clinging to His truths...

"Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Grab life by the mane. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion."
- Mark Batterson

Sherrill Thurston put this quote on facebook today and it speaks RIGHT into my heart.

there are some things i just wanted to write last night but didnt get to. something that i am realizing is how EASY it can be to listen to the lies. SO easy.

before last night, all week i was feeling so much peace about mexico and my calling, OUR calling there and just really feeling confident in trusting God. God spoke a lot of comfort and peace and courage into me this week...not that i have mastered it or understand it even a little bit...but that is what He has been filling me with this week. so i felt good. went to practice - and it was like satan was there waiting for me. all of a sudden i was feeling crabby and unsure and i couldnt get words out and things were coming up to try to get us to doubt and question what we were doing and just a WHOLE lot of different things with all different people...

and it was so quick to start to rationalize and question all that God had spoken.

and all of a sudden i was like - what just happened? where did my peace go?

and what God was showing me was that we need to learn His voice. we need to hear it and recognize it and when we hear it...we need to hang onto it. write down what He says in that moment of clarity and carry it in our pocket - because in that moment it all makes sense and we feel good and at peace and powerful - but as soon as we get into the world and satan has an opening...he'll take it. and he will do whatever he has to to get you to doubt and question it and start to justify why God MUST have been wrong...

but that is not the truth.

the truth is what you have written down in our pocket. the truth is what we heard in that moment with God...the truth is what we have to cling to for our very lives because there is only one truth...and most of the time it doesnt make sense. and satan will use whatever you know and whatever is in your head to make HIS way make more sense...

so God is showing me what complacency looks like in my life. how easy it is to DO NOTHING. just not fight, but not give in...just nothing. its safe. its the easy way. but heres the thing - nothing is not fighting and the ONLY way we will ever experience the victory and freedom that God has already given us? is by fighting.

its hard. we will fall. we will fail. we will have trouble (john 16:33).

but there is no power bigger than God.

none.

last night we told the team that after prayer and in finally feeling some peace - we have decided not to do the Project (at least not be the focus) in mexico. it seems crazy but God is just saying - trust me that i am God and i know.

how do you say no to that?

and so we go forward with a new plan. having a few short dramas, dances, testimonies all ready so that as we go, we can follow the Holy Spirit's leading to what He is calling us to do in that moment.

we are feeling really excited about it all. Gods in control.

we started learning a new drama last night and it went really well, we got really far and it looks great. it will be a great ministry tool down in mexico.

and we heard some more life stories from nate, shane, and chelsea r. it amazes me how open and honest this team is. its so so so beautiful! and so encouraging to me and im sure all of us.

so thank you guys for sharing your heart.

we also had a prayer time, a time to just give God all of this craziness and uncertainty to Him. it is out of our hands, which is where it should be.

please keep us in your prayers that we will not stop fighting. that satan will not have a place in this process and that God just silences that voice so that all we hear is His.