Prayers and Printables for the First day of School

No matter how old I get there is something exciting about Back to School!

I think in our minds eye we feel the approaching of fall (despite the 100 degree temps!), we smell the scent of lysol and new crayons and Elmer's glue and we can hear the sharpening of bright yellow pencils! 

Perhaps its our desire for structure and routine that we miss so much at the end of summer. Nonetheless, the long days of summer are about to end and the shuffling of papers and school work are approaching. 

We homeschool our children, yet they anticipate the first day of school in many of the same ways. They have new pencil cases and crayons, a new school outfit, pencils needing to be sharpened, new notebooks to doodle on and lots of new books to look through in anticipation of all that they will learn during the year. 

I love it! Maybe it's the teacher in me...Maybe it's the love of learning new things! 

And whether we homeschool or send our kids to public or private school...at the end of the day, the emotions are all the same. The anticipation, the worry, the fears, the hope and dreams are all the same on the first day of school. Whether you are teaching or overseeing; whether you are waving good bye at a bus stop or dropping them off in carpool. Whether you gather your kids together around the dining room table or send them off one by one...no matter what our choice for education is, each of us are doing what we hope and pray is best for our kids and nothing else matters.

Raising children is hard. Choosing their education is hard. Figuring out what curriculum and which classes they should take and hoping for a great teacher that will love them and hoping that you, as their teacher aren't messing them up...that's all scary and uncertain! 

We have all been called to do a very important and significant task: to raise intelligent, loving children who have the potential to become intelligent and loving world changers and kingdom chasers. No matter what road God has called you to walk with your children, be that homeschooling, private or public schooling, each of our walks are unlike any other, and so, we must surrender every aspect of our children's lives to God, their Father, and ask Him for guidance and wisdom to do our best in whatever journey He has called us to. 

This is what I am praying for during this school year for all of us parents, our students and every teacher.  

•  I am praying for the fruits of the spirit to abound in every parent, student and teacher. 

For love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. As a mom and as a teacher to my little brood...I desperately need all of those! How wonderful would it be if our schools and families would walk in each of those fruits throughout the year!

• I am praying for Light to outshine the darkness. 

That those who represent the light of the world will shine so bright that the lights will penetrate the corners and crevices of darkness and that this year there will be a source of light that will prevail above whatever comes against it.

• I am praying for the Gospel message of hope to be poured out for every ear that is willing to hear. 

We are living in difficult times, but we serve a good God and my prayer is that my family and yours will be the voice of hope crying out in the wilderness to all those who are desperate to hear its message.

Friends, its time for us to come together, without judgement or pride, and fall on our knees in prayer for our children, our community leaders and our world. We must fall on our knees daily and pray for Christ's love to abound wherever we go, so that our lives will pierce the heart of darkness that is infiltrating our world. 

If our calling is to raise kingdom chasers, we must first start that chase and not stop running until our feet are worn from bringing the good news to all people. 

May this be our BEST year yet! 

I am praying for all your sweet families, dear friends. And with all that, I want to bless you with some free Back to School Printables!!! 

So...For the 2014-2015 School Year, here are some super fun Chalkboard Prints you can download because School Rocks! Because it isn't the first day of school without first day of school pics! I love seeing everyones pics of their sweet babes in their new clothes with their grade signs! So here you are...some cute signs ready to Print and go! Love it! Plus, its such a great way to see how much your kids have grown through the years...makes this momma hurt some too! Here's a peek and I have all grades included! 

Also, for you homeschool mama's, I added an "Our School Rules" Printable! 

And for all of us, even though I know many of us are ready for the crazy summer days to end and the sometimes crazier, though more routine days of school to begin...here is a fun "Days Until Summer Vacation" Printable! 

Click here for the Grade/Rules Printables (its a larger file so opening may take a minute) and Here for the Days until Summer Printable (I plan to laminate this one so I can write/erase the number daily!) Enjoy! 

You are His Beloved, 

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How to Delight and Desire Your God

About a year ago I sat in a friend’s living room and at the top of an index card I wrote “desires of my heart.” We were talking about delighting in the Lord and truly being in fellowship with Him.

I don’t remember too much of the lesson, but we were suppose to write our calling and purpose and I had no idea what those were.

At 15, I remember being at a youth convention and the speaker was talking about finding you calling and passions in life. I remember praying and asking the Lord to tell me what I was supposed to do with my life.

That day, I heard Him speak to my spirit and I remember hearing very clearly, “write.”

At 15, I didn’t know what writing would look like or what I would write, but it had always been a dream and passion.

15 years later I sat in my dear friends’ home and on the card I write under callings: “To write…something? What?”

At 30 I still had no clue what. At 30 I had walked away from that desire, because I was too busy and overwhelmed with life.

