Humble yourself. Exalt the Lord.

If you have been following my previous two blogs you will see that I have had a rough weekend. God is really bringing some issues to the surface of my heart, in order to heal me of some things as well as preparing me for the future endeavors He will call me to do. This process is never fun. Do you remember learning to ride a bike for the first time? Or multiplication tables? Do you remember your first big test you ever took in school? There are people that invested their life into yours, teaching and preparing you to do certain things, so that they could send you off to do those things on your own. Now, we all know that God will never leave us, but He is our Teacher...Father....Counselor. He is teaching us and preparing us now so that there will be a strong foundation on which to build on for other things He has planned for our lives. I am living in one of those seasons right now.

The issue can be interpreted so many ways too. Sure, I may never be a worship leader or a recording artist, or what have you. And maybe this current issue of learning proper vocal technique will not directly apply to what God has in store for me. But there is always more layers to what is going on then what appears to be going on. Behind this vocal strengthening and training layer is a layer of self-confidence. Behind that layer is identity and self-worth. Behind that is freedom to walk in those truths. Behind even that is the desire to know God's truths. And it really could go on and on. It's like when you finally learn those multiplication tables, and if you're anything like me you say "I will never have to use this in my life!"--and sure, it's not often that I do. But it is helpful in your life to have that groundwork laid! Had I never learned math I wouldn't know how to budget money, I wouldn't know how to travel to new cities, I wouldn't know how to equally cut a pizza so that everybody gets a slice-I mean, these are VERY important things to know.

So God is working on me, multi-levally. (I totally think I just made that word up! heehee). And he is using some amazing warriors of the kingdom to do so. Today I met with my worship minister at church, to gain some insight on this issue of worship vs performance, and asking the question when is the technical stuff supposed to fade away and the joy and freedom come back into play? (I actually had a whole ton more of questions and ideas and such for him but this was the basis of where the other stuff came from.)

It was so helpful talking to him because as a worship minister he is called to lead people to the throne room of the Lord every time we are in His presence as a body of believers. As a child of God I am sure that there are times he wants to just relax and to bask in the glory of the Lord himself. And as a fellow performer in the arts, he has to battle that genuine vs non-genuine question that pops up from time to time. So during my chat with the Lord yesterday, He was very clear I needed some advice from someone who has walked this similar road before.

My worship leader gave me a great analogy about finger painting to start our conversation today. He said it's like you're a kindergarten teacher, and you tell the class, ok it's time to fingerpaint! You direct them to paints and the canvas, then zero in on your own fingerpainting masterpiece. Maybe you close your eyes or you intently study your own work. And when you look up, the kids have fingerpainted, that's for sure---but all over the walls, and their faces, and your desk, and it's a huge mess. Not that the Lord doesn't love a good mess, He is in the business of taking messes and creating something beautiful. But what if that chaos and that mess and that lack of guidance didn't teach the kids anything at all? Or they never could connect with the art project because they didn't know what to do or how to do it, or even what finger painting looked like?

So leading worship is like this. And even though I am no worship leader, I am on a sound enhancing team of people expected to help fellow believers press in to what the Lord is offering during corporate worship. And sometimes that means making sure ducks are in a row first-sound check, blending, evening the tone of your voice, not pulling sharp or flat, making sure the bass section isn't to loud or the sopranos too airy or the tenors too soft, making sure music is in order, words are correct, taglines are put in place, scripture matches up with the song, the song matches the correct mood, there aren't too many clappy songs, there aren't too many draggy songs....and the list goes on, and on, and on, and on. And it's overwhelming. It's a lot of pressure. It's a lot of expectation. And sometimes, it isn't fun.

I half expected to walk into his office today to tell him that I needed to not sing on the team for a while, until I could figure this all out. But I know my heart, and singing is something God has given me for a reason, and I know I would miss being able to do that and being able to do it with the specific people I sing with now. But what I got out of the meeting was a ton of encouragement, that these feelings are so normal and it's a struggle for most performers. That aspect of comparing ourselves to others. Pushing our limits to get a part or to be better than so and so. Wanting to nail something perfect so that other's see us as valuable or talented or good enough.

But God tells us that we are good enough.  I just too often, don't hear Him, because I am so busy judging myself. My minister today put it a very good way, in that when we judge-even ourselves-we are putting ourselves in a place we were never created to be. God is the ultimate Judge-and when we judge, no matter what the context, we are ultimately sitting in His judges seat....and then get to awkwardly move when He comes to confront us on this issue. Uh...sorry Lord...I'll just be...leaving (backs out of room sheepishly). But it's SO easy to judge isn't it? The world has created this atmosphere where we can be judges any time we want to be. Look at shows like American Idol, America's Got Talent, The X Factor, Duets, The Voice, So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With the Stars, Skating with the Stars, and the list seriously could go on forever. These, what seem to be good-natured, harmless television shows tell us that we can be the judge of someone! I watch those shows and never hesitate on saying things like "oh well she was super flat on that ending" "he makes weird faces when he sings" "her tone is not as good as so and so"....these are PEOPLE. Real life human people. Children of God. They have feelings too, and are a product of the SAME Creator as I am. What gives me the right to judge them? I certainly wouldn't want them coming into my shower or car or other random places where I sing and vocally expressing their opinions about it.

After my meeting today with my worship minister I met with the vocal coach for our musical. She loves the Lord, which already was super encouraging because I needed someone who could understand this battle for me in the spiritual realm as well as here in the physical. She gave me some great tips and really encouraged the hope in my learning and enjoyment of my voice. (It never hurts to hear someone tell you that you have a beautiful voice, that's for sure!) And I left there feeling confident. She reminded me, like my worship leader, that it isn't easy. Singing well is not easy work and neither is being refined. But God would not have given me this talent, or be putting me in this season, if He didn't believe in me. And He doesn't believe in me because of ME, which is the amazing part. He knows I can do it because He is doing it through me. This is what I was created to do.

Maybe not singing professionally. Being some big actress on Broadway. Starring in a hit movie. Nothing like that. But He designed me to sing, and to give Him the glory while I do it. He created me to have a passion for the arts because sometime in my life He will reveal to me a much bigger plan for myself then I could have ever dreamt.

I was listening to KLOVE today and the Casting Crowns, "Voice of Truth" song came on. It is the epitome of what I am going through right now. And what I know I will face my whole life. I encourage you to listen to this song, and understand that the voice of Truth tells you that you are worth it, that you were made for such a time as this. If you are hearing different, then you are choosing to listen to the voice of the enemy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwsvqVmFV6Y

In Him,
Meg

Freedom

For those of you who read my last blog,"You Are For Me", this is sort of a part two (and I am assuming there will be many more as God is doing some intense refining in my life).

God uses my voice to send a message. When I let myself get out of the way these blogs turn completely into something from the Lord to be shared with others. Most often, He uses things He is bringing me through as the subject of the message. Sometimes though, I write with a sense of recovery that maybe I have not experienced yet. This is the case for my last blog. It was logically what I was supposed to say, because God wrote it through me. However, there was little belief behind it that it could apply to me I guess? That sounds bad, but that's basically what it was. Doubt. Sure, God can heal you...and you...and even you. He is a Healer....For YOU.....but do we believe that about our own selves? Not all of the time.

I went to a new church this morning. A church completely unlike my own- that would be considered more...charismatic I guess you could say. There were instruments. People clapping, dancing, and shouting to the Lord. Every human in the room had hands lifted high to Jesus and responded appropriately to the work He was doing in their hearts as we worshiped. There was....FREEDOM. Now, I have been to other churches like this before. I have been to contemporary Christian concerts, like that of Chris Tomlin, and have experienced this type of atmosphere before. In my opinion, we serve such an amazing God how could we NOT jump and shout and praise and cry out and laugh and clap and dance in His presence EVERY time we worship!??

However, today...something held me back. I did not put two and two together at first (after my not so fun and defeated sort of day Saturday). I sang the songs, and lifted my hands like I always do. But there was no feeling. There was caution about blowing my voice out before a rehearsal tomorrow. There was fear, that people were looking at me. There was sadness in not feeling connected to the God I was worshiping. Things were just...a little off.

