The Calm Before the Storm

because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins.

Leviticus 16:30



Have you ever felt like everything was going great, and then get that feeling that something bad is about to happen?  I had that feeling last week, except it isn't that I think something "bad" is going to happen.  I feel as if I am about to get challenged.  A challenge can be bad, if you look at it like that.  I like to look at it as God working on and making me stronger!

I had this feeling in my heart and deep in my gut that the Lord was about to challenge me in a way that He hadn't challenged me before.  I had this feeling that I would be stretched and have to depend on Him.  I know, I should already depend on Him for everything... And that is probably why He is about to do this. 

Let me say this before I continue- I am not saying this to brag.  I am saying this to give you an idea on how to look at a struggle that is ahead.  If a girl like me can do what I did, you surely can!  Now, I can say this...

I took this feeling and ran with it.  I knew that if God is going to challenge me, stretch me, and force me to depend on Him to make all my coming decisions, I needed to get started on the right foot.

Back in February, Pastor Steven challenged the staff and leaders of Elevation to juice and water only fast for five days.  It was called the 5:11 Favor Fast.  It was because our church was entering it's fifth year in 2011 (5:11), and we just wanted to thank God for where He had brought Elevation and where we were going. 

I remembered this, and remembered how it forced me to lean on God.  So, I fasted this week.  On day five, last time, I didn't want to get out of bed because I was so tired.  So, I fasted for four days.  This forced me to lean on God.  I wanted my mind to be in the right place going into this period of challenge.

I want to encourage you.  Lean on the Lord.  Get your mind in the right place.  For me it was fasting.  For you it may be opening your Bible every day, spending time alone with the Lord every day, learning how to be silent and listen to Him... Leaning on the Lord looks different for everyone.

You asked...

Wayne from Writers in the Spirit asked, Your writing. What have you written? What motivates you to write? What do you aspire to write? When did you start writing? Who are your favorite writers?

When I was younger, I wrote poems.  I have not been inspired to write a poem in years.    For now, I just write on this blog. 

God motivates me to write.  He lays things on my heart, I type them as fast as I can to share with my blog followers.  Sometimes He lays something on my heart, I write it, but feel as if it shouldn't be shared for a while.  This, I feel is God's way of knowing that it was the right time for me to type it but not the right time for it to be read.  Sometimes, I will have something happen and know that I will write about it eventually but haven't figured out why, yet. 

My dream is to one day write a book. I don't know what I will write about, but I would love to be a published author. I don't have to become a New York Times best seller or anything, just publish a book!  I, also, think it would be amazing to get paid to write a blog.  It sounds wonderful, to get paid to write about what God lays on my heart... sigh.

I started writing after horrific incident when I was in 8th grade.  It was my way of getting out the hurt and pain that I was experiencing.

Favorite writers... That is a tough one.  My favorite blog to follow is Pastor Perry Noble.  I love his posts to leaders.  I always am challenged by them!  I loved Shel Silverstein growing up, and still enjoy reading his poems.  My favorite author is Clayton King.  And I wouldn't be a true Elevator if I didn't plug the Pastor in here somewhere!  Sun Stand Still by Pastor Steven Furtick changed my world. 


That was fun!  Blog followers, what else would you like me to write about?  Are there personal questions you have for me?  Are there any questions about religion or my beliefs on something that you would like for me to discuss? 

When You Listen to God...

I have to tell you an amazing story!  Prepare to have chills from head to toe.

Between four and six months ago, God began telling me that He wanted me in the Rock Hill/Fort Mill area.  Everyday that I would drive to work, my heart would break for that area.  I knew that this area needed God.  Ya know how sometimes things that God tells us to do don't make sense?  Often times we began to question GOD'S judgement... Kind of silly huh?

I didn't understand why I felt so strongly about this area.  I felt as if God was telling me to lead an eGroup in this area.  So, I told God one day, 'Really?  An eGroup here?  How?  No one in this area goes to Elevation.'  That day, I saw five Elevation stickers on cars.  What a way for God to confirm His need for me in this area. 

I accepted the challenge.  I began to pray about what kind of group He wanted me to lead, and figure out logistics for this group (being that I don't live near Rock Hill!). 

Let's fast forward a few months.  The weekend that Pastor Steven was going to announce the new campus, he sent a video out to leaders to tell us early.  When I read Rock Hill at the top, everything around me went quiet and I had chills from head to toe.  I didn't even know that Rock Hill was a consideration for the new campus!  I had friends who knew about my feelings toward that area calling me in shock. 

What a conformation from God!  I emailed Kelly, the eKidz director for Matthews to let her know what was going on and that I felt as if God needed me at the Rock Hill campus. 

I can't begin to express to you how excited I am.  Every time I think about Elevation:Rock Hill, my heart begins to beat faster and I want to explode with excitement. 

So, how can this apply to you? Has God ever told you to do something and you felt as if you weren't equipped with what would be needed to do that?  Have you ever felt like what God was telling you didn't make any sense?  I promise you that if you follow what God is laying on your heart, the reward will be far greater than you could ever imagine. 

Q & A

Hey followers!  So, I have somethings that I would like to write about in the coming months.  The topics and titles are ready to go.  I just don't feel as if God is ready for me to write about them or for them to be out there just yet. 

So, in this transition period, I wanted to open the floor to you. 

What would you like me to talk about? 

Are there questions that I could answer for you?  Any topic that you would like to hear my opinion on?  I would love to write about it. 

The stats on my blog say that there are people reading my blog in Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, South Korea, and obviously the United States.  Sadly, it doesn't tell me where in the United States.  So, I also want to hear where you are reading from.  If you have a blog, I would love to read it, too!!

So... question you have for me/something you would like me to talk about, where you are reading from, and your blog!

I can't wait to hear from y'all!! 

The Ghost of Fourth of July's Past.

Let me start by saying, I am not sure where this post is going.  I just know I need to write.  :-/  Feel free to leave now because I may begin to ramble, and this may not really go anywhere.

I love fireworks. I love the sound of fireworks. I love how they look in the sky. I love the beauty of fireworks. I love how something so magnificent is inside something so small. It is pretty amazing. 

Fourth of July growing up was always my third favorite holiday.  Philip would by fireworks for weeks.  The Lockridges would come over.  There was often a cook out on the porch.  Victoria and I were not as interested in the hamburgers as we were looking for neighbors fireworks in the sky.  Philip would never shoot off fireworks until after 9:00, because otherwise it would be too bright outside.  Never a moment before 9:00.  We had the skin so soft lathered on, sparklers galore, and countless fireworks.  All of the lights in the house had to be off.  There were chairs lined up, Victoria and I always sat on the bench.  We would always sit and enjoy an amazing firework show.  Philip put together better shows than any professional could do. 

Yesterday was not so amazing.  I know I haven't been to Aiken to see one of Philips amazing shows since I was 14.  But, something about knowing that I missed out on six years of fireworks with him to work kills me.  Something about knowing that I will never get to see one of his amazing firework shows again, something about knowing my (future) kids will never get to see one of his amazing firework shows... It just breaks my heart.

I didn't want to be anti-social and lay in bed and cry like I wanted to.  I went to Nicki's house for firework extravaganza.  As I sat in her yard watching her husband shoot off fireworks, I couldn't enjoy it. 

I came home and watched the DVD created by the funeral home for his funeral.  I hadn't done that yet.  I cried so hard and so much that I had a headache.  I miss him so much.  I wish I hadn't been so selfish the past six years.  I wish I had spent them with him. 

(If you read through this, thanks.  I am officially balling my eyes out again.)