Quote by Ruth Graham

“If God doesn’t punish America, He’ll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” –Ruth Graham


----------Posted by Mark Driscoll on Twitter, July 25, 2013----------


No one wants to say it out loud.

Let alone think it. At least for very long.

Because if we let this possible truth into our hearts, then what?

What does it mean for us? The nation? The generations?

It's a lot easy to dismiss it, shake it from us, tear out the roots. I don't want to think for long on what it suggests if it is Truthful.

God help us.

God, help us.

Please.

[Please!]

Next: A Quote by Pastor Keion Henderson

"Just because you're not known doesn't mean you're not next." --Pastor Keion Henderson

This morning on Twitter, I found a quote attributed to Pastor Keion Henderson by, I'm presuming, one of his congregants. The message and meaning of it hit me squarely in my spirit--in a place where I've only dared to think about certain things and ask questions to The Lord.

And, the more I ponder it, the more I know that the sermon my own Pastor, Keith Williams, preached the day we left for our missions trip to Italy, was a life-changing one.

He talked about TRUSTING GOD, really trusting Him, in all areas of our lives. And if we trust Him, then we know that at any given moment in time, no matter what it looks like to us, that He is totally in control, as in control as ever. And He loves us. And He knows the what's and why's and when's. And He knows what's BEST. So we must entrust EVERYTHING to Him.

He knows what's coming. He knows what's best.

And I rest in that.

Journey: Uffizi Gallery

This morning, we got into the Uffizi Gallery line at 7:45 a.m., hoping that we would be able to get in when the museum opened. Once again, the favor of The Lord was with us, and we entered immediately.

For this museum, knowing there would be MANY works we would want to know more about, we purchased headsets so we could hear information about many of the significant works housed there.

The museum was INCREDIBLE. The museum itself--its walls and ceilings, floors and doors--was astoundingly beautiful. The artwork: INCREDIBLE.

We saw works by Michelangelo, Vermeer, Titian, daVinci, Raphael, Boticelli, and so many more! We saw PRIMAVERA, THE BIRTH OF VENUS, MADONNA WITH THE LONG NECK. Almost every room we entered, we were greeted by phenomenal art pieces by some of the greatest artists of all time.

Once again, I felt utterly amazed and overwhelmed by what God had allowed for me to witness.

I wish everyone could KNOW what is in my heart to say:

"OUR GOD IS AWESOME. HE REALLY IS. HE CAN DO ANYTHING. MOVE MOUNTAINS, TAKE YOU ANYWHERE, OPEN DOORS THAT SEEM HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE. HE LOVES TO SHOW HIMSELF TO US, LOVE ON US, SHOW US HOW VAST HIS STRENGTH AND SIGHT."

Prayer: "I love you, Almighty God. You amaze me more and more every day. Thank you for everything, and every blessing. Thank you for your love. Your deep reaching love to us. I am in awe of you...."

Journey: Incredible Thursday at The Accademia & Personal/Spiritual Reflection

Thursday: Today, we woke up early and got dressed to go stand in line at the museum which holds Michelangelo's DAVID. We didn't have reservations, which everyone told us was a big No-no because the "No Reservation" line takes much longer to get moving. But I'd looked up the opening time on the internet, and decided we should try to get in line before it opened and take our chances.

(And since, in my life, I do not believe in CHANCE, but DESTINY and DIVINE APPOINTMENT, I said a prayer for favor as we began to walk that way.)

We got there and were 12th in line. But when the doors opened at 8:15, we stood there for 20 minutes, with no movement. I told Stephen, "Let's wait 30 minutes, okay?" And he agreed.

Not five minutes later, though, we were being ushered into the museum.

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When we turned the corner of the first room and started into the long corridor in the next, my eyes were immediately drawn to it: Michelangelo's DAVID.

It is more than what you expect--much larger, more impressive than what any of the greatest photographs can portray. I was utterly in awe. And, on the path to this incredible statue, were other, unfinished, works by this amazing sculptor.