That feeling followed me the rest of the day. I was low energy and very solemn. I was there (in Little Rock) visiting my best friend Emily. She is one of the most phenomenal musicians and singers I know. Talk about anointed. This girl is. We always chat about longing to get together and sing and play and worship. Finally, we got our chance today. But again, this strange feeling popped up. With my very best friend, who loves me so so much, who I have sang in front of a MILLION times--i could not open my mouth. I couldn't sing. Something held me back. I was so upset and frustrated. And that same feeling of defeat crept up.

We had a long chat about it but nothing would clear my mind of this notion that I am not good enough. This fear of being the best I can be, singing the notes well, hitting everything--you know, all of the technical stuff we let get in the way. It was then that I flashed back to the service this morning at her church, where I was reminded oh so painfully that I am not walking in the freedom that a life in Christ has for me. I couldn't LET GO!

This may seem like a small revelation to you but it was huge for me. Because this has been getting in my way for a LONG time now--and upon this new season where I have felt so disconnected from God, I was so desperately needing to understand what was happening on a spiritual level. I left Emily to make the 2.5 hour drive home to Jonesboro, and the minute I closed the door I lost all control. The tears came. I was spiritually flat on my face in front of the Lord, crying out to Him to make whatever was going on in my heart to just stop. While pouring out my heart and soul to Him, it occurred to me that I haven't intimately talked to Him in weeks. I haven't felt close enough to say anything. I had no energy left for Him. I have been living in a cloud of sadness from what I was missing, but had no idea what that something was.

It's freedom. The root of this problem is freedom. Because at the root of not taking hold of my identity and confidently walking in the gifting the Lord has blessed me with, I am allowing Satan to steal my JOY. I prayed against all attacks of Satan, begging God to take over and to show me how to live a free life. In the midst of realizing that I haven't been living that way, God also revealed to me that I don't even know what that looks like. And things in my life have to change, big time. It could be anything from my friends, my church, the way I worship, taking activities out of my life or adding others in. It could be anything.

I am confident that He will reveal this all to me, and guide me every step of the way until I am living life under His will for me. After praying I instantly felt a HUGE burden release from my shoulders. My God was there, waiting for me to crawl into His lap the whole time. He took my worry and is refining my heart. Things are not magically better, I don't want you to believe that. Because believing that they are instantly healed might have you believing that your issues can magically dissolve too...and I don't think God works that way. He is bigger than my problem-he has been the whole time I have been struggling with it. But in His perfect timing He sent me to a city where I came face to face with this fear-this lack of freedom-this lack of confidence....He put prayer warriors in my life and people who speak encouragement into it as well....He allowed for these circumstances to line up the day after I feel I am at the end of my rope with this particular issue and situation....and as I am lying on the floor of the throne room I look up and there He is, waiting with His arms stretched out, asking me to crawl up in His lap. And as I do, He tells me (because now my eyes and ears are open-desperate for His love and guidance) what has been happening to my heart. He also tells me not to worry, because He is in the business of fixing damaged hearts.

When I shared this revelation with a friend of mine tonight she sent me this song to listen to....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCEUvY2bCDA

It seriously inspired me to dance and sing and shout and worship DEEPER, because I am FREE! Isn't that the appropriate response to a God so amazing? So why don't you do it? Because people are looking? Because the other adults in church will laugh or whisper? Because you don't "get into" the music in that way? There are SOOOOO many excuses the enemy is whispering into your ear in order to keep you bound by your fear. That's not living in freedom, church. Don't you want more for your life? I know I do!

Praise God for His perfect timing. For His unconditional love. For His ever present guidance. For FREEDOM! Is there something holding you back??

In Him,
Meg

You Are For Me...

I am a bit of a perfectionist. Not with everything, but with a lot of things. I know that I will never be perfect-that is not the issue at all. The issue, I truly believe, is just being the best version of myself so that when others look upon me they see me at my best. Clearly I know there is much toxicity in this way of thinking. A little lie that the enemy LOVES to whisper to me is that I am not good enough. That I am simply faking it until I make it. This lie pops up daily,

I am a teacher of drama and musical theater-a job I was never technically trained for or certified in. I was selected through reputation and experience, love of children and passion for the arts. All very good qualities, don't get me wrong. However, I am challenged daily with praying that I am doing the best at teaching something that I myself was never technically taught. Satan loves to come beside me and remind me of the million things I do not know and how my children would be better off with someone else as a teacher.

I am also a performer by nature. I sing and act in any capacity that I can. Currently, I am in a musical, Titanic, with a principle role in what I am learning to be is the most challenging musical I have ever done. I am not vocally trained other than high school choir (which was a good 6 years ago) and fiddling around on my praise team at church. Satan loves to come alongside of this area of my life too, whispering to me all sorts of horrible things-from my range to my tone to my ability to hear pitch to my lack of breath support-and about a million other things. Sure, these are all things singers need to know. Yet Satan is not so kind to tell me that I can be taught--instead I feel hopeless and un-teachable. Sometimes I leave rehearsal or a performance, even karaoke nights with friends, and am convinced I have reached my prime singing time and that not only will I not get any better, but in fact am getting worse! He gets me so locked in a corner sometimes that I lose all interest to perform at all. Because I am scared of failure, or simply because I become indifferent to how much I adore it and tell myself that it's ok to just hide in the shadows a while.

Wow. What an un-fun way to live huh? And like I said, it doesn't happen all of the time-particularly just when faced with the kinds of situations where I get to choose whether to believe what God says about me and what the enemy is telling me to believe. Clearly, I have been choosing to believe the enemy.

I bet that breaks God's heart. Don't you think?

What He tells me is that WOW, He LOVES when I sing to Him. He tells me that He is everything I will ever need and that in my weaknesses He is strong. He does what I can't. He goes on when I can't take another step, or hit another note, or conquer another song. He is more than enough-always. So why do I not lean on that and take advantage of His presence? I guess because in that way that you look at things from an outside perspective, it looks a little nutty to simply rely on a supernatural relationship to cover you in areas you might be failing. Is it that easy? To simply ask God to sing for me, because He knows I can't do it without Him?

Maybe so. Maybe if that reliance is so truthful and faithful and so.....desperate, He will show up in our lives in BIG ways where we need Him. Maybe if we are solely depending on Him in that way, we won't care what the heck we sound like because we are singing for the King of all Creation who ADORES when we allow ourselves to be used the way He designed us to be used!!

So what needs to happen in my life, is a battle. A battle between truth and lies.A battle between good and evil. A battle that, in fact, has already been won-yet I am living a postwar life as if my God did not win. I am listening to the whispers of the enemy instead of the things God is loudly telling me everyday is true!

I am worthy. I am made in the image of the King. As a woman I am the crown of all creation and it has captivated the heart of my Lord. He gave me the talents and the passions that He has so that I might use them to bring glory to His name....well, believing Satan when he tells me that I suck, is not bringing glory to the name of God.

I encourage you today to look at any area of your life you might be struggling to believe truth. Whether it be performance based, body image, eating disorders, anxiety, and the list goes on and on. I ask you to lay that issue at the Cross today, knowing the Lord will take that burden and wear it as His own so that we will no longer feel the weight of the world crashing down upon us. Our Father's shoulders are HUGE and made for exactly that-the issues of this world we try to carry on our own. Well guess what? We can't do it. But he can! He is sufficient. He will NEVER forsake us in our weaknesses. He is always there, always enough, and always waiting in the wings of our lives hoping we choose Him. To believe Him. To love Him.

Let's choose Him.

In Him,
Meg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySP33gQmoNY

Was Jesus Political?

I am not a political person. I barely have time to remember to buy toothpaste, feed myself, get gas in my car, etc. I do not have time to keep up with the warped agendas of the people who unfortunately run our country. Maybe one day if they kick me out of it I will start caring a little more. But right now, I am spreading God's word one soul at a time and it's keeping me plenty busy.

It bothers me though, to see fellow "Christians" SOOOOOOO wrapped up in raging politics that it consumes their life. I feel like a true follower should be so devoutly in love with and following our Lord that it becomes first hand nature against ALL other things. I am not saying that following politics or taking a stand on issues that are important to you are bad or wrong. Don't hear me saying that. But we are here for a mission, church. And that mission is to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. To advance the kingdom of Heaven on Earth. To fight in the spiritual realm. And most importantly to LOVE. Of ALLLL the things Jesus taught, His biggie was to love your neighbor as yourself and to love your God with all your heart and soul.

