Welcome to the Blog World Nikki!!

I am so excited to be introducing you to the best sister-in-law in the whole world... who has now entered the blogging world. My brother married her last year and it feels like she has been in the family forever. She is one of those people who will tell you what she thinks, good and bad, and have you laughing the next minute. She is organized, anal retentive, you will never find her house a mess, wants to be in charge (the exact opposite of me ... and to think of it my brother also), yet a lot of fun to be around. If you want to read great stories and get a good laugh you have to check out her blog.

Tricia Lawrenson discharged today at 10:30!!!

I cannot believe I am putting a post up about Tricia being discharged from the hospital today. If you have no idea what I am talking about you have to go to her husbands blog and read about a modern day miracle. Having a double lung transplant only a few weeks ago after carrying a baby for 6 months against the advice of her doctors if she wanted to live, and then being told she would probably never make the transplant list again, delivering the baby at 25 weeks while under sedation not being sure that either one could survive the delivery... they decided to choose life for their baby against all odds, and God has chosen to let us see a modern day miracle through someone who, like Abraham in the Bible, sacrificed it all even when it didn't make sense.

How many of us can really say, I lay everything down... even if it doesn't make sense... even if we look like fools... even if it means losing our life. Tricia can truly say she laid her life down for another life, and God gave her "life" back.

The Last Lecture

This is one of the other inspirational stories I mentioned from last week. My husband and I sat and were very inspired by this man's amazing story. This 47 year old Carnegie Mellon professor, father of 3, and adored husband, Randy Pausch, expects to die from cancer in a couple of months, so he delivered a hopeful last lecture on his life's lessons. This is just part of the lecture and interview with Barbara Walters. You can go to his website/blog to watch the Lecture or the interview in full (it is definitely worth it) and to look around at other interesting things about his life.

What Do You Really Believe

Have you ever had your faith tested to the very edge of sanity?...

Many of my friends and fellow bloggers have probably noticed my husband and I have not blogged quite as much this year as we had in the following year. Many things have been going on in our lives that we have just chosen to wait to share.

As many of you know we stepped down from the missions organization we were going to go to France with last spring. There were some differences in philosophy and implementation, and a number of mentors encouraged Ken down this road. We immediately under the counsel of a number of pastors created an organization, "Catalyst France", that really held to what we believed would work in France and Europe in reaching this generation. Things no other organization had done as of yet.

After we had done this we began receiving emails and phone calls from a guy Ken had met in France the year before with the IMB (International Mission Board with the Southern Baptist) who was really wanting to change the way things are being done in Europe to reach this new generation. He and Ken talked a number of times and he told us he wanted us to really pray about coming and working with him and the IMB in Europe to plant a church, and then recruit, raise up, and train pastors and church planters/missionaries to implement the ideas we had been talking about.

The exciting thing about the IMB is that if you can make it through the interview process (b/c it is long and grueling) they pay your salary to live anywhere in the world to reach the population you need to reach. Yes, that meant they would pay for us to live in the most expensive city in the world if we had to and never worry about a single bill. They will even pay extra for things like a special school for your child or tutoring if you showed that it would help your family.

Anyway, we began trepidly walking down this path because we knew the process, and had been through some of it before. God continued to appear to open every door through the process this time up until recently. In this process you have to have serious medical clearance. If you have ever had a pain in your life or in your family history you have to have it looked into and resolved before you can go. Now this is where our life has gotten interesting.

Ken has heart problems in his family and has to get thoroughly checked out to get his medical clearance. Well, Ken has not gotten insurance yet after stepping down from our initial missions organization, b/c he had been working part time jobs while waiting for God to show clearly his path for us. Therefore he began putting out resumes knowing we will probably be here a year going through the IMB process.

To make a long story short, he has been putting out resumes for several months with very few responses, and we also put our house on the market knowing we would eventually have to sell it and to help out with bills in the meantime. As of yesterday Satan dealt his biggest blow yet financially and we have found ourselves where alot of Americans have found themselves in this downward spiraling market. We realize we could be one month away from losing our house and going into a great financial hole that could disqualify us from continuing the process with the IMB to France.

I do not say all this for anyone to send us money or for people to feel sorry for us. It has been an amazing time of really finding out what we believe about God and what His word says. I had a few minutes of panic yesterday, but I sat the kids down and began "preaching" to them what I needed to hear about God and asking them if we really believe this.

