God's Got HOT Chicks!

It was a by accident (yet God Appointed of course) that I caught a glimpse on TV of 100 Huntley Street a few weeks ago.  It was the young woman I knew on the other side of the screen drew me in.  Shauna.  Beloved precious Shauna, who I had come to know when I was in Ontario working with young women in their pursuits of finding and following God.  

Shauna is a dynamo from an affluent family, incredibly talented, beautiful inside and out I just knew God had a high calling for her.  When I moved to Kelowna to be a Pastor I God feel the Spirit nudging me at times to connect with her to which I called her and then it would get less frequent emails and in time we lost touch and yet I still thought of her.  One time she even came to Kelowna on a conference and tried to get together and my schedule was too full….. shame on me.  I am so embarrassed to admit that but it is true. 

For now, in this very moment as I saw her confess on national television although being a leader she was struggling and didn’t really have anyone she could trust to share with and oh… how my heart broke. 

How convicted I was that I didn’t reach to her more.   Her tears and words pierced my very soul as my eyes fill with my own tears. 

I  KNOW the ones that stand up and out for Christ are more brutally attacked and as leaders they have few that they can be real with… I know it… it’s lonely.  And as I watched her with such remorse in my selfish heart it broke before God for His forgiveness and that I do even now need to step up to the plate to similar young ladies especially. 

As I listened to her, I was so blessed to see how God had brought her through and now she had a godly husband and was stepping out again.  Shauna.. beloved Shauna… please forgive me for not standing with you, for not giving you more of myself at a time you needed a woman’s ear, support, love and understanding.  You are precious to me.  Truly.

So … from there my confession was indeed heard, for God usually quite quickly will test me in this by giving me another chance.  A similar beloved young woman who has given herself to God in working and living at an Orphanage in Haiti wanted to get together as she was here for a few days.  Despite having a packed schedule.. I MADE time… and sure enough.. here across the table this beautiful young lady confesses to me the realness of her struggles and yet her undying love for Christ… so precious to me.  I prop her up and fill her with HIS truth and I can feel her spirit leaves again refreshed and encouraged back to Haiti.

It doesn’t stop there.  Then I am stirred more locally as randomly I get these young women in my own hometown with emails… confessions.. concerns.. frustrations… some I can just look at and hug them and my discernment can see the battle…sigh… and I’m frustrated at how the enemy is all over these young single beautiful God fearing young women.  How he loves to isolate and have at them, literally I feel like just beating up their spirits. Uggghhhhh 

I bring it/them to God.  We talk.  And then in obedience I know I need to pull them all together and speak LIFE to them encourage them, fight WITH them and share my own life more intimately.  And so I send out the specific call to these ladies if they are interested I would work with them and we would go deeper in things of truth as we do life together. 

I am then convicted to open this to the other pastors that I know if they have a couple leading young ladies in their flock that could use some pouring into.  Desiring to be ONE church is what I’m about, because God is.  The pastors are supportive and even thankful.

I write all this because this group of girls.. BLOWS ME AWAY…. Truly.  I am so blessed to be in their company to see the real rawness of their hearts flow so tenderly and yet the inner strength and beauty that is growing so strong in all of them.  I believe I am actually presenting these ladies to God as a personal offering of worship.  Pure beautiful, noble women… on reserve for God to give as gifts to young men that are worthy of their inner and outer beauty.  TRULY.  A woman of noble character who can find?  She is worth far more than rubies.  Proverbs 31. 

God gave me a promise years ago that I read once a month… “I will lead virgins in my train with joy and gladness to the King and my sons will be princes in the land”(Psalm 45:14-16).  I do believe, despite all that is going on in society God indeed has a remnant of His own that is arising.  Noble and worthy ones that exude a purity that indeed sets them apart as God desires it to!  These girls I shall fight for…. And yes, young men that are reading this …be encouraged, they DO EXIST.  But just know you shall indeed need to prove your devotion and love to God for they are indeed falling in love with Christ.  The more Christ like they sense you to be, the better odds of your fragrance intoxicating their souls.   Christ isn’t some ancient man in a long gown and unruly long hair…  HE’S every once of beauty in perfection in a man you can imagine.  Trust me on that… in heaven I’ll look at you and say “I told you!!!”  J  Sound crazy… hmmm, than you’re not the guys.  Sound inspiring … perhaps there is hope for you!  I am praying for them “dream guys” already.  I have a list.  I know when we delight ourselves in the Lord He indeed gives us the desires of our hearts.  I know it because His word says it and He gave me ROGER. 

God is faithful when we are faithless… He loves us without strings attached.  He desires always to give us what is best for us… we just don’t really know how good He is. 

I now understand when Paul says..  “my brothers(Sisters), you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown”…..Philippians 4:1

These girls are moving my heart in deep ways.  Our joy and crown ought to come from pouring into others and seeing the light and love of Christ transform people.

Shauna…. I am sorry for not being there for you but I thank you for sharing your story that God would accept my repentance with actions by turning towards these young babes reaching with protective arms of love.  Bless you, dear princess of Him. 

Check out what God is doing through Shauna….  www.notwhoIwas.com

Her interview   http://test.100huntley.com/video.php?id=632zVZLpLow

As for MY ladies… hmmm.. yes I may introduce you to them in time?!!  I’m thinking I may have them share even on this blog some things they are learning… so stay tuned. 

