Physically Tired, Spiritually Awake --- Passion Part 1

     This past weekend has wrecked me in so many ways! My friends and I left on New Years Eve for a road trip to Atlanta, Georgia, for the Passion conference. On our way up, something that you would want to be nothing more than a dream, became our reality. Just 30 minutes away from our destination, we were involved in a car accident. A lady who was sitting at a red light, two lanes away from us, was trying to crossover into the turning lanes to get back on the interstate. Hard to see the upcoming vehicles, another driver waved at the lady to go ahead. As we were coming up to the light to turn, our vehicles collided and we were T-boned and pushed into oncoming traffic. Everything happened so quickly, and slamming on the breaks was my only option. By the grace of God, my passengers, myself, and the lady who hit us are all okay. My car...well, not so much lol. As I began to ponder over the next hour what had just happened, I noticed one of many God details. If my car would not have stopped just when it did...seconds later, my passengers doors would have been hit head on and crushed. God is not done with us!

     As the days went on, it just seemed like a series of unfortunate events for my friends and I. Fear and anxiety, homesickness, sinus infections, devastating news, and the list goes on. We left a couple days before the conference for some time to explore. Walking around downtown Atlanta, on New Years, was not thought out very well as most everything was closed for the holiday. Determined to find a local coffee shop....mapping them out on our phones, walking for hours in circles, finding out they are closed or no longer in business was exhausting. At this point, getting in the car to find a Starbucks was a necessity. After consuming the most important meal of the day, COFFEE, we journeyed to a hippy town called, "Little Five Points." Walking out of another coffee shop for round two, because two is obviously better than one, the Holy Spirit was speaking to me. I began to tell the girls the perspective I had which was, "Satan is pissed! He is doing and will continue to do, everything he can to destroy our weekend." In saying this, we became even more excited for Passion, knowing that God was going into "God mode" this weekend!! Not letting our faith and foundation be shaken, our feet to stumble, and our hearts to become hardened, but by pressing in to the steadfastness of God, we were victorious!

For Part 2, click on the link below...

New Year, New Places --- Passion Part 2

My Heart Overflows

    Recently I have been finding myself looking back on past seasons of my life and comparing them to where I am now. I have seen so many changes, and things that I had never expected. I have been through some hard times, as I am sure you have too. During some of the seasons of struggle and pain, I wasn’t sure I would make it. But something happens during those seasons. When I look back, there is a beauty to it all that takes my breath away! I have learned to breathe deeper, love longer, and hope more than ever before. And after a while I realized, although I don’t want to go through those things again, I wouldn’t change them for the world. What I have learned, I consider priceless...

     God takes no joy in our pain, but it means so much when we turn to Him in the midst of it. He finds no pleasure in our exhaustion, but is fulfilled when we choose to rest in Him. There is no delight for Him in our fear or heartache, but only when we come to Him for strength and peace. It doesn’t bring God happiness when we are hateful and hurtful, but it is His greatest joy when we humble ourselves and lay our shame at His feet. ("The fountain of Your pleasure is found in the sacrifice of my shattered heart before You. You will not despise my tenderness as I humbly bow down at Your feet." Psalm 51:17)

     “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

     Thank you God for all seasons of life! Without them, how would we know the depth of Your love, faithfulness, mercy, and grace? May we trust and seek Your will, no matter the cost. Amen.