At our church I have been helping out in the Children's ministry as a large group teacher and worship leader and this month the theme is JOY and just last week the phrase for the week is "I can have JOY in any circumstance b/c God has a plan for my life." That has been ringing in my head even before all this happened. I have been so stretched by what I have been learning with the children and if as adults we cannot walk in what we are teaching our children what are we really saying to our kids and a lost world. So, I chose yesterday that Satan was not going to steal our joy... and we have walked around our house quoting the truth of scripture and singing wild praise songs b/c we know God is going to show up. We just know it.

We have been praising HIM for all the things he is going to do, and all the things HE is doing that we cannot see, and if we lose our house and if God shuts down every visible avenue for us to follow the dream He has put in our hearts. We can trust God and have JOY because HE is a good God and Father and promises that HE has a plan for our lives.

"Thank you Jesus that we can trust you, and that You have an awesome plan for our lives even if it does not look exactly like we planned or expected... It will be better... for a lost and dying world. I love you so much today and I pray our situation can encourage someone else in a similar situation. Life can be scary, but YOU are not and have more to give us than we can ever imagine."

The True Test of a Procrastinator

... Driving all the way across town on April 15 to turn in their taxes 7 minutes before midnight...

Guess where my husband was tonight (LOL) ... You gotta love 'em or they might just drive you crazy.

Team Hoyt - I Can !

I have been motivated in a new way these past couple of days by some stories of some incredible people. I am going to be sharing them with you over the next few days, and my question to myself and to you as you hear these stories is: How are you living your life? Is it making a difference in someone else's? How will you be remembered?

Here is the first story: (be sure to get your kleenexes out)

Tenness Lady Vols claim 2nd straight NCAA Title

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Though bruised and braced, an injured left shoulder hardly prevented Candace Parker from hoisting that championship trophy on high for one last time.

Parker scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds to help Tennessee capture its eighth NCAA women's basketball title with a 64-48 victory over Stanford on Tuesday night. The Lady Vols also became the first repeat champs since Connecticut won three straight from 2002-04.

Bring The Rain

God's miracles sometimes comes in different sizes and colors and outcomes. I have met a new family just yesterday through some other blogs who just this afternoon at 4:30pm got to meet their 4th daughter for the first time. She was born with a number of health problems, and the family knew that unless God chose to heal her she would be in heaven probably within the day. Well, Audrey did pass into heaven at 6:45pm just two hours after she was born. (to read more about this beautiful family go to "Bring the Rain".

I love how the internet, especially the blog world, opens my eyes to those around me and reminds me that there are so many hurting people around me... many without Christ. It makes me look at what I think is suffering and changes my perspective to thankfulness. It lets me join in the chorus of prayers that are lifting up people like this family and so many others. It has become a place to meet knew friends and to share a little bit of life from a distance... and I can say that these friendships mean so much to me, and I always look forward to a post to see how they are and how I might pray for them... to laugh and cry with them...

Thank you Lord for the freshness of this new blog I found yesterday. I pray for this family that you would continue to pour out your peace on them and that their loss and sorrow would be used for Your glory. I pray I could only be half as humble and gentle and precious as Todd and Kate are (If you read their blog you will see what I mean). Please help me to get from here to there. You know where I want to be. I want my life to make a difference in the population of heaven and for there to be a footprint if only a small one that I existed, not so that I can receive any glory, but that you would be raised up because of my life. Please Lord let my life count for something even if I don't see it in my lifetime. Let my character reflect you so that others want what I have.

A Modern Day Miracle

I haven't known exactly what to say in the last 24 hours... so much has happened with Nate & Tricia, and everything has happened so fast. If you want to believe in a God of miracles, go to Nate & Tricia's blog and read about a modern day miracle. Who would ever have thought that a girl on the verge of a lung transplant could carry a baby against the advice of her doctors, the baby surviving after being born at only 25 weeks utero, and has amazed the doctors at how uneventful her first two months have been. Then Tricia, being told if she survived the delivery would never make the transplant list again... and if she made the transplant list it would be at least 7 months down the road. Well, Tricia made the transplant list after only 2 months delivering her child and being in a drug induced coma for two weeks after her delivery.