They were unfinished, but you could see the figures emerging from the marble. I remember reading that Michelangelo believed that when he got a slab of marble, there was a figure within it. It was his job to unearth it, to free it. That's EXACTLY the feeling I got from all of these unfinished figures. To add to this, the statues were a series of "Slaves." I thought it interesting that these figures actually looked more like slaves, imprisoned in the marble.

I wondered at it. I thought it looked "finished" to me. Very powerful "unfinished" work.

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We spent nearly two full hours walking around the Accademia, looking at paintings, sculptures, instruments from CENTURIES ago. It was incredible, absolutely incredible.

I suppose one of the greatest moments of all was when I was sitting on one of the benches surrounding the statue of DAVID. I was nearly overcome by the BLESSING of it all. God Almighty had brought me here.

Say what you will. But He most certainly did.

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Before I met Stephen, I had made arrangements to go on a tour of Rome, Florence, and Spain. I was making monthly payments to go and had deposited nearly $2,000 into the tour account when he asked me to marry him.

Going to Italy had been a dream of mine, but meeting Stephen and getting married was a dream-come-true as well. So, I cancelled my trip and used the money for my wedding.

I didn't know if I would ever get the opportunity to go again.

Recently, a friend of mine, Shalom Staats, reminded me of what I'd said to her when I cancelled my tour plans to get married. (She was going on the same tour.) She said that I'd told her that if God wanted me to go to Italy, He would make a way for my family to go.

I don't remember that, but she reminded me when she got news of this missions trip.

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I remember, several months ago in Community--our midweek service at Poteau First Assembly of God, a moment where I was talking about how God changes us, over time, so thoroughly.

I mentioned how much I loved to travel--that it has always been a great passion of mine--and how, when I was younger, I hung maps of the world all around my room and stood, staring, at country and city names for HOURS, thinking about the people there, imagining what they were doing there, wondering at how large this world is.

In college, I recall wondering if I'd ever be able to go and travel, see anything, knowing how expensive things are--and how meager the teacher's salary.

Two things about this:

One, my dad always told me that it's not about what kind of salary you make, it's about how you spend your salary, and your indebtedness. That I must be careful, as a teacher, not to get into too much debt, so I could afford to do the things I wanted to do.

Two, The Lord taught me in college not to set boundaries. I remember sitting on my couch in my one bedroom apartment in Tahlequah, thinking about an article I was staring at in NEWSWEEK. It featured two Broadway plays being produced and opening on Broadway that summer. I remember saying to myself, "I wish I could go see that play." And I said it in a way that suggested that I believed it would never be possible. That was when I heard a distinct voice say, "Why can't you go?" And the voice was within, not without. (No one lived with me in that apartment. I was completely by myself.) That moment was a moment that changed many things in my life--if not absolutely everything. Though, at the time, I didn't realize that voice was the voice of The Lord, it wasn't very many years later that I realized it had most definitely been Him.

And back to that night in Community:

I was talking about Michelangelo's piece and some other artwork from Italy. I remember saying to everyone how--as much as I wanted to go, I wasn't living my life for ME anymore. I was living my life for Him. I had to go wherever He needed me to go--which meant I may never see the artwork I wanted so badly to see.

I said, "Maybe there's a REASON He doesn't want me there, doesn't want me to see it." At this point, I started crying. And I said, "But I know our Lord. I know that it is His desire to give us the desires of our hearts, like presents. And it is possible that He might BLESS me with this one day."

And here we are.

With no plotting or planning on my part, He has brought us here, to the experience of a lifetime in Florence, Italy. Here we will get to see EVERYTHING, and here we will be able to contribute and share in what is He is doing here in Florence, Italy.

I'm so glad I trusted Him.

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Prayer: "Lord, I am utterly AMAZED by You. You are truly our AMAZING GOD. Thank you for your love, your patience. Thank you for taking our hands and gently guiding and leading us. I give you EVERYTHING, all of me, Lord. Use me as you see fit. I trust you."

