Change.

God is moving and shaking the plans that have been laid out since before I can remember... the plans that were deemed "perfect" in my eyes, the eyes of my parents, and the eyes of countless friends. He is so good to make known to His children the fallibility of our human hearts and minds. I am thankful... and learning. Growing. Surrendering. Waiting. Hoping.

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Proverbs 16:9.

My deepest desire is to be desiring the desires of God, and submitting to His perfect, holy will... loving His people, and claiming glory for nothing, instead placing all glory at the feet of Jesus. I am resting in the peace that His indwelling Spirit will guide me through each desire, whim, and thought... and thanking my beautiful Jesus that He loves me with limitless steadfast love.

Walking with Jesus is hard. It's messy. It's confusing. It's convicting. It's challenging.

But it's filled with peace. indescribable joy. life. passion. change. anticipation. submission. awe. courage. hope. adoration. beauty. compassion. desire. love. sensitivity. zeal. devotion. humility. relief.

It's filled with un-deserved blessing and consistency.

I am thankful.

YES, change is on the horizon. But God is here. and He is there.

Transformation, Sunsets, and a Chameleon.

For as long as I can remember I've been a girl with a chameleon heart. My bright colors stand out, but I love to blend in. Even now, when I'm usually content just being myself, my identity ocasionally gets wrapped up in someone else. There are girls who seem to have it all~ amazing relationships with Jesus, handsome boyfriends, a complete understanding of what to do with their lives, and an ability to walk in 6-inch stilettos without falling flat on their face! From their wardrobe to their circle of friends, nothing is out of place. I thought maybe my penchant for comparison would end when I got out of junior high... But if I'm not careful, I'm just as likely to compare my life to another girl's even now. I've wasted too much time trying to transform into someone else, forgetting about the dreams, gifts, talents, and passions God has placed in my heart. Some lessons are harder to learn than others.
One of the sweetest lessons God taught me about identity happened on a gorgeous Sunday night after The Stirring. I jumped into my car after a worship service, my heart still reverberating with the songs I'd just sung to My Creator. I put in my Keith and Kristyn Getty CD, and clicked over to "In Christ Alone." Then I turned it up really loud so I couldn't hear myself sing. It was an incredible moment of worship. Just me and Jesus.
I rounded a corner, and saw what is, in my opinion, one of the best things my little town has to offer~ a sky full of sunset. The way the sun grabs the clouds on the way down and the way the light bends and fills every corner of blue stopped me in my tracks more than once that summer. But that particular sunset, was, by far, the best. The light was caught in a gray cloud, casting shadows and pale orange light all over the horizon. I felt as though I was driving through a painting. It was amazing~ that song, that sunset. It was a very intimate moment spent with Jesus. I'm a sky girl without a doubt. hahaha. I find funny shapes in the clouds, take (horrible) pictures of sunsets, and love to be up close for fireworks shows. I don't know if it's the hugeness of the sky or the natural beauty always on display there. Psalm 19:1 tells us the glory of God is reflected in the heavens. If the skies are just a reflection, how amazing will His glory be when we see Him face to face? It's a concept that I have a hard time trying to imagine.
That night, I realized something super wonderful.
Think of the most beautiful part of nature you've ever seen. Picture a sunset, a grand canyon or an ocean that looks like tin foil. Imagine a rainstorm, a waterfall, or the wintry peaks of the Alps. Now listen to this!~ all those things reflect His glory, but the most beautiful places in the world aren't made in His image.

You and I are.

What you and I have to offer this world~ the way we can engage out culture with the love of the Savior of the universe~ will be more beautiful than an California sunset. People may catch a glimpse of His glory when they see a breathtaking sky, but they learn about His character by watching you and me. That's an awesome responsibility, an incredible honor, and a gentle reminder that He loves us most of all.
When Jesus called us the light of the world, He meant the kind of light that staggers and inspires; the kind of light that shines mercy, compassion, and forgiveness into people's hearts. It's His love that shines through us. We can expose the sin and hurt and pain and poverty people struggle with, and help end it! We can get up, move to a new table or chair, and talk to someone we really don't know.
We really can find a way out of the addictions and obsessions that keep us in a chokehold of defeat... all because of His work on the cross. When He has chosen me before the foundation of the earth to be His daughter, and when He lives in inside my heart, there's no limit to what He can do through me.
I think it's great to have a role model. I have plenty of them. But this summer, my goal is to reflect Jesus more than I ever have before. In Romans 12:2, Paul reminds us to stop getting caught up in comparisons, and start transforming into Christ's likeness.
I have only one thing to say to my fellow sunset lovers and cloud watchers~ the sunsets He paints across the heavens are one more reminder of the potential we have to make our lives a reflection of His love. The way you feel when you look at a sunset is only a teeny tiny taste of the love, joy, and compassion God feels when He looks at you.

I am waiting with great anticipation to see how Jesus works in you and I this summer.

~Lyss

Prayer.

Prayer is sweet to my soul.
Prayer is communication with my one true Love.
Prayer is humbling.
Prayer is my favorite part of the day.
Prayer is honest.
Prayer is convicting.
Prayer is fulfilling.
Prayer is exciting.
Prayer is filled with anticipation.
Prayer is unity among friends.
Prayer is acknowledging God's goodness.
Prayer is vocal and silent.
Prayer is reverent.
Prayer is a gift.
Prayer is without agenda.
Prayer is a lifestyle.
Prayer is a celebration.

PRAYER.

Is the way you pray honoring Jesus?

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.