Inheritance.

God has been pounding me with this lately.
The legacy I have,
the ones who went before me.

I look back on my family line and those who have gone before me,
and in the natural they did pretty cool things...
one of my Grandfather's flew Frank Sinatra (which, trust me is a story in itself) and the Beatles the first time they came to America.
The other Grandfather was very high up in Norfolk Southern Railroads and actually created their emblem which still exists to this day. He also worked for the CIA.
Looking at that, I go "wow! There's a lot to live up to there!" haha

My Grandmothers also have amazing stories! That's a whole book in itself ;)
Then, of course, come my parents, and their amazing stories!
They have one thing in common, they have lived in a time I do not know, nor ever will know. I wasn't there, they were. I can choose to walk away from inheritance and legacy and count it useless, or find value in their stories. I can literally benefit from the stories of their lives even though time and space separate me from being there.

Spiritual legacy becomes a whole new amazing ball game.
My parents have fought for things.
They have fought for me to have what I have.
They have sacrificed to be in ministry.
To stand as ones willing to lead the way for others.
It's been sacrifice, trust me on that.

Oh, but I appreciate the trail they have blazed.
I appreciate the lives they've touched.
I appreciate the nations they have gone to.
More importantly, I appreciate their hearts towards Jesus.

Everything I am comes from the platform they have made throughout their lives..
the most amazing thing though is that what they have fought for, I don't have to fight for; it's mine by inheritance.

This makes me want to live my life in such a way that I leave an inheritance and a righteous legacy for my lineage I will never see. I want them to go to a place I never went to with Jesus! I want to make a path that they can continue on where they can go to uncharted waters I will never be able to.

So, I encourage you guys, respect the ones in your life who have left their legacy and inheritance for you. It's such an honor to share in their stories, and benefit from their lives.

My friends, do not take for granted the legacy with which you've been given by inheritance. Embrace it.

"Honor creates a highway in which inheritance flows from generation to generation." (Kris Vallotton)

Peace. Love. Joy.

(The picture above is of my lovely Grandparents)

Psalm 34

As I was spending time with Jesus last night, and reading the Bible, Psalm 34 was so profound and intense; really spoke to me, so I thought I would share it:

"I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,
keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

Evil will slay the wicked;
he foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord redeemed his servants;
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him."

Peace. Love. Joy.

Niall Booth.

Today, I remember a great man, Niall Booth.
He died one year ago in a terrible accident, that no person or family should have to deal with.

Alas, he is having the most outrageous time with my Abba..
I almost feel a bit of jealousy ;)

He loved Jesus with every fiber of his being, and the last memory of him is on our trip to Nicaragua last year, a month before he left this earth. He was the most passionate about ministering to the lost then anyone else on the team. He wanted everyone we came in contact with to know the love of Jesus he had experienced. While we would be praying for one person, he was running after literally everyone else on the street telling them about Jesus. It was one of the most beautiful things I think I have encountered in my life! He wanted everyone and anyone to know the joy that he had! It was wonderful!

So, today, a year later, I think about his beautiful family.
I think about how they are going to be a beautiful story of God's love, grace, and joy!
They are going to change lives through their story. Now, that to me is wonderful.
And, it still stands that the very things Satan uses against us, God will turn around for our good, and I believe that for their lives.
They are going to be extreme conquerors.
They are going to change this world.

So, to Mrs. Lisa, Haydn, and Annabel...
I love you guys! I am thinking and praying of you all, especially today...and know your mourning will turn into joy! I have no doubt! :) You've got one incredible Abba looking out for you guys!

Peace. Love. Joy.

Earthquake.

The other morning, at around 5 am, we experienced an earthquake.
An earthquake in Frederick, MD.
Craziness.

Well, this earthquake woke me straight out of sleep.
My first thought was a plane had crashed,
because that is the only thing I could relate the sound too.

After discovering we had experiences an earthquake I really got to thinking....
the ground, with which our whole world, our lives are "planted" on could in a split second completely crumble from under us.

This hit me so hard. My life is only a vapor. The very ground I walk on, drive on...it could be gone in an instant. It makes you realize that this earth is only passing, there is something so much greater, and so much more stable and real. That's crazy amazing.

It also makes you fear the Lord. It makes you seriously stand in awe of Him.
The night before, when I was spending time with Jesus, I was asking Him for greater fear of Him. I want to know the secrets of His heart, but I must truly reverence His Holy Name before I can be trusted with such secrets.

The earthquake, to me, was this beautiful crazy realization that He is just incredibly outrageous! He is the one thing in this life I don't have to fear I will ever lose. I know, that I know, even if the ground under my feet is no more, He remains. That is such a grand realization.

Man, I life Him.

Peace. Love. Joy.

"The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them." (Psalm 25:14)

Simplicity.

