tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27561360807710041922024-02-20T20:58:08.043-06:00FrenzyLinsLindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-26989670258634713752015-04-27T09:43:00.001-05:002015-04-27T09:43:53.304-05:00That time I wrote about Big Al on my blog...Those closest to me would definitely say I am a black girl trapped in a white girl's body. I say this with the utmost respect. There is nothing remotely racist about anything I am about to say. Truth be told, our African American sisters can do a whole lotta things better than us white girls. When it comes to keeping a rhythm, the average white girl just...how can I say this...struggles. Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved shaking my tail feather. Any time music came on, I started rockin' this booty from side to side. I'm telling y'all, something just takes over my body. I really can't stop it sometimes. And why should I?<br /><br /> Most days, I am doing the stay-at-home mom thing. Most days, I am wiping snotty noses, cleaning babies' bottoms, or organizing and reorganizing the, what seems to be, multiplying collection of toys we own in our home. Most days, I am a loyal wife, a Sunday School teacher, friend, sister, and daughter. But today? Today, I am letting my hair down. Today, I am letting the dirty clothes pile just a little bit higher. Today, I am letting the dust collect over my furniture just a little bit thicker. Today, I am putting on my dancing shoes and getting my groove on in the best way I know how. Below are the lyrics to the chorus from a newly released Christian rap song by an artist who lives in my area. I've also provided the link below to the entire song. Before you listen to the song, I want you to take a minute and just read the following lyrics to the chorus... <br /><br /> "If tha Lord is in tha building and ya really know ya feel Him, get 'em high! Get 'em high!<br /> If ya feel him in ya soul, won't you step up on ya toes? Get 'em high! Get 'em high!<br /> If ya love tha way ya feelin', won't ya try to touch tha ceilin'? Get 'em high! Get 'em high!<br /> Can't nobody gonna do ya like the Lord. Go on praise God!!"<br /><br /> Sometimes, don't ya just need to get your praise on?! Sometimes, don't you just need to hush the sounds of life, turn up the volume on your favorite praise jam, and shake ya tail feather...ALL for the glory of the Lord?! That is me, today. Life is just hard, you know? And it ain't gettin' easier. So, why not stop? Stop what you're doing, click on the link below, turn the volume way up, and dance like nobody's watching. Life just isn't life if not spent in the presence of the Lord. What better way to do just that than dancing and worshiping Him?!<br /><br /> "Then Peter said, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.' Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God." -Acts 3:6-8<br /><br /> Get up. Walk. Run. Jump up and praise God. Shout with joy. Dance before the Lord. Raise your hands and worship your King. Go on, friends! Get 'em high!! Get 'em high!!<br />
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<a href="https://youtu.be/UR27hOc99w4" target="_blank">Get 'Em High</a>Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-71981969061398101722015-04-14T04:59:00.001-05:002015-04-14T09:57:53.572-05:00I Hate MyselfWhat kind of "feeler" are you? Ok, I just lost all of my male readers with that question right there. <br />
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(That's ok. I think I just had one male reader anyway...Hi, husband!) <br />
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Seriously...<br />
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Do you feel deeply? Or do you kind of keep everything on the surface?<br />
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The reason I ask is because I am a deep feeler...like...real deep...way down low deep. Anyone?<br />
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And this can create a problem for me sometimes. Anyone?<br />
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If I get tickled...I laugh loudly. If I get sad...I cry intensely. If I get mad...well, you get the picture.<br />
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And I can really hate myself for feeling so much. Anyone?<em><br /></em><br />
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<em>For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. </em></div>
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<em>Psalm 139:13-14</em></div>
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Ever wonder why we wrestle so much with unhappiness? Especially when it comes to ourselves? I've realized we will never truly be content while here on this planet because this place, this place we call Earth, is not our home. Our enemy, the Impostor I like to call him, spends a lot of time trying to convince us of our unhappiness, of our discontentment in ourselves so that we will waste our time being miserable here on this planet and miss...so that we will MISS (did you catch that?) our purpose, our reason for being created for such a time as this. He knows our time on Earth is temporary and he also knows this is not our home. He happens to know how the story ends. So if we will become distracted with unhappiness, discontentment, sadness, anger, fill in your blank here, he knows we will waste our time on this planet and ultimately walk away from our God-ordained purpose out of fear of rejection, insecurity, and/or unworthiness.</div>
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Because I feel everything...remember, I'm a deep "feeler," you can only imagine how much fun my Impostor tends to have with me. All day long I fight thoughts like...<br />
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<em>You'll never be effective. You're too loud, you're too bossy, you're too dumb, you're too southern, you're too ugly, you're NOT sweet-natured.</em></div>
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Life can be lonely, too...so my enemy goes wild when it comes to friendship...<br />
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<em>No one wants to be your friend. You'll never have friends. Who would want to be your friend? The friends you do have eventually will hurt you anyway. Trust no one.</em></div>
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Anyone?<em><br /></em></div>
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<em>The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. </em><em>I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. </em></div>
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<em>John 10:10</em></div>
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You were made for greatness. You were not meant to be silent. You were not meant to cower in the corner or to resent your personality. God created you on purpose and with purpose. Stand up, head tall, and chin up. You are a child of God. Why would you let the enemy of God dictate your feelings and tell you who you are? Let the ONE who made you be the judge of that!</div>
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Rise up! You've got work to do!<br />
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<em>...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion </em><em>until the day of Christ Jesus.</em></div>
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<em>Philippians 1:6</em> </div>
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One day, we get to go home and into the arms of Jesus we'll be safe and perfect. Complete.</div>
Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-92060212090259679472015-03-04T17:32:00.000-06:002015-03-05T06:38:01.960-06:00Our Deepest Pain, God's Greatest Tool<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was a little girl, only 10-years-old,
my father was pastoring the 4<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> largest Baptist church in the state
of Louisiana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had just moved to New
Orleans and not long after my father had taken the pulpit at his new church, my
world completely changed as I knew it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because
of a combination of some poor choices made by the adults in my life, and some
very personal things taking place between my mother and father, my church life
and family life became a total wreck and source of devastation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As all of this was unraveling in
our lives, I was still attending school at the church where my father pastored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, some of the most hateful
people in my life have been the very people I have sat next to on Sunday
mornings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I played in the courtyard at
recess during my 5<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> grade year, someone had strategically placed a
very hateful note near my lunchbox, so that when I sat down to eat my lunch
that day, I would read how much they hated my father and how he didn’t deserve
to be in the position he was in as a pastor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While the feelings of the
person who left that note near my lunchbox that day may or may not have been justified, for a child to be caught in the
crossfire, to have to pay for the consequences of the decisions of her father
is not fair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it happens every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As adults, we sometimes don’t consider that our poor decisions will
affect those around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the affects can last a lifetime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>For me that painful moment as a 10-year-old
girl, marked the beginning of a very long, and painful at times, journey with
the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it also marked the
beginning of what I now see was the road to my purpose in this life - my
destiny, my ministry, the reason for which my God created me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Only our God can use our deepest hurt and our most shame-filled moments
for good and for His glory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are you at a place, yet, where you can see that God can AND wants to use the good AND the bad in your life? I do not believe that He wills painful things to happen to His children, but I DO believe He can use them to create us into something beautiful. That is just who He is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong> -Ephesians 3:20 (ESV)</strong></span> </div>
Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-2587228736769080952015-02-16T12:43:00.001-06:002015-02-16T12:47:37.455-06:00Quit Playing It Safe<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are lots of things I am terrible at doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like baking, for instance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or cleaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oh, and math.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m terrible at
math.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But some things like writing and
organizing, I’m not too shabby at doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oh, and talking - I’m great at gab - especially when it comes to
mindless things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you get me going on
something I am passionate about?! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not too many people I know say, “When I grow up I want to
talk about sex.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly, that is not
what I said either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as things would
turn out, that is exactly what I am doing with my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I could not be more excited, more
thrilled, and more in love with my job than I am in this moment right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I remember hearing someone once say, “You cannot amputate
your history from your destiny.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made
zero sense at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as I sit
today, in this moment and realize what God has brought me through, that statement
makes perfect sense.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently, God called me to start a ministry with the purpose
of helping people find freedom from sexual sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Specifically, God has asked me to help men and women find freedom that
only comes from the redemptive power found in Jesus Christ when they surrender
their lives to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surrender means
letting go of those things that have them, all of us, by the throat – lust, pornography,
adultery, divorce, addiction, abuse, bad habits, prostitution, promiscuity, SIN.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Initially, I felt very overwhelmed by the
call, by the task.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still do at
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then I remembered exactly
what my God has brought me through and redeemed me from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No, I cannot amputate my history from my destiny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BUT…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My history and my future, and therefore my destiny, share
the same root – Jesus Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">God has a calling on your life, as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is beyond your wildest dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, I never could have imagined being in this
place for such a time as this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
journey has been long and painful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
so far, it has been worth it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
risk IS great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cost IS high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And wouldn’t it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And shouldn’t it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, Christ gave His life for me and
for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shouldn’t there be some cost,
some risk for following Him?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the weekend, while America watched 50 Shades of Grey,
21 men lost their lives for the cause of
Christ at the hands of ISIS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While men
and women (yes, CHRISTIAN men and women) paid for and viewed pornography, Jesus
welcomed (stood in their honor, I bet) 21 brave men as they entered
Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">YES, the cost is high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The risk is great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The choice is
hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the reward is GREAT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His Glory – our reward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You have a calling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You have a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God-authored,
Jesus-ordained calling on your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
Don't play it safe. Our world has enough Christian people playing it safe. Jesus is so worth the risk.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Now, go fulfill your beautiful purpose. </span></div>
Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-28726590517398006072015-02-04T12:09:00.001-06:002015-02-06T07:19:41.365-06:00Let's Talk About Sex! Introducing Freedom13 Ministries...<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was the summer of 2008 when I was sitting among a small group of women participating in a Bible study on the power of prayer. I felt the tug at my heart. I felt the whisper in my ear. My response was quick and sharp. "No, LORD. Not me." </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I knew in that moment that he was going to prepare me for something big, something beyond my wildest dreams, something at the end of it all, I could look back on it and say, "Only you God could pull off something like that." Since that summer in 2008, I knew God was going to use our time together to prepare me, train me, and grow me into the woman he created me to be for such a time as this. The journey would not be without challenges, hurts and heartbreaks, but it would be worth them all. Because when we surrender our lives to Christ and his cause, he makes life worth living.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ya know? Only the God I serve can take our most painful moments and turn them into glorious opportunities of servanthood. Only the God I serve can take our most shameful moments and turn them into liberating opportunities of ministry. And only the God I serve can take our most sinful moments and turn them into righteous opportunities of proclamation. Months ago the Lord started piecing together the vision for Freedom13 Ministries. The burden for this ministry came after seeing and hearing about the struggle most young people face as they try and navigate their way through a sex-saturated world. My passion for this ministry only grew as I watched young women hide behind their shame of virginity, pornography addiction and poor relationship choices.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">As an American Christian, I must face the reality and ask myself, "How have I contributed to this?" Having grown up in the church I know sex was not something taught on regularly. I just know I was told to not have it until I was married. Could it be as American Christians we have somehow, unintentionally taught our Christian children to be ashamed and scared of sex and to be ashamed and scared of their virginity? And could it also be that we have completely failed them as the Body of Christ in preparing our Christian children on how to live in a sex-saturated world?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;">The mission of Freedom13 Ministries is to <span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">educate men and women of all ages on God’s
design for sex and the importance of a relationship with Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Freedom13 Ministries strives to be on the
pro-active side of crisis pregnancy, abortion, sexually transmitted diseases,
and men and women’s overall spiritual and emotional health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Freedom13 Ministries also believes that Jesus
forgives all sins and can restore anyone’s past no matter how dark or
ugly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is our hope to empower men and
women of all ages with the redemptive Gospel message found in the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>“Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” -2 Corinthians
5:17 (ESV)</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The purpose of Freedom13 Ministries is to </span><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">serve men and women of all ages who long to be set free from sexual sin.
