Peanuts! Water! Rockies!

I was walking around downtown Denver the other night. Just taking pictures and doin my thing. I walked by this woman yelling,"peanuts, water, soda...50 cents..." She must've been 65 years old. about 20 minutes later I happen to walk by her again. We make eye contact this time and for some reason I stopped. She says, "water?" I thought yea that sounds real nice. So I'm digging and digging in my suitcase of a purse for a single dollar. And I got nothing. Not a single cent. So I asked if she took debit cards. She blankly stared back at me. So then I said, "Well can I write you a check?" Ohhhhhhh nooo she says. Then she begins insisting that I take the water for free.

Sweet Lady: Here take it.

Me: no, let me just keep digging. I'll find some change.

Sweet Lady: no, take water.

Me: So who should I write the check out to?

Sweet Lady: handing me the water

Me: what should I put in the 'memo' section?

Sweet Lady: take water, please? please take my water.

Me: walking away richer than when i got there.

"A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of understanding draws it out." Proverbs 20:5

My sweet lady friend was wearing clothes that were torn. She sells peanuts for a living. The only english she knows is peanuts, water and rockies game. And yet she met my need. She has very little, but yet was able to give me exactly what I needed at exactly the right time. She doesn't even know my name. I don't know hers. She gave me the only thing she had. Incredible!

What a picture of edification. When people come in contact with you, they should always leave better than when they got there. Not because of who you are but because of who is INSIDE of you. A leader does not act out of jealousy or pride. The highest compliment is when those around you rise up to a higher place than you. What an honor we have as friends to be able to discern God's carefully crafted qualities and treat each other not as they are but as God created them to be.

Many a times we buy into the lies of the kingdom of darkness. And as friends, we get to rally behind each other, call out the lie the and speak LIFE abundantly over each other. THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.

so gooooo and love on people. build up! speak truth and love! prophecy over someone's life!

Dance with Me

Hollywood, hot pink, kissy face, hard-to-get, catch me if you can love has got nothing on Jesus.

Seriously. He is a true gentleman and will never force Himself upon anyone. But when you extend an invitation for His love, brace yourself. He will romance you "to the song of all songs." Think about it for one second. The King of the entire universe...He is madly in love with you. This changes everything.

ahh, how sweet it is to be loved by Him. And I can honestly say for the first time in my life that I am in deep love with the One whose face I've never seen.

Forgetful Ferguson/Forgiven

I am a huge phone screener. meaning if I don't know who you are and why you are calling I probably won't pick up...especially if you're a number I don't recognize. But then I realized something. I will get anxious about people calling that I don't know who/why they are calling. Let me play out a typical scenario that happened just the other day: Me walking into starbucks. Phone rings. AH! i don't know the number. My brain has a field day. Who is it? why are they calling? Oh gosh, I bet I'm supposed to be somewhere right now. Where am I supposed to be? Oh shoot, I forgot to....blah blah blah.

I am not paranoid, by the way. Not for one second.

There was a time in my life when I was quite forgetful. I was forgetful ferguson. I'm not sure why. Probably didn't know how to manage my time. too much going on, etc. I would forget to be certain place, or call certain people. or do this, that...I remember answering the phone to some not so happy people. So during that time I would get truly anxious to answer the phone. That was at least two years ago, though. Why is it still an issue.

FORGIVENESS RESTORES THE STANDARD.

When you forgive someone, you give away your right to act angry, mad, bitter...because forgiveness restores honor. It brings you right back to "the pinnacle, the high place." that is what repentance is. When you choose to not forgive, you choose to allow yourself to stay in a place of bondage and captivity. How? we waste our time trying to get even or redeem the situation instead of walking in the freedom of who God called you to be. It is an honor to forgive YOURSELF and others.

This may seem small, but I have never forgiven myself for my forgetful ferguson years. NEVER. So all I remember are angry phone calls and missed appointments. That is my standard. So of course my body is going to react in a topsy turby anxious way. But as I have allowed God's grace to cover all. His redeeming blood to go deep, all is wiped clean. all is restored. I can answer the phone knowing that I am the righteousness of Christ and by His glory I am set free. I don't have to live in a prison of torment.

I encourage you to forgive. Forgive those around you. That does not mean you have to trust those who have abused, abandoned, rejected or wounded you, but it does mean you have to release them from your grip. And as you do, chains will be broken off your life and you'll be able to jump a little higher, dance a little longer, sing a little louder.

Blogger Fever!

What fun life is! truly. I know from first hand experience. My life is so blessed and so full of goodness. And so are the lives around me. I was thinking that it would be fun to share life together in a different sort of way. a blogging way. I don't quite know exactly why I wanted to start a blog. maybe because everyone I know is doing it. Ahh, the peer pressure. But what I do know is that we only have one of these best lives to live. SO come ALIVE in this LIFE! let freedom be your banner. Awake, awake!

cami and friends!

Above you will find a family picture. I am on the right. Cami is in the middle--of course, she is always the center of attention. She is the one with fur. And my dear pal Becca is on the right.