Welcome to God's Living Room

Our #CrazyLoveChicago team met at my house early on a Wednesday morning. We piled our suitcases, blankets, and pillows into the back of Jeannie's SUV then buckled ourselves in and drove off towards Chicago. The six-hour drive was peppered with excited conversation, flowing from personal questions to anecdotal stories to wondering what the next few days would look like. Even I, the veteran missionary who lived and served with YWAM Chicago for 2 years, didn't quite know what our team was to expect during our short 4 day trip. But I answered the questions as best I could, telling stories of my own time there years ago.

Windmills in Layfatte, Indiana

As we drew closer to Chicago, I wondered for the thousandth time what God was going to do in and through our team. I knew our schedule was going to be jam-packed, filled with one ministry opportunity after the other. I had a sense of what we were going to experience, the people we were going to meet, the excitement of doing new things and stepping out of our comfort zones. But I didn't know exactly what was going to happen!

This is actually a view of the city as we're leaving

As we drove into the city, my heart was overwhelmed. The day had finally come. This day that I'd prayed for, longed for, and planned for 10 long years. 

When I left Chicago 10 years ago, I knew God wanted me to come home to Ohio. To work with the local church and get people excited about missions, both within the local community and overseas. Not to mention cities. (I believe God has an amazing plan for cities, but that's for another post!) I also knew that He wanted me to return to Chicago, bringing with me teams of people who had a heart for showing crazy love. 

It may seem silly, but for me, this #CrazyLoveChicago team was a dream come true. An answer to prayer.

The YWAM Chicago staff knows how to show hospitality!

We arrived at YWAM Chicago just in time for dinner followed by an orientation led by Jesse and some of the other staff. Jesse shared a powerful message on the parable of the sower that personally struck a chord and set the tone for the entire outreach. 

The next morning, our small team joined another team that was in the city and we all set out for our first ministry opportunity: prayer at Daly Plaza. Daly Plaza is home to a courthouse and numerous business offices. In the summer, the plaza hosts a farmers market along with daily entertainment during the lunch hour. We meandered around the farmers market for a bit, gazing at the Amish cheeses and the fresh produce. We talked about how we were going to approach people and how weird it was going to be. Armed with only a business card and what little bit of courage we could muster up, we split into teams and set out to pray for people.

Approaching anyone and asking them if they'd like prayer is intimidating in and of itself. Especially if you're an introvert and asking anyone for anything is out of your comfort zone. But try doing that in a bustling city plaza during lunch hour and it's so much worse. Yet this time, I felt no fear. I was out of my comfort zone, sure, but it was oddly easy for me. Maybe my past 2 years of experience was what made it easier. Or perhaps it was the realization that I would likely never see these people again. I don't know. What I do know is this: God had gone before us and prepared the hearts of those He wanted us to pray for that day.

Our first divine appointment!

Overall, our team ended up praying for over 100 people during the one-hour lunch break at Daly Plaza! Even though it was weird and awkward and we struggled to connect with people at times, God put people in our paths that day that needed prayer. Myself and Tabby prayed with several people from various walks of life. We prayed for a police officer, a street musician, a homeless man, a couple going through financial troubles, a grandmother, and a retired long-distance cyclist. Folks with real needs, physical and spiritual. 

Picture for a moment a king sitting on his throne, robed in fine linens and adorned in precious jewels. Those who seek to enter the throne room cannot do so without an invitation. Even then, they must bow low to the ground to show respect and honor, indicating that they are lower than the king. Now imagine being a child of the king. The child needs no invitation to see the king, his father. Instead of bowing low, he runs with wild abandon to the throne, jumping in his father's lap!

The Bible says that as children of God, we can boldly approach His throne. (Hebrews 4:16) Because of Jesus, we can come to Him with confidence. When we pray, we are simply talking to God, our Father. We are approaching Him with confidence and talking to Him about our day, thanking Him for the gifts He's given, asking Him to meet our needs and those of our family and friends. It's like we're sitting in His living room having a conversation. 

Here's the cool thing -- when we prayed with someone, it was like we welcomed them into God's living room!

For some of the people we prayed for, it was their first encounter with God. Maybe it was the second, third, fourth, or hundredth. Wherever they are on the God-spectrum, He knows. But on that day, as we prayed, He welcomed them into His living room. Whether they were far from Him or one of His close friends, in that moment, He was there.

