Faith like a child

Let me set this up for you...we live in tornado alley. Last night we had crazy storms with tornadoes, baseball size hail, and winds up to 80 mph. It was nuts....living in Oklahoma my entire life you get pretty used to the drill...sirens going off, power goes out, you take cover, and you wait. The only difference last night was my husband, my rock, my security, the one that keeps me calm wasn't there. He was 4 1/2 hours away at my parents house working harvest. I was extremely calm on the outside and completely freaking out on the inside. I was like a duck paddling like crazy underneath, but calm on top of the water. My three kids (7,5,3) and I were in our closet, with our helmets on, with our flashlights and waiting. Waiting for the storm to hit. Waiting to see what aftermath the storm would live behind. Waiting to see if I could keep it together for the family. Then the storm hit..the hail was so loud that my sweet baby boy Case began to cry and tremble while clinging to me for dear life. As I tried to console him, wishing Chris was here to console me, I hear the sweetest voice say the sweetest thing,"Case, Jesus says we are not suppose to have fear, but He will take care of us." Then I heard a voice that took charge of the closet, "Case, with God all things are possible."
And at that moment I understood what Jesus meant when he said "Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." Mark 10:15
They got it! My two oldest stepped up...Heck, I was ready to accept Christ again right there in their closet, I was so moved by their faith. They believed what Jesus said over what was going on in the world. They believed Jesus and not in their situation. They believed Jesus in the midst of a great storm. I couldn't help but ask, "Where has my faith like a child been"....honestly, focused on the storm. When something broke, I focused on how we were going to pay for this instead of believing Jesus, "I will meet your needs." When things were stressful at work, I focused on how to fix it instead of looking to the "author and perfector of our faith." I have been so focused on telling God how big my storms were, when I should have been telling my storms how big my God is. BA BAM!!!!!
To grow spiritually, sometimes we don't need to know more, but just do what we already know...."like do not fear, God will take care of me or With God all things are possible" My children's faith strengthened my own! Oh I hope they never lose that "in your face, Satan" or "Whatever world, I love Jesus" or "Storms? Bring it"......kinda faith!
As we sat in that closet, and my children spoke Truth to calm Case (and momma), we turned on Jamie Grace and Toby Mac's song "Hold Me" as loud as we could and sang it as loud as we could. The crazy thing, when we focused on God, we couldn't hear the storm any more. What storm do you need to straight up speak Truth into?

Triple Threat

We all know in the game of basketball, triple threat is the position you want to start before making any move such as dribbling, passing or shooting. It is the position that causes the most damage because you can make any basketball move from that position. Well, there is another triple threat that creeps its way into my life that will cause damage but not in a positive way. You know how people say they tend to take over God's job sometimes?...Well not me...I tend to take of the job of God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit...my triple threat. That's right...there are times in my life that I want to be the entire trinity...Can you relate?

First, God the father....I will pray for something or someone, but if my prayer isn't being answered in the timely manner in which I think it should or in the way I have prayed for....that's Ok I will be God and just take it back. Or there are those times when I believe in the promises that God has for me...but I will just help Him bring them to reality. There is one person that I look to when I decide that I can play God better than God can....Sarah. (Genesis 18-25) God had promised them children, but it just wasn't happening so Sarah decided to take it upon herself and have Abraham sleep with a servant girl and they would raise the baby. Yep that was her plan....she actually thought that was a good idea. The tragedy is: her plan, her playing God...nations are still at war (Muslim-Jews). Every time I feel like I want to help God out...I read Sarah's story and sit back and remember..."Be Still and Know that I Am God"....and you are not.

Then once I get that under control then I feel like I will just take over Jesus' role...the savior. It doesn't matter if it is my family, friends, or people I come across in the ministry...there are times I want to take over and save them from their troubles. I want to save them from themselves. I want to save them from any hurt or pain.  I want to save them from sin. I want to save them from hell. I want to SAVE THEM. Once again, I am reminded....that is not my job! The greatest pieces of advice I have ever received is "You are suppose to be faithful to the call, but you are not responsible for their answer." Your husband my be going through a difficult time right now....as much as you want to save him from it, God may be using this very thing to bring your husband closer to Him. Your children may be struggling in school....as much as you want to save them...God may be using it to clear the path to the plans HE has for them. The only Savior we need is Jesus Christ and Christ alone.