But I found my voice. I found my passion again. Yet, before I did so, I had to learn to delight in my God. I had to sit and abide in His presence. In that time, depending and fully surrendering, He activated and reignited that passion.

When you give yourself completely to God, He ignites a passion not for your gifts, but for Him and in that passion, the overflow of you heart will be poured out in the gifts He has given, purposed and called you to.

Above all, He wants not only your heart, but your fellowship. Love without relationship will not fuel your passions.

Desire God, delight in His truth and He will give you desires that surpass your imagination.


You are His Beloved,

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For Those Times when You are a Coward

 A few months ago we were at the park and my little one was playing with another little girl her age. I began talking to her mother, a sweet young mom in her mid twenties. As we were chatting, I had that feeling, you know that spirit feeling where you are inclined to do something that isn't necessarily in your comfort zone.

I went for it and invited her to church. I had an invite card in my purse and gave her some info. It was totally casual and she said she would love to visit sometime.

Good job me! One for the Jesus team! Woohoo!

Fast forward to last week.

My husband and I went on a little jaunt to New York City. My husband had a few meetings to go to and so I had the whole day to be a New Yorker for the day.

When my husband travels to Manhattan I do my best to accompany him. On the days that he works I have my routine.

I sleep in some, wake up and get in some much needed Jesus time. I dress in my best city fashion and head to the Starbucks for a grande coffee.

I do a little shopping alone (without a stroller!! AH-mazing!) Then, I head to Bryant Park, because it’s my favorite place in the city. I order a soup and sandwich and I find a little corner in the park to read and write and eat my lunch. I later head over to the Library and take in the splendor of it, because it is the most beautiful place in the city.

So that was my plan for this day. I got my coffee, did my shopping and even got theater tickets! I headed to the park…and there were no quiet little corners because there were people all over the place. A stage had been set up and there was a stomp performance and hundreds standing in the middle of Bryant Park.

I managed to grab a table and despite the mob and the noise I figured it wouldn't last much longer and I should be able to get some writing done.

Wrong.

As soon as I sat down, a young man, about 25, came up to me and asked if anyone was sitting with me and if I mind if he joined me. He said he had come out here to meet a friend and eat lunch, but with all the people he couldn’t find a seat anywhere. I was at first shocked that he even asked (New Yorkers aren’t always as friendly), but I said yes…not exactly sure why, nonetheless, he was a very nice man. We talked some as he ate his lunch and I munched on my sandwich.

He asked if I worked nearby (score one, because my #1 goal is to not look like a tourist) and then he told me his family was from Texas (explains the friendliness) though he grew up in the city.

As we were chatting, I felt the Spirit thing again. I began to do the back and forth with God…Lord what am I going to say? How do I approach this? Blah blah blah…

And ya’ll…

I didn’t do it.

I totally. Chickened. Out.

Fall on my face. Disobeyed God. Here I am Lord, send me! No, just kidding, because I am ultimately a big weenie!

Here’s my excuse…so I can feel a little better: I had a whole segue worked out, but then his friend came and they were about to head out. I kindly offered his friend my seat so they wouldn’t have to look for another and since I was done with my lunch, I thanked him for his hospitality and made my way to the library.

SHAME!

And ya’ll, as soon as I walked away I was totally disappointed and just pitiful.

What was I so afraid of? I had no idea who this guy was and will probably never see him again in my life, so why was it so hard for me to say, “So do you go to church around here,” or “do you know of any good churches in the area (my planned segue, btw).”

But I missed my mark. I had the opportunity and I missed it. I bailed. I got scared.

I wimped out. Pitiful.

As I walked away I asked for forgiveness. I had missed my mark, but I prayed that God would use someone else.

And then, I prayed He would give me another chance.

The truth is, God doesn’t need me to witness to anyone, but He desires me to be bold and not afraid so that my faith will be built up. In fact, my asking him if he went to church or starting some kind of conversation probably wouldn’t have converted him and maybe it would have planted a seed or something but, He doesn’t need me to do that.

God’s majesty and magnanimity can be revealed to anyone He so chooses through anyway He so chooses by the power of the Holy Spirit. He uses us, not for His sake or for the worlds sake, but for ours.

You see, in my first encounter with the young mother, I was much more comfortable. I had encountered many moms like me in that park before and talking to them and inviting them to church was easier, because I had done it before.

The second encounter in the park was so outside of my comfort zone!

First of all, my plan was to be alone!

Secondly, I was speaking to a young, single man and New Yorker/wannabe, hotshot exec in a power tie!

But God didn’t want to use me to merely pat me on the back and send me on my way.

God desires to use us as His witnesses for 5 reasons.

