True Humility

Devotional —True Humility

When I think about being humble it’s often the result of looking back at something that I have been involved in or the way I reacted to something.

The actual definition of Humility - is a modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness.

Makes me thing of surrender.

To be brought low to the ground. To sacrifice, to yield to the other person for their benefit.

Doesn’t take much to see this in John 13.

Jesus places Himself on the floor, with a basin, to wash the very feet of the men who have done life along side of Him everyday for years.

His community.

His people. Specifically picked.

To teach. To lead.

To love. To spread His word.

For generations. For the eternal.

His disciples.

He chooses the unexpected surrender, the confused positioning, and starts the process of sacrificing His life to save the world and the entirety of creation.

Huge moment.

Huge sacrifice.

Huge reward.

"After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.” John 13:12-17

*There’s nothing that love won’t do. Jesus is the the purest example of love. Surrendered to dirty feet. And then to death on the cross.

At the very least we should be able to surrender to serve and love others daily. Even if it’s an inconvenience or a sacrifice we can have a posture of surrender and humility with a heart for others just like Jesus.

-Jen

Super Bloom in me.

Have you ever heard of a SuperBloom? I only just recently was told about this rare phenomenon that spontaneously happens in the very dry states of California and Arizona. The very basic definition (from the very sophisticated Wikipedia) is a rare desert botanical phenomenon in which an unusually high proportion of wildflowers whose seeds have lain doormat in desert soil germinate and blossom at roughly the same time = A SUPER BLOOM.

What a wild thing it’s unpredictable when it blooms and somehow the seeds bloom on dry ground after a big rainfall. I’ve never seen it in person but the photos are truly spectacular.

This natures phenomenon feels very relevant to scripture and life. In particular makes me think about the scripture in Matthew 9 where Jesus says to the disciples that “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” I wonder if the scattered seeds are prayers prayed by the people of God and when He’s ready for them to bloom on whatever ground they fall they bloom. Because God causes them to.

This speaks to my heart on a lot of levels.

It reminds me that God is at work more than I am aware of in my everyday normal life. And that prayer is powerful, valuable and impactful.

I’ve actually felt the Holy Spirit give me this picture of a super bloom many times in prayer as a reminder He is at work even when it feels like I’m in a desert season.

I do feel God has given me the gift of prophesy. It’s like God has given me blank paper and written messages or drawn pictures to encourage others on it and I just become the vessel of delivery. It’s interesting just handing “the letter" over to the person God’s speaking to. But what I mostly feel is honored to be the delivery person. I don’t take messenger status lightly.

Not only do I feel the Super Bloom image speaks to me, I also feel like the Lord spoke to my spirit and said He is about to do a Super Bloom on the earth. Here’s a picture of what it looks like to see a Super Bloom from Space! Praying for that Holy Rain to come upon the earth to active & awaken people to the presence of God! Amen!

Super Bloom from Space!

Water In the Waiting

I’m sure you’ve heard this phrase “We are all waiting on something” which is true…but what I really think is meant in this phrase is “The world can’t satisfy the eternal longings we have.”

We are all thirsty for satisfaction that can only come from the living well. Just as Jesus explained to the Women at the Well in John 4:10-15

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.[b] The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

The Women experience Jesus as the “Living Water” and she was both convicted and found new freedom by being fully known, forgiven and loved. And through that whole experience she was invigorated to go and share about the Living Water (Jesus) she experienced.

There’s something about being fully known, seen and understood that we all long for. And I can testify that the only one who has always done that for me perfectly is Jesus. There have been so many seasons of my life where I’ve not even known what I’m feeling about something and Jesus comes in and carries me through and clarifies what I need to understand.

This year I have longed for Jesus and His presence more than any other year. And that has initiated a pattern of daily connection at the beginning of each day and throughout frequent check ins. I’ve been able to slow down my life this year and tune into Christ more and that has been the gift of this year for me.

I’ll never get enough of Jesus and I’ll always want more of the Holy Spirit. This is the Living Water I have experience this year and I can say what I’ve tasted and seen is Goodness that All would be satisfied in.

Psalm 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”

I pray that the Lord has shown His goodness to you in 2024 and that He continues to draw you nearer to His Living Water in 2025.

Blessings to you all!

Here’s a few of the resources I’ve used this year that might be helpful to you all.