Are we loving one another when we are so consumed with the righteousness or morality of an issue that we forget the humans behind which our flaming arrows are thrown? Yes, our country is NUTS right now....but it never stood a chance of not being nuts after the Fall. This is what God knew would always happen-and not just to the US but to the whole WORLD! That is why He sent us a Rescuer!! So we, church, are not charged with correcting the legal system (although we should stand and fight for justice). We are not told to judge an individuals lifestyle choices (although we should help people through their dark seasons). We do not have the weight of the world and all it's BIG issues on our shoulders--because that is what our Heavenly Father's shoulders are there for. We are simply told to LOVE. That's what Jesus did and that's what we are told to do as well.

Sure, maybe I am just a big hippie-but really believers, I don't feel like this idea is so far fetched. Forget about Obama. Stop condemning people and they way they live. Instead, take every single solitary opportunity with every single human life you encounter to spread the Love of Christ.

In Him,
Meg

Photographable Moments

If you do not know me well, let me introduce this blog by introducing me a little bit. I am a 24 year old woman who has the soul of a 50 year old, yet the youthful innocence of a 4 year old. Everything in this world enchants me. Sunsets, daffodils, rainbows, rainy days, sunflowers, Christmas lights, skyscrapers, butterflies, snowflakes, ocean waves, the smell of fall, campfires, acoustic guitars--and the list seriously could go on forever. These things excite my heart, make me SMILE to the depths of my soul. They...romance me if you will. If you have ever read some of my other blogs you have probably figured out that I am a teacher. But the part I don't talk about often is the part of me that is a photographer as well. I am part of a partnership called Vintage Daydreams Photography. My friend Anna and I have a mantra, of taking ordinary things in the world that most people would pass right by, and showing how they can be turned into something beautiful. I LOVE doing this part of my job, because isn't this what God does with us every single day? I am blessed to know many inspirational Jesus followers in my life and so many of them are blessed with this gift of truly and genuinely seeing everyone they encounter as God sees them. What a wonderful gift! It's so easy to see the outside, or the negative, or the ways they might be failing--but to see them as our Creator sees them....now THAT is beautiful!

God is in the business of turning our messes into things of pure beauty that glorify His name to the ends of the earth. Shouldn't we aim to do this in our lives as well?

What sparked the idea for this subject matter is photography. Being a photographer we often creep other photographers-for inspiration, and tips, great ideas, props, etc. What I LOVE when photogs do, is take a normal moment with their family and show the world how 'special' it indeed is. Birthday parties, outdoor movie nights, picnics in the park, rainy days inside, lunch with grandparents, painting a picture, cleaning up the yard, having a tea party in a garden---these moments may be ordinary and happen everyday, or may be moments that others might simply let pass by without acknowledging much. But photographers see every moment as photographable. And we get to turn these ordinary, passable moments into BEAUTY!!

But it shouldn't just be the ones behind the camera doing this. Every moment, every occasion, every person in your life has beauty. I encourage you today to find it! Not the staged kind where the outfits are perfect, the lighting is just right, the props are appropriate, and the camera is loaded....what I am talking about is a shift in the way you see things now. Don't you want to see things as your Lord sees them? That is definitely a prayer of mine these days.

So don't fall in your same routine today. Open your eyes, see the beauty in all that is around you, and praise God for it! :)

In Him,
Meg

In the Beginning

I was asked to turn the creation story into a dramatic piece as well. All material (obviously) comes from God's Holy Word but more specifically I use the Jesus Storybook Bible and the New Living Translation Bible. As it states in italics, a great craft for the Creation story would be having each child create his/her 'costume'. If they are the SUN they can cut a sun out of yellow construction paper. If they are a PLANET, they could color a planet on cardstock and dangle it from yarn. If they are ANIMALS, they could create a mask to wear as their appropriate animals. A wonderful song to sing after this skit would be the Creation Song, so kids more accurately understand when God did things. (See bottom of the skit.) Hope you enjoy.

The beginning: A Perfect Home

Characters Needed:

Narrator (preferably an adult)

God

Day and Night

Sea and Sky

Land (can be broken up into cliffs, mountains, and beaches)

Trees, Grass, and Flowers

Stars, Moon, Sun (and add planet if there are more kiddos)

Birds and Fish                                                               

Animals (be fun for kiddos to pick their own animal)

Adam and Eve (part 2)

**A fun craft for BEFORE the skit would be for each part to make their “costume” whether it be coloring a color sheet (for sun moon stars and planets) or making different animal masks for the animals they choose. Part one of the story is God saying Hello, the thing He’s creating is popping up into ‘existence’ and saying Hello back (or waving) then following the action it says they do.

Part 1.

In the beginning, there was nothing.

            Nothing to hear. Nothing to feel. Nothing to see. Only emptiness. Darkness. And…nothing. **Everyone close your eyes and imagine what that might be like.

But God was there. And God had a wonderful Plan.

He said, “I’ll take this emptiness and fill it up! Out of the darkness I’m going to make light. Out of the nothing, I’m going to make….EVERYTHING!”

God made life happen. He spoke. That’s all! And whatever he said, happened.

God said “Hello Light” and light shone into the darkness. God called the light, DAY and the darkness NIGHT.

“You are good,” God said. And they were.

Then God said, “Hello SEA! Hello SKY!” and a great space opened up, wide and deep and high.

“You’re good,” God said. And they were.

Then God said “Hello LAND!” and there splashing up through the oceans came CLIFFS, MOUNTAINS, and SANDY BEACHES.

“You’re good,” God said. And they were.

“Hello TREES! Hello GRASS! Hello FLOWERS!” God said. And everything everywhere burst into life and stretched toward the Heavens in worship of their Creator.

“You’re good,” God said. And they were.

“Hello STARS! Hello SUN! Hello MOON!” God said. And whizzing into the darkness came fiery globes, spinning around and around—whirling orange and purple and golden planets.

“You’re good” God said. And they were.

“Hello BIRDS!” God said. And with a fluttering and flapping and chirping and singing, birds filled the skies.

“Hello FISH!” God said. And with a darting and dashing and wriggling and splashing, fish filled the seas!

“You’re good” God said. And they were.

Then God said “Hello ANIMALS” And everyone came out to play. The earth was filled with noisy noises—growling and gobbling and snapping and snorting and happy skerfluffing. **Animals make their appropriate animal noises.

“You’re good” God said. And they were.

God saw all that he had made and he loved them. And they were LOVELY because HE loved them.

But God saved the best for last. From the beginning, God had a shining dream in his heart. He would make people to share is Forever Happiness. They would be his children, and the world would be their perfect home.

Part 2.

Adam and Eve

So God breathed life into Adam, and from Adam He formed Eve. And when they opened their eyes, the first thing they ever saw was God’s face. And when God saw them he was like a new dad!

“You look like me,” He said. “You’re the most beautiful thing I have ever made!” And God hugged His children.

God loved them with all of His heart. And they were lovely because He loved them.

And Adam and Eve joined in the song of the stars and the streams and the wind in the trees, the wonderful song of love to the one who made them. Their hearts were filled with happiness. And nothing ever made them sad or lonely or sick or afraid.

God looked at everything He had made. “PERFECT!” he said. And it was.

But all the stars and the mountains and the oceans and the animals and the galaxies were nothing compared to how much God loved His children. He would move Heaven and earth to be near them. Always. Whatever happened, whatever it cost him, he would always love them.

And so it was that the wonderful love story began…

Days of Creation

Day 1 Day 1 God made light when there was none

Day 1 Day 1 God made light when there was none.
Day 2 Day 2 God made heaven and skies so blue,

Day 2 Day 2 God made heaven and skies so blue.
Day 3 Day 3 God made flowers & grass & trees.

Day 3 Day 3 God made flowers & grass & trees.
Day 4 Day 4 God made sun, moon, stars galore. 

Day 4 Day 4 God made sun, moon, stars galore.
Day 5 Day 5 God made birds and fish alive,

Day 5 Day 5 God made birds and fish alive.
6th Day 6th Day God made animals & man that day.

6th Day 6th Day God made animals & man that day.
Day 7 Day 7 God is resting in his heaven 

Day 7 Day 7 God is resting in His Heaven!

