Hugs from Heaven

"A friend loves at all times." - Proverbs 17:17

Being a friend .. an honor, a privilege, a hug from heaven. In the past few weeks, the Lord is teaching me the joy of cultivating friendship. To love lavishly, and live drenched in His love, splashing others around me.

A sopping wet adventure in His love awaited me this week. A friend (the one who designed this blog, Jill) needed a hug, one who I had yet to meet in person. Imagine my joy when the Lord asked me to go and deliver His hug from His heart!

Now, join with me in the adventure as I learned a few things (as I transition to the US - remember only been here a few weeks).

1. When driving 12 hours in a day, remember to bring a friend to keep you talking and giggling along the way (Wendy, couldn't have done it without you)!

"If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" - Ephesians 4:10

2. Prayer is powerful, especially when you haven't driven in 5 years and now are taking a road trip through 3 states in a rental car.

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." - James 5:16

3. When going through toll booths, DON'T SLAM on your brakcs. Others will honk at you even if you have no idea what you are doing!

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." - Psalm 20:7

4. Laugh, laugh, laugh and enjoy the beauty of friendship!

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy." - Job 8:21

5. Even if you stayed up way too late, there is always time for one more hug!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

- Psalm 107:1

The Lord is challenging me ... maybe He's whispering to your heart as well. What can we do to lavishly share His love this week. The joy of hearing HIs voice and walking in surrendered obedience is priceless. How can I be His hands and feet to my family, my friends, this nation? How can I live His love each and every day? Who in your life needs a a hug from heaven today?

Battle With Me In Prayer

Dear ones, you have battled with me through prayer, as I began this blog adventure. Through my struggles, the tests of my faith, the cries of my heart. As we transitioned to a new mission field, the love and encouragement uplifted me and carried me to His throne of grace.

Today i have the honor of joining you and carrying your burden, and walking alongside of you as we nail it to the cross.

Every Sunday, come. Leave me a comment wrapped in your heart's cry. I will join the chorus of intercession as our voices arise as a sweet incense of unity.

Prayer warriors, join me as we cover these requests and click here to pray over the previous requests (we had over 60).

War Against My Words

"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. " - Matthew 12:36

I shudder, I cringe. I will be held accountable for every word I utter.

My tongue betrays me, no I betray my Lord with it.

A tool meant to bring healing, encouragement and grace. Too often, I surrender it to my enemy partnering with him in destruction through my words.

Help me, help me Lord. Set a guard on my lips. Brand Ephesians 4:29 on my tongue with holy fire. The power of silence I need to learn.

This warrior is tired of seeing my fellow servants cut down. I search for the evil perpetrator only to view the syllables of my words on the tip of the arrows.

I cry out for your victory in this area of my life. Complete blood bought victory to cover my weakness. I have struggled, persevered, gained ground, and yet I slip again. Righteousness, the standard and hill I choose to climb. I wage war in your power and authority against my words.

The battle rages all around us. No longer can I sit by quietly watching from the sidelines. In my vulnerability, sharing my weaknesses, exposing the cracks in my armor, all pride must flee in the light of His truth. Join me, polish your armor and wage war, calling down the victory of God's Kingdom for your life and mine.

Sippin' Sunshine

Hugs of thanks and squeals of joy splashed our day as we moved into our new mission field of sunny Arizona. We're unpacking and settling the dust as we venture into a new realm of ministry to equip a generation to reach the nations.

Sweet friends, thank you for your prayers and notes of encouragement. You have blessed my heart beyond measure. I had to share with each of you, just can't keep it inside. We serve an amazing and faithful Lord ... read on.

With just 9 days until we moved to the US, God provided in amazing ways. We have a house to rent beyond my wildest dreams. 2 months ago, the Lord led me to a sweet time of surrendering Costa Rica, our life, my little home, furniture for the first time ... And truly began to rejoice in obeying Him.

I was free to dream. Hand in hand I began to sprout wings in my heart and soar into the possibilities. He took me to this house that I had been to once in my life. My dream come true wrapped in His love. I knew God was using it show me that He could provide and that he would. I never envisioned what He had in store.

During that time, I also was studying the name of God Jehovah Jireh, God Will Provide. It fit our situation. The first time this name was used was when Abraham was about to sacrifice his son on the altar. It wasn’t just his child, it was the fulfillment of God’s promises to him. We were in the same situation. God was asking me to lay it all down on the altar, trusting Him to provide.

Our friends emailed us and said that they wanted to rent one of their houses to us. Not just any house, THE house that I had been dreaming of with God.

We were amazed and in awe at the provision of our Lord. Then I saw the address of our new house. I gasped, covered my mouth as the tears came.

The verse that God spoke to my heart a few months ago, when I was dreaming with Him. It was when I was studying His name Jehovah Jireh. That very same verse is the one that I put in my prayer journal to pray over us, to increase my faith, and claim God’s perfect provision.

“So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” - Genesis 22:14

Our home address literally signifies mountain. On the mountain of the Lord, it will be provided.

God has shown us that He provides when we step out in faith. He provides the ram when we lay it all down and say, I will go Lord, wherever you ask, even back to AZ. I will lay down my dreams of serving on the mission field, to reach the nations your way, not mine. I will surrender our little home in Costa Rica on your altar.

In childlike faith, I was looking for the ram. I have seen it it caught in the thicket of His faithfulness.

Besitos from Costa Rica

Sleepy eyes, joyful expectations, teardrops mingle together as I sit here tonight.

Words could never capture the essence of our time on the mission field. To confine my heart tonight, shackling it within the bars of syllables, impossible. Costa Rica, run free in my memories and in my dreams of eternity.

We captured our ministry a year ago, never envisioning that these pictures would usher us into a new realm of radical obedience and surrender. I share them today, as a living testimony to our Lord. A wave of gratitude washing over my memories, for all who believed that our family could impact the nations for Christ. And it's just the beginning.

As dawn kisses our day, our new mission field will appear on the horizon.

"I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. "

- John 4:35

Pink Polka Dots of Iron

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17

On the mission field in Costa Rica, God rained down pink polka dots of iron in my life. They have challenged me, sharpened me, even caused a few sparks for the sake of my character. Truly I am a better wife, mother, friend and daughter of the King because of their iron lives sharpening mine.

I made a bold decision, to omit the word 'goodbye' from my vocabulary. In finality, in harshness, in permanence, it never truly fits my needs. So, today it is evoked from the dictionary of my life.

I don't know how to say goodbye, and so I am proudly refusing to use the word, but the tears still come. Flowing from a heart of thankfulness to the dear women that have enabled me to grow and emit a sweet fragrant aroma of Him.

Blooming in His garden, He has cultivated sweet blossoms of friendship all around me. To say goodbye would mean to cut the stems, place them in a glass of water, and watch them fade and wither. The beauty of their friendship could never be confined to a vase, it will continue to flourish in the garden of my heart.

Pink polka dots of iron, I love you and I always will. And Lord, please keep raining polka dots of friendship in my life wherever you lead.