It is easy to walk through life not realizing we are enslaved to sin that is
keeping us from experiencing God's full potential for our lives.
Freedom13 Ministries educates, equips, and empowers men and women through the
message of hope, redemption, salvation, restoration, healing, and
accountability found in the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Additionally, Freedom13 Ministries provides support for healthy relationships,
children (young to adult) effected by divorce and adultery, abstinence: God’s
design for sex, and virginity (second chance virginity). <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;">
Why the number 13? <span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Freedom13 Ministries believes in the Gospel message of Jesus
Christ. Galatians 5:13 says, <strong>"For
you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters. Only do not use your
freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one
another."</strong> I believe in and proclaim the saving and miraculous power of Jesus
Christ. In my darkest moments, Jesus has been there for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's just who he is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t believe in luck or magic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe in Jesus and blessings.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>HOW CAN YOU HELP?</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">1. I need your prayers. This ministry cannot survive without prayer. Consider being one of our prayer partners. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">2. I need volunteers. Specifically, I need individuals willing to be accountability partners for those struggling with specific areas of sin. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">3. I need financial supporters. We are a non-profit organization and are trusting the Lord to provide donors in order to pay for brand new expenses.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Brent and I are so excited about this new journey. Thank you for your prayer and support. We can't wait to see how the Lord uses Freedom13 Ministries. <strong>Where He is, there is FREEDOM!</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times;">We are on Facebook. Like us...Freedom13 Ministries.</span>Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-19909484482675845612015-01-12T14:09:00.002-06:002015-01-12T14:09:17.291-06:00Heaven Came Down Last Friday, Heaven came down and glory filled my soul. A friend and I were able to worship with a group of women going through the recovery process at a local Christian drug and alcohol rehab facility. My purpose in going was to share with them a message I felt the Lord had given me. I was able to do that; we had a tremendous time. But what those women did for me...how they blessed my heart...will forever have an impact on my life.<br />
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Before it was my time to speak, the lady in charge announced that we would worship first. She asked my friend and me if that was OK. I assured her it was. She then said to the group of women, "Ladies, let us get ready to worship." In doing so, the lights faded and every woman turned around to face the wall and closed her eyes. What happened next has to be like something straight out of the streets of Heaven.<br />
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The music began. The heavenly voice came across the speakers in the room. It was not a live vocal. The CD track was clear...<br />
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<strong>I EXALT THEE! I EXALT THEE! I EXALT THEE, OH LORD!</strong><br />
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For my friend and me, the awkwardness lasted for a second, maybe. As soon as the voices of those precious women went up, the world outside fell off of us both. I could hear one woman across the room weeping. Another one near by calling out the name of Jesus. I reached to grab my friend's hand so that I would not fall over. The Spirit of God was upon us and His presence was overwhelming. My friend fell to her knees. It was too much. She needed to submit herself before the Lord. Tears were streaming down my face. <br />
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<em>I prayed, "Lord God, how is it that you've chosen me to speak before these women? I don't deserve this. Lord, they are crying out for you. Do you hear them, Lord? They are so desperate for you. Listen to them, Father. They love you so much." </em><br />
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The music played on...<br />
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<strong>HOLY SPIRIT, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE. COME FLOOD THIS PLACE AND FILL THE ATMOSPHERE. YOUR GLORY,GOD, IS WHAT OUR HEARTS LONG FOR...TO BE OVERCOME BY YOUR PRESENCE, LORD.</strong><br />
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And overcome we were. We did not have to ask for His presence. He was already there. And then I realized what made me love these women so much. No, I do not have a past with drugs or alcohol addiction. But I can relate to total despair. I can relate to someone getting to a place where they have nothing left but to call out for Jesus. And that is where these dear women were. They understood and they do understand...Jesus is the game changer. Jesus is life changing. My friend and I not only watched as these women went from broken to Oaks of Righteousness, but we had front-row access. Sometimes, God shows out like that.<br />
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The worship time ended. The teaching time came and went. We laughed and cried. And then to top it all off, we went out worshipping one last time. The song of choice...<br />
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<strong>THERE IS POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS...TO BREAK EVERY CHAIN, BREAK EVERY CHAIN, BREAK EVERY CHAIN.</strong><br />
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And that is so true, my friends. Jesus is still so much into breaking every chain in our lives. That is probably my most favorite thing about the Guy. Heaven sure enough came down last Friday night - an experience I will never forget. I couldn't wait to share it. To God be all the glory!<br />
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LindsLindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-55917415436136769182014-09-22T11:05:00.002-05:002014-09-22T11:05:44.825-05:00Grace Ambulance COME QUICKLY!I've been reminded lately of a few things I had forgotten. I thought...I bet I'm not the only one who can get busy and distracted and caught up in all kinds of things that don't really matter. And so I thought it might be nice to be reminded of a few things YOU may have forgotten.<br />
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Motherhood does not equal perfection. Nor is it easy. Or even fun (sometimes). Motherhood could actually be translated to mean grace needed, grace given, grace wanted, Grace Ambulance COME QUICKLY!<br />
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Marriage<br />
Friendship<br />
Family<br />
Fatherhood<br />
Church Family<br />
Career Choice<br />
Big Decisions<br />
LIFE in general...<br />
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DOES NOT equal perfection. Nor is it easy. Or even fun (sometimes). Any hardship, any aspect of this life we live could actually be translated to mean grace needed, grace given, grace wanted, Grace Ambulance COME QUICKLY!<br />
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God made you. God loves you. God does NOT make mistakes. Life is messy. Life is hard. But you, my friend, are a Beautiful Mess. And those things that make us completely inadequate are sweet reminders from God that you can NOT do this thing called life without Him. THIS I know...even in my darkest hour...He was there for me and He is there for you. No one is a friend like Jesus. Happy Monday!<br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Psalm 121:1-3</span></em></div>
Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-35373443399037294182014-07-28T10:18:00.003-05:002014-07-28T10:18:58.088-05:00Growing Up Is Not EasyAs a kid, I would look at other grown-ups and envy the lives they had. With awe and wonder, I would say to myself, "I can't wait to be grown!" Because as a kid, I thought adults...<br />
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Stayed up as late as they wanted.<br />
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Never had homework.<br />
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Never had to follow rules.<br />
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Could eat whatever they wished.<br />
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Always were right.<br />
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Always made the right decision.<br />
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Never had problems.<br />
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Well! Now that I, myself, am an adult...I now know that my impression of other adults was...let's just say...a bit off. As an adult, I realize I CAN stay up as late as I want, but it comes with a price. I might not have homework, but oh what I would do to trade my current responsibilities for a little homework! I DO have to follow rules and when I break them, my consequence is a bit more than a time out or a detention after school. Sure, I can eat whatever I want, but I know it's not healthy and please don't get me started on being fat! I am NOT always right. In fact, I'm hardly right. And I've had my share of poor decisions and have definitely been on the consequential receiving end of other adults in my life making wrong decisions. And problems? Don't we all have problems?!<br />
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As a kid, I used to also think that adults had so much confidence. They knew who they were. They had plans and goals. The women in my life seemed so confident and happy. The men in my life were protectors, steady, strong in their beliefs. And I trusted them. They never could do wrong in my eyes. They were safe. And they walked with the Lord. <br />
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Yet, now that I am an adult, I feel like the older I get, the less confident I am. Happiness is just a feeling. It's joy that I want. Joy that comes only from God. AND it's something I have to pursue. The people I trusted so much as a kid have disappointed me or passed away. Trust has been shattered. Good people have mad bad choices. And some have completely walked away from the Lord.<br />
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And here's the kicker...I have disappointed others, hurt others, angered others. I've failed over and over as a parent. I've walked away from the Lord. Returned. Walked away. Returned again. I've lost the trust of others, made bad choices, sinned against others, and sinned against a God I cherish. And if I'm not careful, I can let the enemy (Satan) convince me of who he thinks I am. Along the way, I can forget who I am and Whose I am. <br />
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Is that you today? Have you listened to so many lies about yourself that you now actually believe those lies to be truth? Lies about who you are. Lies about what you do. Lies about your marriage, your friendships, your children. What about the young folks in your life? Do they look at you with the same awe and wonder as I mentioned above? Others are watching us. I wonder what message we are sending. <br />
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As I close, I pray you ask God to show you who you are in Him today. I am doing the same. And so far, I 've learned and I choose to believe that...<br />
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*I am complete in Him Who is the Head of all principality and power.<br />
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*I am alive with Christ.<br />
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*I am free from the law of sin and death.<br />
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*I am far from oppression, and fear does not come near me.<br />
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*I am born of God, and the evil one does not touch me.<br />
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*I am holy and without blame before Him in love.<br />
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*I have the mind of Christ.<br />
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*I have the peace of God that passes all understanding.<br />
