i'm goin' fishin'

credit: Shayla Helsel

i don't fish. i never have. truthfully, i've actually never held a fishing rod for real. i used to pick up my papa's old ones and play with them, but i've never actually been fishing. not my thing.

[disclaimer: if you have a boat and go deep sea fishing, please feel free to invite me. it's on my bucket list.]

that being said, i fish. yep, you heard me. not literally. that's gross. but i fish in the sense of searching with all my might for what i value most in life, the things i just can't go another day without. bear with me here...

background: the disciples had literally just seen Jesus crucified, buried, risen, and reappeared to them in private. all after their homeboy Peter denied Jesus 3 times like he said he wouldn't. oops! that being said, they were probably a little emotionally fragile and unstable. so...they did what most of us would do. they went back to what was comfortable and what they knew. they grabbed a boat and went fishing. that's where Jesus finds them and where this picks up...

"[Jesus] called out to them [disciples], 'Friends, haven't you any fish?'

'No,' they answered.

He said, 'Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.'

When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish."

-john 21:5-6 

i don't stake my livelihood on my daily catch of fish like the disciples did. but i do place a high premium on relationships and building a strong sense of community. my "fish" if you will. it's no secret that both of those departments have been severely lacking down here in the sunshine state. i knew it would be hard leaving my k-world branson fam. and it was. still is. i just didn't think i would be sitting here 16 months later still struggling to have a community to provide accountability and life-on-life encouragement. but i am. 

it's discouraging more often than not, but i take comfort in the Truth from john's words that Jesus knows where the fish are. He knows where i should cast my nets, where i should invest my time. as i trust Him to provide, my nets will overflow. so while i feel like i'm still sitting here in the midst of a long night of nothing, i'm trusting that Jesus knows where the fish are.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

all the way my Savior leads me

what a great reminder this morning. once again, He speaks and meets me in my need.

all the way my Savior leads me

all the way my Savior leads me

who have i to ask beside

how could i doubt His tender mercy

who through life has been my guide

all the way my Savior leads me

cheers each winding path i tread

gives me grace for every trial

feeds me with the Living Bread

You lead me and keep me from falling

You carry me close to Your heart

and surely Your goodness and mercy will follow me

all the way my Savior leads me

o, the fullness of His love

o, the sureness of His promise

in the triumph of His blood

and when my spirit clothed immortal

wings its flight to realms of day

this my song through endless ages

Jesus led me all the way

Jesus led me all the way

all the way my Savior leads me

all the way my Savior leads me

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

love what you do

credit

credit

Those are the faces of a few someones who love what they do.

There’s something special about watching someone do what they love to do. Maybe even what they were born to do. But it’s even more special when history is being made in the process.

I’ve admitted several times during the Olympics that I’m more hyped about watching women’s soccer than I am about watching beach or indoor volleyball. That says something, especially when you consider that Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh-Jennings are in final pursuit of some gold medal history of their own.

I know that I have a mildly obsessive personality and that's certainly the case with the Olympics. Although admittedly, I’m more than mildly obsessed with our US Women’s National Soccer Team. I’m a freak about them. I faithfully stalk the US Soccer website for new videos, articles, blogs, etc. And then I scour the web for more. It’s easy to get sucked in because it’s obvious that our US women love the game and love each other. A lot. That and they want another gold. Real bad.

But more than anything, I’ve fallen in love with the players and want to see them succeed every time they step onto the pitch.

[You like that? I’m even using soccer lingo now.]

There are some great players who love Jesus a lot and are loud and proud about it. And there are some great players who need Jesus a lot. And I can’t help but think that the Lord is doing something awesome on this team every single day. That excites me even more.

And let’s not forget how fabulous it is to have the world’s eyes on a women’s team. They’ve captured hearts and fans across the world. Well done.

On a side note: I don’t think I’ve ever been so confident in a team where I have no influence. I mean, even when they went down 2-0 against France within the first 15 minutes of the Olympic opener, I had no doubt they’d come back in style. And they did. 4-2 to be exact.

[There was a lot of fist pumping during that one. I fist pump every time they score. Don’t mock me.]

It’s weird how confident I am that they will maintain control and dominate each time they play. Maybe it’s because they’re just that good.

Gold or bust.

