Tuesday, January 29, 2013

God Gets the Applause

Saturday I nervously headed to the venue for our show alone. Brock was back at the hotel sleeping. Now that he's on 20 something day of his fast, he's a little weaker. Since we had two shows that day and he didn't sleep well the night before, I let him sleep in. The only problem is that I never go to an event without him. We usually have so much to do that it keeps the both of us very busy. How was I going to do this all by myself? I prayed that I would have the strength to pull off both of our jobs setting up. I quickly realized that I wasn't alone. The Lord was working alongside me making everything go smoothly. It was one of the easiest setups ever! The promotor was amazing. The production people were some of the best I've worked with. The bands going on before and after us were easy to work with. It was incredible! The most amazing part was when Brock gave the invitation. Where he lacks in physical strength, he more than makes up in spiritual strength. It is just powerful. My prayer always is that we will be dripping with the Holy Spirit. Right now, He's oozing from every pour of Brock's being. 144 people responded to the gospel. During the invitation, the students who remained in their seats jumped to their feet cheering on the ones who had decided to follow my Lord Jesus! We have received standing ovations before, but saturday, the One who truly deserves it got the applause!

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Best Birthday Since I was a Kid

I will remember yesterday's birthday forever. As I left my house to go have breakfast with a friend, Andrea Leachman was watching one of my Alias dvd's on our tv. I love those spy shows...lots of action and adventure! My breakfast with Emily was fun. As she got up to leave, she handed me an envelop saying, "Someone in the bathroom told me to give this to you." Before I could ask her any questions, Emily had left the restaurant. Inside the envelop was a note that said... "As a spy you must always find the clues and details. Remember your training, Agent! Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is this... Find as much intel as you can to locate the double agent in these pictures. We believe he has what we need in a briefcase that will be on his person. Watch for people you may recognize along the way. And no matter what, do not allow yourself to be followed during your mission!!!" The only other thing in the envelop was a picture of Brock with a dark hoody covering most of his face. I looked around the restaurant and did not see anyone I knew. I didn't know what to do, so I began to head for my truck. In the parking lot, Stephanie Smith was sitting in her car honking the horn and yelling, "Hurry! Get in!" She told me to get down because they might see me. I laid down in the passenger seat looking up at the sky as I was driven fast and crazily around town (I found out later that she did crazy eights in an empty parking lot). Then, she took me to a chocolate shop. After talking and eating a few truffles, she said, "You have been spotted! You need to change!" She handed me one of my t-shirts from the backseat and told me to put this on as she began driving us back through town. Before I could say that the shirt was brown and cream and I had on black pants, she said, "He said you have to put it on even if it doesn't match." (Brock knows that I have to match!) Then, she handed me a phone book and told me there was a message inside but it was in code. She took me to J Alexander's where my friend, Danielle Hunt and her baby were waiting for me. I got my favorite dessert in town, the carrot cake, while she ate a salad. Every now and then, she would look around the restaurant nervously. I would look wondering if Brock was there somewhere, but she would go back to talking. After the bill was paid, she said she received some random numbers but felt like it could help me. I looked up the corresponding numbers with the pages in the phone book and on each page, a word was circled. It said, "Party City location at Chicago pizza at 7:30." Then, Danielle said, "Hurry! You've been spotted!" She made me run to the parking lot next door to find a "familiar car" to get away in. After jumping over some bushes, I rounded the corner to see my truck in the parking lot. There was a note on the dash that said I had been spotted and needed to get to the safe house quickly! The gps was programmed to go to this "safe house." It took me to a guitar center. I parked and began to walk in when I saw my friend, Sherri Lynn Sickler sitting in her car by the entrance yelling, "Hurry, get in!" She did much like Steph by making me lay down and I had to change into my biker shorts and tennis shoes. She blindfolded me as she took me into a place that was wall to wall trampolines. We had a blast for an hour even though I looked ridiculous in my brown shirt and black spandex biker shorts. She dropped me off at my car where I found a movie ticket to see "Arno" at the theater in the same parking lot. I realized I only had 5 minutes to get there. When I got into the theater, Brock was sitting in the back. The movie was so on theme like the whole day had been. After the movie, we drove to a new Chicago pizza place in town where 12 other friends joined us for dinner. Right before dinner, I noticed a briefcase in Brock's hand and grabbed it from him! In it was a card and a gift for me. Brock had planned everything to the last detail even down to Alias was playing as I walked back into the house that night because he wanted me to start and end my day with it. He also had water bottles in the cup holders of the truck after I got out of the trampoline place because he knew I'd work up a thirst. He knows that I love adventure and I had an action packed day full of it! It was the best birthday ever!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Different Giftings