Praying in a busy plaza may not be the everyday norm for most people. I know it's not for me. Yet I was reminded that God wants to meet with us. He welcomes all of us into His living room. To make ourselves comfortable. And to invite friends.

Maybe asking people if they need prayer isn't your thing. That's OK. But be open to it. Allow God to nudge you to pray for a co-worker or friend or stranger in the line at Walmart. You never know, they might just allow you to pray with them, thus ushering them into God's living room.

Break The Rocks

A few weeks ago I led an amazing team of women on a short-term mission trip to Chicago. We only spent four short days in the city, but they were powerful four days. God showed up and worked through our small team to meet both physical and spiritual needs of the people we met. Our goal was to show crazy love to everyone we met, and our team did just that, but we were also shown crazy love right back. God is good like that!

Even though the trip was a few weeks ago, I'm still trying to work my way through some of the things our team experienced. Like I said, it was a powerful four days. There are some things I'm still trying to wrap my mind around, things I feel like God showed me or spoke to me while there, and some of those things I'd like to share with you. But the processing of these things take time. Hopefully over the next couple of weeks I'll be able to process some things out loud and on the blog.

One of the things that really stood out to me was something that was actually shared during our orientation time by the base leader, Jesse, of YWAM Chicago (the organization we partnered with in the city). Jesse shared with us the parable of the sower found in Matthew 13. The farmers goes out to sow some seed and the seed falls on various types of soil: on the road, on rocky ground, among thorns, and on good soil. Depending on what type of soil the seed falls on, it's either eaten by birds, scorched by the sun, chocked by the weeds, or produces fruit. Since it's a parable, the physical part doesn't really matter; the spiritual does. Jesus tells those who are listening what happens when the seed (the gospel) falls on different types of soil (the condition of a person's heart). For some, the gospel doesn't make sense so it doesn't stick. But, depending on the condition of the heart, sometimes the gospel is received with joy and roots begin to grow! Unfortunately, sometimes the roots don't grow deep enough because there are rocks in the way that were never plowed up.

I'm not a farmer. I have a black thumb instead of a green one. Plants and I do not get along, just ask my boss and co-workers. I kill plants because I forget to water them. Or, I over water them because I'm trying to compensate for the lack of watering. Either way, plant stuff doesn't always make sense to me. Yet, for some reason, my ears perked up when Jesse was talking about the sower and the different kinds of soil and how it pertains to the whole idea of evangelism that I've been taught my whole life. If you've been a Christian a number of years, you know what I'm talking about: evangelism is all about planting, watering, and harvesting. Someone plants the seed of the gospel into the unbeliever, someone else comes along and waters that seed, until finally someone gets the joy of harvesting! (Anyone else thinks that's just a weird way of looking at people? Just me? OK.)

If you look back at the scripture, there's something that often times we miss. Maybe it's just me since I'm not a big plant person. But anyway, if you look at vs 21-22, it talks about the seed that falls on rocky soil. The person who hears the gospel with this kind of soil receives it with JOY! Their seed takes root and grows, but the root is shallow because there are rocks in the way, so that when trouble comes they quickly fall away. Now I don't know why the farmer planted his seed on so many different types of soil, but I'm guessing it's because Jesus made the story that way to make a point. And maybe this is His point about the rocky soil: the farmer missed a significant step in the whole farming process - plowing up the rocks.

What's the big deal about the rocks? If you look at the verses, it says that the rocks is what keeps the roots from going deep. The verse suggests that when trouble comes, the person falls quickly away from the gospel even though they first received it with joy and even started to grow. I'm no theologian, but my guess is that the rocks represent different things, such as being hurt by someone in the church or their misconceptions about God. Maybe they were judged instead of being shown mercy. Or perhaps they were told to leave the church instead of being given a second chance.

Whatever you've been taught, if you're a Jesus follower, you're a gospel farmer. (OK, that's just sounds weird!) Matthew 13 clearly tells us that we're to plant, water, and harvest. BUT we cannot forget that we're also supposed to plow the field aka BREAK THE ROCKS. There are lots of people in this world with hurts. People who have been judged, walked on, talked about, spit on, you name it. People who, instead of being shown out the door, need to be shown in. They need someone who is going to be there for them, showing love, grace, and mercy, just like Jesus did and still does. There are so many people who need to experience the crazy love of Jesus from you and me. When we do this, show this crazy love, it's then that the rocks in their lives will break allowing the root of the gospel to go deep. To penetrate heart, mind, and soul. To forever change them from the inside out. To receive the gospel with JOY and to maintain that joy even when the hard times come, because they know from experience the life-changing crazy love of Jesus.

