part of Your love expressed here on earth.
Pray for Nepal, Holly Update: EarthQuake #2 YWAM
Well I got home around midnight last night after an amazing worship night and recording/songwriting session. I was on cloud nine after a long day. Suddenly as I was about to fall asleep, all cozy in bed, I got some scary news. My grandpa let me know that Nepal had a second earthquake, and not just any aftershock either. A whopping 7.4 magnitude. This following the devastating and deadly 7.8 only a few weeks ago. Thank God my grandpa watches the news so late at night or I would not have known. For some reason with both earthquakes I have been wide awake and the first (or second in this case) to know about it. I keep getting to be the messenger of sorts. Don't ask me why God always has me awake and finding out about the quakes. It is a privilege that I get to pray for my sister, and be there in it with Hannah that's all I know. I love them both very much. I would do the same for any and ALL of my sisters in Christ. What an honor. Thank you GOD. So then I had to call poor Hannah again at 12:15 a.m. It was like a repeat of the first earthquake when I called her at 1:30 a.m. But only this time we were not up all night … we did pray over text together for about an hour. But we both had this deep peace that she was safe, and we just kept committing her over to the Lord and the whole YWAM team. It was still intense, don't get me wrong, just very different feeling than the first time we got news. Thankfully Holly was able to contact her parents much sooner this time than the last time too! Read below:
Hannah & Holly's dad posted this 11 hours ago: "We got a call at 1:30 this morning from Holly informing us that she and her team in Katmandu, Nepal, are safe following that 7.3 magnitude aftershock/ quake. Thanks for your continuing prayers for the people of Nepal, and all those committed to helping in any way they can. Thanks as well to the 42 people who, over the last 11 days, have given $16,519 for quake relief through the "gofundme" site (via the "Love your neighbor Nepal" page). The team's big concern today is that the deep fears incited by the first quake will be magnified by this second one. Their prayer is that the Spirit will cause hearts to turn to God, and that many will discover a new peace and rest in Christ.
By the way, the next time you hear someone predict the demise of the American Church, remind them that there are hundreds of thousands of late-teens-to-thirty-somethings who have devoted themselves, body and soul, to spreading God's love all over the planet."
"His Sorrow Left when Nepalese Photographer Saw Baby's Rescue"
His sorrow left when Nepalese photographer saw baby's rescue
Article from MSN http://a.msn.com/01/en-us/BBiW2Hf?ocid=se
Article from MSN http://a.msn.com/01/en-us/BBiW2Hf?ocid=se
BHAKTAPUR, Nepal (AP) — Nepalese photojournalist Amul Thapa smiled in spite of his hidden pain when he saw the scene he'll remember always: Rescue workers pulling a 4-month-old boy from the wrecked home where he'd been trapped 20 hours after the earthquake.
Sonit Awal's chubby cheeks were caked in chalky, concrete dust. One tiny fist curled tightly shut, the other seemingly covering his face.
His 9-year-old sister was watching him when the magnitude-7.8 temblor struck at midday Saturday, collapsing many historic buildings in the town of Bhaktapur, just east of Nepal's capital.
The children's parents were both away but the girl managed to escape unhurt. When Thapa, who works with KathmanduToday.com, first heard Sonit's cries, the baby was trapped under a wooden beam.
That beam "was supporting everything," the 26-year-old remembers. To move it would have meant to bring even more danger to the trapped child.
Thapa's own family in his hometown of Bhaktapur had suffered and his home had been destroyed but Thapa said when he heard the baby cry all he could think was "Please God, help him."
Thapa was walking to the market on Saturday when he first heard of the baby trapped but he decided not to shoot that day.
"The atmosphere was not right."
But he returned the next morning.
At 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nepalese army soldiers pulled out little Sonit.
"When I saw the baby alive all my sorrow went. Everyone was clapping. It gave me energy and made me smile in spite of lots of pain hidden inside me."
The photographer said the baby appeared to have suffered only a small cut over his brow.
Many of the ornate buildings in Bhaktapur, a key tourist site, were reduced to rubble after the earthquake.
"Please help Nepalese people and save Nepalese people," Thapa said, adding that urban areas would recover from the devastation relatively quickly but in the villages close to the epicenter, people lost their home and are asking for help.
MIRACLE
Certainty in the uncertain
"Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life– gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation.
We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. When we become simply a promoter or a defender of a particular belief, something within us dies. That is not believing God– it is only believing our belief about Him.
