A Season of Change

I tend to view my life in chapters, which probably isn't a real shocker since I'm a writer. But this year of my life doesn't seem to have a clear cut pattern with the exception of one word - change.

Without a doubt, I am a creature of habit, and while some change is exciting, change that rocks my world in every area really challenges me.

Since my last post, I've moved to an apartment in the city. With a new location has come changes in relationships, schedules, and habits. I've accepted the invitation to join another community group as my current group prepares to transition into a new season. My first book is receiving the final touches and book 2 is heavy on my mind.

All of these changes are great, but I'm so overwhelmed. This is a year of curve balls from the Lord, and I feel like I have to make a daily conscious decision to just roll with each pitch. Definitely a year of chipping off rough edges and reshaping this piece of clay.

It's so hard to release control of plans and hopes and desires. It's so hard to balance the good things and say "no" in favor of better things. It's hard to let go.

I feel very scattered and out of control, but isn't that where Jesus likes us best? He is peace in the chaos, shelter in the storm, constant in the change, faithful in providing, present in the loneliness, direction in the fog.

He is SOVEREIGN.

That's the trait I am coming to understand in a greater way this year. It isn't this emotional characteristic. It's powerful. He works all things for my good, continually aligning my heart with His so that His desires become Mine. It somehow makes the change make sense.

I'm half way through the year, and I have no idea what to expect. I'm learning to daily trust His hand and savor the moments He gives me. And I might just be thankful when my life attains some sense of normalcy or familiarity again. But regardless, I'm letting go and trusting He knows my heart as this chapter continues.

2013 Word of the Year

One word can change the course of a person's life. By definition, this change requires dedication, commitment, and a strength derived from a source greater than ourselves.

I once heard that "Growing is not being satisfied, but to always be pushing yourself." I would amend that slightly. I would say that I am content with who I am, but I am not satisfied or content to remain there. A new year means a fresh opportunity to change and grow. My word for 2012 was COURAGE. This year, I want to build on what the Lord showed me last year. For 2013, my word is...

Savor

...each moment and opportunity.

... the ability to celebrate a ton of weddings with close friends this year.

... celebrate God's goodness, even when I don't understand circumstance.

... time with my family.

... the ability to go, do, and be.

... every new person, place, and opportunity.

... the process of writing a new book.

... the time to rest and the time to be busy.

... the growing pains at work.

... each season as an opportunity to do fun things with my community group.

... each new relationship.

... every opportunity to serve and love others.

... a growing relationship with the Lord.

... every opportunity to make a difference or influence.

... the chance to slow down and enjoy life.

... laughter, love, and living life to the full as the Lord called us to.

          

In 2012, the Lord began to show me what it looks like to live abundantly and make the most of every opportunity. I want to put that lesson into practice in 2013. I am so incredibly excited for this year. I have a huge tendency to always look for the next thing. I stay busy and rush and see how quickly I can accomplish something and move on to the next latest and greatest challenge. Part of that is who I am. Part of it needs to change.

I want to take time to "stop and smell the roses" as my mom says. I don't want to miss the joys of this year. God is so good, and He calls His people to have a heart of praise. I lose track of that fact in my busyness. This year looks like it will be one of the craziest of my life, but I'm ready for it.

Bring it on 2013! Let the adventure begin.

Stones of Remembrance 2012

Where did 2012 go? It has truly been a year of surprises, answered prayer, and major transition. Because of all the hits on last year's reflection post, I decided to continue the trend.

In the Bible, stacked stones often represent a memorial or altar intended to remind people of God's faithfulness in a specific circumstance. In Joshua 4, the Israelites finally inherit the land promised to them by the Lord.
 
"And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God." 

As I reflect back on the past year, I have my own stones of remembrance: moments that shaped me, lessons that changed me, people who influenced me, and a God who never left me. As we usher in the new year, I hope you will join me in looking back on 2012 by celebrating and marking with stones of remembrance all the Lord has done. If you don't know my Jesus, there will be no better way to bring in the new year than to allow Him to be Lord of your life.