I bet if you thought about it hard enough, you can probably think of a rock-breaker or two in your life. Those people who have shown you crazy love like Jesus. There are so many people in my life who've been rock-breakers for me. They've been there through the good times and the bad. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for those people who offered me grace and forgiveness in place of judgment. Second chances instead of being asked to leave. I also bet if you think about it hard enough, you probably know a few people in your life who need you to be their rock-breaker.

As you go about your day, remember that there are some people in our lives that need the rocks in their lives to be broken so that the gospel can take root deep in their hearts. Ask God to show you how to show them *crazy love* so that their rocks will be broken!

Crazy Love: Jewelry Give-Away Edition!

Photo by (c) denisedilley

If you've been paying any attention at all to my Facebook and Twitter feeds recently, you'll know that I'm leading two teams of amazing people from Centerpoint to Chicago and Mexico this summer! We'll be showing Crazy Love to anyone and everyone we meet. That might sound a little weird, but Crazy Love is doing the little things, like sharing a meal with someone or buying a cup of coffee for a stranger. It's about listening to the stories of others and sharing our own. It's about building and continuing relationships. At it's core, Crazy Love is about showing folks the same grace and mercy that Jesus has shown us.

Grace and mercy. My life is rich with stories of Jesus extending these wonderful gifts. Often times I forget these stories, or maybe I don't so much forget but hide from them. Because, let's be honest, who wants to admit our faults? Our shame? Our deepest darkest secrets? Yet Jesus has covered each misstep, every word spoken in anger, all the lies, and the crap I just want to keep tucked away in the back of the closet with His grace and mercy. This is Crazy Love, my friends.

Crazy Love is beautiful.

A few weeks ago I asked the talented Krysten Case of Fancy Freedom Designs if she would create a piece of jewelry with the words Crazy Love on it. I wanted something to remind me of the beautiful gifts Jesus generously extends every single day. I also wanted to share this gift with at least one of my friends who've been such a blessing to me by giving so generously towards my trips to Chicago and Mexico. But Krysten is so generous, she donated two additional pieces of jewelry to give away!

You guys, I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to give away these beautiful creations made by Krysten! Here's the deal: each person who donates to my online fundraiser through Crowdrise will be entered to win either a Crazy Love necklace or a Crazy Love bracelet! (If you've already donated, don't worry, you're still eligible to win! And THANK YOU for already giving!) Once I reach my goal of $1350, three winners will randomly be selected. The winners will have their choice of necklace or bracelet. (I have one necklace and two bracelets to give away, both pictured above. Aren't they amazing?!)

Not only should you donate to my Crazy Love trips, but you should totally go check out Krysten's Fancy Freedom Design store and buy something! Not only does she make beautiful jewelry, she donates a percentage of her proceeds towards an organization who combats human trafficking right here in Central Ohio. She gets this whole idea of Crazy Love, which is one of the things I really appreciate about her. 

If you can't give, that's OK. Will you pray? Pray not only for us, but those we will meet on the streets of Chicago and of Mexico. For those we'll meet on the plane or bus or El train. For those who are already faithfully showing Crazy Love each and every day in Chicago and Mexico.

Thank you, friends, for joining me on this beautiful journey!

How God Used An iPhone Screensaver to Speak to Me

Photo by #shereadstruth

Thanks to #SheReadsTruth I have this photo saved on my phone as my lock screen saver. It's a wonderful tool for ladies who want to memorize scripture. For me, since I'm always checking my phone for one reason or another, it's been a great help. Whenever I check my phone, I see the verse and repeat it a couple of times, trying to get it to sink in.

I've had this particular photo as my lock screen saver for a couple of days now. You'd think it would have sunk in by today, but it didn't. But I'm glad it finally did!

You see, about a month ago God asked me to take a big giant leap of faith and do something I wasn't even considering -- lead not one, but TWO outreach teams this summer! Really. You'd think I would've been excited (I am) but instead I started freaking out a little bit (a lot). In my mind I started thinking of all the reasons why I couldn't go...