1)      He wants us to become better equipped and work with the power given to us by the Holy Spirit.

This is the Great Commission, is it not? “And you shall reviever power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be my witness…" Acts 1:8. When you became a believer and accepted Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of your life, you became empowered with the power of the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit is who gives us boldness, who strengthens us, who comforts us and who gifts us with spiritual gifts that help us to advance and proclaim the gospel.

2)      He wants us to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

You remember that Spirit thing I was talking about. That…feeling. I have been a believer most of my life and I am very in tune with the Spirit thing. I don’t know how some would describe that nudge or “quickening,” but I would describe it as nausea and almost like that feeling when you are about to ride a ridiculously scary and huge roller coaster and you really aren’t sure if you are gonna make it through the 33 seconds of thrills and chills and loops and centripetal force! But, that’s probably just me! The truth is, the spirit is always working and always moving and the more in tune and sensitive we are to it, the more He will use us. There are always opportunities of sharing the gospel, we just don’t see  or hear with spirit eyes and ears all the time, but we should want to! 

3)      He wants to gently pull us away from our comfortable places.

Ugh! This is so hard for me. Seriously, I would much rather be behind this screen talking to you about how great God is than standing in front of you and sharing the good news. On a screen I can delete and edit and think about my words. Face to face…not so much. I was comfortable in my park, with my people. In fact, I was even proud of the fact that I could go into a park and invite any mom like me to church or to whatever church event was coming up! Done! But His desire is not for me to be comfortable and carefree, He desires to stretch me and make me more than just a witness to people like myself. God didn’t send David to fight shepherds, he sent Him to fight a giant and He didn’t send Paul to the Jewish people, He sent them to the gentiles. God’s in the business of taking people away from where they are comfortable and to places where they are empowered.

4)      Hekeeps us vulnerable so we can fully rely on Him and give all Glory to Him.

In the end, I can’t do any of this…the writing or the witnessing without His wisdom and guidance and especially, without the Holy Spirit. He will continue to stretch me and place me in different places and situations so I can continually depend on Him and stay in tune with Him. And if he has to take me to New York City to make me a fall on my face and be vulnerable again, well…I won’t complain too much!

5)      He desires us to be bold in action, word and deed.

He wants me to be bold. Bold on this little corner of the internet, bold in my community and bold in the outer most parts of the world! He wants me to have a greater faith that will allow me to take risks beyond my comfortable places. He wants me to be courageous and confident in who HE is and who I am in Him; and my prayer is that I will “gaine[ed] confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear” Phillipians 1:14.

My prayer is that next time I’ll be ready, but more importantly, I pray I’ll just speak for Him and trust the Holy Spirit instead of my own thoughts. So the next time you are a coward, rely on Him and be Confident, casting out all fear in the power of the Holy Spirit! 

You are His Beloved, 

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You Must Fall to Raise Up

As mothers we are called to the greatest ministry in this world:

To raise up a generation of Christ followers, leaders and world changers.

To raise a generation of men and woman who will be lights in a dark world.

Sally Clarkson says Jesus made world changers of his 12 disciples in 3 years and we have about 18 years to do the same! 

What an incredible calling and ministry that HE has entrusted us with! 

That is our calling and it is not for the weak!

The pressures of this modern world are harsh and the traps set out for or children are cruel and sometimes well concealed.

In this era of information and quick satisfaction, we are called to raise children that will seek truth and not Wikipedia facts. We are called to raise children who will learn to abide and be still, instead of running to each over-scheduled activity in fear of boredom and hidden potential.

But in this modern era, we have this fear of failing our children and falling on our faces. We have high expectations and great ideals and dreams for our children, but all of those desires will be for nothing if we don’t teach our children God’s desires first.

God’s desires and our teachings must somehow rise above the world’s voices.

We are called to raise our children to serve others in a world that says serve yourself.

We are called to raise our children to believe their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit in a world that says you are free to mark and pieces and cut and inhale and abort without judgment or retribution.

We are called to raise our children to guard their hearts, minds, eyes and ears in a world that says satisfy whatever desire needs fulfillment.

We are called to raise our children to commit themselves to their God in a world that says you need not be committed to anyone.

We are called to raise our children to not be unequally yoked in a world that says love the one you’re with without reservation.

We are called to raise our children to know that the truth of the gospel sets your free in a world that says believe what you want and have faith in yourself alone.

We are called to raise our children to test everything against the word of God in a world that praises free thinkers.

We are called to raise our children to wait on the Lord in a world of instant gratification.

We are called to raise our children to know that they are fearfully and wonderfully made in a world that proclaims beauty is beheld in the bare, altered and picture perfect. 

These voices are shouting with great force at our vulnerable children.

