7 - The Number of Completion - The Journey God's Taken Me on the Past 7 Years

Seven...it's the biblical number of completion.

I've been on a journey the past seven years and

didn't even realize it until recently.

It's been seven years since I lost my job in Tulsa.

I was in a state of complete fear and anxiety.

I was losing hair, I was losing sleep, I was losing hope.

I was in a very dark, depressed and unsure place.

My trust in God was completely and utterly lacking.

I could tell you in that moment that I trusted Him.

I could tell you I knew He had a great plan for my life...

BUT it was a total lie!

I didn't know what it looked like to completely trust the Lord.

I'm not sure when God did it but I KNOW now what it means

to completely trust in Him.

How do I know?!?!

Well...here I am, seven years later and I'm unemployed.

You might be a bit confused by that statement.

Well, let me go on.

I lost my job on October 26th.

The next day I felt so much peace.

Peace like I've never felt before.

I didn't tell a lot of people that I'd lost my job.

3 days after losing my job and ZERO advertising...

I had about 8 photo sessions lined up!

This sustained me the 8 weeks it took my unemployment to kick in.

My mortgage company had an unemployment program

that allowed me to pay a reduced monthly payment.

Friends hired me to help them move.

Friends had me over for lunch or dinner or even both sometimes.

Generous gifts from family members.

I had more time with my family over the holidays 

than I've had since I was in college.

I got to spend my free days with the kiddos 

from Maisha while they were here.

I went on interviews and trusted God to open 

and close the doors He saw fit.

It was just a few days ago that I realized...

"it's been seven years since I was in this place before".

I started thinking about the significance of that 

number and what it meant for my life.

I was able to go back and see just how little trust I had

in the Lord to provide for my every need.

This time I've been able to sit back and let Him take care of me 

in a time in previous years I would've been a 

complete stress ball.

Now I'm not claiming

 "Wow...I'm all good...I'm fixed...God did it in 7 years...onto the next thing!"

I still struggle in other areas of my life with 

complete trust but that is for another day & another post.

Best news of it all...I go back to work on Monday. 

 I'm excited about starting a new career. 

 I believe it's right where He wants me. 

 This song is so fitting for this season. 

 I will remember all God had done in my heart through it all!

 

I

And my God will supply every need of yours 

according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:19

~ No Longer Slaves ~

I heard this song back in January or February of this year.  

It's stuck with me like no other song has stuck with me before. 

I was so intrigued by the lyrics that I decided to read the history 

of Moses & the Israelite's who were enslaved to the Egyptian's

under Pharaoh's rule (Exodus 1-14)

The Lord revealed so much to me through this story and this song.

The Israelite's were enslaved to the Egyptian's for 430 years...FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY YEARS!

How many years have you (I'm speaking to myself here as well) been living in fear?

Fear of the unknown.

Fear of failure.

Fear of no longer "being in control"

(I use quotes there because "being in control" is a LIE.

We aren't in control of ANYTHING!)

Fear of not measuring up.

Fear of rejection.

Fear of not being perfect.

These are ALL lies holding us back from God's best.

Whatever it is you've been afraid of...FEAR NOT!!

God made a promise to Moses & Aaron and that promise is true for us today. 

In Exodus 3:16-17 God promises to bring the Israelite's out of their 

misery & slavery in Egypt into FREEDOM 

and into the land flowing with milk & honey.  

And God is a God who lives up to His promises.

On the last day of 430 years of being enslaved

the Lord provides a way out!

God sent Moses & Aaron to bring the Israelite's out of enslavement    

into His Freedom...

But first...let's look at something that really struck me.

In Exodus 14 they're marching out...they are on their way to freedom.

They see Pharaoh's army on their trail.

They say to Moses in verse 12 "Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 

'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptian's'? It would have been better

for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"

They were comfortable in their slavery.  Let me say that again...

THEY WERE COMFORTABLE IN THEIR SLAVERY!!!

How often have we missed out on God's best because it was 

so much easier to live in fear, to be SLAVES to fear because 

it's what we know best.

Moses then says in verse 13

"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see 

the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. 

The Egyptian's (your fear or whatever it is holding you back)

you see today you will never see again. 

(and my favorite part, verse 14)

"The Lord will fight for you; 

you need only to be still"

Step out...don't live in fear any longer...

God, the King of Kings & Lord of Lords

is fighting on your behalf.

What happened next is my FAVORITE part of the song

God told Moses to raise his staff and a miracle happened

God SPLIT THE SEA so the Israelite's

could walk into their FREEDOM!

  

The Israelite's made it across and the Lord 

released the waters to drown the Egyptian Army (our fears).

I'm feeling this challenge like never before.

I'm in a season where it's so easy to let fear 

take over and hold me back.

God has great things ahead for me. 

I'm trusting HIS perfect plan

and HIS perfect timing. 

Oh Snap - Camera Giveaway

I love my Canon 7D and would love to add the Canon 5D Mark III to my gear!  Oh Snap has been hosting a giveaway & I'm super pumped to see if I'm a big winner!!!  Photography is my passion & this picture truly sums up how I feel about snapping pictures. 

Courtesy of: SnapKnot

What is your passion...what vehicle do you use to feed that passion...what is YOUR passport?!?!