Journey: My Rough First Night

The first day in Florence was a challenge, arriving, settling in, unpacking, seeking food. The late afternoon walk to the Duomo was nice. The evening dinner and other events were quite a difficulty--for the temperatures and fatigue combined in such a way that I began suffering from a migraine...Which escalated to a full-out "sick migraine" over night.

To say it was "rough" is a vast understatement. I woke up hot and sick, every movement making me wonder if everything I had eaten that day was going to revisit in the most horrific of ways.

And that's exactly what happened.

Three times that night, I found myself sick to death on the floor of our beautiful apartment bathroom. I could barely move, barely think.

In addition to the physical nightmare I was going through, my mental and spiritual faculties were being assaulted, as well. The walls seemed to be closing in on me. I felt a great isolation, emptiness attack my mind. A deep cistern of doubt haunted my senses. I felt like I had felt for weeks after childbirth--the unforgiving, unrelenting pangs of what only can be considered a mental darkness, a cloud of depression.

As I suffered, my mind went wild with thoughts, "What was I thinking? Why did we come here?" My daughter woke up crying in the midst of all of this, missing her sisters, begging for us to go home. "Momma, I want to go home. I miss my home. I don't want to stay here forever!"

As I tried to console her, playing her favorite game, "Who Am I? (Animal Edition)," I prayed, "Lord, should we go home? Should I call Delta?" And when she finally quieted, "Lord, have I missed You? Have I been selfish?"

I found myself longing desperately for my home, my hometown, my family, my church people, my friends. Longing in a desperate way, like "for the sake of my life."

It was one of the longest nights of my life. And one of the darkest.

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It was the day before that helped me to endure it. I thought of all the Blessings of God, the Favor of God, on our trip before we left and the day we came here. I thought of the powerful Bible study I had done in Luke on the flight to Paris. God had spoken to me, clearly. I thought of all of this, of all He'd done in our travels, to keep believing.

This morning, as I awoke, I felt the after-effects of a reeeeeally long, hard night, but the light of morning washed away all of the fears of the night before. Today has definitely been one of recovery--I've eaten a very small snack thus far, and managed to keep it down. I've taken it easy and made this day's major objective to be one of journaling my thoughts, getting it going.

I trust Him. For everything. I know there will be times of trial, and especially prior to "new ministry." I look at the Lord's massive testing--for 40 Days--prior to God catapulting him forward into MASSIVE NEW & WORLD CHANGING MINISTRY. I wonder how Jesus managed it for 40 Days. I wonder, after last night, if he got sick from the sun and the trials, his body ravaged by lack of food, water, sleep. Most of all, I'm thankful he didn't give up, throw in the towel, and go home and live out his days in peace. I'm thankful he BELIEVED. In God. In what He knew. In His mission--for all of us.

"Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being Constant. You are our AMAZING GOD. And you are MY Comforter, Friend, Protector. Thank You for my Mom, and all of those You sent my way to teach me and instruct me and lead me in Your path and ways. Thank You for my husband, my daughter, my niece, and this Incredible Journey you are taking us on. Thank you for BEING THERE, with us through all of this--and all that is to come. Amen."

Journey: En Route to Florence

Our journey to Florence, Italy, was one I can say with total honesty that our Lord was with us.

Each step of the way, I can recall His favor, His hand of guidance, His presence, His direction.

In Dallas, though we were an hour and a half behind schedule, everything went smoothly so we could get to the terminal in plenty of time. When we made it to the Remote parking area, unloaded bags and congregated for the shuttle to take us to the airport, the bus arrived--not five minutes later, but exactly when we were ready to go. The man on the shuttle helped us load our heavy bags onto the shuttle, helping us not to have to lug all eight bags by ourselves.

In Dallas, too, at the security check, everything went smoothly. The boarding/passport inspector was extremely nice, even complimenting me on my hair. She said two times, "I love your big hair." I told her Thank You. And, though most people may not understand this, I felt God's love in her words. (In my limited international and other flying experience, such positions are not filled by warm, communicative people.) Everything went smoothly; we even had time to go by a Taco Bell and get lunch.

