Treading Water...

My words on this one will be incomplete...there is simply no adequate way for me to express the experience.  Last Thursday through Saturday evening, was one of the most divine encounters of my lifetime.  I believe the Lord is up to something huge...but isn't He always!

For about the last 9 to 12 months, we have been on assignment from the Father working on a project with 12 college students all across the country.  We have been "chatting" about different topics, questions and situations.  Our hope is to produce a product for parents.  After a year of communication, the kids came together for a summit this last weekend.  I had no idea what to expect.  I told our film crew and our board that I had no preconceived idea and no agenda.  Anyone who knows me well knows how difficult that was for me!  As the time for us to meet approached I began to get anxious.  I was counting on the students to show up and engage!

They did much more than that.  The experience was phenomenal...not only did they engage...but they were honest, transparent and real.  But they were mighty.  Mighty individually, but as a group...they had might of another time and place.  Heavenly strength.  They are deep and they are committed.  They love their God and it is not false, it is honest.  Their faith is passionate.  Be encouraged...there is an army on the rise...armed with love, truth, and compassion.  They are the next generation and by His Might, they are a force to be dealt with! I was emotional, speechless, proud, humbled and encouraged by them.

I had an interesting experience just the week before...I was driving my nieces home to Dallas.  So there were three young ladies in the car and my 13 year old son, Jake.  The girls were in the back seat watching a very girly movie and Jake was riding shoot gun with me.  He wanted to play a game on my phone, but I was also listening to a John Bevere audio book.  We decided that we would try to turn the sound off of his game and I would try to continue to listen to my book on my headphones while he played his game.  We were hoping that the only sound that would play through the headphones would be my book...and the strangest thing happened.  I was listening to the book and I could hear his game which was a fighter pilot in the heat of battle.  It was comical in the beginning.  I fought hard to listen passed the battle to John Bevere's book on living an extraordinary life. 

Then I heard the Holy Spirit...this is what it is like, life.  There is a battle around us.  We are unaware of the intensity and violence of the fighting, but the battle rages none the less.  We fight to hear truth and be changed by it.  These young people are in the midst of intense battle.  The enemy is after them around every turn.  Sexuality, homosexuality, abortion, drugs, depression, peer pressure, and the fear of failure are a few of his weapons.  The battle for souls and for the witnesses of the faithful rages.  However they are called to and equipped for an extraordinary life!

There were victories won this last weekend.  Victories that will make an eternal difference for the Kingdom.  We were on holy ground and you can rest assured we took our shoes off.

Struggle well, Life Guards!

I love you, Candy

Let the Games Begin!

As I live and breath...I am beside myself excited.  As soon as I stand up from this computer, I am in the car on my way to Vernon, TX to meet my brother-in-law to pick up my two precious nieces. We will be with them for the next week and a half.  I love them and that they love to come to my house.  What is even more precious to me is that I have three darling nieces that live down the street from me and I will have them all together!  My sweet daughter Madi is going to be in heaven and my mighty young man, Jake, is in for the time of his life...and I am delighted.  I am delighted.

And to top it all off, in the morning at 10:00 am a group of 60 young ladies ready to meet with the King will desend on us for Chosen Camp!!  I love little girls.  I love children.  I love teenagers.  And can I tell you that I love them because I choose to? 

Just a couple weeks ago we had what my man has named "Fab Friday".  We had 3 nieces, 2 nephews, 1 grandboy, my Jake and Madi and 1 sweet friend...that's 9...of the most wonderful kids in the world stay the night.  We had pizza, threw us some washers, played football, side walk chalked and had some chocolate, of course.  It was a ball...

Can I also tell you that when I imagine that, I think the same thing you think...why on earth?  I'm too tired.  I don't know what to do with them.  I will be exhausted.  I don't "have" to....

Children, teens and really just people... the people God has placed in our lives...they can be exhausting.  But do you know my biggest fear, that those closest to me won't have memories of their relationship with me.  It is not by accident that those who join you at the dinner table are at your  table.  You have something to offer them.  They need us to share with them the journeys the Lord has had us on.  They need to see us laugh.  Doesn't hurt for them to see us cry.  They need our hugs.  They need us to tend to them  We are moms.  We are carved out for just that.  To show the nurturing, tender, compassionate side of our King.

So when I feel tired or overwhelmed..I remember that He has equipped us for every good work.  I remember that we are making memories.  I remember that we are building relationships that will last a life time.  They are precious in His sight and they are precious in mine. 

