Priscilla Shirer's Blog, page 43

PSL SIMULCAST!!!!

This past weekend was INCREDIBLE! I was so amazed by God's grace and favor to a gathering of 50,000 women across the world. If you tuned into the simulcast, then you can probably join me in testifying to the great time we had in prayer, worship and the Word.

  

Remember to continue to pray for the request you took home from the event. There is another sister somewhere whose miracle is in your hands. Pray boldly for her and for her need. Our committment was to cover it for 7 days (from last Friday to this) but you are welcome to pray for the request as long as you'd like. I've honestly had a few that we collected at an event several years ago. They've been on my nightstand ever since.

The requests that were texted in during our simulcast are RIGHT HERE. Please look through this list, choose a few requests and offer them up to the Lord. My team and I are holding each of them in our hearts and minds each day.

I also wanted to take time to share the words to the prayer that we spoke over each other at the end of the simulcast. Many of you have tweeted me asking for it. I'm so glad that it encouraged you and I can't wait to pass it on to you. While these words are not exact, they sure are pretty close!

PRAYER. . .
God is preparing you . . . so surrender the process . . .God is taking you through.
SEPARATE yourself, then watch Him SUSTAIN you, then SHIELD you, and then SURPRISE you. Even when the going gets tough, always make the choice to PRAY IT ANYWAY. Then don’t let pride stop you.

GO THERE ANYWAY.

It’s time to move on – from water to oil. . from the natural to the supernatural.
God Spirit is alive and ever increasing in you.

May you see His grace and blessing and goodness alive and expanding in you from this day forward.
IN Jesus Name, AMEN.

Now, tell me which point from Elijah's story most spoke to YOU?

Can't wait to hear from you!

Priscilla

AWAKEN ROLL CALL!!

Next week, I get to do one of my favorite things OF ALL TIME - gather with 3000 of my closest friends for AWAKEN! I'm looking so forward to seeing all of you who have registered to come to this unique, free, evening event that is open to all but specifically dreamed up for women of my hometown - Dallas/Ft. Worth!

While our goal is to BLESS YOU. . . an huge part of our purpose is to BLESS OTHERS!!!!

This time, we're focusing on Reach4Hope – an amazing ministry that is nurturing the inner city youth of Dallas. Young people who might not have access to simple yet needful things like homework assistance, hygiene products, clean clothing or ample food supply are finding safe refuge, Christian influence and mentoring through this ministry.

Together, we can help.

Bring these items with you to Awaken:

1. School supplies: pencils, backpacks, lined paper, crayons, markers

2. Hygiene products: soaps, toothpastes, toothbrushes

 

     

Be as generous as you possibly can and remember, no donation is too small. Whether you are coming to Awaken or not, this ministry is worth looking into. Please visit them here. You’ll be glad you did! They are fantastic people with a passionate ministry.

I’m going straight to Costco to buy my donations in bulk and then I’ll meet you at First Baptist Dallas on April 8th!

If you registered your friends for Awaken, please forward this blog post to them so that they’ll know about our plan, ok?

OK . . .TIME FOR ROLL CALL! If you are coming to Awaken leave your name, the area of town you're coming from and what you are looking forward to most about the gathering!

Can't wait to see you!

Priscilla S.

@AwakenDFW

P.S…In case you are wondering, registration is now closed for this event. But please plan to join us on October 21st for our next gathering at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano!!!

The Resolution for Women Recap

We have come to the end of our Resolution For Women Podcasts. It's been such a joy and challenge to walk through these resolutions with you these past 7 weeks. We’ve discussed topics that have challenged us to dig deep and really face the tougher issues that aid us in reflecting our full purpose and potential. These resolutions involve discipline and self-sacrifice, but can be accomplished as we allow the Word of God to nurture us and the Spirit of God to empower us.

We’ve discussed being satisfied and authentic in our daily walk; and living a life of integrity and being a blessing to those that around us. We've also talked about fulfilling our husband and loving our children. These 7 resolutions are just a few taken from The Resolution For Women book. Missed a resolution or need to revisit one in particular? Click here.

Now, I’d love to hear from you!

Which of the seven resolutions have been the most challenging for you?
Which one have you made the most progress in?
What changes have you seen in your life as you've moved forward with resolve?

Go ahead, post a comment below and feel free to encourage another sister as well.