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<strong>AND SO ARE YOU AND SO HAVE YOU.</strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">*</span>"Knowing Who I Am In Christ<em>" -Joyce Meyer</em></span>Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-62726672068605320482014-06-27T10:38:00.000-05:002014-06-27T10:49:43.049-05:00Who's Your Enemy?Um, wow! Hello! It's been a long time! I'm not even sure if I remember how to put a subject and verb together these days. I don't have a real good reason for my absence but that's OK because the whole three of you who read this blog won't care either way. Hi mom! *grin* <br />
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It's weird, but somehow along the journey of life these days, I feel like I might have lost my voice. Does that ever happen to you? What's crazy is nothing monumental has to happen for me to feel like that. It just happens. Life can be moving along just fabulously and just like that, you can feel like you've been kicked in the teeth. Perhaps someone hurt your feelings. Maybe it was just an unexpected glance that came your way. Or maybe you're just not feeling your best. You're tired more. Maybe you've put on a few pounds. I can relate to almost all of those. Feelings are a funny thing. For some of us, nothing terrible has to happen to make us feel terrible. What's worse is when we feel sad and have no explanation for feeling sad. Now, not only are we feeling sad, but we are also feeling guilty for not having a valid excuse to feel sad. It's maddening, truly.<br />
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No matter if you're a spiritual person or if you even believe in the after life, I think you would agree with me that sometimes you start thinking and believing things you may not have thought or believed before. Those thoughts and beliefs even have a voice and you can recall a time, perhaps, when you didn't hear such a voice. With each passing day, that voice gets louder and louder and the things the voice says contradict everything you once believed about yourself. Does that ever happen to you?<br />
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Well, I am a spiritual person and I believe that voice represents the enemy in our lives. My enemy may look and sound different from your enemy, but the point remains the same...we have an enemy. My enemy likes to convince me of how replaceable I am, how reject-able I am, how stupid I am. My enemy likes to have me think I have no friends, and since my own flesh and blood had no problems completely walking out of my life sooner or later, so will my husband, and so will my kids. My enemy likes to tell me how fat I am, how oily my skin is, and loves to point out my newest wrinkles and areas of cellulite. My enemy tells me I'll never be pretty no matter how much exercise I do or make-up I purchase. My enemy even tells me I'm a terrible mom for working away from home and I'm a terrible employee for wanting to be at home. Does this ever happen to you?<br />
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I realized this morning that my enemy is only allowed to speak these things to me as much as I allow him. And each time I allow my enemy to speak to me, I leave little to no room for Truth to speak and dwell and consume. Because after so much time, my enemy, if I'm not careful, will just move right in. And I'll act as though my enemy has lived there since the beginning. That voice of Truth will become harder and harder to hear, because I love for my enemy to scream at me. He's much more effective when he screams. He knows I'll listen and with each comment, I become weaker and weaker. Does this ever happen to you?<br />
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<em>"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, THERE is liberty."</em><br />
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Truth is bigger than my enemy. And Truth is bigger than your enemy. Truth desires to speak to me and speak to you. Truth wants to live inside of me and live inside of you. But at some point, we have to give Truth the power He deserves and tell our enemy to flee in Truth's name. <br />
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Do that with me, will you? <br />
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<em>Truth says we have been fearfully and wonderfully made. Truth says we were born with purpose and for a purpose. Truth says there are no accidents, no mistakes when it comes to our lives. Truth says we will not be put to shame when we put our hope in Truth. Truth says, "Let me guide you and teach you." Truth forgets the sins of our youth, He forgets our rebellious ways. According to Truth's love for us, He remembers us and knows us by name. When we keep our eyes and our focus on Truth, Truth frees us from our traps. Truth is gracious and loving toward us. Truth sets us free from our anguish. Truth guards our lives, rescues us and protects us. </em> <br />
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Did you know that?<br />
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My Truth is my Hope and my Hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ. He can be your Truth and your Hope, too. All you have to do is ask. Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-20177890144749806992014-04-14T08:24:00.001-05:002014-04-14T08:37:45.150-05:00Sending Some Encouragement Your WayThis morning as I was reflecting over some things I had recently read, I was reminded of something. Someone once told me that feelings are just feelings. They're just...feelings! Too often, I let my feelings dictate my actions. And as I was recalling that piece of information this morning, I thought of something else...feelings are also deceptive. Too often I may FEEL overwhelmed. I may FEEL exhausted. I may FEEL lonely or sad or even angry. But those feelings are NOT an indication of who I am...especially of who I am in Jesus Christ. As I prayed this morning, I asked the Lord to remind me of who I am in Him. And that is what I hope you will do today, as well.<br />
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Please be encouraged. We are not products of our feelings. Feelings ARE just feelings. And they only have as much power in our lives as we give them. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy and he loves to use our feelings as our biggest weapons. Today, I pray you will defeat the enemy at his own game. Remind him of who you are and Whose you are. <br />
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As we celebrate Easter this week, I am overwhelmed by the thought of where I would be and who I would be had it not been for the Cross. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, we have full access to the King of Kings. On this day, feelings aside, my heart shouts, "Hallelujah!" Jesus knows our names and He knows our hearts. For we are His and He is ours...bought with the precious blood of Christ. <br />
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Today I pray you will turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full into His wonderful face. And know that you are His. Happy Monday!<br />
LindsLindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-72407754361135775612014-03-03T13:46:00.001-06:002014-03-03T13:46:50.664-06:00To My Oldest Child...My Dearest Wade,<br />
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You just turned 9-years-old. That is hard for me to believe as it feels like just yesterday I spent the night before you were born in prayer. That's right, I spent the entire night praying for lots of things. At first my prayer consisted of requests that would help me be a good mommy...you are our first-born and you can imagine how scared I was at being responsible for you being so little and precious. But as my prayer continued through the night, I started asking the Lord right then and there to do something special in your life...to choose you, to use you, to love you, and the list went on and on. I wish I could remember my entire prayer conversation with the Lord that night so that you can see how faithful He's been to you throughout your nine years of life, but that moment was for me and the Lord...just the two of us to share. He heard every word I prayed that night. I know He did because I believe God hears our prayers. You've seen recently at just how God does, in fact, hear when we pray to Him.<br />
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We've been talking to you a long time about living your life for Jesus. We've been praying about it for a while, too. You've asked us to pray for you, because you told us you wanted to be ready when you made that commitment to follow Jesus with your life. Well, just a few weeks ago, on February 5, you informed your dad and me you had finally told the Lord you wanted to live your life for His Son. Wade, I know we've talked a lot already about this huge decision. You know how proud we are, but I wanted to take the time to let you know in this letter just how significant that decision was/is.<br />
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You will make a lot of decisions in your life. And you will need God's instruction on all of them. There will be many important things to decide like making good grades, going on to college, marrying someone who loves Jesus and loves you, choosing where to live and how many kids to have, choosing a career and how to raise your children in a Godly manner. All of those things will be important and will matter in life. But nothing...absolutely nothing will come close to the importance of living your life for Jesus. It is the only decision that has true eternal significance and it will serve as the foundation for all other decisions you make from this point on. It's hard to understand now...it's hard for grown-ups to understand, much less try to explain...but you hearing God's voice tell you to live your life for His Son was/is the most important thing that has ever happened and will ever happen to you. Do you hear me? The most important.<br />
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You know Satan hates that you've made this decision. And he has already tried to make you do things that go against the nature of God. I understand how frustrating this is, but try to see these attacks by the enemy as evidence that Christ does, in fact, reside in your heart. A piece of Heaven, a chunk of eternity, the Holy Spirit Himself lives inside of you. There is no greater miracle! The devil will do his best to steal you back as one of his. It will be a constant battle until you are Home in Heaven with Jesus. And you can always count on your mother to storm the gates of Hell on your behalf so that the enemy will know he can't have you and he will have to deal with me as long as he tries. You can count on that, my Wade, until Jesus calls me Home.<br />
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But you are a major part of this equation...your responsibility as a child of God is huge. You must know that you represent Jesus now. He is your Savior. He lives in your heart. And you have chosen to use His name as the way you identify who you are. Wade Andrew Crawford, child of the King of Kings, an ambassador for Jesus Christ, a chosen servant of God to bring others to His Son, to be a fisherman of people. There is no higher calling. There will be nothing you do on this planet that will mean more. That is why that right now, at nine-years-old, you seek Christ with everything you have. You talk to Him all of the time. You read His Word all of the time. You tell Him everything...when you mess up, when you're angry, when you're hurting, when you're thankful...and Wade, tell Him you love Him. Tell Him you love Him as often times as you think about it. Because even though I love you so much, it physically hurts...Jesus loves you more. I know!! Crazy, right?!! But He does. He loves you so much that He died for you. And now that you understand the significance of that, go and tell the world, unashamed, of how Jesus has changed your life.<br />
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I love you. You are a treasure in my heart. Remember what your daddy and I say...always do the right thing. And remember Who you belong to.<br />
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Love,<br />
Mom<br />
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<br />Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-37702252214737522002014-01-06T13:21:00.001-06:002014-01-06T13:21:30.744-06:00Miracles Still HappenI often find myself falling into quite a cynical state of mind. Depending on life's circumstances, I tend to see the glass half empty instead of half full. It's hard to explain, but negativity and the tendency to vent over something justifiable or not energizes me. I find myself regularly thinking about days gone by and wondering at one point did I lose my softness. The truth is...I used to be much sweeter than this.<br />
