When God Moves

When God moves, He moves. Henry Blackaby wrote in his book, Experiencing God this fundamental truth: God is always at work around us. Maybe we might not be able to see it in our own lives at the moment, but if we lift our eyes from the selfish reflection in the mirror and look around, what we see just might astound us.

That is what happened to me this week.

Let me be honest, I have been in a funk for the past couple of weeks. Not really sure why, other than my ugly fleshly nature still surfaces once in a while. I milked the funk. Do you ever do that? Where you justify why you can act the way you do. Where you want other’s sympathy… Let’s just say it was a nasty couple of weeks!

On Wednesday, I attended a worship service. The International House of Prayer sent a team to Penn State to do ministry for one week. They happened to be here the same week of our Agape event and were helping us lead worship as well as promote the event on campus. I was sent to meet them and be a part of their work.

For the two hours that followed, I resembled a Ping-Pong ball; bouncing between beautiful worship and selfish boredom. (Remember the funk I was in… and I was liking it) My worship that day was not like sweet incense going up before my Father, but rather like a “stinky-egg fart” as my seven-year-old sister would say.

I was thankful when the service was over. The leader of the group decided that they should pray over Dannah and I before we went into our big event two days later. They laid hands on us both. They prayed for Dannah – it was beautiful, sweet, and encouraging.

Then they got to my stinky self. One girl – no doubt incredibly anointed by the Holy Spirit - began to pray for me. Mind you, I have never met her in my entire life nor said anything more than, “Hello,” when I walked into the room earlier.

She began to pray for my broken heart; the pieces that still remained shattered. (Pain has been coming to the surface recently and her beginning prayer shook me to my core.) Continuing, she prayed for healing over specific details and things that happened in the last few months of that relationship that I have told no one.

Tears fell down my cheek. “Jesus loves you. You are priceless and beautiful. He will always fight for you.” Then, she looked me dead in the eye. “You’re in physical pain?” Before I could even answer, she laid her hands on my right hip and began to pray for healing. Now I was weeping. “You once had the faith to believe that you would be healed completely. Where did that go? God wants to heal you. His desire is that you are whole. Reclaim your faith.”

She prayed and spoke words of encouragement from my Father. Details, fears, concerns I had told no one, God redeemed through her. As she continued to pray, the depth of her discernment continued to shake me. If I had a doubt, that just proved GOD IS REAL. I believe He reveals Himself to those who need to see Him most. At that moment, that was me. God messed me up! The rest of the day I was a puddle at the feet of Jesus.

I am so thankful that He comes to meet us right where we are; even in the midst of my stinky, selfish temper tantrum. I needed an attitude adjustment. A heart of love and compassion ready to to move with the Lord's Spirit; ready for Agape. 

So many of you have either supported financially or by your prayers the work of AGAPE. It is a faith-based event uniting many campus ministries to bring healthy, God-honoring relationships back to Penn State’s campus. I have been working on this project since the fall and it finally culminated with an event on Friday night at PSU.

Let me shed a little bit of light on why the issue of sexual wholeness is such a big deal on this campus. Last year, the Sandusky scandal began to reveal the corruption that resided within Happy Valley. While 40,000 students are on the campus, only 2,000 claim to be active Christians…

Virginity is not tolerated on the campus at all. Being a virgin here is asking for severe persecution. Sororities use sex as part of their induction week – I will spare you the details. There is an app that allows students who want to “have sex now” to find another person who wants to “have sex now” on a map. The hook up culture has become nothing more than a treasure map to instant gratification.

Penn State needs truth. We targeted the Christian kids. They talk the talk but many of them struggle to walk out their faith in such a difficult environment. We assembled a team to speak to these students – to encourage their faith. Never doing anything like this before, we figured it would be optimistic to expect 200 students to attend. That would be 10% of the Christian culture on campus - enough to effect change. 

We were shocked when over 450 students showed up; we had chairs for 230. Students were standing along the walls, sitting on the floor and crammed in the hallway, anxious to hear truth. My team was incredibly humbled by God’s move.