Stone 1: At my conference in February, I met with multiple agents and editors to find a good fit for my manuscript. Mission accomplished. I signed a contract with WordServe Literary Agency this year and have the privilege of working with Sarah Joy Freese. What a blessing!

Stone 2: New job. Once again, I began a new job this year. Last year, I had the incredible privilege to nanny a little girl who made me smile more than I thought possible. But that time came to a close for both of us. In February, I accepted the position as writer for for the communications ministry at First Baptist Dallas. It has truly been a learning experience. My job has morphed and taken on new responsibilities, but God has been so good here. 

Stone 3: Haiti bound. In May, I spent a week in Haiti with a great team from my young adults ministry. I fell in love with the people, with Mission of Hope, and left challenged and encouraged by what the Lord is doing there. I can't wait to go back!

Stone 4: Reunited and it feels so good. In August, I flew to Missouri to see my best friend for the first time in over two years. The trip was an absolute blessing. I am still in awe of how the Lord has consistently knit our hearts together while states away. She is now engaged, and I look forward to standing with her at her wedding in 2013.

Stone 5: Mended relationships. I was ready to quit community, and the Lord restored beyond what I could have imagined. I learned much about the power of prayer, about dealing with conflict, and about authenticity.

Stone 6: Renewed team work. My young adults team took a weekend retreat to pray, cast a new vision, and have fun with one another. I am incredibly grateful to be part of this ministry. The Lord has used my team to soften my heart, increase my boldness, ignite a passion to serve, and push me to love Him more.

Stone 7: New car. I am officially an adult! This was another mark of the Lord's faithfulness in prayer. I paid exactly what I could, found the make and model I wanted, found a "new" used car, and even found my favorite color. The Lord's timing is perfect, and I am almost finished paying it off!

Stone 8: My brother graduated! I'm so proud of his hard work and business direction.  I'm also excited that he moved back to Dallas. Now I get to spend even more time with him.

Stone 9: Beautiful holidays. Over the course of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I was able to spend time with both sides of my family. My uncle and aunt are both cancer-free this year! My granddad survived a wreck and was able to celebrate with us. My cousin got married, and his new bride spent her first Christmas with the whole family. My other granddad made it out of the hospital just in time to celebrate our Savior's birth. And...it was a white Christmas. There is much to thank the Lord for this holiday season.

Stone 10: This year, the Lord taught me a great lesson in what it looks like to live abundantly. Haiti changed my mindset. Work became a tool and opportunity to both influence and be influenced. My friends changed my heart and taught me what it looks like to live in authentic community. I experienced adventure, challenge, and transition. It has been a year of growing, of spending my time on things that matter, and of learning to say no and rest when necessary. I learned a lot about dreams and obedience to the Lord. I learned that my dreams are subject to change and all for His glory.

So many exciting things are already on the calendar for 2013 - lots of travel, weddings, work craziness, and a big announcement! Stay tuned! Follow me on Facebook and twitter. Join this site. If nothing else, pray and grow with me this year as we anticipate the big things the Lord desires to do in your life and mine! 

Happy New Year from Texas! May God richly bless you no matter what comes in 2013.

Kariss 

Thankful Heart Day 13 - He is Sovereign

Work got crazy today. Actually, the coming craziness is what scares me. We are currently preparing for HUGE changes, and it will require all hands on deck.

Sitting in my meeting this morning, my head began to spin. How will I finish writing my book and be fully present to help me team here? How will I balance my schedule in the craziness if I'm struggling with that now?

Thank the Lord that He is so Sovereign when my brain skips five steps ahead.

He knows I want to do my best. He knows my desire to please and spend time with those in my life. He knows my heart to write stories that make an impact past my own backyard.

He knows. 

Remembering that brings an incredible measure of peace to my day. One day at a time. Do my best today and let tomorrow and next spring wait until they get here.  He is not the author of chaos or stress. He is the author of peace and good plans. 