And it wouldn't be a triple threat if I didn't try to act as the Holy Spirit...convicting people for their wrong choices. Right? Don't we all do this? If people aren't living up to our standards (ours are so much higher than others...sarcasm) we feel like it is our job to convict them...that is why we have the billboards that say "Abortion is Murder" and "Gays are going to Hell." or may be it's a little closer to home...."I can't believe you let your kids watch that" or "dress like that." What we think is "ironing sharpening iron" is really looking at the plank in someone else's eye while we have a 2x4 hanging out of ours. The Holy Spirit raised Christ from the dead...I think it does it's job quite well....perfectly in fact.

As I am still growing every day in my walk with Christ...Jesus constantly reminds me that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made" as Sarah Louise Roberts...nothing else and nothing more. If God sent his son Jesus, to save me from death then the Holy Spirit wants to do something in my life....now that is an unstoppable team!

My Easter Lesson

I am notorious for missing my exits...I will be driving along most days and then the words, "Oh crap, I missed my exit" comes out of my mouth which means I end up taking the long way around. Why does this always happen? Because I am doing anything and everything except concentrating on my driving. I am usually trying to impersonate Mariah Carey with my mad singing skills, listening to a pod cast sermon, playing Truth or Dare with my kids (which usually ends with me eating a month old french fry that the kids have found in their seat), or yes...talking on the phone. OK, OK...I realize you all may be thinking stay off the road in Oklahoma when she is driving, but I really am a good driver...except when it comes to finding my exit. Even though it is right in front of me...I miss it. Even though I know it is coming up because I have driven it a thousand times...I miss it.
Can someone really be that incompetent that they miss the obvious? Just Ask....Judas Iscariot.
Here is a guy who is a pretty big part of the Easter story, yet we don't talk about him much because he was also one of the most tragic characters of the story. Here is a man that missed it. He missed his exit. He missed the obvious. He missed what was right in front of him....the relationship he could have had with Jesus, His teacher. Judas walked with Jesus, he talked with Jesus, was witness first hand to many of his miracles but he missed it because he was so focused on what He thought the Messiah should be. He was focused on his needs, wants, and desires. He was with Jesus, but missed Jesus. He missed out on the love that Jesus had for him, the plans Jesus had for him, the friendship Jesus wanted with him.
The saddest part of the story is....
"Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed this mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood."...and throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself." Matthew 27:3-5
You see, he missed the biggest part of Jesus....His forgiveness. There were two people that day who betrayed Jesus...Peter and Judas Iscariot. Both were disciples. Both were with Jesus. Both betrayed Jesus. One came back and asked for forgiveness...the other didn't. One is known as Peter the Apostle...the other Judas the betrayer. He missed his exit...the gift of forgiveness and unconditional love that this man right in front of him had to offer.
My encouragement and challenge this Easter...don't miss it. Don't miss what Jesus has to offer you. Maybe its forgiveness, freedom from the shame you have carried around. Maybe its rest that you so desperately need right now. Maybe it's direction of where to go next. Maybe its love, someone to look at you and say "I love you."
This Easter season as you go to church, surrounded by crosses and lilies, surrounded by Jesus everywhere making dinner to celebrate Jesus, getting dressed up for Jesus... don't miss Jesus. I know I'm not gonna!

Hall of Fame of Faith

I had lunch with a sweet friend this week who is track/cross country coach as well. She barely got into my car when she burst out the awesome news....she was just inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame!!! Believe me there is no one who deserves it more than Coach Clay! She will be only the 2nd female ever to be inducted...Oh I was so proud of her.
There are a lot of hall of fames out there: the Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Nascar Hall of Fame, the College Football hall of Fame and on and on....
Wouldn't that be so awesome to be in one of them? Your name written somewhere that says you were the best of the best at what you were called to do.
I am reading through the book of Hebrews right now and I came across the Hall of Fame of Faith (Hebrews 11).... That's right the Hall of Fame faith. These were the people that God picked out to honor in His hall of fame. Some of the names include...Noah, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, and Samson. These are some big names of the Bible....but believe it or not they were men and women just like you and me. They were ordinary people that served an amazing God. They were ordinary people that had faith in an awesome God. Here is the thing....just because they had great faith didn't mean they were without faults. Yes, Moses had great faith the choose "to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin."(Hebrews 11:24) But it wasn't without fault...he murdered an Egyptian Soldier. Yes, Rahab had great faith to go against her people and hide the spies of God...but she wasn't without fault...Her occupation was a prostitute.
What we learn from our ancestors is that having great faith doesn't mean we are perfect it means we put our full trust in the one who is....God.
My favorite person in the Hall of Fame of Faith is none other than the MVP....Jesus.
"Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking the Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2
Jesus is the "founder and perfecter of our faith." You see he is not asking us to have great faith in something that He himself was not willing to. It took the greatest faith for Jesus to trust God his Father when he said, "Father, if there is any other way please take this cup from me, But not as I will but as you will." He went through the ultimate rejection from man so that you and I would never have to go through rejection from God.....that is our MVP of faith.
You and I can have a great faith in God because of the faith of our God. What do you need to trust God with today?