Jesus said, '…unless you…become as little children…' (Matthew 18:3). The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, '…believe also in Me' (John 14:1), not, 'Believe certain things about Me'. Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in– but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him." -My Utmost For His Highest #OswaldChambers
Following the leader, the leader, the leader. Following the leader wherever He may go… - Peter Pan
High School Group Miracle Stories
Nepal Update:
Keep praying for Holly and her team as they minister to the Nepalis after this devastation. Her Ywam team will be there another 5 weeks -- as of now they are "getting emergency supplies from our house and gathering with several other organizations (Long term westerners and Nepalis) at a school w/a large, open area safe for sleeping. There were aftershocks throughout the night and conditions were crowded so none of us got much sleep but today we're heading out into the city to help in any way we can (Moving rubble, praying for people, feeding the homeless)." Also Monsoon season is approaching there so shelter is crucial for everyone in Nepal. The more prayers and support the better!
Another mini-miracle story last week was at High School Group. I showed up on Tuesday Night for Small Group with my Junior girls. When I got there I noticed a few new faces. To my left was a bright, shining, smiling faced beautiful gal. I recognized her immediately. I grabbed her hand and said, "Wait, are you Nichole's cousin?!" She said "YES!" And I said, "I'm Malorie…do you remember me?!" She looked at my in disbelief and goes... "Wait oh my gosh!!! You are the one that sang at my Papa's funeral and anniversary!!! Oh my gosh I am gonna cry!" All the other high schoolers and Laurah (our other adult leader) were smiling at us having this special moment. They were saying "Aww you guys are so cute!" I couldn't believe she was there. But it was SO much more than meets the eye. There was something much deeper going on, which we will soon find out.
We went around in our circle of girls and shared our Highs and Lows of the week, and prayer requests, before we started Bible Study-- Becca was second to last to share. I was SO excited to hear what she was going to say. Why God brought her there tonight, for the first time, and the fact that she ended up in my small group, at my church-- of all places. SO GOD. By the time we got to Becca, all of the other girls had really opened up about their weeks and their lives. We have a very special group and relationship with our high schoolers. I am SO blessed, TRULY, to get to be in their lives. That they feel safe enough to share their inner most desires, hurts, dreams…the inner delicacies of their hearts with us leaders is a privilege and honor I don't take lightly. That we get to pray with them, walk through it with them and love them is a gift from God. Okay, sorry, love-fest tangent. Can't help it. I adore my girls.
Back to Becca. I could see that Becca was a little nervous (who wouldn't be on their first time at a new youth group?!?). Let me just say, it was SO brave of her to show up. So, it was definitely God's timing that we went clockwise and she was on my left. It was God giving her time and space; preparing her heart to open up and feel safe. God sets the tone that way. When other girls open up and get vulnerable and real, it helps others to feel like they can do it too. I have seen it happen many times over the years in small groups. So it was her turn and she literally was shaking (she told us she was). She said she never really shares much or gets deep in group settings but really felt like she needed to and wanted too since everyone else did. Praise God! So she started sharing some very deep things she had been walking through since her Papa passed away. She also shared how God was lovingly drawing her to Himself, especially recently. This is confidential, and I would never want to break her trust. I just want to witness to YOU God's GLORY in it all. How He literally brought her to Venture last Tuesday night, specifically to our small group. The fact that I sang at her Papa's funeral…and the way we connected over that. And that was *SUCH a milestone* in her life. The way that God connected me and Nichole (her cousin) 7 years ago-- SO Divinely. And now re-connecting me with her precious cousin in such a Divine way too. We were both blown away. She goes to leigh and I went to leigh (random, not so random side note). All these little, not so little, BIG details of God's love and hand in it all.
Everyone was so proud of Becca for sharing so courageously the way she did her first time coming. I love standing back and seeing the way my girls love on newcomers. It is Jesus in them. Becca stayed after and got some of the girls phone numbers. Her and I ended up walking out to the parking lot together and taking a selfie to send to Nichole. Becca sent it to Nichole, who immediately wrote back-- she was SO excited and couldn't believe it. She was thanking God that Becca came, and that God brought us together. She asked me to share with Becca how her and I met. So we stayed after and talked and found more common ground. Just getting to see a glimpse of God connecting the miraculous dots of HIS love for us. Then one of the other junior girls, Cailie, came over and introduced Becca to some of the other kids in High School group that go to Leigh, so that they could connect at school. Isaac runs the Christian club at Leigh so he was a great connection for her to make, as she was telling us she doesn't have many friends at Leigh. Especially not Christians. She needs a strong support system, as we all do. When Becca hugged me goodbye and went to leave she was so fired up. I could see how amazed she was that God had done ALL of this just for her. Just to show her how much He loves her. He pulled out all the stops. And He will continue to. He is a good, good Father.
