What Will You Do?

Today a friend of mine placed a link to a video on my FB page. The video is discussing Barak Obama. I don't consider it to be an Obama bashing though I can see how some would feel that way. It basically depicts Obama as a puppet in the hands of those(the video producers feel)that are truly in control of this nation and that he is simply a pawn in what they are trying to do in creating the New World Order.

Now, anyone who knows me I would hope would say that I am not a conspiracy theorist. I do not look at a situation and condemn the person involved because I know there are other factors at play. I am not saying that anything in this video link is true or false. Actually, what burdens me today is not really the video link at all.

Today my heart is in turmoil because I know the desperate state that our nation and world is in. To say that the world is not like it was when I was growing up is laughable and almost ridiculous. The world isn't like it was 7 years ago or even 2 years ago! Times are changing and we as people sit back and take what is fed to us without even a second thought.

We get caught up in the propaganda of the hour and loose sight of what is truly happening in our nation and world. For anyone, this is a horrible compromise. For the Christian, this is equals self-annihilation.

We often hear it said that those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it. It's become sort of cliche. Nonetheless, it is true.

Do we know our history? I don't mean simply US history or even modern world history? I mean biblical history. It's ALL important and critical that we know and understand. Do we care? Or do our lives, our small corner of the world and it's comfort consume us so that nothing else truly matters? It's so easy to have strong opinions about political candidates and situations going on in the world, but what is fueling our opinions? Is it truth?

My challenge to myself and to those reading is to step up to the plate. We MUST know for ourselves what is happening. Study, read, learn. Some of us will stop there and that's fine once we've searched for truth found it and share it. Others will go further. They will get involved and become voices of change. What will you do? What will you teach your children to do? They need to learn how to make decisions and hold their ground in this world of ours. It's more important now than it ever was before.

This is not about a man. This is not about a party. This is about all of us taking a stand for truth, justice, and integrity. It is each of our responsibility to know and then to act in whatever way we are led to. Generations to come are depending on what we do in this hour.

God is SO SMART!

God is SO SMART!!! I've heard myself saying that lately as if it's this new big revelation! I think God really gets a kick out of me sometimes. I KNOW it's not new information. Of course God is smart, HE KNOWS everything. The problem is I have trouble consistently living as if HE knows everything.

So recently when I realized that God is taking everything in my life; every past relationship and friendship(ones I thought were long since over or fairly insignificant); every conflict, emotion, and trial that I'm currently facing and using it all to teach me who HE is while at the same time bringing me to a place of healing and wholeness, I had to stop and say, "God is SO SMART!"

He's so smart that the revelations I've been too angry or scared to grasp have been shown to me through the people HE's put in my life. We SO NEED each other. HE knows this!

HE knows exactly what we need, how much of it, and who needs to be a part of it. As I prepare for my trips this summer, I have to keep at the forefront of my mind that my God is SO SMART. I did not just wake up one day and say, "I think I'll go to Guatemala and Nepal this summer." It was a process of discovering what God was leading me to. I started off with just a knowing that I was going on a trip. Then came the knowing that I was going to Guatemala. It was after I was solid in that belief that the trip to Nepal came up.

I KNOW God is SO SMART because if HE would've told me about both trips at the same time, HE would've met with a lot more resistance than HE already had from me(notice there was still resistance!) HE KNOWS me and HE KNOWS you too.

Because I KNOW that I didn't just wake up and decide about these trips but that God informed me about them, I KNOW that HE will take care of everything concerning them.

He will take care of what concerns you too. God doesn't ask much of us. Love HIM wholeheartedly and believe HIM. If you can get those two things down, I believe everything else will flow from there. He's so much SMARTER than us. So whatever is going on in your life today; whatever the unknowns are; whatever the emotions are; WHATEVER IT IS....ask God to come into it and take it over. Lay it down and let HIS SMARTS take over. I KNOW you will be so glad you did.

A New Season Has Begun...

I did it! I made it through what turned out to be one of the most challenging positions I've ever had. I was a nanny to a family of 4 children. I came to this family when they were on the brink of falling apart and I just happened to walk with them as they did. That was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to be a part of. I'm out of their home and my body hasn't even adjusted to the lack of stress yet.

I did take away many lessons about life in general and I learned a great deal about myself as well. I know that one day all that I've experienced with this particular family will help me in my own home as well as the many couples and families that I encounter.

That was such an intense time for me and now I'm walking into a new season filled with traveling, spending time with friends...AND building a business and ministry. It's an exciting place to be. It can be challenging to though. The last season was really using me as a support to others. Right now, it's really about what God is doing in me. What God does "IN" you is not always exciting and fun feeling. It's painful when God shows you YOU and then says, "This is not allowed to stay" or "This relationship must end" or "This really isn't your decision". I experienced these kind of conversations with God even when I was with the family, but almost as soon as I left the family they intensified because a new season has begun.

A new season of what God is doing "IN" me. What season are you in? What is HE doing "IN" you? It's important to recognize and understand the seasons that God has us in. It doesn't always make it easier to walk through for me, but somewhere deep within it does give me a reassurance that it is working together for my good.

So, I ask you. What season are you in? What is God speaking to your heart? Is he showing you something needs to change or increase? Is he showing you a friendship needs to end or be mended? Is he saying move forward with that idea? Or might he be saying wait on me, spend time with me? Whatever it is, HE is speaking and each of us are in a specific season with HIM. Take time this week to quietly listen and evaluate where you are....