Thank you, Our God, Our Encourager!

In Atlanta, we arrived with limited time--we discovered our plane was already boarding when we arrived! We also discovered that our connecting gate was twenty minutes away--even with the shuttle! So we had to run--with a four-year old and three carry on bags! After we disembarked from the shuttle, Stephen literally started running, because our connecting gate was at the far end of the station.

We couldn't run. So we started walking as quickly as we could--and, literally, before I could even get my mind around the impossibility of our task, a man in a riding cart stopped and asked if he could help us! He loaded our bags and we sat as he honked his way through crowds and about a mile stretch of the airport! We eventually caught up to Stephen, huffing and puffing by that time, and we stopped to load him, too! We got delivered right in front of the gate, the man helped us unload our bags, and we boarded. I thanked him and blessed him from the moment he picked us up until we were delivered to the gate. "God Bless You," I said finally, on our way to the gate. I meant it sincerely, knowing that whether he knew it or not, God had sent him to us, an angel.

Thank you, God, Our Provider!

The Paris flight was overnight, and we were on Air France, which I must say has been a VERY pleasant experience. Psalm found favor with many--including the airline stewardesses who lavished her with attention and gifts.

Overnight, the ride went smoothly, for the most part, but there were moments that the rocking airplane woke me, reminding me of the fact that we were hitting turbulence over a massive expanse of water. Three times, too, I awoke praying--Serai said once she heard me awake saying, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus," And I remember why, though I didn't realize I had said anything aloud. Three separate times, I felt a dark wave (I will not say more here as of now; I will only discuss in person) coming from behind me, awaking me, challenging me, trying to engulf me. I found myself instinctively praying intensely (again, that's as much as I will say for now) on two occasions, and speaking His name on the other.

Thank you, God, Our Protector!

In Paris, we had been warned about the airport employees, the language barriers, the frustrations that can happen in that airport. So we were gearing up for a mental battle of sorts. Stephen and I agreed on tackling it together, as quickly as possible, as Serai helped us with Psalm. We were bracing ourselves for anything!

When we disembarked and headed out, we found a screen telling us where we needed to make the next connection. And while we were standing there staring at it, a Frenchman said to us, in nearly perfect accented English, "Can I help you?" We looked at him incredulously! God, again, had gone before us, orchestrating our help.

Thank you, God, Our Help!

We boarded the plane, then, to Florence. And I slept the entire way! Psalm did, as well. Though I usually like to be awake for take-off, and even longer on smaller planes, I slept soundly. And wasn't even the least concerned.

Thank you, God, Our Rest!

At the baggage claim area in Florence, I sat on the floor with Psalm, who was sleepy. I wondered if all of our bags would arrive--they had. I wondered if our contact, Lorenzo, in Florence, would be readily available on the phone. He was. And our transport to the apartment? Waiting for us at the exit. He was a NICE man who had lived in Florence his whole life! He loaded all of our bags for us, took us to the apartment, introduced us to Lorenzo.

Lorenzo, the apartment manager, loved Psalm immediately, showing us pictures of his grand-daughter, including her in all aspects of the checking in process. That too, went smoothly.

Thank you, God, Our Peace!

The apartment? More than we expected. Much more. It is beautiful! I felt like I was walking into a novel or movie setting. We are staying in a highly desirable part of Florence--steps from the Duomo. It feels luxurious. The doors open onto the street, and we were met with marble steps up to the higher floors. There is an elevator up to our floor, small, like the ones you see in film. It's more than enough, more than a dream.

I had no idea it would be like this, like a Manhattan apartment opening off the street on the West Side, or like those I had seen when walking around St. James Place in London. I had no idea of any of this. But He did. He knew all along, and directed our steps.

Thank you, God, Our Father!

And more than a recitation, I want to take time out to BLESS MY FATHER, HIS SON & SPIRIT, for being made known to me.