Creation Song (in the tune of I'm a Little Tea Pot)

God made day and God made night,
He split the darkness from the light.
God made you and God made me,
And God made the animals A thru Z.

God made the seas and the dry land too,
He made the flowers and the sky so blue.
God made you and God made me,
And God made the animals A thru Z.

God made the stars shining way up high,
He made the birds and put them in the sky.
God made you and God made me,
And God made the animals A thru Z.

God made the sun and God made the moon,
He made the ants and the silly baboon.
God made you and God made me,
And God made the animals A thru Z

In Him,

Meg

My God Is Bigger

God has given me a very fun calling in combining the creative and performing arts with ministry opportunities with all Glory pointing back toward the ultimate Creator. I have posted some previous curriculum or lesson plan type things that I've done with young girls but I am going to start posting more of the drama things on here as well. After Overflow Sunday this past week, I got asked to send some of the material God has used me to create to different places around town. So I am going to post those things on here as well, feel free to use any and all of it! It's God's Word and needs to be shared! This one is the story of David and Goliath

My God Is Bigger

Intro to story-(background info leading up to this story)

Characters needed

David                             5 Stones

Goliath                          King

Philistine army             Crowd

Israelite army

**When the narrator says David, the crowd responds “DAVID!” When the narrator says Philistines, the crowd yells “BOO!” When the narrator says Israelites the crowd cheers “YAY!” The King, David, and Goliath repeat the lines fed by narrator. The 2 armies respond accordingly as action is stated. The 5 stones count, and the very smallest stone is the one to take down Goliath.

Narrator:

God’s people, the Israelites, (YAY!) had some scary enemies. But the Philistines (BOO!) were the scariest of them all, and they had come to fight the Israelite army. The Philistines (BOO!) even had a secret weapon, and his name was Goliath. Goliath was a terrifying soldier, and-worst of all-a GIANT! He stood over 9 feet tall! He was so strong, so tall, and so scary that no one had ever been able to fight him-and live to tell the tale.

So, there they were: the Philistines (BOO) standing on the top of one hill. And God’s people, standing on top of the other. For 40 days, Goliath came in front of the Israelites (YAY) and shouted, “Send your best soldier to fight me! If he wins, we will be your slaves. But if I win, you will be our slaves!” No one spoke. No one moved.

“Chickens!” Goliath yelled. “Your God can’t save you! I will eat you for breakfast.” His beady, greedy eyes glowered at them hungrily from under his helmet-as if any minute he really might just gobble them all up. And he laughed his terrible laugh. (HAHAHA!)

Well, Goliath might just as well have been a green slimy monster with three heads because God’s people froze with fear. They cried out-(Who will save us? Somebody do something.)

But God would do something. He would send someone to save them.

Some of the soldiers in God’s army were brothers, and they had a little brother named David. (David!) One day, David (David!), brought his brothers their lunches when he saw Goliath.

“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I will fight the giant for you.”

When David (David!) told this to the king, the king responded “You’re only a little shepherd boy, and Goliath is so big! How will you fight him?”

“God saved me from the paws of lions, the paws of bears, and will save me from the hand of that Philistine (BOO)” said David. “My God is bigger than that giant!”

With the king’s blessing, our small shepherd was about to become a big hero! David (David!) picked out 5 smooth stones from the stream (1,2,3,4,5) and walked toward Goliath. Step. Step. Step.

Goliath walked towards David. THUD. THUD. THUD.

“YOU??” Goliath asked, peering at the small boy.

“I am little, but God is BIG!” said David.

Goliath laughed an even scarier laugh than usual (HAHAHAHA) for with just one swing of his sword, the giant could finish the boy off.

But David said, “it isn’t how strong you are or how many swords you have that will save you—it is God who saves. This is God’s battle. And God ALWAYS wins His battles!”

David put a stone in his sling, swung it around and around and around-and let it go. The little stone flew like a bullet through the air and struck Goliath right between the eyes.

The giant stumbled…staggered…then CRASH…fell dead. When the Philistines (BOO) saw Goliath was dead, they ran away! And when God’s people (YAY!) saw them running away, they cheered (Hooray!). God had saved His people. David (David!) was a hero!

Many years later, God would send his people another young Hero to fight for them. And to save them. But this Hero would fight the GREATEST battle the world has ever known. Do you know who that Hero is? (JESUS!)

The end!


During this particular day we also sang songs that talked about our strong and mighty God. "My God is Bigger" we also sang "There once was a boy named David" we did a fun version of Jesus Loves Me, too!

I hope you and your kiddos enjoy!

In Him,

Meg

You Love for me to sing to You...

I am sitting near a large window upstairs looking out at the moving clouds, the darkening sky, the wind blowing through the trees....I am listening to Kari Jobe and was reading in Psalms when it hit me...wow, God is so good and all creation sings His praise. The trees are pointed high toward the sky as the wind tosses them back and forth, back and forth-yet they keep reaching high toward their Creator. The wind sings a lullaby as it rushes past the window, and I know that song so well. It's the song of freedom and worship for the One who deserves all praise. The darkening clouds are dancing in the background and I am reminded of my friends Grace and Annie, two of the most pure-hearted godly women I have ever met and how watching them dance is like watching Jesus wrap them in His arms and twirl them around a grand ballroom. Nature worships our Creator in  song and in dance and in stature-with no hesitation. They were created for worship and that's what they do.

We were created for that too. Sometimes it is hard. Life gets busier and busier as we get older and soon our days are filled with shuttling kids, teaching, cooking, cleaning, work, work, work, and more work, caching up on our TV shows, visiting friends and family, fitting hobbies somewhere in the mix...and by the end of the day we realize we have forgotten to worship. We've forgotten to even communicate at all with our Father. If you have loving parents whom you talk to often, imagine how they might feel knowing you are too busy to fit them into your lives. Or if you are a parent yourself what if when your son or daughter moved off to college or to do missions, they never contacted you? That would hurt your heart. Just like I am sure it does God.

My big fat excuse lately has been: busy. Busy turned into tired. Tired turned into lazy. Lazy turned into...I don't know the word for it. But I am pretty sure lately I have been irritated at God for not allowing me to feel Him near. When most certainly He hasn't moved, but that I am putting in very little effort to feel Him. To know His voice. To walk with Him. I've been "busy"....Busy even, with A LOT that has to do with Him...however, it has killed my intimate time with God. Some days it comes so natural to wake up and talk with Him, to dive into the word, to worship and praise all day. Other days I have to force myself to do it and then I feel bad that I have such a bad attitude and then I feel guilty. Then I have no energy to play with all of those emotions so I end up making that conscious decision to just not do it at all. To not be near to Him. Then I wake up weeks later and am beyond frustrated and irritated that my relationship with Him as somehow gotten off balance and I "don't know why"....well, I know why.

Watching the world from a large window upstairs will make a girl think. I love God, so so much. More than I can put into words. I don't want anything to distract from my relationship with Him. I constantly want to be dancing with Him. I want to feel His arms around me everyday. I want to sing His praises from every nook and cranny on the whole planet. I want to lift my hands high in worship to Him. I want to fall on my face in worship because how can you NOT be on your face in the presence of the Lord Almighty? I want more of this relationship. I am going to seek until I find Him. Until I hear Him. Until I feel like I am back in His arms once more.

Thank you wind. Thank you trees. Thank you clouds. Thank you Kari Jobe. Thank you Jesus, for giving me these things and showing me this morning that you are never giving up on me and that you will forever pursue my heart!! :)

In Him,
Meg

So we don't murder people....

Being a 'Christian' is more than just saying you believe in God. Those who worship the devil, also believe there is a god. 

Being a 'Christian' means more than simply not murdering people...for I know many a people who are not Christians who choose not to murder one another. 

Being a 'Christian' means you are a follower of Christ. You build an intimate relationship with Him. You learn the characteristics of our Lord and learn to hear His voice. You acknowledge the Holy Spirit and bear fruit of a person who is daily learning, growing, and transforming to look more like that of our Creator.

So you've never murdered someone. BIG. DEAL.So you don't cuss much or drink much. Maybe you went to church when you were younger and believe still in the God you grew up hearing about. Maybe on Easter and Christmas you visit a local congregation with your parents. Does that make you a Christian? --No more then slapping on a red robe and sitting on top of a reindeer ones a year makes me Santa Clause!