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A new year brings such a feeling of refreshment for me. There is nothing quite as gratifying as getting to hit the reset button on life with the onset of a new year. Living in a modern world being thrown into a face-paced culture with something technologically new right around every corner brings with it a state of blindness...not necessarily ignorance but a tendency to miss something right before my very eyes. Couple that with a near constant state of cynicism, and I have myself a fine recipe for disaster.<br />
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As I reflect over 2013, my heart feels a mixture of emotions. This past year has brought with it an odd mix of stress, joy, anxiety, pride, sadness, exhilaration, fear, peace, and regret. I'm thankful that the God I so strongly believe in sees beyond my human-ness and helps me dig down to a deeper part within myself. He has helped me recognize something that I may have missed before now. <br />
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<em>Miracles still happen.</em><br />
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Sure, I could wallow around in negativity and justifiably so. But for this new year, 2014, I have asked the Lord to take me to a deeper place with Him, a new place in our relationship where if He sees fit, will grant me the ability...<br />
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to see things the ways He sees them, <br />
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to see people the way He sees them, <br />
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and to live the way He would have me to live.<br />
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With that comes the privilege of seeing miracles happen in a modern day world. Today, I am giving God praise for the miracles that took place in 2013...<br />
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1. Our family witnessed many men and women's lives changed for the Kingdom of Christ during the 2013 Fishers of Men season. The 2014 season kicks off in just one month!<br />
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2. Our Faith Family became closer to the Lord and one another through 12 incredible mission trips completed locally and in other parts of the state. With that came one of the most memorable moments every experienced in my almost 36 years of life...<br />
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3. We saw countless women walk out of a gentleman's club in New Orleans with Bibles in hand and smiles on their faces as they experienced the presence of Christ right there in one of the darkest, most evil places in Louisiana.<br />
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4. Our family survived a house fire in October. No one was harmed and no item damaged. While our life became very inconvenient, the miracle that took place was evident but almost missed completely...our God is alive and He still places His hands of protection on our lives everyday.<br />
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5. And just yesterday in our small group at church...we each went around the room explaining what we'd like to see God do in our lives over the next year, but the miracle was this...instead of patting ourselves on the back for all the many things God accomplished through us over the past year, we each expressed regret for not doing more. Hearts were filled with conviction that what had been done was not enough, and we each prayed aloud asking God to help us do MORE for the cause of Christ.<br />
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6. My children are healthy and alive. My youngest turned 2. My middle son turned 6. And my oldest just became 9-years-old. They all have a sweetness that could only come from Heaven above. (Lord knows, it's not from me.) The miracle is getting to see the Lord reveal Himself to them each and everyday as they fall more in love with Him everyday.<br />
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7. And the biggest miracle of all...the creator of Heaven and Earth...the One who defied death...my Savior Jesus lives in my heart. A piece of Heaven resides in my very being. There is no greater miracle. And He lives inside of my husband's heart and my children's. What more could I ask?!<br />
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<em>Oh yes! Miracles still happen.</em><br />
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Believe it! Ask God to open your eyes. I've missed so many blessings because of my cynical, most sinful heart. Not again. Not this year. <br />
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<em>Father, take me to a deeper place. Take me "out of the ordinary into extraordinary. This is a heart cry from my life to say I love you, Lord. So, take me deeper!" Take me into the glorious where I die to myself and miracles happen. In Jesus' Name! MAY IT BE SO! Amen!</em>Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-37160279467089938722013-12-16T07:55:00.001-06:002013-12-16T07:55:07.287-06:00Too Busy To ListenY'all. This has not been my most impressive moment in the sun. Let's just say I have NOT been on my best behavior and my level of patience is at an all time low. The past couple of months have been some of the hardest months we've had to face as a family in a long time, maybe ever. And as much as I'd like to sing the praises of our Heavenly Father, I found myself struggling this morning to feel worthy of such a gesture. <br />
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Our house caught on fire on October 15. Thankfully, no one was hurt and all of our possessions were unharmed. Inconveniently, we had to move out of our home while builders and contractors put it back together. We moved back in last Thursday and it feels great to be back home. But the stress of the two moves, as you can imagine, was a bit much at times. (I know! First-world probs!) As a result, though, I found myself this morning feeling undeserving of God's love and unworthy of His presence.<br />
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That is, until I read today's post from <em>Jesus Calling</em>. As anyone would be, I have been acting feverishly to get our house unpacked and us settled in. I have given little to zero time with the Lord, and the task of moving in became the first and only priority within my heart. I've struggled with not "feeling" the Lord's presence, and even told my husband just last night outside of being back in our house, I feel so very disconnected from everything and everyone...including God. As I took a minute to sit down this morning, I found myself longing for Abba Father and this is what He said to me...<br />
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<em><strong>"I desire to talk with all of my children, but many are too busy to listen. The "work ethic" has them tied up in knots. They submit wholeheartedly to this taskmaster, wondering why they feel so distant from Me." -Jesus Calling</strong></em><br />
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I am so grateful for a God who knows exactly what to speak to my heart. Outside of Scripture, the words He speaks aren't necessarily audible, but consist of moments of peace, love, joy, and hope. That is His love language to us...if we'd just take the time to listen. <br />
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<em>Thank you, Father God, for not giving up on me and drawing me back into You. You are my Lifeline.</em><br />
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How about you? What's keeping you from stopping and listening? Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-45285854018034777112013-10-04T14:32:00.000-05:002013-10-04T14:32:47.564-05:00When Life Looks DifferentIt's true. Life often doesn't turn out the way you might have thought it would. That thing you once said would never happen happens. The one thing you said you'd never do you did or you do. That thing you thought would never get better does. And the thing you thought would never hurt...well, it does and it did. For me...<br />
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I always said I'd never marry a preacher, and I didn't. But wouldn't you know? The Lord called my husband to a ministry that often requires him to preach. And although I never wanted to be a preacher's wife, my husband is an amazing speaker. The Lord has taught me much being under his preaching. I've never been more proud to be his wife (a some-what preacher's wife).<br />
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That very thing I loved to do - teaching...and that other thing I said I'd never do - stay at home...well, I did. The very moment I finished my masters in education the Lord called me to quit my job as a teacher and to spend the next seven years as a stay-at-home mom. I met the task with mixed emotions, but after a few months of adjusting I felt certain being home was where I was meant to be. The gift of those seven priceless years...years I'll never get back with my small children...were the most difficult and beautiful years of my life.<br />
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That one traumatic event that took place in my life when I was kid happened again. But this time it happened as an adult. When I was a preteen my parents split up temporarily, but by the grace of God and through miraculous spiritual healing, the Lord put our family back together. That very thing I never thought would happen again, happened. When I was 27 my parents split again, but this time it was for good. The pain was all too familiar but the coping mechanisms looked entirely different. I was not prepared for the emotional impact the void left by my dad would have on my heart, my mind, my parenting, and my role as a wife. That thing I never thought would happen that did happen brought on such heartbreak. And that heartbreak that I never thought would heal did. Through many tears and much pain, the Lord taught me how to fill voids in my life with Him - an invaluable skill many of us struggle to learn.<br />
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That thing I never thought the Lord would call me to do He did. As a child, a teenager, a college kid, and a young adult, I NEVER sensed a desire to serve God with my life. In fact, my decisions were based on what was in it for me. My life was rooted deep in selfishness and self-gratification. That is until God did something I never thought He would. After asking God to give me a holy passion while also granting me His eyes and the ability for my heart to break for what breaks His, the Lord completely spun me around into a new way of living I never could have imagined for myself. Suddenly I saw people differently. Acts of injustice impacted me. Other people's burdens became my burdens. Groups I might have once looked down my nose upon now suddenly seemed a lot like me. Their issues were my issues. Their pain was my pain. The only difference being that I had something I knew they needed...Jesus. And since that moment the journey included and does include a lot of Him, a lot less of me, and a mission-based lifestyle. When God recently called me back to work, He said no to me returning to teaching and yes to an opportunity that includes loving on people, ministering to their needs, and serving them as Christ would.<br />
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It is true. Life really doesn't turn out the way we might have once wished. But all along God knew. He knew what was best. And not just what was best for me, but what was best for His Kingdom, His people, His plan for this world. Despite the heartache and the change in plans, it has all been worth it to me. Overwhelmingly, Romans 8:28 never has resounded more in my life than it does at this very moment...<br />
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<em>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.</em><br />
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Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-45207495450360099452013-09-23T12:20:00.002-05:002013-09-23T12:28:49.429-05:00The Truth About WomenSo, I would like to make some general statements about the female race. I get to do this simply because I am a female. I bring some experience to the table, and because God has called me to raise a female of my own, these issues apply to me, effect me, and probably you, as well. Of course, I realize that if you are, in fact, a female, these general statements may or may not apply to you. I get that. I get that you might be the exception to the rule. With that in mind, I say...good for you. Trust me, if these things I'm about to mention don't apply to you...be relieved. Be ever-so grateful.<br />