>https://www.24-7prayer.com/resource/lectio-365/ This App I used for Morning & Evening prayer it’s awesome!

>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgmAkM39Zt4&t=68s The Bible Project videos have helped clarify some of my questions -> here’s a link for one I watched today around the Living Water Topic.

Devotional —Living Forward

Recently I was waiting to board my plane flight home and I watched the plane at the gate next to mine start the departure process.

First loading people, next loading checked bags, and then the little motorized cart pushing the plane backwards with several workers directing them safely backwards with those red lights (that looks like "light sabers").

And I realized that planes only move forward...they actually don’t have reverse on the throttle. So I did a little research and apparently they don’t have a transmission. All the power comes from the jet engines which push air backwards to move forward.

Interesting Huh?

So technically that means they are created to go forwards never backwards. They might turn around but perspectively are always looking and moving forward.

“That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” John 20:19-21

I think what Jesus was doing in John 20; by appearing to the disciples, was reminding and reassuring them that they were a “sent people”. A group of people with great purpose and need to move forward in the spread of the gospel they had received. To bring great hope to the generations to come.

Jesus knew in the moment of resurrection, that today you and I would not have His physical presence in our lives. And that our humanity would struggle with having faith in the unseen.

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” John 20:29

Be encouraged that today Jesus is with you and has purposed your life to always be moving forward with Him in full view.

Scripture to Memorize and Encourage:

Hebrews 13:5 “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,”

-Jen

“Seeing God bigger indeed requires our knowing Jesus better…

“Seeing God bigger indeed requires our knowing Jesus better. This must go far beyond mere head knowledge to become a passionate heart yearning. We must pursue this study of Jesus by being with Him, long and often, not just by reading or hearing about Him.” - Dick Eastman

This quote is significant to me because there is a way to know God through our minds (in study) by growing in knowledge of scripture but to experience God in His fullness is also knowing God through the Holy Spirit (in heart) and experiencing relationship.

I’ve heard it said there’s an 18 inches distance from your head to your heart and there’s even a ministry in North Carolina that runs a discipleship school with that very mindset. That the space between head and heart can be more connected and operate in a healthier way when we do the work of ordering our emotions and processing things with the Lord.

I have been doing this good work for months now and realizing that God can and wants to partner with our human experience even as we have a heavenly perspective. Keeping my eyes focused on God combined with operating well in the world is a dance, but with the Holy Spirit’s lead I’ve learned how to follow.

The Holy Spirit is living and active. It’s amazing that we can sense His presence in the room, receive prophetic words/pictures, speak in tongues and experience miracles only God could orchestrate here on earth. I am blessed to be in a community of people seeking after these spiritual gifts—true heaven on earth moments.

In Acts 2 we see the Holy Spirit fall in the upper room at Pentecost.

“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

What a wild moment…I constantly try to imagine what that would have been like. I know I can’t get anywhere close to what actually happened but one important thing that stands out to me is the unity that comes with the presence of God falling.

As a worship leader when I lead in any environment, I’m after—God’s presence. I believe joining together like hearts & like minds to seek God, in pursuit of Encountering Him is where revival begins. And in those moments stepping back and letting the Lord orchestrate the moments is where the power erupts.

Devotional—EnRout

If you’ve ever traveled you’ve probably looked at a map of some form. Google maps, a map on an app, or maybe the old school paper maps.

Remember those? The huge paper maps that fold up into a perfect square and accordion out into the entirety of the state you are in? The ones you sat down as a kid with your parents and had to highlight the way and circle the destination before ever getting in the car? And whomever got the blessings of being in the front seat got to be the “navigator” for the trip helping the driver get to the right destination?

I often was the navigator, not necessarily because I wanted to be, but because I was one of the older kids in the family. But also because I was good at looking ahead for the next turn or stop.

That’s how I see the book of Proverbs.

It’s a book that gives warnings and instructions, from those who’ve come before us, to help steer our lives onward.

Whatever the route taken can bring us to the same destination in knowing Jesus.

It’s the process that refines us, the journey that defines us and the wisdom that reminds us of the people God’s created us to be.

As it says in Proverbs 1:7

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

As we live in a world craving satisfaction and direction, let’s point people to the one who ultimately satisfies us Jesus Christ and His wisdom for our lives.

-Jen (from the vault write in 2016)

Decisions, Discernment, Direction...

Making decision in life can come with a lot of stress and fear especially when making decisions about the future.