If you’ve missed an opportunity, just confess it to God and I promise He will give you another chance just be sure to obey, this blesses our Father’s heart. (Acts  26:20b)

Humbly yours, passionately HIS,

C

A Stilling Storm

I am compelled to write this as I feel the Spirit prompting me.  I respond in obedience to our great God writing before the aftermath of the “Sandy Storm”.

Today, October 29, 2012 God has brought the USA to a standstill.  He’s stopped the Campaign trail to storm HIS awakening.  HIS PRESENCE.  You see, God’s campaign stands alone!  There is no one that can compete with Him.  He’s stopped the stock exchange, closed schools, evacuated homes and workplaces, emptied stores, and literally silenced cities to remind us that there is only ONE CAMPAIGN.  It’s called God. 

Let’s think about this… we have spent countless days/money on who will be the best president to govern the US.  Who will offer the best changes??  And yet I fail to see us in North America truly acknowledge our great God, who might I add, gave us this country and its freedom.  Where is the faith that our Founders once stood on and built constitutions on?  Where is God’s word (the bible) that we used to swear solemnly on in courts before testifying?  Where are utterances of children calling on God in “The Lord’s Prayer” in schools every morning?  Why, when churches used to offer such depth to communities they now are empty buildings?  Why can’t we say CHRISTmas??? 

So we’ve removed God almost entirely, or so WE THINK WE HAVE.  Yet in this moment now… who has all the POWER?  I instantly thought of Job 37.  Read the entire FREAKING chapter and let it sink in… seriously.  I say this as much to myself as all of us!  And Canada we are not to point fingers for we too are experiencing the earth quaking reminders on the West Coast along with all the spillage that is yet to hit our country.

Oh North America…. How far we have pushed our God.  Truly.  He is SO loving, and compassionate, so merciful and patient…..(sigh).  And when He is pushed to this point it is because we have become so stiff necked and hardened that it is the only way that He can bring us back to our senses… which at this point ought to reside on our knees.

My heart is heavy and burdened… it is pained as I believe God feels right now.  He wants to love and lead us but instead we have chosen to become our own gods.  Fine mess we are in now. 

Do you think it is by accident this happens so close to  US election when they need to choose a leader?  Do you think God desires to be their/our leader?  Do you think it’s by accident it will change Halloween evening for so many with such flooding?  Do you think it’s by accident it’s a full moon tonight when tide levels are highest?  Do you think it’s by accident the Lord stills the stock market and once again the World TRADE area of New York City… you get the drift… or rather the wave that is upon us.

We cannot afford this disaster financially and yet perhaps this is what it will take to bring us to our knees in sincere repentance?

Read Job 37.  Really read it. 

And may you too fear God as I do when I read that. 

But God never leaves us without a prescription.  It’s found in 2 Chronicles 7:14,15   

If I stood running for president whether people liked it or not, my remedy would remain as God’s: “If my people, who are called by my name, humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, THEN will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  Then my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in that place.” 

I write this during the storm. I know not the end result… but my heart shall remain steadfastly humble through it all.

To Him are glory and honor and praise.  “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”  Job 1:21

A Path Less Travelled

I take sweet delight in finding hidden gems in nature that are truly “Off the Beaten Path”.  In new cities I will often avoid the “touristy” things, in order to really discern what the city is like for the locals. 

If you want to know more try asking any of the 24 that I took to Israel for 16 days!  :)  I even kyboshed the touristy spot at the Jordan River to go to a most authentic part.  Some of these events including a TRUE local Synagogue service were absolute highlights!!

Nonetheless, it often takes a lot more risk, bravery and creativity to step out into some of these unknowns.

My family has fully embraced this part of me though it can often be after a little pretend “reluctance”.  In their hearts they are game, especially in natural wilderness pursuits. 

Recently, I found a hike that was talked about outside Portland, Oregon by locals that I thought sounded interesting and so my family, with cheerful attitudes embraced!!

Needless to say, I had no idea what we were in for as we trekked down this “no signage” passageway along a river.  But that’s part of the fun.   We continue on to a huge pile of logs that need intense concentration to avoid slippage and to promote essential balance.  As we persevere I wondered if it might be too much, especially for Daniel and yet HE was over the top enthusiastic and so we press on!

                                                     Umm.... Carrie.... Are you serious??

Up and over, down and under, constantly trying to avoid the freezing cold river water. 

                                                                  Oh For the Sisterhood...

Stepping stones through the river of this wall gorged area; one can’t help but marvel standing small between such huge sheets of rocks.

                                                                     Daniel in AWE

We then realize the water was getting deeper and the stones were dissipating.  By this point Daniel was fully emerged, soaked and all loving it! He was encouraging the rest of us to get wet but it was so cold and we were fully clothed with runners and socks.   We opted to remove our shoes and continue bare foot, deeper and DEEPER.  We started to get so cold and we couldn’t see the end.   We wondered if we should go back, but our MEN declared, “NO way!  We’re going to the end!!!”  Lol  (Oh boy what I’d gotten myself into?! )

As we continued on, we all needed each other’s help at some point or another.  From holding each other’s belongings to avoid getting them wet (including a bible, which Daniel literally brought in hopes we could do one of our bible studies.  We still laugh about this!!)  to rock climb one area.  I’m trying to be so bold, literally scaling this natural rock wall, only to get stuck half way through.   My loving husband can see I could potentially kill myself, and so positioned himself in the deepest part of the water to catch me.  Yes… he caught me saving me from many scrapes.   

Nonetheless… soaked and FREEZING water past our chests…  we indeed made it to the end!!!!  All of us committed to finishing while helping each other out. 