Your life is missing something and you know that you are less because it's not there. You don't know what it is and every now and then you feel compelled to look for it. But what finds you instead is the porn you are addicted to, the sex with your boyfriend, the bottom of a bottle, Facebook, shopping....and about a million other things that the enemy uses to get in the way of you crawling back in Papa's lap and letting Him read you a different story.

So when you say you are a "Christian"...do you mean it?

In Him,

Meg

Have a Little Faith in Me...

Expectations. They are an invisible, yet weighty standardsof how one should live, or act, play, entertain, love and so much more. There are expectations everywhere you look. Your parents expect you to make good grades, your friends expect you to go to this party with them, your church expects you to attend every time the doors are open, your younger siblings expect you to be a good example, your boss expects you to be on time, your dog expects to be fed and pet throughout the day, your teacher expects you to turn in your homework, and....well, really...need I say more? Expectations are everywhere in today's culture. Some are probably good to live up to or aspire to (like the being on time for work or the feeding of your family sort of deal) but there are many others that are simply implied because of the culture that we live in. Jesus distinctly says that those who live OF the world can not inherit the kingdom of Heaven.

Here is an example (because if you know me you know I love ranting about MTV). First of all I think MTV is run by the devil himself. Now, I do not know the actual human that runs this network, however, it only takes a Christian one show of watching really to understand why I believe this. Take the show Jersey Shore for example. It's apparently one of the most popular shows on television right now. I have never watched a full episode, but have seen clips, commercials, and a piece here or there and I am telling you what-that show disgusts me almost more than anything else on this planet. Watching it literally makes my heart ache with how God must feel while watching the lives of these young people. Somehow though, everyone and their brother, is obsessed with watching this train wreck. Even 'Christians' I know talk about how they enjoy this show. IT IS TRASH. And it is polluting your heart with TRASH as well. 

My point in that rant however is not to point fingers at MTV for our screwed up culture. But to implement how we as radical Christ followers, are told to not be subject to our culture. 

Mark 5 tells the story of a woman who had a bleeding disorder for 12 years. Can you imagine being sick with no healing in sight, for TWELVE years? In HER culture, those who were sick like that were not allowed to live inside the city gates for she was deemed 'unclean'. But this woman heard Jesus was coming and she knew that He could heal her. But what did it require of her? It required her pushing past her culture. On a physical level she had to come into the city and push through the crowds of people to receive healing from the Lord. But on spiritual level she was going against what her culture said in that time and following the faith that she knew the Lord could heal her. She was DESPERATE for His healing and would do whatever it took. She had so much faith in fact that she merely had to touch the hem of his robe before her body was healed. 

Jesus asked "who touched me?" and his disciples were like Yo JC you're in a crowd of people, there are A LOT of people touching you. But he tells them that somebody touched Him who had such strong faith He could literally feel the power of God move in His body. 

This sick woman healed by Jesus was not defined by her culture. And when it looked like there was no end in sight to her sickness and pain and alienation she PRESSED IN to the goodness of the Lord.

I blogged last about feeling out of focus and having a rough time, spiritually wondering why I couldn't feel God near and what was missing from my life. This story really encouraged me to really PRESS IN. I know He is there, His goodness and faithfulness and healing power-and I am desperate for Him. I will not be defined by my culture....even my culture of other 'Christians' around me. I can not live off of ABC gum (you know the gum, already been chewed?) haha  In our culture we are so quick to live our faith off of words from other people-it's almost like getting sloppy seconds. When John 10:27 says "My sheep listen to my voice, I know them and they me, and they follow me."

How can we choose the voice of God over the voice of our culture if we don't know what we are listening for? "To know a voice we have to listen to it more than once"--Kari Jobe

We can't be too lazy or scared or impatient to go deep with God on our own. We live in a culture of people who watch and re-enact Jersey Shore. But we also live in a culture of Christians who are satisfied with their only time of worship being on Sunday mornings. Who are ok with their only time of being refueled is at church or a retreat of some kind. We serve a God whose power and majesty dwell within us and it is a DANGEROUS place to live if Sunday morning church is our only place of revelation from Him.

Press in. Go deep. Listen for Him. I know it sounds like mumbo jumbo Christian lingo but it's not. It's God's Truth. He gives us His firsts, doesn't He deserve ours?

In Him,

Meg

Out of Focus

Do you ever feel like something is just...off? It's hard to pinpoint but somehow you feel off balance, or out of sync with your body, or maybe you are having moments where your brain is taking longer than normal to pick up on certain things. There are many ways to feel "off" I guess.

Yesterday was an off day for me. My entire day felt both physically and spiritually out of focus. Through my regular human eyes, every image felt out of focus. I was having a super hard time seeing things clearly. No matter how hard I would squint or unsquint or rub or move or blink, I could not get things to focus clearly yesterday. It honestly felt like I had my contacts in the wrong eyes all day long (and knowing me that is definitely a possibility! haha) But this out of focus blurry and annoying feeling in my eye was relating to how I also felt spiritually. And for days now.

I think the eye issue was as annoying as it was because I already felt out of sync with God and disconnected from Him. So now, I was feeling that way spiritually and then truly feeling hindered in my ability to focus because of my jacked up eyeballs. Needless to say I felt frustrated and annoyed all day long. I had a ton to do and couldn't seem to do any of it with the kind of heart I know God wishes I would have had yesterday. Some of my plans I even cancelled because of this focusing and irritating issue.

The simple part about yesterday was that there was a solution to the problem with my regular eyes. One of my contacts really was messed up (and both probably overdo for the garbage can). Once out of my eyes and in the trash I slipped on my glasses and felt just fine. The not so simple part about yesterday or the days before is that I don't know if there is that simple of a fix for feeling out of focus with God. I have talked to many a people, most of whom confirmed having felt the same way or feeling the same way now. Where that was refreshing in a sense (to know I am not alone), it also left me feeling just as hopeless because there is no quick fix.

My constant human silly issue (among the MANY that I have) is I like to fix things. When there is a problem, I like to find out why and then fix it. I go into fix it mode with people and friends and situations and myself all the time. So I can't wrap my baby brain around the fact that maybe sometimes there is not a problem. Maybe there is and there is no solution. I know God will never leave me, never forsake me. So all day I kept beating myself up about the things in my life I am doing to keep from feeling Him as near as I did say just a few weeks ago. In the best way I know how to sum up what my little spirit is feeling it would be worn out. I know this sounds AWFUL but yesterday even praying out loud required too much energy. All I really wanted to do was cry, and curl up in God's lap to sleep and find peace in the rest I know only He can provide.

I am not sure if there is a solution. I am not sure if there is even a problem. I do know that Jesus himself said we can not stay at the top of the mountain forever. So maybe I am walking off the mountain and into a new season of my life. What I do know is regardless where I go, He is there. In fact, (I hope), He is leading me wherever I am going.

Maybe you are in the same boat I am or have been there before. If neither are true then be prepared as a devout and radical follower of Jesus, rest assured you will not always be at the top of a mountain (and consider it a blessing when you're experiencing the lows too!). Here is what I have done today--
I gave myself a time out. I had work to get done of course, but I let my brain rest as much as it could. I listened to worship music every chance that I got. And i rejoiced in the moments where I had energy enough to do so.

This song was on replay almost the entire afternoon. I hope it finds you where you need to be found and loved on today. What Love Is This? Kari Jobe

In Him,
Meg

The Very Best Teacher

My life, my mentality, and my schedule pretty much revolve around those fun-sized humans we like to call, children. When I think about what a normal weekly schedule looks like for me, it is amazing how much children is a part of that. As a teacher, your brain shifts to brand new ways of thinking. Every thing becomes a teachable moment, a lesson to learn, or a tool to remember. What I love about this mentality, is that it so often makes the lessons God is trying to teach me, more obvious. I start thinking like God as a teacher and realize then that He is constantly using every moment of my life to teach me something or to help me grow.

