Let nothing move you! September 8, 2010

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

We just all got a long weekend because of Labor Day. Oh, how I enjoyed that precious time with my family. It was much needed.  As everyone is, we  seem so busy. Work, school, ministry, home…… I try to maintain a good attitude. The Bible says that those who don’t work, don’t eat.. so I know that it is just the way it is. I am thankful to have a job that I enjoy ( enjoying your job is really 95 percent perspective).  But sometimes it is hard not to get discouraged.

All of our staff at Oasis have been putting in a lot of time lately. We just had Intense Ministries come ( which was awesome), we are having prayer at schools, youth, coffee shop, 2 services on Sundays.. it goes on.  Sometimes it can seem a bit much.  It gets hard and sometime it feels like no one else knows or understands what you are going through.  If we are not careful we get caught up in “just needing a break”.  It consumes us to the point of spending most of our day trying to “get a break”.  The enemy would like to keep us discouraged like that. But we have to remind ourselves of the above scripture. We have to be strong, stand firm (be stubborn)!!! I love the part “Let Nothing Move You”.  Sometimes we have to decide to be a fighter, to get tough!   We have to trust the Word of God… that our labor is not in vain… If you have been paying much attention you can see that right now God is allowing us to visually see that our work is not in vain.  We have witnessed so many salvations the last month and people’s lives changing…. That is what it is all about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am excited to be a part of it and will keep running the race………

Feeling a Little Lost?? August 30, 2010

I hear people say all the time that they are “feeling a little lost” today.  I think we all have days like that. Can’t seem to get on track or get things going the way you want them to.  Everything just feels a little off.  You feel distant from those around you or maybe even from God.  In Luke Chapter 15, Jesus tells the story of a shepherd and his one lost sheep. The shepherd goes out to look for that one who is a little lost….he leaves the others and goes after that one.. will pick it up, throw it over his shoulders and bring it home.    So.. if you are feeling a little lost today, remember that God is trying to get close to you right at this moment… let Him have your attention and you will feel a little less lost and a little more found!

New Territory August 23, 2010

Last week was crazy! Crazy like a roller coaster! We had some awful trials and some wonderful things happen all in the same week. It was up and down minute to minute. It was to the point where we were just laughing about it, (maybe out of temporary insanity)but still laughing. It started really a couple of weeks ago.. you know just normal life things… insurance going up, bumping your truck into the back of a city truck, the power being out at Sam’s, no chicken noodle soup at Chick-Fil-A, allergic reactions to who knows what, projectors going out, DVD players going out…. you get  the picture.. we all have these weeks.  Also, open doors into local schools (this is huge by the way!) major life changes in people’s lives, we are having to go to 2 services… I mean things are incredible! Then.. I remembered. .. 2 weeks ago on a Wednesday night, my husband taught and prayed the Prayer of Jabez. 1 Chronicles 4:10.  Wow, this week we have seen local church leaders unite, and territory being taken!  The Lord has increased our influence, both as individuals and corporately as a body.  The Lord wants to increase your territory and influence as well.. don’t think it won’t come without a battle though…  Don’t let the enemy convince you that everything you are doing and going through is for nothing.. it is not for nothing.. it is for something bigger than you can even imagine!! You just have to trust that God’s hand is moving even when you can’t see it…

Kick it Up a Notch August 16, 2010

I was watching Emeril the other day and he used the phrase “Kick it up a Notch”.  It has been in my head for a while now.  Almost everyone I have talked to this week has mentioned something about how rough their week has been.  Vehicle trouble, marriage trouble, money trouble, attitude trouble… it goes on…     I too had the same kind of week last week. It felt like the bad, and the ugly in my life had been “kicked up a notch”, and” the good” I had forgotten about.  So I got control of my perspective over the weekend. It is amazing how when you stop and take a hard look.. things are never as bad as they seem.  You know you get that feeling where you know you need to stop and self-evaluate, but you also know it is going to mean you are going to have to get out of your whoa is me state of mind… and let’s face it .. we all like that state of mind sometimes.  So I did, realized ( as I already knew) how blessed I am.  Sometimes we have to remind ourselves of that.  So, we might have to get the car fixed, we may have to apologize to our spouse, we might even have to save money…   Big deal.. God will help us through it.  Anyway.. I have decided to “kick it up a Notch” myself… I am kicking up my determination to enjoy doing life together with my family and friends and not let the bad and the ugly take over.

