Birthday Surprise! It's Monica part 1

Today's post comes from the lovely Monica. I've had the privilege of being Monica's youth leader and now friend. With great joy I asked her to share her heart and pour out what God has done in her life the past few months. I am confident that you will be blessed by her. Tune in Friday for part 2.

photo credit 

Happy Birthday Blog!

I was so honored when Raquel asked me to post on the blog for its fourth birthday.

As some of you may know this past year the Lord had me go through a program called Ignite with Potter’s Field Ministries. It’s a program designed to have students give a year of their lives completely to the Lord. I spent three months in Montana, training to be sent out along with 2 other girls to the beautiful country of Guatemala.

   I spent 6 months in Guatemala, doing afterschool work with the kids in the local community, tutoring, bible lessons, skits, puppet shows, you name it! During the last three months the training portion of the Ignite school was moved down to Guatemala and my team and I were able to come alongside the then training interns ( who are now on the field) and help encourage them during their time there.

   The Lord has used the past 10  months of my life to reveal Himself to me in such a powerful way. For so long I bought into the lie that I was unlovable, that there was something defective in me that unqualified me to be loved, even by God. While I learned multiple lessons this year, none has gone deeper that the realization I had during my 3^rd month on the field.

    God loves me. As silly and basic as that might sound , after all it’s a phrase that any three year old in Sunday school can utter, it was a truth that had not sunk in very deep in my life. For so many years I thought God loved me, but it was only because I could fit under the classification of “human” which automatically made me eligible to receive His Love, but He would never really hand pick me to love, there are so many better people out there to pour out love and favor on, so many that are worth loving He definitely wouldn’t chose me if He had the choice. 

   This sadly is the lie that I had allowed to embed itself in the depths of my heart, and it was so successfully embedded that I believed it to be true, and was completely blind to the fact that I believed it about myself and my relationship with the Lord.

   During my time on the field, I literally had nothing else to cling to but Him, no familiar background, no home church, no people that I had known forever, my robotic and semi-automatic “christianese” responses wouldn’t cut in on the field. I was forced to get raw and get real with God and allow Him to strip away all the routines that I had allowed myself to hide behind, and come face to face with the ugly truth ( that was really a lie) that had been shaping my view of God and His Love for me all this time.

    I learned what it is to be Loved by the Lord, but better yet what it is to accept His love. What it is to bask in the Steadfast Love that the Lord has for me, and in that I found a confidence in being His Daughter that I was convinced I’d never be able to have.

   I’m still learning just what it is to walk in the freedom His Love brings, His individual love for the person, not for humanity in general but I’m taking it one step at a time.

   Being back home now after such a tremendous experience is a bit disorientating, but I have the Love of my Heavenly Father to ground me. I am beyond thankful for the journey He’s guided me through and the one that’s yet to come.

   Thank you to all who have been praying for me during my trip, your prayers where definitely heard and felt. May you too bask in the Steadfast Love of the Father. 

Monica in Montana with the Ignite program

Monica's view in Montana (jealous)

Monica in Guatemala

Happy 4th Birthday

photo credit 

Hello Lovelies! Let's celebrate and jump for joy... Living As A Lily has turned the big 4! That's right, it's birthday birthmonth. Since the blogs first birthday, I take off the month of November and and invite guest writers as "Birthday Surprise" posts. I pray that each Birthday Surprise is a blessing to read and a word fitly spoke. Thank You for reading and making this blog yours as well. 

Lyrical Friday - Let It Shine

He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness; he brings light to the deepest gloom. Job 12:22

You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness. Psalm 18:28

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16

Let It Shine, All Sons and Daughters
Let It Shine - All Sons and Daughters (Unofficial) from The Grove on Vimeo.

There are a million truths for every lie

So speak it out loud and let it lift high
There are a million reasons to cover your eyes
But the light is shining through the darkness we hide
But the light is shining through the darkness we hide
So come let it
Come let it
Come let it
Come let it shine x2

There's only one way to wash yourself clean
So let the dirt fall and get on your knees
There are a million scars for every mistake
Oh but we are not chained to the secrets that we've made
Oh but we are not chained to the secrets that we've made

So come let it
Come let it
Come let it
Come let it shine x2

This is the battle of our time of our time now
We can't afford not to cry not to cry out
Shake the earth from the ground from the ground
Rescue souls from the darkness around x2

blessed is...

photo credit myself

Admire/Envy

For wrath kills a foolish man, and envy slays a simple one. Job 5:2 

Don’t envy violent people
or copy their ways. 
Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord,
but he offers his friendship to the godly. Proverbs 3:31-32

A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones. Proverbs 14:30

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.Galatians 5:24-26

Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone. Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone. Titus 3:1-8

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:13-18

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 1 Peter 2:1-3

Follow/Imitate

Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:7-9 

The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves him who follows righteousness. Proverbs 15:9 

