Walking with a limp.

Accomplishments...great and small are all great in the moment when you have just learned and overcome.
Once, long ago...riding a bike was a great accomplishment.
Then, graduating high school...moving across the country...buying my own car...learning to cook...
Funny how accomplishments work like that. This past week the topic was "what is your greatest accomplishment." So I thought and I thought and considered how it seems I spend an good deal of these times looking backward for these blogs-sometimes a long time back, sometimes just a little-but a majority of these gratitude posts are reflective. I supposed it makes sense, it's hard to spend a lot of time being thankful for things that have yet to be.
And other interesting thing is that what qualifies as "great" is entirely subjective. I suppose that is freeing when it comes to choosing something that I think in my own life has been a particularly surmounting feat. And with that, I'd have to say that for me one of the biggest accomplishments of my life was saying yes to leading overseas teams.
Believe it or not, it was not on my list of to dos. I loved going overseas, but I didn't want to be in charge of the team-coming along side someone else sounded much more like me...until the Lord started talking to me about "coming along side Him" and then I had to face my own fear of failing miserably. I think it's fear of failing that keeps us from pursuing a lot of things. We set up our limits of what we are capable of in our own eyes and we miss out on beautiful opportunity-where we may fall flat on our face- yes, someone may, in fact, see our humanness and short comings.
Well, anyway. I didn't just lead one team with Jesus. We did it three times...and that I'd say is quite an accomplishment, something from which I have not quite recovered- perhaps this is my limp like Jacob becoming Israel and I shall walk with it always to remind me that I can not do life on my own. And perhaps discovering that I can not do life on my own strength is actually the biggest accomplishment of all...

Musing of an American Girl.

According the Merriam-Webster a heritage is as follows: 

1. property that descends to an heir

2.   something transmitted by or acquired from a predecessor :  legacy,  inheritance

       tradition

3.  something possessed as a result of one's natural situation or birth :  birthright 

I have a lot of different types of heritage. I have first of all my inheritance from my heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit as a seal of proof of that inheritance to come. I have also a Finnish heritage which I shared a bit of in this post on something I took for granted.  And then I have an American heritage. All of these things impact the decisions I make, and the things that I don't even think about. 

We are currently full of political turmoil and an upside down justice system because of the decision as a nation to turn away from God. Yes, folks..that's actually why we are facing what we are facing. However we still have a heritage that is rich, and can continue to make an impact- if we let it. DOn't lose heart. Regardless of what comes- my hope is secure in the Lord Jesus Christ. I care about my nation; it has been a gift and as I have travelled the globe I realize how blessed we are and most of the time we are, as a nation, utterly ignorant of what we carry as in inheritance. Do you know what we have here?? 

America is a land called to lead in the rescue of the broken... (check out this post on The Statue of Liberty ) 

America is called to forge new and uncharted territory.

America is meant to be a safe haven

America is a land for brand new beginnings

America, America

God shed His grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea. 

Without the Lord,  we can not, as a nation, fulfill our calling. We forfeit our inheritance. 

Join me..God promises "if my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will heal their land." It's a conditional promise, but a promise none the less. 

Jesus bring us back to you. At the very roots of who we are as a people, apprehend our hearts with the truth once again. Remind us of the foundations of the Word of God. Cause us, the people of America to radically understand your love for us! May we be absolutely consumed by this love. Release a revelation of the glory and majesty of Jesus and pierce our hearts as the church of this nation with conviction. May we walk in Holy Fear of you. I pray for unity in the body as we walk in righteousness and humility. I pray we would be of one mind in Christ Jesus. Give us understanding of Your kingdom purposes. Release kingdom minded answers to national issues. Enable the body of Christ in America to stand for you in the midst of persecution. I ask that as we speak, we would speak the Words of Christ and that they would carry conviction so that people would be convicted of sin, righteousness and judgement.  Heal and set us free as a nation by the refreshing of Holy Spirit. Make every house in this nation a house of prayer. Amen.
                              *This prayer is an adaptation from a book by Mike Bickle in a section of praying for nations. 

Gratitude #37 What Music do YOU love?

All I can say is, tomorrow is already Thursday again?
Two posts in a row, lets do this. Last week's unwritten topic "Music I love"

There is a sweet spot in my heart for Steven Curtis Chapman's "Heaven in the Real World" album and an album called "Along the Road". Here is why...
I was in 7th Grade. Up to this point the music genre in my life was country, old country, church hymns..and some not sure what you would call it but people like Evie and such. My friend Molly bought me a Christmas gift- A Steven Curtis Chapman tape. (Yes, I had a tape player and I had to turn the tape over when it got to the end to play the other side). I brought it home and asked Dad if I could keep it. He read the lyrics and figured that they were decent even though it was sort of "rock and roll" ish....makes me smile to think of Steven Curtis Chapman as rock and roll.
Not too long later I went to Royal Ridges, I'm sure I've shared of that before- discovering that people loved Jesus and had fun. It was there I knew that if following Jesus could be like this then I was all in. My cabin counselor would wake us up every morning with Susan Ashton singing "Along the Road" and it hit this spot in my heart that will never be the same.

I was actually listening to a podcast today regarding culture connections and the psychological connection people have with music- generally the music we listen to during those formative years of our lives we deem as "the best music". Apparently this doesn't happen later in life and hence the reason those who grow up in the 60s..love the 60s, the 80s, and so forth..I thought that was kind of fascinating and thought about the music that I hold dear. I'm really thankful that in the forming years of life I did choose (and was allowed to listen to) Christian music- it had a profound impact on my life. I often wake up with song lyrics in my head- usually newer stuff, but it's kind of fun when an oldie pops in and I just hum along to the tune playing out in my brain.

I also happen to like this really old stuff by Jim Reeves- it's kinda cheesy but it reminds me of my childhood and Gramma's record player.

What music would you say "strikes a chord" and what are you currently enjoying right now? is it music that is speaking life over your mind?

"Mama said..."

Writer's block, spring fever, short hiatus...whatever it is, I've caught it.
Here comes Saturday already and I've not posted in two Thursdays. But let's break this new tradition and get back in to the groove with Five Things I'm thankful my mom told me...

1. "I'm glad you have lots of moms in your life."
               I think I was on my way out the door one time to go to Justin's or Brooke's or somewhere and talking about how one of their mom's was like my mom. I'm glad my mom had this perspective and was willing to 'share' and I'm sure having 'lots of moms' kept me out of trouble :).

2. "Put the sheets on with the nice side facing in"
               A rule I still don't generally follow because I don't really look at my sheets when I climb in, but the truth is- my mom did teach me a lot of important things in the practical realm. I moved out knowing how to clean a toilet, run a washing machine, change diapers, run a sewing machine, fry hamburger and much more.

3. "If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you- it's your's, if it doesn't, it never was."
               She told me this one time when a guy broke my heart, and then I inherited her sign that said it so I could be reminded when dreams seem to crumble. It has often been out in my room to remind me. Setting free is the hardest part. And trusting the Lord with the results...that's the other hard part.

4. "You need to set an example for your younger brothers and sisters."
               Well, maybe mom and dad both told me this one. A most aggravating statement at times, but it really did help me to learn to think my decisions through before I just did whatever I wanted because I learned early on that the choices I make affect other people.

5. I don't remember so much of the words exactly as much as the permission that I felt like I had to freely pack up my car and move across the country to experience a brand new life on my own. Thanks mom for encouraging me to spread my wings- it's led to a great adventure with God.

Love you, and Happy Mother's Day!