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If you are a female, you have/you are/you will experience jealousy. No one is exempt from this potential feeling. In fact, jealousy is so prevalent among women today, that it has completely robbed us from becoming who God intended us to be from the moment our lives were spoken into existence. It has robbed us of our security and of our friendships. Because of jealousy and comparing ourselves to others, we have become something the Lord never intended us to be. We are forever in a constant state of comparison. This fact, alone, is rooted deep in jealousy, selfishness and pride. We compare homes, bodies, hair color, jobs, the way we parent, how we dress, and yes, even how involved we are in Sunday School and church. Another woman's shortcomings feel like small victories in our minds. Another woman's victories feel like setbacks in our lives. Say what you will...but you know this, for the most part, is our sick reality. <br />
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God forbid we actually be happy for each other. How crazy it is to think that we could celebrate life right alongside one another. Sure, we may do this with certain women in our lives...maybe our mothers, maybe our sisters, maybe even a close childhood friend. But we can not say this is true for all of the women we know in our lives. Technology hasn't helped. Now we have Facebook and Instagram to add to our bag of measuring sticks...<br />
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<em>She has more friends than me on Facebook. Everybody just loves her. (eye roll)</em><br />
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<em>Her kids are cuter than mine. </em><br />
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<em>She dresses so cute...look how skinny she is...I bet she has an eating disorder. </em><br />
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<em>Her picture has more "likes" than mine. </em><br />
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<em>She has more followers than me. </em><br />
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<em>Gah, she's such a good writer. I guess I would be, too, if I was a stay-at-home mom and had all day to read blogs and play on the computer.</em><br />
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Do you see the insanity? Go ahead, tell me I'm crazy. Try to convince me that I am the only one who struggles with this. And I will call you a straight up liar. (grin)<br />
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We know these are our issues. We're just not willing to own them. We read books on insecurity, a purpose-filled life, and becoming confident women. Women keep writing these books because women keep struggling with these issues. What if we decided to simply call a spade a spade? What if we started taking literal what God's Word says about jealousy...<br />
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<em>For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. -James 3:15-16 (NLT)</em><br />
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Truth is, I'm thankful for those brave female authors who have been willing to open their hearts to the entire world, to put it out there for us to see and deal with. Perhaps their hope is the same as mine. They, too, have had enough. And they have never been more eager to see daughters of the King starting to rise up and take their place in the Kingdom of Christ.<br />
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What will it take? What can we do? Is it possible to overcome this TOGETHER? To finally decide to lock arms, to build each other up, to encourage one another in our walks with the Lord, to listen and understand our struggles, to quit comparing, and to stop the maddening jealousy? It has become like cancer. It has taken over our hearts, our souls, our lives. We have let it cripple us. And if we are not careful, it will do the same thing to our daughters. That, my friends, is the wicked beauty of sin.<br />
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Here's my heart...<br />
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I am only human. I make mistakes. I fail everyday at something. I hate the mother and the wife I am some days. I hate what jealousy, comparing, selfishness, and self-loathing is doing to my spirit. I don't want to get to the end of my life and have missed all the blessings that could have come from cherished and beloved friendships with my sisters in Christ. Enough IS enough...<br />
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<em>God has had it with the proud, but takes delight in just plain people. So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. -1 Peter 5:5-7 (The Message)</em><br />
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Whew! I'm exhausted!<br />
LindsLindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-74445789942924073522013-09-09T07:38:00.001-05:002013-09-09T07:38:15.402-05:00Unbelief = Distance<em>"The farther you roam along paths of unbelief, the harder it is to remember that I am with you. Anxious thoughts branch off in all directions, taking you farther and farther from awareness of My Presence." -</em>Sarah Young in <em>Jesus Calling</em><br />
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I sit here fully aware of my areas of unbelief, those parts of me not fully surrendered. I know what unbelief does to the spirit, to my soul. I've experienced, unfortunately, the consequences that result from a lack of trust. And I know I'm not the only one.<br />
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Unbelief can look like so many things. It follows after the unexpected loss of a loved one. Or an unplanned change in everyday life. For some, it seeps in slowly with no explanation and cause. But unbelief almost always accompanies distance - distance from the One who believes in you, made you and loves you.<br />
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<em>"The farther you roam along paths of unbelief, the harder it is to remember that I am with you."</em><br />
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And He is always with you. But if you feel as if He's not, perhaps it is you who has wandered. Those many thoughts of unbelief have driven you farther and farther away. Now, it is time to turn around. Simply turn around and lift your eyes up. Find Him there because He is - there. And run to Jesus. Let Him receive you back, console your spirit, and remind you who you are in Him.<br />
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<em><strong>"For You, O Lord, are a shield around me. You are my Glory, the One who lifts up my head."</strong></em> -Psalm 3:3 Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-44781720496287659522013-08-07T16:30:00.000-05:002013-08-07T16:30:47.729-05:00Because You Haven't Lived If You Haven't Tried My Mom's Cucumber SandwichesConfession: I'm not a great cook.<br />
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Confession: I don't cook it unless it comes in a box or a can.<br />
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Confession: I can't follow a recipe unless every teeny tiny detail is laid out and explained in great detail. Because...<br />
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Confession: I'm not a great cook.<br />
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Seriously, though, you just haven't lived if you haven't tried my momma's famous cucumber sandwiches. I have no idea where this recipe originates, but trust me when I say...<br />
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It will change your life, sandwich lovers!<br />
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You will need...<br />
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2 medium cucumbers, peeled
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12 oz. cream cheese, the soft kind
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1/3 cup mayo
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4 or 5 green onions, chopped fine, tops too
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1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
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1 tsp. garlic salt<br />
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The instructions (I swear I can hear my mother's voice as I read them.)...<br />
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Grate cucumbers onto a couple of layers of paper towels or process in food processor and then turn the chopped cucumbers out onto paper towels. Cover with more towels and press out all moisture - this is very important. Add all other ingredients except cucumbers to food processor and process thoroughly. Add cucumber and process only 2 or 3 seconds (more will make everything get too watery). Spread on thin bread. Remove crusts. An electric knife makes very neat sandwich edges. Cut in triangles to serve. Sandwiches may be refrigerated overnight or frozen. The spread needs to be made the day before. This amount makes about 80 tiny sandwiches.<br />
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Don't you love how my mom has paid such close attention to detail? One might even think my mother is trying to insult my intelligence...what, with her...<em>this is very important</em>...and...<em>An electric knife makes very neat sandwich edges.</em> One might even assume my mother has a lot of extra time on her hands as she has spelled out every step in the cucumber sandwich making process. But let me clear things up so that everyone's opinions will be laid to rest...<br />
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I'm not a great cook.<br />
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Enjoy, friends. Seriously, these are so good. I usually eat 10 <em>tiny sandwiches</em> in one sitting.<br />
LindsLindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-51839698063252501642013-07-06T15:57:00.002-05:002013-07-06T16:02:08.594-05:00Wrecked<em>Wrecked.</em><br />
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Wrecked is the only word that comes to mind in this moment. As I sit here wrestling, STILL, with everything I saw and experienced last weekend, wrecked is the only explanation that I can come up with as I try to process it all.<br />
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We spend our lives working toward putting ourselves in the "best" situation possible when it comes to our well-being. We seek out the safest towns, the best schools, the most reputable childcare, the friendliest church, the highest paying job, the best neighborhood, and on and on. We work hard providing for our families and play even harder on the weekend. We save our money for the next biggest toy, trip, house, whatever. And we're pleased with ourselves when we vote for the right candidate, pay our taxes, go to church every week, and tithe our 10 percent. But at the end of the day, how can we answer this question...<br />
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<em>What kind of legacy am I leaving?</em><br />
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Or for those of us who claim to be Christians...<br />
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<em>What kind of legacy am I leaving in the name of Jesus and for the cause of Christ?</em><br />
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I can't quit thinking about the faces I saw last weekend. Those looks of complete hopelessness, total despair, and pain and anger and frustration. Those looks of brokenness that scream, "I have been forgotten." I can't get them out of my head.<br />
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As we sit behind our computer screens and make our political statements via Facebook on gun control, illegal immigration, and current politicians, it doesn't even occur to us that there is a real war happening on the streets of our very own neighborhoods. Women, girls for crying out loud, are being sold into a modern-day slave trade. And we do nothing but look down our noses at them assuming they are where they are because of their own personal decisions. And this is just what we do with the faces we see and the information we've been given. But what about the stories we haven't even heard? Is it even ok to use the excuse that we just didn't know?<br />
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I've been doing my own investigation and here's what I'm coming up with...<br />