My fear stems from my stupid idea that I can somehow fix or control the events. Nope. He will give me strength to meet the needs of today and strength to meet the needs of tomorrow. What an excellent reminder to rest and trust in Him today!

Now back to work.

Ever Changing

It's time for Five Minute Friday where a flash mob of writers join to write purely for the joy of it and then share our thoughts over at Lisa-Jo's. So, set your timer and clear your head for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right. Today's word?

CHANGE

I'm a creature of habit, yet every day is a new adventure, a new lesson in embracing what is thrown my way.

Change.

Every stage is marked by it. Every mile of the journey different because of this one little word.

As a young adult, people tell me that I am in a "transient" stage. But, life is transient. There is nothing stable, steady, or static about it. It's fluid.

We are born, We learn to walk, think, speak. We go to school and then transition through grade levels and different measures of knowledge. We graduate high school and are thrown into the big pond of college where we "decide" the rest of our lives at 18. At 22, we are thrown out again. More change - bills, adulthood, marriage, kids, jobs. Life never stops. We are never in stasis.

People aren't cookie cutter creations. We grow, hopefully mature, we move, we make decisions. We change.

Every ounce of life and the universe is marked by this word. At times, I fear it. Yet, I'm coming to embrace it.

I don't know what change will come next. I don't know in what shape it will come or whether I will love or hate it. I have no means to predict. But, I know the One who has charted my course, and I know the road I have chosen to take. It is narrow, and few follow it. But the One leading is good. He knows every bend.

And, I will trust Him for He never changes.

Dream Big - Here

"I don't know what my future holds, but I do know who holds my future." Tim Tebow

© Shanna Russel Photography

I'm a dreamer. I've been called overly passionate, maybe a little idealistic. At times both are true. But recently, I've really struggled to be present and not rush ahead to the next stage of my life. What's the hurry?

The danger with chasing a dream, at least for me, is the constant need to look ahead often blinds me to what is right in front of me. My relationships suffer, my attitude suffers, and my relationship with the Lord suffers as I develop a spirit of discontentment.

I once heard someone say, "Trust God and do the next thing." So, that's what I'm going to concentrate on. I am blessed to be close to family, have awesome friends, a job that utilizes my skill set, the opportunity to serve those my age in my city, the ability to pursue my dreams, and a God who has my best at heart and desires to challenge and use me, even when it isn't in my plans.

How can I focus on being HERE?

- Make the most of every opportunity
- Develop relationships without fear of going deeper
- Pray for the things that are up in the air and be faithful with what is in front of me
- Work hard
- Pour my passion into where I'm at to make a difference all for His glory
- Thank the Lord for His goodness and faithfulness in this season
- Pray that I will be prepared for the next season whenever the Lord brings it
- Find contentment and joy in my Heavenly Father in the mean time

In the daily journey of dreaming, do you struggle with living in the present and not wanting more?

Dream Big - Celebrate Milestones

Mrs. Baird's Bread was my favorite place once every six weeks as a kid. We didn't have sugar in our house so trips to this sweet smelling haven highlighted every report card day. We each picked a treat, barely waiting to tear into it until it was paid for. Each bite was its own reward.

At the time, each grade was a celebration of hard work and a job well done. Much like the smallest accomplishments were rewarded as children, every milestone on the way to our dreams should be celebrated, as well. Last week, I talked about setting goals to achieve our dreams. This week, it's time to party!

For all the writers/readers out there, you know that every chapter must begin with a great hook and end with a bang that makes you want to keep reading and see what's next. Tomorrow, I will celebrate the ending of a chapter in my life and the beginning of another.

For those who follow me on Facebook or have kept up with me the last couple of years on my blog, my journey has consisted of one part time job after another. Each was a blessing from the Lord for that particular season. Each provided me with the ability to write my book and spend a year in a class that trained and equipped me.