Changing jobs, getting married, buying a house, moving locations…etc all these (and many more) can cause a lot of emotions to arise in us.

Every day we are making micro and macro decisions in our lives but we have a choice in all of the decision making. We can freeze in fear and get overwhelmed or we can partner with God and ask for His wisdom to discern the road ahead. Hearing from God is a learning process with lots of waiting, discerning, checking scripture and choosing to trust—but it’s worth it.

God is a loving Father who knows the emotions we feel and wants us to come to Him about all things in life. I recently heard a speaker say her favorite name for God was “Father” because when she started prayer addressing Him as Father it gave her the identity as His child. Addressing God as as her Father labeled her as His child. It sealed her identity in Christ as she began in prayer. Maybe that’s why in Matthew 6 Jesus taught the disciples to pray “Our Father in heaven…” (Matt 6:9-13).

As Christians we are to walk with the Holy Spirit and to rely on Him to lead us through our moments, days, years, and ultimately our whole lives. And that means we HAVE to get to know His voice and be obedient to His Spirit. The hardest part in all of this is our own selfish human will and the idolatry that lives inside us. And we all need to reorder our lives daily to put Jesus back at the center and focus back on Him as our ONE pursuit. His name alone Enthroned.

We are all being refined by this process and will differ in our struggle but be encourage by these words from the book of James below:

“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:4-8, 12

Reflections/practices:

Take some time to write down the things that distract you from God’s presence or tempt you from being with Him. Then offer them to the Lord and be honest about how hard it is to focus on Him.

Then take some time to come up with creative ways to intentionally connect with Him throughout the day. Ways to bring your focus back to Him.

A People

We all crave a people, a place to connect with other likeminded humans…to make a difference in something —to contribute to something that’s meaningful and purposed. I think deep down theres a constant push/pull of the human emotions, actions and desires.

But when people say “Where are my people” I get it.

There’s something about gathering the like minded both in heart and mission that transforms the atmosphere and the inner world. I’ve felt over the years the best way to get to know people is to create moments for connection. Sure it can be uncomfortable at times but overall that’s where I’ve made my best of friends.

Friendship isn't easy. To be included or include others, you have to take a risk and be vulnerable.

“People can make space for you but you have to accept the invitation and show up with your heart ready to embrace the moment and the people. If you can't do that, there's a chance that people may never be good enough for you and you'll move from group to group your whole life, never really being or having true friends. Embrace the hard. Do the work to let your walls down in a safe environment with good people Be yourself. Let yourself be loved. Friendship isn't easy but with effort and commitment you'll find that it's worth it!” -Shelly Giglio

I was listening to a podcast the other day that said in this current day and age we are the most lonely generation but at the same time the internet has given us the opportunity to connect with humans more easily. Which I find so interesting…but what that says to me is we aren’t doing the connecting with each other very well. There’s a whole host of reasons why (that I’m sure you and I could list and identify)…but what I’d rather do is encourage us (including myself) to take the risk for relationship. Send the text, make the phone call, write the letter, make the plan for people to come over and have a meal, or go on an afternoon adventure with a few people. It’s worth the effort to find your people. I really believe growth happens in interactions with humans and you’ll be surprised how much you will learn about yourself in the process.

Here’s a few questions to ask yourself in this process:

“Do I believe I need people to thrive?”

“Do I feel worthy of relationships?” “Do I feel valuable?”

“Why don’t I initiate with people…Am I afraid of rejection? Why?”

“Do I feel at home with myself in a group of friends?” “Why yes or why not?”

I hope you can take a temperature of where you are with friendships, community and building a life with people. I have experienced the best of life in community. Even thought I am an introvert that’s no excuse to the need for people, community and people knowing me on a vulnerable level.

I pray you find the courage and experience the beauty as you grow in community with others. You’ll be surprised how God uses moments like these and likely people will thank you later for taking the initial risk.

Tiny Faith : Mustard Seed Faith

My friend gave me some mustard seeds from Israel and when she gave them to me she said “they were so small I gave you a couple, because just one felt like nothing.” When she said that it really struck me first because of how tiny they were and then reminded me of the scripture in Matthew 17:14-21 where Jesus called out the disciples; “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” The disciples couldn’t drive out the demon spirit in the boy who needed healing and they were confused. Jesus had been teaching them and explaining the access they had to God and how His power would work through them…but they had to have faith as small as a mustard seed.

