Just simply be with me.

A Little Longer by Brian and Jenn Johnson.

I love this song... I love resting in the fact that I can soak in my Jesus' presence and He never tires of me.

The song says it best... "What can I do for You? What can I bring to You? What kind of song would You like me to sing? I'll dance a dance for You, pour out my love to You... what can I do for You, beautiful King? I can't thank You enough."

mmmm... all the words I can find can't possibly thank You enough. No matter how hard I try.

Soaking in every bit of Your presence today. These moments with you are sweet to my soul.

I love you.

Mornings Like This.

Yesterday, I got up and met with a sweet friend of mine who God so perfectly placed in my life not-so-long-ago. I am seeing more and more in my life how He ordains each and every relationship that crosses my path... and I become overwhelmed with gratefulness.

It was a simple morning. Coffee and Scones, Swingsets, and Talking.
But it was perfect.
I need mornings like this. Mornings of simplicity and mornings where true friendship ring true.
Toward the end, sweet little "S", two years old and full of spunk and boldness... melted down. Despite mommy's amazing efforts to calm, to rebuke in love, to love amidst disobedience, she fought back. I love this little girl. SO much. She has incredible strength, even at two years old, and I know that this boldness is going to be used to further the Kingdom of God.
But as I came home yesterday... thanking God for both little girl and her mommy, I couldn't help but feel convicted.

How often do I act exactly the same as my future little flower girl?
How often do I think I know what's best and exhibit attitudes of pride and disrespect toward my Father?
How often do I turn my head away when my Jesus scolds me in love?
How often do I melt down when things don't go a certain way?

The answer is often. Way too often.

I was reminded yesterday, as I watched mommy so wonderfully love her daughter through consequences, that Jesus loves me. Simple, I know. But He does. He loves me, despite the moments when He picks me up and takes me away from an opportunity/person/dream that I thought was perfect. HIS plan is always perfect, where mine is fallible.

Praying today that my face would always be turned toward His, and my ears would be tuned to hear His voice.

Thanks for yesterday, friend. I love you. I love your daughter. I love Jesus for bringing your name and face upon my heart.

And I love mornings like this.

Dear Friend,

You have been called into action... action deeply rooted in simple and perfected love. May the Lord of all that is good and perfect protect your heart from deceit. May He empower you with strength to choose what is of Him and flee from the ugly sins of the world; and may He expose more of His beauty to your sweet, longing eyes. May He meet you where you are as you seek for more wisdom, but push you to dive deep into growth with Him. Be wise. Be wise with your heart, and with the hearts around you. When you are with your family, may you lead them with wisdom that isn’t your own, and a humility that is. May you set yourself to always learn and grow, just as Jesus Himself had to learn and grow. May you be quick to ask forgiveness of others; and may pride be nowhere in sight. Let God’s peace, joy, and love so fill you. Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven, and allow Jesus' all consuming love to wash over you.
Friend, pursue wisdom.
Pursue God’s presence.
Don’t be concerned with provision. Provision comes from God; let His peace give you security.
Throw away performance based thinking. They are lies of Satan and they will trap you in your pride. They will prevent you from seeing past your own accomplishments and your own failures. Your victories are the Lord’s victories. You can’t take credit for anything; Offer Him any praise you yourself receive. Live your life with excellence so that HIS excellence may be put on display.
Do you believe that Christ loves His Bride? Do you believe that He loves with great passion and longing? Do you believe Christ offers great intimacy and authenticity? Then love your family, your friends, and the church the same way. The world can receive a revelation of God’s perfect love through you, and His name will be glorified and lifted high.
Love well and extravagantly.
Pursue God's heart.
Live a life filled with joy and thankfulness.

I love you.
~A

Nehemiah, Boldness, and Jerusalem.

The life that God calls His children into is full of open doors, favor, and grace.

I was reading the first two chapters in Nehemiah today. I asked Holy Spirit to reveal His truth to me and I became deeply engaged in the story. Nehemiah’s heart was broken for Jerusalem because it was in shambles. God’s city had been destroyed and it’s walls were torn down.

Discouraged and full of sadness, he brought his heart to God, he fasted, and he prayed for several days.

I love how his burden for Jerusalem became a life’s calling; and God turned the pain of that brokenness into great victory and destiny. I love that, perhaps because I see tragic problems with the sinful world that move my heart to mourning. Nehemiah’s story gives me hope that my purpose, calling, and victory can be in the same areas that begin in deep grief. God redeems grief and turns it into strength.

And then I noticed, like a ray of sunshine amidst a darkened sky:
“The King granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.”

The good hand of my God upon me.

God’s hand, His GOOD hand is on my life. When I live in that confidence, everything changes. His good hand will lead me to places I never could've imagined; but I must keep choosing boldness. Jesus works in my boldness... and He works in yours, too.

The good hand of God is upon me. If you are living in Christ, desiring His heart and seeking His face... then the good hand of God is on YOU, too.

And I think He has a few walls and "Jerusalems" that He wants to rebuild, so I will strive for humility before Him, begging Him to come. To bring justice. But also thanking Him that He has already won the war. Victory is already claimed.

I choose joy. I choose boldness. I choose strength. I choose contentment. I choose holiness.

I choose JESUS.

Immoveable. Unshaken. Grounded.

A few months ago, life was a little shaky. I wobbled and tiptoed and wondered whether or not life was ever going to be stable and consistent. I cried a lot. I was scared a lot. I wanted to give up a lot. I was wounded easily and "vulnerable" seemed to define me. I was bathing in insecurities, and doubt crept into my thoughts daily. I was constantly searching, and never seemed to find any answers. I was confused and weak.

Yet, God was there. In ALL of it.

In the weakness and the brokenness, the wobbly knees and the vulnerability.

God was there.

He held my hand and pulled me through the muddy pit of insecurities, re-affirming in me the gifts He had given me.
He spoke truth over my life and reminding me of how loved I am.
He faithfully forgave me over and over again.
He was there at 2pm and at 2am, too.
He was the best listener.
He whispered Bible verses and reminded me of my worth and beauty.
He lovingly convicted me and challenged me to pursue His heart.
He sat with me when I cried.
He protected my defenseless heart.
He restored joy to my heart and brought unwavering peace.
He planted strength to get back in the ring and fight.
He equipped me for battle.
He breathed life back into my dry bones.

God was there.

He was there in the quiet, intimate moments spent at His feet. He was there in the public displays of worship and adoration. He was there in the random outbursts of laughter, and the sudden onsets of tears. He was there in faithful friends.

The sunshine is here... the flowers are blooming. The rain has gone, and new days have come upon me. Today, I am thankful for new life. In all its forms. I'm thankful for friends who are there No.Matter.What. I'm thankful for Jesus.

... and I'm thankful that my perfect God is immoveable, unshaken, and grounded.

And He's molding me to become like Him~ immoveable, unshaken, and grounded.

LOVE.

Grief.

My heart was saddened as I scrolled through Facebook last night. One status update after the other... repeatedly proclaiming victory and excitement over the death of Osama bin Laden. I have two things to say about this.

1. God is a just God. I love this. I love that God brings justice upon His people to bring further glory upon Himself.
2. There is absolutely nothing happy or joyous about the death of a non-believer. It grieves my heart to know that this man (however evil he might have been) is going to spend eternity rotting in the depths of hell instead of sitting at the feet of Jesus.

How can we sit and rejoice over the loss of a life from the Kingdom of Heaven?

Instead, I'm rejoicing that I serve a just God and thanking Him for saving me from a life of slavery to sin.

Thank you, Jesus.