God is calling you to a new season. And even though our 7 weeks of resolution are over, I encourage you to continue making each resolution a part of your everyday life.

So blessed to do life with you. You are fiercely loved!

Priscilla

Guest Blogger: Dr. Caroline Leaf | Poison in the Pasta

Every now and then I find myself in a setting where I'm surrounded by particularly smart people.

I'm never quite sure how it happens.

Like last month, when I was asked to join a panel with four other women. We were perched on stools in front of 10,000 women. It was fun. But, I'll admit that there were several points when the topic turned to indepth theological issues that completely baffled me. I just sat there nodding and smiling and trying to look . . .well. . smart.

Ha.

Not sure it worked. I'm pretty sure my response to one particular topic gave me away. Everyone - and I do mean everyone . . .like. . in the whole world - looked my way just in time to see me shrug my shoulders and say, "I have no idea".

Thankfully, everyone was gracious and just moved on.

Dr. Caroline Leaf is smart. Being in the presence of this brilliant neuro-scientist is worth the drive (or flight) to get there. Every time I've heard her speak or have read a chapter of one of her books, I come away puzzled - not because I can't understand what she's talking about but because I can.

I CAN!

Everyone can.

This woman travels the world showing regular folks, like you and me, how the brain, science and the Bible intersect. She breaks down deeply scientific topics about the brain into bite size pieces that any brain (even ours) can digest. Then she hands you Scripture and shows you how to put them to work to reformat and renew your thinking.

She's a gift to the world.
If you don't know her yet, it'll do your brain good to make her acquaintance.

So glad she's with us today.

Enjoy :)

Priscilla

Like an expert chef, we can choose to put only tasty thoughts (Philippians 4:8) and feelings into our cells. Perhaps when we recognize that putting toxic thoughts into our brains is like putting poison into our pasta, we will understand why God exhorts us to control our thought life; putting healthy thoughts into our minds is akin to that dash of fresh basil on top of the simmering bed of rich, luscious lasagna. Moment by moment, each and every day, as we think, choose and wire thoughts into our brains, we are poisoning or strengthening our immune system, body and mind, which will, whether we want it to or not, have an impact on our spiritual development!

The fact of the matter is that when we meditate on good things, and not on toxic, poisonous things, we increase the gamma waves in our brains, which means we increase our attention, memory and learning capacities. Research has shown that with healthy thinking we build up portions of our brain that produce happiness, just as healthy, fresh ingredients can make a pasta so much more delicious. Moreover, science also shows that meditating on good things, like what the bible teaches or a good classic, improves moods in a far superior way than antidepressants, and with no poisonous side effects! In truth, when it comes to aging, research has shown that older people with healthy attitudes and NOT toxic poisonous ones lived seven and a half years longer! Now that is my kind of pasta!

Additionally, the thoughts we put into our brains have powerful genetic effects on the production of healing proteins in our bodies, just as the ingredients we use in a pasta dish will affect our health. What you think, feel, and believe constantly changes the genetic expression and chemical composition of your body on a moment-by-moment basis. High stress levels – the result of poisonous toxic thoughts- suck biochemical resources away from cell repair and kill brain cells, as would a dish of poisonous, bitter pasta. With over 1400 chemical reactions and more than thirty hormones shifting chaotically in response to toxic thinking, what was good can become really, really bad–a poisonous concoction, indeed!

The expert chef understands that he can control the quality and ingredients of his food, and he understands that what he makes will not just affect himself but those individuals who are relying on his expertise, and are looking forward to a good meal. The same can be applied to our brains: when you begin to understand that with every feeling and thought you are performing epigenetic and genetic engineering on your DNA, you realize you actually have a degree of leverage over your mental and physical health that can make a critical difference to your life…and the lives of those around you.

When you “bring your thoughts into captivity to Christ Jesus” and “choose life”, you intervene consciously with positive emotions, thoughts and prayers. Besides making you feel good, these healthy “ingredients” benefit your body, modulating your gene expression towards a better life, mentally, physically and spiritually. This peak is different for everyone and we shouldn’t compare ourselves. Random life situations and events are generally beyond our control, but we can control our reactions, which are thoughts, to these situations. So, no matter how sick or how many problems we currently have, we have the ability to CHOOSE our thoughts with their embedded feelings, and select those that support peak mental, spiritual and physical vitality.

Bon appétit, and remember: no more poison in the pasta!

