Cloud by Day - Jason Upton

I love this song!

Happy Birthday to MMMEEE!!

 

      Yesterday was my birthday! My age will remain a secret (ha-ha)! Maybe it's just a girl thing, but every year my birthday stirs up mixed emotions within me. It feels weird to get older. I feel blessed that God's given me another year to live, love and laugh, but at the same time there is a little bit of sadness and honestly, fear. It's a little scary to get older, at least for me. I wonder if I'm doing enough, if I'm on track or falling behind or if I measure up? So many questions and worries have been bombarding me around my birthday the past few years. I've been in prayer for the Lord to help me work through these things. I truly want to enjoy my birthdays from the deepest places of my heart, not just the surface.

     My mom is my "bestest" friend in the whole world! She always goes above and beyond to make me feel special on my birthday. After teaching the toddlers 1st and 2nd service at church, my parents, my fiance and I all went out to lunch. It was great spending time all together. After that, we went to my parent's house for gifts and cupcakes. I had told Newman about a cute cupcake place in the city a few weeks earlier and he took it upon himself to order some for my birthday. They were super pretty! I love pretty things (ha-ha)!!! Now, when it comes to taste, let's just say I wouldn't want to order there again. Newman said the manger told him the cupcakes are all natural, so they were meant to be eaten the day of, but we ate them the day after, so basically that's why they tasted gross (I make better tasting cake from the box!). I have two other cupcake places I'd like to try sometime just to compare (Newman and I were thinking we'd have a dessert bar of cupcakes for our wedding, instead of regular food. That's why I'm so interested in finding the best cupcake place.)

 

(So pretty, right?!?! I wish they tasted as good as they looked)

 

(I wanted to taste each one, and so did everyone else, so we cut them up to share)

     Monday, Newman took off of work to spend the entire day with me, on my actual birth day. It was really nice to have him for the WHOLE day! We watched a few movies, I opened the gifts he had bought and beautiful wrapped, then that evening we ordered out from one of my favorite restaurants. I felt so special! Newman bought me TWO purses I've been eying, my favorite Bath and Body works spray/lotion (Midnight Pomegranate) and TWO of my favorite movies from my childhood!

     I used to love My Girl as a little kid and The Outsiders was a mandatory read in 6th grade. For whatever reason I loved that book, and when the teacher showed us the movie at the end of the assignment I loved it even more! I guess it's the underdog thing, and looking for a place to belong. For whatever reason both movies hold a special place in my heart. So happy to own them now.

 

(This one tasted the best out of all of them, and that's not saying much (ha-ha) It's chocolate cake, with strawberry icing. I love the look of the edible pearls!!) 

     After dinner and gifts, we sat on Newman's porch for awhile and talked (I love those moments), and when Newman stepped away I couldn't help but  look up at the stars and pray. I had to thank the Lord for all He had done last year, and all I was believing for this year. He has a plan for me, and I know He will reveal His will for this year. I hope to publish 1 or 2 more books, get a few more freelance writing opportunities, lose weight, make new friends and go deeper with old friends and so much more. As we get older, we begin to realize how fast time truly goes by. I feel like I just took down the Christmas decor, and now it's almost time to put it back up. It's all going by way to fast for my liking.

     Anyway, today marks the beginning of a new year for me! I pray I can stay productive and accomplish all my faith has stirred me to do.

My Birthday Verse: "May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." - Ruth 2:12 NIV

Walking the Trails

        (The trail, sky, and bayou in the evening! It's beautiful!!! ) 

       I absolutely love walking the trails in the evening with my best friend & fiance, Newman! I love everything about it! I love the bayou, different size turtles, random deer sightings, the occasional rabbits, the green bridge, the painted sky above and most of all I LOVE the people we meet!!! Yes, the people are my absolute favorite!

          ( Newman and Winston on the green bridge over the bayou)

     You see, Newman and I walk Winston (a basset hound).  It is pretty incredible how walking a dog can start so many conversations with random people. We've met all sorts of people and a variety of dog breeds. It's so much fun chit-chatting with someone new! Just tonight, we met a preppy older woman with salt-pepper hair, a fitted hot pink Ralph Lauren polo that glowed on her sun kissed skin, pretty white sandals and perfectly manicured toenails. Her eyes met ours as we approached coming the opposite way on the trail. I think she noticed Winston's excitement over her tiny white fluff-ball of a dog, even though we were still a good ways away. When we finally got close, we asked if Winston could "say hi" to her dog. We ask just to make sure the dog's owner is okay with the dogs interacting. (Most owners happily approve, but some pass on the offer because of their dogs anti-social behavior.) When she approved, the dogs played a little and we got to talk with her about her dog and her latest vet visit. Of course, Winston charmed her by rolling at her feet - being the usual flirt.

 ( Winston (bottom) and his new friend Harley (top). We've run into Harley and his owners many times on the trail. Such a nice couple, and really sweet dog)

     These moments fill my heart with joy, because everyone seems happy. There's laughter, smiles and energized conversation. This lady is just one example of many I could give since we meet all sorts of people on each and every walk we go. Winston seems to be making friends as well, especially with the dogs we see on a regular basis.  Most importantly, we are building relationships outside of anything connected to our daily lives. I can't wait to see what God does.