"Lord, I praise You and thank You for everyTHING in my life. You are AWESOME GOD! YOu are my encourager, my provider, my protector, my help, my rest my peace. But most of all, you are TRULY My Father. Thank you for your patience, grace, mercy. Thank you for allowing your son, Jesus, to make amends and provide reconciliation, for such a nobody as me. Words cannot express my love for you. I long to see and feel and experience you more intensely in my life--every day. Thank you for being there through all that has been, that is now, and all that will be. I trust You. Amen."

OSOM Testing Today

This day was a BIG DAY. Today, at the Oklahoma School of Ministry, Stephen and I took our final exam for Year Two studies, AND our credentialing test for our License.

I knew when I got to the campus that the cup of coffee I had en route would not be enough. When I got there, I couldn't stop yawning--and I quickly emailed my friends to request prayer from them for our testing and study. They immediately responded with affirmations and confirmation of prayers!

I am so thankful for my friends in Christ.

On the first test, Conflict Management in the Church, Stephen and I passed with flying colors--ALL PRAISE TO THE LORD!

And though we won't find out the result of our credentialing tests for another week or more, Stephen and I both felt as if we had done well on them.

I am so grateful to God for this experience.

Life, it seems, has been quite a blur lately, so busy busy, but when I stop and write about His Goodness, what we've been through and experienced with His help, I am thankful.

I love The Lord with all of my heart.

July 7, 2013: Amazing God

It's nearly 1 a.m. on July 7, 2013, and I I sitting here in awe of the fact that tomorrow, God willing, we will be boarding a plane in Dallas, heading to Atlanta, then Paris, then Florence, Italy, for 25 days!

It feels like a whirlwind, and it feels like a dream.

I cannot believe it...

It's here.

I'm the last one up, working on getting some packing done while the rest of the house slumbers. It's easier for me this way. Yes, I'll be exhausted in the morning, but I'll know that I have gotten much done--and have far less to worry about.

I don't know exactly what God has in store for us in Italy, although I have this FEELING that it will be GOOD. I know what we will be doing, who we will be working with, but as for what GOD wants done, I am still waiting to discover it!

I am so utterly grateful to God for making this opportunity happen, this dream become a reality.

There are no words, really, for how I'm feeling--the emotions are many on the eve of our departure.

AMAZING GOD.

Last Night: Hillsong Conference Artists' Session

As I was getting ready to wind things down at the end of a long day last night, I got on Twitter to see what was going on at the Hillsong Conference in Sydney.

What I saw was a replay from one of their Tuesday breakout sessions about incorporating ARTISTS into the Church.

The first part of the session was with an art historian named "Amanda." She was covering the historical relationship between art and the Church--the changes that have been made in recent years to explore the relationships and works of the artists within the Church--to glorify God and lead people to Christ.

The second part of the session included a panel with various artists--musicians, songwriters, photographers, novelists, poets, painters. And they discussed how the only "approved" creative outlet in the Church right now seems to be for musicians. One lady discussed how she wanted to contribute to the Church, but couldn't sing. There was no outlet for the novelists. They talked about how God has led their Church to embrace and incorporate artists into the Church--and how the Church has benefited from this inclusion.

One panelist discussed how they created a Writers Guild at Hillsong. A support group for poets, novelists, dramatists who long to write GOOD NEWS, using their creative gifts in a way that spreads His truths. When I heard this, I nearly SHOUTED OUT LOUD! This is truly an answer to a prayer and a need that I've had for a long time. There are so many SECULAR and negative opportunities for artists--that's why you see so many artists heading in that direction. But what of the positive alternatives? Wouldn't it be great...?

Well, that's what they said they ask all the time now:

"Imagine if...."

"Re-imagine"

They said that they start out thinking about what God wants to do--or what He could do, if only...and then they seek to address it. What they were saying is all about not getting tied down with the way things have always been done, with our own man-made boxes, but to let God work however He wants to work. When they meet, they talk freely about what God might want to do in the future. Not just being okay with how great things are, but also how great things might be "if...."