I have enjoyed the flexibility of acting when creativity strikes me. But, all that is about to change. On Leap Day, I signed the acceptance for a full time job with First Baptist Dallas as the new writer for the Communications team. I will end my last day as a nanny tomorrow and begin a new adventure on Wednesday. Those who have journeyed with me celebrated the answer to prayer after several years of uncertain direction. But never for a second was the Lord not in control.

My dreams haven't changed. This job will allow me to pursue them in a greater and more effective fashion than I can currently accomplish. I celebrated the completion of my book. I celebrated the interest of agents and editors at my Colorado conference. My life is about to change in a big way, and I celebrate what the Lord will do. I'm excited about the ability to expand the gift the Lord has given me, as well as minister and hopefully make an impact in the lives of a different audience. Goals that go unrecognized rarely bring motivation or a sense of a job well done. Monotony and pushing through without the acknowledgement of success or change stifles a dream rather than breathing new life into it. Don't get so caught up in achieving your dream that you overlook the victories along the way.

I can't wait to get started. Welcome to my new chapter! I can't wait to see what the Lord has up His sleeve. He clearly writes a better story than I could ever hope to pen. I pray you will journey with me. And, I pray you will stop to celebrate the answers to prayer and the successes along the red carpet to your dreams.

How can you celebrate a recent event in your life? What do you need to do to spur you on to the next step in pursuing your dreams?

My Achy Breaky Heart

Linking up with the Gypsy Mama for 5 Minute Friday. We write because we love words and the relief it is to just write them without worrying if they’re just right or not. So we take five minutes on Friday and write like we used to finger paint. For joy in the process. No matter how messy the result. Today's word:

ACHE

They come and go. Faces flashes across my screen, names across my phone, words across my heart. There are days I physically hurt from missing them, ache for the short time allowed with them.

Some share my DNA, others should. They are those who have left footprints on my heart and fingerprints on my life. Some relationships run thicker than blood. Some blood surpasses simple DNA.

And I ache that life changes, ache when it doesn't. Love when new relationships enter my life and ache when time seperates us again.

I thank the Lord that so many of these dear ones are eternal friendships. The ache is temporary. The joy is forever, ever grateful, ever craving the presence

...of the childhood friends spread across the country. We are linked by shared nursery toys and the idelible memories that only come from sharing the journey of a lifetime, every stage.

...of those who walked in during childhood, sharing victories, defeat, and the life-altering decisions of boyfriends and college and all in between.

...of those in college. My fellow Red Raiders. Linked by loyalty and by love, now spread out all over Texas. All in different life stages. Changed but we still bleed red and black.

...of those who shared a life-changing summer. Who laughed and cried and traveled. Getting lost, finding ourselves was all part of the journey.

...of those who have entered since the west Texas sunsets. The community, teammates, colleagues. Those who made the choice to share their lives, every piece for the sake of loving others.

...of those who have always been there. Blood thicker than water, who share my DNA and my history. They are my past, present, and future.

And I ache that they will always be part of me but not always with me. Their memories, their imprints continue to shape my life.

Change on the Horizon

Henry van Dyke once said, “Use what talents you possess. The woods will be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” On that note, it is time for some change around here. The blog experienced a new makeover recently, and after hours of trial and error with coding (which I have no idea how to do), everything is finally functional. I could have thrown a party. I was so proud of myself!

I love a challenge, especially one that I know is within my ability if I just push myself. Every year since I began this blog, I have had a theme. In 2009, I went from the mountains of Colorado to the desert. In 2010, I wanted to understand the love of the Father. Last year, I explored the great I AM to better grasp His character. It's time to revamp the theme for 2012. Since I launched my website last fall, three words have come to define my life and the ministry I desire to have: DREAMS, ADVENTURE, HOPE.

I believe God is a God of big dreams and desires to do big things in and through us. He designed each of us for a purpose and gifted each of us uniquely.