He who follows righteousness and mercy Finds life, righteousness, and honor. Proverbs 21:21

Thus says the Lord God: “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!Ezekiel 13:3

Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." Matthew 8:19

Now when He [Jesus] got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. Matthew 8:23

And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.Matthew 10:38-39

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.Matthew 16:24-25

Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Mark 1:17-18

As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Mark 2:14

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.Hebrews 6:11-12  

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. 3 John 1:33

Praise/Flatter

Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; 

a stranger, and not your own lips. Proverbs 27:2 

Her children rise up and call her blessed; 
Her husband also, and he praises her: 
“Many daughters have done well, 
But you excel them all.” 
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, 
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. 
Give her of the fruit of her hands, 
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31:28-30

Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing!
The faithful have vanished from the earth! 
Neighbors lie to each other, 
 speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts. 
May the Lord cut off their flattering lips
 and silence their boastful tongues.

Psalm 12:1-3

He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward Than he who flatters with the tongue. Proverbs 28:23

 A man who flatters his neighbor Spreads a net for his feet. Proverbs 29:5

 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.  But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. Jude 1:16-19

Lead/Manipulate

Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave. Proverbs 12:24

When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability. Proverbs 28:2 

So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. Mark 10:42-44

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy,let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:3-8

If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Romans 12:18

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians 2:3-5 

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

    For they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

    For they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

    For they shall be filled. 

Blessed are the merciful,

    For they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

    For they shall see God. 

Blessed are the peacemakers,

    For they shall be called sons of God. 

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

    For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. 

Matthew 5:3-12

Sentence Tuesday

Freedom is ours, not to do our will, 

but to do what we were created for. 

—Mark Driscoll 

Lyrical Friday - Taste of Eternity

Happy Friday Lovelies!

Have you ever heard a song that caused you to really meditate and remember the goodness of God? Words that brough to remembrance the mighty works He has done? Have you ever just stood unable to utter a word or a sound because the majesty of God is so grand and beautiful? Have you found yourself breaking forth from your stillness with the taste of eternity on your lips?

When I heard Taste Of Eternity by Bellarive, I experieced worship like I hadn't in a long while. In stillness and silence, I listened and understood. Breaking forth in awesome worship, I sang... I smiled towards Heaven and sang. And in a room filled with many voices, it was only my voice I heard and in that moment it was only my Lord Jesus and I.

I pray that in stillness and silence you may listen and understand as you play today's lyrical song. I pray that you may breakforth in awesome worship and sing, sing, sing to the audience of one. May the taste of eternity be on your lips.


Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord; it is fitting for the pure to praise Him. Psalm 33:1

But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. Psalm 59:16
But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. Psalm 42:8

He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:3

Bellarive, Taste of Eternity
 

Father we come so aware
Of all that You've done
Of all that You are
Nothing above
No, none compare
So Father, we come here

CHORUS
The taste of eternity
Is here on our lips
With every breath we sing
With every breath we sing of
Your majesty
It's here in our midst
With every breath we sing

All else will fade
As You draw near
All that we want
Is all that You are
Nothing above
No, none compare
So Father, we come here

Oh, how holy
Oh, how worthy
Oh, how holy
Oh, how worthy
With every breath we sing
With every breath we sing
For every breath we sing is Yours
Every breath we sing is Yours

my struggle with fear

Happy Monday!
I am struggling to write this post because I know that I have to be honest. And honest means I cannot hide behind a smile or pretty words. So I'm just going to jump into this thing.

Weight

Weight-loss

Food

Eat Clean

Exercise
Fit

Fat 

Obese

Skinny

All these words, as individuals and as a whole, have always provoked one sentiment: fear. It's difficult to explain, but I will try. Anorexia not only affected me physically, it also scarred me mentally. I do believe that I was physically healed, but mentally I have been in bondage to the fear of relapsing. I fear that if I begin to restrict certain foods or the amount of food, that I will spiral down to a cracker a day. I fear that if I begin to work out, I will work myself out as I have done in the past. I have yet to tread down a path where self control and balance is the norm. I have only known extremes and fear.

A month ago I took a step of bold courage and applied for a boot-camp held at my job for the employees. I told my dept (we are only 5 ladies) that I had applied and hoped that in doing so it would keep me accountable if I was selected. One of my coworker applied as well. Three weeks ago, we received notification that we were chosen. It felt as if a ton of bricks were dropped in my stomach.

Two thoughts came to mind:
1. You are so out of shape and will be the fat girl in the camp. You're going to hold everyone back. They are going to laugh at you, or look down on you for letting yourself go this much.
2. What if I do well and two days a week becomes three days, and then four days becomes five days, and then six days, seven days? What if then I'm working out two times a day, seven days a week? How will this work out? No one has to know how much I am actually working out. I don't need people in my life, I can just work out.

And then, a third thought.
3. Stop thinking like that! You haven't even begun and you're already being extreme. Don't start the boot-camp, its taking you down a bad road again.

