EN ROUTE

Surprise! I am not a fan of surprises. Absolutely no. Clarification. I am not a fan of surprises that are not good. In other words, I only like favorable, wanted, and pleasant surprises that work for me. Otherwise, I'll pass. No thanks. I'm not too fond of the feeling of being unprepared. I like to predict and curate how I respond. I don't want to be caught off guard. Yes, I have control issues. But as I dig deeper, I think my "need" to control stems from fear. I don't like unpredictable circumstances. I don't do well with awkwardness. And I don't particularly navigate uncomfortable situations with grace or poise.  However, I'm learning life is one big surprise! So if I want the good from the unexpected, I must also be willing to accept and embrace everything in between.  In my quest to insulate myself from discomfort or pain, and avoidance of situations or taking risks that could possibly subject myself to hard things, could I possibly be disadvan...

Over the last two weeks, the word "light" was mentioned three times by three different people, and each time, I was in the headspace of thinking of our pending transition. It's not a word that is typically used or expected, in my opinion, especially in light of the context. The word choice and frequency were significant enough to catch my attention each time. So naturally, I'm inquiring and asking the Lord, what does it mean to me and my situation?  I'm still musing over it. But for now, it's given me encouragement, confidence, and enough strength to keep moving forward in faith and trust - especially in the face of the uncertainty, the mystery, and tasks to get us from "here to there."  As I type this, it's taking one day and one step at a time - towards the light. So while I do not know all of the steps and how they will all ultimately work out, I can have peace and assurance in the steps I am taking.  For me, "follow the light, keep walki...

Moving forward is a choice. For those who have decided to follow Jesus, there is no other viable option. We must keep moving forward in Him and in faith.  We have been given everything we need for godly living and to run our race. We have direct access to grace and resurrection power because greater is He who lives in us than he who is in the world. It might be a fight, an uphill battle, but if we would not fail or falter but keep pressing forward, we'll see the victory in Jesus. Fear is a liar. Don't let the angst of uncertainty or the obstacles you see deter or discourage you. Dig deep, and stay in the game!  How do we run our race with endurance, longevity, and fruitfulness?  We run after the Father with hearts of surrender, open hands, and no ulterior motive or agenda of our own but to obey and be about the Father's business. Our obedience is not rooted in fear, obligation, or some pro-quid tactic.  It's rooted in love, gratitude, and adoration towards a loving a...

God, you alone are my Source. You are Provision. And you alone deserve all glory, praise, and honor. You are worthy of all of my adoration and admiration. Not a job. Not a person. Not an opportunity. You alone, God, and I am grateful because you do not change. You are constant, faithful, and able. You are with me, and you are for me. In the valley, or on the mountaintop, whether in plenty or want, in chaos or calm, my soul can rest and find peace in you, Jesus. My Prince of Peace.  "Haven't I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."   My Father loves me. He only does good, and he does all things well. He's leading me in His good and perfect will. And my heart can and will trust in Christ alone. 

Fear is a liar. It distorts, suffocates, and overwhelms. I refuse to give my emotions and feelings a front seat to my life. Praise, worship, and thanksgiving are the antidote. Keeping my eyes fixed and focused on the only One who can rescue, deliver, set free, and put me on solid ground. Jesus Christ is the Cornerstone, the Solid Rock, and Firm Foundation for which I build my life and live. I will not fear. I do not have to worry.  ** Two Weeks Ago** 

Sometimes the bravest and most courageous thing I can do is "do it afraid." I can choose to stay on the sidelines wishing, wanting, wondering. Or, I can dive in and trust that the grace of God will meet me there and his grace is sufficient to sustain me. God's word tells me that He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5) and that He has  already  given me everything I could ever need for life and godliness by his divine power (2 Peter 1:3). All that He asks is that I step out. The details and steps may be unclear or not fully known by me, but I can have confidence and peace in forging forward because the One who is calling me and sending me does know the details and steps.  God is not disappointed when I'm afraid, scared, or even fearful at times. He's compassionate and knows it is scary being a human seeking to live an extraordinary life for the sake of the Gospel. Therefore, I find comfort in knowing that the great heroes of our faith were exhorted co...

I read an article today about a man who left a church sanctuary for the first time in three years.  My heart sank, and tears welled up at the thought of this man separated from his family for 1,095 days. I wonder and imagine what those uncertain days felt like for him. Did he live with and in fear, anxiety, and heartache? How did his faith sustain him?  Heart wrenching for what he suffered and the countless others in the same predicament. I pray for God's mercy and help.  I was then challenged and convicted at the same time. Are our churches a sanctuary, haven, and place of refuge for all people seeking help? Are we equipped and designed to receive people in the time of their need and distress?  Have we created, cultivated, and nurtured a culture and environment that speaks to what we value or should value - caring for all people and paying careful attention to the orphans and widows, the immigrants, the helpless and disenfranchised? Our call is to love, shepher...