At the end was this beautiful waterfall and you see the BEAM of light to the left that shone through to us at that moment; such a sense of the presence and awesomeness of God.  It was powerful for all of us!! 

                                                                          Boo-YAH!!

Could you just photo shop that background behind us?  Sure… BUT you will never have what each one of us carries now in our hearts forever; the incredible memory and experience.

God often uses the physical He uses to teach us of the spiritual.  This was no exception.

For the past 9 months God has given me many verses but one in particular for us as a family to hold to.  Isaiah 42:16
”I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” 

I have held to that verse even through the unknown with our family situation.  I even wrote it out and put it on a sticky note by the fridge so the whole family would have it seared in their hearts as a reminder. 

We held to His promise and He has been with us the whole time and now has opened a HUGE new door for us together. 

It’s exciting times!!!  Much like how the hike first started, I don’t know what’s all to expect and yet I KNOW … the goodness of the waterfall, His beauty, and the glory of HIS sunshine presence will yet be held by our family. 

Will it be hard work, scary, unknown, and cold?  Perhaps.  But with that shall also come the fun, rewards, excitement and exhilaration that come when we love God through obedience.

So… can I ask... Are you living for the “photo shopped” picture or does your family gush with LIFE when they look upon your pictures?  Be real with them, get wet, get dirty, step out a bit, don’t be afraid. 

Share with them what God teaches you.  Don’t try to make something up that sounds good, just share your fears, your heartaches.  But with that, share how you give them to God.   And as you do HE will make smooth your path, if you fully trust and obey.  Then tell them that too!  Boast about your great God!!   How the Spirit will unite your family in ways you wouldn’t have dreamt!! He is a show off… AND I LOVE IT!!! THERE IS NO OTHER GOD LIKE HIM.

                                                                    One of our pics :)

A Tender Teacher

As many of you are aware, Roger and I are stepping out into ministry together.  I am not at liberty to give all the details quite yet but God has opened doors and indeed affirmed us together that this is HIS desire.  So we step out boldly in faith in this new chapter for our whole family.  We are truly excited and it just continues to grow for our whole family and even those around us as they see God’s hand open doors.  God reminds me through scripture that when we follow this leading and boldly step out there will indeed be opposition.  Do you think the enemy is going to sit back and make it easy??  There has been opposition for us and yet every time, EVERY TIME I see God move on our behalf and before us.  It’s amazing.  Even things meant to harm us He turns around. 

Very soon I will be able to write more about the details of the ministry Roger and I are being called to. 

For now, I want to share a glimpse of how God teaches me, even now in this bold step of faith He is asking us to make. 

I’ve been pouring over scripture asking Him to take me back to the basics of what HE DESIRES His leaders and shepherds to look like, especially as Roger and I prepare to lead together.  I find when He teaches me from His truth a deep passion wells up within me that is hard to contain and is contagious to those around that chose to believe.  This is the power of His Spirit that spreads like wildfire. 

Too often we get our ideas by looking left and right, and I don’t want that either.  I will choose the Source, the only One.

I read in Ezekiel 34 about how the LORD is upset with the shepherds for not taking care of the flock.  “They hadn’t strengthened the weak, or healed the sick,  or bound up the injured. They had not brought back the strays or searched for the lost.  The flock became scattered because there was no shepherd and when they became scattered they became food for the wild animals.”  (Ez 34: 4-5) 

Then again in the New Testament, Matthew 9: 36-38 Jesus’ response is:  “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’ ”

I began to ask Him to show me more of what this looks like, now a days.

Jesus’ idea of shepherding isn’t just standing and preaching on Sunday.  NO it’s so much more….LOVING His flock, caring for them, sharing their pain and helping them. 

I went out for my morning run into nature, which you know I love.  (Deep into the remote nature the more I can sense the presence of God.)  As I was out just worshipping and talking with God about even our kids and their day ahead at school I was stopped dead in my tracks as I witness a large deer hit, head on by a Big Black Escalade.  I couldn’t believe I was seeing this right before me!!  It was 40 yards in front of me. 

The deer flew up in the air, landed on its back and tried 3 times to flip itself around back on to its feet.  It struggled so intensely I didn’t know what to do.   Breathless, I watched, feeling so helpless for her.  “How is she going to flip over??”

“How can I help her?”  My thoughts are racing…

 The Escalade and its tinted windows drove around her and left!!!!  I couldn’t believe it.  Then the deer finally with all her strength got on her feet.  She hobbled off the road into the bushes and I felt so so sad.  I still couldn’t even move. 

Still in shock that I was close to all of this, and yet it’s not over there on the other side of the road appears the baby deer.  He just stood there… literally on the side of the road and kept looking both ways.

Then he looked at me with eyes that seem to cry “Where did my mom go??” 

Deer won’t stand still for long especially with a human only feet away, but there he stood and looked at me longingly. 

I wanted to show him, to lead him to his mom but all I could do is fill up with tears.  Then finally the baby crossed the road and back in the bushes I could see him standing with his hurt mom as she limped away. 

I just stood there watching them, so sad, knowing I couldn’t help them.  Also knowing now the mom would be easier prey for wild animals. 

And as I stood there so helpless yet full of compassion… for DEER  I wondered why?  And then His Spirit showed me that this type of compassion is needed for the many many souls all around me that need to be cared for.   Not just that but how they need to get to know and trust the Shepherd. 

I spent the rest of my run asking Him to continue to burn in me this passion for His flock that Roger and I would indeed be faithful to care and protect the flock He is giving us, through His love and power within us. Oh, that they would see the GOOD Shepherd in and through us and trust Him. 