After a time of combined worship, the men moved to a different location and were encouraged to “pick up their stones,” and fight the good fight. The women received a rose and were called to take guys of the table for ten days and fall more in love with Jesus. I shared my broken-heart testimony and tears began to flow. Intercessors were set up around the room ready to pray for girls who needed to be made whole. 

For the next hour we prayed with countless young women. I know of at least one salvation. Many hearts were set on the road to healing. I will be taking a young lady who is a Hindu to church with me tonight as a result of her attending the event and the Lord stirring her heart. 

After the students left, the team sat around in awe of what God did. The stories of victory and hope are already pouring in.

I know many of you were praying and figured you would be blessed to hear the outcome. God is at work. He is always at work. Maybe even deep in the heart of the person you least expect it. Do not quench the Holy Spirit. Be a sponge. 

Thank you for your prayers and support. God moves. He moves big.  

You Don't Always Have to See

God continues to bless me with incredible opportunities! This week Dannah was asked by a Penn State graduate student to come speak on campus. The student was showing the documentary, The Virgin Daughters, focusing on the purity movement within Christian churches (religion and sexuality collide). Dannah was out of town during the event so, naturally, she sent me – obviously the next most qualified to talk about such issues! The faith she places in me sometimes is quite humbling!

Following the film, I answered questions and defended purity to the best of my ability. For an hour and a half I held conversation with atheists, feminists, academics and agnostics… It was an amazing experience and provided an opportunity to invite students to AGAPE.

Friday, my Grace Prep High School girls had a sleep over. I got to chaperone the wonderful ladies! There was no Truth or Dare or teenage gossip. Rather, the girls talked to one another about removing the fake masks we put on to impress one another. As a result, barriers were broken and forgiveness, healing and restoration flowed. From 11pm until 4am, the girls held one another, prayed for each other, and spurred one another on.  The Lord showed up in powerful ways!

And because this blog involves him, I will introduce you to Blake. Since it has been on Facebook many of you have been asking questions anyway! He is the graphic designer for Pure Freedom and an incredible musician - he can basically play every instrument known to man. God brought us together when neither one of us was looking. The Lord is using him to unknowingly redeem many things in my life. Never before have I seen God's fingerprints more all-over anything. I know y'all told me not to go fall for a Yankee... I think with a pair of boots we could convert him easily! 

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Well for the rest of you enjoying the warmth of spring, It is March 25^th and we are expecting three inches of snow today – as I write, we are on a two-hour delay - it has already snowed 3 inches and we have a 100% chance of snow until 8pm… I am getting desperate for spring. It was 46 one day last week and I was wearing shorts! 

This past Monday, we had another massive (to me) snowstorm that quickly dropped six inches of fluffy, frozen, white stuff. That evening Blake and I had been with his family. After dinner and a movie we ventured into the frozen tundra so he could take me home.

It had continued to snow and ice while we were inside, so a nice layer of frozen moisture had plastered itself to the windshield. Late and frigid, we were in a hurry to get in the car and start the heater. We couldn’t find the ice scraper, so with his gloved hand Blake scraped ice off of the driver’s side of the windshield.

The drive to my house is short and familiar, however the roads were very nasty. I am still not used to driving on snow and ice so I was a bit apprehensive. Not to mention the fact that I could not see out of the front windshield at all! I began to give Blake a hard time about not seeing; I was nervous as we turned a corner and slid on the ice. “Heather, do you really have to see? Just trust me,” he reached over and gently grabbed by hand.

Very clearly I heard the Lord’s voice, “Do you get it? Maybe I don’t want you to see. I want you to exercise your trust in Me.” As Blake held my hand, I felt the tangible touch of my Jesus. The Lord continued to release a powerful revelation to me as we drove.

Blake knows the roads - even in the dark night. He knew exactly where we were going and how to get there. Being a Pennsylvania boy, he is comfortable driving on snow and ice. I know he cares for me deeply and to him I am precious cargo. He wouldn’t let anything bad happen to me. No, I couldn’t see, but what did it really matter! He got me home safely. My ability to see had nothing to do with it. 

I have been presented with a contract to remain at Pure Freedom. Excited and blessed, it is still a huge decision to move 2,000 miles away from home. Kelci has also been asked to remain a team member and she and I are looking to buy a house. Many changes, no solid five-year plan, and big decision have been stressing me out. I have been fighting to see out of the windshield. 

