ForeverLOVEd

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. Luke 9:23-24 With my eyes barely open and the moon still bright in the sky, I hugged my brother goodbye. He rolled his suitcase down the driveway, said his goodbyes to my mom and hopped in the car. It was 3:30 in the morning and he was on his way to the airport for a flight to Georgia.  This past January Robbie applied to be a Life Teen missionary by serving at camp for six weeks over summer. He found out about the opportunity one week before the application was due and in those seven days managed to put together an application full of brief and detailed answers as well as a written explanation of why he was applying and a video explaining who he is! It was a crazy week, but he got it all done and after a phone interview and a few other minor details he was pi...

So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58 I am not that good at cards. I have had my fair share of nights around the poker table and lost enough dollars to the cousins to know, gambling is not really my hidden talent. I remember the nights fondly though, as we flipped the cards, placed the bet, and watched the flop. But I know that beyond the fact that my poker face says it all, I also am unwilling to wage my chips on things that are uncertain. And thus, although I am playing the game, I am never the one to walk away with the big win at the end of the night.  How often in a game of poker are you actually dealt the full house or pocket aces? See, the way I play, that is the only time I will place the bet. I hold on to my chips. I guard them. And I do not want to put them on the table, unless I know positively I am getting them back. But, you do n...

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore  keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a  yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1  My alarm ringing on a Saturday morning was the last thing I wanted. And, as I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and poured the coffee, I could not think of many things I would like to be doing less than going on a hike. But, with the promise of a waterfall at the end and a willingness to share in the passions of the people I love, I laced my shoes and hopped out of the car.  We made our way to the path and marched on, sweat pouring down our backs.    Slopes and hills awaited us. Dirt shuffled under my feet and I was wondering what was so fun about this activity. We kept putting one foot in front of another. It seemed kind of odd just walking. I wondered why we had to make the 40 minute drive, I mean you can walk anywhere right? We finally met a curve in the path and stepped down among the trees. The shade was a welcomed...

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 Despite the brief moments when I feel like SuperWoman, I have spent most of my life dwelling in insecurity. I often feel like I am not enough or too much. I doubt my decisions and fear what people might think of me. I know I am not perfect, but so much of me longs to be or feels like I need to be. It is something I have struggled with for as long as I can remember and something I am certain I will struggle with for a long time to come. That being said, as the guitar strums held the beat in the background, my heart was captured by these lyrics from the song, The Stand. "ALL I am is yours."  We prayed these lyrics over and over at a young adult night. I was overwhelmed, almost to the point of tears, as I sang these simple words. God wanted me to know...

9  The  Lord  your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground.  For the  Lord  will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers,   10  when you obey the voice of the  Lord  your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the  Lord  your God with all your heart and with all your soul.  Dueteronomy 30:9-10 It is probably one of the simplest words in our vocabulary. From the time we are toddlers stealing toys and climbing on shelves we are taught the word  NO . And maybe because in the beginning it is one of the only words we ever hear or maybe because we feel an obligation or a need to feel accepted for some reason along the way we start to avoid the word no. In our minds we define  no  as the opposite of...

"I have come to set the world on fire, and how I wish it were already burning."  Luke 12:49  I have a lot of fears. I could list off of the top of my head a dozen.    Heights, puking, and speaking to an audience are just a few. I suppose it is kind of random, but I recently discovered I am also terrified by fire.  I made this realization one evening as we were roasting marshmallows on sticks in the backyard. We had been given the most adorable pot to roast them in around Christmas. Once my brother had finally lit a small flame in the black charcoal, it was time to get the s'mores going. But as I held my marshmallow a foot above the tiny flame, I could see that nothing was happening and that nothing would if I did not move it a little closer. The thought was silly, it is a tiny flame, stop being ridiculous, roast your darn marshmallow. I had built many s'mores in my life and could recall camp outs and neighborhood gatherings where the roasting was the central par...

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:26  Most of you spent your weekend delivering flowers, putting thoughtful notes in cards and cooking elaborate dinners to celebrate the MOMS in your life. Whether it was your biological mom, a grandma, an in-law or just an amazing woman in your life, I hope you had someone to celebrate. Each of us have these important woman that nurture us, shape us, and help us become who we are today. So it is only right that we have at least one day set aside to celebrate them.  I think each of our moms have in some way or another given us gifts. Maybe the things they have instilled in you stand out or maybe they are little things you barely notice. Maybe it seems like she has left you nothing or maybe it is obvious she has given you everything. All these things make some difference in our lives but I think there is one special g...