 (Another cell phone picture of the beautifully painted sky we see on the trails. This is why we prefer to go in the evenings)

     Anyway, most ministry starts with relationship, and I love making relationships outside of church. Who are you being friendly to today? A simple smile can begin to build a bridge into someone's heart and eventually change their lives forever. I've found that walking a dog has opened many doors for new relationships. What do you have? Maybe a baby? An interesting job title? Your clothes? I've learned anything and everything can be used to glorify God if we let it. I know my curly hair has started many conversations with random people. The weirdest things can knock down walls and make people feel safe in approaching someone new. Pay attention to what draws people in, then do it on purpose :) :)
     Well, I can't wait to see who else we meet on the trails. It really is the highlight in my day in this season.

 (The back-end of the trail at the heat of the day! It's not so nice at this time, and almost impossible to enjoy with the heat, not to mention the drought! The bayou is almost empty and the turtles have moved on.)

Recognizing Our Influence

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.” – Proverbs 31:10-12NIV

     I’d like to highlight one area of influence that sometimes gets overlooked and that’s the influence of a wife. Most Christians know the man is the head of the home, however we often only recognize his spiritual influence over a family when a wife can just as easily rock a family’s spiritual boat if she is not grounded in God’s word. I’ve seen deeply spiritual men lose their passion for God and live lives of compromise because of a wife’s lukewarm/carnal lifestyle. 

     In one dream, the Lord spoke to my fiancé about a man he wanted to minister to, and said the man had married a fox.  In the Bible, it’s stated that the small foxes spoil the vine and that is exactly what was happening in this man’s life. His wife was allowing little compromises into their life and instead of standing up as the spiritual head of the home, the husband welcomed the compromises with open arms.  As wives (and future wives), we should recognize our influence. Are we Godly examples to our spouses or are we foxes spoiling the vine? Our role is sometimes overlooked, but it’s definitely not insignificant.  They need us! 

     On a positive note, I’ve heard testimonies of women who married ungodly men, but by using their influence correctly, actually brought their husbands to the Lord. The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:1-2 NIV, “Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,  when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.” A wife’s influence is powerful!! Our passion or lack thereof for the Lord can spill over onto our husbands (future husbands) and solidify or destroy our family’s spiritual heritage.  What we watch on TV, the words we allow out of our mouths, the conversations we entertain, the music we fill our homes with, the attitudes we carry, and places we go, have a huge affect on the men in our lives. One tiny step at a time, we are either nicking away or strengthening his Godly foundation.  

     This is especially true for young couples, because they will be spending the next 20-30-40-even 50 years together. That’s a lot of time to be “nicking away” or strengthening! One thing is for sure, our men will not be in the same spiritual place 20-50yrs from now. Their spiritual lives will have either dissolved into nothing or flourished into more than we can imagine. Those results will be greatly dictated by us!

           The quote, “Behind every great man is a great woman” is very true. The woman is a man’s supporter, nurturer and friend. We spend more time with our men then almost anyone. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV, “Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

 

     Are we bad or good company for our husbands? Since we are the ones they spend most of their time with, this is a very important question to ask ourselves. 

     Do we want to use our influence to lead our men into compromise, or do we want to use our influence to draw a spiritual line in the sand for generations to come.  Lets make a decision to support their spiritual growth so they can be the great “men of valor” they are intended to be.

Our influence counts! It’s changing our family! How it’s changing is up to us!

Sunday Morning

    While sitting alone Sunday morning, listening to the worship team rehearse before service, I couldn’t help but notice how each individual’s part came together in unity, contributing to the bigger picture.  

      The first individual I noticed was the piano player. She played a soothing song while warming up her fingers.  She seemed lost in the song she was playing, as if it was her heart playing and not her hands. It was beautiful. Then, I noticed the bassist and guitar players all in their own world while tuning up. They communicated with one another using a nod and worked together to make sure they were on the same page; they knew the sound they wanted.  I looked to my right and saw the percussionists dancing and laughing to the beats they were filling the sanctuary with. Their joy was contagious!  They always have everyone from the front to the back laughing, even the guys in the sound booth.  

     After being entertained for a short while, I looked back to the center-front of the stage and saw the singers, the “front-liners”! The face of worship! Some had their eyes closed as if in prayer, and others looked intently at the main worship leader for direction, all preparing for the service ahead.  Watching everyone busy doing their own thing looked and sounded somewhat chaotic as a group, but I knew in just a few short moments all these individual parts would come  together and make the most amazing sound! A sound that would rip down idols, soften hearts, unite families, heal bodies and fill people with joy.  That’s what seemed so profound to me.  Each person on that stage with a musical gift was talented in their own right. They had passion and a sound all their own, but  each willing to submit their gifts and come into unity with one another to create a sound of freedom for all who attend services every Sunday. 