When Nichole and I met it was the same kind of stuff-- she was at San Jose State and so was I. We kept finding more and more that we had in common and how our lives intertwined. How God's hand was in it.
*A lot of the girls we opening up about the loss of a grandfather that night because several had recently lost one, so that was also Divine. Becca felt safe to share about her Papa, as some of the girls shared about theirs.* It is such a milestone in most any child's life that forever changes and shapes your faith.
Earlier that Tuesday I was feeling SUCH opposition all day long, a tug in the opposite direction from High School group and I did not know why. But once I got there and ALL of this happened, I knew why. WOW. GOD had quite a LOT of amazingness planned. The enemy certainly did not want me there. He puts people in the right place at the right time as confirmation. We may not realize how important our presence is going to be until we get there.
Keep praying for Holly and her team as they minister to the Nepalis after this devastation. Her Ywam team will be there another 5 weeks -- as of now they are "getting emergency supplies from our house and gathering with several other organizations (Long term westerners and Nepalis) at a school w/a large, open area safe for sleeping. There were aftershocks throughout the night and conditions were crowded so none of us got much sleep but today we're heading out into the city to help in any way we can (Moving rubble, praying for people, feeding the homeless)." Also Monsoon season is approaching there so shelter is crucial for everyone in Nepal. The more prayers and support the better!
Another mini-miracle story last week was at High School Group. I showed up on Tuesday Night for Small Group with my Junior girls. When I got there I noticed a few new faces. To my left was a bright, shining, smiling faced beautiful gal. I recognized her immediately. I grabbed her hand and said, "Wait, are you Nichole's cousin?!" She said "YES!" And I said, "I'm Malorie…do you remember me?!" She looked at my in disbelief and goes... "Wait oh my gosh!!! You are the one that sang at my Papa's funeral and anniversary!!! Oh my gosh I am gonna cry!" All the other high schoolers and Laurah (our other adult leader) were smiling at us having this special moment. They were saying "Aww you guys are so cute!" I couldn't believe she was there. But it was SO much more than meets the eye. There was something much deeper going on, which we will soon find out.
We went around in our circle of girls and shared our Highs and Lows of the week, and prayer requests, before we started Bible Study-- Becca was second to last to share. I was SO excited to hear what she was going to say. Why God brought her there tonight, for the first time, and the fact that she ended up in my small group, at my church-- of all places. SO GOD. By the time we got to Becca, all of the other girls had really opened up about their weeks and their lives. We have a very special group and relationship with our high schoolers. I am SO blessed, TRULY, to get to be in their lives. That they feel safe enough to share their inner most desires, hurts, dreams…the inner delicacies of their hearts with us leaders is a privilege and honor I don't take lightly. That we get to pray with them, walk through it with them and love them is a gift from God. Okay, sorry, love-fest tangent. Can't help it. I adore my girls.
Back to Becca. I could see that Becca was a little nervous (who wouldn't be on their first time at a new youth group?!?). Let me just say, it was SO brave of her to show up. So, it was definitely God's timing that we went clockwise and she was on my left. It was God giving her time and space; preparing her heart to open up and feel safe. God sets the tone that way. When other girls open up and get vulnerable and real, it helps others to feel like they can do it too. I have seen it happen many times over the years in small groups. So it was her turn and she literally was shaking (she told us she was). She said she never really shares much or gets deep in group settings but really felt like she needed to and wanted too since everyone else did. Praise God! So she started sharing some very deep things she had been walking through since her Papa passed away. She also shared how God was lovingly drawing her to Himself, especially recently. This is confidential, and I would never want to break her trust. I just want to witness to YOU God's GLORY in it all. How He literally brought her to Venture last Tuesday night, specifically to our small group. The fact that I sang at her Papa's funeral…and the way we connected over that. And that was *SUCH a milestone* in her life. The way that God connected me and Nichole (her cousin) 7 years ago-- SO Divinely. And now re-connecting me with her precious cousin in such a Divine way too. We were both blown away. She goes to leigh and I went to leigh (random, not so random side note). All these little, not so little, BIG details of God's love and hand in it all.