I also believe every day is an adventure. As Robin Williams said in his portrayal of the infamous Peter Pan, "To live would be an awfully big adventure." I have purposed to look for the adventure in the small things, like getting lost in Dallas (which happens weekly), as well as the big things, such as traveling Europe (which doesn't happen as often as I would like). The Lord desires to give us an abundant life, and with Him, every day is new.

© TriStar Pictures

Too many of us have bought into postmodern philosophy that there is no hope. It was programmed into me in school, but I refuse to acknowledge that we simply get through life and then die. There is a different end to that story, and it is eternity with Jesus. No more night, day, pain, tears. Paradise worshipping the King of Kings awaits those who trust in His death, burial, and resurrection. There is hope for tomorrow and for a thousand tomorrows.

So, this year on the blog, I will focus on dreams, adventure, and hope. I'll use my journey and the journeys of those around me. I'll tackle dreams first, and it is a topic near and dear to my heart. I also attempt the adventures of vlogging, linking with other bloggers, and who knows what else. Bear with me. I have exciting plans in the making to transform this space. But I want to hear from you!! 

If there were no limitations, what dream would you pursue? Leave a comment below and feel free to get crazy!

From Writing to Reality

When crafting a scene, I write my character into a corner (emotionally, physically, spiritually). Then, I stare at the screen wondering why in the world I created a situation I can't figure out how to fix. I'm a fixer by nature, or at least I try to be, and the "unfixable" occasionally causes frustration. Thankfully, I am learning that my role isn't to fix but to be faithful. After A LOT of processing, creativity, and rewriting, the character wiggles out of the corner into another problem.

So, I got to thinking....if fiction is a reflection of reality, then my life mirrors my character, and as the writer, I am a reflection of the master Author. As the Lord crafts my story, I am wholly dependent on Him. I cannot get out of the corner unless He sees fit to pen the scene that way.

"Faith in God includes faith in His timing."

Over the past couple of years, I've become convinced that the Lord loves to write Himself into a corner that only He, in His sovereignty, can fix. His fingerprints are all over my life. It fascinates and humbles me that I can take no credit for my accomplishments or my path.

Currently, I'm stuck in a corner beneath a sign flashing "WAIT." This character is not patient, but I also realize that I'm not the author of my story. Thankfully, the One who created all, sees all, and controls all is at the desk completely aware of the big dreams I imagine, the hope I cling to, and the adventures that will come my way. He can craft the perfect scene better than anything I could initiate from my limited viewpoint.

Until the Lord crafts the next scene, I am writing, waiting, wondering, developing a greater trust in Him.

"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." Psalm 27:14

Ugly Packages and New Year Resolutions

Did you enter the new year with the need for a break, or did you enter it refreshed with the hope of a clean slate? Weary accurately describes my beginning of 2012. I've spent the last couple weeks of January playing catch up.

After reading Matthew 11, I realized that it's okay to feel weary. The Lord has designated a place for our burdens at the foot of the cross. Peace and rest are promised! However, I noticed that I try to package my burdens in nice paper and fancy ribbons before laying them at the feet of Jesus.

There are no pretty packages at the foot of the cross, no matter their wrapping.

I'll be honest, mine look like my brother wrapped them in newspaper, backed over them with his car, tried to fix them, and then ran over them again. (Sorry, bro! But you are a self-proclaimed wrapping paper mutilator.) The last couple of weeks, I've been down for the count, but I'm back on my feet and "resolute-ing" a little late. Now is the beginning of my year.

Here goes...

-remember my body is a temple and I how I treat it now will affect me years from now
-continue to identify how the Lord has gifted me and pursue those things
-build authentic relationships with those around me
-jump back into music - playing piano and clarinet again
-READ - a fiction, nonfiction/classical, growth, and 1 book for pleasure a month
-build up the blog (exciting plans coming...Stay Tuned!)
-write everyday, even when I don't feel like it
-finish polishing 1 book, writing another, and begin another
-memorize a verse a month
-try new things - travel, experience, see, and do (see my "Courage" post)

We'll see how I do! Laying my burdens at the cross, it's time to walk into 2012 feeling refreshed and motivated for the year ahead confident that the Lord has good plans for me.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Stones of Remembrance 2011

2011 has been a whirlwind! Where did the time go, and why is my brain struggling to remember all of it? Because of all the hits on last year's reflection post, I decided to continue the trend.