How do we raise our children amidst the noise and images that are beating against the doors of our homes? How do we raise our children above the gongs and cymbals of society and whisper the truths of Gods grace and great love that abounds?

In order to raise up our kids in this modern world of now and noise, we must fall.

1. Fall into the word of truth.

Daily surround yourself in his teachings. Let His word guide you in every season, stage and circumstance.

2. Fall onto your knees in prayer.

 Pray for wisdom, direction, words to speak, grace, and strength to endure the fight for your children’s hearts. You are in a fight and it is fierce and the battle wages continuously.

3. Fall onto your face and humble yourself.

Daily ask for a spirit of grace to abound in your home, in your teaching and training so that your life and love for your God and King will pierce the hearts of your children.

The voices of this world are fierce, but the Voice of Truth will set us apart and give us, as mothers, the grace to endure and the spirit to wage on for our children’s hearts.

Fall daily and raise up a generation who falls on their knees before the one, true God.  

You are His Beloved, 

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Growing Pains

She comes in around 1 A.M. crying, “My foot hurts!” I rub her leg with oils, giver her some pain meds, pray for her, stroke her hair as she folds her little body into mine and finally rests.

Growing Pains

These past few weeks I have had growing pains.

My feet hurt from walking this walk of obedience.

My legs hurt from climbing this mountain of faith.

My arms hurt from carrying around loads that weigh me down.

My back aches from being stretched and pulled.

My head hurts from constantly captivating my thoughts, insecurities and fears.

When growing pains hurt, I want to just cry. They sting and burn and all I desire is to give up and give in to the hurt....to continue reading click here. 

I am writing over at 5 Minutes for Faith today! 

You are His Beloved,

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How to Abide in a Culture that doesn't Remain Still

I sit beside her bed and she says, “lay down mama; Hold my hand, mama.” I oblige, grateful for the moment of rest as I lie next to her crib and take her chubby, little hand in mine through the slats of the bed that will soon be too small for her. I don’t think about that though, I can’t stop her from growing or the soon to be transition to a big girl bed. I can’t think about the fact that once she moves from a crib to a bed, we may never have a crib in our home again.

I lie down and stroke her tiny hand. I pray over her and tell her I’ll stay for “one more minute,” which inevitably becomes two, then three and five.

I give her tiny hand a soft squeeze and quietly say goodnight, as she muffles a soft, “nigh, nigh mama,” in response. I cover her with her soft, pink blanket, which all my babies have affectionately names their “bee” and say a sweet breath prayer over her as I tiptoe out.

It’s out routine and what we do every night. The same routine we had with all of our sweet babies.

Tonight as I laid there with my hand holding hers, I was reminded of John 15:7, “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you will ask what you will and it shall be given to you.”

Abide, remain, dwell.

When my children lie down to rest and they place their hand in mine, they are abiding in me. They are abiding in the truth that they know and believe: mommy holds their hand and holds their hearts and nothing can harm them when mommy is near.

When they hold my hand and rest their heads to sleep, their thoughts dwell in peace and rest because they trust the hand that is holding theirs.

When God holds your hand and you abide in Him and who He is, you can lie down in rest and know that His good and perfect will is sustaining you and protecting you.

When God holds your hand and you abide in Him, you can trust that He is protecting you and providing for you.

When you abide in Jesus, your life, your desires, your prayers remain in Him; you stay and He covers you, like a soft blanket that keeps out the chill of night. You rest in the warmth and have peace.

Abiding in Christ Jesus is the goal of our life. His greatest desire for us is to be still. The bible gives us so many scriptures that teach us that truth.

Rest, remain, be still, dwell, delight, abide…

Yet we cover ourselves with man made materials.

We mock any sort of rest.

We run and are constantly planning out the next move.

We look for the new, the better, the perfect.

Rest, remain, dwell, abide.

We fool ourselves into thinking it is easier to carry the burden. We don’t have time to rest or be still. If we make more, do more, work harder, then we can dwell and abide. Yet the burdens get heavier, the time marches on and the more never ceases.

He calls out to you and says, come to me, abide in me, I will cover you; I will hold you in my right hand. And yet, we let go of His hand. We walk away from His covering.

How do we abide in a culture that doesn't remain still?

1. Be purposeful in the quiet times. Those rare times where the babes are sleeping and the house is still, revel in the stillness. Put aside the electronics that are never quiet with the constant dinging of notifications and instead, sit in the presence of the almighty and dwell in Him. Rest. Breathe. Be.
2. Surrender your plans and purpose in those moments. Write out everything that is weighing on you. The pressures and worries, the doubts and fears and then hand it over, one by one. Allow Him to take the burden and lift them off your shoulders.
3. Be quiet. Listen. Don’t think. Allow the Holy Spirit to penetrate your heart and mind and be in awe of who your God is, as your thoughts turn to His thoughts and your heart is filled with His great love for you.

