Kingdom Cultivating

Recently we had friends over for dinner, one of our friend's water bottles has a sticker that reads: "Stop trying to sit at the tables Jesus flipped", in conversation he shared that it is a reminder for him daily to think about what it is that he is surrounding himself with, what tables he is sitting at.  This had me thinking about my own journey, and how I got to where I am now. This week marks my exit from public school education into a new world of alternative education, a calling from Jesus on my life, one that I am so excited for, but one that comes with a cost. In church today the message was in Luke 14, with the parable of the great banquet and the cost of discipleship.    The question? You see for years I've been so blessed by God in my career, I love teaching, I love building relationships with students, I even felt like I was at a point of thriving, like how can it get any better? Then I began hearing Jesus talking to me about the cost of following Him... I...

" What may seem small or unseen, what seems quiet or unrecognized, could be the birthplace of promise if we can grasp it. We are in a season of preparation, we are being given the opportunity to protect and value the flame that He has lit in our hearts. The world may not see it, your best friend may not understand, your brother may mock you but Mary was able to treasure it in her heart and in that space a promise began to grow. It’s in closets, living rooms, on the floor of our kitchen or crying out in our car, that this seed flourishes. Signs and wonders don’t come from grand gestures but from a life that has treasured His words, His breath, and have let them take root. This is a life that has forsaken all other options and given themselves to Him. We don’t need a crowd, we just need faith in what Jesus has deposited in us. He has made the way, He is the way. If you find yourself feeling the tension of “there must be more” and “why don’t I see it,” know your heart is being wooed ...

Exploring Nature "But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you, or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.  Which of all thee does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?  In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." Job 12: 7-10 Recently here in the U.S., we enjoyed President's Day, it was the most exciting day for me and the kids, we took their Meme along to enjoy the day.  Taking time to have your children explore God's creation is something we don't do enough, mostly because it seems as though we are too caught up in the "We don't have time for that" culture of today... famous last words to kids who are bored: "Go play outside" Remember that one? We should practice saying that to our children more often...and then say it back to ourselves, seriously GO PLAY OUTSIDE! It is one of the things God calls us to enj...