Image is Everything

I imagine our good father delighting in his work as he knits his children together in our mother's wombs. I imagine him carefully choosing each unique feature. From the shape of our pinky toe to the lines of our fingerprints, the color of our eyes to the color of our skin, and even counting each and every hair as he places it perfectly on our tiny heads. I imagine him picturing all of his children celebrating and rejoicing in our differences knowing that each one of us was created in his image, for a purpose, for such a time as this.


I imagine his heart breaking when the very children he delighted in creating segregate, isolate, fight, and even kill each other based on something meant to bring such beauty and joy to our world. I imagine his heart breaking as He watches his kids place more importance on what culture says than what he says.

I imagine the heaviness he must feel as his children succumb to the devil's schemes. Like a wolf in a flock of sheep, the devil distracts and divides, devouring everything he can. Leaving blood-stained wool and open wounds, planting lies, and most of all stealing peace and hope.

But I imaging our loving father anticipating our prayers and humility. I imagine him responding with the hope and reconciliation only he can offer. I imagine the supernatural heart-healing only he can do after such sin and pain have been exposed. I imagine Him crushing the head of our oppressor under his mighty heel.

At last, I imagine a world where his children lean on him in unity, celebrating differences, as we love one another as ourselves. I imagine a world where our identity is so rooted in our maker that broken and imperfect narratives no longer tell our stories and the only agenda we have is loving God and our brothers and sisters. I know I will have to wait until I get home to heaven to experience this fully, but as for me and my family, we will do everything we can to bring heaven to earth, here and now.

Our AmiraRose and her best friends celebrating her 9th birthday!

What it's like to be an Elevation Church Staff Spouse

Last month the Elevation Church staff ladies and spouses got together for an event we call "Ladies First," and let me tell you, it was incredible! The vibe was perfect, the snacks delicious, the gifts amazing, and the word that Holly brought was brilliant. So brilliant, in fact, that I want to share it with you.

Here's a glimpse of how beautiful it was.

The Bible says we can learn from the ant....well, as the lady staff and spouses of Elevation Church, we spent the evening learning from the elephant. Did you know elephants are a matriarchal society? That means a female elephant is the head of the herd full of mothers, daughters, sisters, and aunts. The only boys are the baby boys, but when they get to a certain age, the boys are on their own. I had no idea!

Holly taught us four characteristics of female elephants that we, as women, can emulate to be the community God intended us to be. I would like to challenge all women reading this to do the same.

I am so thankful for the example Holly is to me and the investment she has made in my life.

Help.

Elephants literally circle around anyone in their herd who is in a vulnerable situation. Whether they are injured, birthing a baby, or weak and tired, the herd circles up to protect them. This is instinctive to them and we get to do the same. We get to surround those in our herd who are going through a difficult season. Whether being available to pray with them, bring them meals, or just be a listening ear, it's our job to protect our sisters and help them out of the center of the circle at the right time. And when we're the ones who are going through those difficult times, it's our responsibility to allow our herd to surround us because when we isolate ourselves, we open ourselves up for an attack. Anyone else have a difficult time allowing others to help? (I shared about how I found help in this area in my last blog.)

Carry each other's burdens, in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 

These guys are getting in a formation to protect the vulnerable lady elephant in the middle.

Example.

The matriarch is usually the leader until death, and she sets an example to the other elephants in the herd. She is wise. She makes decisions based on what she feels is best for the herd. She is essential in teaching elephants how to mother their calves. She considers the needs of the group before making decisions to move to new locations. A great example from the Bible is Elizabeth. She went before Mary as an example of grace and obedience, while also affirming what God had inside of her. I love how God created us to do the same to our friends. We get to be both matriarch and herd member at the same time and even within the same relationships.

In a loud voice, she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!" Luke 1:42-45

The matriarch of the herd leads the way.

I had the privilege of reading a letter to my friend Amber.
She has been an example to me since we got to Elevation Church. 

Remember.

You know the saying "an elephant never forgets"? Did you know it's true? There are cases of elephants working with people, not seeing them for years, and then recognizing them when they're reintroduced. Also, elephants are one of only five animals who can recognize themselves in the mirror. And, when elephants line up to travel, they always line up in the same order. Isn't that crazy? You know what is even crazier? Elephants are empathetic towards one another. They are actually known to have funerals for their members who pass away. They stay close to the mourning herd member until she is done mourning. Honestly, this is one of the most difficult of the four characteristics for me. So often I get lost in my own world-I have a big and busy family with an incredibly active church life, and a growing business and I sometimes forget to remember those in my herd. But, I am leaving my excuses behind and am learning from the elephants in this area.

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

These elephants are mourning the loss of a baby.

One of my best friends, Anna, is an example of someone who remembers.
I am so thankful for her!

Devoted.

Elephants are fiercely devoted to each other. They have a tight social bond built on trust and vulnerability. They help each other in danger and have even been seen to comfort each other in death.  Their devotion to each other does not mean they are exclusive, though. If a herd can't feed a baby elephant due to her mother dying, another herd, with the means to nurse her, will accept her into theirs. What if we could show the world needs a group of women so fiercely devoted to one another there's no room for jealousy or division; a group of women who accept each other for who they are and who always have room for new members? We get to be that, and isn't it so refreshing to our culture?! You know the verse in Ruth people read at weddings, did you know it's actually said between two women? Talk about devoted!

