New Perspective....

It has been a beautiful time since returning. There have been moments where I have just sat and cried, as I take it all in. Feeling overwhelmed with how privileged I am to be back. I rejoice in all the miracles God did to get me back here. The first week I got back I was asked to speak in the gym. I spoke about doing all things with Jesus, asking Him to help you reach those dreams and desires that God has placed in you. I had about 20 young men looking at me silently listening, which is huge! I got to tell them that I have my deepest desire, and that was to be with God in where He wants me. Which is right here with them. With God we will always succeed, but without him we will fail.

One of the guys, who used to only swear at me when he did decided to talk to me, stayed to thank me before he left. That is a big victory! 

God took me to Daniel 3 one night as we were worshiping. We were praying for the night life in Jackson. God showed me that Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego were in a very vulnerable place. They must have seen so many turn away from God due to fear. They were called by the King because they wouldn't bow down to his god. They knew the likely answer to what was about to happen, yet they stand so strong in their Faith. The King then orders the furnace to be heated 7 times hotter than normal. However, Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego don't worry or freet but stay so grounded in the truth. They have the faith that God could have saved them before being thrown in the fire, yet He doesn't. Something much more amazing happens. They see Jesus in the fire, which grabs the attention of the king. This then leads to the whole kingdom turning back to God!

They truly had nothing to worry about and walked so firm in their faith! 

What level is my Faith at? Will anything look so hopeless that it doesn't fall under who God is? Where is my perspective?

Since being back, hard stuff has happened. A dear friend ends up on the street after being placed in prison for a night. He has the mind of a child and his basic human needs are not being met. So, he knocks on my door every day and night to receive love. He sleeps  under my house as he knows he is safe.

Do I think his situation is useless? Do I go down the track that he isn't saveable? To do so, I would have to forget all I have seen God do already in my 30 years of life. Plus, all I have read of His word.

So I go and love again and again and again. I pray and cry out for my friend. I speak truth and ask God for a miracle.

I get to receive new perspectives.

A few days after God showed me the passage in Daniel, I was in our outdoor pavilion having church. I was standing with our kids, talking to them about worship and why we do it. Their attention span wasn't long that day and it wasn't easy. I had to really press into the worship myself, asking God to help me.

The worship leader started singing 'I won't relent'. He went over and over the words 'I don't want to talk about you, like you're not in the room. I want to look right at you, I want to sing right to you.' At that point God placed my attention on one of the little boys. He made me aware that He is present in the room, through the people around me. 

Matthew 25v35-40. When I fed the hungry, I fed Him. And when I clothe someone in need, I clothe Him. 

I get to walk in the desires of my heart, which is to be with God in all things. Then in that, I get to love on the people that He sends as if it was God standing in front of me.

He is changing my perspective on things. 

The more He changes my perspective from hopelessness, to truth, the more I see Him.

This photo took my attention this last week. It is pictures of the ocean layered over each other. The photographer took this idea from Psalm 23. When I first looked at it, it looked like it was under water. However, when you look closely, you can see it is above water. When you see your hopeless situations it can be like you're drowning. But when you remember that the Lord is your shepherd, you know you are walking above it.
Photo Cred: Kylie Roberson