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All around the world, girls are being falsely filled with hope as men promise them a bright future with money and jobs. These impoverished families sell all of their belongings just to scrape up enough money to support their daughters as they, too, believe these men who promise them a new land with new opportunities. These girls who have dreamed their whole lives to become nurses and teachers board ships with bags in hand and head to a far away land believing that their dreams have finally come true.<br />
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As they enter their new land with hope and eagerness, their dreams become quickly shattered. Most of them, within the first few hours of entering a new city, are kidnapped by a mob of men who take them into a dark room in a far away place and beat and rape each of them one by one. These women, whose eyes once contained light and life, are forced to escape to a dark place deep inside themselves as they merely survive day to day in conditions that are not suitable for animals. These girls, who once played with baby dolls and danced safely within the arms of their own daddies, are forced to service up to 40 men a day meeting requests that are too atrocious for me to even write about. Their families have no idea of their captivity, and they become lost and forgotten in a world of evil and darkness.<br />
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<em>Wrecked.</em> <br />
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It's all I know to say as these thoughts consume my mind and my heart. If it were me, if it were my daughter or my sister or my mother, I would want someone to fight for me. I want to fight. Please pray for me, friends. Pray the Lord will speak and make His will known. Until then, I know I can help fight this hellish war on my knees. And you can too! Please join me...<br />
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<em>Father God,</em><br />
<em>Your Word is perfect and needs no extra commentary. Straight from the mouth of God, I echo the same<strong>..."The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." </strong> (Isaiah 61:1-3) MAY IT BE SO, FATHER GOD! Use me, Lord. Here am I - send me!</em><br />
<em>In the mighty name of the One who saved me from death, my Savior Jesus Christ - Amen!</em>Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-29968030763282088582013-07-02T16:21:00.000-05:002013-07-02T16:21:09.711-05:00New Orleans Part 2You can read the first installment of our story here...<br />
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<a href="http://lindscraw.blogspot.com/2013/07/new-orleans-part-1.html" target="_blank">New Orleans Part 1</a><br />
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We 12 women entered the club. And no, we didn't see anything that scarred us for life. In fact, we didn't see anything at all. We had a precious man who led us to the party room where we'd be serving breakfast. He stood outside the door to our room the entire night and checked on us every 10 minutes. I must add...he wore a bullet-proof vest the entire time. <br />
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Our 7 men stood outside the entrance to the club and were adamant about not coming inside. This is a strict policy of One Ministry and one I most admire. It is imperative to take drastic measures at protecting the hearts of the men who work within this ministry, as they are no fools at what the devil would like to do to them as a result of working within this industry. It would have been a whole lot safer for them to be inside with us, but they trusted the Lord with their lives and chose to stand outside and pray for us while we served inside the club.<br />
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While inside, our group prepared to give those ladies an experience they would remember. We put up decorations, set out delicious breakfast food, displayed Bibles we so hoped to be able to give away, and hung canvas art on the walls with messages of Jesus and hope. And then we waited. While we waited, we prayed and became aware of a very dangerous situation outside. While we were counting on the prayers of our 7 men outside, we found ourselves lifting them up, instead, as they witnessed one horrific act after another. It is so interesting to me...but once we made it inside the club, I felt very safe. Oh, the irony! There is no other explanation than...God. He was there. He was waiting for us before we even came. And He had permeated that room with his sweet, sweet presence. There was nothing like it. <br />
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Oh sure! The enemy taunted us all night. Every boom and bang we heard within the walls of that party room, I attribute to him. But he pulled out his big bag of tricks outside where our 7 men were left to survive and to trust the One who had brought us there. While outside, our male group witnessed fights and taunting, curse words and name calling, EVIL in its meanest form. But here's the kicker...NOT one time did our group get touched or messed with. No one spoke to them or even asked them why they were there. Even though they stood out...it was obvious that they were outsiders...no one even made a remark or gesture. We believe, without a doubt, that was because our Lord God had His mighty hand of protection on them the entire time. It was almost as if they were invisible or untouchable...and just maybe they were. They were able to visit some with the club owner and the bouncers outside. Those conversations went well, and we are ALL still in awe of how the Lord fulfilled His promise in Joshua 1:9 as mentioned in my first installment of our story. Our men were in full-on survival mode. My words in trying to describe their feelings just don't do it justice. It was a nightmare. But one thing is certain...as they were in the middle of what I feel like is hell on earth...God was with them and they were not touched. <br />
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<strong><em>When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God... -Isaiah 43:2-3a (NIV)</em></strong><br />
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Inside, we women had a great time serving, visiting and laughing with the ladies of the club. We never once felt scared or threatened. I am thrilled to tell you that a couple of meaningful conversations took place, and verbal invitations were given out for those who'd like to come to One Ministry's home church called <em>Freedom Place</em> - don't you just love that name? We gave out 22 Bibles that night! All in all, 52 women worked the club, and we were able to serve and hang out with about half of them.<br />
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When it was time to leave, I had experienced a mixture of emotions. I felt relieved to get out of there. I certainly was tired. But a part of me really wanted and needed to see those girls again. Our group is still processing everything we experienced. We believe the Lord wanted us there for many reasons, and we have asked Him to show us how we are to take what we learned and apply it here where we live and work. We all brought back a personal application, and I can only speak for myself. But because of what I experienced AND because the Lord used a woman who works within One Ministry to speak to my heart, I realized that fear is a serious stronghold in my life. It took me traveling to one of the darkest places in our country to realize how enslaved I am to being afraid. The Lord's message to me was never more clear than what is indicated in Joshua 1:9. There are many things I will remember and several lessons I have learned. But one thing stands out...<br />
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<strong>We serve a LIVING God!</strong><br />
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He is with us always. And sometimes, it's just plain necessary to see what it would look like without Him in our lives. I am so thankful for Jesus, and I need Him every second of every day. And I can't wait to have another opportunity to share with someone else just how much they need Him, too.<br />
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<em><strong>Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. -Joshua 1:9 (NIV)</strong></em><br />
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Believe it, friends! Believe it!!<br />
Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-82563379925082494652013-07-02T15:10:00.000-05:002013-07-02T15:17:45.034-05:00New Orleans Part 1Where do I begin? At which part? At what twist and turn? How do I accurately describe the terror, the joy, the fear, the exhilaration, the despair, and the encouragement? I probably just don't...I probably can't. But I'll try.<br />
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It would be a crime for me not to first express the gratitude and awe I have for those who work at One Ministry. These folks put themselves in danger as they fight on the front lines of a war that feels, at times, completely hopeless. And they do this ALL in the name of Jesus. They, without hesitation, walk right into the middle of total darkness and evil not once doubting that the Lord God is with them at all times. They are living testimonies of an omnipresent and omniscient God. They will tell you...they could not and would not do what they do without God's favor and God's protection. And we received the privilege and blessings that came forth from simply going along with them on the ride of a lifetime.<br />
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The facts...<br />
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We arrived in New Orleans Friday afternoon around 4. We all tried our best to rest up for what we knew would be an all-nighter. Around 6 we met up for dinner and enjoyed a classic New Orleans cuisine meal having NO idea of what the night had in store. Around 7:30 we made our way into New Orleans East to meet up with the fearless leaders and volunteers of One Ministry. We spent the first part of our evening listening to story after story of how One works at putting a stop to human trafficking on the streets of New Orleans. This is just a portion of what they do. Later, we were told what to expect in the early hours of Saturday morning. We were told of the positive relationships that had been made at a local Gentlemen's Club. The owner and employees of this particular club have grown to love our friends at One, and they were really looking forward to the breakfast that was going to be served in their honor. Some of our One friends went around 10 p.m. Friday night to drop off the table we were going to later need for our food items. When they got there, the girls who work at the club had put out pink balloons at the front door in honor of our friends at One. Just that simple act, alone, showed us how cherished our One friends are AND how effective their ministry is becoming to the broken on the streets of New Orleans.<br />
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We spent the early hours of Saturday morning preparing goody bags for both the men and women of the club while also spending a great deal of time in prayer. My dear husband felt drawn to Joshua 1:9 and even prayed it over each member of our group. Some of us actually had written this verse out on an index card and placed it in our pockets so that the Word of God went with us everywhere we went that night and early morning. We had no idea how much these words would mean to us later...<br />
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<em><strong>Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. -Joshua 1:9 (NIV)</strong></em><br />
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At 2:30 a.m., we loaded up our vehicles with breakfast food, decorations, goody bags, Bibles, and bottled waters and started making the drive to the mission field God had very specifically called us to, yet none of us could have ever imagined or even dreamed up. The closer we got to our destination, the more anxious I became. As I saw club after club with parking lots full of people and cars, I thought to myself...what have we gotten into? When we stopped at a red-light, I thought...I can jump out now and run. But the fear of what I might find myself in on the streets of New Orleans kept me paralyzed. As we turned into the parking lot of the club where we'd be serving, complete and total panic set in. There were at least a hundred people, mostly men, congregating outside the entrance to the club. The volume of their conversations was so loud; I couldn't tell if they were screaming, yelling or laughing. We all stood outside our cars and prayed before we made our way to the front door of the club. There were 12 of us women who would go inside to serve and hang out with the women of the club. Our 7 men would stay right outside next to the front door. All I can say at this point is...I had no idea that our experience inside the club would be totally different from what I ever expected, AND it would also be very different from what our men would have to endure outside on the terrifying streets of New Orleans.<br />