I challenge you to find a truly quiet and peaceful time and rest, remain, dwell and abide. In that moment my prayer for you is that you will be lifted up, you will find peace and rest and your desires and prayers will align with His word, His heart and His desire for you.

Abide in His truths and ask Him to direct your paths, provide you peace and strengthen your faith.

Rest, remain, dwell and abide.

You are His beloved,

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Gather At the Table

Come sit at the table and bring what you have;

Your broken, your lonely, your sad.

There is love at the table. No insecurity here.

Sit at the table, let go of your bags.

There is room at the table,

So pull up a chair.

Tell of your stories,

Laugh, cry and share.

Rest at the table.

Come, and be filled.

Find refuge at the table,

Hear the stories, be encouraged, be still.

The last few months I have hosted some amazing women at my table. 

We have gathered together, broken bread, and shared our stories.

The Table has been a place of encouragement and inspiration. 

I encourage you to visit If:Table and host friends at your own table. 

Be vulnerable, share your stories and see what God can do in the 

meaningful conversations at your table. 

You are His Beloved, 

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Finding Your Rhythm in Your Race

Run to the football game, run to the birthday party.
Run home, do a quick clean up, run to the grocery story, run back to the party.
Run to hobby lobby for that new project, run home for the baby’s nap.
Run the dishwasher, the dryer and the vacuum.
The vacuum wakes the baby! Run out for last minute errands.

I am not a runner, though there is an element of serenity and determination that appeals to me about running,
but this kind of running makes me weary and worn out.

This kind of running is what life and motherhood tends to become...click here to read more.

I'm writing over at 5minutes for Faith today.

How to Uproot Jealousy

I lived with jealousy for years.

Every time I saw the Lord use one of my friends, I would fight these feelings of jealousy.

Friends who I loved dearly and lived life with and admired so much.

Oh the shame that came with that envy!

If I saw a friend leading a bible study and being praised for her efforts…jealousy.

If I saw a friend using her gifts and creating beautiful art or designs…jealousy.

If I saw a friend singing at Church...especially a song I loved…Jealousy.

If I saw a friend telling her story and applauded for her bravery…Jealousy.

I never admitted to my jealousy. I felt the envy, but I couldn't understand it and I would push the feelings away and pretend they weren't real.

I was jealous of my friends and I didn't know why.

I was so ashamed. I was happy for their success, for their bravery, for their gifts. I was in awe of them, sincerely so.

But that twinge…it pricked my heart and I felt so guilty.

I prayed, “Lord take those feelings away. I don’t understand them.

I don’t like feeling this way, because all it does is make me feel worse than I already do.”

In Genesis, we see the best example of what jealousy is and can become:

Joseph, tells his brothers and Father his dream of the sun and moon and stars bowing down to him.

“But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant” Genesis 37:11.

A little while later, jealousy overwhelms all his brothers and they sell Joseph into slavery.

Joseph had dreams. He had gifts. He had callings. He had a purpose for his life given to him by the almighty God.

Joseph may have been a little cocky.

Maybe he always got his way since he was “the favorite.”

But I think the main reason for his brothers’ jealousy was the fact that he was not only outspoken about his dreams, but because if he wasn't already using his gifts, his brothers, I believe, knew that one day he would. They knew that there was something special about Joseph…his dreams and callings were evident in his life somehow and that is what brought out the jealousy more than anything else.

And that is what brought out my jealousy.

When I would see friends, walking and living out God’s gifts, talents and callings on

their lives, that is what would make me jealous.

I wasn't jealous that God was using them,

I was jealous of the fact that He wasn't using me.

For years, I didn't use any of my gifts.

For years, I wasn't passionate or purposeful about anything.

I had my babies and I was busy being mom and wife and I believed I didn't have time for anything else.

I stopped writing because I couldn't keep up with it.

I stopped singing because I couldn't stay committed to it.

I stopped sewing because I didn't have time for it.

I stopped teaching because I didn't have energy for it.

I was living each day without any passion or purpose.

I was living each day drowning in the mundane and monotony of being mom.

I believe that there is faithfulness in that monotony. He calls me to the mundane and monotony and He makes it beautiful. He is and was teaching me faithfulness in that monotony of motherhood. He is teaching me to be a servant in motherhood.

But, God placed other dreams and gifts and passions in my life to be used and purposed for His kingdom and I was not using them. At. All.

Others were and I was jealous.

God wanted to use me. He wanted to use the gifts He had given me.

In that jealousy and shame, I cowered to the belief that I wasn't good enough.