In the Bible, stacked stones often represent a memorial or altar intended to remind people of God's faithfulness in a specific circumstance. In Joshua 4, the Israelites finally inherit the land promised to them by the Lord.

"And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God." 

As I reflect back on the past year, I have my own stones of remembrance: moments that shaped me, lessons that changed me, people who influenced me, and a God who never left me. As we usher in the new year, I hope you will join me in looking back on 2011 by celebrating and marking with stones of remembrance all the Lord has done. If you don't know my Jesus, there will be no better way to bring in the new year than to allow Him to be Lord of your life.

Stone 1: New job. 2011 began with a new writing job and a class through the Christian Writer's Guild that satisfied all that I missed in grad school.

Stone 2: In February, I headed back to Colorado for a my first big writing conference where I met with agents and editors to pitch my book idea, gained more insight into my field, and discovered a new network of writers who love the Lord. It's amazing how my rejection from grad school translated into a story bigger and better than I could have penned.

Stone 3: Friendships built. This year, my community group celebrated a year together. I am blessed to do life with these Godly women. Last year, I was lonely. This year, I have more community than I know what to do with and new friends added all the time.

Stone 4: Godly counsel. In April, it was back to Manitou Springs, Colorado where I spent several days under the teaching and coaching of Doc Hensley, DiAnn Mills, and Jerry B. Jenkins. I was "forced" to lead a devotional one morning which reminded me that despite my age, the Lord has a purpose and a plan. I can make a difference now. I ended the trip by conquering the Incline with my friend Amy. I can cross that off my bucket list!

Stone 5: Renewed creativity and inspiration. Where has this been locked up? There are so many story ideas and possibilities rattling in my head that I have to constantly remind myself to focus on one thing at a time. But I'm not gonna lie...I'm pretty excited about what's in store!

Stone 6: A new team. In August, I began serving on a young adults team at my church for The Porch. Every week, I am blessed with the opportunity to greet those who enter, pray for them, share the gospel, and encourage. My team is rock solid and running whole-heartedly after the Lord. Their walks encourage mine.

Stone 7: A story complete! I finished and submitted my first book in September. My website is launched. Now begins a new journey of trusting the Lord. Stay tuned. This blog will begin a new direction this year.

Stone 8: Dreams fulfilled. This year was full of travel within Texas and out. I was blessed with the chance to spend time with my cousin and her husband in England, Ireland, and Scotland for 3 weeks. Living the dream! Florida was the next stop with a Beach Camp for youth. That trip taught me more about myself, more about trusting the Lord, and more about speaking the truth in love than anything in a long time. A couple of my girls accepted Christ! San Antonio was another stop where I spent the weekend with another cousin and met up with one of my best friends from Focus to explore the historic city.

Stone 9: Family. This has been a rough year with several untimely deaths and two family members with cancer. I ended the year with a funeral of someone I loved dearly. A couple years ago, my reaction to these deaths would have been much different. My current reaction is a testament to the Lord's work in my life, and I am so thankful. I don't understand His ways, but these deaths didn't surprise Him. He has a plan and He is still good.

Stone 10: Above all, I learned to trust the Lord in a new way this year. I set out to study the great I AM's character. When I know who my God is, then I know and can trust who I am in Him. I have committed to practice being thankful in all things. Wow, it changes my attitude. The Lord is good in this time of waiting and wondering and asking what He wants me to do. In Him is my confidence, joy, and purpose. I pray I continue to learn that in 2012. 

So many exciting things are already on the calendar! Stay tuned! Follow me on Facebook and twitter. Join this site. If nothing else, pray and grow with me this year as we anticipate the big things the Lord desires to do in your life and mine! 

