What I Learned at LPL

Living Proof Live was so powerful! Some very sweet friends I met there wondered if the spirit was stronger up close... yes, yes He was to me, in the second row!Beth taught on our hearts desire. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you your hearts desire. (Psalm 37:4) There are days I have been afraid to hope; it can be so painful. But, because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness! (Lamentations 2:22-23)

I learned so much! What I love about Beth is that I always see Him in her. She's a lightning rod for His word, and gives me such a deep understanding of it. The most important thing she taught me, was that "wait" is not an idle word, it is a verb. In Hebrew, wait means to be in anxious expectation. Yes Lord! She also said if we are praying, by the word and are not receiving our answer - don't give up! There is Glory or Destiny at stake.

Travis and the worship team brought it. I really have no words. Worshiping God there, in that way... let's just say I wound up on my face at the altar, crying out for mercy and when I rose I knew I had it. God and I met to do business this weekend.When the event was over, I did get to meet Rich, LPL's amazing photographer. He was funny and totally down to earth.Meeting Travis Cottrell was surreal. He's so gifted and so... normal, praise God! It was like hanging out with a friend. Did you know he blogs?I did meet a new friend, Jamie, there too. She was such a blessing to me!Check out the Living Proof schedule; if they're even remotely close to you, GO!

Changed,
Carolynn

For the Love of Girlfriends

When I was in the Twin Cities last weekend, I got to go to church, briefly! see my friend Sara and stay with my friend Meagan. Ladies I love you to pieces!

Here's me and one of my best girls, Sara from Interpret Sass. We've only "met" twice but she's already family.(I don't know why we didn't take a picture of ourselves that night Meagan, we were up til 2:00!)

Can't wait to see you again soon!

(((hugs))),
C~

Going Under

This weekend I'm going back to Beth Moore, this time in Green Bay! (The video is the recap of when I saw her speak in Minneapolis last summer.) Unbelievable.

LPL Minneapolis from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

I can hardly wait to enter in again. Have you ever worshiped with thousands of women? The authenticity and abandon is second to none. Tell me you know about Travis and the Praise Team! The anointing on the entire Living Proof Live ministry is amazing. And have you read their blog?

Last summer I was in the 3rd row. I'll never forget it; I said, this woman has a word from God for me and I want it! I want to smell her perfume! Let me tell you, when God sends a messanger... she taught on being between a rock and a hard place. 3 months later when X walked out with a note, there I was, in that deep dark space. But when I started seeking answers, because God help me, there were so many questions, I returned again and again to her lesson. Yes it was dark... but it was the shadow of His wing. Between a rock and a hard place, I pressed into The rock and have held on for dear life. Best dang advice I ever got.

I left a comment on their blog this week and about fell of my chair when I got the email inviting me to Green Bay. Just about died y'all. So after the shrieking stopped, the joy has spread through like wildfire. It's downright uncontainable! And I remember, this, is what it's supposed to feel like. This, is what God wants for us.

Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemia 8:10)

When the event in Green Bay is over, I'm heading west, to the Twin Cities. Anyone up for a bloggy breakfast (lunch or dinner)? :) I'll be in the Cities through Sunday - do you know what this means?? I get to go back to my church!!

Tonight I remember what it feels like to have my cup overflow. My children are doing great. My new job rocks the party. I got a little sanity and quit one of the part time jobs = I took control of my priorities. I can feel a holy fire bubbling up. I missed this. The Lord has been so faithful to me. Through tears and tantrums, in the darkest night and the brightest dawn, He is good.

Last summer when I was baptized, the feeling of going under and coming up new changed me. Father God, water mark my spirit and take me under this weekend.
Carolynn

Spread the Love

This is my pal Jonathan Thulin (from my home church in Minnesota) singing, "Spoken For" which will be on his next album (released in October). He's recently started blogging, you can check it out by clicking here.

Jonathan Thulin - Spoken For
by dummako

He has a huge heart for Jesus; swing over and welcome him to the blogosphere! Want more? Check out his MySpace.

Sing It,
Carolynn

Reminding Myself

God grant me the Serenity to
Accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can
and the Wisdom to know the difference.

Amen.

War Paint

It sure is nice to get hugs out of the mailbox. I love fun mail, which is everything but bills. I've been lousy at getting cards out this year but it's high on 2010's resolution list. I got a package in the mail from my pal Keri at Forever Folding Laundry yesterday; I won her giveaway, check out the adorable beauties in her Etsy store! I also got the sweetest card from my Mom this week, thanks.

My friends at Three Bay B Chicks sent me fun mail last Christmas that I still use and treasure. Sparingly, but I'll have you know, Este Lauder is my war paint. Some days being a single mom of 3 means don't waste your make-up. You're gonna run too hard, move too fast, put out too many fires and barely keep your head above water; the last thing on your mind is an eyelash curler. Really.

But there are days that I pull out my gifted fancy bag of make-up and I remember why they sent it. Because they believe in me, and want me to see what they see. Every morning I stand in front of the mirror and tell my reflection, "you are a good, capable, woman. You will make it through this day, even if by the skin of your teeth, but by God, you will make it, head held high." And at night when I'm facing myself again, I think of something to be grateful for and say it out loud. Honestly at the beginning I was just grateful for teeth to brush. But now I like who I see.

Sure that woman needs to lose some weight and do something about the bags under her eyes. But her shoulders are pulled back, there's light in her eyes and I trust her.

Does it seem funny that something so small can make such a big difference? Not to me. Some people say don't sweat the small stuff, but life is in the details. A friend once told me, "the amount of spiritual warfare you'll encounter is in direct correlation to the impact you're having on the Kingdom." When my feet hit the floor in the morning I want the enemy to say, uh-oh she's up again.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:13-17)

Every gal knows the finishing touch on any outfit is the accessories Mine just happens to be war paint ...made by Este Lauder.

*wink*,
Carolynn

Kyrie Eleison

A week from today, life will change again when my sons start school and I start a new job. It's been one "new normal" after another since last November. Sometimes I wish it would just be... but we're not there yet, we're not where God is taking us to.

Often in the last eight months I have prayed for the destination. But God is about the journey. Beth Moore says, "... God will forever be more interested in you knowing your Healer than experiencing His healing, and knowing your Deliverer than knowing your deliverance."

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. (Proverbs 3:5)

Do you know what Kyrie Eleison means? In Greek, "Lord Have Mercy." ...down the road that I must travel, through the darkness of the night, where I'm going will you follow... Lord have mercy.

In moments of patience, I know had He taken me straight to the destination, I would have missed so much. Remember when I put my license plates on by myself for the first time and it felt like reaching the summit? What if I had missed even that one small victory? How could I have built another on the back of it, until my shoulders straightened out, until my eyes finally met yours?

I'm not afraid anymore. That alone, is worth the journey, no matter how high the climb.

Carolynn