It's In You

You ever say to yourself IT'S a CONSPIRACY?!? So, there's a song that I have been listening to lately, quite a bit actually. It seems like the songs that are the the rawest, most gripping, in your face, in your Spirit, can't shake songs, are the very songs that have some of the most compelling lyrics. A song you feel motivated by and scared of at times.  On one end, when sang with conviction and heartfelt, you truly believe it, feel it, mean it.  At other times, you feel like...um- not today. Skip. Pass. Not trying to make a liar of myself on that one.

Example: Oceans by Hillsong: Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever you would call me.  Take me deeper than my feet could ever wonder, and my faith will be made stronger, in the presence of my Savior.


Example 2 (and the song that has been on repeat the last week or so) is For Your Glory by Tasha Cobbs: I'm desperately waiting to be where you are, I'll cross the hottest desert, travel near or far, for your glory I will do anything, just to see you, to behold you as my king, I wanna be where you are, I gotta be where you are.

Two great songs but present a very necessary spiritual gut check for us as believers.  Now, before I dive into this, let me say it isn't possible. ON the contrary, I am writing this because it is very much possible.  See I for years used to pray, God make me a woman of great faith.  I didn't want to walk as a person of no faith, little faith, or even just plain 'ol woman of faith, but had this earnest desire that God would make me a woman of great faith.  I prayed it blindly knowing that if anyone had the capacity of giving that to me it was God and God alone.  What does that have to do with these songs???

We in the midst of worship often connect with songs, make them personal.  They minister to us where we are and we bond with these songs and sometimes look to walk these things out.  We have good days and some not as good days.  ;)   With Oceans, we connect with the notion of really wanting to give over to our faith and trust in God and have a whatever you say God- I got it, but we have days where it's like God...please don't call on me to do that thing right there, cause I'm not so sure.  We have a Peter moment.  Call me God, I'll come to you and then there are moments when our faith wavers, not God.  The great news, the resolution, the check you can cash at the Bank of God is that He doesn't waver, falter, fail, or change.  He stays the same.  He commands the waves and winds obey him.  He walked on the water and the power that resided in Christ our Lord is the Holy Spirit that leads us and guides us in our walk with God, into his presence, and speaks with us on what God is wanting to do in us and through us in the life he's already paid for.  Let's think of it this way:  Who wants to pay for a limo service to take you to a designated place and then is perfectly okay with the limo driver going only where he wanted when he wanted???  We would want a refund.  I love God for not asking for a refund on my life because there are times when He calls for me to follow Him out on the water, down the road, or to open my mouth, and my posture was sadly, less than compliant, or even times surpassing disobedient and landing right at the doorstep of rebellion.

I love the idea of For Your Glory because it comes with a desperation.  God I will go anywhere, do anything just to see you.  You don't have to give me anything...I JUST GOTTA SEE YOU!!!
The most wonderful answer and the greatest Hope is the answer to it is the same as Oceans.  The Spirit of God wrapped up as the gift of the Holy Spirit living in us can help us see God 24/7.  God doesn't have a Closed for Vacation sign, Out to Lunch, or even a Away from the Office or Desk.  There's no secretary standing between you to help Him dodge your calls.  God wants to show us him.  He gave us what we need to encounter His presence, to see His glory, to hear His heart, and have unrestricted encounters with Him.  It's in you.  The power to grow in faith.  It's In You.  The power to trust God.  It's In You.  The Desire to See God.  It's In You.  WIll you let it come out is the question?
For His Glory, Will you let it come out?

Love ya'll lots
~AD

Reflecting the Shepherd

So, being an artsy, creative gal, I love movies and I lines and moments tend to stick with me well after I’ve watched it once, twice or even ten times (we’ll discuss those movies later), but one movie line and one song line that are cliché and yet I can’t always get past is: Attitude reflects leadership in Remember the Titans, and respect is given and not earned- that I am not sure who to attribute that too.

Starting with the first­­—as a believer, our leadership, no matter who it is that walks alongside us, mentors us, disciples us on this earth, our greatest leader will always start with our Great Shepherd- our Heavenly Father.  So then, if attitude reflects leadership, does the attitude you show forth reflect God?  Do you show the love He shows?  Do you reflect his kindness-the kindness that leads to repentance?

Respect is given and not earned reflects the self consumed perspective of today’s culture.  Do for me and I do for you, but what about freely you have received, freely give.  We have received love, grace, and mercy freely from God daily.  It is not held hostage and it is not earned.  We receive from God based on his character…his faithfulness to himself.  So the question I pose to you today, what are you withholding from others that poorly reflects God?  

Why Double Down- When I Can Go All In?

SO....30? For the last 29 years life has been more than a rollercoaster of events and emotions.  It has been a journey, a battle, at times the horrific dream that you want to wake up from, but no matter what, it seems like you can't shake yourself awake.  I have been fortunate enough to have experienced life as the walking dead and to now experience eternal life.  I have had moments where I folded, where I couldn't comprehend the hand I held, and the hand that held me, that secured me.  I think back to the moments that brought to light my greatest exhibits of faith- the moments where I went all in...what made me go all in then and resist in others?  

So in light of songs like Brad Paisley's Letter to Me I write this not just to myself but to every other person that struggles with the notion of going all in with God:

Dear 30 (or whoever else venturing to capture this)-You are Loved by the God of the universe, your Heavenly Father- the King and Creator, and you are His.  He loves and cares for you and has laid a path across a solid foundation in Him.  You've spent the last 29 years splitting hands and betting minimally, expecting to lose.  This year, you will walk hand in hand with the Father and be led of him in a way that will blow your mind.  The miracle working God of the Bible has said and greater works shall you do.  Don't be reserved.  Go all in in your relationship.  Talk to him.  Pour out your heart.  Shed all your tears.  Laugh with with him.  Walk with him.  Love loves you, so love Him back. The same One that holds you, walks with you  and teaches you, is the same Powerful One that delivered you out of darkness and into his marvelous light...the same Eternal One that exist from Everlasting to Everlasting...the same great God that resurrected the same Jesus that hung cursed bearing the weight and debt of your sins.  Live everyday grateful to know you belong to Him and know that searching for love is unnecessary because Love has found you.
Sincerely,
The Old You

To those like me, that have struggled accepting God's love- nothing in this world compares to His love.  No human love compares to being loved by Love itself.

Love ya'll!
~Adri D

The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one's life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.  The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up.  The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous.  They are more desirable than gold-than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey, which comes from the honeycomb.  In addition, Your servant is warned by them; there is great reward in keeping them. Psalms 19:7-11 HCSB