We know that I am not a huge fan of change but, the Lord keeps allowing the pieces of the puzzle to fall into place - one at a time. Until our snowy car ride home, decisions and house hunting had overwhelmed me. The very clear word I received in the car changed all of that.

Do you feel like you’re riding blind too? So much more than Blake ever will, my Jesus loves me. He cares deeply for me. He knows exactly where I need to go. He knows how to get me there safely – even when it seems like we are driving on a solid sheet of ice and I can't see what's ahead of me.

I am guilty of missing out on so many fun drives simply because I choose to panic behind a sheet of ice on a windshield. God wants us to trust. If He is the driver, we must let Him drive. It is not essential that the passenger always see. My anxiety about big decisions quickly faded into that beautiful snowy night. God has already brought me this far… why would He fail to continue to drive me safely where I need to be?

Are you facing big decisions? A circumstance you can’t find a way out of? A relationship that seems to be beyond repair? Let God drive. You in the driver's seat should be a terrifying thought. 

Maybe God has allowed a blinder to come up not to frustrate you, but rather to give you a chance to grow your faith. Consider a horse. In parades or large groups, blinders will often be put on the horse. Why? For their own protection and well being.

Relax. Let the Lord drive. Hold His hand. Turn up the music and enjoy the ride. You don’t always have to see.

Die to Sin... a Lesson Seven Years in Coming

Well, February was a crazy month! I haven't had the time to write as much as I'd like! 

For two weeks of the month, I was on the road with our Secret Keeper Girl ministry. We had six shows spread out through Florida, Georgia and Alabama, speaking to approximately 5,000 moms and daughters. We watched over 150 precious ones give their hearts to Jesus! (Friends and family, keep your eyes peeled and ears open - Secret Keeper Girl will be in Texas and NM April/May! Looking forward to seeing many of you!) 

This tour was extra special to me. I was blessed to be on stage with my dear friend, Kelci. She and I met three years ago competing in the Miss New Mexico Pageant together. Many God-events brought the two of us back together about a year ago. While visiting NM over the holidays we met for coffee. She was frustrated about where she was and felt God calling her somewhere new… I half-jokingly told her she should join me in Pennsylvania. And, here she is!

False eyelashes, butt-glue, extra padding, fake-tans, autographs, earthy crowns. We have both traded all of that junk in for excessively bright, ultra-modest clothing (a tutu for me!) and a Heavenly crown. It has been amazing to be on stage with my best friend each night. God’s redemptive work is powerful!

Now for the lesson… this one has been a loonnnnggg time coming. Seven years to be exact:

Come with me to February of 2006. I was a sophomore in high school. Life was going swell! Little did I know, a chain-reaction of tragedy was fixing to be triggered in my young life.

My wirehair terrier, Taffy Dill, was spunky, sassy, opinionated, fiery… she was very clearly my dog.  Knowing my father’s love for Dobermans, my mom found Shadow at the Humane Society. She had been badly abused as a puppy and was in desperate need of a safe haven. Shadow had been in our family for a couple of years, healing, trusting and loving on us. Then something changed.

Her temperament and demeanor became increasingly more defensive. She was distant. She quit trusting. Shadow attacked Taffy twice  - drawing blood both times. Thankfully we were always there to break up the fight. (Being my dog, although a fraction of the Doberman’s size, she would have fought to the death.)

At this time, we also had a pet rabbit named Sam. My mother had him litter box trained… Oh yes. (She would!) Sammy would often snuggle on Mom’s lap at night while we all lounged on the couch. I tried to tell her many times that Sam was not a cat but she never seemed to get the message.

Extra care was always taken to make sure the dogs remained in their separate back yard whenever Sammy went out to explore and get exercise. Unattended for a moment, Sam began to explore just a bit too close to the fence. Within reach, Shadow attacked. Sam lost. (My mom has some incredibly amazing spiritual insight on this story – if you’re curious, please ask her to share.)

We cried, mourning the death of Sam as well as the frightening shift in Shadow. She wasn’t the same again. We took her to the vet. He declared her not mentally stable. Years of abuse had taken its toll, as well as the taste of blood. The doctor advised us to put her down. Next time she could turn on one of us – she could hurt a child.