I live with a family of 2 adults and 4 kiddos. (I say "a" family but I feel like they are just as much my own as the one I was born into.) The kids range in age from 13 down to 1 year. It isn't often through my own hectic schedule that I get a lot of one on one time with the kids, but recently I got some with Sam-the 4 year old. Sam has a HUGE imagination and LOVES to play. It's typical to be in the kitchen or living room and hear low mumbles and voices coming from a nearby area-and it's Sam, playing alone with his toys lost in a wonderful and magical world he's created. It never fails to make me giggle.

To be invited into this world is an honor, as well as challenging. The whole, fake it til you make it, strategy does not always work with small children because they can spot a fake a mile away. Well, this particular day I had a lot of energy, some free time, and my imagination was in just the right place to take on Sam's world for a while. We started play time having simple conversations back and forth from the dinosaur he was holding to the plush jack-o-lantern that I was holding. That simple dialogue led to Jack-O-Lantern arresting Gorilla and throwing him in jail because he was eating his friends. So of course Gorilla needed a lawyer to help him out of his bind, which is how Dinosaur got involved. It was so funny where his imagination would lead (and comical that my 24 year old body with the imagination of a 4 year old was just as much into it of not more than Sam was!)

After play time we decided to clean up. It took some coaxing, but we made clean up a game so it would be much more fun! While cleaning up we had a "Dino Hunt"--not with Dinosaur being hunted but instead, doing the hunting. I gave Sam and Dino the specifications of an object, and they had to look for it. We started off simple with just color.

Bring me something green.

Bring me something blue.

Bring me something that is red and black.

Then we got a little more challenging and added size.

Bring me something small.

Bring me something medium.

Bring me something large.

Then we added the 2.

Bring me something red and small.

Bring me something medium and green.

Bring me something big and brown.

After color and size, we moved on to shapes. 

Bring me something square.
Bring me something shaped like a circle.

After color, size, and shape got old we moved on to objects that would make Sam have to think a little before instantly reacting.

Bring me something you would wear outside.

Bring me something you might make a tent out of.

Bring me something that you can dig with.

Bring me something that doesn't belong to you.

This game went over so well, and Sam learned while he was having fun. It isn't always though that I can get his attention to play a learning type of game. And the more I thought about it while playing with him, the more I realized that is probably how God feels about me. There are so many things in this world that distract us....and just when it seems like we've conquered one, another pops up.

I feel the most loved by God when I see the lessons He is trying to teach me. Because in those moments I know that I am present with Him and growing the way He designed me to. And just like with Sam, I know I am getting attention and loved on-even if being taught something at the same time. But there are moments in my life, and often because I am so busy and my schedule is ever-changing, that I feel like a 4 year old. Like I  am running around in my underwear in the living room with the cartoons up loud hitting the furniture and younger siblings yelling crazy things that don't make sense. And I don't like that feeling in my life at all.

I am tender hearted, and a very sensitive gal. When I don't feel God near, it breaks my heart. I know that He is ALWAYS near....so when I don't feel Him, I often know it's because I am doing something in my life that is separating me from feeling Him as closely as I had. Or being able to receive His love that He is ALWAYS pouring out on me.

I prayed a simple prayer tonight. To experience the miracles, the overwhelming encounter of the Holy Spirit, and the things I know other radical believers get to experience. We are one body-I know this. But I can't help feeling sad for myself (instead of sharing in their victory), when they get to experience God's glory and I seem to be missing it. And not only missing it, but unaware why. 

So I will continue to seek God-to let Him teach me. I will attempt in my poor human capacity to rid my life of distractions that hinder me from seeing the glory of God in these miraculous ways that connect the physical realm to the spiritual. And I will continue letting Him use me and my voice to spread a message. I encourage you to stop everyday and take a look at what God has been doing in your life-because I guarantee there is a lesson in there that maybe we've all been missing for quite a while. The great thing about God's lessons during play time is that He doesn't stop at shapes, sizes, and colors...because it might be too "challenging"--He challenges us always to continue learning and growing and surrendering to His will. So where sometimes I feel defeated, I KNOW Truth and God's word says He will never be done using me or teaching me or loving me.

In Him,

Meg

Beautiful Girl

I had a lot of things I wanted to write about in this blog-musicals, girl's night, a near death experience....all of which I will get to sooner or later. But tonight, I just needed to post this song by Sara Bareilles whom I recently saw in concert at Harding University. She's been one of my faves for a long time, and this song reiterates how wonderful she is. If I could personally sing this to all of the young girls I experience life with on a daily basis I would. I hope they all hear it sooner or later. If not from me or from Sara then from SOMEBODY. You're BEAUTIFUL. Made in the image of the Almighty Creator. Beautiful Girl (<--Click this link to listen to song)




Beautiful Girl

You wanna walk into the room like that other girl does
The one that’s always making everybody fall in love
You see…girl you’re a lot like me.
She rearranges all the light in the room so you’re always in the 
shadows-
Well that’s what it feels like to you…
Baby I’ve been there too.
And I know how much it can sometimes hurt,
You feel like the whole world has made you the ugly girl.
Take it from me that you have to see it first.

So before you trade in your summer skin for those high heeled shoes, 
To make him want to be with you.
Let me remind you one more time…
That just maybe, you’re beautiful but you just cant see.
So why don’t you trust me,
They’ll see it too you, beautiful girl, you.

You wanna lay the blame on somebody else, 
All these tiny little minds that leave you up on a shelf.
But okay, I’ve seen it done that way.
Just in case nobody ever comes through, 
Riding in to come to your rescue.
You still have a chance,
You don’t have to be asked- to dance.
I know how much you’ve been dying to say,
Look how much everybody loves me.
Guess who gets left when everyone else fades away?

So before you trade in your summer skin for those high heeled shoes, 
To make him want to be with you.
Let me remind you one more time…
That just maybe, you’re beautiful but you just can’t see.
So why don’t you trust me
They’ll see it too you beautiful girl you

My God, My Father

Sometimes God hits me with such vivid imagery of a message from Him it's something I can't store in my "to blog sometime" files, but instead, write it immediately. This is one of those messages.

Tonight in life group, we mentioned just briefly understanding the trinity, and questioning if knowing your identity in Christ also means comprehending your relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I am going to say that for me, yes, evaluating my relationship with the trinity has helped me come to grasp with identity. I would argue that there is a large difference in knowing Jesus is your Prince, your Rescuer, your Savior, your Groom and so on and so forth and knowing God as King, Father, Everything, as well as knowing then too where the Holy Spirit is Comforter, Coach, Counselor, Encourager, etc. How can you say you understand your true identity if you don't recognize the different relationships to be had within the trinity?

For me personally, I experience difference seasons of all of these. For example, I have gone through extremely intimate seasons with Jesus seeing him as my groom, my husband, my love, the ultimate romancer of my soul! The current season I am in with Jesus is recognizing Him as Lord over my life. Not Lord because He IS Lord, but surrendering my life to His will because He Lord's over me. My Master. (Of course, every now and then He still romances me in a big way :) Ladies, picture if your husband brought flowers or chocolates home from work on a random Tuesday for no reason....except in my case, he like....shows me 2 angels!) :)

There are different seasons I go through with the God and the Holy Spirit as well. I am leaving a season where I needed and had been asking for the Holy Spirit to present itself to me as a coach-someone who was going to push me where I needed pushing and motivate me in times where I feel unmotivated. This upcoming transition with the Holy Spirit seems to be one of revelation-where not only is God constantly communicating (because He ALWAYS is trying to-with ALL of us) but the Holy Spirit is allowing me the eyes and ears to see and comprehend it on a level that I know I couldn't. Hence the activity in the spiritual realm I am seeing for the first time, the multitudes of revelations (and new blogs) lately, and the list goes on and on. This is PERFECT for the spiritual season I am in too because I am seeking and hungry for more! And God is showing me.

My seasons with God are always a little more difficult to dissect. He is always the same, don't get me wrong. But I am ever changing. So where He is always my Father, I guess our relationship is that of a growing child. Except, I am not always growing like say a human would (infant, toddler, child, pre-teen, teen, young adult, adult, elderly, dead?) Sometimes I am at young adult, then feel like I shrink back down to infant. (This is probably a faith issue and not really the topic of this blog, although it might make for an interesting blog later!) So often, because I do not have a living earthly father, it is easiest to see God in this parenting role with me. Because our relationship is most often that of a Father and His child.

