Vines... crazy vines...

Hi there! 


So... (I always try to start the blog with a different word besides "so..." but it just feels right) Jacob and I did yard work the other weekend. We were like a real, grown up, married couple. It was fun... and hard. Now... you have to understand that my back yard has seriously not been touched or cleaned since like the 1970's. It's rough. There's leaves, random bushes, and VINES everywhere! So... Jacob and I tried to tackle the barren jungle. 


Jacob was manly and chopped down trees with a chainsaw. I was pretty fierce myself with the hedge clippers, a machete, and my gardening gloves. As we were working and walking around, we were being constantly ATTACKED by VINES!!! They were everywhere. So I decided I was gonna start pulling them up! (I was nervous the whole time because I was terrified one of the 'vines' might really be a snake). 


Now these vines look harmless. You could just see part of them... and they just seemed to grow out of the dirt and then frolic around on the ground. Well... these vines were deceiving. When I started pulling them up... they kept coming and coming and coming and coming. I ripped up so much of our yard trying to get rid of all those dern vines. No lie, one of the vines I ripped up went from one side of the yard all the way to the other side and then UP towards the house!!! Are you kidding me?? I was appalled. I couldn't even take a picture of it because I was so frazzled by the 33,000 foot vine! 


But... in true Anna fashion... I started thinking about things... about VINES. God was showing me some awesome things with these vines... and I want to share some of them with you! Here goes:

So, (there's the SO word again) these vines seemed harmless on the surface... pretty insignificant just annoying. As I started pulling... all the craziness appeared. It's the same thing with our sin. Sometimes sin seems harmless, but once we start pulling it out and exposing it all the junk comes out.  We see the true nature of the "not so important" sin. IT's NUTS!!! Then, we have to keep pulling and pulling and pulling... and ripping up stuff in the process... to truly rid ourselves of that vine/sin. Like my bitterness thing... when I really talked to Jesus about it and started looking into it... I found disobedience, selfishness, pride, and the fact that I wasn't yielding to or seeking the Holy Spirit in everything.  My vine was a lot crazier than I thought.


Another thing... these vines were EVERYWHERE!! I have scratches all over my legs from getting tangled up in them. They are really cute... not. I look like a little kid that played in the woods all day! But it brought this scripture to my head: 
 ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 
Hebrews 12:1-2
We can get SO easily ENTANGLED in sin like I did in these vines. Especially if you are tromping around where sin hangs out and is all around... it will grab ya! All sin... the "small" that leads to the "big"... is a lot of times attractive, easier, and (at times) comfortable.  Before we know it, we look down, and we are all tangled up in it! Scripture says to THROW IT OFF!!! Rip it off! Get out of the vines!! They hurt... 


Something else (I know... I was on a roll), some of these vines were thorny! OUCH! I have a big gash in my leg because of one of these crazy, thorny vines! It not only hurt to get stabbed, but it hurt pulling it off. SIN! It's destructive. It leaves scars and wounds that you can feel and others can see. Also, with these very destructive sins (sexual immorality, alcohol, etc), it hurts other when they lend a hand and help you get unraveled. The thorns poke them too. It leaves scars on them as well. I have scars from others' sin and others' journey to victory. And I know I have left scars on those around me... those just wanting to love on me and to help me free. 


There is more, but I'll leave you with this last thing... there is one GOOD VINE... His name is Jesus. And in John 15... that is currently all up in my face... Jesus says:
 ¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

   ⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

So... ABIDE IN HIM and let HIM ABIDE IN YOU! He is GOOD. He heals, restores, prunes, and gets rid of the branches that are THROWN OFF!!! 

Bitter much???

So... I am a dramatic and emotional person. I just am.  Dramatic and emotional in the fact that if I am happy... I'm really happy. If I am angry... it takes me a lot to get there... but I'm really angry. If I am sad... I'm really sad. And... more recently... if I become bitter... I am very bitter.

Bitter just sounds like an awful word. I know it's an awful feeling. Let me just tell you where I'm coming from because I don't think I'm the only human that thinks like this.

I tend to compare a lot. I look over here and see so-and-so doing and buying and getting this. I see those people over there not worrying about finances. I hear those people talking about all the trips and things they are planning. I see things happening at that church that aren't happening at ours. COMPARISON STEALS JOY... FYI. I like to look around... see what other people, churches, families, marriages, etc. look like. And then I look at myself and get so foolishly upset about things... money mostly. I get bitter. It's not cute. I even feels stupid typing it... I don't have so I get upset. We aren't "comfortable" so I get bitter. We don't look or have like them so I get frustrated... dumb. We work our tails off and are still scrapping by each week. We try to serve Jesus... and we always struggle with money... our frazzled hearts just get bitter. Don't lie though... you do it, too!