Savior like a shepherd lead me, much I need Thy tender care. 

NO ONE… I mean NO ONE… does “Tender” like Jesus does.

He’s teaching me “Tender Leading”.

Jesus, Son of God

I sit here at my dining room table after hours, truly hours, undisturbed in His presence.  Breaking bread, reading scripture, praying, memorizing Ephesians, listening to a new worship cd I just bought, (White Flag- Passion) and keep listening to “Jesus, Son of God”.  (What an anointed worship leader is Chris Tomlin.  Thank you Chris for your heart so close to God that He would pour himself through you to draw His worshippers to the throne.)

As I sit here… I am just so overwhelmed.  Tears pouring down my cheeks…. I just look at all God has given us in His One and Only and I am so humbled.  How much pain Christ endured for us to be free.  I know I don’t know the full weight of my own sin, nor does my heart know the worth of our Lord.  How my perfect King could even LIE down on a wooden cross… I can’t even imagine that humbling part of being naked and lying himself on it.  (Tears flood me…) He so willingly, lovingly endured such excruciating pain for me, for us.  This is the gospel.  The good news.  It’s our gift.  This is the gospel Paul reminds us “I became a SERVANT to this gospel” Eph 3:7. 

Am I servant to this gospel?  Am I a slave to Christ now out of love and devotion?  Do I desire His will over mine?? 

I am so convicted that we live like Gods here, especially in North America.  That we water down the truth to fit what our itching ears want to hear.  We take God when he fits in to our schedule.  When I look around, I find myself so saddened at what has become of us.  When God has blessed us so much and we carry on like we’ve done it all.  I am embarrassed to the point of tears as I sit before our Almighty God this morning and I find myself saying, “I’m sorry Lord.”  “ I’m so sorry.” 

My prayer lately as I read scripture is, “Show me Christ.”  “Reveal Him to me.”  I’ve also been asking more for God to show me what concerns Him and what He cares about.  That Christ through me now would consume me with God’s affairs rather than my own fleshly desires. 

And in this moment, right now, He has me simply humbled in worship as I’m reminded of our Fearless leader who laid himself down on the cross; Jesus, Son of God.

“Father, for your One and Only Son, Jesus.  Thank you.  Continue to teach and reveal to me His worth.”

“Jesus for physically lying down for me, it’s my turn.  I shall be devoted to you for life.” 

“Holy Spirit that allows me to feel, and know the fellowship of His sufferings though even in part, how I love your presence in and through me.  Continue to have your way in me.  I am yours.”  

"Out of This World" Olympics

I enjoy watching the Olympics for several reasons, which may not be the normal ones. 

Firstly it truly is REALITY TV.  The authentic joy and disappoint is at complete opposite ends of the spectrum and so genuine you can’t help but be moved by it.   You’ve got the world’s best athletes, having dedicated their lives in intense training witnessing their one shot at the title.  No pressure… :)

As I watch all these styles of athletes with all different backgrounds/countries represented, male and females I am moved to watch such diversity come together in one place.  The best of this time gathered all together to compete for the Gold. 

As I sat back and pondered this stadium full of people gathered together competing to be the best I wondered what God thought of all of this. 

Does He look upon His masterpieces of human muscle, strength, co ordination and think…”I sure knit those humans together masterfully”?  Does He look at the perseverance and the determination and think, “Yes… the beautiful minds I created, so determined and focused to compete under this pressure”?

Games, challenges, ceremonies and celebrations, have been around for ancient of days.  There is something in our human nature that delights, in witnessing or participating in such.  I believe God enjoys these things too.  He did set up 3 annual festivals (Ex 23:14-19) With the purpose of bringing people together to celebrate either remembering the good things He’s done or being thankful.  God made us in His image.  Sometimes we forget that.  We worship our bodies and our own strength as if we made ourselves.  We can admire and appreciate but turn our eyes towards the Creator of such that we would be thankful.

As I watched more of the Olympics, I was so inspired on a spiritual level.  I wondered what elite “Faith Athletes” exist for this generation if God were to chose them out of each country?   Who are the serious ones, just like these athletes, that set themselves apart from normal people to be consumed by strict training and to literally set themselves apart as they dedicate themselves to train with the die hards, competing, practicing, learning constantly to one day perform at the Olympics.

I thought of how much more serious beyond our own flesh is our spirit.  The flesh counts for nothing, but the Spirit is eternal God says. (John 6:63) So what does our spirit look like before God right now?  Do we present them, finely oiled, in the best shape they’ve been in?  Just like the athletes in their strong forms, is my spirit strong?? 

Instantly I thought of God’s words, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last; but WE do it to get a crown that will last forever.”  (1 Cor 9:24-26)

I imagined God’s spiritual Olympics.  How I long to compete for Him. How I long to aggressively pursue His training in a way that I know I will be set apart even if others don’t get it.  I want to compete so aggressively for God.  I want give Him my best.  I really do. 

Is it easy?… NO.  Are you kidding?!  These athletes over the course of years and years must chose not to give up but rather persevere even when it’s hard.  Sometimes even despite injuries.   They will lose, over and over again, but they go back and try again and eventually they are brought out to compete with the world’s best.  It is no different with our own faith journeys. 

This thought totally inspired me. 

“Lord I want to be able to present myself to you as a SERIOUS Faith Athlete that you would delight in….”  I thought how does this happen?…

1.  God’s word..”TRAIN yourself to be GODLY.  For physical training is of some value, but GODLINESS has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”  (1 Tim 4:8)

I started to think of the parallels.  These athletes had a gift/talent recognizable as something extraordinary. 