Dr. Leaf

Loving My Children - Podcast

love     noun    /lev/

an intense feeling of deep affection

a feeling of warm personal attachment, as for a parent or child

Initial thoughts about having children typically conjures up fantasies of cute little clothes, play dates, and quiet, cooing moments in the dim light of their bedrooms. So it can be a harsh reality for mothers to realize that their main priority as parents is not to share laughs and Oreos with their kids but to shepherd them. A parent's job is to lead their children with intentionality, guiding them toward becoming men and women of distinction, filled with integrity, girded with responsibility, and firmly rooted in a love for and honor of God.

With the birth of each of my children, I become more and more aware of the incredible mixture of responsibility and privilege involved in raising these boys. In the midst of long, tiring days and frequently even longer nights, seeing my efforts through the lens of eternal ramifications began to change my perspective. These little men, after all, are my chief way of reproducing God’s image on earth, proliferating the agenda of the Father Himself through little human beings who will hopefully become leaders of their own homes one day.

Our sons and daughters are to be like “arrows…in the hand of a mighty man” (Psalm 127:4 KJV) – sharpened, directed, and sent forth into the world to accomplish the tasks for which they were divinely created. This won't just happen on it's own. It will require the loving, dilligence of a mother . . .who has made a resolution.

This week's resolution:

I will demonstrate to my children how to love God with all their hearts, minds, and strength, and will train them to respect authority and live responsibly.

No matter how challenging or how discouraging this resolution may cause you to feel or how many years you think you’ve already wasted, now is a good time to start. Whether you have toddlers or teenages, your resolution to be the kind of parent who is purposeful and dilligent will be worth it.

Every day.

Every month.

Every year.

Questions to ponder as you listen to the podcast below:

How can you creatively live your Christian life openly before you children?

This question is for everyone, but single mom, you especially: Who are some people who can help walk alongside you in this highly challenging resolution?


If you are not a parent, consider your own upbringing.If your parents were overly indulgent, how did this affect you? What if they were too strict?

Blessings,

Priscilla

Enjoy the podcast below.  You can also listen to previous podcasts here.

Guest Blogger: Holly Wagner | Hope is a Building Block of Our Life

If there is one word I could use to describe Holly Wagner it would be "hope-filled" (I guess that's two words). A wife, mom, pastor, teacher, author and cancer survivor, Holly has chosen a life of hopeful anticipation firmly rooted in her God and in His abundant love.

Just one encounter with her and you'll know it's true. Her smile lights up a room like the Christmas Tree in Rockerfella Plaza. Her cheerful spirit is contagious and brings joy to any and everyone she encounters.
Namely me. Not just once but over and over again.

The encouragement that she and her husband, Phillip, offer to thousands through their ministry is a beautiful sight to behold. As they co-pastor the Oasis Church in Los Angeles and parent two young adult children (one of whom just walked down a wedding aisle last month) they never cease to be bold in their faith, vulnerable with their story and generous in their grace toward others.

Holly has written several books and made many memorable television appearances. And, whether on a platform in front of a listening audience or one-on-one over a cappacino, you'll love this great woman of faith.

Enjoy her guest blog post today. It'll fill you up with the hope and resillience you need to look forward and move on.

Love this God-chick and you will too.

Priscilla

Eight and a half years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. There were moments of fear, and hopelessness. The more I learned, the more I wondered if I had what it would take to get healthy. Could I handle the treatment? Could I make the necessary changes?

There were times when my marriage just seemed to be in a hopeless place. We seemed to be so disconnected; we were just too different, and Philip was not changing. (No matter how hard I tried to make that happen!) My needs weren’t being met, and as I looked into the future I was discouraged.

And honestly, there have been moments in parenting when hopelessness crept in. When they were really young, I wasn’t sure I had enough time in the day! And then as they grew up, I really wondered if I had what it took to raise them to love God and fulfill their purpose. When they made mistakes, I took the failures personally (very bad idea, btw!) and felt hopeless.

In each of those three situations I moved from feeling hopeless to being determined to have a life brimming over with hope. There was no magic pill I swallowed. It was a decision. I found Bible verses that related to each situation and spoke them out loud…lots of times. I spoke them until my feelings were no longer in control. It didn’t happen overnight…but it did happen!

Romans 15:13 (MSG)

May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!