Seeing the actual size of mustard seeds has reminded me of my human struggle just like the disciples to have faith in God. It doesn’t come natural…but what lifts my faith, is reading scripture is to see God’s character displayed in the history of other humans lives. It also lifts my faith to see God at work RIGHT NOW through the recently Asbury Outpouring! I serve a very ALIVE God and to see Him at work in people’s lives as well as my own sends gratitude to my soul. Everyday miracles —currently for me financial provision.

Hebrews 11:1  “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

God is all powerful yet a compassionate friend. He guides my feet, listens to my cries and tends to my heart. He knows my needs before I even do and teaches my heart to sing freely. There’s nothing life knowing I’m a child of the most High King and He has everything under Him command and control. I lean into trusting Him and let Him take care of the details. My tiny mustard seed faith counts as something in the Kingdom and valuable to Him.

Confessions of a Worship Leader

I few years ago I was asked to speak at a local school of worship. The thought of speaking made me want to throw up (literally) but I accepted the opportunity and personal challenge.

Here are a few things I shared and continue to process as I lead worship.

-> “You can’t lead people somewhere you’ve never been” <-

You’ve got to keep growing in your relationship with Jesus on a personal level to be able to lead people in worship on a corporate level.

As christians we choose the narrow road and there will be seasons of great blessing and also some seasons of great pain. Yet we need to worship through those seasons and let God shape us into the vessels we are meant to become (2 Tim 2:21). And then be transparent about it. You will earn quick trust in life if people can see your honesty and trust your leadership.

So I encourage you let Jesus love you. Let him lead you. Some of my favorite times of worship are alone in my car, in my room or in the quiet of my day. Where I get to worship without expectations with just Jesus as my audience.

-> "We can’t live on other people’s daily bread."

Yes there are times when you need your community to come around you and help hold up your arms in worship (Exodus 17:10-16) but to know God for yourself is so important. Not only as a worship leader but as a child of God, to know the voice of your Father in the chaos of this world is the vital.

People are looking for the light and we need to bear the colors of His character and point people to Jesus (Matt 5:13-16)

-> “Be in the moment, not the mistake.” -Larry Byington

The quote above came from one of the amazing drummers that plays at our church, and when he said it I felt like I just got slapped in the face. I was like "ok, wow...that's my constant issue...as a perfectionist." 

If I'm honestly that's my constant challenge....”to be in the moment and not the mistake” when leading worship. I want every time I lead to get off stage and feel like I brought my best, did an excellent job personally, the Holy Spirit came and that our team was unified throughout the entire service. On the regular I get stuck on the edits and things I should have/could have/or things I did wrong during the service. But if I believe Jesus is who He says He is and God can use anything for His glory—then I better repeat the quote it to myself over and over 'til I get it and find ways to grow from it.

The beauty in all of this has been asking other worship leaders and friends who lead worship and realizing that they all struggle with some of these things as well. We are all human. Excellence in the skills of what we do is really valuable to a lot of people and is a gift to many…but how you steward leading worship has a kingdom and corporate impact and shouldn’t be held lightly. We aren’t just singing a jingle to start the church service and end it. We are leading people to the courts of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords similar to the way the Levites in the Old Testament (Numbers 1) managed the tabernacle for Israel to worship God in the desert.

Worship in the church today is a valuable part of the service but when it’s a concert/solo performance of someone’s skills instead of leading a community of people into the presence of the King through song I think we’ve really got it backwards and ned to check the heart of the leader.

…to be continued

"Keep God before our minds"

“The first and most basic thing we can and must do is to keep God before our minds. ...This is the fundamental secret of caring for our souls. Our part in thus practicing the presence of God is to direct and redirect our minds constantly to Him. In the early time of our practicing, we may well be challenged by our burdensome habits of dwelling on things less than God [that is, will be constantly distracted by a million other things]. But these are habits not the law of gravity— and can be broken. A new, grace-filled habit will replace the former ones as we take intentional steps toward keeping God before us. Soon our minds will return to God as the needle of a compass constantly returns to the north... If God is the great longing of our souls, He will become the polestar of our inward beings.” -Dallas Willard 

This quote really stopped me in my tracks and has challenged me the last few months. To consider how much my mind is distracted my things of the world and not focused on the things of God. I’m so aware that my humanity craves the things of the world but my spirit hungers after the things of God.