God’s true children are given a deposit of His Holy Spirit.  This seals their hearts and is a divine gift/TALENT God’s deposited for His purpose.

These gifted athletes could sit back and watch TV all their life, wasting it as they throw back potato chips or they can make a choice to go into training.  From the things they eat, the sleep they need, the lack of partying, the intense training, the extra hours needed to stay on top of schooling, the support around them, qualified coaches, etc.  They literally set themselves apart from the normal way of life.

As God’s kids we don’t belong here.  We are to be in the world but not OF it.  To set ourselves apart as this deposit of His Spirit moves us towards GODLINESS.  Step by step.  Godliness is simply GOD LIKE NESS.  We begin to fill our spirits with the best nourishment of His word and then His Spirit through us helps us to begin to apply it.  We will make mistakes constantly but we learn and add on from that.  How to speak, how to hold our tongue. to control our eyes, our lusts, our evil desires by working this gift within us to become stronger and stronger in these areas.  Cravings and evil desires no longer master or control us.  We become free and then apt to be more proactive with a power that we are given.

2.  The coaches around these athletes are the best.  They’ve been there and done it.  The athletes take their advice, teaching, correcting, to develop more.  They are often more experienced and older people teaching the younger.  Not always but often.  Interesting.

So is it with faith.  Older teach the younger.  Train them up, come alongside them and speak into their life.  Think of Paul to Timothy, Naomi to Ruth, Moses to Joshua, etc.  This is a key part to help this talent in a young inexperienced one, develop.  To inspire, encourage them, stretch them, teach them… (This even applies in Elders to a Pastoral role that is so key to a church)

Some are going to argue with me.. it’s all grace and there’s nothing we can do.  It is grace that saved us … no doubt.  Nothing we can do to earn that.  It was God’s gift to us, but now we can sit back and let that gift be wasted lying on the coach OR we can get up and chose to spend the time wisely to train ourselves to be godly and allow that gift to increase.  This shows our love to God in what He’s given us that we might live our lives in obedience now to that call.

Peter reminds us of this.  “God’s divine POWER has given us everything we need for life and GODLINESS through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  V. 5 For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith… goodness, goodness, knowledge”…etc…  2 Peter 1.3,5-8 Check out the list that is a process.  And the v. 9 says, if you increase in these they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive.” 

God reaches His hand to us but we NEED to reach for His.  He will help us as He’s given us all we need as a deposit within, but we NEED TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.  Just as every athlete we see has made a choice to go into strict training and it wasn’t just yesterday, it’s taken time.  Devoted time.

A great sadness to me is: True Christians who don’t fully understand the gift of God that is deposited in them.  He’s given you of himself!!!!  His Holy Spirit. When you begin to sense and KNOW CHRIST in you…. There’s no turning back.  It’s AWESOME.   This is mystery of Christ that Paul wrote about so much. 

This CHRIST has received the GOLD already!  HE’s won.  NOW He wants to train you to see and know all that He has accomplished.  Work with Him, devote yourself even now, submit to Coach Christ and the things of this world will grow strangely dim.  My eyes are on the prize of the Heavenly Olympics…. Beholding our CHRIST in all His glory as He crowns us with eternal life. 

A Divine Delicacy

I find it interesting as people get older their experiences in life lead them to develop an appreciation for finer things that you don’t have growing up.  For instance, think of fine steaks done to perfection, a rare aged full-bodied wine, higher thread count resulting in luxurious bed sheets and towels.  How about the exhilarating driving power behind an Aston Martin or a new found height in skiing Whistler when you grew up on Blue Mountain in Ontario?  What about true designer clothes that last longer and fit to perfection or fine china, caviar, or the feel of those PING clubs. Think of rare beautiful places you’ve seen and someone that hasn’t been has no idea? You get my point.  Our senses become heightened to those finer things in life.  Our awareness and understanding then is that much greater as well.   If we like it, we think of it with fond memories and try to make it happen more often!  It’s the power of experience that only comes with time and then the understanding and wisdom that expands that portfolio of experiences to become some of your favorite delights and most sought-after continued experiences going forward.

I thought of a chef using exquisite spices, countless hours, delicacies from around the world, that he prepared for appetizers for this party but as the guests arrived many engaged into conversation and the fun atmosphere only the guest who had a divine appreciation for the time, effort and elements and even developed taste buds would really appreciate the rare treasure this was.  From the way they observe the chef, examine the appetizers, from sight, smell, taste; they would savor every bite and for sure engage in conversation with the chef.  While others may just throw a few back without even give it a second thought.    

So what am I getting at….

I began to just worship God the other day, meditating on the passage I just read and the ultimate glory of God and His Son Jesus.  How in John 17 when Jesus is praying to the Father, He LONGS for the glory He had with the Father before the world began and asks right off the top that He would glorify His Son again with that glory.  Then He gets excited in his prayer to show those with Him the full extent of His glory that will be in heaven. 

It blows when I look to the heavens and realize I cannot fathom all that is in the universe of our God; this spiritual realm with our God and His Son seated on a throne!!! When we read of the encounters of humans that experience this like Isaiah, John or Ezekiel they’re response is rather drop dead like, shocked, fall on their face, speechless… it’s just awesome!!  It’s a realm an awesomeness that our frail minds can hardly understand. 