My gifts weren't as good as theirs; why would He want to use me?

He has given you so much more to offer and you are walking in disobedience if you aren't using His gifts.

Like the servant in the bible who was given one talent and when the master came and said what did you do with the talent I gave you, he says, “…I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground.” Matthew 25:25 ESV

If what you do with His gift is bury it, not invest in it and live out its worth, you are walking in disobedience to the One who gave you that talent.

“For everyone who has will more be given and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Matthew 25:29

We must all give our gifts to God and use them in whatever capacity that we can.

If you sing, get on the praise team.

If you cook, host people at your table.

If you are an encourager, gather women around you.

If you write, start a blog!

He wants you to use your gifts that He has given you. Don’t hide them in the ground like I did and allow jealousy to overwhelm you because you aren't walking in your dreams and passions.

I know motherhood can be overwhelming.
I know that the idea of taking one more thing on can be daunting.

Yet, if you are walking in what He has gifted and called you to, believe me, you will thrive.

He will give you the strength and the power to do what He has called you to.

He will use it for His glory. All you have to do is say, ‘Here I am Lord,’ and He will be faithful to you, because you are being faithful to Him.

“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are Gods field, Gods building…Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:7-9 ESV.

Water your gift, God will give the growth. The jealousy will fade because you are His fellow worker and your foundation is in Jesus Christ.

Beloved, find your passions, walk in them, use them, don’t bury them but allow them to uproot that jealous spirit and be fulfilled in the callings Jesus has placed on you.

You are His Beloved,

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photo credit: Ktoine via photopin cc

Taking a Risk

A lot of times, what God calls each of us to isn’t always fun, or easy or safe.

Many times, obeying what God calls us to is scary and uncertain.

Having faith isn’t easy.

Walking in what He calls you to isn’t easy.

Putting one foot in front of another isn’t easy.

There is always a risk.

You don’t know where that next step will lead you.

You don’t know if the path will be smooth or rocky.

You don’t know how any of this life is going to work out.

All you know is that God is calling you and all you have to do is run towards Him, knowing that our trust isn’t in our steps or our path, but in the firm, loving voice that calls us forward.

This past week, Noonday Collection, along with International Justice Mission announced that they had gathered a team together to travel to Rwanda and through that Mission they hope to share with the world that “when we use our purchasing power for good and pursue the cause of justice, hope for the poor is possible.”

They have also created an amazing opportunity for one woman to join the team and advocate with them.

One of my dearest friends, Robyn Jungeblut has entered the contest. She has put aside all doubt and fear and has heard the voice calling her and saying, risk everything and follow me.

I had the privilege of interviewing Robyn and to hear of the dreams, callings and passions that God has placed on her life and I am excited to introduce Robyn to you and share with you her heart.

My prayers is that you will be moved by her words and her story and will want to vote for Robyn and send her to Rwanda with Noonday Collection. Please read her interview and be inspired and encouraged! 

We met at Panera and caught up on our lives and families. Laughing and being "healthy” as we ate our salads and savored our baguettes. I have been privileged to call Robyn my friend for over 8 years! And in those 8 years, she has been one who has always been such a source of encouragement for me. Her words are always filled with the spirit, always intentional and full of love. This meeting wasn’t any different.

As I started asking her questions, her passions and love for Jesus began to pour out in each answer. She was inspiring, full of hope, humility and passion.

In February, you were able to attend the if:Gathering, what did God reveal to you at the conference?

Angie Smith said at the conference, ‘When I get to heaven, I want my cheeks to be flushed from working out my salvation,’ and that hit me. I want my cheeks to be flushed. I want to be panting! And He opened my eyes to that and to walking in that abiding. 

Another thing: while at the If: Gathering, I was having time with the Lord and I said, 'ok Lord I am happy with where you have me. I love the fact that I get to be a mom to these 4 great kids. I love the fact that we are starting a church soon, I love the fact that you give me opportunities for me to speak; but you will not leave me alone with the fact that we are called to adopt and you will not leave me alone with the thought of these women and children who are being trafficked…' The Lord knows I can not physically be with those people right now, but I also know that God is God and He is gonna allow whatever He wants to happen, happen. I’m putting that all before the Lord and say, ‘so what do you want me to do?’ What is my response to this, as a girl in my thirties who wants to do what He wants me to do, but I have a baby at home?

That day I went down and ran into Noonday, and of course, I was attracted to it because of the adorable jewelry. I got some information, bought some earrings and left.

I got home and asked the Lord, what do you want me to do with all this, ‘cause I already told you I would do anything.' He very clearly told me to go and look at Noonday, so I did.

What is the Noonday Collection?