Makes me think of the scripture in John 17:14 where Jesus says “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” The reality that as Christians we aren’t meant to “fit in” with humanity in the worlds idolatry of man.

Eugene Peterson said “Life’s basic decision is rarely, if ever, whether to believe in God or not, but whether to worship or compete with him.”

God’s is consistently drawing us to Himself but there is also a responsibility for us to respond to Him. I think this why our testimonies is so powerful. To testify to the workings of God in our lives is to put a megaphone to the goodness of God in our lives.

Some things to process and ask yourself,

Where can I create more space to connect with God in my day?

What are things I need to let go of so God can have more of my head space and heart space?

Are the people and places I’m going influencing towards Christ or away from Christ?

-jdw

Create in me a Pure Heart

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51: 10-12

This Psalm has been on my heart and on my lips the past month. Realizing that most of the deep work happens in choosing to start my day with the Lord in honest form. Knowing that my heart houses the authentic me and needs to help navigate the disciplines of my head.

I’m so grateful to know and serve God. I recently shared my testimony and recalled all the ways that God has orchestrated the path before me. Even at a young age I became aware of the Holy Spirits presence in my life and have been trusting His guidance with every step, dream and desire.

If I want to walk in God’s ways honoring God I can call back all the way to Deuteronomy 30: 15-18

15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.”

There have been seasons and days that are hard to continue to walk in God’s ways because they aren’t automatic desires or pursuits of my human heart. I believe it’s in my normal everyday rhythms of time with the Lord, in the early hours of the morning that help devote my mind and soul to the Lord. It’s a discipline that has turned into delight after years of this practice.

Do you have a daily rhythm with the Lord? Are you creating space for relationship with Him?

God desires YOU, all of you -exactly how you are.

I hope this encourages you today.

https://www.practicingtheway.org/resources

Book suggestion : “Be with Jesus, Become like Jesus, Do what Jesus did" John Mark Comer

2024 : "Seek First"

“But Seek First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

Hopefully the goal of every year for me is to seek Jesus first, listen and let Him lead me into all of His righteousness.

I pray that as you make goals and new years resolutions that Jesus stays in first place and everything else follows after.

HNY -Jdw

**This is a photo from the outside looking into the Asbury Chapel in Wilmore, Kentucky. Dreaming of what God is doing and wanting to be apart of this sweeping revival in our nation. Come Lord Jesus, Come!

Advent : "Is where promises and pain intersect"

I just realized the reason I love the season of advent so much-because it affirms my soul and recognizes the season I’ve been in for so long. It both recognizes where I am but also surfaces the pain of heart desires I have— as I wait on God’s timing and plan.

Reminds me of the deepest wounds I have and the deepest longings I still have. 

It’s where promises and pain intersect reminding me of life I’ve lived and life I haven’t lived.

Waiting has been the most regular rhythm of my life. And at Advent I think theres a way the waiting unifies humanity as was remember and wait on Christmas day to celebrate Jesus’s coming on earth as a child.

Waiting has exposed my great love for God and deepening trust in Him. Because He sees the whole picture of my life and I see only these small moments.

The 2 people in scripture that come to mind first for me are Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1) & Elisabeth (Luke 1:26). The beautiful of both of these women is they were faithful and they continued to seek and trust God even in the unknowns. Both of them having radical experience's of God showing up and providing children to come from their womb. Hannah’s prayer will always impress me because she starts in with praise and adoration to the Lord in 1 Samuel 2:1 “My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord.”

I want that kind of quick praise and adoration to the Lord to quickly come from my lips in every season but especially in the waiting seasons.

I pray that this season of Advent has given you the opportunity to realize what you’ve been waiting on and trust God with it all.

Hearing God : Reflections on 2 Samuel

Welcome to what it looks like for me to study inductively in the book of Samuels. All the little symbols and colors are intentional —this is my color coding…and I LOVE IT. Color coding helps me zoom in on certain details in the text and study more fully what’s happening.

It has changed me from a highlighting junky into an intentional slowed down student of the bible marking important details to study and drawing my eye to the message that’s embedded in the page. I’d say when I highlighted things I still did get something out of it…just more of a phrase or verse to memorize rather than a deeper understanding of what is happening in the text.