So when I think of some of the most wonderful things in life all put together I am reminded that God created ALL of that.  Every sense in its full euphoria is only a taste of heaven and truly being united with Jesus.  I believe this with all I am and when I was thinking on this I was humbled truly.  The more I understand the more that is revealed the more I just fall in humble love and adoration just so thankful.  Why did HE choose me?  Why do I know the truth? 

Not only do I know the truth but also as I press into the deepness of all God through His word, and relationship, I am left craving more of the delicacies of His glory.  I don’t even want to compare to another Christian’s experience with God.  It’s not about that; it’s about TRULY KNOWING God.  The more we know the more He teaches us, the more we apply His knowledge by the leading of His Spirit which is always opposite our flesh, and THEN… more of HIM is given to us.  That is called wisdom. 

Please let me encourage you to get into His word. Talk to Him, life is a journey.  Don’t stand still missing out on more of His delicacies that could be yours!  He will meet you and reveal more of His glory to you and you will then host it as reflectors to who He is.  Then people look at your life and witness His love, His glory, and KNOW it’s something different.  Our citizenship has changed.  We belong in heaven where we are headed and therefore have become aliens here on earth.  This is right.

I’m craving more of the deep things of our great God and His glory.  Aren’t you done with the pabulum?   Press in … there you will find even Ruth’s Chris cant’ compete!

Taste and See that HE is amazing!!  Psalm 34:8

His glory swallows my euphoria. 

Yes, I am addicted to His presence.

Crazy in love,

c

Trial or Not, I Want What You Got!

When trials and tribulations come (oh and they will) where do we turn??  Really?  We have 2 choices.  One is towards God or away from Him.  We reach to Him more: talking, crying out to Him, reading His word to find comfort in similar shared experiences in it OR we put Him aside, forgetting about Him, and reaching to our own instincts and resolutions to fix things or distract ourselves.

David says in the Psalms "He sent forth His word at it healed them."  Is our hope in HIS words or others?  Do we believe enough, knowing our prayers are actually deep conversations with a God who controls everything or do we simply pray because that's what we're supposed to do???  Be honest.

He's God and He's promised to be close to the brokenhearted(Ps 34:18).  Do you believe this?  I do.  I really do.  And I think one of the greatest references that we can ever ask in life is our own family.  Our spouse and our children, as they live with us day in and day out and witness more than we even know.  Our number one place of evangelism and discipleship starts in our home.  And not as much as by what we say but rather what we say AND DO aligned together.  Paul reminds us of this key prerequisite in leaders and overseers that they must manage their homes well.  "He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)  1 Tim 3:4,5  

I say this because it's been through my own trials that again the Lord has shown me the importance of family before Him.  It's an institution that God has ordained and how it is so strongly under attack in society.  Not only that, but so over looked and dismissed as hard work, or not exciting, or not glamorous BUT I am reminded through God's eyes that it is His desire that we would pour more of our efforts into being a husband and wife that are a foundation for our children through God and that we would teach and do life with our children helping them apply their faith.

So as I study more deeply in my own time, Ruth I am once again awestruck at all Naomi loses.  Wow.... that woman had serious heartache and devastation.  From famines, moving, husband dies, sons marry foreign women against their faith, then both sons die 10 years later.... wow... can you imagine??  So she turns to go back to Bethlehem with her 2 daughter in laws.  Not an easy or short trip through the desert with just the 3 ladies.  They start on the journey and it is during the journey that Naomi releases the very last thing she has to hold on to, her 2 girls.  Wow... again....

How she inspires me even in this gesture.  Both girls love her and are crying.  Powerful.  Two foreign daughters in law who aren't even blood relation and so one leaves with the blessing.  But the other Ruth, shows me the power of Naomi's relationship with the Lord.

Naomi tries to coax her again saying "Ruth your sister in law is going back to her gods and her people. Go back with her"!  But Ruth declares powerfully, "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.  Your people will be my people and your God MY GOD.  Where you die I will die... may the Lord deal with me if anything but death separates you and me."..... there it is.  There is the vow of a young, foreign daughter in law, who's life has been so rocked because of this woman "Naomi".

How could she give her life to this woman?  I believe she had witnessed in 10 years, a woman who no matter what life threw at her she remained faithful and loving to her God and as a result to these girls which she treated as her own flesh and blood.  Wow....

Then I started to think as mothers and fathers are we influencing our IN-Laws, Christians or not, that are inspired by our own faith journey?  Then it was if the Lord opened my eyes to see the deeper more personal revelation.... to my own step children??  Step children would fit well here.  Is there a spirit of God that fills our home and a love that I express that inspires our step children.  Don't ask the parents... ask the children.  Really.  This is my desire and hence God is moving and teaching me in this arena for in spite of my own trials I find my faith stronger than ever and my girls especially tapping into it.  For this time I may be slowed down and yet emotionally and spiritually we can talk through the many truths of being a teen girl.  God's teen Royal girls....

I usually like to be quiet with the Lord first thing and yet when Roger is away I have opted to make breakfast each morning for the children.  In this time we have good discussions.  Brea shared that the night before she was asking God about her future as we were looking at university stuff etc, and as she cried out to Him with a heavy heart He answered her with Psalm 121.  Read it.... it's awesome.  She was in awe how the whole thing related to this topic she had expressed to Him before going to sleep that night.  So I got her to get out her bible and read it aloud to Alyssa and I.  So as sisters they too can share and witness God at work in each others lives.

