Come Up Higher: 2017

Hey friends!

I'm just going to be honest and say that in just a few ways, my 2017 started today. Maybe it’s the same for you.  It’s not typical that I rush to define my new year in a word or verse until one settles in my heart - so this one came about two weeks ago in the thick of all that is life right now.

Life in the USA – that is.

January could've been a full year in and of itself. The swift changes, sharp repercussions, tensions, sadness, the flaring passions, and frustrations – like the vision of a kaleidoscope and the twist of its dial by hand, it seems that complexities have either multiplied, or re-presented themselves. And the view isn’t exactly beautiful or awe-inspiring – but it does call for a real response – an honest, practical, reasonable, what do we do now - JESUS kind of response.

I have carried a few burdens in my heart. I have watched. I have prayed. I’ve gotten angry, and I’ve calmed down. I’m concerned for the vulnerable. I am intrigued and eager to converse with those who stand on a certain few convictions – I am worried about the ones who want to shut their ears and pretend none of this is happening – but, most of all, I am concerned for the body of Christ – 

Which Jesus are we giving the world right now?  

Is it the One in the bible?

What are we saying?  

What are we not saying?

New President. Same God. Bigger Problems… What to do?

These are real questions that need real answers. 

As political and moral reasoning become more polarized, we are forced to ask what this year will mean for us.  And future events don’t have to define us any more than we can predict what is to come, but will we stick our heads in the sand and play dumb? Or is there a story to be written about the part we played when times got tougher? 

And not just for ourselves –  for everyone. 

Are we praying? What are we doing?

And what is true on the inside?  

Where are our convictions coming from? And what are we going to do with them?

What is informing our hearts? 

Being unclear and undecided has long gone out of style. And staying in the gray isn’t enough.  Where are our markers?

 

Eventually, we’ll have to know what we believe and why we believe it. And whether the kings of the earth will dictate what we think – or our King in Heaven.  This is about the moment we’re asked to pick a side & take a stand - and knowing right now, in advance, what we’d stand for. Of all the sub-goals I have for this year, it's bigger than what's personal -- 2017 screams “Come Up Higher.”

Will my fears inform me or His Word? Will I take on the responsibility of an aggressive prayer life - the kind that moves mountains, the kind that God initiates - the kind that God sustains? Am I going to obey when it's time to get to work? Am I a responsible carrier of the light & hope of Christ?

Self reflection time - 

Are we sleepwalking, or are we wide awake?

I think of the disciples who fell asleep while on post when Jesus went away to pray and I find that the last thing I’d want to be is caught sleeping on the job by my Savior. 

We can’t afford to do that now. 

As long as we are here, the world should see and hear and feel Jesus. He’s trusting us with Himself. Will we walk worthy of the call? 

To defend the voiceless – provide for the least of these – love the outcast – and spread truth and love… We know who our Father is, but do we know what He wants?? Are we truly about the Father’s business? Are we jointly fit together? Is the Body of Christ, united and alert or divided and distracted? Are we too bent up on who’s Democrat and who’s a Republican?   

God is much bigger than politics. 

It’s time we function from what we agree on & not what we don’t.

Bottom line: JESUS

What really matters? Whatever matters to Him..

Where do we take Him? To this world.

Son of light. Daughter of the Day.  Know Whose you are. You live under wide open skies. You have access to the Father. Come up Higher. Hear His heart for mankind.

And use YOUR voice. Now is the time.

Romans 10:15b | “… How beautiful are the feet of those who carry the good news!”

Throughout the next weeks I’ll offer more specific and practical thoughts on how we can live out loud in times like these. Really.  

More convictions to come...

Praying for us…

Shea

Putting On My Warrior Boots: The Day I Decided Fear Couldn't Make My Decision & The Lisa Whittle Retreat!!!

Lisa Whittle. Lover of Jesus. Author. Teacher. Funny. Warm & Down to Earth. I didn't have the pleasure of meeting her until last weekend..

I'd been following Lisa's ministry for some time now... She posts. I open my email. That has been the pattern. Her way with words and biggest message, "God First." won me from first read. I've only known her to be authentic, and fiery, and uncompromising in her love for the gospel, so when she said she was hosting a retreat for just about 30 women to share her heart, upcoming book, and tips for aspiring authors, I knew I had to be there.

Problem?  Precipitation. The bad kind. Almost didn't make it!

Snow in NJ. State of emergency in NC. I LOVE flying, but I didn't sleep too well the night before heading out. The news exploited photos of car pile-ups in the typically "sunny south" as I heard deep down inside, "If you go, I'll keep you.." 

Your Friend, "HOPE."

HOPE:

 "A person or thing in which expectations are centered."

"The feeling that what is desired can be had."

It's the most wonderful time of the year... it is :) 
But in the midst of good tidings and Christmas cheer, it's no secret that the holidays often highlight  we've lost and now lack, or perhaps what we want and do not yet have.  And while we know the reason for the season, feelings of disappointment and loneliness still manage to seep their way in. The year wraps up and we're eager to cross over. We rejoice, but we can also be tempted to mull over missed opportunities, unfulfilled longings, and incomplete endeavors. 

You may be hopeful. You may be hopeless. 

And it could actually depend on the day (YIKES! and #nojudgment)..

But, if your hope needs to be steadied and is under attack - and if you've given up parts of your life to whatever may come, I'm writing to fight with you.

You'll need your hope in its purest form and most proper place to keep at life in every season. 
This is a virtue you cannot forfeit..

You'll need your friend. You'll need your HOPE.
HOPE IS NOT YOUR ENEMY.
(It gets better, keep reading!)

On Friends, Loyalty, Loss and Your Best One Ever..