I just sort of stand in shock at everything that has happened with this family and how flawlessly it is all happening. I think 99.9% of the world would have aborted the baby, and would have just gone on with their plans for their own life... but Nate and Tricia (especially Tricia) decided to trust God with her life and her child's life and have shown the world a modern day miracle for thousands to see again the power of God... and maybe just begin to believe what God could do in our lives if we would be able to trust our lives in His hands just like Nate and Tricia.

Lady Vols Advance to the Final Four!!

I know all you reading this are dying to know what happened in the game...

Tennessee came out looking very strong. The commentators were talking about how Tennessee had 7 National Championships, had been to the final game 7 out of last 8 years, have won 101 games in the NCAA tournament to Texas A&M's 6. This was definitely a David against Goliath even though Texas A&M has a great team this year. This was the first year A&M had made it this far in the tournament. They had held their opponents to %30 shooting in all of their games this season, but Tennesse in the first half was already hitting was hitting 78% of what they were shooting.

Candice Parker, who is just a Jr., is Tennessee's newest superstar and they say she is the female equivalent to a Michael Jordan. She is very tall and very athletic. She can vertically jump higher than anyone in Women's college basketball, and she can shoot from anywhere on the court in any position.

That being said Tennessee was beginning to slightly pull away mid-way through the first half. They certainly weren't running over Texas A&M though, A&M had still made it to the elite 8. Anyway, Candice Parker in true form was blocking and rebounding everything in her reach, but on one successful steal as Tennessee was really beginning to make a substantial run and take a big lead, Candice Parker reached her arm in, got the ball and began to dribble down the court when she finally had to stop and began wincing and holding her left arm. She had knocked her left shoulder out of socket. It looked horrible.

The training staff popped it back in and she was back in within just a few minutes... but that didn't last for long. Once you pop your arm out of socket, it loosens the joint making it more likely to happen again... And it did happen again while reaching up to block a pass and she was pulled out of the game and sent to the locker room.

With her being out of the game made it was a much more even playing field. I began to imagine the ribbing I would take for years to come if Tennessee didn't win this game. I am much kinder when my team wins. They took Candice Parker back to the training room and did some therapy on her, while Tennessee and Texas A&M played a pretty even game, with Tennessee actually struggling to stay ahead. Candice finally came back out in the second half with a brace on her shoulder and came back into the game. You could tell she was not %100 percent. She missed a few baskets from awkward angles under the basket, but these were baskets she normally could make in her sleep, but just having her presence and long arms to help blocking helped the team.

She got fouled a number of times and made %60 her free throws even though you could see her wincing every time her left arm went up in the air with the follow-through. She basically played the last quarter of the game at about %50... but having her at %50 was better than anyone else at %100. At one point Texas A&M took the lead, but the rest of the Tennesse team rallied around Candice, and with their experience and leadership in the last couple of minutes Sr. Horbuckle's 3 point shot from the "parking lot" pretty much solidified the lead. :-) The Lady Vols looked very relieved at the buzzer to have made it to the next round.

I am so proud to be a Lady Vol! Sorry Honey...

Tennesee Lady Vols vs. Texas A&M!!!!!

Tonight is the big night! For those of you who know me I graduated from the University of Tennessee and was a Track & Field Lady Vol (it's what they call their women athletes). For those of you who might not know, the Lady Vol Basketball team is, I think, the winningest NCAA women's basketball team in women's athletics today. They have had many Olympians and girls who went pro after college. Pat Head Summit (the coach) is the winningest coach in women's college basketball. They have never not been to the "Sweet 16" and have only missed the final 8 a couple of times (if that... I know of one). They have at least 3 national titles to their name and have played in the final game numerous times.... and they were National Champions this past year.

Now for those of you who know my marriage... my husband graduated from Texas A&M and is a die hard Texas A&M fan in any sport and is one of those annoying fans who is always looking to rib someone about their team. Our teams, whether it be football basketball or any other sport don't get to play very often, but so far when they have played, Tennessee has been the victor.

So tonight Texas A&M and Tennessee women match up to play for a Final Four spot. Texas A&M is definitely the underdog going into this game because this is the first year they have made it to the "Elite 8". Tennessee is the powerhouse of college women's basketball, so needless to say my husband is having a blast ribbing me about he game tonight. And all I have to say is yes, I have been giving him a hard time, and I just hope I don't have to eat my words. :-)

One Minute Each Night

I don't normally forward emails sent to me, but I felt like this email could really have an impact on our Nation and the world. I have always been passionate about prayer and have had the privilege to have joined or lead a number of prayer groups. So read and consider how you might join others in praying for our nation. Consider joining this movement for the upcoming elections and for a revival for our entire nation.