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<strong><em>Stay tuned for New Orleans Part 2.</em></strong>Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-4204809508938198302013-06-21T11:12:00.001-05:002013-06-21T11:12:34.293-05:00Please Pray For UsTruth be told, I have a love/hate relationship with Facebook. It definitely has its advantages, but many of us know the "dark side" to Facebook, as well. HOWEVER today, I am so thankful for Facebook and the Internet, in general, because it's a great way for me to get this information out to you. I am asking those of you who would be willing to please lift up my family and me <br />AND our small group we meet with every Sunday morning over the next week. I often refer to them as my Faith Family, because over the past year, we all have embarked on an adventure we never would have imagined. Which leads me to the purpose of this post.<br />
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Over the past year, our sweet Faith Family has committed to serving on our local mission field right here in Lincoln Parish every month. We've been able to see the Lord do some mighty work in us and through us as we've partnered with various local ministries such as DART, Life Choices, Grace Place, Fishers of Men and others. This month, we will be packing up a few of our belongings and heading to New Orleans to help with a mission that none of us could have ever imagined, dreamed up or even thought of. Simply put, God has called us to this place for such a time as this. God is the only explanation. Period.<br />
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Next weekend, June 28 & 29, we will be partnering with ONE Ministry in New Orleans. The folks involved in this ministry work diligently to help put an end to human trafficking right there where they are on the streets of New Orleans. One of the things they have done there is establish relationships with some of the owners and employees of several "gentlemen's clubs" in their neighborhood. They have actually gone into these clubs with the simple purpose of showing the love of Christ to the employees who perform there. As a result, God has done a miracle and made a way for ONE Ministry to actually provide breakfast next weekend to one of the club's performers/employees. This is where our group comes in. We will be helping prepare and serve breakfast to the ladies and men who work every night in this particular club. Our hope is that they will catch a glimpse of the love of Christ as we serve them, love them, and offer them gifts that will include a Bible. <br />
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<strong>This is where we need your help.</strong> My husband and I have been adamant about NOT wanting to give the enemy ANY kind of foothold in regards to this mission. Obviously, Satan won't be happy about this, and I expect him to be up to his old tricks in trying to distract us and even convince us that we shouldn't go. But I am approaching the throne of grace with confidence that comes from the Holy Spirit. I have come before the Father asking Him to help us overcome any obstacles that come our way over the course of the next week. Will you please join me in doing the same?<br />
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Please ask the Lord to protect us, our children, and our homes while we are away. Ask Him to give us His eyes and give us the ability to recognize tactics from the enemy while granting us the power to send him straight back to the pit of Hell where he belongs. Ask the Lord to equip us with whatever we are going to need to fulfill this mission, to be able to love these ladies (and men) in a way that goes beyond human comprehension, that those we serve will be overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit and will not be able to rest or relax until a decision has been made to surrender to AND follow Christ with their lives. Ask the Lord to give us the words we need, the mannerisms necessary, and the courage to stare the devil straight in the face as we enter an area of New Orleans that is plagued by darkness and evil. <br />
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<strong>If Christ is for us, then who can be against us? No weapon formed against us shall prosper. We are more than conquerors with the help of the Holy Spirit. Will you claim that for us, please? We need your prayers. Desperately</strong>.<br />
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Please let me know either through commenting on this blog post or through Facebook if we can count on your prayers. For those willing, will you pray us through that night? We will be working through Friday night into the early hours of Saturday morning. We will be serving breakfast at 4 am on Saturday. <strong>Remember, this is NEXT week (June 28-29).</strong><br />
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Thank you over and over. We are giving God praise for granting us this opportunity and we believe He has allowed us to be apart of, what we hope, will be a miracle in the heavenly realm. Preparing to see God show up and show out. Won't your join us in believing the same?! Glory to God and His Son Jesus!<br />
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<em>"We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us..." -Hebrews 6:18-20 (MSG)</em><br />
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<strong>Believing and praying that these ladies (and men) will simply grab the Promised Hope Rope in Jesus' name!</strong><br />
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Thank you for praying, friends.<br />
LindsLindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-79859916759160425782013-06-16T07:31:00.000-05:002013-06-16T07:31:42.956-05:00A Tribute To My Baby DaddyOh sure, I could have gone and spent 4 or 5 dollars on a sappy Father's Day card for my husband. But it seemed more appropriate (and frankly, more fun) for me to compose a few thoughts of why I love this man so much, and how incredibly thankful I am to him for being my baby daddy. This is dedicated to the one I love.<br />
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BWC, I sure do love you. Oh yes, I most certainly do. There are many things I love about you, but the thing I love the most is your ability to make me laugh like no other person on the planet. And just for the public's pure enjoyment, I'd like to share three of my all time favorite moments of life with BWC...<br />
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#1 Once upon a time, in the days of old, before kids were even a consideration, and Saturday mornings were a golden opportunity to sleep until noon, BWC thought it'd be sweet to rise and shine, throw on his bath robe, and head to the Mickey D's to pick us up some breakfast. As he pulled up to the window to pay and collect his order, he was greeted with one of the most endearing phrases ever known to man. It was so sweet, that we still use it to this day when speaking to one another. The absolutely precious McDonald's female employee noticed BWC's apparel and said, and I quote, "Well shuga, you in yo' robe." And that is why BWC is not allowed to wear his robe out in public anymore.<br />
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#2 A very pregnant yours truly had (FINALLY) fallen asleep one night several years ago. I was carrying our first-born child and had gotten to the stage of pregnancy where no position is ever comfortable... not to stand, not to sit, not to lie. And just like that, a modern-day miracle occurred and I had actually fallen asleep in my big ol' fat pregnant state. You can imagine my horror when a cough deeply-rooted into my chest made its way to the surface only to come out of my mouth at an alarming level of sound. Poor ol' BWC had just dosed off and as this very loud and very obnoxious cough made its way out, BWC shot straight up out of bed, yelled loudly, and I quote, "WHERE IS THE BEAR." We still laugh about it to this day.<br />
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#3 Before Jesus really got a hold of our lives, we had a very short run with some very bad decisions. And although this stage of life is a bit foggy, I vaguely remember BWC and I taking a trip to Vegas. Just our mere destination goes without explaining why the memories are if-ey. I do remember us being in the lobby of our hotel waiting to meet some friends for dinner. A few folks in our group had already made their way into the lobby and as we were small talking, I noticed a very attractive woman talking to BWC. No big deal, right? I mean...BWC is easy on the eyes, if you ask me. So, I didn't give it much concern as they continued their conversation. Shortly after their initial words, this woman (did I mention she was pretty) nodded her head and walked away. And at exactly the same time, BWC's and my eyes met and he said to me across the lobby with great enthusiasm, and I quote, "I just got solicited for sex. Yea baby, I still got it." That's wonderful, honey. No really...just wonderful.<br />
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Bloggey friends, I could totally keep going. I mean, I've got stories like this for days, I really do. But I just wanted to offer you all a small taste of what it's like to live with this incredible man. I have always prayed for my husband as long as I can remember. My mom explained to me at an early age that the Lord had already decided who my husband would be, and it would be very wise of me to pray for him as often as I could. And y'all, I wish I knew how many prayers were offered up on behalf of BWC even way before I ever laid my eyes on him. <br />
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It is true...he is an amazing husband and the best daddy a kid could ever hope for. But truth be told, the thing that most attracts me to him...the thing that gets my motor running for this man every single time is...his deep and infectious love for Jesus. He leads our home in a way I never would have imagined. He inspires us all to love the Lord with our lives. Not to just love Jesus with our words and our thoughts, but with our actions. He leads by example...loving others with the love of Christ, devoting his own time and effort to leading others to Jesus through the ministry of his job and various hobbies. Not only does BWC know Jesus personally, but he lives out the purposes of Jesus Christ every single day. He's funny. He's smart. He's my man, but he's also my brother in Christ. Seriously, what more could a girl want?<br />
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BWC, I love you. Happy Father's Day. You are, hands-down, my most favorite.<br />
Love,<br />
LindsLindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-60603401190344498212013-06-12T08:20:00.005-05:002013-06-12T08:48:48.476-05:00Lord, where are you?How easy it is to get incredibly caught up into our own lives! Even in just the everyday, those mundane tasks can quickly consume our time and before we know it, our lives start to resemble something similar to the movie <em>Groundhog Day</em>. I wonder if anyone is like me and has found themselves in an unfamiliar spiritual place all of a sudden. Alarmingly, I find myself asking...<br />
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<em>Lord, where are you?</em><br />
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I know He's there, but lately it's been hard to feel Him, sense Him, experience Him. I remember hearing a sermon once where the teacher believed there are strategic times in our lives where God pulls back. He doesn't go away, mind you, but that sweetness that comes from His presence is missing. This particular teacher believed God does this from time to time so that He can teach us something. That seems to be how He works, isn't it?<br />
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I wonder how many of us simply go through our lives developing habits and ways of thinking that we don't even realize we've started, and all of a sudden, we find ourselves feeling dry, empty, lonely even. And here's the kicker...nothing of significance has to even happen to put us in that low place. <br />