For mother's day that weekend Brea asked what I wanted, to which I said I didn't need anything.  (So, so true.)  I really didn't need a gift.  I actually asked them not to buy me flowers as personally the lilacs override any store bought ones.  Then she pleaded and instantly I did know what would be a gift to me.  If she memorized a chapter of the bible for me.  :)  She doesn't enjoy memorizing and thought it was a joke but I was serious.  There is nothing I could indirectly feel of more value at that moment then seeding her heart and mind with God's word.  :)  I knew it was a crazy ask, but oh well.  She asked.  I left it, not bringing it up again.

At dinner on Mother's Day, she gave me some great lululemon outfits but the best was at dessert when she shocked me by reciting the whole chapter of Psalm 121 that had blessed her so much!!  She knew how much it would mean to me.  And did it ever!!!

I have to keep her inspired though  :)... so later I recited half of Ephesians for her... I think I shocked my husband more than Brea.  lol!!  But that has been my little side project of committing that letter to heart and praying it back to God.  It is powerful.

I simply want to invest my life where the Return is beyond human measure!  That means my life and all I do shall remain centred on my God.  My Lord, my one and only.  Oh that those around us would say, "I want YOUR God to be MY GOD."

Hunger Games Has HOPE

Throughout the course of the day I have many "blog moments" in which I mostly share with my family and it's to the point where I will give an insight I have and mirror it with scripture and they will say... "I feel a blog coming on...." lol. No wonder the power of how Jesus did life and taught everyday with his disciples of things seen or experienced. It's powerful. I just wish sometimes there was more time in a day in which I could express more or give myself more to teaching/writing/speaking etc... all pulled from the lense of truth scripture.

So I'll take a recent one that I didn't share with the family yet.... lol!! As they'll just have to come to the blog to get it. ;)

Roger and I were wanting to bless the kids with whatever they would like to do for family night ended up getting roped into the viewing of Hunger Games. Both Roger and I had no desire to go see it BUT we did give it to the kids to choose. They SO wanted to see it we opted to experience it all together. Believe it or not, they wanted to see it with us rather than on their own. I suppose I should've been more excited. What did intrigue me though, was once again digging into their world of what they were so excited about so I could relate and share truths with and discuss etc. All our kids had read the book prior and that too had me curious. They LOVED the book. Roger and I had no idea what the story was about.

We have this family tradition in which we always debrief a theatre movie as a family as to how we liked it and also what really stuck out to everyone. They usually leave me to the end as I'm usually more intense?? lol! I know... I know .... you that know me are laughing already.

Anyways... couple thoughts....
1. I was intrigued at how much more insight the kids had from reading the book. As Roger and I asked specific questions they would go on to give us more understanding and history that was hard for us to see and pick up in a short amount of time obviously. It blessed me to hear them go off on tangents about certain situations and the passion that would arise. Or even how they said they knew deeper thoughts that were going on in the characters minds having read the book that we had no clue about.
And then I really saw the power of scripture. How reading God's word and really knowing it allows us to see "the movie of life" with deeper understanding. We can see so much more depth behind certain "scenes" when we really KNOW the word of God. Hebrews 4:12 "The word of God is.... a discerner of intents and motives of the heart..." Hence understanding more what a person is thinking in everyday life based on the true facts we pick up through scripture and coupling them with the actions we are seeing.

NOTHING.. absolutely... nothing in my life replaces my desire to search, to know, to understand the word of God... it is so powerful. They are the very words and wisdom of God!!! What a gift it is to us to be treasured and immersed in, that life would be so much more than shallow and surfacey. I confess to be true, the more I am in it, the more I can truly discern others thoughts and motives of the heart... again you can ask my family. It helps with the lying... lol. For the most part people, start to give up because you can see deeper.... anyways that's another blog.

2nd thing. There is ONE line that stuck out to me above all. It was brilliant... you know why because it's theme is SCRIPTURAL... hence TRUE. ;)

"Hope... it is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective. A lot of HOPE is dangerous."

ohh... I loved it. True?? Absolutely! Think about it. A heart without hope in anything is sickened in despair. Crushed. (Prov 13:12) Three remain... Faith, HOPE and love. (1 Cor 13:13) Now I do believe hope isn't the only thing that is stronger than fear, I believe LOVE is too. God says that. But LOVE always HOPES which is interesting. (1 Cor 13:7) But a lot of HOPE is dangerous... YES!! I agree.

There are so many examples of those who have gone before us gallantly all had a HOPE. King David despite running for his life from Saul many times filled his psalms with "turning his hope constantly to God." Look up hope in the Psalms it's all over! "His hope was in God's unfailing love." Psalm 33:18

There is one though that takes all the glory, honor and praise as the example of this. Jesus himself. Especially as we come to Easter this weekend watch the Passion of the Christ again. Watch it with your whole family. How can anyone endure such physical abuse, and death, even death on a cross WHEN He had the power at any moment to be released? Any moment. God had given Him all of that and yet HE still under went such prolonged agony, pain and sorrow. The final blow was His own Father having to turn His back on Him as He bore all OUR SIN... OUR freakin' Sin... it should have been ME.... but HIM... so innocent... why??? Because "He had HOPE." "For the JOY??? (Are you kidding??) set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2.
Eph 1:19,20) even when He told the Pharisees, "destroy this temple and I will raise it up". His focus was on His Father, doing His will, the glory that He had with HIS FATHER before the world began... look at his prayer in John 17. He can't wait to show His disciples the glory, the goodness that He was going to again. It's so so beautiful to me.
And now what are we told to do to "Fix our eyes on our JESUS".... nothing else. JESUS. Heb 12:2. He's the one that opened the way for us to taste and see and experience His glory, the Father. It is the only way. Jesus, the way, truth and life.

