“I don’t need easy, I just need possible."

“I don’t need easy, I just need possible."

One of my favorite quotes from the movie, Soul Surfer. Bethany’s journey after her accident didn’t make her weak, it made her stronger, not only in her strength, but in her faith as well. 

“…It’s your life—what you gonna do? The world is watching you
Every day the choices you make
Say what you are and who your heart beats for It’s an open door It’s your life…”
(Francesca Battistelli)

Soul Surfer

The true and inspiring story of a young girl who through her encounter with a shark, had a life changing experience. Through it all, she didn’t let anything stand in her way.  The process was difficult and the work was hard but through persistence and dedication, she overcame the odds and pushed through her fear to become even better than before. When Bethany learned to trust the process of her healing and rely on God’s strength instead of her own, she was able to do so much more.

Through these challenges, trials, and even wanting to quit Bethany kept right on doing what she was being called to do.  She had an amazing support system with her family, friends, and church family who stood by her side and was there for her through the good and bad times.
When it comes down to these tough moments it’s our relationship and faith in Christ that gives us all the strength in the world to make it through anything we are facing.

Have you ever been through something you thought would change your entire world completely and your life would never be the same again?

Have you ever quit something because you kept failing at it?

What gives you the strength and motivation to keep going even when life’s circumstances get difficult and hard to manage?


Through out all of this Bethany was given the incredible opportunity to minister with World Vision in Thailand, she was able to reach out to a young child who was afraid to get back in the water after the tidal wave hit their country.  When Bethany was afraid that she wasn’t going to be able to surf the same again, she eventually got back up again and again after falling. Then after several attempts she was able to stand back up on her board and ride out the waves of the ocean.  Bethany followed her dreams and she wasn’t going to let anything get in her way.  

As it says in Jeremiah 29:11, “for I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I love the Bible story in 1 Samuel 17 of a boy who wasn’t very big, he wasn’t very strong, he was always picked last, and he wasn’t chosen first for anything.  He was often overlooked by people in this world.  Nothing stopped him from doing what God had called him to do. David persisted, he kept going, now his life was far from easy and he had tremendous challenges that tested his faith in God, he was far from perfect but when he stood strong with God by his side he was able to accomplish far more than he could ever do by himself.  Even when I’m sure he stood against this giant, this Goliath, trembling at what was in front of him, David stood against his giant, facing his fears, and conquering what was set before him.


God is writing our story and our plans are in his hands, He knows what we are and who we are to be. 




“I've learned life is a lot like surfing. When you get caught in the impact zone, you need to get right back up, because you never know what's over the next wave...…and if you have faith, anything is possible, anything at all.” Bethany Hamilton, Soul Surfer.

What’s over the next wave for you? What do you need to conquer? Knowing that God is there beside you in all you do, how can you strengthen your faith?Father God, Thank you for standing beside me. Thank you for loving me and always being there, providing a team around me of loved ones who are my biggest fans. When  afraid, I put my trust in You! In Jesus Name I pray, Amen!

Never Alone

September 11th. It’s been 17 years since we woke up that morning. We sat in complete silence as we watched planes fly into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and crash into a field in Pennsylvania. Our hearts ached for a reason. A reason for why this was happening. 

We experience many things in our lifetime, some good and some bad.  It's how we react and respond to these experiences that make us who we are.  Sometimes it's hard to get through the hard times, but it is in the brokenness within us that beauty comes.  Even in the fragile cracks of our lives, an amazing and beautiful experience can come from it.  We learn through our mistakes, through our trials, and yes, through our pain.

Many lives changed that day, in ways we couldn’t have imagined. We never know how the day is going to turn out, we have no idea what tomorrow holds for us, and we aren’t supposed to. We are just supposed to live in this moment. We have this incredible opportunity to be a light in the lives of others. To show who we live for and who we put our faith and trust in. When bad things happen, sometimes we get quiet and want to hide away but if we hide it’s more difficult to seek the help we need to heal. When we enter into a relationship with God, through His Son, Jesus, we are filled with His Holy Spirit, we are given an overwhelming peace to get us through our difficult times. It’s through this relationship that we can heal, that we can tell others about how we are healing and our faith. The road is not always going to be easy and more often than not it’s the most difficult road to travel, but in the end we are going to see the reason for it all, the reason we went through all that we did, and through all the tears we cried we just may cry tears of joy as we kept our faith and trusted in The One who has never left our side. 