So I mentioned that we were at life group tonight, and since the weather was so pleasant, we decided to have it out on the deck of the upper level. Down the stairs on the side of the deck, leading down to the yard, is where all of the kiddos played while we had our discussion and cooked dinner. There was a good number of adults there and we were dispersed on this deck. The deck being surrounded by railings (as to not fall off 2 levels) except for the opening where the stairs were on the side. Other than adults there were 2 babies left on the upper deck for the night-baby J and my sweet baby sister (I call her my little Bear so that's what I will call her for the purpose of keeping kiddos names off the internet).

Baby J is not walking yet, but Bear is-and that girl was on the go tonight. However, we had her outnumbered-like 12 adults to one 1 year old. The dynamic of this child to this group of people is what I took notice of. Everyone on that porch loves this child-we are a family so we all love each other like family. Here is what I took notice of with Bear on the porch and I will apply to it afterward what God has shown me through this.

When the big kids came up on the porch, they were oblivious that the opening near the stairs could be dangerous for my little Bear. We kept having to remind them "don't lead her over there" or "could you block her from going to the stairs" and things of that nature. Some of the 12 adults constantly had their eye on her, waiting to rescue her at any sign of danger. Others would stop her in her tracks as she was heading toward danger, maybe hold her there a second or redirect her in her path toward something not so dangerous. At moments some would pick her up and love on her, especially when she would get frustrated she couldn't go somewhere she wanted. At times, she was simply called by voice to change her direction. There were even a few moments she knew it was dangerous and wouldn't go further than she felt safe but would stay and wait for someone to come and get her.

Doesn't this describe our relationship with God the Father So SO well? I will break it down. We might call the big kids our other influences. Could be the Enemy, could be non-believing friends, or even other believers maybe who are not so mature in their faith. They are oblivious to what could be dangerous. Maybe they're not watching our for our well-being. Maybe they're too concerned with their own. Or maybe simply intelligently they really can not comprehend the danger because their mind has not developed that ability yet-a spiritual immaturity if you will.

Then there are the adults who constantly have their eye on Bear, waiting to Rescue her from any upcoming danger. I don't think we picture God like this often enough but He is always there, ready to see us grow but always prepared (because He knows before it happens remember?) to catch us when we fall. There are also those moments, where He stops us in our tracks. Essentially stopping us from making horrible horrible mistakes. This looks like closed doors in our lives, maybe what seem like unfortunate things that really might be God directing you elsewhere. He always opens a door (and if not a door a window maybe) especially after one has been closed. He is directing us somewhere safer, and somewhere CALLED. Where we are being sent to do His will.

He knows we get frustrated when He stops us and "our plans" for ourselves (so laughable isn't it?) so He is ALWAYS there to pick us up and love on us. He can take our anger and our doubt and our confusion and frustration. He is the perfect Father and a BIG God at that, so He can handle us at our worst. But without fail He picks us up, loves on us, reminds us how much He loves us and that we are protected and safe, then sends us back out in the world to do spread His word! God is so faithful too in not only picking us up or holding us back but CALLING our voice to redirect our focus back to him. Like the adults calling Little Bear from the edge of the dangerous porch, He calls us back to Him. But, we can only respond if we know and HEAR His voice. How do we Hear God's voice??

We LISTEN.

And last, the times where Little Bear would sit and wait at the edge of danger. Knowing she was about to get hurt, or be rescued. God is a faithful rescuer--but sometimes He has us sit and wait a while. It's in those moments of question and testing and wonder and contemplating does the most character build as well as the lessons and character of God being learned in those moments where we simply sit still and know that He is God.

And just like with Little Bear, who goes home every night knowing she is protected and safe and loved, we know that too about ourselves. When we think about the things God does sometimes we don't understand-especially in the moment. But if we take a step back and see Him as our Father then sometime's his plan seems much clearer.

I am so thankful God showed me this tonight. He took a simple evening that could have potentially not meant anything really, except good friends food and fun. But He turned that into a message from Him. I am BEYOND thankful and blessed that God shows me these things-especially in everyday situations. It's one of those ways that He is whispering into my heart "I am here. Just listen. Be still, and know."

In HIM,

Meg

Princesses in Training

I have been so very blessed in the material God has given me to teach kiddos. Whether it be for my musical theater and drama classes, or classes I teach at church, He faithfully provides the lessons every time. I consider myself but a humble vessel of His will and Word and aim to put into the tangible-physical world all that He's given me vision for in the spiritual.

This past Wednesday I was asked to sub for a teacher at church, and take over the 4th-6th grade girls class. I was super pumped! I love that age group and God has given me so much material for them already! I was planning on using a lesson I have already used in a similar situation but as we all know the Lord has different plans for us. So basically I just wanted to share with you what we did. If you are a teacher or an influence to young girls in any way then maybe this is something we all can use and work together on in being a constant reminder of God's love for them throughout their lives!

In my mind I was going to introduce a simple lesson of insecurity. What it is, what it looks like in our lives, who we allow to make us feel that way, and who we might be making feel that way as well. But the Lord turned it into so much more. He turned my whole simple insecurity lesson into a discussion about The Truth vs The Lie. He wanted those girls to recognize truth and recognize lies. He wanted them to start learning to hear HIS voice, over that of the Enemy. He wanted them to deal first hand with this idea of the good which is of God, and the bad which is of the Enemy. Remember, these are 4th through 6th grade girls, most of which this particular night were 4th and 5th graders. I was a little nervous about the idea of teaching them so early that we have an enemy who is out to kill, steal, and destroy. And that he starts while we are young, having us believe lies about ourselves and others, so that we might not only destroy ourselves in the fight for beauty and perfection but that we might also destroy those around us!

We did start the lesson with the definition of insecurity. We named examples of things we can be insecure about. Then we moved right into "what is truth?" and "what is a lie?" in which we discovered we have a God and we have the enemy of God. Then we specified that everything God says is truth and everything Satan does is lie. Then we played a game. Marked on slips of paper in a bag were things that were of God and things that were of the Enemy. Each girl pulled a slip of paper out and we got to discuss is this truth or is this a lie. For example, "Your freckles are so pretty"-Truth. "You need to lose some weight!"-of the enemy.

After this we read a love letter from our Prince, Jesus, so that we might see what He truly thinks about us. The Letter read:

"My Beautiful Bride,

You are so beautiful to Me. I wish for one moment that you could see what I see when I look at you. When I gaze at you, I see a treasure ready to be discovered, a princess ready to shine, a bride ready to be loved. When I look at you...I LOVE what I see! If you could grasp how beautiful you are in MY eyes, then you would never feel insecure again. The beauty I created you to be is a reflection of Me, My love. I created you in MY image, so never doubt again that your eternal beauty is a breath of Heaven!

Love,

Your adoring Prince"

After this we read Psalm 45:11

"For your Royal Husband delights in your Beauty. Honor Him, for He is your Lord."

It was interesting that even at a young age, this stirred something in the hearts of my girls. They picked out things that stood out to them and they were the same things that stood out to me and my 24 year old heart.

After the letter I passed out a worksheet God had me put together. On the first page were the statements:

1. I love my eyes because....

2. I love my ears because....

3. I love my mouth because....

4. I love my hands best when they are....

5. I love my feet best when they are....

In these exercise, the girls were to hold a mirror to themselves and really meditate and reflect on what they thing GOD is saying about each one of these things. And in the sentence, they were instructed to look past the physical and see what God might see. For example, "I love my eyes because they see the kids on the playground that nobody else will play with." Or, "I love my hands best when they are serving food to the homeless with my church." Things like that!

On the back page of the worksheet there was a list of people in their day to day life. They were to write down encouraging things that they might say to these people-in hopes of breaking the lies that Satan might be having them believe, and to instead, speak LIFE into them with words from the Lord.

The whole night with these precious girls was such a good reminder that we have got to start IMMEDIATELY speaking life into those around us, and helping those lost in the lies and bondage or the enemy to find their way to God's Truth and what He says and thinks about them. If this is not done in our daughters and sisters while they are young, then the enemy has the easiest time planting his own evil seeds in their heart and before you know it they are battling insecurity, body image problems, eating disorders, dysfunctional relationships with boys, drugs, premarital sex, and the list goes on and on. We, the women who have gone before, are in CHARGE of helping protect our little sisters in Christ. We are to educate them as well as pray for them and fight in the spiritual realm on their behalf. If we are not doing that Ladies of Christ, then we might as well hand them over to the Enemy on a silver platter.

