tats and piercings...

When we left Indiana in 08 we had no idea what was in front of us.

When we left Arizona in 11 we had no idea what was in front of us.

Moving to the west was so liberating. The come as you are, for real, atmosphere felt so good. I've told several people, my church, theCHURCH (that's it's name) was the first place I saw a real picture of the body of Christ. A place where addicts mingled with doctors, where homeless were invited in by millionaires. You could ride your Harley or your Schwinn. You could wear a dress and heals or shorts and flip flops. It didn't matter because what mattered was and is that you learn more about Jesus and His love when you walked through the doors. Tattoos and piercings were no more an issue than the dirt on the street.

Coming back to the Midwest has been eye opening. I've heard come as you are, but haven't felt it to be genuine, that is until a couple weeks ago. We visited yet another church and for the first time in five months we were welcomed in, smiled at, and Patrick's tattoos and my nose piercing didn't get us that 3rd, and 4th look. You know that look, the one like you've got three heads! As we took our seats and anticipated the service U2 played...not so softly...score in my book...then Tenth Avenue North...another score!!  Then the clip before worship sharing all ages, from all backgrounds are welcome to wear what you want, drink coffee and feel apart of the family, because you matter. You matter to Jesus!! Whew...a breath of fresh air!!!

My hope was restored! I'm thankful for a place (and I'm sure there's more) that look past my exterior and want to help and minister to my interior. That's what my Jesus did! If you're reading this and have no clue what I'm talking about - that could be good or bad! Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what you see when you look at people. Are you more concerned with a piece of jewelry in their face, ink on their arms, the clothes they are or aren't wearing or the state of their heart?

Let's all be more like our Jesus!

the greatest of these...

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." I Corinthians 13:13

Faith will fade away, hope will cease, but love is eternal!

"You was the onlyest person that looked past my skin and past my meanness and saw that there was somebody on the inside worth savin. I don't know how, but you knowed that most a' the time when I acted like a bad fella, it was just so folks wouldn't get too close. I didn't want nobody close to me. It wadn't worth the trouble. Besides that, I had done lost enough people in my life, and I didn't want to lose nobody else...Cause ever person that looks like a enemy on the outside ain't necessarily one on the inside. We all has more in common than we think. You stood up with courage and faced me when I was dangerous, and it changed my life. You loved me for who I was on the inside, the person God meant for me to be, the one that had just gotten lost for a while on some ugly roads in life."  Same Kind of Different As Me

Did hope or faith change this man? They may have played a part. But, it was the love that she showed him, that changed him. It was the choice she made to act on, live out, and be, that changed him.

The love you pour out today could just be the salve to a wounded soul!

by definition...

A journey by definition is 1) a traveling from one place to another, usually taking a rather long trip 2) a distance, course 3) a period of travel...

If we all look at our lives we see our journeys as seasons...
Seasons of longing, gratitude, hurt, loss, rebellion, forgiveness, restoration, fear, anger, healing, deliverance, just to name a few. Our journeys take us to the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Even though our seasons are uncertain, it's the every day that is so important. I, personally don't want to look so forward to the future or try to see the big picture so much, that I lose sight of the now. I can't see the forest for the trees kinda thinking...

Oswald said it perfectly in today's devotion in fact, "God is not working toward a particular finish, His purpose is the process itself."

I've said many times, "God was preparing me." He may in fact have been, however, if I had just taken the time to learn from that day, that moment maybe my journey wouldn't take the dips that it does. I know I can't be on top of the mountain everyday. But, I sure am going to try to have a paradigm shift and really not try to focus on the finish. After all we'll never arrive until we see Him face to face!!

All I know is that I've been feeling challenged lately. This may not be difficult for you, but for someone who is passionate about a lot of things, but has never really nailed down a lot of things, I've come to a simple, yet so hard to embrace fact. I can't love everyone in this world effectively...but I can love deeper those in my circle of influence. I can't serve everyone in this world effectively, but I can serve those God puts in front of me today. I can't change the world, but I can change "my world" by being exactly who God intended me to be, by being more like Him. Sooooo, I'm a work, a work that He is not done with yet. A work who's journey is definitely still on the course, still moving to another place!

the first of many...

So the thought has crossed my mind many times. But today as I sat outside on a gloriously humid morning, drinking coffee and reading Oswald, I decided to jump outta the boat of just reading blogs to actually blogging myself. Not really sure what I'll talk about, but I know I have so many thoughts swirling in this head of mine, that this is a good outlet for me. We are all on a journey. My hope is to share what the Lord is doing with me on my journey, and encourage you on yours!!