This Sunday all the bitterness and anger (some holy anger... some not) just flooded me. I don't remember ever feeling that crazily bitter. It was very real. It was strange for my typically joyful heart.  A lot of my bitterness doesn't actually stem from money, but the real reason might offend some people... so I'll just leave it at that. Smile.

So... I talked to Jesus about it... a lot. He told me to LOOK UP! STOP LOOKING AROUND... LOOK AT ME! Okay...

Sunday afternoon we went door to door to invite people to the Connection dinner that's happening this Thursday. I kept hearing Jesus say "If you want to look around... look here." We were in the 'scary' part of town.  Jesus wasn't telling me to look around to compare myself to them... but to look because these are the places He wants to be... to go... to minister.

Monday morning... Jesus time. My devo is on Ecclesiastes of all things. You know... the book about 'I tried working - meaningless. I tried drinking -meaningless. I tried pleasures - meaningless. I tried and strived and did and worried - meaningless.' Ecclesiastes can seem pretty depressing but wise ol' Solomon was just trying to say LOOK UP!! If you aren't serving Jesus for His glory ALONE... it's all worthless and it will never satisfy... it will always make you bitter.  Okay... point taken Jesus.

But He wasn't done. He told me to go do a word search on the handy dandy Biblegateway.com for the word bitter... Psalm 73 found me and slapped me in the face... multiple times.  Read it:

Truly God is good to Israel,

    to those whose hearts are pure.

² 

But as for me, I almost lost my footing.

    My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.

³ 

For I envied the proud

    when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.

⁴ 

They seem to live such painless lives;

    their bodies are so healthy and strong.

⁵ 

They don’t have troubles like other people;

    they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.

⁶ 

They wear pride like a jeweled necklace

    and clothe themselves with cruelty.

⁷ 

These fat cats have everything

    their hearts could ever wish for!

⁸ 

They scoff and speak only evil;

    in their pride they seek to crush others.

⁹ 

They boast against the very heavens,

    and their words strut throughout the earth.

¹⁰ 

And so the people are dismayed and confused,

    drinking in all their words.

¹¹ 

“What does God know?” they ask.

    “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”

¹² 

Look at these wicked people—

    enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

¹³ 

Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?

    Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?

¹⁴ 

I get nothing but trouble all day long;

    every morning brings me pain.

¹⁵ 

If I had really spoken this way to others,

    I would have been a traitor to your people.

¹⁶ 

So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.

    But what a difficult task it is!

¹⁷ 

Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,

    and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.

¹⁸ 

Truly, you put them on a slippery path

    and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.

¹⁹ 

In an instant they are destroyed,

    completely swept away by terrors.

²⁰ 

When you arise, O Lord,

    you will laugh at their silly ideas

    as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

²¹ 

Then I realized that my heart was bitter,

    and I was all torn up inside.

²² 

I was so foolish and ignorant—

    I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.

²³ 

Yet I still belong to you;

    you hold my right hand.

²⁴ 

You guide me with your counsel,

    leading me to a glorious destiny.

²⁵ 

Whom have I in heaven but you?

    I desire you more than anything on earth.

²⁶ 

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,

    but God remains the strength of my heart;

    he is mine forever.

²⁷ 

Those who desert him will perish,

    for you destroy those who abandon you.

²⁸ 

But as for me, how good it is to be near God!

    I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,

    and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

This was/is SO my heart! Exactly like David penned it! I was feeling sorry for myself and then I REALIZED MY HEART WAS BITTER! Ugh... Again... LOOK UP!!! God can satisfy me. He gives me my TRUE heart's desires. He is my strength and ALL that I need.

God is funny because Monday... I had to LOOK UP! You know I teach a clogging class.  I started with 8 girls this year... they kept dropping out for different reasons...dropping with flies... I was down to 2. Recital is in 4 weeks. 1 of the 2 dropped out on Monday. REALLY? Jesus said "LOOK UP!" Because my flesh wanted to compare myself and my class to all the others... you know... the other classes that have 10 girls?? but... LOOK UP! LOOK TO JESUS!