In Him,
Meg

You Won't Do this to My Daughter.

God is a poet :) Look what He wrote me.

You won't do this to my daughter

as you smile across a crowded room and captivate her seeking heart

with innocence as true as diamonds that even nature can not tear apart.

You won't do this to my daughter

as you make your way beside her life and toy with her emotions

you are nothing but a silly child who does not deserve her devotion

You won't do this to my daughter

as you laugh and play and win her precious love

you can not give her mere a fraction of the gifts from up above

You won't do this to my daughter

convince her all you say is true

"you're the only one who makes me feel this way that you do"

You won't do this to my daughter

because she's much too good for you

you don't deserve her tender kiss or her sparkling eyes of blue.

You won't do this to my daughter

I'm here to fight on her behalf

you think you are so sneaky hiding behind that deceitful laugh

You won't do this to my daughter

you've tricked her once before

she knows how much I love her now, and isn't falling for you anymore.

You won't do this to my daughter

because I'll hold her heart forever

and she's not coming back to you even though you are quite clever

You won't do this to my daughter

only I can bring her joy

she no longer has to search for me inside of stupid human boys

You won't do this to my daughter

Heaven wins and you will CRAWL

the Enemy is defeated

Love wins

Once and for all.

Angels and Demons

My friend Lindsey and I were eating dinner the other night, engaging in some wonderful in depth conversation about the spiritual and physical realm. She talked about how the spiritual realm is closer than ever and this is evident by the things people are seeing and experiencing more and more. So warning: this may not be what you personally believe, but the God I serve gave me these experiences and quite frankly doesn't care for skepticism.

I have seen darkness since I was a very young child. I will go as far as to say that without a doubt I have seen demons, or evidence of demonic warfare, over people and places. Even before becoming a Christian, I encountered this other realm. They were the things that haunted me every night at bedtime as a child in the house where I grew up and now as an adult, no longer haunt me, but are still visible to the eyes God has gifted me to see them with.

If Hell is the absence of God then I stand corrected in saying the home I grew up in was hell. Because I believe without a doubt that God has been with me every step of my journey, whether I was able to see it then or not. So if not hell, then it's safe to say the home I grew up in was a hot bed of spiritual warfare in which every second felt like Evil was the winning team.

In my childhood home, the two bedrooms I grew up in were at the far front corner of the house. A long corridor and lots of house away from the things I needed, like my parents. There is not a day I can remember walking down the hallways to those bedrooms and feeling safe, at peace, or loved. If we had glasses we could slip on and see the spiritual realm, then what it felt like might look like dozens of demons grabbing my legs, laughing at me, mocking me, and spooking me, with every panicked run into my room. I would slam the door, breathing heavy, and finally feel SAFE. As a child, I had no idea the nightmares and the fear were caused by something I could not see. Now, I know.

Once I grew older and we added a member (my little sister) to the family, I rotated to the farthest bedroom on the end of that scary hall. It was here I would have my first demonic encounters. The first came in a dream where I was trying to get out of the house. I can't remember the cause of it but for whatever reason we had to get out, and my only mission was to save my little sister. (The violent fighting carried over into my new stepfamily and I knew that no body would be concerned enough about her to save her but me.) So in my dream I packed a bag and ran out of my room several feet to hers. And what stopped me in the doorway was unlike anything I have ever seen. A demon, whose eyes shown red like the deepest of rubies yet empty of anything beautiful. The figure was black and the head, warped and making un-humanlike motion. The "wings"/arms or what have you, were blocking the doorway so that I could not get in to save her. The figure opened its' mouth to scream at me-the scream was dead silent but the noise scared me to the depths of my soul awakening me out of the nightmare.

My second encounter in the farthest back bedroom was during an illness. I had a cold or cough, or something-and I was having trouble sleeping for days. My stepmother gave me some medicine and after a few days I was better, and finishing up the medicine as instructed by the doctor. I remember thinking, this particular night that I took it, that I should not finish the bottle, but I did. In the middle of the night I was visited by a head ache so bad I literally thought I would die. Even at 11 years old I knew that I was not supposed to be in this much pain. However, I was frozen. I could not call for help. I could not even move-my whole body was absolutely paralyzed-EXCEPT....my right arm. With eyes wide open, unable to move, I grabbed the pen and paper on my nightstand and started scribbling in the dark my last "I love you's" and goodbye's to my family-because I was certain I would not live til in the morning. The pain grew more and more intense and in the midst of scribbling my notes I saw a swarm of black figures in the corners of my room. Flying and swarming like wasps. They did not come close to my body lying in bed that I could see anyway, but they were ALL over my room.

My other 2 vivid experiences with demons came much later in life. One was an experience when I lived alone at 19 in the...well...not the best neighborhood in town. It was winter and a storm was coming. The house I lived in was OLD and CREEPY...and COLD! So cold in fact that I rarely left the living room where the heat was contained. I had no cable but was obsessed with Grey's Anatomy DVD's at the time so I was watching one of those, about eleven or midnight. When I heard a knock on my door. I looked outside through my peephole on the front door, and saw a black woman with ratty clothes and torn bandanna. Staring at her but a split second her face warped, much like the figure in my room as a child, and again the spinning of the head and silent screaming that scared me to the depths of my soul. I jumped back from the door in fear then back up to the peephole to see if she was still there, and there wasn't a soul around. I called my sister who drove from her nearby apartment to aid me and said after driving around the neighborhood there was no trace of this person.

The last one I will mention was in a bar in Fayeteville. I was a BRAND new Christian and visiting my sister who lived there for a few weeks. We were there to see some friends of hers in a band playing at this particular bar. I knew right off the bat, just walking in, that I wasn't supposed to be there. After moving from my uncomfortable seat at a table to the even more uncomfortable place standing with other on-lookers at the front of the stage, was when I saw it. Coming off the face of a guy who had just spilled his beer all over me, and drunkenly starts yelling at me for getting in HIS way and poof. His regular drunk guy face warped into two, with the same black hole of a mouth and silent screaming like the others. Without hesitation I ran out of the bar as FAST as humanly possible.

So why do I tell you all of these stories? And where does the title of this blog come into play? I will tell you. When we seek, we find God. When we are hungry, He presents himself to us more and more and more. Because He is always TRYING to communicate with us, but most of the time we do not hear or accept it because of our own things going on in life. So after this conversation over dinner with my friend Lindsey, I guess in my deepest most honest part of my heart, I wanted to see the good-not just the bad. The 'of God' and not just the 'of the Enemy'. So in the midst of a nightly prayer to God, my heart cried this innocent prayer. "I want to see the good, too."

I did not think about it after that. It wasn't pre-planned or anything, or much I have ever dwelt on before. I did not think about it even all the next day. Until 5pm.

I was driving to church, taking the backroads from my city to the one where I attend corporate worship. On a two lane road driving say, North, there was a group of motorcycles coming my direction. My first thought was "those boys better move over" (because one of the 3 was across the center line). It did not occur to me in that instant that 2 of the 3 had wings :)

Not only wings but were transparent in this beautifully clear way. I saw the outline of a motorcycle body and wings and the rest was just a blur. The wings though were SO long and huge trailing behind the two figures. It was only when the human guy on his motorcycle passed me, COMPLETELY ALONE, did I realize what I just saw. I put the pieces together and gasped, "Oh my goodness...did I just see two angels??"

I believed it to be true in my deepest heart of hearts. So regardless what you think or what I questioned or any logic, I cried out "BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!" over and over and over while texting my fellow warriors to let them know what just happened!!

Continuing my drive a few minutes later is when I realized that God had answered my prayer from the night before. A prayer that my brain did not ask for yet my heart longed to see. He did it. He is good, and He is faithful!! And apparently, Angels ride HARLEY'S!! haha Isn't that funny? Even as they passed me on the road I felt the angels getting such a kick out of being chosen to protect this man and by doing so they were having just a grand ole time riding on bikes behind him.

God is GOOD. God is FAITHFUL. GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS. Do not be afraid to go deeper with Him. He is calling us to do so! Will you answer the call??

In Him,

Meg