Expect the Unexpected

We often expect certain things. When God gives you a vision for your life and it burns a desire so deep in you that you can't let it go, its hard not to think about it. Many times on our journey of God's will we wonder "will I miss Him?" or "Is this God?" We ask, "Do I do this or do that?" What about, "Maybe THIS is the open door I need".

I am learning the hard way that God will hardly take the road that we expect. I know based on God's Word who He is and that He will do what He says He will do. What I don't always know is "the how" and I think He likes it like that.

Often times my mentors will say, "You aren't trusting God with this". On the contrary, I do trust God with all of it. What I don't trust is that I won't hear Him and miss His leading. I confess I have a fear of wandering in the desert for years wondering when the heck I will get to the promised land. A vision from God is a promise though so don't give up on the vision.

I am learning to expect that God will bring our visions to pass if we surrender and wholeheartedly follow Him. While we wait for His timing we have several things that we need to do:

1) Seek Him and not the vision. Our relationship with Him is more important to Him than anything He has destined us to do. Without that intimacy we are not supernaturally equipped to do anything. Being set on the end result and not a relationship makes the vision an idol.

2) Understand that while waiting we are in "prep mode". God is refining us and the holding pattern is ultimately for our protection.

3) Realize that any closed door or lack of support means that the season of learning in that area may have ended. Just because it seemed logical to us why we were placed where we were placed is probably the very reason God shut the door. He likes to be God and do miraculous things so no man can boast.

If you feel your vision is a faded off dream. Hold on to the promise of being used by God in a mighty way. Get excited that He is calling a "time out" because you ARE headed in the right direction. He is just moving things in place.

Don't be discouraged if the very people you thought would embrace your passion don't see what God sees. You are in great company. Joseph's brothers threw him in a pit. As harsh as that was they actually helped him realize the vision they were jealous he had. Don't be offended or get side lined because of that. They may not be against you, they could only take you so far in God's journey.

Joseph had a God given vision but then he ended up in a pit and then prison. His vision eventually came to pass. Embrace where you are at. Seek Him during this season for clarity on what He is doing and for a deeper time of intimacy. Then expect the unexpected.

INtegrity or OUTegrity Part 2

Psalm 19:14 says "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

I am learning that God will allow situations to arise in our lives that will bring our heart issues to the surface. He doesn't do it so that we become resentful bitter gossips. He does it so that we can bring our issues to Him. Sometimes we think we have dealt with things like fear, anxiety, rejection or abandonment. Our spiritual life is in a great place and its smooth sailing. Then all of a sudden we hit a perfect storm and familiar feelings we thought were long gone resurface.

God uses these opportunities to draw us to Him to deal with hidden issues of our heart. I confess I struggle with resentment and bitterness when I feel rejected. In order to "feel better" I talk...too much and usually not positive uplifting things either. I prayed to be delivered from rejection because it hinders me and my ministry. Why was I so shocked when I was given beyond normal opportunities to walk them out with INtegrity?

So what do you do? You share your feelings with a few close trustworthy friends. They must hold you accountable and encourage you in the painful refinement God is trying to bring about. Confess your sin of bitterness, anger, revenge, whatever it is, to God and to those you trust. Next, meditate on the Word of God. You don't let it leave your sight. You replace the thoughts in your head with the promises of God. Let them penetrate your heart. Then you speak them out loud. Sometimes all I can say is "the power of God is alive and working in me". It's a powerful confession that will flow OUT and it beats unloading negativity.

God says He is your Lord, your Rock and your Redeemer. He will deliver you, He will vindicate you. Keep your eyes fixed on Him and your mouth speaking forth His Truth so that they are pleasing to Him.

Then relax and be confident that He who began a good work in your will carry it on to completion.

INtegrity or OUTegrity

I heard a teaching once that "INTEGRITY" is what you do when no one is looking. That proves that integrity is a heart issue. Often times I make the decision to walk in integrity. Be the bigger person, act like Jesus, be holier, ooze God's grace. But what I am really exercising is OUTegrity. I am going through motions because it is what I "should" do. In the recesses of my heart though I am fighting my flesh.

I am pretty sure in those moments where I "faked it", I neglected to ask God to forgive my attitude. I wanted Him to bless my actions. Some examples would be bitterness or my judgmental/critical attitude or whatever was on my "emotional menu" at the time. I have "acted"(and still do at times...insert friends nodding their heads here) like I am fine with a situation when I really am not. I confess I "chose" to take the high rode when in my heart and head I was kicking and screaming the entire way.

Let's face it. When you are "faking it" you become more resentful if you don't bring it to God to be dealt with. Luke 6:45 says, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."

We need to work out the issues of the heart so that our mouth will speak good things and that we really mean the good things we say. Words that are edifying and encouraging. Words that build each other up not tear each other down. Words that heal not hurt.

God gave us His grace. In turn we are to extend it to others. If we are "stuck" and we find ourselves "faking it" we aren't fooling God. Use Matthew 18 as a directive if you have been hurt or offended. If that is not possible then forgive as you have been forgiven. (It could be a daily process as you replay the offense over and over, God's Word will win eventually!)

Don't fake the "I am above reproach" approach. We are all human. We all fall short. Be honest with God and seek HIM to work on your heart. You aren't fooling Him anyway. INtegrity will last and Outegrity will be a passing fad.