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

gabby douglas: a win-win situation

credit

I think it's safe to say that most of America (and possibly the world) is captivated by a little 4'11" ray of joy otherwise known as Gabby Douglas. Or more affectionately known as the "flying squirrel." Not only does the girl have one of the most contagious smiles I've ever seen, but she loves Jesus loud and proud. Mad props to her.

After winning the team gold and then the individual all-around gold, the girl is literally on top of the world. Moments like these are when I brace for awesomeness, hoping that the athlete loves Jesus and will broadcast it loud and clear. And not in a cursory, flippant way. In a heart-felt, I-wouldn't-be-here-without-Him kind of way.

Gabby did just that.

"Being the Olympic Champion is definitely an amazing feeling. I give all the glory to God, and it’s kind of a win-win situation. The glory goes up to Him and the blessings fall down on me.”

“It means so much. All the hard work and dedication, and effort put in the gym...and hard days. Hard days are the best because that’s where champions are made. So if you push through the hard days, you can do anything.” 

Well said, Gabby. Well said.

credit

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

Bono and Christ

i just want to share this little nugget from Bono with you. when it comes to Christ, you have to make one of two decisions. either He is who He says He is, or He's nuts. and here's what Bono has to say.


"Jesus being God isn’t farfetched to me. Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: He was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets…but actually Christ doesn’t allow you that. He doesn’t let you off that hook.  Christ says, ‘No. I’m not saying I’m a teacher, don’t call me teacher. I’m not saying I’m a prophet.’ I’m saying: ‘I’m the Messiah. I’m saying: ‘I am God incarnate…'


So what you’re left with is: either Christ was who He said He was or a complete nutcase…I’m not joking here. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me, that’s farfetched…The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That’s the point. It should keep us humbled.  It’s not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven."

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

every day and every milestone

i can't take credit for this, but it was too good not to share. in fact, i immediately emailed my coworkers with this little nugget. hope it encourages and convicts you as it did me.

Our prayer for your family is that every day and every milestone would convince you that Jesus is worthy of devotion and discipleship.  May your milestones lead you to remember Him and be thankful.  Journeys always have delays and difficulties and sometimes can be downright hard and discouraging.  May the Lord give you eyes to see His wonders along the way and a heart to believe that the journey is good and the destination will be spectacular.

stay faithful in the journey.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

wrestling with expectations

credit: pinterest

this seems to be a theme in my life right now. i've said something to this effect both to myself and others numerous times lately. so as nice as it would be, i can't expect the people around me to have a heart to serve just because i do. i want them to have that desire for their own sake and for the sake of making much of Christ by being servants in a self-consumed society. but i can't expect that from them. it's their choice. God has to work in their heart the same way he worked in mine.

i also can't hold other people to my personal standards. if they don't know the Lord, they don't operate under the same set of moral principles as i do. and as much as i want them to, that's the Holy Spirit's job, not mine. i get to serve them through a gospel-minded lifestyle and love them well. and if they do know the Lord and are choosing to set their gaze on temporal things, then i get to show them what it looks like to live a life focused on the eternal instead.

i have a tremendous opportunity to live the gospel every single day. and so do you. live it well.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

isaiah 26:8

"yes, Lord, walking in the way of Your laws, we wait for You. Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts."  -isaiah 26:8

that verse not only maintains a permanent residence on my windshield as a daily reminder, but it is also the vision for the Passion movement. i love having those words before me as i drive to work every morning, as i run my errands around town, and as i return home each night. it's a constant reminder to make sure my actions are always centered on echoing the name of Jesus to the world.

my four days in Atlanta for the Passion conference were a time for me to step back and evaulate the priorities in my life. to check my motives. to set goals and create a plan to get me where i want to be. your 20s are a very decisive time of life. for starters, you graduate from college, get your first job, and start thinking about things like budgeting, investing, marriage, building a career, and making the most of your time before "settling down". lots of maturing happens in your 20s. at least it has for me. and i'm only 4 years in. who knows what the next 5 or 6 hold?

over the next few posts, i'll share with you what impacted me the most as each speaker humbly brought the Truth of Scripture to our attention. i'm still processing through all the Lord is teaching me because a lot was unpacked in a short time. this makes me especially grateful for the Holy Spirit's work of guiding me into all Truth (john 16:13; 1 cor 12:9).

Bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.