At 18 I sat in a crowded stadium hungry for revival. Angelic music flooded the loud speakers and a Preacher appeared in all white. I swear it was as if he floated into the stadium as wind was blowing his hair and clothes. It was as if this holy moment was super…. horrible. It was like he was trying to be God, which to this day makes me want to silly string his outfit and let him know he doesn’t have to prove himself with all the nonsense.
PreachersNSneakers is a new instagram account that puts Christian preachers on blast for spending their dollar-dolla bills on their sneaks.
A few years ago I publicly talked about the depression battle my hot-surfer husband was facing. It was the first time we had agreed to share those struggles in hopes it may help someone. When the interview podcast was over, I did that introvert thing where you mentally play back all the words you said and regret saying almost all of them. My playback was turning into a loud, uncomfortable record scratch.
A few months ago I attended a meeting with leaders in our community.
One person spoke up, passionately communicating a painful situation that needed justice. Through tears, this person closed their plea with a quiet shrug and a whisper “…. but that’s just my opinion, so do what you want.”
My fist found it’s way to the table with a loud thud.
I feel as if the the Lord is saying in 2019 He will bring great victory. We (the church body) can’t craft it, create it or manifest it. It’s through the grace, might and power that He brings it. This victory is NOT ABOUT US. It’s about HIM.
To celebrate you all SHINING BRIGHT in your God-given creativity and the launch of my NEW book, Courageous Creative, we’re hosting a GRAND PRIVE GIVEAWAY. Prepare yourself…
As a young girl I knew I wanted to be a video editor. If there was a project in school, I always managed to turn it into a video production, casting my friends or family as the lead - you know you guys loved it.
No biggie, I'm just over here side eyeing the timeline until my book comes out in a few weeks. I was praying over the release of Courageous Creative today and conviction hit me like a ton of bricks.
This note is to the ones who waved bye-bye to their goals too soon, or feel confused about their next move. Wondering where God is and if He even called them to do that thing anyways.
Tonight as I was praying for all of us Creatives, I was overwhelmed with the potential that 2018 held for you and was reminded that we have to STOP FAVORING FEAR.
About 15 year ago, I felt God called me to be a speaker. Not really knowing what that even looked like, I ignored it for a lonnnnnng time. Because that's super scary and I thought ...
Lately, Holy Spirit has taken me down a road of re-disovering community. Last week, that road lead me to Carol Kent's Speak Up conference. It's a Christian conference for men and women who are speakers, writers or both. The story on how I ended up there was a "magical Jesus moment"
Have you ever gone through identity theft? I'm not talking about the "someone stole my credit card" kind. But the personal, spiritual, "I don't know who I am" kind of identity theft.
A little over two years ago I found myself searching the national sex offender registry. I held my breath as I typed in Frank’s name. Every few years or so I would look on the registry and find peace in the fact that his name wasn’t on it. That meant he had gotten the help he needed and he wasn't hurting anyone. On this day particular day, there was no peace, just his mugshot.
Frank went through a grooming period with Stacey. He invested months getting to know her, caring about her life and counseled her through her teenage problems. He showed her what a Godly man looked like. After he had gained Stacey’s trust, he would prey on her vulnerability.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO A CHURCH MEETING WHEN THEY HAVE TO ATTEND TO “FAMILY BUSINESS”?
It’s gut-wrenching and hard to be apart of. You sit there fearing the worst. Every horrible situation that can happen flashes in your mind like a bad lifetime movie. Did the Pastor steal millions of dollars to support his drug habit and run away with the church secretary? Does the youth pastor have a rare form of blood cancer and only has two days to live ...?
Dating Frank, I got a glimpse into a world many didn't see - the Pastor and his daily home life. The Smiths were the first Christian family I had been close to, so I was intrigued by them.
Mrs. Smith took pride in extravagant Sunday meals and would eat in community with other church families. She worked hard to prepare a feast and to listen to people who sat at her table. Prayers before meals and talk of heartache, dreams and passions would follow. More often than not, the buzzing of the telephone would put the vulnerability on hold.
This isn’t just a story about throwing an ex boyfriend under the bus. It’s a love story of deception, Christ, church wounds and other hot messes. It’s my story about how God transformed my pain so I didn’t become a bitter old lady filled with a house of smelly cats.
This has been something I've wanted to share for months now. With my best friends, husband and through prayer, I've spent time processing through if I should actually write this. The ramifications of posting this topic or staying silent are outweighed by the freedom that God can bring through sharing my story.
The goal of this blog series is to motivate people to find redemption in Christ and to believe in the local church again.
Have you ever been stuck working on a project … and you just can’t get it right? In this article, you will pick up tools to help you spark your creativity. I've been creating "stuff" professionally for over twelve years and this creative process helps me go next-level in my craft.
It was two years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I was driving in the middle of a torrential downpour and struggling to see the cars in front of me.
At 18 I sat in a crowded stadium hungry for revival. Angelic music flooded the loud speakers and a Preacher appeared in all white. I swear it was as if he floated into the stadium as wind was blowing his hair and clothes. It was as if this holy moment was super…. horrible. It was like he was trying to be God, which to this day makes me want to silly string his outfit and let him know he doesn’t have to prove himself with all the nonsense.
PreachersNSneakers is a new instagram account that puts Christian preachers on blast for spending their dollar-dolla bills on their sneaks.