Everyone was so proud of Becca for sharing so courageously the way she did her first time coming. I love standing back and seeing the way my girls love on newcomers. It is Jesus in them. Becca stayed after and got some of the girls phone numbers. Her and I ended up walking out to the parking lot together and taking a selfie to send to Nichole. Becca sent it to Nichole, who immediately wrote back-- she was SO excited and couldn't believe it. She was thanking God that Becca came, and that God brought us together. She asked me to share with Becca how her and I met. So we stayed after and talked and found more common ground. Just getting to see a glimpse of God connecting the miraculous dots of HIS love for us. Then one of the other junior girls, Cailie, came over and introduced Becca to some of the other kids in High School group that go to Leigh, so that they could connect at school. Isaac runs the Christian club at Leigh so he was a great connection for her to make, as she was telling us she doesn't have many friends at Leigh. Especially not Christians. She needs a strong support system, as we all do. When Becca hugged me goodbye and went to leave she was so fired up. I could see how amazed she was that God had done ALL of this just for her. Just to show her how much He loves her. He pulled out all the stops. And He will continue to. He is a good, good Father.
When Nichole and I met it was the same kind of stuff-- she was at San Jose State and so was I. We kept finding more and more that we had in common and how our lives intertwined. How God's hand was in it.
*A lot of the girls we opening up about the loss of a grandfather that night because several had recently lost one, so that was also Divine. Becca felt safe to share about her Papa, as some of the girls shared about theirs.* It is such a milestone in most any child's life that forever changes and shapes your faith.
Earlier that Tuesday I was feeling SUCH opposition all day long, a tug in the opposite direction from High School group and I did not know why. But once I got there and ALL of this happened, I knew why. WOW. GOD had quite a LOT of amazingness planned. The enemy certainly did not want me there. He puts people in the right place at the right time as confirmation. We may not realize how important our presence is going to be until we get there.
More of You, less of me
Colton Dixon's Song "More of You, Less of Me" lyrics are just so powerful, convicting, inspiring. It's my car-ride anthem right now. Let it be our heart anthem daily. More of You God, less of me.
I made my castle tall
I built up every wall
This is my kingdom and it needs to fall
I want you and no one else
Empty me of myself
Until the only thing that's left is
More of You
Less of me
Make me who I'm meant to be
You're all I want all I need
You're everything
Take it all I surrender
Be my king
God I choose
More of You and Less of me
I need more of you
More of you
This life I hold so close
Oh, God I let it go
I refuse to gain the world and lose my soul
So take it all I abandon everything I am
You can have it
The only thing I need is
More of You
Less of me
Make me who I'm meant to be
You're all I want all I need
You're everything
Take it all I surrender
Be my king
God I choose
More of You and Less of me
I need more of you
More of you
All to You
I surrender
All to You my blessed savior
I surrender all
All to You
I surrender
All to You my blessed savior
I surrender all
More of You
Less of me
Make me who I'm meant to be
You're all I want all I need
You're everything
Take it all I surrender
Be my king
God I choose
More of You and Less of me
I need more of you
More of you
All to You
I surrender
All to You my blessed savior
More of you
I need more of you
The Victory Song: Songwriting Showcase
I have been doing some songwriting and co-writing with different friends lately. Here is one of the songs I will be bringing to showcase at the songwriting conference in June. I hope you enjoy it!! More to come soon...
Garage Sale Tales 101 : Miracles where you least expect them
So one of my favorite GOD moments from the garage sale was about my dad's mountain bike. I have been holding onto it for years-- I got new breaks on it, and tires, in hopes of riding it myself. Come to find out-- my dad was just too tall. I could barely get one leg over the thing without falling over. So we put it out for sale. At first we really over-priced it, mainly because of sentimental purposes. Then we had one man who was interested but he was really trying to talk me down on the price, from $150 to $125 to $85. It wasn't so much about the price but the way he was pushing. I had even told him that it had been my dad's bike, and he passed way when I was a little girl so it was special to me. He didn't budge. That was hard for me. Something in my gut just didn't sit right with it. So I told him no. When he left, I thought-- well no one else may buy it for any higher, or buy it at all, but that is okay. I just really want it to go to a good home. No joke, ten minutes later my grandparents neighbor comes over and asks if he can take the bike for a spin. I said, "Of course!" I had a really good feeling about him. He had come over earlier in the day with his grand-daughter and we gave him a little toy for her. When he came back he asked about the price. I lowered it to $115. He asked if I would take $100. I shared with him about my dad, and he genuinely listened and cared. I said, I would gladly take $100. I was excited because I would still get to see the bike whenever he rides it around the neighborhood at my grandparents. The fact that the bike brought him so much joy, brought me so much joy. And I know that's what my dad would have wanted. After he rode off with it I found out from my Grandparents that the man who bought the bike is a chaplain at a hospital. That is so amazing!!! God is so good! The bike truly went to a good home and a good heart. Oh and his wife works at Los Gatos Christian School which is at Venture (my church). Crazy connections like that were happening all day at the sale, I'm telling you.