I will rest tomorrow.  I will play today.  Live!

Let the games begin!  Syd and Sam...Here we come!!

Everything changed.

I saw a quote on Twitter recently and I cannot get it off of my mind.  "God has landed on this enemy-occupied world in human form."  C.S. Lewis. 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."  John 1:1-5

Have you ever felt "just in the midst"?  I have and as a matter of fact I have just this week.  I don't know why it seems to be a struggle that I face on a regular basis...being overwhelmed by circumstances.  Daily, we hear heartbreaking stories of young people being overcome by temptation or rebellion.  Stories of young children motherless due to drugs or alcoholism.  Young men trying to be fathers when only months ago they were quarterbacking their high school team.  Godly parents doing all they can to draw their teens back into His protective covering.  Life. Life on a daily basis can be so overwhelming. 

I figure that it is overwhelming because we are mere humans.  We are dust.  Our best efforts fall short.  Our purest motivations are bathed in selfishness.  Our sight is too near.  Our hearts have been broken.  Our minds are a battlefield.  Our strength fades and our faith can be fickle. 

Yet, "he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust." Psalm 103:14

Isn't it a beautiful thought to think that God...our Maker...the one who the Word says fashioned us from the dirt of the ground and then breathed the breath of life into our lungs.  Made us in His image.  Our God who is near to us. He sees the situations that scare us.  He knows the relationships that break our hearts and drain our hope.  He notices not only our tears, but our sighs and the loss of the twinkle in our eyes.  He knows when we will cry "Mercy"  before we form the word with our lips.  Him.  He set His perfect, most Holy, unscathed, pure, strong, feet...His feet.  In our dirt. 

I love Him so.  I love that there is no circumstance that makes Him cringe.  He never says, impossible.  He never thinks it's hopeless.  He never feels fear and He will never know defeat.  He is the Great I Am.  He is the King of Kings and the One and and Only.  He is ours!  Our King...our Father.  Our answer.

"The Word became flesh and make his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."  John 1:14

The next time I feel overwhelmed by my circumstance in all of my mere human-ness, I will remember that God has landed here.  When He did, the demons took notice.  Nature bowed.  Our circumstances must obey Him.  Everything changed. 

Evolution Complete...Impossible.

I was watching the news this morning and the story was about a national leader stating that he has changed his mind about a moral issue.  The caption on the screen read, Evolution Complete.

That caption has rolled around in my spirit all morning.  I began to ask the Lord about it and I have come to only one conclusion.  Regarding righteousness and morality...evolution is impossible.  Righteousness and morality are in no way tied to my opinions or the evolution thereof.  We as human beings are flawed and in need not only of a Savior but a King.  Among us there is none righteous, no not one...only the One and Only.  We are fickle...He is not.

It is He who establishes morality.  There is truly a standard of right and wrong, not because He is a punisher...but because He came so that we could have life and have it to the fullest. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.   He is the author and profecter of our faith and all good things come from Him.  He is love.

How is it that our society has concluded that love means standing by as people race off the cliff?  At best, in silence and at worst encouraging them by justifying behaviors that directly violate the standards set by the Father?  They are not negotiable or evolving.  They are grounded in hope and truth for our good and not our destruction.  One is not loving and kind to stand idly by and watch another plummet to destruction.  Lovingly reach out your hand of support and love and speak truth...for the reknown of the Father and His love for humanity.

He designed the game.  He wrote the rule book.  He knows the final score.  He knows the way that it is best played.  He knows how to teach you to be a home run hitter and a defensive specialist.  He also knows the tricks of our opponent who seeks only our demise.  One is not forced to play the game by the rules but the rules do not change nonetheless.

I thank Him regularly that His thoughts are not my thoughts and His ways are not my ways.  That He is unchanging.  He was the same yesterday, today and forever...in other words He is not evolving.  I need Him to be higher than me, stronger than me, wiser than me to a degree of which there are no words to describe.

A rebellious teen does not cause moral evolution to occur.  A person caught in the trap of addiction does not cause moral evolution  to occur.  A majority rule or a constitutional amendment do not cause morality or righteousness to evolve. 

The truth remains true even if every one us raise our hand in a vote opposing it.  Because HE is the truth and He is unchanging.  He loves us in our mess and captivity...but He has already set us free.  If you are His, any bondage you perceive yourself to be in is a facade.  The enemy has no power over you.  He has giving you hope and freedom.  He is unchanging and He loves us.