Be honest... where is your hope?? Really? Is it sidetracked? Has it been more focused on your career, promotion, a raise, an inheritance, a gift, your spouse, an upcoming marriage, a proposal, the right boy/girlfriend, a date, our kids' sports, our kids' academics, winning something, our physical bodies, strength or beauty, our car, our homes, a vacation, the next wave of technology...etc..etc... I could go on... but be honest with yourself. All of these things will let you down. They are temporary in all respects and then you will become depressed or saddened when perhaps they don't work out the way you want...

There is one who has a promise of eternity, and unfailing love. One who will never leave you nor forsake you. His name is Jesus. When we give our hearts to Him truly, you know what happens we are given our deposit of Jesus, the HOLY Spirit, that guarantees our inheritance. He truly becomes our HOPE of Glory as we learn to fellowship with Him everyday living and dwelling in our hearts.

"Christ in you is your HOPE of Glory." Col 1:27

Remember the quote.... "Hope is stronger than fear. A little is effective.. a lot is dangerous."

I have no fear of death for my hope is my JESUS. And yes, that makes me quite dangerous to the enemy!!

( I think I wrote a novel .... but I wanted you to have the whole truth. Besides that I was getting fired up over here imagining the glory that we will behold in heaven. The glory of the one and only...)

JESUS

"My HOPE is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness."

What Does God Want From Me?

I've spent some considerable time in quiet solitude, probably more than I ever have actually.  In this time I find myself pressing more into God then usual.  Not just reading or studying but BEING with Him.  Speaking, dialoguing, learning, loving, listening, watching, observing, etc...  Truly the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is so incredibly sweet unfortunately we don't really immerse in it as we are so often distracted by the many things in our days.  But wow... I find my dreams, my thoughts, the way He teaches me something as we watch from a distance and then confirms it the next day in His word, just leaves me baffled.  I don't know whether to cry or laugh sometimes?

I simply say this, as I've realized more than ever in these past few months... He really doesn't NEED me.  He doesn't NEED MY ministry, MY efforts to accomplish anything, He doesn't NEED me to do anything really.... this has been humbling, incredibly.  But in my letting go... He has given me more of the greatest gift that He's longed to give me and wants to give each of us, the gift of HIS presence.  You see... HE DESIRES ME.  Just desires ME... to BE with Him.  My undivided attention, to be HIS.  In this, together, the delight He gives, I have nothing on earth I can compare with.  When I speak and listen to Him more than any other media source, or other opinion I find myself taking on His thinking, His ways, His way of speaking, His priorities and more than that I find myself falling more in love with Him.  My heart has never longed for heaven more than it does in this very moment.  I long for my faith to become sight and to behold the perfection of beauty in His gaze that melts me instantly and all things that once were meaningful become meaningless.  When the ache of my heart's longing is finally forever fulfilled.. I can't even imagine!

Look at anyone who encounters God or even heavenly spiritual beings (angels) and how nothing else matters but they are left in awe!  From Moses for 40 days undisturbed, unmoved but basking in the glory of God's presence on Mount Sinai.  Isaiah in his awestruck wonder as he falls before the throne in awe and feeling so unworthy.  Or John in Revelation falls in bewilderment as one dead, until the Lord places His hand on him and tells him not to be afraid (Rev 1:17)  I could go on, but you know it.

Sadly I find more than ever, we seem wrapped up with things that are so meaningless... and yet there is a spiritual kingdom, a spiritual world that is called ETERNITY in which we ought to be focused on.

So what ought to be my focus?  While I am here on earth for such a short time, my desire is to redirect so many to the glory of our Lord.  How?  By releasing the glory that He gives to me when we are fresh in relationship.  That the overflow of our LOVE relationship would simply spill to onlookers everywhere.
To just allow OUR relationship to be so real in every aspect of my life that people KNOW I am zealous for my Lord.  From my family, to my finances, to even how I deal with problems and situations arise, to my presence and encountering with strangers, children, etc.  When you are truly smitten by something in life it becomes your priority and everything around it points to that.

I was reminded of this simply in the story of the widow who gave only 2 coins into the offering (Mark 12:41) and though many would judge her, Jesus used her to teach his very own disciples from a distance that she had given out of her poverty.  She gave all she had to live on.  This fascinated me.  Here this woman was simply in love with her God.  To give all she had she trusted no on more than Him and she proved it silently but faithfully as she gave her offering that week.  She just a had a relationship with Him that was true and HER PRIORITY.  She wasn't preaching, or making a big fuss about it all, she just loved Him.

Now the part that really intrigued as I meditated on it was that Jesus was using this poor little woman that the world would shove aside to teach the 12 great disciples!  Wow... can you imagine?  I want to live a life that the Lord could use me as an example to others of how I love Him.  I have so far to go, but that is my desire.

The last thought He left me with was this.  "Carrie, I never addressed that woman publicly.  She never knew in that moment I was using her to teach my 12.  Remember that.  For it is in the unseen things that I often can bring glory to myself.  Keep your head down and focus simply on US and I will do the rest.  I love you.... (i am overcome even now as i write this and tears stream down my face....)"

I feel physically I have nothing right now... and yet in my heart I have never felt more loved in my life.  I long to be in the arms of the one that held them open on the cross for me.  To kiss the hands that took those harsh nails for me... for me,,,, Oh Lord... you are my beloved.

May my tears that spill all over my face be offered to you even this morning as a token of my love and deep admiration....

There is none like you.  none.

sigh...
c