As we build our lives, we have to determine to be hope-filled.
God builds our destiny in the same way buildings are built. It takes time. It doesn’t go from steel frame to finished building in one day.

And perhaps Jeremiah 29:11 is the blueprint for our lives.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

One of the dictionary definitions of hope is: to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.

What are you expecting?

How do you talk about your future?

How do you talk about your husband?

How do you talk about the desires of your heart?

What are you hoping for?

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hope has to do with what is unseen. Hope is the happy anticipation of what we don’t have right now.

Hope is not a feeling.

Hope is a decision.

Remember we are building our lives, and hope is an essential building block!!

xoxo

Fulfilling My Husband - Podcast

It was about five weeks before my wedding day, and I was on cloud 9. A dear friend invited me out for a pre-wedding lunch. I arrived with an empty stomach and a full heart to celebrate. Except, her mood was not as festive as I’d been expecting. I could tell that she’d come to talk about something far more serious that flowers and bridesmaid dresses.

"Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

"Huh?" I was startled.

She knew my future husband well. They were great friends and she thought he’d be a wonderful husband for me. To top it off, she was convinced that Jerry and I genuinely loved each other. So, it wasn't that she didn't like him.

It’s just that she…was married.

Not miserably so. Just realistically so. She was no longer blinded by butterflies and wistful illusion of romantic splendor.

She wanted me to hear the truth. The success of this new partnership was going to require a firm resolution. I couldn’t go into marriage thinking only about how much he was going to do for me. I also needed to think about how I would serve him, esteem him, build him up, and honor him. Was I ready to give the time and energy, the emotional effort and attention that would be required to keep myself contented and my husband satisfied even when I didn’t feel like it?

Even when I thought that he didn’t deserve it?
I've been married for nearly 15 years now so, I am well aware of how daunting a challenge it might be for you to take me up on this resolution regarding marriage. No way am I pretending this is a piece of wedding cake (pun intended :). But the fact remains, fulfilling your spouse is an admirable, biblical aspiration worth striving to achieve no matter what state you may find yourself and your marriage in today.

I, like you, am on a journey – still learning and growing as I experience daily life with my own husband. And yet observation and personal testimony are teaching me that this resolution will often result in good things for your relationship.

Here's our resolution:

I will be faithful to my husband and honor him in my conduct and conversation in order to bring glory to the name of the Lord. I will aspire to be a suitable partner for him to help him reach his God-given potential.

Listen to today's podcast and ponder these questions:

Would you say you have accepted the responsibilities marriage has required, or resisted them?

List some of your husband’s characteristics that you wish would change but likely will not. Now write down the way YOU can change to adapt to your husband’s characteristics if these attributes are never altered.
“A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands” (Proverbs 14:1). What are some practical ways you can begin to “build your house”?
If your friends were to describe your husband, based solely on your comments and conversations about him, what would their depiction be?
Thanks for making resolutions with me.

Such an honor to do life with you. 

Priscilla

Enjoy the podcast below.  You can also listen to previous podcasts here.

Guest Blogger: Lisa Young | 10 Commandments of Marriage

The thing is. . . there's more to Lisa Young than meets the eye. Much more. Just like any really good cup of coffee - you don't know how sweet, filling, soothing and nourishing it can be until you take a few frothy sips.

Many know her as the other half of her larger-than-life spouse, Ed. She's been by his side since day one - well actually long before there was a "day one" in their ministry which now reaches millions of people via their television broadcast and best-selling books.

They met as young teens and have been in love ever since. Their effervescent personalities and unconventional techniques have reached a whole new world of people for Jesus.

And Lisa. . . she's that rich, robust, flavourful cup o' joe I reference early. Her words of wisdom reveal a deep seated, solidly rooted relationship with Jesus that has been the core of her marriage, years of motherhood (she's raised four children) and success in ministry. Every shred of insight she shares nourish you with grace and wisdom. They lead you quietly but intentionally to the right place - a holy place.

This woman is juggling a full schedule of thriving women ministry programs through Fellowship Church, keeping her man contented at home, advising her young adult children and balancing her own personal speaking and teaching ministry. To top it all off, she has a fierce sense of fashion that'll make your eyes water with . . well. . .fierce-ness.

Today, she shares with us the bedrock of her marriage to Ed. This is the simple, foundation that keeps the most important thing they've build in tact. It'll make you warm inside. Just like a smooth, buttery latte should. :)

Read this. . .and then go buy her fantastic book for incredible insights from this fantastic woman.