Happy New Year from Texas! May God richly bless you no matter what comes in 2012.

Kariss 

Day 19 - Chapters

I view every stage of life like a chapter. Some last pages and pages. Others are the length of a few paragraphs. Regardless, each chapter leaves indelible marks that change me forever.

Today, I'm so thankful for these chapters. I often wrestle with change and kick and scream as one chapter closes and another opens, but I never regret the transition. By the time I go to bed tonight, I will have spent time with people from 3 different stages of my life.

I enjoyed a three hour lunch with a friend from Tech. It was so good to see a face from Lubbock here in Dallas. We haven't seen one another for a while, but we didn't miss a beat. I love to see how we have both grown and changed and can't wait to see where the Lord will lead next.

This afternoon, I will spend time with a girl in my Bible study. The Lord brought her into my life a little over a year ago, and He has grown our friendship by leaps and bounds over that time. She has become a confidant, a friend, and source of laughter and fun. She is always an encouragement and believes in me when I don't believe in myself.

Tonight, I will spend time with a childhood friend who has survived all these stages. She is a blessing. She speaks straight, weathers distance, time, and changes, and is a kindred spirit. I'm looking forward to time with her.

Each of these stages has changed me. The people have all been a blessing. I'm thankful for each chapter and am excited to see where the Lord will continue to lead.

What are you thankful for today?

The Places You'll Go

"Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

You're on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go." Dr. Seuss in Oh, The Places You'll Go

Place is a big deal to me. It's where I find inspiration, something I identify with, something I connect with and attach to. I love to travel. Recently, I traveled to England, Ireland, and Scotland. Both sides of my family have deep roots in Ireland and Scotland, so I really felt a connection with those places. But in all honesty, there's nothing magical about place. The Lord calls us to go into all the world. So, I can use that as an excuse to travel, right? Listen to this song by Steven Curtis Chapman as you read the rest of the post.

© Steven Curtis Chapman, Youtube

As a kid, life looks simple. Or at least it did to me. Finish high school, go to college, get married, have 2.5 kids, work, get a dog, buy a house, live happily ever after, and do it all over again when grandkids start rolling around. Simple, right? I think a better word for my state of mind was "naïve." Once I graduated college, the Lord rocked my world. I often wondered what He was up to, why life wasn't going the way I planned. But life rarely goes as we plan.

In Joshua 1, the Israelites are preparing to enter the Promised Land, but another people group is occupying it, and they are terrified. The Lord makes Joshua a promise, "I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you" (vs 3-5). I tenaciously claim this promise as my own. I know the Lord never leaves me, or at least I embrace that more every day. I want the confidence to go wherever He leads and know that wherever I set my foot is claimed for Christ.

The main character in my book is a young college graduate who chooses to give up her dreams for a greater calling to serve in Haiti. She thinks she is going to help the people and essentially save the world, but that isn't how life works. The earthquake strikes, and lives are forever changed in the aftermath. As I created her character, I tried to put myself in her shoes. Would I trust the Lord in the middle of something that catastrophic? Would I truly believe that every place I set my foot was claimed territory for Him? As my character wrestled to understand why the Lord would take her somewhere to help and then allow something that awful to happen, I wrestled with her. The truth is, the Lord asks us to change jobs, move, go and serve somewhere and we fight Him in that new place because we doubt He is with us or has our best at heart. Wrong! As the Lord told Joshua, He will NEVER leave or forsake you. You never walk into a new place alone. He goes before you, claims it as your promised land, and then enters it with you, promising you every place you set your foot. If He truly is a God who never changes as His word says, then the promises made to Joshua hold true for you.

What promised land does the Lord desire to use you to conquer right now? Will you trust Him?

Beating My Best

 In my past life, I was a band nerd.

Okay, maybe it wasn't my past life. Maybe it was just a few short years ago. But it is a title I claim proudly because I love music and I loved playing my clarinet. Every day was a challenge. I worked hard to make my fingers and tongue move in perfect rhythm. Many felt the need to compete. I felt the pressure, but my band director had a phrase that he often told our band:

"Your main goal in this competition is to be Poteet (that was us). If you can beat what we were this time last year, you will have accomplished our goal."