These thoughts have been my struggle for 15 years. These thoughts have crippled me and shackled my ability to do anything more than fear. So I was left with a choice. Attend the boot-camp in a step of faith or sit on the couch and fear. I asked 10 ladies close to me to pray me through the next 7 weeks. With their help, I have completed two weeks of the boot-camp and a the Susan G. Komen 5k race/walk for the cure of breast cancer in my Aunt's honor. Has it been easy? NO! Probably one of the most difficult obstacles I've had to overcome in a very long time. I have five more weeks of boot-camp left to accomplish and Lord willing, a lifetime of reaching daily goals of not fearing, taking every thought captive, and relying on the Holy Spirit for self-control.

Why am I sharing this?
Not because it feels good to be transparent. On the contrary, I am vulnerable right now, ashamed, and embarrassed. But I know that I am not alone in struggling with a form of fear. Let the encouragement of my faithful friends encourage you to step out in faith and trample fear.

YD- 

Don't be discouraged, you can do this! When you feel weak HE is strong! HE gives you what you need. Rely on HIM for strength. When you look back at the end of boot camp you are going to amazed at how far HE has taken you. In your moments of weakness set your eyes on HIM. Call to HIM for help. HE will answer! Just like when a parent teaches a child to ride a bike; a parent holds the back of the bike and runs alongside the child until the child gains enough confidence and stability, and slowly the parent starts to let go of the bike. Right now the LORD is running alongside you, "I've got you, Raquel." "I won't let go". "Don't give up!" "I'm with you." "You CAN do this!" 

CG- Jesus will be with you every step of the way. And so will your girls. You are not alone. You are in my daily prayers. 

PG- The Lord gives us strength we didn't know we had. 

MC- Look at it this way, its like bringing a new sacrifice unto the Lord. Praying for you because I am right with you! I promise it will pay off, and in a few weeks you will feel like you are on top of the world!

1 Corinthians 10:31- Whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Fireflies : Eve

Happy Saturday!
Last week was the October meeting for the Fireflies. The girls and I took a deeper look into the first woman ever created: Eve! We learned so much and embraced the Eve in all of us. I pray that you may be blessed by her. Feel free to use these notes if you have a little girl in your life.



October's meeting during our Bible study of Eve



EVE

Genesis 2:18-23

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” So the LORD God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him.

So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the LORD God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.
“At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’”

A woman was created not by accident or chance but with purpose: born to be a helper. She was not equal to an animal, or a tree or even God, but equal to a man. God created her to perfection, ready for every good work.

Her responsibility as helper was to assist Adam by sharing the work of overseeing the earth. She was to help him so that he could improve in his work. She was to be a servant, a remedy to the man. Through this woman, God rescues Adam from his loneliness. Alone Adam could not fulfill the call of being fruitful and populating the earth, even in this, the woman would equally work to help complete the task. Together they become one, the visible representation of an invisible God.

Unfortunately, the woman is not known for her courageous and marvelous works as a helper but rather is known for her failure.

Genesis 2:15-17
The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
Genesis 3:4-6
“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.

Her one act of disobedience not only affected her, it affected everyone after her. Fortunately for the woman and all of humanity, as many as the Lord loves, He rebukes and disciplines (Revelation 3:19). As a loving Father, God didn’t dwell on their sin(s); He rebuked and justly spoke to each the consequence for their sin.

As women, we have not only borne the results of her sin but also a name. From Genesis 2:18-Genesis 3:19 she is only known as “the woman” but in verse 20 a name, an identity, a declaration is given.

Genesis 3:20
"The man called his wife's name Eve [life giver], because she would be the mother of all the living."
Eve is embedded in all of us:
(This list is homework. Read through the verses with your helper and life-giver aka MOM!)
• Each one of us has been created with a purpose; our days have been fashioned for us (Psalm 139).
• God intended for us to live the life we each have, to look the way that we do with the unique personalities that we have for such a time as this (Esther 4:13-14).
• We are helpers, assistants, aids, co-laborers (Ephesians 4:11-12, 15-16).
• We are to help one another’s burden be easier to carry (Romans 12:9-21) and cause improvement in each other’s life (Romans 15:1-3).
• We are to be servants (Philippians 2:3-4) who remedy the pain of those around us (Isaiah 35:3 & 61:1-3) and rescue those who are lonely (Hebrews 10:24-25).
• As helpers we are to be fruitful (Galatians 5:22) and multiply (Romans 10:14-15).
• It is no longer Adam who gives us a new name but Jesus, our Lord and Savior, through His precious blood. He has given us a name, an identity, a declaration: life giver (2 Corinthians 2:14-15)!

I encourage you to be the helper and life giver that God created you to be. What better way to be a helper than pointing people to Jesus. In doing do so you will be a life giver, for only Jesus has life to give. Love God. Love the Word. Love the Lost. Love the Found.