Then... Bible study was Monday night. One of my favorite things in the whole world... teaching about Jesus in my living room to some of my favorite people on the planet.  It's Spring break for some schools and sports are happening and the weather is pretty... people don't come.  We have had as many as 36 girls one night before.  We had 5 on Monday.  Jesus said... HELLO! LOOK UP! IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU! ...NOT EVER! And it's not. It's really not. He shows up always. He is present and alive with me and him or 52 girls and Him. He is good and He is Teacher.  When He wants you to learn something... like contentment and LOOKING UP!... He'll teach it to you alright...

I believe this following Christ journey that I'm on requires some BRAVERY.  And today, this week, this lifetime.  I DARE TO BE CONTENT!  I DARE to LOOK UP!!!!

What's UP????

When I typed the bloggie title... this is what I thought of!!
NOTE: I do not condone smoking... it actually makes me want to vomit... just like the screaming chaos of WHATS UPPP? that is all.

So... what's up lately in the Morgan household -

• Jacob started back to school to FINISH his degree. He's taking online classes... he doesn't like school. He likes to learn... hates school. Should be fun! He's taking some fun classes from Liberty though... Youth Ministry and Creationism... sounds interesting! 
• I got accepted to seminary... New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. that is a mouth FULL! This is a big deal for my little heart. One of my heart desires that I talked about before that I didn't want to really tell Jesus... because it's SCARY! Women's ministry = lots of baggage, possibly no money, crazy plans, changes, crazy women :), and believing a big God that He can use me... just me. I am willing to risk the scary because I KNOW HE ALWAYS SHOWS UP! I know this is a result of a John 15:7 moment with Jesus and I'm excited to see where it takes me/us... I hope to start in the Fall... hi ho! hi ho! It's back to school I go. 
• Walter is crazy... the dog.  He entertains us... that's for sure. He loves tennis balls, bones, and cuddling. He loves Jacob... like obsessed with him... pretty cute. He pees EVERY time Jacob walks in the door. funny. My BBF, Em, saved our lives with Walt. A few months ago... HE WAS ULTRA NUTS! So crazy... can't explain it... only, if you have seen Marley and Me... Walt = Marley. Emily suggested we use a water bottle to squirt him when he was bad. BRILLIANT! He is terrified of the thing! We don't even have to squirt... just touch the bottle and he cowers down like The Hulk is about to attack him. Well... last night, I guess he got brave while we were at church... HE ATTACKED the water bottle and chewed the guts into a plastic pulp. I laughed at him. He just wanted it dead. 

• Jacob and I are going on a date tonight... I'M PUMPED! :) I love dates with the hubs. And this date included CHILI'S!!! YEA BABY!!! :) 
• Still learning LOADS about prayer... my brains a bit overwhelmed. I like it. 
• I am LOVING this weather... got to lay out this week... AMAZING! :) And my friend Katelyn visited us while on her Spring break... good times... good talks.... lots of encouragement. Good for the soul. :)
• I love Spring. It makes my heart happy. Makes me feel free-er, more joyful, and like I just wanna ride around with the windows down jammin' to the new Passion CD!!! or some good ol' N*sync... or maybe some oldies! :) 
• I doing the Beth Moore Bible Study about DAVID right now... so good. I read 1 and 2 Samuel and wanted more. I love the story of David. I have a lot to learn from that man. Excited about what each day's time holds :) 

That's enough for today... I hope you are having a great week... enjoying life and the weather and JESUS. Rest in Him. I hope you see Him today. 

Oh... the importance of mentoring...

my mom - a mentor
in everything....
everyday.

How I have learned the importance of mentoring. It's always been important to me... but it never had a name before I started working at Troy. The Director of the Interpreter Training Program, Lynne, when I started FOCUSED on mentoring. That's her heart. I was forced to learn a lot about this process of mentoring working with her. The more I learned... the more I treasured it. The more I treasured it, the more I sought it and remembered it in my past. I'm thankful for Lynne for many reasons - for mentoring me in a professional and personal sense, for helping me become a working woman, for believing in me and trusting me, and for teaching me about mentoring... all by mentoring me. 

mom and mom-in-law. mentors in sacrifice, love,
devotion, prayerfulness, faithfulness, laughter,
and so much more.

Paul thought it was pretty important too:
³ Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. ⁴ These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, ⁵ to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.
Titus 2:3-5

youth pastor and wife

Although the Scripture doesn't say the word MENTORING... that's exactly what this is calling, no commanding, us to do. That's what Paul did with Timothy. He mentored him, loved him, encouraged him, TRAINED him. He did it by example, by teaching, and praying. 