Don’t Dwell on the Past August 9, 2010

Yesterday’s “At the Movies” series at Oasis was awesome.  The message that was brought out through the life of Johnny Cash really makes you think.  Especially about dwelling on the past.  A lot of us do that. We let the mistakes of our own and others dictate our future. We let it determine who we are instead of finding out who God says we are.  There is another side to dwelling on the past I was reminded of this morning. Isaiah 43:18 says “Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past.”  Sometimes we dwell on good things that were in the past that we should let go of also.  I know some people who dwell on who they were in high school. .. the head cheerleader or football player.   They seem to always be trying to get back to who they were in high school or some other good point in their lives.  Life moves forward and so should we. We shouldn’t be dwelling on the past, good or bad. We should be enjoying the life we are living right now.
It is hard to drive forward while looking in the rear view mirror!!

The Pursuit July 2, 2010

Hmmmm…. so how about the declaration of Independence says we have the right to the “pursuit of happiness”.  This is considered one of our unalienable rights. A right given to us by our Creator.  At least that is what the authors of the Declaration of Independence thought about it.  I thought it was weird that it didn’t say “life, liberty and happiness” nope.. “the pursuit of happiness”.  They already figured out that most of us spend our lives pursing happiness but never attain true joy.  Pursing the heart of God will make you realize that God’s heart for you is life, liberty and happiness. He wants you to be happy and love life. What a waste not to enjoy what God has given you.  Anyway, just thinking.. just a side note from what I talked about Wednesday night!

A Window of Perspective May 24, 2010

As I sit here at my desk today staring out my wonderful window, I can see the road, trees, beautiful sky and every now and then an airplane coming in for a landing or taking off.  I wonder about what Ethan and Eric are doing right now. I think about a grateful I am to have a nice office and great view. I use this window to gain a little perspective throughout my day. I may be really busy some days and take a minute to look out my window and remember how beautiful life is. I may be not so busy and look out my window to think about everyone else who is really busy and what else I could be doing right now to help them.  It helps me remember that outside that window is a great big world and for now, this moment, my place in this world is right here at this window; safe, sound and working.  I wish all of those that I love have their own little “window” today that helps them gain perspective on this amazing life God has blessed us with.  For now.. I am going to find a nice cup of coffee to enjoy at my window.

Life…….. April 28, 2010

Tonight.. I am talking about a passage of scripture that talks about remaining in the vine.  Lately, I have been contemplating a lot of things about my life.  You know how you get in those moods where you get to thinking if all of the things that you are doing are really what you should be doing.. and should it be more or less…  I constantly try to keep a balance in my life.  It can be very diffucult.  So.. what should I really be doing with my life.  Well, through this message that I was studying for tonight.. I realized… that I just need to be fruitful in all areas of my life.. and that brings glory to God.  Wow.. it is really simple.. why then does it seems such a struggle to make it not about works.. such a struggle to not be religous about things….

Just some of my random thoughts today!

Spring Fling April 15, 2010

Ok.. Spring has  sprung.  Pollen is everywhere!! Glad when that part is over.  Already this spring, I have been flung into a new career. Back into the business world I go.  Lots of changes, however it all seems so natural. I know that God definitely put it all together.  I must say that it was a very hard decision.  I struggled with having a secular career, especially as a very involved “Co-Pastor” of Oasis.  I mean could that really be the direction God was leading me to.  It is funny how things work out, my husband happens to be in a series called “Losing Your Religion”… I realized maybe that was just it.  Why couldn’t I be a successful Co-Pastor and have successful career.  Maybe in my mind I thought, or religion had taught me that I shouldn’t do that, that being a pastor’s wife meant I should always be there aggravating my husband !   Anyway, I am thankful for God using my husband through Oasis to not think so narrowly about what God can use me to do. 

So, here I go being flung into change… just thought I would share!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don’t Major on the Minor March 22, 2010

My husband said this Sunday in his message.  WOW!! How true is that.  We soooooo major on minor things.  It is so easy to get all wrapped up in all the stupid little stuff. I myself have caught myself fussing for a while about something small or getting frusterated over small stuff and then thinking.. wow that was a complete waste of time.  Focusing so much on small unimportant things takes our focus off of the important things.  Like if you complain and focus on all of your husband’s small flaws, then you start to get annoyed by them… you are missing the major picture! You are not focusing on all of the good about him! I know my husband didn’t marry me because I am perfect.  We all have flaws and most of us have more good qualities than bad, we should focus on the good!! It is funny how if we have a bad day, we focus on that.. we make a huge major deal about it and lose focus on the fact that now we are home with our wonderful families!! Let small things stay small!  The major things in my life should take their rightful place.. they are God, my family, church, work….  The minor things should stay minor..   Just a reminder (mainly to myself) keep the first things first!