LENT - That I may know Him and the Power of His resurrection

I was challenged by a comment made on facebook regarding Lent.  Unfortunately it was a very uneducated and judgmental comment.  It angered me but at the same time saddened me.  I've only been observing Lent for two day and have already experienced so much joy and excitement in drawing near to Him in this time.  It makes me sad for that person...I felt they were missing out on this sweet opportunity to share with Christ in His sufferings (not that I could ever suffer in the way He did- but I can be reminded of His sufferings through denying myself something)  As someone who is new to this concept of Lent, it challenged me to really dig deep into why I wanted to observe it.  One of my favorite bloggers wrote a BEAUTIFUL explanation of Lent over at her blog "Life in Grace" If you have time...I HIGHLY suggest reading it.

Ultimately, we all choose to grow in our relationships with Christ in different ways. As someone who grew up in a church that didn't observe Lent, I've very much felt like I've missed out over the years. Since moving to Oklahoma City, MANY of the Christian churches here observe Lent. It's a beautiful time to reflect on the days leading up to Christ's sacrifice & a reminder OF that sacrifice. 

Easter is HUGE for me...it's the day that I was saved from eternal death! I am more than happy to give something up to be reminded of ALL Christ gave up for me...to be quite honest...it's probably something I should try to do EVERY day!  My sole desire as a follower of Jesus is this: "that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death," Philippians 3:10

If you choose to observe Lent...just know that it looks different for EVERYONE!  You can give up food, social media, beverages, sleep (getting up early for quiet time), you can change it up each week...it's between you & God.  All that matters is that your focus is on Jesus, the temptation & suffering He endured for YOU!  

My church and another church in the area have collaborated on a daily devotional for this season.  Feel free to download it and use it on your journey!  

If you choose to participate, please let me know how it's going & what God is teaching you through it!

5 Years...Time Flies When You're Having Fun!!

Be warned...this post is PACKED full of pics!!!  A lot's happened in 5 years & we all know I'm a picture freak! 

Wow...I can't believe it...5 years ago today (yep...Valentine's Day) I packed up a U-haul & moved to Oklahoma City.  It wasn't exactly what I wanted to do, but due to a layoff, I had to go where I could find work.  I had four friends in the surrounding areas, all married with children.  The first few months were incredibly hard...I was missing my dream job that I just lost, my co-workers who were more than just co-workers...they were dear friends, my new church that I was just getting plugged into and my family.  I truly didn't understand why God allowed all this to happen but I wanted to believe He had a good reason for all of it.

I quickly found a church and started to get plugged in by taking classes and joining a community group.  It was in the Hosea precepts Bible class that I truly felt I understood what God was doing in my life at the time.  As I was sitting in my apartment reading Hosea 2, I came across verse 14 that says "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her."  I realized at that moment I had been "lured into the wilderness for the Lord to speak tenderly to me".  In Tulsa I had it all...wonderful friends, a fun family I enjoyed spending time with, a great church & a great job I truly loved.  BUT, I was investing more of my time in those relationships than I was in my relationship with Him.  Once He revealed that to me I was very excited that He cared enough to "lure" me away so that He could "speak tenderly to me"!  This was a time I could really sit, without any distractions & listen to His voice...to ask what it is He wanted to do now. 

I've been on a wonderful journey of growing closer to Him and, as always, He's taken me on a beautiful adventure...one I could've never dreamed up on my own. 

I'm just going to list the things that I've had the pleasure of experiencing over these past 5 years...God is so cool & truly knows how to love each and every one of His children in the way they need to be loved

Gaining a deeper relationship with Jesus
Going on mission trips to Malawi & Kenya
Friends that blessed me with my dream camera for my birthday 3 years ago
A great church family, pastor & community group
Sweet friends who love on me in ways I never imagined
Volunteering at Love OKC with my friends from church
Emotional & spiritual healing through a wonderful friend & Biblical counselor
The opportunity to do High School ministry for three years
Fun room mates (I'm an extrovert & 7 months of living alone was more than enough for me)
The joy of witnessing friends fall in love, get married & have babies!
Fun nights out with my friends before marriage & babies came along
Quality time with friends & their families
A passion reignited in photography
Went on a Safari in Kenya...DREAM come TRUE!
Took up running for a season & did a 5k
Volunteering in the Wonderfully Made Class at church for the special needs kiddos...they have my heart
Saying goodbye to the sweet girl who inspired that class in the first place - she was my sweet little friend
Thunder games
Meeting Steve Moakler at a house concert...sooo FUN!
Volunteering with my dear friend, her oldest daughter & one of my former HS girls after the May 20th Moore Tornado
Becoming an OKC Local Foodie - we have SO many amazing local restaurants here!
Meeting Coach Scott Brooks the day after winning the Western Conference Championship in 2012
Meeting Nick Collison on my birthday
Redhawks games
Making the Mustache Bash Website- What What!!!
Attend the annual Friendsgiving with a great group of people
Published in the Newspaper
Took up painting ;-)
Introducing my niece to Thunder madness by enrolling her in the Devon Thunder Kids Club
A Trip to San Francisco
Meeting a Photographer on flight to San Fran willing to mentor me
Met the Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond
A great job that allowed me the time off to spend my last moments with Nana before she went to be with Jesus...when I came back they had my favorite flowers & a beautiful box of encouraging words waiting for me
Sweet friends who came all the way from OKC to Tulsa to be with me during Nana's funeral
Meeting the entire Thunder team last year
OU Games
A trip to Philadelphia to see my Dad's family for Thanksgiving
Went with the roomies to the tree farm to cut down our own Christmas tree
My very own house - this still blows me away...I'm so thankful for how He takes care of me
Many opportunities to love on people the way God has loved on me
Two sweet kiddos I'm crazy about in Kenya
A group of middle school & high school girls Bible study that I get to be a part of
The list goes on & on people!!!
I'm so thankful & look forward to many more years and surprises ahead.  God is so good, people!!!