Don't be held back by the past OR fear the future unknown....

How do we really live the life we have been called to? Years can go by and potential lost, lives unfulfilled and hope dissipated. Fear of the past, mistakes and unproductive time rear their head with deceit and lies then fear of the unknown creeps in.

I am reminded of the Israelites coming out of captivity from the treacherous hand of Pharaoh in Egypt. As they departed they found themselves at the verge of the red sea, it was like coming to the edge of a horrendous cliff, without absolutely no where to go and no hope of an escape. Behind them the Egyptian armies hotly pursued, their mission and focus was to retrieve their slaves! Yet confronting the Israelites was the mighty raging red sea in all its glory.

Despair like never before presented itself, sandwiched between struggles of the past charging behind and fear of the unknown was immediately before them. The crashing waters offered nothing but despair, however to turn back and concede defeat was surely something they thought they would not have to do. What were they to do???

Suddenly hope was birthed as God did the miraculous, as God reminded his people that his ways were not there ways as he lifted the mighty magnificent Seas and created a pathway! Dry land was before them, in the great deep was hope and a way of escape! 

Even though a way of escape had been made, it was still not that easy to cross! They had to rely upon and depend on GOD like never before. Excitement of leaving the past behind, but also anticipation of the land before them what if the water didn't hold up, what if it fell on them, what if they got half way and it started to move, but if they didn't take that step of Faith their past would have kept them in bondage. But to move forward, was confronting fear of the unknown and all that was before them! However there was no going back, no hope in the past but hope in the future and the true deliverance that comes from trusting the one who holds it all. The one who leads and guides and always makes a way!

William McDowell's chorus reminds us; “I won't go back, I can't go back, to the way it used to be,
before your presence came and changed me!” Even when the future looks uncertain, when it seems daunting, going back is never a option! God did the impossible for the Israelites, when all seemed to be lost, he raised and parted the amazing sea, today may we look forward and remain hopeful as he parts every sea in our life, as he makes a way in the great deep, so we can step forward into his destiny and all he has in store for us!

Inspired to Shine my Light!

So excited my Bestey just got approved and finished her Pre-Field Orientation. So what does all this mean, you may ask? It means.......... She is officially a Missionary Associate (Yayyyyyyyyy) and early next year she will be going to Spain!!!!! Her heart and passion is to work with victims of Human Trafficking, to restore hope and share the Love of Jesus with them.

This past year seeing her dream unravel and manifest has been such an incredible blessing. At times it was not easy for her, but she has a heart and passion to live the life God has called her too and have a great impact on a hurting world! I know this is just the beginning of a wonderful journey ahead and I am even more excited to see the next chapters!

I'm so totally proud of her and and incredibly inspired, she has encouraged me so much by this amazing step of Faith and Obedience. It makes me realise that if you seek God and seek to be an open vessel he will use YOU! It encourages me to know that I too can be an asset in his Kingdom and together we can all stand to make a difference! 

I pray today for anyone who feels like they can not be used by God that you will remember Psalm 57:2- I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. (Pastor Mark's favorite scripture ;-)

I also ask you will pray for her as she takes this step of faith and may it encourage each and everyone that this world needs us and we can make a difference with God on our side.

The best is yet to come.

Beauty Gliding In

Beauty, beauty, Gliding in,

drawing me close, taking me deeper.

How far can I go?

Inhibitians set free, reeling in the darkest of fears.

Reflection meets reality, as you look deep beyond.

You open me up with your double edged sword,

I'm no longer afraid for every yoke is lifted.

My burden set free, because of your love and your longings for me.

My heart sings a song to your melody of hope, 

I'm yours, I'm yours, I'm Yours. 

A new Kind of Musical Statues

Growing up there was a fun, but very annoying and hard party game we played called musical statues, while all other games were fun and exciting and definitely child friendly this game required a little more of the child and sometimes it was something the child did not have to offer. The concept of “BEING STILL” and it did not matter if you were doing some fantastic dance move with your legs and arms waving in the air or if your mouth was wide open as you lip synced along to the song. Wherever you were and whatever you were doing when that music went off it was time to be absolutely STILL!!!!!! No flickering of arms, eyelids, or anything. For how long you were to stay still was a completely different story, sometimes it was a nice torture for the person in charge of the music, but if you wanted to win the game you had to be STILL!!!

As an adult now when I see that game at a childs party I laugh, I am so glad I do not have to play the game, but on the other hand I brag with confidence if I were to play it now I would surely win, come on the art of being Still is so easy!!!!
When I ponder further I realise I have been called to a new game of Musical Statues, only the prize this time is not some candy or a toy, the prize is my heavenly Father. To see him move in great and amazing ways like never before. He is always moving and doing great and miraculous works, that is his nature, but imagine being allowed to take a front row seat and see him move in a mighty way right before my eyes, in my own life and the lives of those close to me.

Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God”

So many times when a situation, an issue, or problems arise our natural reaction is to get our boots on and get stuck in. While we know faith without works is dead, we also know there is a time to trust and be still. “You need only be still I will fight for you”. So many times our amazing father is calling us to simply be still, in a fast pace, ever changing world we live in, just like the game of musical statues being still is such a foreign concept. Yet so many times that is what GOD is calling us to do. We have become so good at doing, why not try to be good at being still as well. It does not say move and know that I am God, it says be STILL and know that I am GOD!
I want to take time to learn to be Still, so that I can know that he is God, so that I can see him move right before my eyes in greater ways then ever imagined. So today I embrace the new game of musical statues and as I am still I get to see and know him as God in new and greater ways daily!