But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me." Ruth 1:16-17

Reunited after being apart.

I encourage you to find your HERD of Elephant Queens. The ones who Help, who are an Example, who Remember and who are Devoted. (Notice the acronym?!?) And I encourage you to be those things for the queens in your herd. Where the devil can divide, he is more likely to be able to conquer-which is why it is essential for us to come together, as women fiercely devoted to God and one another in unity. If we learn these things from the elephants, we will be a force to be reckoned with; our relationships will be a refreshing example to the world around us and will attract people to Jesus. 

If you're not sure who your herd is, take the bible's advice-a person who has friends must show herself friendly. Find a local church, get plugged into a small group or volunteer on a team, connect with other moms from your kids' class at school, put yourself out there, be the friend you hope to have; I promise it will be worth it!

Some of the incredible ladies from my Elevation Concord herd.
I am so blessed to get to do life with them!

How to Successfully Fight to Surrender

I was reading my bible the other day when I came across a familiar, yet very confusing story. The book of Exodus is full of stories like it; God has Moses, or the Israelites, do something rather bizarre in order to continue to the next scene of their story.

In this particular passage in Exodus 17, the Israelites are being attacked by the Amalekites. So, naturally, Moses sends out an army to fight while he proceeds to climb up a mountain and hold up his staff. I say naturally with complete sarcasm. I mean, who thinks it's a good idea to climb up a mountain and hold a staff in the air while your people are literally fighting for their lives? The crazy thing is, as long as that staff was held high, his army was winning, but when he lowered the staff they would begin to lose.

I've read this so many times and thought this situation showcased some super crazy "God-magic"; however, I didn't see the point. But everything God does has a purpose. Everything. And if He didn't do it, He can work it together to accomplish a far greater purpose than we can imagine.

So, rather than sitting there marinating in the absurdity of this situation, I stopped reading and asked the Lord to show me something I had never seen before. He did, and he almost revealed it to me like I knew it the whole time.

The Lord had me zoom in on Moses' posture. If his arms were raised, they were winning. Interesting! When Moses was in the posture of surrender, they were winning. It seems counterintuitive, but isn't that just like the Kindom of God? And isn't that how we, as Christians, are supposed to live our lives? In surrender to God. It's as if the passage is showing us the way to win in life isn't to fight, or strive, or run to a life of safety; but rather to live our lives in surrender.

Now, we probably aren't fighting an army of Amalekites, but the bible says we are fighting against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness. And Moses painted a beautiful picture of how we're going to overcome them. In surrender. Because that is where the Lord can fight for us.

Great! Live a life of surrender! Deal? Deal!

But what about when surrender is hard?

My pastor said, "the most substantial struggle of your life is your surrender." I have to agree. There have been seasons in my life when the last thing I wanted to do was surrender. Rather than trusting God through the rapids, I would much prefer to execute my own plan, run back to comfort, or create my own path. Rather than operate by the bible, I sometimes want to operate out of what makes sense in my mind. There have been some seasons I just plain couldn't surrender. I was too tired, too emotional, and too discouraged. Who knew it would be a fight to surrender?

Guess what? Moses knew!

God wasn't surprised by it either. Why do you think God had Moses bring his small group to the top of the mountain with him? Oh, I forgot to mention that seemingly minor detail. Yeah, Moses brought two of his boys up the mountain with him. God knew Moses would need someone to give him a firm foundation to rest on, and someone to hold up his hands when He couldn't.

This resonated so deeply with me. God created us to live in a community. Living a life of surrender to Jesus is hard. We need the right people around to support us, keep us rooted in the foundation of Biblical truths, and to hold up our hands when we can't.

I used to feel like I had to do it all myself. I almost prided myself on not needing people. I really didn't like asking for help. Honestly, I still don't, but I'm learning that this community creates a place for me to live my fullest life in Jesus. The joys are maximized, and the sorrows become bearable in a community.

When I look back through difficult seasons of my life, I see specific people holding up my hands (even though sometimes it took a while for my stubborn self to allow anyone to help). In other seasons I was the one able to hold someone else's hands up. What a beautiful intention God had for his people when he created the community of the local church!

Words can't express how grateful I am for my community!

If Moses climbed the mountain alone, I am convinced, the Israelites would have lost the battle. That's precisely what the devil wants too. He wants you in isolation because he knows it makes you vulnerable to his attacks. My mind was blown when I learned that you can't get a rat addicted to cocaine while he is operating in his community. You have to isolate him before he can be subject to the addiction. Isn't that crazy?  I know, we're not rats, but I absolutely believe the devil wants you isolated for the same reason; to make you susceptible to his schemes. Please don't climb your mountains alone.

Moses surrounded himself with the right people and positioned himself in a posture of surrender to create a space for God to move, and we have the opportunity to do the same. I challenge you to not just go to church but to have a community within your church where you feel safe and supported. A place where you can be vulnerable. A place where you can live the life God intended you to live. A place where we can help each other fight to surrender together.