Someone else has started a songwriting session of sorts, encouraging young and old to write praise and worship songs! They encourage more people to become part of the process. It is not "one person" or "a small, private team" who is allowed to create. EVERYONE is allowed and encouraged to create and be heard. One of the worship leaders said, "If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. That's part of the learning process!" In other words, they are letting people try and fail with grace. So they can develop their skills and talents for The Lord.

Another thing that struck me was that they talked about our GIFTINGS, and using them for The Lord. They talked about how there really is a blurry line between using our gifts in the world and using them in the Church. And they said that this shouldn't be seen as UNUSUAL because God gave us those gifts to share with the world--gifts that lead them to a deeper knowledge and understanding of Christ.

Impressions:
1. I loved how inclusive these people were in their spirits. They acted, spoke as very TEAM-MINDED people. One of the hardest things, they said, was to let team members grow and go elsewhere when God called them out. But they said, this is part of the process! The Church is a global ORGANISM that spreads and shares.
2. I loved that God is moving to include those in the Church who have felt so left out at times. Honestly, the Right Brained people tend to scare the Left-Brained religious crowd.
3. I was impressed with the total lack of EGO that you see from the leadership at this Church. They seem to all BE ON ONE PAGE when it comes to helping other Christians and empowering and equipping other Churches.
4. I loved how they said: "You think because we're big that we don't NEED for anything?" Speaking of Hillsong Church. "These ministries, ideas, guilds happened because there WAS a need!" The worship leader who talked about this said that everything they started at Hillsong began because there WAS a need. And she said that INSTEAD OF COPYING HILLSONG in everything, to look at our own churches and bodies and "see where the gold is," meaning that every Church needed to look and see where the God Gifts are and what NEEDS are there, and THEN start working on meeting THOSE needs. (I LOVE THIS!)

My heart was about to EXPLODE last night when I heard this, and my HEART and MIND are full today because of it. I love the PROMISE of this! I love how our Lord LOVES US, all of us!, and longs for us all to INCLUDE one another in His Church! That's why He made us all the way He did!

*sigh*

Praise The Lord!

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Just a note: Every time we go to the Theatre Festival in Independence, KS, especially in recent years, I get a little more frustrated at the state of "American Theatre." There really is no room for GOOD PLAYS or Godly plays in the theatre--or much, if any, room for just plain Inspirational or Positive plays. That gets labeled "Childrens Theatre" or shoved aside as not being legitimate. The last time we went to the theatre festival, I remember Tweeting about how I wished there was a Christian Theatre system in place. Well...from what I hear, God is clearly raising one up! Starting in Sydney!

4:35 a.m.

This morning, I got on Twitter and happened upon a link to the live streaming video of Hillsong's Pastors and Leaders Conference in Sydney, Australia.

For almost an hour, I got the opportunity to praise and worship with my brothers and sisters in Christ in Australia, and I got to hear and share in the Word of God being brought forth by Pastor Brian Houston.

I cannot even EXPRESS what a Blessing this was/has been to me! I could FEEL the Presence of our Lord in the Worship to Him and in the Word Pastor Brian Houston brought. There were moments when I felt like I was there!!!

The message? God takes our ruins and makes them GLORIOUS. Whatever we've done--or not done--or whatever we've lost, God wants to take our life and rebuild, restore, renovate it.

Things he said that I don't want to forget?

"Whosever. The most inclusive message that ever was."

"Surround yourself with people who PRAISE."

"Never underestimate the power of Praise."

Prophetic Power: "Start with praise; Prophesy into the future."

"This Book speaks life into our Future." [Speaking of the Word of God]

"We must deepen our relationship and intimacy with Christ."

Ezra 7:10. Ezra 8:21. [This message was based on the Book of Ezra.]

There are so many things vying for our lives, energy, attention: we must seek The Lord for the right way to go.

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I found it interesting and exciting that--not long after I tuned in--Pastor Brian had Bishop Jakes stand and wave at everyone BECAUSE HE WAS THERE!