As I’ve been studying in Samuels this summer this portion really stuck out to me. Reading how Samuel was hearing God but not understanding what was happening or what to do— I can totally relate to. Over the years I’ve definitely been learning how to hear the voice of the Lord in prayer, morning solitude & silence and constantly throughout the day. I almost feel more like I’m filtering out sounds as I try to tune into the Holy Spirit.

There’s so much noise & distractions in this world, it’s honestly exhausting to filter. But in the exercise of filtering and disciplining myself to daily connect—I’ve found such beautiful access that is worth all the effort.

I’d call it a faithful discipleship that has turned into a deep devotion.

Being with Jesus is learning to meet with Him daily and walk in His ways as he speaks to me and directs my path. That’s discipleship. Just like back in college my instructors would say “What you put into this experience will effect what you’ll get out of it”; and I fully believe that.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:16-18

I love that Paul says “LET the WORD of Christ DWELL in you…” He’s right, we have to Let the Scriptures Dwell in us…but in order to do that we have to focus dedicate time to Him and then let Him do the work in us to shape, grow and change. It’s really powerful and in my opinion a Living Water I can’t live without.

“Religion is not mild - it is fire (gives light) and fire warm but it also burns…and we are guardians of the flame.” Rabbi Sacks

You have made me GLAD!

"The antidote for exhaustion is not necessarily rest, its whole heartedness." - David Whyte

There is not one season I have been in that I haven’t been able to find myself grateful for something God is up to. Gratitude has always lead my heart to a place of wholeness and true joy. To be wholehearted that’s been on my mind lately, considering what that means and what that would look like and feel like.

I’m definitely in the process of learning my human capacity and that I have has limitations. As someone who loves to serve people I know in order to say my best Yes to something I have to say No to other things.

“To say yes to Jesus's invitation is to say no to a thousand other things.” John Mark Comer

Saying Yes to Jesus has been the joy of my life! But when it comes to deciphering the ministry volume I can handle and the specific things that make me thrive that takes a lot more discernment.

Truth is I often pray for balance of things in my life…but recently I’ve been praying the Holy Spirit would direct me to the right things and sustain me daily in all the things. Recently realizing I am very much not in control of the majority of happenings in life, but I know the one who is. God truly cares more about me than I’ll ever fully know.

"I'm Not Where I Want To Be, But I'm Not Where I Was."

I remember in high school talking to my mentor after one of our weekly group meetings and she would always say “Well, I’m not where I want to be, but I’m not where I was—and I thank God for that.” At the age of 17 I couldn’t fully comprehend what she meant…but I do now.

And actually I might even add “I’m not where I want to be, but I’m not where I was…and I actually like right where I am”.

I’ve had a couple years of significant seasons where I learned I needed to stop and build altars of remembrance to the Lord (Exodus 24) as He was the one carrying me through it all. And though I wouldn’t want to trek the milage again I’ve found myself saying at the end of these days “I really like where I am.”

God has anchored, lead and rebuilt me the last year and I’m so very grateful.

This Summer my goal has been to study through the books of 1 & 2 Samuel. And as I’m coming to the end of 1st Samuel I’m just completely impressed by the way David waits on the Lord for promotion, for guidance, and for direction. The three repeated phrases that stood out to me were:

1. “David inquired of the Lord” (1 Sam 23:2; 23:4; 1 Sam 30:8; 2 Sam 2:1; 2 Sam 5:19; 2 Sam 5:23)

2. “The Lord was with him” (1 Sam 1:24; 1 Sam 3:19; 1 Sam 18:12; 1 Sam 18:14; 1 Sam 18:28; 2 Sam 5:10)

3. “The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon Him.” (1 Sam 10:6; 1 Sam 16:13)

It’s clear to me that David knew the Lord intimately, intentionally and passionately. God was so close and present in David’s life and it’s clear that He couldn’t live without Him. David’s reliance on God is truly remarkable and admirable to me.

I think I’ve always seen the way David’s character was turned toward the Lord in intentional pursuit but as I’m reading through the book of Samuels I’m seeing God’s presence upon Him and moving towards Him—so significantly and intentionally.

I believe today God is with us the way He was with David in 1st & 2nd Samuel.

“And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.” 2 Samuel 5:10

Partnered with our obedience to pursue, listen and respond to Him I have seen first hand the way He provides, surprises and leads through every season. I am forever marked and grateful.

"Daily, Get alone with the Lord."