Enjoy,

Priscilla

I had an amazing time last week with Priscilla, Lois Evans, and Stephanie Carter discussing the importance, priority, and reality of marriage and ministry with other Pastors’ wives! It was so refreshing to talk openly and honestly about the issues that we all face as we seek to not only sustain, but to strengthen our marriages, our families, and our ministries.

As wives committed to godly marriages, we have been placed in a unique role – one that is ordained by God – to help our husbands and our families achieve all that God has planned for us. We have the ability to provide encouragement, reflect holiness, and display godliness through our marriage to the world around us. One of the most important aspects of that is our ability to present a unified front with our husbands.

The Bible speaks to this in Genesis when it proclaims that a husband and wife “will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). It’s that word “become” that tells to you and me that this will be an ongoing process. In other words, a great marriage doesn’t just happen.

As Lois so poignantly reminded us, an effective, successful, and healthy marriage is all about honest, open, and loving conversation with our husbands. It is when we work together that we move forward as ONE.

My husband Ed and I have tried to live this out for the past 32+ years of our marriage. We don’t have a perfect marriage, but we have one that is built on faith, trust, communication, love, and dedication to one another. One of the things I brought up in my recent discussion when it comes to this is something we have written in our book, Sexperiment. We call it our “10 Commandments of Purity”.

Developing the level of security in marriage that supports oneness is intentional and deliberate. So we developed this list of commandments for our own marriage in order to stay ahead of any hint of impropriety in our marriage. These commandments, coupled with our wedding vows, give us both a sense of security in marriage that helps strengthen oneness. I encourage you to sit down with your husband, talk about these together, and then develop your own list!

10 Commandments of Purity

1) I shall have no other human relationship before Lisa/Ed.

2) Remember date night and keep it holy.

3) Honor Lisa/Ed on anniversaries and special days so that I may live long in the land the Lord has given me.

4) I shall not take the covenant of marriage in vain.

5) I shall not ride in a car or eat in a restaurant alone with a member of the opposite sex.

6) I shall not travel alone.

7) I shall not counsel with a member of the opposite sex alone behind closed doors.

8) I shall not share the details of my marriage with others.

9) I shall not watch, read or expose myself to sexually explicit shows, books, websites, etc.

10) I shall remember the implications of committing adultery.

The world is dying to see true, authentic, high definition marriages. The world is dying to see high definition love, high definition forgiveness and high definition unselfishness. Where are they going to see it? They will see it in our marriage and yours and every other couple who puts Christ at the center of their marriage.

Lisa

My Integrity - Podcast

I pray you’ve been enjoying the resolution podcasts for the past several weeks now. If you’ve missed any of the podcasts, you can click here to listen to the previous posts. The resolutions that we have been discussing together are just a few that can be found in a book I had the honor of writing - The Resolution for Women.

in·teg·ri·ty   noun   /inˈtegritē/

the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles

the state of being whole and undivided

Today’s resolution is all about having integrity. It's about living out the highest standards of virtue and purity and not allowing evil influences into our lives, even in the most justifiable form.

Even in the most justifiable form.

That phrase can really cause a noticeable, involuntary flinch. We might not have much trouble avoiding the conspicuously evil things, the outright no-no’s. It’s just those undercover, low-key matters, the ones that cloak themselves in the guise of entertainment – those are the ones that hook us. They’re quiet. Too comfortable and familiar, really, to be asked to leave.

There’s no doubt that this resolution calls for an intimate, introspective look at what’s going on in our hearts and homes. It touches on some of those allowances we make behind closed doors, in the quiet of our dens and living rooms, where laziness and leniency have been known to hang around after dinner and stay up into the wee hours.

It can be seen in the television shows we’ve watched, the novels we’ve lost ourselves in, the magazines that have laced our coffee tables, or the music we’ve pumped through our headphones and car speakers.

It requires authenticity to make a resolution like this. It takes honesty to recognize that these things and activities we’ve been sanctioning with our time and attention are a glaring contradiction of who we are and what we believe. Instead of being repulsed by certain behaviors and grieved at the lies being foisted on our generation, we sometimes find ourselves more accepting of them, willing to watch and laugh, considering them suitable viewing with a side of popcorn.