Another story that touched my heart deeply was this woman who lives several blocks down the street near my elementary school. She bought my mom's old patio set. Did I mention we have been trying to get rid of this thing forever?! I took up so much space. It was beautiful, but big. This huge marble and granite table with six rod iron chairs. So she comes and looks at it and wants to buy it. We had people going back to look at the table all morning but no interest at all really. We lowered the price and still nothing. It was a $2,000 set, we were selling it for $350 at that point. So her and her husband came and she was the first one to truly want it. I was so excited. So then she starts to connect with me and tell me this backstory about how she saw this table at Costco 7 or 8 years ago but could not afford it. She wanted it so badly but knew it would never be in the budget. She prayed God would provide if it was His will. She knew I was a Christian because I had a bunch of Christian books out for sale. So we started to connect about that and hit it off. Then she told me that in a month her son is coming home from his college graduation and she is hosting his big dinner in her backyard. She was asking God how she was going to make it work, with a little rinky-dink table and chair set on the patio and nothing nice outside. So then she saw my ad on the neighborhood website and I posted about a patio set. It peaked her interest. She thought- maybe, just maybe it could be the same set she had longed for years ago. When she arrived and saw the matching chairs sitting on the front lawn she was beside herself. She couldn't believe that all those years later God had really provided that exact table and patio set she asked for-- and JUST IN TIME for her son's grad party nonetheless. Then my mom sold her some beautiful lanterns that she fell in love with too, for the backyard. Her husband bought them for her, and she looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, "Wow this must all be a mother's day gift! I am so blown away by God right now!" And we kept saying how God provides and how amazing He is.
I am telling you-- the day was FULL of stories like that. Good thing I didn't let a little black eye stop me from experiencing all of these little miracles and blessings. I would have missed out big time. Shutout and BIG THANKS to my family and friends for helping me still go through with it. Ya'll are THE best.
GOD BLESS my lovely friends!!!
Another story that touched my heart deeply was this woman who lives several blocks down the street near my elementary school. She bought my mom's old patio set. Did I mention we have been trying to get rid of this thing forever?! I took up so much space. It was beautiful, but big. This huge marble and granite table with six rod iron chairs. So she comes and looks at it and wants to buy it. We had people going back to look at the table all morning but no interest at all really. We lowered the price and still nothing. It was a $2,000 set, we were selling it for $350 at that point. So her and her husband came and she was the first one to truly want it. I was so excited. So then she starts to connect with me and tell me this backstory about how she saw this table at Costco 7 or 8 years ago but could not afford it. She wanted it so badly but knew it would never be in the budget. She prayed God would provide if it was His will. She knew I was a Christian because I had a bunch of Christian books out for sale. So we started to connect about that and hit it off. Then she told me that in a month her son is coming home from his college graduation and she is hosting his big dinner in her backyard. She was asking God how she was going to make it work, with a little rinky-dink table and chair set on the patio and nothing nice outside. So then she saw my ad on the neighborhood website and I posted about a patio set. It peaked her interest. She thought- maybe, just maybe it could be the same set she had longed for years ago. When she arrived and saw the matching chairs sitting on the front lawn she was beside herself. She couldn't believe that all those years later God had really provided that exact table and patio set she asked for-- and JUST IN TIME for her son's grad party nonetheless. Then my mom sold her some beautiful lanterns that she fell in love with too, for the backyard. Her husband bought them for her, and she looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, "Wow this must all be a mother's day gift! I am so blown away by God right now!" And we kept saying how God provides and how amazing He is.
I am telling you-- the day was FULL of stories like that. Good thing I didn't let a little black eye stop me from experiencing all of these little miracles and blessings. I would have missed out big time. Shutout and BIG THANKS to my family and friends for helping me still go through with it. Ya'll are THE best.
GOD BLESS my lovely friends!!!