She was young and we knew how sweet and gentle she could be. We couldn’t bare to see her put down. We prayed and trusted it was all going to be ok. It wasn’t ok. Only weeks later my Mom and I returned to the house late in the afternoon from a school function. She went to the backyard to get the dogs and let them in the house.

I heard only a scream and then crying. Immediately I jumped up to the window that overlooked the yard… the image is scarred into my mind. I will spare you the painful details. My Taffy had been attacked by the Doberman. She fought to the death. Fur littered the backyard – her body mangled. I collapsed into a heap – uncontrollable sobbing and outrageous anger followed.

From there, the whole thing was a blur… For years I have grieved and resented what happened. Even dealing with anger towards my mom for “letting it happen.” (She knows this and we have forgiven and healed through it!) Taffy and I couldn’t be separated – except when she was offered a jerky treat by someone else! I lost my best friend… and to think it all could have been avoided had we put Shadow down when we were told.

This was certainly one of those things in life that makes you stop and ask, “Why, God?” Not to mention that last February – to the day of the dog’s accident – was the day my fiancé called off our engagement through a text. Another reason for me to stop and ask (no, scream) “WHY GOD?”

For years I had asked why Taffy had to die like that….  This week I finally heard an answer. Seven years later.

Shadow, the Doberman, is a picture of sin. Although abuse and neglect was a thing of her past and she had a loving home and people who took special care of her, that old nature would still manifest itself from time to time. She wasn’t fully healed. Nothing she or my family could do would completely erase the things of the past. So, they would rear their ugly heads.

Not only did it ultimately cost her life, (we did put her down after that happened) it cost the life of others she loved – her playmates – her friends.

Romans 8:13b says, “But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.”

Would Taffy have died if we listened to the vet’s advice? Probably not. Our sinful nature must die. Die completely. We can not allow our sins – especially those deep, dark, secret, nasty ones – to remain buried. Their ugly heads will be exposed. It may cost you the trust and relationship of a dear loved one. It may ultimately cost you your life.

I do not know what that sin is for you - I know mine! Do some heart-searching. Maybe yours is gossiping. Maybe pornography or other sexual sin. Maybe it is fear. We are told 365 times in the Bible, "Do not fear." Does that Do Not command carry with it any less weight than, "Do not murder?" No. We have to kill it all. To be Holy as HE is Holy. Blameless. Without spot or wrinkle. His blood covers us so we do not have to spill our own. But, we must be willing to let sin die. 

As painful as it may be, we are told to confess our sins one to another that we might be healed. (James 5:16) Even if we appear ok on the outside – as Shadow did for many years – we cannot be healed until we are able to lay it ALL before the feet of Jesus.

Well then, should we just keep on sinning and sinning so that God can keep showing us more and more of his wonderful grace? NO! Of course not! Since we died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? We can’t! It’s impossible! We know that our old, nasty, sin-selves were crucified with Christ so that sin would lose its power in our lives. We are NOT slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. Sin is powerless over us.  You must consider yourselves dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. You can’t let sin control the way you live; do not give in to those shallow, sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Keep your whole self, holy. Give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have a new life. So use your whole body – your everything - as an instrument to do what is right and pleasing for the glory of God. Be unshackled. You aren’t a slave. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Wake up! You live under the freedom of God’s grace. 

Romans 6: 1…-14 (the HMB version)

A wave of emotions flooded my heart and spirit as the Lord shared this revelation with me after seven long years of asking. I was convicted and motivated to see to it that I do what the Vet instructs and put down my sinful nature – all of it.

We hung on to Shadow with the hope that she could change… it cost all of us. A terrible and unfortunate accident, but I can attest that the spiritual lessons my family has learned from it certainly covers the sacrifice. 

Grace is one of my favorite words. Without it, God had every right to “put me down” on day one… He didn’t. He loves me and knows what I am capable of being. It is much easier to make the choice to die to self before it costs you…

I apologize if this was a morbid or confusing post! To leave you on a happy note, I am pleased to tell you that God gave me Jackson. HE always restores that which was lost. Jack is my four-legged best friend. He looks and acts just like my Taffy did. That sweet puppy saw me through many long nights and has chased me miles around the park. Mom and Dad are puppy sitting right now… I am coming for you soon, JJ!
Put sin to death before it kills you or someone you love.

