The Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever

Hebrews 13:8 say's "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." What an awesome truth. Lately I feel like I am on an emotional roller coaster and I have been more stressed than ever about work.  A good friend of mine pointed out the fact that emotion has the word "motion" in it and its okay to expect that our emotions will change frequently.  That was a cool ah ha moment for me.  But God has also reminded that He is my ROCK.  I am brought back to the truth that though my circumstances  and emotions may be changing, God is infinitely the same.  Psalm 33:11 say's "But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations." I cannot thwart God's plans, no matter how big the roller coaster ride!  I rest in that truth today.

I leave for a conference in Atlanta tomorrow and I'm excited to dream big dreams for ministry.  On the one hand I have been exhausted this past month and have not found any time to truly rest other than my trip to Cleveland for my grandfather's funeral.  I am recognizing there is a constant demand in ministry and I need to fight for rest and renewal.  When I return from this trip I am going to start saying "no" even if its a good thing and I have someone holding me accountable so that I can say "yes" to rest and solitude with my Abba.

So today I run to Yahweh Tsuri, "The Lord my Rock."

I miss my grandpa

Ever since I got back from Mississippi, I have felt like life has been a bit of  a blur.  I came home sick and slept 36 out of 72 hours but the hardest hit came the morning after Easter on my way to the beach when my dad called to tell me my grandpa had passed away.  You know, I was just driving and laughing with my friends, and the call came so unexpectedly. My grandma died in September 08'.  She was 86 years old and in and out of the hospital and in a way we knew she was going to die.  But I have the strongest memory of my Grandpa with her before she died.  He would sit at her bedside all day long and read books until she fell asleep at night.  I spent some time with him in the hospital and he told me there was no place he would rather be than right there, by her side.  They were married for 64 years!  I can honestly say, they are one of the strongest examples of love and commitment I have seen in my life.  I can remember at their 50th wedding anniversary, the two of them dancing so well together, and I thought to myself, I want to be like that one day.  To have someone I love and still dance together when we're 75 years old as if we had just started dating.  My grandpa taught me how to golf,  he had the best belly for me to crawl up on and read stories, he would build the BIGGEST leaf piles for me to jump in the Fall, and he showed me how marriage can last!  I am leaving to Cleveland for his funeral this weekend and I know it will be such a sad time. Especially for my dad whose lost both parents in 1 year.  I am reminded how few moments we have in life with the people we love and not to take them for granted. I love my grandpa becker and I'm going to miss him.

Caught up in a moment like this

A night in the coffee shop, listening to stories, catching the awesome breeze on Miracle Mile and enjoying every second of being caught up in the moment.  Walking down the sidewalk, grabbing a bite of ice cream, laughing hysterically. I definitely went back to my teenage years with these youth, and later on found myself singing "total eclipse of the heart...and now I need you more than ever...dadadadeedeededada" ALL BY MYSELF in the car. I mumbled half the song but sang it at the top of my lungs with freedom! Hahah.  We really should live IN the moment more often.

Memory of the Day

Just a beautiful memory with Alexis and her family tonight.  I wanted to capture it before I fall asleep.  To sit at the table with what felt like family and read the story of Christ death and resurrection beginning at the Passover meal.  Grandma, Mother, Sister, Daughter, Son, Soul Group leader and Staff Leader read the story together. To laugh together, to tell stories of Mississippi and God's work in our lives, to talk about colleges and the future for Alexis, to see Adrian love on and laugh with Joe and set such an example for this young 9th grader, to know that God's LOVE was filling up the house, that's what Easter was about for us today.  How Christ so obviously unites us in the Spirit is so powerful.  I am so proud of these kids.  All I can think of when I am around them is how much God is at work in their their lives and what a joy it is to see them grow.  Thank you God for sharing these moments with me. How precious. I love you Lord!

Nothing like the Rain

I just got back from a mission trip in Mississippi with my ROOTS family. It was incredible! Unfortunately I was feeling pretty sick today and lonely but felt the need to go for a run and have a conversation with God. After about 1 mile into the run, rain started to fall. There is NOTHING like running in the rain! I began to take in every moment with my maker and felt His incredible presence in the water. I didn't care that my iPod was on, I just began to run faster and faster as I heard these lyrics...

"Did you rise the sun for me, or paint a million stars that I might know your majesty
Is your voice upon the wind, is everything I know marked with my maker's fingerprints
Breath on me, let me see your face, ever I will seek you

All you are is all I want always
Draw me close, in your arms, o God
I want to be with you

Can I feel you in the rain
Abandon all I am to have you capture me again
Let the earth resound with praise
Can you hear as all creation lives to glorify one name"

Tomorrow is Easter and tonight we have services at the church. I can't wait to celebrate Jesus resurrection! ALL CREATION LIVES TO GLORIFY ONE NAME! As I was running God reminded me of His incredible grace and beauty. Again, I want to abandon all I am and have Him capture me again!

Adventure Beckons

"God has designed countless opportunities for each of us to enjoy a spirit of adventure, no matter where we are or what we're doing. Instead of being adrift in the mundane routine of everyday life, we can be captured by wonder." - Luci Swindoll

I really believe adventure exists in every moment. I am reading this book right now that's helping me see adventure through a different lens. As I get ready to leave for a mission trip with 50 high school students in 2 days, I am praying that God would reveal himself in new and incredible ways. Of course He is always doing this, if only my eyes looked at the world differently, if only my ears listened with intention. I wrote a few thoughts in my journal the other day, just free flow thought.
Pretty much my heart these days.

Adventure Beckons
My heart stirs deeply
I can think of nothing other than running wild
So many days stuck in routine
I'm ready to see with new eyes
Can't imagine how He sees the world: unlimited possibility, creativity unleashed
and yet we find ourselves stuck in a rut, stuck in monotony
Where Wonder have you gone
to businesses and capital gains, drowned in the toilet
I want to break free of expectations, empty boxes, corners that trap, and minds that disengage,
O Wonder fill my heart with stories untold, with new eyes that admire your beauty
I want to get lost in you even if no one understands