The Armor of GOD really works : How I could have lost an eye
Okay so I have some stories to tell. And I have selfishly been keeping them to myself. But I realize that these amazing things happen because of GOD-- by and through and IN HIM. To not share about them and what HE has done-- is like that metaphor about a stagnant lake/body of water. If the water doesn't pour out and just sits there full, it gets stale, putrid, motionless. Well yeah, I don't want to be those things, do you?! So I am pouring back out what was poured into me. Joy shared IS multiplied. So why not share? It really IS caring.
So here goes it. Saturday I had a big garage sale at my grandparents house. The morning of I woke up REALLY early (in the 5 am neighborhood) to set up and set everything out. I had really prepared for this thing by putting signs all over the neighborhood the night before, gathering up items from family members and carrying them all to one spot in the yard a few days before, posting on various garagesale websites to advertise. Needless to say, I was raring to go! So as my alarm goes off I said a couple prayers before getting out of bed-- putting on the armor of God for the day and such. Then I stand up (no lights on) bulldoze my way down the hall, into the bathroom and took a spill for the worst. Let's just say my face and the counter broke the fall. I honestly don't know if I tripped or passed out from getting up to fast-- I can't remember much of it until the crash, bang, boom happened. I tried piecing it together later but it is still hard to make sense of. All I know is that when my eye/face hit that counter I let out a LOUD "NOOOO!!" Quickly followed by "MOMMMM!" She heard the crash and called out, "Did you fall??" Little did she know it was my face that fell. In. To. THE. COUNTER. Ouch. I ran over to the freezer covering my eye as it was pounding and throbbing with pain, and reached for a bag of frozen corn. When I stuck the bag on my eye it hurt even worse, so I proceeded to pull it off and saw blood all over the bag. My stomach turned. I started to cry, and looked at my mom saying "I'm scared! I'm scared!" The look on her face made it even worse as she looked at the blood on my face and eye. Which in turn made me assume the VERY worst. Because my eye hit so hard, I was imagining that my eyeball itself was bleeding and it had punctured and I was going to lose the eye all together. My thoughts were racing, my stomach was tumbling, my heart was pounding, body shaking, arms and hands numb (from adrenaline and fear I guess). My mom ran toward my grandparents room, since we were all there for the garage sale thank God. She turned the light on and called for him to come quickly. I am sure that was a rude awakening him and my grandma were not excited about. Gosh it is hard to not expect the worst when you are woken that way. Grandpa and grandma come rushing in-- I still cannot even look in the mirror because I am so scared at how bad it is. Mom is grabbing our purses and saying we are going to the ER and I am going to need stitches. I then get really, really queasy and light-headed. I went over to the sink thinking I was going to vomit or pass-out. Grandpa calmed me down big time and had me lay down and drink some water and breathe deeply. In the midst of all this I was also pretty upset that we were going to have to cancel this whole thing I had spent so much time and work on. Okay, back to the point. So Grandpa gets a better look at the laceration and wipes the blood off my cheek and eye to see that it is only two smaller cuts on and beside my eyelid. He waits for it to clot and has mom get me a mirror so I can look at it. He knows this will calm me down once I can see that it is not as bad as I am imagining. Once I saw it, it really did calm me down. It felt MUCH worse than it looked. I knew the bruising might be pretty bad, but everything was going to be OK. WOW. Talk about God's protection. Now let me tell you-- in the midst of the storm and chaos of all of this-- satan was trying to get me to doubt. He was whispering-- "oh look, you had JUST prayed, and put on the armor of God. Look what good that did you. Pointless. You got hurt anyways." LIES, LIES I tell you. Immediately God's Truth came flooding in-- "NO WAY. THAT WAS GOD'S PROTECTION. Are you kidding me?! That could have been SO bad. One centimeter off and it would have been your eyeball. That armor and GOD Himself was protecting you." Thank God I had just put the armor on.
Grandma, Grandpa, Mom (and God of course) comforted me back to normal, and before you know it I was on my merry way setting up for the big day ahead. The garage sale was a HUGE hit. It is safe to say we had over 200-300 people come and shop with us. Let me also say that there is NO WAY that after all of that, that I could have done any of that work without GOD'S strength in my weakness. His grace is sufficient. He had grace upon grace-- I still cannot believe all that I did following that head injury. Only in Christ could I have done that. Major praise to HIM. It was SUCH a blessed day. So many Divine Appointments. More stories to come. God bless!! Jesus LOVES YOU PERFECTLY in your imperfections. HE is perfect, you don't have to be. xoxox
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