“because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever. Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.”‭‭ 2 John‬ ‭1:2-3 NLT

Let’s live in the truth, live in the light, and even though bad things happen, we can take heart that something good is on its way. When we wait through the hard times, when we wait through tradegy, when we wait through what we fear the most, we can look forward to the beautiful thing that awaits us. 

My prayer is that we hold tight in this wait.  Hold tight to our faith in times of trial and loss.  Our story is continually being written and just like a best-selling novel, there is a rise and fall, but more often there is an ending that comes out of the blue, catches us by surprise, and leaves us completely in awe, never expecting what was coming.

It's in those still, quiet moments in our lives that we hear from God.  When we take time to slow down and really listen.  Time to reflect and time to renew our strength with The One who gave us strength. We are fearfully and wonderfully made and it's all about timing, the perfect timing.  It's in the wait that God is building our strength, our character, our story.  The waiting is the hard part, but how great will it be to say that I waited for this moment, I waited for God's perfect timing for me, and when that time came it would be so much better than I could have ever even imagined it would be.

"Now all the glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we ask or think." Ephesians 3:20

Blessings

Embrace the Unexpected

Adventure Awaits!

When you are about to embark on your next adventure and the time to leave is closing in, your heart is racing and your head is spinning, and the fear of the unexpected creeps in. 

Well, here it is... FOUR days before leaving for the refugee camp in Greece. So many emotions happening right now.  Thinking about preparations to make and plans to lay out.  It's only that I realize I can only plan so much and the rest...well...stay tuned for how this adventure plays out in the coming weeks.

Excited, nervous, a little scared. Am I really supposed to do this? What did I sign up for?  All legitimate questions going through my head right now.

I’m terrified of not being fully prepared for what I may encounter over there, but it was in my devotional time this week when I was reading about choosing peace. The storm of life rages all around us. Fear creeps into our lives on a daily basis. It is when we choose to take a stand against this fear and look fear in the eye and say, “you don’t own me!” “You have no business inferring in the plans that have been set before me!” “We are through!”

Fear can't exist when our mind is fully focused on and filled with God.  When the storm is all around us and we are trying to weather the chaos, we often get discouraged.  When circumstances change and unexpected things get thrown at us, we feel helpless and confused, not knowing which way to go.  We are not meant to go through the storms of this life alone. Jesus is always there and will always be there for us, He is the true peace and comfort that we need and long so much for.  

In Matthew 14:22-36, we read about the disciples seeing Jesus in the storm while they are out on a boat.  They were terrified at the storm raging all around them.  Peter, being the one to walk toward Jesus on water even got scared and began to sink into the rough waves.  Peter started sinking when he took his eyes off of Jesus and began focusing on his fear. When we keep our eyes on Jesus and focus on Him even in the tough times, when the storm is raging, and the waves are high we can feel peace and comfort in the midst of the storm and we can release our fears to The One who can carry us through our storms.  

As we are traveling overseas, I pray for our team as we draw closer to God in prayer and in relationships with each other, that we can be vulnerable as we talk to and do life together in the coming weeks.  As we come together to be the hands and feet of Jesus, let us also remember that we need to fill ourselves up as well in God's Word.  Fill us with passion and the strength to keep going when things are going to get difficult and rough. The waves will eventually calm and the sun will shine through the clouds again.  When we remain strong and confident in the Lord we can make it through.  We may get bruised along the way, but it's through the bruises that tell an amazing story.

Matthew 25:25-36

For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.

Through out these next few weeks I want to share about what's happening.  I want to give a greater knowledge to what is not spoken a lot about. I want to spread awareness by writing about these experiences, corresponding about life circumstances in a foreign country, and to be able to bring a little hope to those who need it.  I can't wait to see everything God has for us over in Greece.

Francesca Battistelli - The Break Up Song

Blessings,