Subject: Much Needed Prayer

ONE MINUTE EACH NIGHT
>
> During WWII, there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of
> people who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed hour
> for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and
> peace. This had an amazing effect as bombing stopped.
>
> There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America..
>
> If you would like to participate: each evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time
> (8:00 PM Central, 7:00 PM Mountain, 6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you
> are doing and spend one minute praying for the up-coming election, and for
> the revival of Christianity in this great country.
>
> If you know anyone who would like to participate, please pass this along.
>
> Someone said if people really understood the full extent of the power we
> have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Our prayers are the
> most powerful asset we have.

> Thank You. Please pass this on to anyone who you think will want to join
> us.

God meets us where we are...

In light of Easter, and the story of a Savior that came to earth and met us where we are in our humanity and sin... I am going to share a story from one of my favorite bloggers, Heidi. This story reminds me of how many hurting people are out there, sometimes just right next door to us, or standing next to us in the grocery line, or maybe working in the next cubicle over. I want to be as faithful as Heidi in building those relationships where God can use me to change, if only, just one life.

Many years ago, I met a young woman in the Navy, her name was Christi. We became roommates and she was from Georgia , We used to laugh about how she talked so funny, but between her mom’s cookies that she sent and the laughter we shared we became close.

One thing that separated us was our different lifestyles. She loved to party and to drink. But I knew that Christi in her way was covering up a load of past that she had been carrying.

So because of our different lifestyles we grew apart and lost touch.

About a year ago, she found me. We kept very touch and go emails throughout the summer until she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September. Than the emails came weekly. She would always ask me about my life which involves family, church, and my God. I told her all the details. But I never knew if she heard me, because our conversation always went back to her partying days and her somewhat horrific past.

Christi has never been a believer, eventhough her parents were deacons at their church and begged and begged for years!

Christi was defiant and angry.

A month ago, an email came and Christi wanted one thing, “ Simply stated, Family and friends, if I can see my daughter turn 1 than I might talk about your God” love Christi

That was the entire email.

This morning I recieved an email from her mom:

Her daughter Faith, turn one this week, she celebrated her first cake in her mom’s hospital room in Macon, Georgia. Although Christi had no energy to do anything else, she held her daughter, laughed and played Barbies on top of her bed.

She Had Kept Her Promise…..

Christi accepted Jesus into her heart that evening in the presence of the family pastor and her parents and family.

In the email it continues:

”Christi lost her battle with pancreatic cancer… that very next morning.

But …..

We as a family rejoice…

She Had Kept Her Promise…..”

Find Life... Find Jesus

For those of you who don't know Tricia, this is her holding her 8 week old daughter Gwyneth for the first time.... I can't imagine what she was feeling. She was willing to give her life for this little girl, and lived to be able to hold her. We are all praying she lives to see many birthdays to come.

But what is more amazing about this story is something I read on her father-in-law's blog. It's hard sometimes to imagine how much God loves us, but it's when we see things like this (the longing of a mother to hold her child, the sacrifice, the waiting, the tears of joy and sadness) that make it a little more tangible. He talked about how her waiting for the time to hold her daughter is a little how God waits for us who know him... as he stands at the gates for those who come home. We will not have to go look for Him. He will be waiting with open arms to greet us and hold us and say, "Welcome home my child."

In a Spiritual sense God is waiting to hold so many more of us who would come to Him right now on this earth... So many of us who know Him to lay our burdens at His feet; and so many more who don't know Him to find meaning to life, to heal their deep hurts, and to find rest from all the world has dumped on them. He is waiting with open arms. He wants to love on you and show off the greatest "you" that hides somewhere deep inside. Don't keep running away, or trying to do it yourself, or just sit there waiting for life to happen, find true love, find Life... find Jesus.

Can WeTrust God?

This is part of a post from "Find Me... Find Life... Real Life". I thought it was a good follow-up from my last post. Sometimes God doesn't answer our prayers the way we want. But I love the song and really believe in the words, "I thank God for unanswered prayer," because His ways are rarely our ways, but they are always better than the way we dream up for ourselves.

Can I trust God even if he never gives me what I most desire?

