What a week

Almost Friday, almost the end of a stressful week in America.

On Monday, bombs went off at the Boston Marathon, reminding us that evil is real and sadness too.  Fear grips the hearts of so many and stories fill the media.  There continue to be news reports, about abortion doctors and blood and hatred and murder and explosions and sadness and loss. A pull for followers of Christ always exists - a pull to answer the question -

"Where do I stand?"  

I have searched my heart for answers. I am sure that as an american, a mom, a daughter, a cousin, a sister, that I would want an answer if I lost someone in such a violent way.  Would I be angry? Sure.

And I would want answers to the questions of WHY and HOW and what are we gonna do?  Revenge can easily stir in the hearts of those who are wronged.  But the call is always the low road.  Our flesh and emotion will always want the higher ground - to stand up and fight, to shout louder, to hit harder.

But is that always the answer?  Shouldn't our response always be Christ?  Not silent and small, or ignorant, or in a corner huddled in fear.  But strong in the knowledge of who He is and who we are in Him.

Strong in the knowing  that He has all things in His hand, and will take care of them in His perfect time.

We know that there is a time to speak, and a time to be silent.  There is a time for everything, according to Ecclesiastes 3.  And when we are asked for our stance, for our heart, may we all be ready.  And quick to embrace and be a refuge for those in need. 

I cannot put it any better than Ann Voskamp, author of 1000 Gifts did.

"For Christ followers, it's more than being pro-choice and pro-life - it's about always being pro-the-least-of-these."  

That just about sums it up.  There's no better time to LOVE.  And love for real.

<3 Christa

Footsteps

I heard a life changing word this weekend and just HAVE to share with you.
Maybe it will shine a light in your heart and bring a little encouragement. :)

I am BLESSED beyond measure to have such amazing leadership in my life.  I never knew how important it really was to have godly strong people speaking into me.  I pray I never take it for granted again. I don't know where I'd be without it...don't even wanna know.

Sitting under our Bishop and brother this Sunday, I heard his heart and deep cry. A heart for the body of Christ to come back to the heart of God.  To see Him as abba and daddy and not just a church service once a week or month or year.  A cry to see this generation come back to the Lord, really back to Him, and seek Him in prayer and devotion.



And then I heard another share a word given to him about "footsteps."  He shared that as he came to the end of himself, and cried out for change and strength to leave the past behind - REALLY behind - and despair at the thought of skeletons coming out of his closet and continuing to hold him back from what God wanted him to be and do.

He said that as he cried out he felt the Lord come and sit beside him in his vehicle. And the Lord directed him to the last verse of Psalm 23.

                    "...surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life...."

AHHHHHHHHHH!  How many times have I beat my head against the wall, hopeless and depressed and sad?  Wishing I would have known earlier that I was meant to change the world? That I had purpose and reason for living?  That I was loved NO MATTER WHAT and where I'd been?

It ISN'T the skeletons rattling, and it ISN'T the enemy on my tail.  It ISN'T my past or old demons or mistakes chasing me down, waiting for me to fall.

It's goodness and mercy, following me.  It's HIS promise to be present and always there.  My gratefulness for this revelation to my heart just can't fully be expressed on a blog or in words, but I am so happy to have a GOOD FATHER who knows my heart even when I can't speak it.

Hope you hear those footsteps today and every day too :)

<3  Christa