That’s the body of Christ!

    We all have gifts! Everyone from the lighting team, sound team, ushers, greeters, prayer partners children’s ministry workers, and even the gifts that don’t fit neatly into a Sunday morning team like writers, encouragers, evangelists, buisness men and so forth. We all have a part that is passionately knitted within every fiber of our being, and yet we submit those things to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, because A) we know our gifts belong to Him and B) we see that we are only a small part of a bigger picture. We know deep in our hearts that we can do more together than apart. So, we continue to sharper our gifts behind the scenes and then come together in public with a united sound and global mission- To make Jesus known and to encourage His people!

I will make you fishers of men

And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." - Matthew 4:19 NASB

     Who are you ministering to right now, in this season of your life? As followers of Jesus, we should be ministering to someone. Jesus, himself said, He would make us into, "fishers of men". So, are we fishing?

     Insecurity in our ability to actually help someone often stops us from trying. We may think we aren't intelligent enough or lack leadership skills, but the truth is we don't have to know everything to help. There is always someone who knows less than we know. Plus, many times all people need is a friend, someone to lean on and share their heart with. If they do have questions we can't handle, we can always refer them to someone who can.

     Another thing that hinders us from ministering is our idea of what ministry should look like. Maybe we think it has to be a huge dramatic event, or the person has to have some major issues in order for it to count as "ministry", but truly that is not the case. I remember this very quiet, nervous looking young girl working in the check-out line at Wal-Mart, with another stern woman standing over her. I thought to myself, "Is she new?" and before I could finish my thought she timidly said, "It's my first day." I knew my assignment in that moment, I was to encourage her, make her laugh, and lighten the mood in her poor stressed out face! I did just that, and wished her good luck, on my way out. Something that simple is consider ministry, believe it or not. We are all capable of being friendly to those who provide services for us throughout the day. So don't limit "ministry" to big dramatic events, take the pressure off. =)

     Maybe we neglect ministering to people because we aren't necessarily sure who to minister to, or how to open the door. I've struggled with this at times as well, but again, it's not as difficult as we may think. Almost all ministry starts with relationship. Now, don't get me wrong, the Holy Spirit will do spontaneous, random things and you may be led to minister to strangers at any given moment, but most ministry is based on relationship. Simply look around at the people you come in contact with daily, or almost daily. Is their a younger person you could mentor? Or a single mom you could help? Maybe you live near someone of another faith? The examples are endless. Start small by saying "Hi" or starting small-talk, over time God may develop it into more. There's no pressure! Take a deep breathe, and simply be available.

     For many years I ministered to a group of people with an alternative lifestyle. I never had to preach at them or  rub verses in their face. I was just a friend, and they knew I sincerely cared (still do) for them. The safety of our relationship allowed them to open up and ask all sorts of questions about God, church, and their lifestyle. They even went to church with me for years, several giving their life to Jesus, and a few attend church on their own now.

     I learned that most are not as against the gospel as we may think, they are just against our approach. People don't want to feel used, as if the only reason we're talking to them is to earn a notch on our belt. Our intentions must be sincere! We love not because someone accepts what we're giving away, but because Love, himself, lives in us.

     I remember as a teenager visiting a few churches and talking to a few people there who only seemed interested in "converting" me. I felt cheap and used, when they totally blew me off upon realizing I wasn't interested. It's not that I wasn't interested in God, I was just turned-off by their approach. They didn't really care or even like me. They just wanted credit for forcing me to join their way of life. Let's not do that to people. Let's love others because we see and feel how much God loves them. Love is a lifestyle, not a face we put on and take off whenever we want.

     Anyway, we really have no excuses not to be ministering to people. I'm confident as we pray for God to lead us, that He will. He will bring people into our lives, and strategically place us into other people's live for His glory. We are witnesses, and witnesses don't have to know everything, they only know what they've witnessed. I heard a preacher on a local christian radio station give that example. He said, when we witness a car accident the police officer doesn't expect us to know everything, He only asks us to report what we saw. That's what a witness does, we report what we saw - what we experienced. That's the same way with ministry. We don't have to know it all, the part we have is enough.

     I know in my life God is always bringing someone knew for me to minister to. I believe part of this is because I pray and ask Him, "Father, show me who I can minister to. If anyone needs you right now, and you see that I'm a good fit for the assignment, I'm willing." I've learned that ministering to others doesn't just benefit the other person, but it benefits me. It keeps me in faith, sharpens my thinking, forces me to study and research whatever topic the person needs help with, dedicates me to prayer, and leads me into more passionate worship. You see, when we know someone is depending on our relationship with Jesus, for a season, it puts healthy pressure on us to do what we know to do.Whenever I feel "blah", like I'm slacking in my spiritual walk, I always ask God to bring me to someone, or someone to me, that needs ministering to. It's a sure-fire way to stir the flames.

Be committed in prayer, and God will make you a laborer in someone's life.

You will be a blessing and be blessed.

Everlasting God

 

I love this song! 

"I will remain confident in this I will see the goodness of the Lord"