Can I not be angry? Will I stamp my feet and cry…and demand what I want. Will I hold onto the gravel of my own thoughts and dreams or give them to God for His purpose, His restoration, His Love.

Or will I take what he has promised me, like Abraham and Sarah with Hagar- and force what He has promised….which actually isn’t obedience to trust. Wow…that’s scary. I can force in my heart what I believe God has promised me and try to make things happen. …and dictate how and through whom it must happen. An Ishmael will come out of it…

Sometimes God wants us to wrestle with Him until we get an answer….and sometimes we have to wrestle with ourselves….maybe we think we have to wrestle with God and than we look and see it was ourselves that we wrestled with all along. I’m done wrestlin.

Learning To Yield

As a child I remember my father telling this story in church a number of times (He was a pastor). It is funny, yet very serious, and can let us see a part of ourselves we often like to ignore... pride.

I read a story about a radio exchange that took place some time ago between a U.S. Navy ship and Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland. The Canadians warned the Americans, "Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision."

The Americans responded, "Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision."

The Canadians said, "Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision."

The Americans: "This is the captain of a U.S. Navy Ship. I say again, divert your course."

"No. I say again, you divert your course."

"This is the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States Atlantic fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers, and numerous support vessels. I demand that you change your course 15 degrees north. I say again, that is 15 degrees north or countermeasures will be undertaken to assure the safety of our ship."

After brief moment of silence, the Canadians responded: "This is a lighthouse. It is your call."

Sometimes we don't like what God wants us to do, and we want Him to change course when, in reality, it is us who ought to change course.

We need to understand that God's plans are better than ours. Having said that, it does not mean that they are always the easiest or even the most appealing at the moment. There are times when we are going through life that we might not like the plan of God. But God's plans are always better for us in the long run.

Praise Him In The Storm...

If you have not gone to visit my new favorite blog, you have to go meet this person. It's the kind of writer that has a way of saying exactly what you wanted to say but a whole lot better. Her post yesterday talked about praising God in the storm and Ken and I are learning alot about this right now. I am posting the whole entry here b/c I know some people don't follow links, but you can go here to read it on her blog and see the pretty pictures.

It’s easy to worship God, when everything is going our way. It’s easy to praise God for new jobs, health, possessions, good friends and family. What about when things don’t go so well? There are those people that would say that it’s a faith issue. Job’s friends thought so. Job’s friends told Job to confess the sin he was hiding, so that God would bless him again.

What kind of faith does it require to praise God in just the good times?

If there ever were a test of our faith…If there ever were a test of our motives of worship—it is when a storm rolls into our life. Sometimes God calms the storms, but sometimes He chooses to ride along with us.

What does it mean to praise God in THIS storm? This storm suggests that we are going through it right now. It’s easy to say that I will praise God in THE storm, because we are going through the storm, but the word THIS says, at least to me, that we are going through the storm at the current time and that I can praise God during the storm.

One of my favorite verses from years ago in youth group, comes from Romans 8:28. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

To be real honest, it sure doesn’t seem that way when you are in the middle of a storm. It’s difficult at best to get your bearings in the middle of a storm.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever, you face trials of many kinds…”

Whoa…We should consider trials a joy? Why ?

“Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything…”

Trials and testing and the storms of life are not evidence of our lack of faith, but evidence that our faith is there and needs refining.

Perseverance through the storm increases our faith. And strengthens it. I like the words James uses here. James in effect is saying that without trials we can never become mature believers. We can never become complete in our faith. Without the storms our faith, we will be short of strength and faith.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed he who watches over Israel will neither slumber or sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is the shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

We must remember God is God !

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh France in the Spring

This blog from "This French Life" is killing me. As many of you know I ran my first half-marathon this past November and loved it, and I am looking into running a few this spring...but there was a half-marathon in Paris THIS WEEKEND, and I am in pretty good shape right now. Oh well, hopefully I will be in better shape next year. Of course there are a number of other exciting things happening this Spring in France. Here is a quick selection of events coming up in the next few weeks:

Banlieues Bleues, Saint-Denis (Ile-de-France), March 14 to April 18
The Banlieues Bleues, one of the biggest jazz festivals in the Paris area, is an eclectic, lively festival, featuring all kinds of jazz, from traditional to contemporary, European to American blues and soul.