Basically, [Noonday] is a company that was started out of Austin and the woman who started it wanted to save for her adoption. She wanted to do something to save financially and to help women from different countries. You support these women, as their ambassador, so that they have a job creating jewelry and are not drawn into the sex trade and so they aren’t sold into slavery. They have something that gives them dignity as well as a portion of the sales goes to adoption. So God told me to pursue this and with the money I could earn, I would put it in a savings account and it goes to Jungeblut number 5. And I could do this where God has me planted right now. It’s my way to help.

What prompted you to enter the Style for Justice Contest? 

On Tuesday, I found out I had managed to save enough money so I could become an ambassador for Noonday.

On Wednesday morning, I open my email and the contest is all over my email and it blows my mind!

The idea of being able to not only go to Rwanda, but to go and meet these women that I think of constantly, its obsessive, really...I love the fact that there is an opportunity for them to know that they are loved by our mighty God, that He is providing for them and that they can have a job that they can be proud of... So many times we as believers go and love on them, but we don’t help them to get out of their situation. These ladies, they need jobs, they need money to provide for their families, they need help and somebody is doing that!  To get to go and meet these women and love on these women and create relationships, it’s so awesome.

Also, on a side note, Adam (Robyn’s husband) went to Rwanda in 2007 and that’s where God gave him the call for adoption. Ever since then, we have tried to get me or us, over there and I have had this longing to go…knowing that I would go one day, but I didn’t know how or when.

What is your hope or desire if you do win this amazing opportunity?

This is so much more than the easy answer, like 'I want to go and encourage them'. But, what do I have to offer them except for Jesus? I don’t have anything to offer them, I really don’t. I want to go and I want to love the heck out of them. I want to let them know how much they are loved. I want them to know that what they are doing is huge. 

But, it's so much more than that; I want to come back here and use my people…I have such a burden or passion to mobilize the people in my life, because we have some of the most gifted friends, who have resources that they don’t even realize they have. To bring back these ladies stories from Rwanda and be a representative for them and speak out for them. To get out of our comfort zones and start doing whatever we can to partner with them and help them in the situations that they are in and to love them from here.  To realize that we as moms who have kids, WE can still do things.

If I can do anything, I want to bring the stories back to mobilize the community.

As moms, we wear lots of hats. And of course, our greatest ministries are to our husbands and children, but how do you balance and pursue the other dreams and callings God has placed in you heart in the midst of motherhood?

I’m still trying to figure that out, but I don’t think you can separate them. I wake up in the morning and squeeze in my time with Jesus…but it’s throughout the day too…in my conversation with my kids, while we are doing the dishes, do I have worship music on? Are we having dance party right there? When Adam comes home, are we encouraging him? What are we talking about around the dinner table? Are we serving as a family? Who are we praying for?

I know that for us, for example, the girls who were kidnapped in Nigeria…I have a 10 year old, a 7 year old, a 4 year old and an 18 month old, so I can’t give them a bunch of details, but I give them a story they can comprehend and we are spending time everyday praying for these girls by name, and oh my word! Hearing my kids…they are little missionaries inside of our school! Throughout the day we talk about them and we pray for them right there.

We work ministry into our family. When Adam calls and says, ‘hey I’m about to go into a meeting or into an interview,’ we pray for daddy throughout the day and so everything we can do as a family, we intertwine it and I realize I can’t separate it. The only thing I separate is my personal time with the Lord, because if I can’t get that, I can’t pour out. I will tell you some of the sweetest times I have had with my Lord has been with my kids right there. It’s cool, because that’s the season of life that we are in right now and it’s very intertwined.

On a side note, I think Adam and I have had to back up and say, we see a calling in each other and I am going to provide space for him to go and do what God has called him to do; and in that same way, he has provided space for me to go and do what He has called me to do. Whereas, so many times we would feel like we couldn't leave our spouse with the kids because that would be asking too much, but now we are championing each other!

What Has God called you to right now?

Right now, I think more than anything He has called me to be his child and to sit and be loved by Him and to love Him. He has called me to be the wife of the most amazing, fun, loving, leader of a man that I have ever met in my life and that comes with all kinds of things, but it is awesome. He has called me to be the mother of these four children that I could not have dreamed up; they are unbelievable. He has called me to be a speaker for women and every opportunity I get to do that, I am just blown away and so honored by that. He has called me to love on my extended family, he has called me to be a good friend, he has called our family to adopt and we are very much pursuing that and very much seeking that, and I am very excited that he has called me to pursue Noonday as an ambassador.

If God could use you to do anything…what would astound you?

If Adam and our kids, or even just Adam and I could go and love on the people groups that God has called us to and represent them by mobilizing others…I keep coming back to that. 