Sunday School teacher

I'm so thankful for people, like Paul, who have lived their lives like a drink offering... pouring into my life.  PLEASE NOTE: this is not pouring our all their knowledge and experience and I, I, I,... but pouring out the overflow of JESUS they have!!! Their faces are all over this post. And I am so thankful for them. And cherish each face, each time spent together, and all the teachings they have offered to me. There are more I could have pictured...

friend and lover of Jesus

Mentoring has been so ingrained in me and has become so crucial to my life... not only professionally (that was just a way for God to teach me). Mentoring, one-on-one relationships, small groups... that's how the Kingdom is built on... that's such an amazing part of how people are brought to FREEDOM, to an understanding, to know and love JESUS! 

Teacher of crazy love, abandonment, and risk taking

Check out this professional explanation of what a mentor does:

• Teaches the mentoree about a specific issue
• Coaches the mentoree on a particular skill
• Facilitates the mentoree’s growth by sharing resources and networks
• Challenges the mentoree to move beyond his or her comfort zone
• Creates a safe learning environment for taking risks
• Focuses on the mentoree’s total development

I love this! My mentors haven't always been the older, the more experienced, the most successful... etc., but they have always challenged me to move beyond my comfort zone. They have encouraged me to take risks. They have supported me as I learn to become WHOLLY founded and identified in Christ. 

BFFs - mentors in joy, love, and strength

I have mentored by many. I have been loved by them all. I have been taught to love because of their love. To laugh because of the joy I have learned. I have learned to SEEK JESUS because that is my confidence and my HOPE. I am striving for honesty and transparency because I have SEEN the richness in exposure and TRUTH. 

sis and bro in-law. models of the Word.

I have been taught the TRUTH and awesomeness of marriage. Of total surrender. Of true obedience. I have seen models of God's word in action. I have been encouraged in purity, in holiness, in love, to do good, to be SUBMISSIVE (oh... my stubbornness).

friend, pray-er, warrior

friend, pray-er, hope-er

I have seen in real life the power of prayer. I have felt the passion and belief behind it. I have walked on journeys and seen God work for good in ALL situations. I have been challenged by their faith, their love, their passion, their joy, their truth-seeking, and their beauty. 


So, what do I do... I now OVERFLOW! I love, I teach, I lead, I encourage. NOT from my power... BUT HIS ALONE!!!! My heart is to mentor... to point to Jesus... 

To pour into the lives of the girls, the women around me, and my husband. To challenge them with the love, joy, peace, hope, prayerfulness, intimacy, beauty,... that my Jesus has given and taught me. 

To challenge them to be risk takers. To encourage them out of their comfort zone.  To be totally surrendered and rested in Jesus. 

What about you? 

CoMpLeTe!

Hello world! 

So, this weekend I got to go to a conference with the girls! It's the COMPLETE conference... only happens in Bama! what what! It's a great conference... just for girls... with a worship leader, speaker, and various workshops that the girls get to pick and attend! So fun! It's just good to be girls, with girls! 

Here's our group... so beautiful! 

We learned so much. I think I might have learned more than the girls did... which is crazy because a lot of times I put up a wall and don't allow my heart to be receptive. I don't know why... just a weirdo.  Anyways... I learned and received so much... because I wanted and needed it!!!! Ahh... so good. 

The conference was all about L.O.V.E! Not just romantic love obviously... but falling in love with Jesus, letting Him love us, and living out of LOVE! It was great.  The worship leader was Heather Williams and the speaker was Sarah Ott. I don't say their names because they want fame... I say their names because they are all about JESUS! Buy Heather's music and support her ministry! AWESOME stuff. Sarah... man... she spoke some TRUTH this weekend. Not just to the group as a whole, but to me individually.  I'm thankful for her openness, obedience, and humility. 

One of the amazing truths I took from this weekend is this:

To LOVE God is to NEED Him. To NEED Him is to LOVE Him.

Often times, we don't truly NEED Jesus... so it's hard for us to LOVE Him.  We don't acknowledge His providence, power, love for us, mercy, etc... so we think we have it "under control" (DANGEROUS!). I desperately NEED Jesus. I absolutely LOVE Jesus.  Those 2 things go hand in hand. The more you LOVE Him, the more you NEED Him. The more you NEED Him, the more he shows up and shows off... and it causes you to LOVE Him more. Good stuff. So maybe you are feeling a little distant from Jesus... maybe a little lost.  Check yourself - do you understand your NEED for Him? Are you following Him because you LOVE Him or because you want things? 

