“Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore.

“Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life; having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity; and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our vision of the new heaven to dim.

“Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes; and to push us into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.”
--Prayer of Sir Francis Drake

something to ponder

"Do we form no friendships because our friends might be taken from us? Do we refuse to love because we may be hurt? Do we forsake our dreams because hope has been deferred? To desire is to open our hearts to the possibility of pain; to shut down our hearts is to die altogether...In the face of this quandary most people decide to bury the whole question and put as much distance as they can between themselves and their desires. It is a logical and tragic act. The tragedy is increased tenfold when this suicide of soul is committed under the conviction that this is precisely what Christianity recommends. We have never been more mistaken" (John Eldredge ~ Desire)

California

This is my second day in Redding, visiting my little sister for Thanksgiving break.

I came here to share in an adventure with my sister who I love dearly, but I also felt like God had it in HIs heart for me to come here at this time. I am ready for a refreshing from the Holy Spirit, but also for a bursting of dreams and a leading into what is next.

I guess in 12 days I will have more to write on the subject of what God is going to do while I am here tons of miles away from what is familiar.

I am excited and so very thankful.

inspired by Julie Meyer (a sermon I heard her preach)

"David, along with Joseph, had an unbelievable promise. SOMETIMES you step right into that promise. Sometimes first you go to jail." -julie meyers

When the story comes full circle, may we look back with the eyes of papa and say, "GOD set this up for good."

What is written about your life in the book that lasts for eternity? Even in the jailhouse, what is your testimony saying?

Hard questions I am asking myself. I want my heart to be full of faith, even when the dream does come right away. Even when no one is looking, our Father is watching.

"We live for the promise, and we set our hearts to get there, but sometimes God sets up divine delays. And in that divine delay, that is the place that God is looking into you to see what is really in your heart. Because He not only creates us to be great, but he wants us great on the depths of the inside. That's true greatness...greatness within us, no matter what season we are in."

"God is always about restoration. Always, always, always."

Even when you feel overlooked, God knows where you are. And God is the only One that counts.

"And David behaved wisely in all his ways. And the Lord was with him."

Psalm 27:4 "One thing I ask of the Lord, and this is what I will seek all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord." <------who David was at the core, regardless of what he achieved or lost...a lover of God.

Don't let what you do define who you are. Be a lover first.

Psalm 75 "Promotion does not come from the east or the west or the south. It comes from God. God raises one up. God presses another down." <----it's the hand of God. And in the season of God pressing you down, that's where He tests your heart. Can you still be a lover there? Will you still believe? How will you set your heart in those moments?

Psalm 84 "Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the valley of baca [weeping], they make it a spring. The rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength..." <-----the key to walking through the Valley of Baca is to KEEP walking. Don't build your house on "poor me" street.

"This too shall pass..." both in the hard times and in the times of favor.

Remember: this season will one day be your history in God. So make it a good one.

do not be moved...

...by fame, favor, finance.

Set your heart. Be lovesick for Jesus.

That's where the ideas of heaven come from--the ideas that change the atmosphere and transform culture.

May the righteous make a statement for God in every sector of society, bold in what God has placed in their hearts, totally surrendered to Him.

nothing less

I wanna be the real deal. In a time when the church is following the lead of the world, trading sincere love for marketing schemes, I ant to be genuine. I want to love from a deep place--I will see that love set people free. The sacrifice Jesus made will not go to waste in my life.

Abba, teach me how to live from the heart, even if it means I get mocked. Work courage of conviction into my heart There's no time to waste...

I don't want polished human ability. I want the raw life of the Spirit.

pick up a pen

take out paper.

dream big, even the big that is scary.

write it down.