No other Name

I have always loved Christian music! This isn't easy to say but even as a kid when everyone was so amazed with the New Kids on the Block I was listening to Ray Boltz and Amy Grant. When I was in High School my friends and I didn't go to the Mariah Carey concert but we went to Point of Grace and Bebe and Cece Winans concerts. The same goes for now, my radio is always turned to Klove (or the Sports Animal during football season:)). Well, there is a song that is always on and we even see in church that moves me every time and there is one specific line in the song that has a way of bringing me to tears...


"My heart will sing no other name, but Jesus"


I think it gets me every time because that is where I long to be, but not yet there. You see, my heart sings a lot of name besides Jesus. And the one it sings more than any other is Sarah. It sings Sarah when I am selfish. It sings Sarah when I am self-serving. It sings Sarah when I am prideful. It sings Sarah when I have self-pity. It sings Sarah when I doubt. It sings Sarah when I worry. Can you relate?


I have had some pretty intense Dates with Jesus this week seeking his help, wisdom, comfort etc. and what I found was I was seeking answers not seeking Jesus. I was seeking answers when the answer was Jesus. When we seek Jesus we find comfort. When we seek Jesus we find the help. When we seek Jesus we find wisdom. Psalm 105:4 says, "Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him."
One of the people that knew this better than any other is John the Baptist. He could have lived for himself yet he wore clothes "woven from coarse camel hair." He could have lived for himself yet he ate locusts. He had disciples of his own that even came to him and said "everybody is going to him instead of coming to us" and he replied, "I am not Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.....therefore, I am filled with joy at HIS success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less."
He had a heart that sang no other name but Jesus...not even his own.
My heart will sing no other name, but Jesus

I Hate to Lose!

Can I just say...I hate to lose! It doesn't matter if I am playing candyland with my 2 year old, wii tennis with my 7 year old, or racing my husband on the scooters...I hate to lose. Then you throw in that I am a wife of a football coach and a chaplain for a softball team....there are times I am not sure if my heart can take it...all because I hate to lose. Can you relate? May be yours isn't sports maybe you can't stand not having the best cupcakes at the school, or you have to be the best dressed at every event, or your house has to be the cleanest in the neighborhood or you feel you just have to be the best in everything all day everyday. We all have our areas where we hate to lose and it gets exhausting and hopefully this blog post will encourage your heart and give you the opportunity to breathe.
I was reading twitter posts of people I follow and I read this quote that was made by CS Lewis, "Don't let your happiness depend on something you may lose." Wow! How powerful is that? AND how true is that? We base so much of our happiness on things that we may lose and probably will at some point. Jesus says it this way, "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it." The ONLY true happiness is when we lay down our own desires, plans, dreams, and pick up the relationship with Jesus that will never go away. When we focus our time and efforts on being more Christlike, when we do lose those things we still have love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Because lets face it, we will lose. We will lose games, but we still have the love and joy of Christ. We will lose the cupcake war, but we still have the love and joy of Christ. We will lose our youthful looks, but we still have the love and joy of Christ. We will lose, but we will win with Christ.
Believe me when I say, this is the easiest message for me to type, but the hardest thing to live out. I am not saying I am going to like to lose, but I am truly praying and asking God to help me lose my lifestyle so that I can gain his. I want my joy to come from the giver of life, not the scoreboard at the end of the day:)

The Best of Me

I realize I confess a lot on my blog and today is no different...I guess I hope that in someway God will use my stories to get through yours. I read one little verse that hit me like a ton of bricks.
"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce." Proverbs 3:9.
The part that hit me and made my mind race was..."honor the Lord with the best part of everything. The questions I started asking myself were "who or what gets the best part of me?"..."who gets the best part of my time?" "who gets the best part of my patience?" "who gets the best part of my attention?" I humbly had to admit that it wasn't the Lord. I often give him the leftovers. There are even times in my quiet times with Him that I have also planned the next days activities or this weeks family meal plan. So where does my best go? The ironic thing is my best goes to the ministry I have been given and the family I have been entrusted. For you it might be your work outside the home, or your kids, or your friends, or your tv, or your workout schedule. None of these are bad things, but when given our best time, attention, effort will always keep us from being our best for which God has called us to.
God knows that without giving Him our best then it is impossible to be the best at all he has called us to be...wife, mom, sister, friend, minister etc. It is all a reminder, once again, that I am called to "Be still" and sit at the feet of Jesus so that I can serve as the body of Christ.