He does not evolve...He simply...IS.

Lord today I just want to pour out my heart to You.  There are so many situations that I am thinking about today.  So many different things that I am presenting to You that I am needing answers for...I will soon visit with a precious young lady who is off the path.  I will be a part of my oldest son, Tanner's, weeding in just 11 days.  My kids are involved in sports.  My husband is busy working and coaching and tending to us.  We have a big project coming up this summer.  I am asking You, Lord, to allow me to be utilized by You in the greatest measure possible to further your Kingdom.  I have a bleach stain on my carpet and moths in my garage.  The laundry is piling up and I am trying to organize summer events for my kids.  I am being mom, wife, GiGi, sister, daughter, friend and co-worker day in and day out.  There are still literally 10 things left on my to do list.

But right now...I want to be with You.  I want to know your peace.  I want to experience a touch from the tender hand of the Most High.  I want to hear You whisper, not answers to questions or solutions to my situations...but encouraging love words.  I want You to remind me of the whys...Why do You love me? Why do I love You?  Why do I trust You?  Why have You chosen us?  Why all this beauty?  Why so much difficulty?  Why the giftings You have given me?  Why the weaknesses in me that are so obvious to me?  Why the sweet whispers in the earliest moments of the morning?  Why sometimes the silence in the darkest ticks of the midnight clock?  Why sicknesses?  Why rebellion?  Why beautiful sunrises and slobbery baby kisses? 

Lord in all of the whys...I see You. I thank you Father that there is power and victory in the word of our testimony.  I've decided that my life journey is just that...my life journey.  On my way to the laundry room, I'm not going to trip into the hamper and find myself immediately on the road to Damascus standing in Paul's shoes.  I won't face the Sanhedrin.  I won't be imprisoned or stoned.  I won't be a contributor to the Holy Book or be martyred for your glory.  But I have a calling nonetheless...to love my family, to be a godly wife and mother...to let you use the circumstances of my life to mold me into the person you want me to be...to tell others of your marvelous greatness...to love you well.

The answer to all of my whys is that I am desperate for You and You passionately pursue me.  I love you.  Change me.

CareNet Banquet Speech 2012

Psalm 102:18
“Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.”

Let THIS be written…

What is the “this”?
The psalmist has just proclaimed…

The Lord sits enthroned forever…
His renown endures for all generations
He will rise and have compassion
The nations will revere the Lord and all the kings will give Him glory
He WILL respond to the prayer of the destitute

WRITE THIS DOWN SO A FUTURE GENERATION, THAT PEOPLE NOT YET CREATED WILL PRAISE THE LORD!

We want to write some things down….we so that we will remember…so that our children for generations will know…

The Lord sits on HIS throne forever!
His renown endures and HE rises to show us compassion
Nations revere Him and kings will bow and give Him the glory He deserves
And OH, How he responds to the prayers of the destitute.

This is OUR GOD…write it down…remember!

The Israelites wrote things down to remind themselves and their children of the faithfulness and provision of the Father.

Has He been faithful to CareNet and the wonderful people we have the opportunity to serve! 

Our ministry is 3 fold, we serve men, women, teens and families before they find themselves in an unplanned pregnancy, we minister to people in the midst of their crisis, and then we continue to journey with them following that situation.  All of our services are free of charge and confidential.  We don’t receive any state or federal funding…all of our support comes from churches, private grants and from individuals like you.

Our abstinence education has been a strong presence in our community since we opened in 1988…something that may surprise you is that Charise Nesbitt had begun giving abstinence presentations in the area before the center ever opened its doors…so abstinence education was the very first service ever offered.  We added a new component to our message in 2004 with our mentoring programs.  We have seen our mentoring programs literally explode!  We now offer 6 different mentoring programs; Chosen, Squires, Pearls, Bravehearts, True U and Lead Council, serving young people ages 8 through their sophomore year in college!  There are no words to adequately communicate the blessing of the Lord and the amazing support of many of you that have allowed us to develop and produce 2 of the curricula that we use...Chosen was completed last year.  We are thrilled about this because now other pregnancy centers and churches can take our curriculum and use it to share Christ and raise a standard in their own community.  We believe that our young people are not only capable but called to live a life of purity.  They can make an impact…they can be influencers. 

It is written… “When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:18-20

Write this down…. over 1,500 young people were impacted by our mentoring programs in 2011.