Slab Cabin Sledding

I am finally settled in to a routine here in Pennsylvania! Back at work at Pure Freedom, I am beginning some amazing projects. In February and April I will be on tour with Secret Keeper Girl again! Also, I'm teaching a high school Bible class at our sister ministry, Grace Prep. Daily I am in awe of what God is doing in my life and the random ways in which He is bringing me joy. 

For the past three weeks, I have participated in a ministry-wide media fast. Did you know that the average person spends 15.5 hours each month on Facebook? What would happen if we spent those 15 hours with the Lord? A lot, I tell you! I have unplugged from Facebook and honestly haven’t missed it a bit. Before, it was the first thing I’d check in the morning and the last thing I would do before I went to bed. Now, that time has been reclaimed for Jesus. If your spiritual life is at a standstill, I dare you to unplug. At least delete the app from your phone… watch what happens!

Here in State College, it is incredibly cold. I was excited when it was 25 the other day if that tells you anything! I don’t recall seeing the ground since I got here one month ago; all this white stuff...

When the wind chill is not in the negatives, it does make for great sledding weather! My host dad, sisters and I bundled up and headed to Slab Cabin Run for sledding lessons yesterday afternoon. The girls took time to carefully explain to this desert rat how it’s done. 

The most important rule of sledding was: Stop. You see, the hills at Slab Cabin roll down into a creek. If you miss the important step of STOP, you will find yourself in the icy water. (We watched it happen!)

Because of this little fact, the girls could only go down the big hill if Dad or I went with them. As strong and fiery as one might think my five-year-old, blonde, blue-eyed sister is, she is not strong enough to stop the speeding sled before it careens into the water. This is where I, the super-experienced sledder come in.

If I am on the back of the sled, I am capable of throwing my heels into the snow to slow us down – I was also incredibly determined to not fly into the creek!  If worse came to worse and I couldn’t slow us down, I would have lovingly thrown my sister off  before we came to the water’s edge!

Truthfully, the first time Kierstin and I headed down Big Hill, I was slightly nervous! Our green saucer continued to pick up speed… I  questioned my ability to keep us both safe. But, I threw down my heels and wrapped my arms around her. We slid to a stop comfortably ten feet away from the edge of the water. The laughter of my little sister blessed my racing heart.

She was not afraid. She was completely and totally confident in my ability to protect her. To Kierstin, that was the “best ride EVER!” After she could catch her breath through the belly laughter, she looked at me and yelled, “AGAIN!!” And we marched back up the hill. (I realize I make this sound like a terrifying place to sled but it is completely normal to people here – just not to a girl who doesn’t know what a creek or snow is!)

My life has been much like Slab Cabin Run lately. Has your own life seemed like a sledding run too? Steep, cold, slippery, dangerous, moguls… Like Kierstin, going down the hill alone is an option. Just not a great one.

How much safer are we when we allow the Lord to climb into the sled with us?  We know that His plans are to give us a future and a hope – not to harm us. (Jeremiah 29:11)  He is far more capable than we are of steering the sled past obstacles, holding on to the bottom when we fly over a jump, and slowing us down when we feel like we are careening out of control toward an icy lake.

 

God desires us to have that child-like faith. To get on and brace for the ride of our lives. Not counting the cost, not concerned with the what-ifs. Rather, belly laughing as snow sprays our faces – playfully rolling in the snow at the bottom – ready to yell, "AGAIN!"

On the way back to the car, Alayna stumbled upon what appeared to be a down telephone pole. Snow-covered, one could barely see the nail sticking from it. Immediately my seven-year-old sister’s memory was jogged to recall Jesus – with the nails – on the cross.

He took the nails for you and for me because he wants to go sledding with us. If you find yourself discouraged, fearful, tired, weak… I might encourage you to turn around. Is He sitting there? Did you invite Him into the sled? 

Your ride will be so much more fun if you let the Protector and Giver of Life come with you!