I’ve been think about this sacred space.

This space where I start the day with the Lord.

Where I sit and absorb His presences, listen and be with Him.

Tune my ear to hear and train my heart to know,

It’s in the quiet where I zero in on Him.

Where I invite Him into my day.

It’s also where I ask Him the questions I’m wresting with.

After about 1 year of the early before the sunrise call time to meet with the Lord it’s become a lifeline, a time of great necessity and value for me. It’s also become something I look forward to and even anticipate. A place of settling into connecting with my Creator —no pressure, nothing fancy just one on one being with Him. To be honest I don’t always come away with some really significant thing He said to me, or something in scripture that popped out. I just commit to the “being” part abiding in Him and leave the rest up to God to lean in and communicate. It’s this tuning our ear into the Kingdom that with practice and good rhythms of remaining in Him. (John 15)

Reminds me of this quote from a Pastor I follow in New York City;

“You prioritize what you love, You build your life around what you love

And if you love Jesus—you’ll build your life around spending time with Him.” Jon Tyson

Just to simply start creating intentional space to connect with Him will serve you the rest of your life. I’d encourage you if you don’t have a rhythm try to find and intentional quiet space to meet with Him.

This song “Be with me” by Bryan & Katie Torwalt really encourages this as well.

Mature Obedience: Bearing Good Fruit

I’ve been simmering in the book of John for the last few weeks and just captivated by the truths of abiding in the vine (John 15). Because I am such a visual learner the analogy of me being the branches and God being the vine/vine dresser just clicks in my head.

I’m realizing me simply being the vessel for God to use is less about making a good harvest and more about me being a good healthy branch, to sustain the flow of the “wine” God wants to produce through me and also in me.

This connects to all sorts of realities that I actually wrote about previous…here; recognizing it’s way less about the things I do and way more about the way I am living surrendering to God.

But I want to hone in on and recognize the need to be a healthy branch to be used. The best fruit comes from mature obedience in abiding in the work of the vine.

I’ve been reading “A long obedience in the same direction” by Eugene Peterson (highly recommend it to all) he says “A Christian who has David in his bones, Jeremiah in his bloodstream, Paul in his fingertips and Christ in his heart will know how much and how little value to put on his own momentary feelings and the experience of the past week. Obedience is not a stodgy plodding in the ruts of religion, it is a hopeful race toward God’s promises.”

I really admire Eugene after reading his book “A burning in my bones” by Winn Collier; Winn basically interviews Eugene about his life and it spill out of his faithfulness to the same church community and serving people even when he had differing desires and tough realities. His life really examples a faithful pursuit of serving God in the secret place and the ordinary. Nothing about his life as a Pastor was glamorous and even noteworthy —just faithful, consistent and obedient.

The older I get the more I realize I just want to have a faithful life marked with trusting God, serving His people and being obedient to His voice. I don’t need or even really want to be known for anything just quiet faithfulness through every season to the King of Heaven. Taking every moment captive and listening intentionally to the Holy Spirit lead. I think that would be a life well lived —abiding in the vine.

“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.” Psalm 84:5-7

May we Never Loose our WONDER --

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3-4

Eyes like a child, that’s what I’ve been praying for. Spiritual eyes of wonder —like a child.

There are too many days I look for my “to do list” more than looking to “tune into Holy Spirit”. I’ve been pondering what it would look like to be more present to God in my day. Just like a child in need of constant parental guidance, affirmation and access—I need God like that.

I often do better with the eyes like wonder than ears attentive to whisper of the Spirit. Because listening requires patients and significant focus —and honestly I don’t have good disciplines to tune into Him during the day. I sandwich morning & evening time—but what does it look like to seek God in the day.

“Until hearing God becomes vital to you and me, we are not likely to learn to hear either quickly or correctly.” -Peter Lord

I want to see God rightly and seek Him. purely, consistently and faithfully. As we see in Matt 18; Jesus says to become children that’s the way to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And what I believe He means is the childlike nature simply seeks to find and follow Jesus. Sure with questions but with confidence & trust in His leadership.

Maybe it’s the questions that keep up dependent on returning to Him. I bet that’s right where He wants us to be.

Seeing & seeking Him in the everyday.

If we place our identity in Him—walking in His ways will be the reflex to breathing.

We all need a guide in life. God is the best guide and Holy Spirit is the best partner.

Selah.