I learned stuff that is more personal than I want to share on a blog, but God totally and completely OVERWHELMED me this weekend. You know how scales were removed from Paul's eyes in Acts? Well... I felt that way. I feel like Jesus has had to remove scales from my eyes to show me different things about Him... I just wonder how many more layers I have on my finite eyes... Whew. But that's how I felt/feel - He pried some scales off... how freeing! Basically, without being detailed because it's not time yet... I learned more about PRAYER (go figure). I asked that he would teach me about PRAYER and He is faithful. 

John 15:7 says:

But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 

I know you are sitting there like... yea... cool... I read that when I was 10. OKAY! me too! But do you GET IT? I didn't.  Jesus is saying that if we REALLY ABIDE in Him and LOVE Him and NEED Him... we can ask our heart's REAL desires. I don't have to put up a wall to Jesus... I can just ask and it will happen. IF we are ABIDING in Him, we KNOW Him and will ask things within His will and for His glory... BUT WE CAN ASK AND HE WILL GRANT IT! WHAT?!!?! That's nuts to me.  

Many times I pray about things and I talk to Jesus about what I think and pray for others... but do I BELIEVE John 15:7? Most of the time... no... sadly. But I experienced a John 15:7 encounter the other week.  You can call me crazy or whatever, but I believe it.  So, there's a girl in our college ministry who has just had ca-razy health problems the past year- galbladder, ovaries, tummy, etc... just weren't working right. Well, 2 weeks ago we talked and challenged each other to REALLY pray... NOT WORRY... PRAY for her health. So... we did. Last Sunday I got her attention to come to the altar during the "invitation" because I felt like I was suppose to REALLY pray over her. So... we got on our knees and prayed. I believed what I was saying... and I felt something. I heard the words "lay hands," "pray for healing," "I WILL HEAL," and "a prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." So I prayed more. All I said was "HEAL HER, I BELIEVE. HEAL HER, YOU CAN." I have never done that before. 

The next day Sam had a doctors appointment and had to have a ultra sound done to see how things had progressed.  Guess what? There wasn't anything in there that was there before. HEALING. Wow. PRAYER... believing. The enemy wants to make us think that it isn't powerful, that prayer doesn't matter, but OH MAN.. YES IT DOES! I don't say that to boast... just to say that I believe and have seen and been taught that more and more. 

I can go on and on about what God taught me (because I was receptive)... but I'll save the rest for another day. 

So thankful for my friends who minister with me and love on these girls with me...

This is Amy. She is such a blessing and a God send. A friend. A prayer partner.
A lover of high school girls! 

This is Christina and Stephanie. The middle school leaders!
So thankful for their love for Jesus and their friendship!!! 

serving and being served...

So this was the scene in our youth room on Wednesday night... 

This was all that was set up... no other chairs... no ping pong table... just this... 2 charis... and 2 basins of water. Kids were confused and, of course, asked lots of questions. It's funny because they beg for something different but are scared of the change. I guess we all are. 

My hubby is pretty awesome... and Jesus is way more awesome. Jesus gave my hubby the idea that we should wash every youth's feet... not just to wash their nasty feet... but to show them in a real way that they are loved, they we long to serve them, and that a Jesus follower is called to serve... period.  To show and remind and tell them that they are CLEAN because of Jesus. They are forgiven. They are FREE!! What a message I need to hear each day so that I could live in a way that showed I BELIEVE I am CLEAN!!! :)

Jesus said in John 13:

¹⁴ And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. ¹⁵ I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. ¹⁶ I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

So, that's what we did.  I don't necessarily think this means we have to wash people's feet... but that are hearts are humbled to serve... always.  But, my hubby and Jesus had a vision and plan to wash the youth's feet. So thankful that my husband invites me to be a part of his visions and plans and allow me to bless and be blessed.  We had 58 youth there on Wednesday... ha... and we watched every foot. Please know that this is not about Jacob or me... only Jesus... but it was such a cool night I can't NOT share it! I had the amazing honor of washing the girls' feet while Jacob cleaned the boys feet.  