I just got back from camp last night.
It was a refreshing week...
mainly, because I could just soak everything in, I didn't have to be someone..
because no one knew me, and no one had expectations for me.
AHH.. it was lovely.

God really did a lot on the inside of me...
I learned to rest, and be okay with that.
I learned to be who I am despite what others may be doing..
despite the pressure to do exactly what everyone else does.
I just could be at peace with me and how I was made and how I engage.
It was a lovely thing.
A thing I think people often don't understand.
Alas, it's me. And, they don't have to understand.

I really love how my Jesus uses the simplictic things of life to speak to me.
It's always in simplicity I find His voice loudest in my life.
It's incredible.
He is incredible.

Peace. Love. Joy.

Blue Skies Are Coming.

Lots.

This is titled "lots" because there are so many thoughts floating around in my head right now. Where to begin is the question?

.....................................................................................

Today, I was leaving the mall. As I was stopped at the light, I got that feeling, you know the one where you see someone in desperate need of help, but you don't know what to do so you just sit there numb and idle trying to ignore the fact the problem exists.

Well, it happened. There I was, just sitting there and on the side was a man, a very poor, and in so many ways desolate man; he held a sign, he wanted money. As much as I wanted to hand him all the money I had on me the question rang through my head, "what if he just uses it for drugs or alcohol? Why isn't he out trying to find a job anyways?" But, then I hear, "well, wait, what is his story first of all?" It becomes just a huge mumble jumble within a very short minutes and I am left asking, "well, what do I do?" At the end, all I could hear is, "Brianna, just ask him if he needs prayer." In that very second though fear screamed at me, "what if he tries to hurt you?" The light turned green. I was gone. He was gone. The moment that could have been key, was in fact gone.

Next time, I want to not be the person who becomes idle and numb when it comes to those who need help. I can pray for anyone! And, heck, prayer is better than money! I want to be the one who offers Jesus in every situation, who chooses to take every situation to see the Kingdom of Heaven released on the earth! Ahh! Jesus, help me be that person.

..................................................................................

Last night, I was star gazing with my Mom and Sister, looking up at those beautiful creations in the sky; just little dots, but yet so extraordinary. Think about it, I mean seriously, stars are a genius idea. They light up the whole sky with little flickers of light. It amazes me!! It makes me feel alive, and just ponder how incredible beautiful our Abba is!

..................................................................................

I am off to a Creative Worship Camp for the week starting tomorrow. I have such excitement, yet fear of the unknown; not knowing at all what to expect truly. I am going to find out though, I am facing this fear of the unknown. I know I will come back truly changed! Our greatest destiny truly does lie on the other side of fear! :)

...................................................................................


"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the spirit of sonship. And by Him by cry Abba, Father!" (Romans 8:15)

Phillip Lim.

Ahhhhh! I love his stuff! Seriously!

“3.1 is about clothes that refine instead of define. A refinement that’s a bit classic in attitude, but imparts a sense of individual style, without looking or feeling forced. Confident, unidentifiable, chic and most of all effortless,” says designer Phillip Lim. Lim’s raison d’etre is making beautiful clothes with added touches of madness, striving towards the imperfection. The result is a creation of individual looks that are unexpected, unplanned, but completely relevant. For Lim, the design process begins by absorbing shapes, colors and textures from his surroundings and personal experiences and mixing them with luxurious fabrics and thoughtful nuances. The fabrics include tissue weight cashmeres, laundered cottons, washed silks and brushed wools. Understated, cool and polished, Lim knows what a woman desires." (Barneys.com)


His Summer 2010 stuff is to die for:

http://www.31philliplim.com/main.cfm#women?id=2&subid=1

Lauren Conrad.

I love, love, love Lauren Conrad's style.

She can be chill yet classy.
I love that.

Some of her new items on her line, I am in love with...altho, I tend to be in love with all of her stuff haha ;)

I love this skirt, shirt combination so much:

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/landingpages/lclaurenconrad/bottoms/PRD~649515/LC+Lauren+Conrad+Ombre+Layered+Skirt.jsp

And, this dress:

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/landingpages/lclaurenconrad/dresses/PRD~667437/LC+Lauren+Conrad+Striped+Empire+Dress.jsp

.....................................................................................

I finished Kelly Cutrone's book...I'll write a blog on it later, it was good for the most part :)

Peace. Love. Joy.

Viva Nicaragua.

I am back from Nicaragua once again.
It's such a bittersweet feeling for me.
I love home, America, and much of my heart lies here.
But, Nicaragua has apart of my heart as well.
I love both countries so dearly.

I really would love to spend at least 6 months there sometime.
In fact, I am going to make it a priority to do so.

Ahh, the people are so beautiful.
Full of life, love, brilliance.

My heart already anticipates the next time I can delve into such beauty once again.


Peace. Love. Joy.