• I don't have enough paid vacation days
• I don't have the money to go
• I'm pretty sure my husband will freak out (and he has)
• I know other people on the team that could lead better than me (and they would)
• I don't have my passport
• I have bladder issues
• I have anxiety issues

The list could go on and on. 

But, you say, isn't this your calling in life? The very gift and passion that God put in you as a 13 year old girl? Didn't you spend the last 15 years of your life doing missions/outreach work?

Um, yeah.

Funny enough, the answer to all those questions is a resounding "YES!" From the time I was 13 years old I knew what I was called to do in life. Missions/outreach is and will always be my calling, my gifting, and my passion.

So what's the problem?

Trust. I have trust issues.

And what's that got to do with the photo that's your lock screen saver?

Back to that. So this morning as I was reading and repeating this scripture, it dawned on me... God is speaking those very words to me.

PEACE....I AM SENDING YOU.

When God spoke to me a month ago to take this giant leap of faith to go to Chicago and Mexico, He knew I was going to freak out for all the reasons I listed above and more. Like the fact that this Sunday was the first financial deadline for both outreaches and I didn't even come close to reaching the goal. Or that my car is having major issues. Or that Sallie Mae keeps calling my phone but I just keep ignoring her.

God is going to give me peace in the midst of my doubt because He is the one who called me to go. He is sending me. HE IS SENDING ME. He has a plan and purpose for this summer, of that I have no doubt. And I'm excited to be a part of whatever He has planned!

(If you want to help God send me, CLICK HERE to donate!)

When was the last time you were anxious about something and heard God speak to you through His word?

What Do You Reflect?

Photo by alantakenghoe

Yesterday morning my church, Centerpoint, started a news series called "You Asked for It." A couple of weeks ago our social media team sent out a poll via Facebook, Twitter, and email asking people to vote on specific topics they'd like to hear the pastor address. The topics ranged from "is drinking alcohol a sin" to "did Jonah really get swallowed by a whale." The three topics with the most votes were chosen, and so yesterday morning Pastor Chris tackled a hot topic within the evangelical community: do all religions lead to God?

Without batting an eye, Pastor Chris answered the question head on -- Jesus is the only way. Jesus Himself told His disciples (and us) in John 14:6 that He is "the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me." While to some this may seem like an exclusive statement, the truth is that all have been extended an invitation to accept and embrace Jesus as the way. Jesus came for all, not just a few, but only a few choose to accept His invitation.

Even though the world see's Jesus' message as exclusive, it is inclusive. He has and continues to invite each of us to accept Him. To believe He is who He says He is. To embrace the Truth and to be set free! Not only does Jesus pursue the world, but He invites His followers to do the same: "You are the light of the world... let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."

Our lives are a reflection of Jesus.

The words we speak and the actions we take, these things the people around us hear and see, are a reflection of what we believe about Jesus. If we believe Him to be the way, the truth, the life, then our lives will show it.

As I said in a post last week, the greatest commandments are to love God and to love people. When we love people, when we show them Crazy Love, we are extending an invitation to them. I don't know about you, but that's what I want to do with my life. I want to live in such a way that people see Jesus. But I don't want it to stop there. I want them to see Him in my life and also want to know Him.

Mission: Crazy Love

"My mission is to model and impart an understanding of God's love to this generation through service and worship."

Little did I know how this mission statement was to play out 15 years later. All I knew when I sat down to define my calling in life was that I wanted to show people God's love. I wanted them to know and understand just how much God loves them. And the only way I knew how to show folks was to serve them. For me, that's what worship is -- a lifestyle of service.

Nowadays I call this lifestyle of service Crazy Love. The term was originally coined by Francis Chan, but my church and I have kind of hijacked it. Mother Teresa is often quoted as saying that "small things done with great love can change the world." Most people think differently. They think to change the world you've got to do something extraordinary. But I think Mother Teresa had it right; love changes the world. 

Changing the world, for me, starts at home. I've been extremely blessed to be able to live out my mission statement in small town Chillicothe, Ohio for the past several years. I get to work with amazing people from my church and different churches around town. I have the privilege of getting other people excited about showing Crazy Love locally, regionally, and globally by organizing and participating in various Crazy Love projects through my home church, Centerpoint.