FAITH

F - forgetting what is seen and looking to the unseen, that is what is eternal!
A - accepting that God is in control & His way works
I - including time into your day to read His Word & pray
T - trusting He loves you and that His promises are true
H - Holding the hand of the one who loved you enough to die for you even when we don't understand.


We are all given a measure of faith. It is up to you to determine if your faith will grow or dwindle. Take captive the thoughts you have in your situation and compare them to what God has said to you and about you. It is there you will choose who and what to believe.

Be determined to see God's hand in your situation. What is happening may be quite painful. Can you find God's goodness in the midst of it? Can you think back to when God was faithful and came through for you. Praise Him for what He has done and thank Him in advance for what He is doing. HE IS the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. God is faithful to the faithful!

White Water Rafting

We celebrated Mike and Sydney's birthdays this year by going white water rafting. I was excited but somewhat nervous. Then I sat in the "safety session" and oozed with fear. I literally prayed that the three of us would be safe and no one would fall out of the boat. When I heard the course contained water pressure from 6 pumps, one of which could fill an olympic pool in 20 seconds, my fear over took me.

Please God don't let us die. Please God don't let any of us have broken bones...and the list went on. When we were assigned our guide I started to laugh. His name was Noah. OK God, thanks for your humor! I told the guide I felt a bit less nervous because Noahs have good reputations when it comes to boats and alot of water.

As I sat down on the side of the raft I was once again put at ease. Noah's name was written on his oar. His real name...NOAH GODBEY....I could not make that up if I tried. So again I laughed and felt that God was comforting me. I was thankful to be sitting right in front of Noah and did not mind one bit that he screamed his instructions into my left ear.

We hit the waves and the rocks and it was a wild ride. Noah boomed instructions with his stern voice. He did that to ensure no one got tossed from the boat. "I want to be sure the people in the front of the boat can hear me", he explained. "It's no fun pulling people out" so I yell loud enough for the front of the raft to hear me. I am firm because "I want to avoid danger."

As my heart palpatations were increasing with rapids I felt God say "You are safe, no one will get hurt, I want to teach you something." I forced myself to trust God and Noah and I really had a great safe experience. It occurred to me that this is how we should be in life. When the wind and the waves hit, we need to be close to the source. The closer we are to "The Guide" the easier it is to hear His instructions. His desire is to keep everyone on course. His instructions are to keep everyone safe so that no one "falls out of the boat". It is no fun to get swept downstream and there are hazards that await you. Our Guide cares so much for us that He will scream the instructions so we can hear him, even if we aren't positioned close to Him. The question is are you listening to Him or the crashing waves?

Stick close to God so you can hear His instructions when you have a storm in your life. You may be able to look back and see what God was trying to teach you without needlessly injuring yourself!

Love Deepens

I would like to wish my husband a very happy 13th anniversary (June 1st). I am thankful for you and for all that God has done in our lives. I read this quote and hope it inspires others to stick with it. I thank God we did!

We have often said that we would not choose to go back to some of the early days of our marriage. Too often, early love is a marriage built on day dreams. Love deepens with understanding and varying viewpoints expand and challenge one another. So many things improve with age. Those who abandon ship the first time it enters a storm miss the calm beyond. And the rougher the storms weathered together, the deeper and stronger real love grows. Ruth Graham

Thankful

Several years ago I sat in a church office trying to pitch my passion to bring the Love and Respect Conference to Charlotte. I explained that 2 days before our meeting I had an actual dream where I saw Dr. Emerson on stage at Calvary Church and it was filled with people. There was a chuckle amongst those in the room. Someone said "well if you dreamed it it must be true..haha". A year later I spoke with Dr. Emerson and told him I had a dream about him coming to Charlotte, he asked where he was in the dream. I said "Calvary Church". He did not laugh at me. His response was "then that is where it will be".
I am thankful for my friend Cheyenne Schultz for taking this picture. It's exactly what I saw in my dream. I am grateful to have this as a reminder that God given dreams come true! 2929 people from 24 states to be exact.

As we celebrate Easter I want to thank God for sending His only Son to die for our sins. I want to give praise and thanksgiving to Jesus for suffering on our behalf. I give thanks to the Holy Spirit for guiding us and comforting us and leading us into Truth. I am grateful to Dr. Emerson & Sarah Eggerichs and their team whose passion for marriages and heart to hear and obey God resurrected my marriage and thousands of others!

I pray that you all know the resurrection power for those who believe!

Happy Easter!!

The Outcome

Well sorry for the delay on the outcome for the conference! Here is what you witnessed or missed depending on if you were there or not.

2929 people from 24 states attended the Love & Respect Conference!!!Throughout the entire event all I could say to Mike was .."look at all the people...look at what God did!!"

The testimonies are still coming in! THANK YOU GOD!!!


If God gives you a dream or a vision and it looks impossible...stick with Him and don't give up!! HE WILL bring it to pass!

As soon as I get some pictures I will post them!

Love & Respect Conference!!!!!!!

OK...I have been a bit busy....but here is the deal:

Is your marriage great? It can be better! Is it mediocre? Take it to a new level! Is it over? Give God a shot! Check out more here.

The Love and Respect Conference
February 13 and 14th, 2009
Calvary Church, Charlotte, NC

Sign up today! It saved my marriage!


Ephesians 5:33

Husbands must love their wives as Christ loved the church, wives must respect their husbands.


Hope to see you there!

Lisa