It is our privilege to serve people who find themselves in an unplanned pregnancy.  In 2011, we performed 651 positive pregnancy tests. We talk to our clients about parenting and adoption as positive options for both them and their babies.  If a woman is considering an abortion, we talk with her about the physical, emotional and spiritual risks associated with that decision.  We also offer her an ultrasound free of charge.  We hear many discussions about being pro-life or pro-choice, particularly in election years like this one.  A couple things I would like you to notice…one is we do not debate that a baby in its mother’s womb is alive.  It is… we can see amazing, life changing images thanks to the technology of ultrasound.  No doubt, it is a living human baby.  The second thing I want you to notice are the arguments made in support of abortion…things like, it’s a woman’s right to choose, you can’t legislate morality, stay out of the bedroom, it is her body…  I can tell you that over the past 15 years I have sat in that very sacred, emotional, vulnerable place of decision with many, many women making the decision of life or death.  She never says, it’s my body, my right as a woman…those are political, shallow statements.  Their arguments sound more like…I don’t feel like I have any other option…my parents will kick me out…I’m headed to college in the fall…I have no money…my boyfriend will leave me.  It is usually 1 thing that makes her feel abortion is her only option.  It is our opinion that the loving thing to do is to walk beside her…help her with that thing pushing her down the path of destruction… give her the opportunity to choose life. 

It is written, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:9-11

Write this down….In 2011, 103 pregnant women came through our doors seeking an abortion, and of those 100 chose life!

We believe that when we ask a woman or family to choose life for their baby…then we should offer them practical help and information.  We have programs to prepare them for labor and delivery and to take that sweet baby home…those would be our Baby Safety Class, our Child Birth classes, parenting classes, and classes for dads…all of these programs are taught by certified professionals and local doctors.  We have benevolence rooms at all three of our offices where a mom, dad, grandparent or guardian can come and receive diapers, formula, clothes and furniture free of charge each month.  We offer Bible studies and one-on-one mentoring as well.  CareNet is a provider of Twogether in Texas pre-marital classes.  Also, this year we added a class for women who have placed their babies for adoption called The Gift of a Lifetime.  Women are able to come and share their thoughts and emotions surrounding that decision and receive hope and comfort from those who have had a similar experience.  New Dawn, our post abortion ministry is strong and serving women who have experienced the pain of abortion.  The Lord does an incredible work of healing and restoration through that study. 

Our interaction with our clients is not a thirty minute pregnancy test, but our hope is to journey with them and build authentic relationships that are long term and helpful.

It is written, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:19-21 

Write this down…In 2011, CareNet had over 9,800 client interactions and since 1988, we have had the honor of serving over 75,000! 

CareNet is a place where people from all ethnic groups, age groups and walks of life come for practical assistance and support.  We are able to provide mentoring programs, free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, resources, financial support, education, and Bible studies.  But you know, what they are searching for is freedom.  To be filled in the empty places.  To be loved and tended to.  To be rescued.   You see those of us not caught in the same traps philosophy about what the best outcome might be.  Those caught in the trap, simply want out.  

It is written…” The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,^{[a] 2} to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor” Isaiah 61:1-2

Write this down…in 2011, through the ministry of CareNet,  187 people received Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Preparing for our banquet, and I give many speeches each year, the banquet speech is always the most difficult for me.  Because you are our family, because you stand with us in this great work that the Lord has called all of us to and I want so badly for you to see in full color all that the Lord has done over the last year.  So I plan, and pray, and think and plan, and feel anxious…and on and on for a few weeks before the banquet.

Well, Tuesday morning, I have my worship music on and I am praying in the fashion that is most comfortable to me which is…music loud and walking around my house praying out loud.  And now Tuesday morning I am preparing to write this speech…so we are down to it…so image me, pacing, praying and basically reminding the Lord of what is on the agenda today.  And I’m saying you know Lord the theme this year is Write this down…I would really like something along those lines…you know write this down…written, pen, paper…I’m ready . I’m listening…

And so I start to pray for the ministry… and here is what I journaled…

“Lord, this morning while I prepare to write this speech…staff and volunteers at all of our locations are on divine appointment.  Everyone who comes through our doors, whether for pregnancy tests or mentoring or for things…Lord, there is an evil assignment for them.  The enemy has evil planned for them.  Lord, thank you that this is a battlefield and we are often on what I believe to be the front lines…but thank you Lord that we don’t see the fatigues that we wear, that might be scary to us Lord.  Thank you too God that we don’t see the violence of battle that takes place around us and in the heavenlies.  We wear pretty clothes and we sit in a nice room and we see a hurting precious one in front of us…we don’t hear the enemies accusations or feel the fiery darts rush passed us…the battle wages all around us…and we sit in the shelter of the most High…armed for battle.”

