still stance.

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"He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
   I will be exalted among the nations,
   I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 NIV2011

Sometimes we’ll run, sometimes we’ll walk, sometimes we’ll crawl and other times we’ll stand still. I felt the latter this past week. I first felt it on Tuesday morning. For the past year and a half, we’ve been gathering Tuesdays at 6:30am to pray for City Youth, for God to move and transform teens in our city. There was a moment where no one in particular was leading out, we all were in our own sanctuary with Jesus and there was stillness across the room. It was there in that moment that I heard Be still and know that I am God in my heart.

The second time I heard it was on Friday morning. My dad was in and out of the hospital and I was waiting to hear when I could pick him up. As I was waiting I turned on CNN. I was overwhelmed by the videos & pictures. I can’t even begin to imagine what people in Japan are going through. As I began to pray, I felt again, Be still and know that I am God.

The third time I heard it was on Sunday night at Adore. It was a beaut time in worship, oh, you know those times when you just feel Jesus so close, like His Spirit is just seeping through you times of worship? Well it was a golden moment and I just wanted to shout/reach/pace/kneel and then I heard it, Be still and know that I am God.  That moment felt like a billion rolled into one. It was as if God shut out all other thoughts (which is incredibly hard for us girls, as we do not have a nothing box and can’t help but think of a billion things at once!), people, music, it was as if it was just me and Him. Incredible.

Among destruction, screams, heartache, tears, happiness, depression, joy, busy-ness…as the world spins around you, find the moment to be still and know that HE IS GOD.

stay gold,

s.s.♥.

ps. to donate to Japan relief click here. Keep praying.

Awake my soul.

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Ahhhhhhh life,

Do you ever look at your life and say “I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS MY LIFE!! I AM SO EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS!!” Or do you find yourself saying “Why is this my life? Why can’t things ever go my way? Why is this happening to me? Woe is me.”

I’d like to say that I always opt to the first response but sadly I choose the latter response more than I’d like to admit.  Last week, I was having one of those days. I was going through some personal matters, which I’m choosing not to divulge in as this is kind of like an open diary of my life. Anyways, I was spending way too much time, energy and thoughts on a topic that really didn’t need the time, energy or thoughts.  I found myself complaining way too much and just plain depressed.

In the midst of all of this we had an AMAZING guest speaker at our church. One who I had heard before…basically this woman (Marilyn Skinner) is a legend!! Her husband and her founded Watoto Church (20,000ppl church) & Watoto Childcare ministries (rescuing orphans and raising up Uganda’s future leaders). I had heard her first in 2008 at Colour Conference in London and then again last year at Lifewomen Conference. She’s a gifted speaker who is just so anointed by God to bring news of what God is up to in Uganda and WAKE UP men and women.

So what an honour to have such a legend in our midst. The things we could learn from her! It was like a dream come true for me…you think I would be over the moon. BUT no, something was in the way…me. Isn’t it funny how we (our own selfishness) can get in the way of receiving something that is good for us. There I was having lunch with Marilyn, (sitting beside her!) and I was there soaking stuff in, but I was not fooling myself…I could have been more awake to the words God was speaking through her.

But good thing our God gives us a little slap when we need it. It’s not fun to be pwn’d by God, but it’s good. And I felt that wake up slap in a moment. It felt as if my reality had shifted, that He had given me new eyes to see things from a perspective that was beyond own. I felt Him say, "I’m going to be changing women’s lives tonight, whether you are a part of this or not." …

God is moving. He is moving in our world. He is moving in our city. He is moving. How awful is it if we aren’t even aware of what He is doing because we are so consumed with our own problems.

It is up to us if we are going to be a part of it or not. Don’t waste those precious minutes. And oh, the difference in your life when you choose to be a part of what He is doing. 

Romans 13 MSG “But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!”

stay gold my dear ones,

s.s.♥.

Oh.

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I have fought & fought for you.

I’m tired.

I’m weary.

This heart of mine aches. It hurts.

Oh - how incredible that a single word of two letters can express the agony that is felt within.

Oh, my desire is for you to know.

To know.

To know Oh, how He loves you.

Even though it seems the other side has their arms wrapped around you ever so tight,

I will continue to fight.

To cling to hope.  Hope that is firm, hope that doesn’t stand alone but that is surrounded.

Surrounded and smothered by faith.

Knowing.

Knowing.

That He certainly hasn’t given up on you.

Oh.

flowers 2.0

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Flowers 2.0

I think that God probably knows a way to a girl’s heart.

Scratch that.

God knows full well exactly the way to a girl’s heart. My faithful readers will know the story about God giving my grandmother flowers on her sixtieth wedding anniversary. (If you don’t go creep it, amazing story).

Every girl loves receiving flowers. Chocolate is amazing, clothes are iffy but flowers, flowers seep into a girl’s heart. Smiles are guaranteed to dance upon each receiver’s face. There is something incredibly special about receiving flowers. Beauty is released as the flowers live out their short life. I always loved watching each one bloom in its own unique way. Every time I pass them, I can’t help but stop to inhale the fragrance.

We hosted a girl’s conference this past weekend. It is my heart that young girls would come to know there is a God in Heaven who loves them and believes in them. That he equips, enables, & empowers them to live out their dreams. Illuminate (the conference) is all about that. It was ridiculously fun. In 1.5 days we do a lot. We have three main sessions with worship & speaking, workshops, guys panel, karaoke party, and tons more.

The end is always my favourite part. The last set of worship was incredible, absolutely incredible. (We are so blessed to have such anointed, talented, humble worship leaders/musicians!!) The girls really went all out. They worshipped whole heartedly, oozing out passion, singing love songs to their Maker. You couldn’t help but smile seeing them go absolutely crazy for the last praise song.

That last song is followed by the grand finale. My friend Aaron, with a voice like John Legend closed the night singing “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars. At that moment, hundreds of balloons gracefully floated down from the ceiling. It was such a beautiful sight. Girls smiling, ear to ear gazing up at the ceiling watching the balloons fall, knowing full well their Father in Heaven loves them.

(If any guys are still reading this, I’m sorry it’s so cheesy. Embrace it, the really cool part is coming up.)

So right before the girls exit the conference, they each receive a single rose. To save some costs this year, we ordered the roses from an online flower company in the states. In the insanity of planning/speaking at the conference, I didn’t realize the flowers didn’t arrive until 6pm Friday.

To make a long story short…the flowers didn’t arrive in time.

I was pretty bummed but some of the team went out Saturday afternoon to see what they could scrounge up. Shortly after the team had left I received a phone call from my pastor. Extreme outreach had been donated 66 dozens roses and called my pastor to see if we need them for Illuminate.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sixty-six dozen roses were donated. Seven hundred ninety-two roses to be exact. Seven hundred ninety-two roses donated two days before Valentines Day. I can only think of someone that powerful to orchestrate that kinda thing. God didn’t want those girls to go home empty handed. He took our effort of 100 and multiplied it to almost 800.

Isn’t He amazing? He loves us. Truly, absolutely, intensely loves us.

Another quick Valentines story… My dear friend who went through a bad break-up last year was obviously not looking forward to Valentine’s Day. Well gorgeous flowers were sent to her office, with a note that said, ‘You are worthy of my endless pursuit. Love, Jesus.’

God is Love. 1 John 4

What more can I say?

Stay gold, s.s.♥.