I'm not perfect, one, because I hate driving and will likely wiggle out of volunteering for my rightful turn on any given road trip..., and two, there's more, I'm sure : ) but when you ask my friends what they prize most about me - it's usually something along the lines of how I am trustworthy and cray - stopping at nothing to make them laugh. I do prize loyalty and I am one to keep secrets..  so naturally, I assume everyone has the same morality system. A heart share is obviously confidential.. I thought. 



Have you ever been too trusting at times? 

2014

Hmm... 2014:)

I'm going to be honest. I had  mixed feelings on New Year's Eve.  I LOVE even numbers and the year was one of my favorites. Not that I hadn't had my brush with bad news, blood, sweat, or tears... it's just that I had a hard time letting it go | It's hard to let go of a year that you always felt would come.. But you have to settle on knowing there's more...
You live and you learn that it doesn't stop here. It doesn't stop wherever you are..

I may not have passed every test, but for the ones that I have, and for the moments that have stretched me,  it's been worth the journey.

And the journey is what we live for. The journey makes the destination worth our arrival.

Feature Blogger #1: "Your Failures Are Not Final" by Shana Schutte

This one's good : ) .. Reminds me of why I wrote "Try."

Give yourself permission to obey God! And do your best...He'll do the rest.

Ray Rice and Other Thoughts on the Golden Rule: A Response

I have to be honest -- I was a little bothered after reading responses to the Ray Rice scandal on Facebook.

As soon as Janay indicated she would stand by Rice in the light of what really happened on that elevator (which, in my opinion, was obvious without the new video leak).. FB blew up again - NOT withholding unfiltered ridicule and name-calling. I don't know what the commentary was to accomplish, but it seemed as though the general public was unconcerned, and maybe even hoping that the Rices would stumble across their taunts.

I must preface this writing by admitting that perhaps because I've seen this guy a few times on campus, held a conversation or 2, went to football games and threw rice on the field.. he's not just a face on the TV screen. I preface this by saying, I DO NOT, in any way agree with or intend to minimize what he did, BUT, I do consider him human, and so is Janay. I do consider them to have hearts, and wills, and emotions. I can't imagine what it would be like to be in the public eye at your darkest moment, but it was a lot for me -- to wake up to a newsfeed full of  popular consensus to throw them away.

I resolved to pray for them, but meanwhile on FB...

Because You Have To...

The wholeee summer flew by.
I literally don't know where it went.

One minute I'm sleeping over a friend's house, then maybe I was singing somewhere, then there was church, a few family get togethers, cookouts,  a wedding, and what happens...?

I'm driving to work one day and it occurs to me --
"I haven't stepped foot near one, large, body of water.."

(...and my tub, doesn't count)

"Life Was So Different This Time Last Year"

Because it was different, and it still can be, twice over,  this time, next year..

Because I  saw this quote on Instagram years ago and quickly assumed it would only apply to me if I experienced some major life change like getting married or having my first child.

...Because I was wrong.
 And life can be so different 365 days from now all because you took a step... you said yes - you went out on a limb..

"Dear Church Baby..." Part 4

My pastor has been teaching recently on the Word of God as a seed, ready to produce -  that God is a purposeful Sower.. sowing Himself into His children and His word into our hearts. We learned that our hearts are like soil, only capable of  producing if tilled well and ready for receiving. 

Are our hearts fertile? Are they good ground?  
Are we open for growth? Are we surrendered to the planting? 

"Dear Church Baby..." Part 3

Dear Church Baby, 

Where are you going?

It was because I knew I needed to stay, in life's hardest trials, that I did.
...Not in my own strength - just relying on His.

For Every Time..

... for every time You didn't give me what I asked for..
... for every prayer you "didn't answer.."
... for every replacement, every removal -
... for every clear path, out of the rubble...


... for every time You called me closer when loved ones pushed me away.
... Your hand, Your leading...Your peace and unmatched comfort...
... for every time I didn't hear You, and You spoke a bit louder..
... for every time I didn't fit in, and it was because I wasn't meant to...

... for every time I had to walk away; You put the want-to in my feet.
... for every time I needed to stay and Your strength kept me rooted - more than planted, I was grounded.

... For being an "every time" God  - never leaving me without..

I'd just like to say THANK YOU, every time, I have a chance...

And this is what happens when you try to write a psalm..

#Gratitude

#SheaWrites

"Constrained by Perfection"

I'm thinking Jesus told me flat out.. about two and a half years ago..

"Perfectionism is stunting your growth."

Voice of the Child of Divorce ((Feature Video))

My parents separated when I was 8.
They divorced when I was 13.

When I came across this video,  it was all too real to me..
It reminded me of the heartache I endured.. his words mirrored mine.

"Dear Church Baby..." Part 1

I'm a church baby.

"I was born on a pew..." I've crawled under pews, and taken naps on the pew. I've played in the pews, passed notes in the pews, and ran through them with my toddler friends. I've heard more sermons than I can count, and I've been at church on more weeknights than the standard American citizen. I was in the children's choir and I've directed it...I was on the Junior Ushers Board, until I quit ...I was in the young adult choir until I aged out... and because music and ministry have a lot to do with what I believe I should be doing with the rest of my life - I'm still in the choir :) I sing with my sisters..

Try.

Playing small doesn't serve the world....

All your fun isn't worth a fail.

(#1) I've Learned "...that sometimes you can only love someone in the love language they understand."

It's practical, I guess.

When two people intend to share their love for one another, you would think that the message is successfully sent without any undue interference, confusion, refusal to accept, and etc. for all other possible hindrances.

You could assume one's determined demonstration would yield happy receiving..

But not always...not so much..