And then it hit me…like a load of bricks.  We ARE armed for battle and we have one weapon…it is our sword…the very WRITTEN WORD of Almighty God.

The weapon that He uses to defeat the enemy is words…written and spoken.  Wonderful, life-giving words, covered in love and compassion…He is slow to anger and abounding in love.  He is the beginning and the end…he is the everlasting father, the great I am, the Lion of Judah and the coming King.  He is the victor, He is our Savior and His name is Jesus.  The love story of a King who came to a foreign land to rescue a bride and have the wedding feast of all eternity… 

It is written…”Therefore, I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her.”  Hosea 2:14

Write this down…He wins, we win and oh how he loves us!

Proud Moments...

Well we had one of those "big event" moments in the Gibbs household this week.  Our middle son, Jake, turned 13!  As a mom, that feels something like preparing to climb Mount Everest, enjoying a warm cup of coffee on a cold winter morning, and getting kicked in the stomach...all at once!  I am one of those parents who have enjoyed every stage of life my kids are in.  I love to be with them.  We laugh together, cry together.  We have deep conversations and dance in the front room.  They are all so precious to me. 

This year for Jake, we asked our closest friends and family to write him notes of encouragement.  Each of those notes were placed in their own balloon and he spent the day popping balloons and being encouraged by the people he loves and admires.  That really made me think.  I am so grateful for the people of character that my kids are so privileged to be surrounded by.  Coaches, teachers, aunts, uncles grandparents, siblings and friends...all people who would lend a helping hand in an instant and who would also encourage and not "step in" if that is what would be best for developing strength.  I thanked my God for this blessing.

Then I began to think about parenting and what a high calling that is.  For many years, I have been convinced that we must be purposeful in our parenting.  That strong, productive, spiritually powerful adults don't happen by accident, but are the outcome of influential people investing in them years prior.  I believe that we have to be diligent about being with our kids and spending not just quality time, but large quantities of time together as well.

This Tuesday night, as I stood and watched my son, a brand new teenager sleep...some things really struck my heart in tender places.  All of a sudden, in a new and profound way, I realized that I am the woman that God chose to teach this amazing young man how his own wife someday should treat him.  That I am the woman that God chose to teach him how a princess of the Most High should be adored and tended to.  That his dad will teach him to be a man of valor, honor and courage...to fight the good fight.  And as I stood there, to my knees I went.  I am honored to be that woman!

Here is Jake with the West Point wrestling coaches.

A few of the things I want my son to know:

• I want you to chase hard after Christ!  Don't you believe the lie that the life of a believer is boring or easy.  It is full of adventure and challenge and He has equipped you for every good work that He has prepared in advance for you!  You finish this life with dirt under your finger nails, sweat on your brow and trying to catch your breathe!  He is LIFE!  Go hard after Him!
• Be a strong man of great courage.  I want you to keep yourself pure and set apart for the wonderful bride God has chosen for you.  Don't give one piece of your warrior's heart to a girl who has nothing vested in it.  You, my son, are too valuable.  Your character and your hopes and dreams will come at a high cost to you.  You will lay down your life each day to follow Him on this great adventure.  Only one woman, one who is journeying the same kind of road, will be worthy of a piece of something with such a high cost.  She will have earned it when she stands beside my son and vows to fight hard as your life's partner.
• Be different.  You are a leader.  Be confident in who you are!
• You know that greatness thing?  You are called to it.  You can do all things through Christ who gives you strenth.  Change your world!  Win them to the Kingdom.
• You, son, are one of the greatest, most precious gifts I give to this world.  I am committed to you.  Not to be here to punish you when you make a mistake...though you will make some.  But to spend my energy, wisdom, emotion and prayers to partner with our Father and your dad to mold you into the mighty man I know you are created to be. 

As I tucked in a 12 year old and anticipated waking up a teenager...I treasured the thought of mid-night dates, having him lay his head in my lap while we watch a good movie, cheering like a crazy momma at sporting events, and peeking in on him as he spends time with the Lord early in the mornings...I was grateful and blessed.  Still felt like a little short of breathe like I'd been kicked in the stomach, but confident in the man He is becoming!

Thanks for letting me take a little detour today.  Blessings and love to you!