Philippians 4:8

     This verse has been on my heart so much this week.  I don't know about you, but I often struggle to keep my thoughts focused on these kinds of thoughts...good thoughts...encouraging thoughts.  I struggle with worry, frustration, impatience, anger. I've also noticed that my boys struggle with the same things as well.  One of the joys, and difficulties if I'm being honest, of homeschooling, is that you get to spend a WHOLE lot more time with your kids.  Sometimes this is awesome.  Sometimes this is NOT.  Walking through character building opportunities, seemingly ALL THE TIME, can wear on a person.  And, when you realize that some of those habits that your kids have MIGHT have come from you in some form or fashion, it makes it all the more fun disheartening.

     This is where the Word of God comes in.  Starting this spring, we renewed our commitment to reading the Bible together.  It only takes a few minutes.  We try to talk about what we have read.  And we ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand what we read and apply it to our lives.  Beginning our day with God always helps the day to go better! 

     And in an effort to 'write' more of God's word on our hearts, we have also started memorizing one scripture a week.  Simple, I know. Why we haven't been doing it lately? I guess we just weren't being intentional. Philippians 4:8 is this weeks scripture.  What a beautiful, challenging, centering scripture! I hope it is a blessing to you today! 

~Kendra

With Great Expectation - Thoughts on IF:Gathering 2016

    I love orchids.  Years ago, when we lived in Florida, I had a dozen or two hanging in the oak tree in our backyard.  I just couldn't get enough of them!  I still can't.  But I now live in Oklahoma, and our weather isn't quite as conducive to leaving orchids outside year round.  So, I now have one orchid in my kitchen windowsill. One orchid that hasn't been in bloom for almost a year.  One orchid that is now putting on buds and will eventually bloom again soon!  And I CAN. NOT. WAIT. I wait in great expectation as day after day passes and it gets closer to that inevitable day!

     This is the SAME feeling I had leading up to the IF:Gathering.  I was so EXPECTANT.  So EXCITED.  So READY.  As the weekend grew closer, I saw the buds of excitement growing in other women.  And over the course of this past weekend, I saw the beginning of beautiful blooms.  Women chasing after God.  Women allowing the love of Jesus into their lives.  Women DECIDING to take that next step in their lives that would put them on the path to walking WITH GOD, not just living for God. And not to overuse the word...but IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!

October Favorite Things: From the Word

It's been an interesting week. I'm almost laughing at my post two days ago about homeschool, because this week has been anything but my favorite.  Isn't that how it goes sometimes? And I have not been the most fun person to be around for my family. It's always hard to admit that you haven't been who you hoped you would be.  I'm tired and a bit discouraged.  So I thought tonight I would share one of my favorite scriptures...Isaiah 40:31.  It has always brought encouragement to me!

Starting a couple of verses before that...

"Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint."

                                - Isaiah 40:28-31

October Favorite Things: Restore International

It is such an honor to talk about today's favorite - Restore International!!  I first heard about Restore International after reading Bob Goff's book Love Does (which is by the way a fantastic book and I recommend you read it as soon as possible!!) Restore was founded by Bob Goff and works to change lives for the better. Whether it is fighting for freedom and human rights, or providing much needed education, they do a good work in several countries across the world.

We've heard Bob Goff speak a couple of times and are always so inspired by him.  If you ever have the chance to hear him speak, do it!!  And then, go love people...because Love Does! And check out Restore International if you are looking for an amazing group to support! Click here to find out more.

Big J with Bob Goff this past January. :)

October Favorite Things: Connection

Spoiler alert...this isn't going to be a normal "Favorite Things" post. Something happened today that I wanted to share with you about. 

My phone took an unexpected swim early this morning. And in hope of recovery, it has been sitting in a jar full of rice for the better part of the day.  The good news is that it appears to be mostly functional.  Siri does come on at random times, which is hilarious and frustrating at the same time.  I tried to turn her off, but the voice command kept taking over and making random phone calls.(I apologize in advance if you get a random phone call from me...)

Promise #3 - Strength

I don't know about you, but this is exactly what I need today!  God gives us strength to do whatever it is we need to do.  As I get ready for work, prepare the boys for a snow day at home with their dad, and think ahead to all that needs to get done today, I can't do it alone.  I can't do it in my own strength.  But I can do it with God's help.  And I can do it well!  My hope and prayer for you (and for myself) is that we  will believe this promise today and walk in it's truth!

Promise #2 - Strength to the Weary

This promise couldn't have come at a better time.  Do any of you out there feel weary or weak?  Then rest in the words of Isaiah.  

God gives us the strength that we need to make it through each moment of each and every day.  He gives power to the weak...to US when we feel weak and overcome.  I know it's not popular to think of ourselves as weak.  I like to be independent and to do everything in my own strength.  But I'm beginning to believe that it is better to be weak, and to live through HIS power and HIS strength than through my own.  :)

I don't know about you, but last week was a long week.  Good, but long.  Between my husband being out of town on business, the boys having a snow day, having to be at work nearly every day, and having an event finally come to fruition after months of planning...whew, I was weary.  I can't say that I sought out God's strength at all times.  In fact, I know I did not. But, in the times that I trusted Him for his promise, the days were not perfect, but they were Better. With Jesus, everything is Better! 