I still remember that admonishment. While I am not the most competitive person, I do understand the need to beat myself. I don't need to be the best, but I do need to be my best. I constantly push myself to beat my previous standard of "best," and in this way, I am always growing.

Mr. Jones was another of my band directors. He taught me to play my clarinet and was present and active in my life from the time I entered middle school until I graduated. He was my silent cheerleader. I never knew how much until recently.

When I graduated, Mr. Jones gave me a book written by John Maxwell called, Developing the Leader Within You.  This book teaches leadership skills rooted strongly in Maxwell's faith in Christ. When I went to college, I attempted to read this book, knowing that Mr. Jones had given it to me for a reason. It was above my head as an 18-year-old who was only focused on making good grades and meeting new people. I've recently read through it, and value the lessons I have learned. But I value something else even more.

In the front of the book, Mr. Jones wrote me a letter. Several lines stuck out to me and have bridged the 5 years since I was his student. "As you embark on this new journey, I know you take a strong faith in the Lord and His teachings. I have no doubt that you will bring Him much glory! I pray that you will hold steadfast to His promises even in the hard times."

Mr. Jones believed in me before I believed in myself, before I recognized the hardships life would throw my way, before I realized my own leadership potential, or before I realized that Maxwell's words would help me grow in my people skills and my faith. Mr. Jones challenged me throughout my teen years and his words continue to challenge me today. Hard times have hit, and I am clinging to the Lord for dear life, just as Mr. Jones prayed I would.

He left me with a verse that I leave you with today, "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58

I pray whatever you do brings God glory, that your hardships point you to the goodness of God, and that you remember that what you do for the Lord is never in vain. I pray that you don't compare yourselves to others but constantly push yourself to excel beyond what you were previously capable. Beat your best and stand firm in the Lord.

HE IS FAITHFUL.

Letting Go

I think one of the hardest things in life is letting go. I struggle with change more than anything else in my life, and it's only in hindsight that I view it as beneficial and necessary.

For over a year now, I have lived back in my home town. College was a cliche time of "finding myself" apart from the people who have known me for years. It was a time of reinvention. I had a clean slate and continued to find the voice I had only begun to scratch the surface of in high school. Being home has been an all new adventure in understanding who I am. But, it isn't a mission to find myself so much as it is one where I remember who I am in Christ. "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:13b-14

My old haunts bring back memories of people I loved whom time has removed; activities I excelled in which I am now incapable of returning to; and places full of memories and milestones. These things I see as I drive through town, and I struggle to let go. I struggle to forget, as the Bible says. I am a firm believer that our past shapes us. Every day adds to the person we will be tomorrow and next year. Often the days that have come before are more comfortable, or, dare I say it, safe. Maybe that's what makes change so hard. It isn't safe. It's unpredictable and often equates to loss and heartache and more misplaced memories.

But, I will choose to look at it this way: Proverbs 25:4 says, "Remove the dross from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith." Dross is equated with impurity. When the bad material is removed, the silversmith is free to mold the material into a planned shape and design to serve a specific purpose. When the silversmith sees the correct image, his job is not only complete, but perfected. I am choosing to view change as the process by which the dross is removed from my life, so that in my next transition stage to God knows where, I am a little better for having gone through the process.

"We fight to hold on. We fight to let go." I wish I could tell you that I've mastered the balance. The truth is, I wish I had. This will be a lifelong process for me. Maybe my struggle to let go at the moment exists because I am on the brink of finishing something that could potentially change life as I know it. No going back. That reality is not safe.

But forgetting what is behind, I move on to see what the Lord has in store for me next. Hopefully, in the next stage, I will be a little wiser and slightly more equipped to let go of clinging to my comfort zone.

What are you holding on to?

"I'm Letting Go" by Francesca Battistelli