A few years ago I publicly talked about the depression battle my hot-surfer husband was facing. It was the first time we had agreed to share those struggles in hopes it may help someone. When the interview podcast was over, I did that introvert thing where you mentally play back all the words you said and regret saying almost all of them. My playback was turning into a loud, uncomfortable record scratch.
This is one of my favorite photos. My dad is holding me so I don’t get eaten by a herd of hungry goats and deer.
***
Hot-surfer husband and I have processing through a lot, feeling change a-brewin’ with a move but not getting much dets from the good Lord above.
All I feel the Lord saying is….
A few months ago I attended a meeting with leaders in our community.
One person spoke up, passionately communicating a painful situation that needed justice. Through tears, this person closed their plea with a quiet shrug and a whisper “…. but that’s just my opinion, so do what you want.”
My fist found it’s way to the table with a loud thud.
I feel as if the the Lord is saying in 2019 He will bring great victory.
We (the church body) can’t craft it, create it or manifest it.
It’s through the grace, might and power that He brings it.
This victory is NOT ABOUT US. It’s about HIM.
What do we do when Christmas seems to be overruled by stuff to buy, people to see, and all the activities?
Sometimes navigating through the holidays feel like they’re navigating you.
To celebrate you all SHINING BRIGHT in your God-given creativity and the launch of my NEW book, Courageous Creative, we’re hosting a GRAND PRIVE GIVEAWAY. Prepare yourself…
As a young girl I knew I wanted to be a video editor. If there was a project in school, I always managed to turn it into a video production, casting my friends or family as the lead - you know you guys loved it.
Wave at me all you freelancers, solo-prenuers, creative entrepreneurs and business owners! I'm cheering you on as you serve your clients today!
No biggie, I'm just over here side eyeing the timeline until my book comes out in a few weeks. I was praying over the release of Courageous Creative today and conviction hit me like a ton of bricks.
We are always looking for that perfect moment to start stuff.
But...
"There's no time to start my side business yet because I gotta watch The Office to learn how NOT to run a business."
You haven’t truly lived until you’ve pleaded for God to do the miraculous over a dying man’s life.
A few weeks ago I got a frantic text, inviting me to lead an invocation that I was originally supposed to lead in July.
Hospice told this man’s daughter that it may be his last drive as the cancer was extremely aggressive.
I started to grab my phone to preoccupy my boring moment and the Lord totally called me out.
This note is to the ones who waved bye-bye to their goals too soon, or feel confused about their next move. Wondering where God is and if He even called them to do that thing anyways.
Tonight as I was praying for all of us Creatives, I was overwhelmed with the potential that 2018 held for you and was reminded that we have to STOP FAVORING FEAR.
About 15 year ago, I felt God called me to be a speaker. Not really knowing what that even looked like, I ignored it for a lonnnnnng time. Because that's super scary and I thought ...
Lately, Holy Spirit has taken me down a road of re-disovering community. Last week, that road lead me to Carol Kent's Speak Up conference. It's a Christian conference for men and women who are speakers, writers or both. The story on how I ended up there was a "magical Jesus moment"
Have you ever gone through identity theft? I'm not talking about the "someone stole my credit card" kind. But the personal, spiritual, "I don't know who I am" kind of identity theft.
A little over two years ago I found myself searching the national sex offender registry. I held my breath as I typed in Frank’s name. Every few years or so I would look on the registry and find peace in the fact that his name wasn’t on it. That meant he had gotten the help he needed and he wasn't hurting anyone. On this day particular day, there was no peace, just his mugshot.
Frank went through a grooming period with Stacey. He invested months getting to know her, caring about her life and counseled her through her teenage problems. He showed her what a Godly man looked like. After he had gained Stacey’s trust, he would prey on her vulnerability.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO A CHURCH MEETING WHEN THEY HAVE TO ATTEND TO “FAMILY BUSINESS”?
It’s gut-wrenching and hard to be apart of. You sit there fearing the worst. Every horrible situation that can happen flashes in your mind like a bad lifetime movie. Did the Pastor steal millions of dollars to support his drug habit and run away with the church secretary? Does the youth pastor have a rare form of blood cancer and only has two days to live ...?
Dating Frank, I got a glimpse into a world many didn't see - the Pastor and his daily home life. The Smiths were the first Christian family I had been close to, so I was intrigued by them.
Mrs. Smith took pride in extravagant Sunday meals and would eat in community with other church families. She worked hard to prepare a feast and to listen to people who sat at her table. Prayers before meals and talk of heartache, dreams and passions would follow. More often than not, the buzzing of the telephone would put the vulnerability on hold.
This isn’t just a story about throwing an ex boyfriend under the bus. It’s a love story of deception, Christ, church wounds and other hot messes. It’s my story about how God transformed my pain so I didn’t become a bitter old lady filled with a house of smelly cats.
This has been something I've wanted to share for months now. With my best friends, husband and through prayer, I've spent time processing through if I should actually write this. The ramifications of posting this topic or staying silent are outweighed by the freedom that God can bring through sharing my story.
The goal of this blog series is to motivate people to find redemption in Christ and to believe in the local church again.
Have you ever been stuck working on a project … and you just can’t get it right? In this article, you will pick up tools to help you spark your creativity. I've been creating "stuff" professionally for over twelve years and this creative process helps me go next-level in my craft.
It was two years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I was driving in the middle of a torrential downpour and struggling to see the cars in front of me.