Amiens Jazz Festival, Picardie, March 2 to 23
The Amiens Jazz Festival has been running for more than 25 years and highlights contemporary jazz featuring both established and rising musicians. The festival website provides a wealth of information on the artists performing as well as venue and ticket details.

Paris half marathon, March 2
Set to start from the l'Esplanade du Château de Vincennes, the marathon will take in many of the popular sites and famous buildings of the capital. It will feature elite athletes from around the world, as well as amateur runners keen to face the challenge.

The Vikings in Normandy, Rouen maritime museum, until April 15
A look at the attack by the Vikings in 820 on the bay of the Seine, which includes many artefacts and tells the story of the influence the Norse man had on the area. This exhibition opened late last year but ends in the middle of April.

Les Vinées tonnerroises, Tonnerre, Burgundy, March 22 and 23
At Easter the Vinées Tonnerroises celebrates wine and winegrowers, mainly from Burgundy, who will be exhibiting a range of regional specialities.

Tasting takes place in the Hôtel Dieu in Tonnerre were inductions of new members from the Confrérie des Foudres Tonnerrois will be carried out. Visitors can enjoy various entertainments in town including rides in horse-drawn carriages.

Foire de Lyon, Eurexpo, March 21 to 31
The popular consumer trade show in Lyon opens its doors to visitors offering up more than 1,200 exhibitors displaying a vast array of items for the home, with many special deals on offer. There is an entrance fee of €10 per person, with under 11s enjoying free entrance, while a family tickets costs €25.

Spring poetry festival, Paris and across France, March 3 to 16
Although based out of Paris this celebration of poetry takes place across France, and even further a field. The official website features details of more than 5,000 events including readings, debates and workshops.

To Follow or Not To Folow

I love the excerpts Vince Antonucci has been sharing from his new book "I Became a Christian and all I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt". I can hardly wait to get the book and read the whole thing. In the mean time here is an excerpt from his book I love:

I don’t think people who lived in the Bible times had it easy, but at least when Jesus said, “Follow me” they could see the guy. You knew whether you were following him or not because … “Whoa, there goes Jesus!” He’d be off somewhere and you’d still be eating your cheese fries (because chili cheese fries hadn’t been invented yet – man, they had it rough) and you’d realize, “Whoops, I guess I didn’t follow.”

I think in many ways those of us who live today have it easier, but following an invisible guy can be tricky. When I wanted to start doing it, I realized I didn’t even know what it meant.

My first image of “following Jesus” was of him steadily walking a straight, narrow path with a Christian dutifully trailing behind, trying to never get distracted and led off course. Most of the people I talked to seemed to hold this view.

But after awhile I realized that with this way of thinking, Jesus is almost completely irrelevant in following Jesus. This concerned me. If all a Christian has to do is stay on the straight and narrow path of obedience by doing right and not doing wrong, does it really matter if Jesus is out in front or not?

In fact, Jesus could faint; I could walk right past him, and still feel assured that I’m “following Jesus” because I’ve stayed on that same straight moral path. Jesus could then wake up and start walking the same course again, only now he’d be following me! There had to be something wrong with my understanding of following Jesus if it didn’t really matter who was following who.

This view of following Jesus is captured in an old saying (and someone wrote a book with this title) about how the Christian life is “a long obedience in the same direction.” Now don’t get me wrong, I know there is truth in that. Being a Christian does involve obeying God over the long haul. And part of following Jesus is doing right and not doing wrong. But there’s got to be more to it.

I decided to look at the original followers of Jesus in the bible. I was still a little annoyed with them, because they had the advantage of getting the non-invisible Jesus, but I hoped maybe I could learn something. What did it look like for them to follow Jesus?

[want to read more? buy the book!]

- featured on newchurches.com

Intimacy With God Trains Us For Intimacy With Men

I have found a new blogging friend, and if you want to be inspired go to her blog. My heart felt dry and parched tonight, trials can do that to you sometime... and this post poured water on my soul.

Intimacy with God trains us for intimacy with men.

He will teach us how to love, how to forgive, how to trust, how to have faith, how to submit, how to be patient, how to make decisions, how to hear the voice of God….Intimacy with God is never disappointing. Faith is vital in pursuing intimacy with God. It marks Jesus as our first love and our devotion. It stamps our lifestyle. It is our daily goal.

“He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity & honour” (Proverbs 21 v 21