Each case of compromise can dull and mute our spiritual sense, if even just for a little bit. If ignored and allowed, they represent even more – a deliberate refusal to grant God access to that particular area of your life.

Here's our resolution this week:

I will not tolerate evil influences even in the most justifiable form, in myself or my home, butwill embrace and encourage a life of purity.

If this resolution seems to be a challenge for you or even an ongoing dilemma (as it is for most of us), then do this: commit to being sensitive and responsive to any conviction the Spirit may be impressing on your hearth in regard to one particular pursuit, decision, or activity this week. Listen to His promptings. Don’t ignore His leadings. Be willing to change your temporary wants for His much better alternative as He directs you.

His goal is not to steal your fun but to position you as a clean, pure, available recipient of His best, most fulfilling blessings.

Here are a few questions to ponder as you listen to the podcast:

Is there an area of your life that you'd be embarrassed or ashamed for others to find out about?
How would a deeper, more vulnerable, more comprehensive type of accountability be of use to you in maintaining a high level of integrity? What would that look like, and would you be willing to submit to it?

Bless you,

Priscilla

Enjoy the podcast below:

Guest Blogger: Jennie Allen | The Implications of God

I like messages that are clear and yet complex all at the same time. When I open a book or lend my ear to hear a sermon, I want to walk away knowing exactly what the teacher's point was while still having to ponder and contemplate and weigh the thoughts they shared.

That's how I feel after learning from Jennie Allen. She's a deep thinker. Yet somehow she's practical and plain - breaking down mind bending equations to their simple parts.

The first time I encountered Jennie she was just a face on the back cover of a book. I held her Bible study resource in my hand and admired the title and the cover design - simple, clean, inviting, bold. The book was called "Stuck". She has a penchant for one-word titles (Anything. Restless). They draw you in and then wrap you up in full and robust insights that change your life forever.

That's what Jennie is all about. Life change. She believes in the power of God and His Word to do just that. And she and her husband have devoted their lives to being used by the Lord to impact as many people as they can. They are beautiful people.

So, get to know Jennie. Her blog post below is a great place to start.

Enjoy it. I certainly have :)

Priscilla

Face in my hands. Elbows on the table. My husband was sitting across the table at our lovely unsuspecting Italian restaurant, he pushed in close but I didn’t have words to define the tears hitting the table. He knew. More than 2 years ago we prayed a prayer and it’s repercussions were everywhere.

“God - we will do anything.”

Our anythings…. seem to be costing us everything. Nothing about our previously sane lives are the same. In the last year we have given up all control and God has taken us up on those simple naive little words.

Since we prayed, God led us to adopt a 3 and a half year old little boy from Rwanda making us a family of 6, sell our house, merge our church, turn over leadership and our roles and write/ live 3 projects in the last year for publication and that isn’t all…. so we are tired and empty.

Ironically, I was leaving the next day to interview for a book that was honestly the cause of all of it…Anything. And yet I couldn’t remember why we were doing any of it… I was so tired and unsure of myself and worst of all, God felt far far away.

As my husband pushed in, he whispered, “It’s been a hard year.” And strangely it was comforting to admit that following God was hard.

…but would I take it back?

God’s very existence demands these words… if we find ourselves at the feet of a God who made us and then set us in our space on this planet for a few days that He spoke into being, what other life are we to lead than the one He wrote for us. And if it costs us everything, comfort and approval and control and easy…for a little while?

Jesus did this…. He lived all in and sold out, with one foot in heaven and one on this earth. And with eternity clear in His mind He said,

“For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” John 6:38

The implications of knowing His Father was simply to obey Him.

So the implications for us are the same, keep our heads down and listen and do what He says, even if it leads to crying over our pasta sometimes.

And He will probably say things like…

“Give the lunch that you just got from the Chick-fil-a drive-thru, to the woman with the cardboard sign outside your car window.”

“Ease up on your kids - I am not this hard on you - and I am God.”

“Get rid of what you don’t need and don’t keep chasing stuff, because you won’t be here long.”

“Encourage and remind each other that I am real and, and that I’m worth it. I promise.”

“Come back to me everyday. I’m really here. I really see you.”

We aren’t going to take it back…I would rather have nights that hurt than disobey. And underneath all the hard, is a life that I wouldn’t trade anyway. I love my anythings…. even the hardest ones.

- Jennie