Recently, we were given some t-shirts to sell at our table. We are selling them in order to raise money for us to go to Africa and share the gospel. It's wonderful that we have been blessed with all of these t-shirts (more than 30 boxes worth), but someone has to go through them. Today is the day in which I do that. I began at about 8:15 this morning and just now got them all inside so that I can sort through them. It's going to be a while, but I can do this! Brock is going out into the woods today to hear God on vision for our ministry. I started to get overwhelmed by just some of the things Brock said that he was going to be praying about today. As I was walking out to the trailer to collect more t-shirts, I was praying about my overwhelming feelings. The Lord asked me, "Can you go through the t-shirts?" I thought, "Sure!" That's when the Lord told me that He wants Brock to pray about vision and me to go through t-shirts. I can handle that! It struck me funny the overwhelming look Brock had on his face as he saw all of the t-shirts piled up in the living room. It's a good thing the Lord gifts us all differently.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Reset My System

I'm a little sad that my fast is over. I was on a spiritual high like when you go on a retreat or to camp. Now, it's back to the real world. However, I still am carrying some new habits and ideas that I pray I can sustain for the rest of 2013. You know how you are supposed to love your neighbor as yourself, eat healthy, and pray unceasingly? You know you should, but you don't really want to. Your flesh goes...me, me, me. Since this fast, I've been craving those good things. The things I'm supposed to think about, I naturally do. The Lord has put that in me. Please pray that this continues in my life. I've reset my system, and I like it!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Outcome of the Fast

Today is the last day of my fast. Coming into it, I had goals. I was going to pray for our ministry and the book that I am writing to be successful and minister to people. These sound good because they can further the gospel of Jesus, blah, blah, blah. Here's the thing. Since I've begun the fast, I have barely thought about any of these things. Before fasting, I was obsessed with them. Now, I realize how self seeking I was coming into this. I was going to get the Lord's attention by fasting so that He would bless me. Instead, He got my attention and all I care about is Him. With that has come joy and peace, which is better than all the success in the world!

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

I Got My Joy Back

I was listening to a speaker several months ago who said, "Some of you need to get your joy back!" I thought, "That's me." Because of some circumstances, I was not feeling my usual jolly self. I began praying for joy and I'm happy to report that since I've been on this fast, I have been overflowing with it! I cannot contain my joy! I went to Walmart the other day and told the clerk who hated her job to have a great day! I wanted to rub some of it off on her. Brock's had the same experience. I almost tweeted, "If you need joy in your life, go on a fast." Yesterday, I went back through the notes from that message on getting your joy back and one thing I had written down stuck out to me. It read, "The key to having joy is obedience." Isn't it so like us to want to create a formula? Fasting=Joy. That's not it. Fasting for me and Brock equals joy just because that's what the Lord told us to do. It's the obedience not the fasting itself. For you, it is probably totally different. I encourage you to go out on that limb and be obedient to the Lord whatever it may be. The joy is worth it!

Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Called to Fast

A few months ago, Brock and I were running around a mile loop track in opposite directions (we were at different paces so decided to do it this way). As I was running, I was praying and felt like the Lord was telling me to go on a fast. As I thought more about it, I wondered when would be a good time and how long I should go. At that time, I felt the Lord telling me, "Don't worry. I'm telling Brock when and for how long." When Brock and I met up again after our runs, I couldn't hold it in, so I blurted out, "I think I should do a fast." Brock said a little surprised, "I was just thinking that!" When I questioned him on when, he said January 1st. When I questioned him on how long, he said 40 days. I thought, "Oh my! What have I gotten myself into?" Praise the Lord that he later told me that I should do 10 days and he would go for 40. I am on day 8 and it has been amazing!!! I'll tell you more later...

Thursday, January 03, 2013

Just Give Me Jesus

I'm doing the Beth Moore Bible study about James. I am coming to the end of the workbook and was questioned what I'd ask James when I see him in heaven. You know what I answered? After learning all about how he lead the church in Jerusalem and was called "righteous" and "camel knees," after hearing the mystery surrounding his death, I'd still ask him the same question I would before I began studying him. After hugging him (because I feel like I know him) I'd ask, "What was Jesus like when you grew up with him?" The fact is that the Bible is filled with wonderful characters, but they all dim in comparison to Jesus...just give me Jesus!