I had the privilege to pray of each girl that sat in that chair!! OH... what a joy! I got to speak TRUTH into their ears from Jesus. I got to proclaim over them that they are loved, they are beautiful, they don't have to conform, that they are FORGIVEN. I got to pray for girls that have taught me so much. Pray over girls who are going through chaos right now. Pray over girls who are learning and growing in Jesus so much.  I got to pray over girls that I don't know as well and tell them, one-on-one that I love them and that I love for them to KNOW JESUS! All.. just a joy. 

I remember when my youth pastor washed our feet and allowed us to wash others feet.  Jacob actually asked me the other day when and how and why I trusted and looked up to my youth pastor the way I did.  There are two times that stick out to me... that showed me the kind of man my youth pastor was/is and why I respected him and followed his lead. One was the day he promised me, a 7th grade nerdy hysterically little girl, that he would pray for my daddy's salvation (and he still does). The other was the night at a beach retreat that my youth pastor, Ernie (great youth pastor name, huh?) washed our feet and allowed us to see more of his servant heart. 

After I finished washing all the girls' feet... they asked if they could offer their gifts and wash mine. OH man... I'm getting teary thinking about it.  The girls... that I love so much... gathered about me... washed my feet (hairy legs and all), prayed over me, and loved on me. Sometimes it's so good to be needy... to be served... to just sit, CLEAN, and be loved on. It was a moment that I won't forget... I'll cherish it. The guys did the same for Jacob... and it blessed my heart. Jacob loves and prays and invests in these kids. He serves with everything he knows how... and I know his heart rested in the act of being served, too. 

If I could wash each of your feet, I would. I think it is such a special, symbolic act. But, I can't... because I'm here and you are there. So... 

Be reminded... that if you love Jesus.... you are CLEAN. you are FORGIVEN. and you are so loved! you have been washed with Jesus' blood and you are SAVED! Hooray! :) 

MaStErPiEcE

This weekend... I thought a lot about MASTERPIECES. I went to a high school pageant and saw two of my wonderful ladies crowned and acknowledged for their beauty.  Crown or not... God calls us his workmanship, or masterpieces, in scripture:

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:10

That just makes me all giddy inside because as much as I want to change things about my body and personality sometimes... God looks at me and sees a brilliant work! God crowns us everyday... whether wearing a pageant dress or a sweatsuit with no make up, hair tangled, and looking like a mess!  

Me and mom went to "Stroke of Faith" party on Saturday - we painted crosses with 50 other women from the Troy area to raise money for Relay for Life! it was a great time, but got me thinking MORE about masterpiece.  God calls us each a masterpiece... He is the artist. He carefully created and prepared us for the lives that we are in... for the bodies we have... and the stories our days are creating.  He did not make mistakes when He created you... when He created me. As much as I think of my not-so-voluptuous chest as a flaw... my eyesight as a hinderance... my ever growing caterpillar eyebrows as annoying... my Creator, the Artist, sees me as beauty... as a MASTERPIECE. You don't just call anything a MASTERPIECE... you call something treasured, cherished, intricately crafted, exquisite, exotic... that's a masterpiece. That's what he speaks to US! 

Yep... our bodies that we so often criticize are masterpieces. If you don't believe it about yourself... CLAIM IT because Jesus LIVES IN YOU!!! making you absolutely breath-taking. 


But... not only are our bodies works of art... but our stories are... our lives are.  He knew your story before you were born. He knows each day and he had made them each good.  A masterpiece, and especially my painting, is made with layers and layers of paint (my painting had a butt-load of paint on it). In the same way, our lives are made with layers of experiences, hurts, joys, milestones, decisions, events... and that is our story.  


God carefully orchestrates our lives... He allows the good and the bad. Maybe your layers are filled with hurt, lies, abuse, divorce, confusion... God knows. Maybe within your artwork there are layers of JOY, peace, comfort, miracles, salvation, and hope. 


A lot of times our mind gets so focused on that one layer... we don't see the picture... and we don't see how this destruction and hurt can EVER become BEAUTY.  




As more layers are carefully added the beauty and masterpiece can be more clearly seen. 

The Artist has a vision... He has a plan... a plan for my good... your good. He has a beautiful story in mind for our good and His glory. Rest in that .

My life is a masterpiece... not all the layers are there yet... I know some will be more painful than others... but I have a great HOPE that He knows what He's doing. 


Thankful for a God who sings over me... songs of beauty and joy.  And thankful for a mom who has taught me to seen my beauty, talents, and the unique me... and treasure it.