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(Lord knows just a wave of hormones can put us women in a funk in no time flat.)<br />
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It just seems, especially for those of us who have a lot of time on our hands, it's quite easy to find ourselves in an unfamiliar place with the Lord with no explanation whatsoever. You just wake up one day feeling "emotionally weak, physically exhausted and spiritually deflated." (Words straight out of my devotional this morning.) Could it be that we have found ourselves in this place as a result of a life lived outside the standards and alignment set for us by God? Perhaps we've heard His gentle whispers along the way, those heavenly nudges to be cautious, those divinely inspired reminders of dangerous water ahead...so to speak. And for whatever reason, we've chosen to ignore Him. Perhaps, not even out of defiance, but just because...just because we don't have to do what He says.<br />
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If any of this is resonating, thank God, I am not alone. In an effort to get ourselves back on steady ground, could we take a moment to simply encourage one another? I want to pray for you, whomever finds herself reading this in this moment. And would you pray for me? One thing I know...our biggest spiritual weapon is prayer. Oh, how we take it for granted! But it is at our disposal at all times and the Lord wants us to use it. It is what leads to victory in our lives, and if we can remember to give God the glory in all situations, He will give us the victory. Amen?<br />
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<em>Father God,</em><br />
<em>Nothing reminds us more of how human we are when we find ourselves feeling down, deflated and empty. Thank you for reminding us that we can not make it without you. Help us to feel your presence today, and in the moments where we can't seem to find you, help us to be relentless in pursuing you anyway. Give us peace in knowing that you are always there, you will never forsake us, and that every moment given to us in this life is an opportunity to grow closer to and more dependent on you. I pray for whomever is reading this prayer right now at this very moment. I pray that you would meet her needs, that you would reveal yourself to her, and that you would heal, restore, replenish and revive her heart, soul and mind. When it's hard for us to track you, Lord, remind us that some of your biggest miracles happen in the pursuit, the trial, the waiting period. Help us to know that our biggest victories come while we're along the journey. Help us to love you with our lives. Help us to lean not on our own understanding but to trust you at all times and in every way. We love you, Jesus. </em><br />
<em>Amen.</em><br />
<em></em><br />Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-58058265980085210552013-06-04T16:22:00.000-05:002013-06-04T16:22:23.144-05:00Illness, Scissors & Spiders, OH MY!Sometimes, when I start taking myself way too seriously, I have to take a few moments to get it together, to debrief if you will. You know? In other words, to simply pause and say to myself...<br />
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<em>Whoa Nelly!</em><br />
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Or to use my personal favorite phrase of choice...<br />
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<em>Alright, stop! Collaborate and listen!</em> <br />
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Because if I'm being real honest, my mind honestly feels like a hot mess mix of bad 90s hip hop. What with all the<em> "stop what you're doing cuz I'm about to ruin the image and the style that you're used to" </em>swirling around in my head. With that being said, I thought I'd let ya know what was going down at the family compound.<br />
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First and foremost, the baby was sick over the weekend. She had a fever that turned into a cough. And might I say that I read no such-a parenting book that would explain the dry heaving that comes after your child pukes down your shirt while you're holding her? Oh no, there is no such thing that ever prepared me for such a time as this when baby girl gets downright mad because her cough is keeping her awake at night. But hey! At least she's cute, right?<br />
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Well let's see...there's that time LAST weekend where the oldest boy thought it ever so clever to dare his younger brother to cut his hair with actual scissors. Isn't that precious? No worries, though. Leave it to the hubs to come up with quite the creative punishment. I'll skip on sharing the details since we don't need none of ya calling the Po-Po on us over here.<br />
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And I'll leave you with one final piece of riveting testimony. Last night, after a long day of cleaning and changing diapers and wiping snot and folding other people's drawers, I had finally settled in for the night. As I was watching <em>Friends</em> and feeling the weight of my eye lids, something black was darting straight up the covers right toward my face, my mouth to be exact. I yelled an expletive and threw the blanket back just in time. I then proceeded to slap the thing with the T.V. remote in hopes of putting us both out of our misery. I walked away with the victory with merely seconds to remain. And that, my friends, is how I almost swallowed a spider before dozing off.<br />
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(Did you know the average human swallows about 4 to 10 spiders in a lifetime? Of course, this depends ONLY on whether you sleep on your side, back or stomach.)<br />
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(In that case, I'll be sleeping standing up from now on, thank you very much.)<br />
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(Thanks, a lot, Google!)Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756136080771004192.post-8193868412521456572013-05-31T08:36:00.000-05:002013-05-31T08:54:35.958-05:00Wonder what would happen if we quit asking why and started asking what?It seems like I've always had a boyfriend. *eye roll* High school and college were no exceptions. But it wasn't until college where I started making decisions with my boyfriend that had long-term emotional effects. Our relationship was tumultuous at best, and we were either together or broken up, together or broken up, together or broken up. Get the idea?<br />
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The day after I graduated from college, I had no choice but to move home with my parents and start looking for a job. At the time, my college sweetheart had moved away and joined the Army. And although we still communicated through letters and phone calls, it wasn't a very strong relationship. But it really never was, you know? I wanted it to be, but the relationship just never became what I had hoped. Once home with my parents, I started making a life for myself as best as I could, and that's when I met the man who would change everything.<br />
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See? In college, I never felt strong enough to end the relationship. My relationship with my boyfriend felt, in a lot of ways, like that song by Pink. Our relationship was like taking a pill. Except instead of making me better, it kept making me ill. Make sense? That is until I graduated and had no choice but to move out of that college town and away from my circumstances for good. It was at that point where I started getting my strength back. My mind became clearer and my heart started to heal.<br />
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That's when I met my Beloved. I really had never been with a guy who "courted" me. What I mean is...I had never really been pursued by a man. It wasn't as if I had always attracted losers, although my mother may have a differing opinion. It's just that I had never met someone who cared about me in a way that he was willing to put his feelings for me out there no matter the risk, no matter the loss. He made it clear from the beginning how he felt about me, and he spent most of his time making me feel so special and so wanted. It didn't take long for me to fall deeply in love with him and like the cliché says...the rest is history.<br />
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My husband and I will celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary in September. Since our initial meeting, I have thought many times...how is it that I ended up with someone so wonderful? I would tell the Lord...I have made so many mistakes in my life, I have spit in the face of God through the awful decisions I've made. Yet still, He allowed someone so wonderful to come into my life and really show me what it means to be loved, to be woo-ed, to be pursued, to be honored and respected and cherished. Based on what I know about myself, it is quite easy to feel undeserving of such a wonderful gift.<br />
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But listen. Something I've grown to learn...this is how Jesus works. He takes delight in giving us the desires of our heart. And there will never come a time where I will ever deserve any gift He chooses to give me. He does this because He loves me. Period.<br />
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You know what's interesting? I recently heard Beth Moore give a devotional on the danger of judgmental-ism and criticism. She explained that soon after we go through a tough time, and the Lord plucks us out of the pit in which we've created ON OUR OWN, and places our feet firmly on the ground, it takes almost no time for us to become prideful in looking back over our shoulder to see how far we've come. In almost split time, we forget what the Lord has done. We forget how far He has brought us. And it doesn't take long for us to start looking down our noses at the messy lives of the people that surround us. Oh how quick we are to quit looking up at the Father and instead start looking down at the choices people around us are making. Even when someone hurts us or offends us, aren't we quick to wallow around in our pain and insecurity? It doesn't even occur to us that our feelings of offense are strongly rooted in self. And the pain, the insecurity, and the injustice we feel are sometimes rooted in pride. Pride, my friends...an ugly sin in and of itself. (*Disclaimer - I am referring to minor offenses here, friends. Please know I understand many of you have had great injustices done to you in your lifetime...injustices that are too awful to speak of. I am only referring to those obnoxious daily occurrences that can hinder our moods for no real significant reason.)<br />
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No, I don't deserve my wonderful husband. No, I'll never deserve these precious three children God has entrusted to my husband and me. I don't even deserve to get the opportunity to wake up each day and breathe in and out on my own. To just be able to put on clean underwear and have a bed to sleep in and food in my pantry to eat...NO, I will never be deserving of any of it. But that's not how my God sees things. There is not one thing that happens to us...not one good thing...not one bad thing...that happens to us by coincidence. God allows it all to happen. He may not will it. But everything that happens in our lives must first pass under the gaze of His eyes and through the approval of His hands. And because of that, we MUST start looking at our circumstances through the eyes of the Author of Life. In our fit of asking Him why, we must also ask Him what. What, Lord? What is it that You want me to see? <br />
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This is so hard to do and even harder to believe, but it is my opinion that God doesn't allow any circumstance to touch our lives that doesn't make us stronger in Him, help us know Him more, and give His Son glory. I understand how difficult this is to comprehend for those of us who have had real tragedy and real heartbreak to touch our lives. But I believe it will be in those moments, when life is good and life is hard, where His glory will unfold right before our eyes if we would just take the time to ask Him what, Lord. What? It will be then where His mysteries will be revealed. His sovereignty will be understood. And in the moments where it doesn't make sense, it won't matter. Because we will have learned how to trust Him and our lives will surely sing...<br />
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"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." -Romans 8:28Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297795551592703103noreply@blogger.com3