Ready or Not

I can't believe I only have 4 days left on tour! It has really been such an incredible life changing experience for me, and I wanted to share another little lesson I learned yesterday. 

You've probably heard the phrase, "Ready or not, here I come!" Maybe in the context of hide and seek. This childhood phrase actually has a lot of depth. Whether we are ready or not, things in life are going to come, happen, and present themselves. When we are ready and prepared, even when we aren't entirely sure of what we are supposed to be ready and prepared for, these things: (opportunities, experiences and even challenge) are a lot more enjoyable to journey through.

Yesterday my flight was delayed out of Colorado Springs and so I landed in Denver with 5 minutes to sprint across the airport... (it's a large airport) and make it for my flight. I have never run so fast in all my life. I was carry bags, I was over dressed and sweaty, my throat was burning, and all I could think was... "I need to go to the gym." 

I was NOT prepared for this moment. 

Maybe earlier you were wondering... "Well how can I be prepared and ready for something that I don't know is coming?"

We stay healthy. Physically, mentally, spiritually... We day in and day out pursue health and growth in these areas so that we are ready when we have to sprint to catch a plane, when we have an amazing once in a life time opportunity present itself, when we meet someone we want to connect with, when we have the opportunity to speak into someone's life... we can be ready. 

What does your day to day look like? Are you looking to growth and pursue health spiritually, mentally, physically-- I guarantee a lifestyle of prioritizing these things will position you ready to fully experience the BEST or endure the may seem the worst. 

Ready or not, life's coming. 

And yes, I did make my flight :) 

Ash 

PLACES & PRESENCE

About a month ago I found myself in an airport, which is not unusual if you know me. I’m not always on vacation, no, but my job actually causes me to travel quite a bit. Not only my "job" causes me to travel but my passion causes me to travel—my passion to share the HOPE of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible.

Anyhow. I was in an airport.

It was mid November and I had just finished something like my 15th flight in like 3 months. I was on the phone with a friend and made the comment, “Well now I get to relax for a month and a half. No more travel.” That same day I found out that I was actually going to be travelling in the states for three weeks alongside For King & Country and Lauren Diagle with our ministry, ShareWord Global. God's plans aren't always what we expect but they're always far better for us than anything we could come up with. 

PLACES & PRESENCE

So It’s day 13 of the tour and I’ve been in a million different states. Florida, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, Iowa, Texas, Missouri, & Nebraska; DIFFERENT places… but with me goes the same presence. The same Holy Spirit. God’s presence and Spirit.

No matter what “place” you are in right now—God is with you. I have been so grateful for the faithfulness of God’s presence. How it is always there, and I’ve learned to make my prayer not, “Holy Spirit please be with me” but because I know He is with me, “Holy Spirit make me AWARE of your presence. Make me aware of your purposes and how you are moving in each moment.”

Wherever you are right now, I challenge you to make that your prayer. Lord, make me aware of your presence. I know you are here, but please make me more aware. More and MORE aware, give me an increasing awareness of your presence. What you are saying, doing and leading, and give me an ever increasing heart of obedience.

God’s presence is faithful, it’s consistent. Despite your place.

 But what about my presence? Is it a faithful and consistent representation of Jesus despite PLACE? Despite being in a car for 14 hours, with three suitcases next to me and very little leg room? Being away from family and friends? Having little choice in what I eat, when I sleep, or get to relax? Being in consistently different places, situations and circumstances that are out of my control? What’s my presence looking like? Despite the EVER changing situations, circumstances and places in our lives, God's presence remains the same with us - steadfast and unchanging. Let us in turn, despite our ever changing situations, circumstances and places-- both good and bad, be steadfast conduits of that sweet life giving presence.

That’s the thought that the Holy Spirit has challenged me with each day. What kind of presence do I bring to those around me? To the situations around me? I want it to be an overflow of GOD’S PRESENCE in me.  

Places change. God’s presence doesn’t—He’s always present, always faithful, loving, steadfast and perfect for every situation, place & person.  And how about my presence? Lord, let my presence be an overflow of your presence in me.

PLACES & PRESENCE.

Journeying

Here's another post from the archives that I enjoy reviewing...

We are all on some sort of pathway going somewhere. 

I happen to be on a God adventure. And so can anyone - you choose it.

I've learned that God adventures often start by setting out to do something that you cannot do based on  your own abilities. You are not enough.

God adventures also begin - a lot of times, out of a place of trust, abiding in Him, hearing His voice just when the next decision needs to be made. You don't exactly have a perfectly written out road map... He does, but we don't see that full picture. He likes us to trust. 

Through my God adventure,  I've also learned that we can't push buttons to make God's timing somehow come about more quickly. He isn't a microwave-type God where we can quickly defrost a chicken that is best to be left out to thaw over night. 

Not sure if that makes sense to anyone else, but the illustration works for me. 

Just like David, we can't jump ahead of God's timing - even when it seems like an opportunity is presenting itself for something NOW and RIGHT AWAY ... doesn't mean it is God's timing. 

In 2 Samuel, David has numerous opportunities to secure his throne by force - but he recognizes that it isn't time yet, it isn't God's timing - and so he does not try and run ahead of God and His plan. 

I admire David's utter refusal to jump ahead of God’s timing in the plan to bring him to the throne.  In a culture where blood feuds were common, where families who were at odds would wipe each other out, David refused to enter into violence against Saul or the members of his family. 

Just because we can maybe pull the strings to make something happen doesn't mean that's God's timing.

A lot of times we are pushy, and impatient. 

What we attain by force we must keep by force. 

That's a lot of work.  Maybe I'll let things unfold in God's timing instead of pushing buttons... 

Good things come to those who wait- those who wait upon the Lord.

Now, waiting doesn't mean do absolutely nothing. 

Delight in Him, everyday greet with the same objective- to fall more in love with God, to know Him more and more, and  make Him known. To love Him and love others. In doing that, everything in His timing will fall into place...

God adventures. Start one today.