Let's do the next right thing. Focus on what's before us, and take the next step. Keep the long game in mind, but spend your energy on the present and the immediate next step or action. If we're not careful, we can easily be pulled in all sorts of directions.  We get caught up in what we see, hear, read, and find ourselves judging how our story, journey, or life is unfolding in comparison to those around us as a litmus test if we're on the right path or track. Our confidence begins to deteriorate, and we quickly lose sight of our own life. So we fret, plan, control, or check out altogether.  Planning for the future and considering the big picture is wise and important. However, wisdom also tells us there is a delicate balance. We plan, but all things are ultimately in the Lord's hand and timing. So hold all things loosely. This is not restrictive but freeing! God alone knows the beginning from the end, and all of the steps, turns, twists, and bends from here to ther...

It often seems the darkest right before the light breaks forth and through. We are seemingly at the end of our rope, wearing thin, running low, at the brink of giving up. In that moment of desperation, the culmination of all the stress, if we would not give up but hang on, relief, an answer, fix, a miracle will sprout forth. God always provides a way of escape. It's not easy holding on. It takes everything to stay in the game, face the pain and uncertainty, and live. It's a real fight, struggle, and for some, a daily fight. Life is hard. Being a human is hard.  For some, the pain, hardship is too much, and they abort, abandon, or tragically succumb to the unrelenting feeling of despair. Others live with heartache, anxiety, and depression findings ways to manage and get through. Why do some choose to end it all, and others stay in the fight? Depression and death, despair, and desperation does not discriminate and is no respecter of person. The darkness comes for the young, old, ...

Wisdom reminds me that the battle belongs to the Lord. My job is not to engage in every match, struggle, and fight. I am to pray for wisdom, wait on God to discern the timing for action, and stand firm with my voice lifted high in praise and arms raised in worship. But the enemy. He wants nothing more than to entice me to engage in a battle that is not mine because distraction is his aim. The enemy has come to steal, kill and destroy. He wants to steal our time, focus, and energy. If I fix my eyes on the problem, turn my ear towards the noise, and entertain fear in my mind, my heart will follow suit. I start to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and the need to alleviate my pain and discomfort. So I will control and fight in an attempt to "fix" my situation. I run myself ragged, and those around me too! To no avail, it is futile and fruitless. I am frustrated, discouraged, and exhausted. I am no further than where I started, but worst. Now I want to run and hide.  Then give up. Resig...

Battle Belongs: Phil Wickham  When all I see is the battle, You see my victory When all I see is the mountain, You see a mountain moved And as I walk through the shadow, Your love surrounds me There's nothing to fear now for I am safe with You [Chorus] So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees With my hands lifted high Oh God, the battle belongs to You And every fear I lay at Your feet I'll sing through the night Oh God, the battle belongs to You [Verse 2] And if You are for me who can be against me? (Yeah) For Jesus there's nothing impossible for You When all I see are the ashes, You see the beauty (Thank You, God) When all I see is a cross, God, You see the еmpty tomb [Chorus] So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees With my hands lifted high Oh God, the battlе belongs to You And every fear I lay at Your feet I'll sing through the night Oh God, the battle belongs to You [Bridge] Almighty Fortress, You go before us Nothing can stand against the power of our God Yo...

Here we are, the end of 2020. We "made" it. Some may be limping in to 2021, and others are running.  Some welcome 2021 with great expectation and full of hope, and others step into 2021 carrying the same heaviness and heartache from 2020. Wherever you find yourself on the spectrum, we're still here, and I think that in and of itself is cause for a celebration - even if it's faint and small. We don't celebrate the hardships and tragedy. We don't applaud the lives lost and the suffering. But we can outwardly express gratitude for the life we still have today. We can lament, mourn, and grieve and simultaneously pause, look up, and consider the good things we have experienced. It's possible to hold both tensions authentically. They are not mutually exclusive. It's not one or the other. We can suffer well. We can live a better broken.  While we cannot change our circumstances or the landscape, we are not left powerless. We did not choose the events of 2020....

Grace is jaw-dropping scandalous and ridiculous. It will leave you scratching your head and left in awe and wonder. No mind can fully comprehend it, conceive, or perceive it. You can't adequately explain it or articulate it. You can only receive it, experience it, live it out, and freely extend it to others. That's how grace works.  We cannot earn, manipulate, manufacture, or strive for it. We don't deserve it. It's no wonder it's called amazing grace - unmerited favor. And this amazing grace is available to all - through the Person of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to Earth to make way for us to receive this grace through a personal relationship. On that first Christmas over 2000 years ago, grace in the form of a baby came to be our Rescue. He would live a perfect life and die a violent death so that we may have access to grace and live. This invitation is for all people - everyone is welcome.  There is hope for all the heartache and challenges of 2020, and His name is J...