Here's the thing -- Crazy Love can be (and should be) a lifestyle for every follower of Christ. Like I said before, it's simple. You've probably even shown Crazy Love to someone just this week without even knowing it. Showing Crazy Love is as easy as:

• buying the guy behind you a cup of coffee
• helping a single mom with her groceries at the store
• mowing your neighbor's grass
• listening to the elderly man at the nursing home share his war stories

Jesus tells us in Mark 12:30-31 that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love people. When we show others the grace and love of Jesus through small acts of service, we are showing them Crazy Love.

In what ways have you shown Crazy Love this week?

What I've Been Reading: A Review & Update

Back in January not only did I decide to jump on the one word bandwagon, I also joined in with many others who set a book-reading goal for the year. My personal goal was to read 52 books in 2013, just 1 book per week. As you can see from the list below, I'm a bit shy for being more than halfway through the year. But that's OK. My goal is still the same, and I've got 21 1/2 weeks yet to go. :)

Eyes Wide Open by Ted Dekker

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Beyond Ordinary by Justin & Trisha Davis

Empty Promises by Pete Wilson

SELAH by Joseph Iregbu

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Illusion by Frank Peretti

Neuromancer by William Gibson

Iscariot by Tosca Lee

God's Whisper Manifesto by Andi Cumbo

The Chance by Karen Kingsbury

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

Sovereign by Ted Dekker & Tosca Lee

The Harbinger by Jonathon Cahn

Inferno by Dan Brown (not finished yet)

World War Z by Max Brooks (not finished yet)

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (not finished yet)

Frame 232 by Wil Mar (not finished yet)

Most of these books have been enjoyable to read, though a few of them have given me grief. Illusion took such a long time to read simply because I couldn't get into the book. Old-school Peretti was fast-paced and well-written. That was not the case with Illusion. The story line was interesting but a bit far-fetched and the plot just dragged on and on and on.

Neuromancer was another difficult book to read. If you're a sci-fi fan, especially of the Matrix variety, you will probably love this book. I, on the other hand, did not. My personal opinion was that it would have made a better movie. Which is probably why I like and enjoy the Matrix series.

Frame 232, while I have not yet finished it, has really captured my attention. If anything, it has triggered my curiosity with the whole JFK assassination and conspiracy theories that go along with it. If you've not heard of it, Frame 232 by Wil Mara is a fictional account of the daughter - Sheila Baker - of the famed "Babushka Lady" who discovers the film her mother shot during the JFK assassination that uncovers a long kept secret of that fateful day. Upon discovery of the film, Sheila contacts millionaire sleuth Jason Hammond for help. Together, they seek to uncover the truth behind one of the most tragic events the US has ever witnessed.

Though I'm not quite done reading Frame 232, I can tell you that it has been hard for me to put down. I picked it up a couple of days ago and read long into the night, reading more than half. If it hadn't been for work and other obligations, I'd be finished by now.

Frame 232 is intriguing because the author takes a real-life tragic situation with real people and says what if? What if the "Babushka Lady" truly did take a video of the assassination that day but hid it in fear for herself and her family's life? What if one day the video was discovered and the people who had a hand in the assassination were still alive? 

Not only does the author ask these questions, he answers them in a fairly good storytelling way. The story is fast-paced, with a lot of action and history weaved together. The characters are well-developed, and you grow to like them along the way, cheering them on to the end.

If anything, it's an easy read that gives a bit of a history lesson. I give it a thumbs up. :)

Author Wil Mara was asked a few questions about Frame 232:

1. What inspired you to write a novel around the assassination of President John F.
Kennedy?  

I have always been fascinated by the assassination, which, obviously, was one of the most pivotal and enigmatic events in American history. And when I heard about the ‘Babushka Lady’---one of the few people in Dealey Plaza that day who remains unidentified---and the possibility that she may have filmed the shooting, an idea came to mind that seemed too good to disregard. 

2. How much research did you do for this project?  

An unbelievable amount. I spoke with assassination experts, read literally hundreds and books and articles, pored over countless photos...you name it. My goal was to write a fictional story around the established facts rather than alter the facts to serve the story. Thus, I had to know pretty much everything. I ended up loading my brain with more data than I really needed...but I didn’t mind. 

3. How has your research informed your own theory of what happened during the JFK
assassination? 

My personal theory, prosaic though it may be, is that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. If you want to be convinced, get your hands on a fairly rare book called Lee, which was written by his brother, Robert. Once you understand the mind behind the eyes that looked through that rifle scope, you will be convinced.

watch on tyndale.com

I was given an advanced copy of Frame 232 by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.