Friday, September 28, 2012

the true heart of worship



I had the opportunity last night to worship with Kari Jobe & All Sons & Daughters. It was a sweet time to get away with a few of my closest friends. I love both of these groups & really love that they are so focused on experiencing God during worship. When my father died last December I stumbled upon the song "Reason to Sing" by All Sons...it was the single most important song that I attribute to helping me heal from his death. You know those times when the heaviness is there but no tears come out. Well their music helped the tears flow & allowed the Lord to begin my healing process. I personally have always connected deeply with music & still have to be cautious about what I listen to because it influences my emotions so much. I am just thankful today for musicians who love Jesus & want nothing more than to help others encounter His presence! There is so much intimacy that occurs when we allow ourselves to get lost in Him, He loves us so much! I know I didn't really begin to understand the heart of the Father until I opened myself up to just resting in Him. Trust, faith, and peace is built when we turn to Him for everything. The thing that stood out to me the most aside of the humility all of the performers possessed was this passage of scripture from Psalm 22:22-31 that singer Leslie Jordan(AS&D) shared with the audience. It is a perfect description to me of what God is doing in these last days. Gathering up His followers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth(John 2:24) It's time church! There has never been quite the opportunity to join amongst other believers to live & live out loud for Christ! Tell the whole world. Be the example. We have hope to offer the broken, the hopeless, the devastated....His name is JESUS!

Psalm 22:22-31
Here’s the story I’ll tell my friends when they come to worship,
    and punctuate it with Hallelujahs:
Shout Hallelujah, you God-worshipers;
    give glory, you sons of Jacob;
    adore him, you daughters of Israel.
He has never let you down,
    never looked the other way
    when you were being kicked around.
He has never wandered off to do his own thing;
    he has been right there, listening.
25-26 Here in this great gathering for worship
    I have discovered this praise-life.
And I’ll do what I promised right here
    in front of the God-worshipers.
Down-and-outers sit at God’s table
    and eat their fill.
Everyone on the hunt for God
    is here, praising him.
“Live it up, from head to toe.
    Don’t ever quit!”
27-28 From the four corners of the earth
    people are coming to their senses,
    are running back to God.
Long-lost families
    are falling on their faces before him.
God has taken charge;
    from now on he has the last word.
29 All the power-mongers are before him
    —worshiping!
All the poor and powerless, too
    —worshiping!
Along with those who never got it together
    —worshiping!
30-31 Our children and their children
    will get in on this
As the word is passed along
    from parent to child.
Babies not yet conceived
    will hear the good news—
    that God does what he says.




Psalm 145:18 The LORD is near to all who call Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.on him, to all who call on him in truth.

John 4:23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Coffee & Jesus...




The picture says it all…Coffee and Jesus. I've used the term for months now when I would plan a meeting with a girlfriend for coffee & of course the topic would be life and ultimately lead to my first love Jesus. I have been so radically transformed by the love of Christ that I now desire the same freedom for every single woman I know. I pray that woman all across the world will grab hold of Jesus through the encouragement of other women who are pursuing the same goal…intimacy with their Creator. It's been 3 years since the Lord called me away from my future plans & asked me to pursue Him. In doing so I have endured trial by fire but am eternally grateful because I'll never be the same again. The trusting God & having endurance is paying off, my husband is now a born again- spirit filled man. Our house is finally in order. Our marriage is growing & it all started from the choice to be obedient to what God was calling me to do. We ALL have purpose, we ALL have influence let's start a revolution that stands for women who are in CHRIST! Let's find our identity in Him & Him alone! I pray this sparks a fire that burns so strongly for Christ that it consumes you…leaving you FREE!

So here's our challenge to you! We want you to join us for Coffee and Jesus. Whether it's just you or a group of girlfriends, GET IN THE WORD with us. This Saturday 9/29 we will be meeting to discuss the book of Ruth. We will be keeping up with you all by sharing via social media. Snap a picture & post it with the hashtag #coffeeandjesus via instagram, twitter, or facebook. Whatever you do by all means please please get a group in your town & meet up for Coffee and Jesus!


Sunday, September 16, 2012

These are a few of my favorite things!





Every once in a while I enjoy writing down the things I love the most. My life has been full of heartache & greatness. I've loved & I've lost. But one thing remains is that God has been way more "good" than I deserve, through Him my soul has been ignited, let's spread the fire of His love by acknowledging every bit of the greatness that He has placed in us…So here it goes. A few of my favorite things!

~Kisses & snuggles from my 3 year old
~Spending time with God in the Word
~Discovering a new facet of God, there is soooo many things about Him, I can't wait to experience.
~The bond my husband & I share, he is my closest, most loyal friend
~Watching my boys grow into caring, God-fearing men
~rainy days
~cool mornings
~when I see my reflection & see my mother's lips (they are exactly alike)
~recognizing ALL my father instilled in me
~the blessing of my Christian heritage
~ministering love & encouragement to whomever needs it
~snow on the ground
~the mountains (I will live there one day)
~music that draws the deepest parts of my heart into worship
~the sounds of all of my family under one roof
~the purchase of a pretty new journal
~strong, hot coffee with french vanilla creamer
~the birth of the vision of "Coffee and Jesus" & the wonderful woman God has placed in my life
~spending quality time with my closest friends (Lindsey & Kendell) & talking about EVERYTHING, then leaving feeling full and a better person simply because I get the privilege of knowing them
~the sweet & faithful presence of God when I need Him most

…just a few. I dare you to sit down & think about things that make your heart smile! Take the time to really focus on all that God has placed inside you. You are unique, wonderful, and full of potential! Here's to allowing yourself to recognize what makes you, you. Here's to discovering all the good Christ created you to do…now walk in them!



 "For we are HIS workmanship, created in Christ for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." ~Ephesians 2:10