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I’m back in DC for the week, and being a bit of a tourist. I didn’t have a camera last year. One of my closest friends on the team is a photographer, so the Lord provided in a different way, and I have fabulous photos from last year. So, I’m making up for lost time, since my sister-in-law blessed me with an early birthday present!

Okay, so that’s not the real reason I’m in DC. A youth group from Virginia Beach is here to pray for the nation. They are awesome, and so on fire for the Lord. We are really just here to run alongside them! They came with a mission, to pray for Barak Obama, the African culture here in America, the church, and the ending of abortion. No small task I shall say. So here we go, I hope I can keep up!

Susan was one of the first girls to arrive when I started working at Father Heart four years ago. After she had her baby, she stayed with us and cooked. We became close friends, as we lived in the house together for a season. I went to visit her the other day. She is now married and expecting another baby girl next month. Her husband was so kind. He served us fresh guacamole, then made us steaks and salmon for dinner. Amya is now 3, and so sweet and hospitable. It was a special treat to get to visit my friends from years past!

Well, I said goodbye to “good country living” this morning I am at my sister’s now, spending time with family before heading off on yet another adventure. Saturday morning, I will return to DC for a week. Some of my old teammates and myself will be hosting the New Life youth group from Virginia Beach. These students are giving up the “typical” Spring Break to pray and repent over our nation. I am excited to invest in this generations and even challenged by their passion for the Lord.

sweet baby Landrey, Bryson, Landrey and me, and Emma after making me a birthday cake

It seems my mind is one of the enemy’s most favored access points. Oh so subtly he enters. I allow him somehow to steal the thousands of memories of God’s faithfulness, and somehow replace them with memories that flood my heart with fear and doubt. It’s hard for me to admit and realize that I have allowed him to do this. But if the Word of God is my standard, than than this is the simple yet hard truth. I think so often when it comes to my mind I can be passive. Yet Paul’s stance towards these little thoughts is the quite the opposite, “we take captive every thought to make it obedience to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) Today, I was struck by a quote from Beth Moore, “We also have an enemy who wants to return us to the places God called us to leave.” For me these “places” are often doubts I allow my brain to re-circulate. How often do we allow our thoughts to drift back to places where Christ has already won the victory?

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:4

In Christ, we have the victory. May we fight to take a hold of this divine power, and overcome this battle for our minds!

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3

“A man of a right spirit is not a man of narrow and private views, but is greatly interested and concerned for the good of the community to which he belongs and the true welfare of society.”
-Jonathan Edwards

It seems no matter what I pick up to read today, I am finding a theme.

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
1 Timothy 2:1-2

I’m not sure why but I sense an extra urgency to pray for our president today. I know there is a lot of controversy surrounding him right now, but our God is big.

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” Proverbs 21:1

May we direct our energy and even discernments toward intercession that we may see the Lord’s purposes accomplished in our nation.

Well, after 3 months of traveling and gleaning, I have found some answers. But, I must admit I also found a lot more questions. Good questions. In me, there is a growing hunger. A hunger for answers. A hunger for more of God. A hunger to see His Kingdom come. A hunger to see this generation be all He desires it to be. Although sometimes the questions seem overwhelming, I find I am so excited to see the move of God in this nation. There is a longing for more, a longing to see this nation and generation rise up and take it’s place!

25 Questions from my journal…
What is the “road less traveled?”
What is the tipping point?
What is sacrifice?
What is faith?
What is obedience?
What is the “fire” of God?
When is it time to step out?
Where is the risk?
When do I start “being” Jesus to those I meet?
How much of what I believe is simply theoretical?
When do I put feet to these prayers?
What is the “power” of God?
What do I really believe?
Do I really believe that HE lives in me?
How do we bring His Kingdom to earth?
What is my source?
Who am I?
What do I have to offer?
What has been invested in me?
How do I share this?
What do I have to give?
What do I have to lose?
What do I have to gain?
What do I have to fear?
If I don’t who will?

While visiting Bethel Church in Redding, a lady praying for me challenged me to ask God questions, not just for me, but on behalf of my generation. I am now starting to understand what the Lord was saying through her. I look forward to the answers that come my way as I continue on this journey. For more info on next steps, see “where i am” to the right.

My team from DC came down to the great state of Texas this last week to meet and talk about what God has been doing in our lives. Back in December, we felt the Lord was sending us out for a season. The past week was a time of gathering back together and sharing what we experienced over the past 3 months. I learned so much and was really encouraged. It’s always good to see family again. I will write more soon about exactly what I learned and how that will affect where I’m headed!

Well, I am a little scared to write. It seems each time I share what God is teaching me, a practical lesson is soon to follow! Recently I have been drawn to the story of the vine in John 15. I long to walk in the secret place of abiding, that the peace of God may be firmly established within me. As I ponder the mystery of this, surrender seems to be a continuous theme. My tendency seems to be more of striving and less of surrendering. But there is a great beauty in letting go, and allowing His spirit to flow through me. A great purging is necessary to unclog the pipes of my own will. The freedom is always worth the process. I am shocked at how sneakily my will can creep back into my heart. The other important aspect of abiding is to obey His commands. “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 15:12 God is love. If I want to abide in Him, I must love. For me to not love, is as silly as the branch saying, “we are not a vine.” This love for my brothers and sisters cannot sustain out of my own strength, but must come from a deeper well, His great love for me. So I’m learning, surrendering, loving, and trusting to see the fruit that only comes from abiding in the True Vine.