Us, traveling and speaking together to mobilize the church into action for these amazing people…BUT, I wouldn't want to do it without spending an intense amount of time with these people. You know, getting to know their faces, their names, their stories. Being able to hold their hand and look them in the eyes and say, what is it that you need? Laughing with them, really getting to know them and coming back over here and being able to represent them and mobilize our church! Mobilize the Christians! 

To be able to go and be the hands and feet of Jesus. That sounds so cliché, but to be able to go and have a ministry where we can just travel and speak about stuff like that…it would blow my mind! I could pictures us in a bus with homeschooling on the side (laughter) how fun would that be!?! But to take my kids! I will never forget watching Avery do missions and her heart…How the Lord opened it up, and getting to be her mom! She wasn't taught to do that it was just in her, and if Adam and I could just go for it…that would be…

What is one thing that God called you to that was hard or scary?

The scariest thing I ever walked through in my entire life is when I carried Elle   And yet, it was the most amazing time that I have ever had with the Lord, because every single day I had to trust Him that things were going to be the way that He had called them to be. I didn't know what that looked like. I didn't know if I would be carrying a child that was missing limbs. I didn't know if I was going to carry a child whose brain didn't develop completely. I had no idea what was going to come, but every single day trusting Him. 

And it was physically hard, because I couldn't stand up straight for nine months. 

That was definitely the hardest and scariest thing. Trusting God that he did this for a reason and I don’t think its over, I don’t think the reason is over or that she was born and it was done, but that was definitely the hardest.

[You can go to the link to hear Robyn's testimony provided at the end of the post!]

What did you learn through all that?

There is nothing I can do to make Him love me more or less. I've always wanted to be his favorite and I already am. We all are. I really think I use to wake up everyday and think, 'I have got to make you proud of me, tell me what it is that will make you proud of me and I’ll do it'. And I would get so frustrated, because he wouldn't tell me and I think what he wanted me to know was that, in John, it says that He loved me first and He did! I always felt I had to earn that love, but to be able to walk in that and know that there is really nothing I can do. He hasn't skipped over me, I haven’t missed it, I haven’t missed him! There have been so many times where I have woken up and think ‘well, I've missed my chance!' I’m not a young 20 year old with reckless abandonment anymore! I have responsibilities, a husband and four great kids. I can’t just go. So many times I think I have missed it, I have I missed my calling, but that’s not how it works. My yeses come every day in very small ways and God uses all of it. Storms are brewing and he has some stuff in the works and it’s good.

What’s the one thing you could tell moms like me and you about pursuing our God given dreams?

Do it! Do it scared. Take one step at a time. Take a risk. Commit to the yes. 

God says I’ll bring it, you follow through.

Ok, so what happens if you don’t win the Noonday contest and trip to Rwanda?

I've been obedient. I've been faithful. I've taken the risk. I know there is something He wants to work out in my calling and whether it’s through the winning or something else, He’s working.

Ok, last question, if you could choose one object to represent you life’s journey so far, what would it be?

When I gave my life to the Lord I got the picture of a blank piece a paper and I signed it at the bottom (Rick Warren has so taken this for the Purpose Driven Life and I promise this happen before I read it, so don’t think I’m stealing it from him- we laugh!).

But literally, when he called me to the ministry, I wanted so many questions answered. What are you going to do? What is the fomula? How do I …? And He was like no, trust Me. Here’s a blank piece of paper: You get on board with me and give it back and when I have an assignment for you I’ll slide it across the table and you read it and say, 'ok' and I’m gonna take it back and I’m gonna keep on writing your story. But you have no idea how that blank piece of paper is gonna be filled! He’s writing the story and I’m just going ok, what’s next.

CLICK to VOTE for ROBYN!

Don’t you want Robyn to win this amazing opportunity!  Click here and vote for Robyn!

Her heart and passions are so evident and I personally can not wait to see what God does through her life and her callings!

Go Vote today and everyday until May 28^th! You can vote using all of your electronic devices daily! 

*Robyn Jungeblut is married to Adam Jungeblut, Campus Pastor at Parkway Fellowship North Campus in Katy, Texas. She is a mother to 4 amazing kids, a home educator, and speaker. She is passionate about women and desires for women to not only know the Lord, but to know that He loves them and has called them to something great.  Her desire is that Christians will be mobilized and become the answer to all of the injustice that are in the world today.

Robyn enjoys hanging out with her husband and kids, worship, coffee and laughing with friends.

You can hear Robyn’s AMAZING testimony of her carrying her baby girl, Elle, who’s pregnancy was deemed a miscarriage, but God protected that sweet baby despite the DNC procedure! What a Mighty God we Serve! Hear her story here…

You are His beloved,

Click here and VOTE for Robyn! 

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