If my heart is overwhelmed And I cannot hear your voice I hold on to what is true Though I cannot see If the storms of life, they come And the road ahead gets steep I will lift these hands in faith I will believe I'll remind myself Of all that you've done And the life I have Because of your son Love came down and rescued me Love came down and set me free I am yours Lord, I am forever yours Mountains high or valley low I sing out and remind my soul I am yours I am forever yours When my heart is filled with hope Every promise comes my way When I feel your hands of grace Rest upon me Staying desperate for you, god Staying humble at your feet I will lift these hands in praise I will believe I'll remind myself Of all that you've done And the life I have Because of your son Love came down and rescued me Love came down and set me free I am yours I am forever yours Mountains high or valley low I sing out and remind my soul I am yours I am forever yours I am yours I am yours All...

The faithfulness of God marks my life. Through all the seasons, I see His commitment towards me, even when I was not sure I wanted to remain faithful to Him. If I can be completely transparent and vulnerable, I have to admit the journey has not been easy or comfortable. Living a life of surrender and obedience is far from glamorous. Quite frankly, it is costly. It will cost you everything. To the logical, it makes no sense, but that is the mystery and miraculous power of the Gospel. That is the beauty and wonder of Christmas, and in reflecting on my story and journey thus far, could it be that my story is not too far off from the first Christmas story. Perhaps, I find my story in that very first Christmas account, and God is divinely weaving my life into this amazing story.  Jesus Christ, who is God, left heaven and came to earth. His arrival was humble and anything but glamorous, but yet it was purposed-filled. He left the comfort of heaven to enter into my uncommon world to bring...

It's a beautiful time of the year with the lights, the colors, the smell, and all that is beautiful and bright sparks joy and a sense of hope. There is a sense of anticipation and expectancy for many: newness and freshness, a time to start again and to keep forging forward. And for others and their reality, there is a sense of sadness, disappointment, and even dread. We carry, juggle and toggle between the tensions of what was, what is, and what we wish. It's conflicting - pulling us in different directions. It takes work and effort to keep plowing forward. We're not trying to maintain an image or prove anything; we're just trying to take the next breath, do the next right thing.  We're trying to navigate this one life. We want to show up and be present, and do it with joy and gratitude. But too often, the messiness and complexity of life attempt to snuff out the life in us. So, where does that leave us?  What do we do?  How do we shepherd our hearts in this season?...

[Verse 1] All throughout my history Your faithfulness has walked beside me The winter storms made way for spring In every season, from where I'm standing [Chorus] I see the evidence of Your goodness All over my life, all over my life I see Your promises in fulfillment All over my life, all over my life [Verse 2] Help me remember when I'm weak Fear may come, but fear will leave You lead my heart to victory You are my strength and You always will be [Chorus] I see the evidence of Your goodness All over my life, all over my life I see Your promises in fulfillment All over my life, all over my life [Bridge] See the cross, the empty grave The evidence is endless All my sin rolled away Because of You, oh, Jesus See the cross, the empty grave The evidence is endless All my sin rolled away Because of You, oh, Jesus [Chorus] I see the evidence of Your goodness All over my life, all over my life I see Your promises in fulfillment All over my life, all over my life, yeah I see the evidenc...

Advent. A time of waiting, coming, the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah. Our Savior, our Rescue, our reigning King. It is also a time to pause and remember. To deliberately and intentionally slow down. To command our soul and our hearts not to rush, fret, or strive. But to be present at this moment and lean in. To look and see all of the ways God is speaking to us. To be filled with hope again. To remember who Jesus is. And because  "in him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:4-5.   Regardless of how dark, bleak, or dim things may get, appear, or seem, it will not overtake us. We may feel overwhelmed at times, but that which overwhelms us cannot overcome us. Jesus is  over everything. And He is our Emmanuel - our God WITH Us.  With all that we have experienced this past year, there is still reason and cause for us to approach this Christmas season and New Year with jo...

I was reminded recently of the power of grace + truth. You must have both. And what binds those two together, bringing transformation, bearing fruit, and distinguishes us as Christ-followers, is love. I heard a recent message, and the pastor states grace without truth leads to relativism. Truth without grace leads to religion. We need both in everyday living - grace that saves us and truth that sets us free. Grace saves, truth frees, and love is what binds it all together with a spirit of humility and servanthood. All throughout scripture, that is the image and picture we see in how we are to live as Christ-followers. We extend grace towards one another, and we speak the truth in and with love from a posture of humility and servanthood. Finally, we cannot neglect the necessity and power of prayer in our daily lives, decisions, and relationships because we want to be led by the Spirit of God and not our own understanding. 

Get to know yourself. And know your worth. I'm not talking about being a diva, self-centered or self-absorbed. It's actually the opposite. We lay ourselves down or the image of who we want to be or project to be. We can only fully know ourselves - the truest and purest version of ourselves by and through the one who created us, spoke our life into existence, and continues to speak life into our spirit. We can only know our worth when we look intently into the face of the one who is alone worthy of all honor and glory.  With all of our seeking and searching and running, the Father says seek me, search me, and run into my arms to be known, to be seen, to be heard, to be found. The beginning of knowing ourselves and becoming who God has created us to be is the beginning of the end of the self pursuit. And now, the pursuit of Christ. To seek Him and to know Him is to find ourselves in Him. Completely and wholly and securely identifying with Jesus Christ and carrying the identity of...