Promises - A New series!

During the IF:Gathering, we talked about the promises of God.  That IF God is real, than we should be able to trust Him.  That also means that we should trust His Word, and the promises he gives us in the Bible.  I was strongly convicted that, even though I've been a believer for many years, I didn't really know His promises.  They weren't written on my heart, so to speak.

In an effort to know God better, to know the promises he gives us, I'm starting a series on HIS promises! What better verse to begin with than Joshua 1:9! (And what better use of left over name tags from IF!)

I don't know about you, but I've been faced with many discouraging thoughts this past week. Today I choose to remember to not be discouraged because God is with me!  My hope is that as I walk through this series, that you will be encouraged as well!

P.S. - We just started a new study of Hebrews on IF:Equip.  It's not too late to join us. Just click on the IF:Equip link. Yesterday was the introduction and today we started in Hebrews 1.  This is a great way to stay in the Word, and to be encouraged in your spiritual journey!

Take a Step

I'm not a writer.  I'm not eloquent with words. Often, I say the wrong thing, or the right thing in the wrong way.  I don't have a huge following on my blog.  I don't exactly know what I want to be when I grow up.

But, there are few things that I do know.  I am passionate about people.  I long to see people walk in freedom.  Especially women.  We are so bound up and tangled up with the past, with fear, with feelings of inadequacy,  that sometimes it's hard to move forward.  I know this because I've been there.

This past weekend, I sat in a room with about 20 other women, along with thousands of other women across the screen and around the world, and watched freedom come, chains be broken, and hearts be encouraged.  The IF:Gathering wasn't and isn't about a specific speaker, agenda, or religion.  It's about women around the world gathering together, being equipped, and then being unleashed to live fully their purposes...purposes that God has set on our hearts. It was beautiful.  It IS beautiful.

I am choosing to take a step in faith toward what I feel God has put on my heart.  And I challenge you to do the same.  "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified: do not be discouraged, for the LORD you God will be with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9

If you want to find out more about IF:Gathering, click here.

I will announce soon what one of my next steps is, as you'll see it on the blog!

**A new study of Hebrews starts Monday (2/16) through IF:Equip and I would love for all of the women in my life to be a part of it!  Let me know if you have questions! :)

What the IF:Gathering Means to Me

It's funny.  Actually it's ridiculous.  I have sat down to write this post more times than I can count.  But the words haven't come.  And it has been very frustrating.  Because the IF:Gathering means so much to me.  It was almost a year ago, at the first IF:Gathering, that I really started to dream again about where my life was headed, to remember what Jesus really means to me, to think that the impossible really can happen.

I was newer to the area and had been following the beginnings of the IF:Gathering through Jennie Allen and Jen Hatmaker.  What they were pursuing was a refreshing, pure, simple desire to seek God and to ask tough questions.  What would it look like to live life IF I truly believed God for his promises, for who He is. I wanted to host an IF:Local in my home, or at the church I was attending, but I was scared.  I had fear.  That no one would see what I saw.  That no one would join with me. So I didn't do what I felt called to do.  To put myself out there, trust God, and see what happened.

Fortunately, my story doesn't end there.  I did seek out another church in the area hosting an IF:Local. And I was immensely blessed by my time there.  I did not know a soul and they welcomed me in like I had already been a part of their group for a long time.  I had rich conversation with women of all ages and left the weekend as encouraged by the women I had spent time with as with the Gathering itself.  What a blessing it was!

This year I am very excited to help host an IF:Local!  I am excited to finally be doing what I should have done a year ago. I'm so thankful for the opportunity and I can't wait to see how God is going to show up and move in the lives and hearts of women in our area.

In just over two weeks, on February 6-7, 2015, women from across the nation and around the globe will come together to worship, learn, be encouraged, and equipped to live more fully for God where they are.  I want to encourage every woman I know to come!  Find an IF:Local near you!  Join us here in South Tulsa.  Or host your own!  It's not too late!! There is a powerful movement for Jesus billowing under this.  It is Spirit filled and prayer covered.  It is not perfect, but there is love.  Much love.  And Grace.  And Freedom.

Click here for more information about the IF:Gathering.

To find an IF:Local near you or to host an IF:Local, click here.

And to join us for IF:South Tulsa, please click here!

What If?

I'm very excited about an event coming up next Tuesday, September 23rd.

Through a group called If:Gathering, women from across the nation and around the globe will be coming together to pray.  What will we be praying for?  That's going to be as individual and personal as the number of women that gather.  But among those prayers will be that God will open our eyes and our heart to the physical and spiritual needs around us and that He would use us where we are at to make a difference in the lives of those around us.  

What If we gather?  What could God do?  Only He knows!

Check it out here!