Rise Up

Over the past month or so I have been wanting to write this post.  I've thought over and over of what to write.  But I've put it off...life has been crazy busy!  Tonight though, I really feel that it's time to write it.

Throughout the last year or so I've had such an ache inside me for my generation.

My generation is hurting.  My generation is searching.  My generation is falling.

I long to see my generation rise up.  I long to see it stand tall.

As I look around I see people going to drugs.  Going to alcohol.  Living in sin.  I see young pregnant girls trying to figure out how to fit into their new role as a future single mom.

I see people who go to church on the weekend, but during the week they do whatever pleases them...so they fit in with the crowd.

We were not called to fit in.  We are called to make a difference.  We are called to stand out.  We are called to live in the world, but not be of the world.  Yet I see my generation, Christians included, who are living in the world.

My heart aches so deeply to see these people rise up and shine for Jesus!  They all have so much to give.  They all have so many lives to reach for Him that only they can reach!

Why has this generation, my generation, settled for less than what God has for us?

Around two months ago I started watching American Idol because I heard of a young man on the show who was taking a stand for Jesus.  The very first performance I saw of his was "Everything" by Lifehouse. As I watched Colton Dixon worship Jesus on stage as the world was watching, tears filled my eyes.

Colton inspired me.  He showed me in that moment that my generation is not forgotten.  He showed me that my generation still has hope.  God IS raising up people to take a stand for Him.  For Colton that stand is in front of millions.  For me that stand is in front of my coworkers, as well as people I have met, and who I will meet throughout my life.

Will you also rise up?  Will you stand firm for Jesus, no matter what?  Will you live your life in a way that those around you will truly see Jesus living in you?  Will you join the community of Christians who have already committed to living completely for Jesus?  What a wonderful community it is!

Will you show the world Jesus is your everything?


Here is Colton's final American Idol performance of "Everything." (Sorry it's not full width.)



Here's another video of the entire song.

Time Is Flying...

I honestly can't believe June will be here at the end of the week!  Where has this year gone?!

Life has been busy lately.  A new kind of busy.  I've been busy making cakes for various events this year.  I made cupcakes for my Aunt's birthday in January.

I made a practice cake to learn new techniques.  It was the first time I had used gum paste and made a tiered cake!  I think it turned out well!

Finally, last week I made a special cake for my Grandpa's surprise 70th birthday party.

I've been enjoying making these cakes!  It keeps me busy, but it's relaxing to a degree...when I'm not pressured for time!!

Why He Came

Happy Easter Sunday!  

Throughout the Easter season the passage of Scripture from Philippians 2 has really been speaking to me:

Although he was in the form of God and equal with God,
      he did not take advantage of this equality.
 Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant,
      by becoming like other humans,
      by having a human appearance.
 He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
      death on a cross.
 This is why God has given him an exceptional honor—
      the name honored above all other names—
       so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth,
            and in the world below will kneel
             and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
      to the glory of God the Father.

~Philippians 2:6-11

I have read these verses over and over again, but in light of some things weighing deeply on my heart these past few months verses 9-11 have held special meaning to me.  They have given me renewed hope.  

At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  

Jesus rose to bring life...eternal life!!  The grave could not hold the King!!  

By Name

A few minutes ago I heard the song "Praying For You" by the Katinas.  I hadn't heard it before but it really encouraged me this morning so I thought I'd share it with you!

"Tonight I'm prayin' for you 
Down on my knees for you 
Heaven can hear your name 
Tonight, I'm prayin' 
I'll keep on prayin' for you" 

It's great to be reminded that God hears the names of those I'm praying for.  It's amazing to think that He is the Creator of the universe and yet He knows ALL of us by name.  He knows my heart.  He loves us all.  And, as I pray, as we pray, He is working...even if behind the scenes...to bring us all closer to Him.

Homecoming Party

In the days leading up to Easter, my church is going through a devotional book called "Seek God For The City 2012."  The prayer from Monday's devotional stood out to me so I wanted to share it with you.

"Father, You've been constantly watching for Your long-lost sons and daughters to return to You.  Awaken their yearning for You.  Empower those who turn toward home.  Run toward them as the come.  Convince them of Your unchanging love, regardless of what they have done or how long they have been away.  Let the homecoming party begin."

Amen.  So be it.

If You Have Faith...

"Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
~Matthew 17:20

When I was younger, somewhere between the age of 9-12, my friend gave me the necklace in the picture for my birthday.  In the middle of the heart is a mustard seed, and the square behind it has part of Matthew 17:20 on it.  As the years have gone by the necklace has been tarnished, the resin holding the seed in the heart has yellowed, but the truth of the necklace remains - If we have faith in God, nothing will be impossible for us.  


In life it is easy for faith to be tarnished.  It is easy to allow circumstances to distract us or leave us hopeless.  It is easy to lose heart.  


As I was doing some cleaning a couple days ago I found my necklace, and as I found it God revealed something to me.  All it takes is the smallest amount of faith that God can and will do something.  A mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds, yet it grows into a large, sturdy tree.  The same happens with faith.  God takes an ounce of faith and turns it into something strong and unshakable.

I am thankful I found this necklace and was reminded to have faith and trust that God will continuously work.  My friend, like others I know, is lost.  Yet, although she is lost right now the necklace she gave me years ago reminds me to keep on believing.  Keep on hoping.  Keep on having faith in Jesus that nothing is impossible...nothing at all.  They will come back to Him.

All it takes is faith.  Faith to be able to HEAR them praising the Lord.  Faith to be able to SEE them with arms lifted to their King.  Faith to be able to SAY today is the day they are found.

A song on Phil Wickham's album Response called "This Is The Day" has been a real encouragement to me over the past week or so...  Listen to it and declare life over those you know who are lost and need to be found.  For today is the day of salvation!

When Life Hands You Lemons...

Growing up, every time when I was going away or planning on doing something fun one of my Great Uncle's would tell me to make sure I ate a lemon when, just to ensure I didn't have any fun.  The next time I would see him I would tell him that I had a lemon, but that the sour taste of the lemon didn't ruin my fun.

This game I played with my Great Uncle always reminds me of the saying that says, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade."

Life will hand everyone lemons, but it's up to us to decide if we are going to let the sour take over, or turn it into something sweet...something delicious.

The past few months I've felt trapped.  Very trapped.  Trapped in sorrow.  Trapped in pain.  Trapped in confusion and hurt.  Each time I felt pain, I would pull away even further from the people around me.  I quit talking to people, because it was emotionally exhausting to reach out to anyone...and I didn't feel like anyone was reaching out to me.  In the past few months I have felt more lost than I have ever felt in my entire life.  I suppose I let the sourness of the lemons in my life take over.

When life takes a turn you didn't ever imagine possible, it's so easy to get trapped in the pain that you lose sight of what is important.  That's what happened to me...and that's what the enemy would like to happen to us all.  He wants us to feel defeated and alone.  He wants us to doubt our purpose and destiny.

Reality is though that the enemy has already been defeated.  He was defeated when Jesus rose from the dead.  I just need to cling to the hope that God is in control.  He knows exactly what I need...just as He knows exactly what you need.

There's a song I've been listening to called "The Anthem" by Jesus Culture.  There's a line that says "Wake up child, it's your time to shine.  You were born for such a time as this."  That's become my anthem.  It's time to wake up...time to make lemonade out of the lemons.