Looking back on this young life of mine, I can already see a multitude of redefining moments.

It was the summer of 2004. Standing among a sea of concertgoers at an outdoor music festival, worshiping together as we sang the popular Christian song “Blessed Be Your Name” by Tree 63. It was there that I felt a shift. Well, first, it was a nudge. Followed by a simple prayer. Then came the shift.

The nudge was this prompting by something bigger than myself to surrender control over my life, my work and my finances.

So, I prayed that God would bless my family. “Bless me,” I prayed. “Bless my work. Bless our finances. Oh Lord, bless us! I’ll do anything. I’ll go anywhere. I’m yours.”

I felt it, then, right there; a slight shift. I think I had to shuffle my feet a bit because I felt the earth tremble a little beneath me.

Within a few short months, my world flipped. Soon, pretty much every area of my growing family, self-employed business and oh-yeah-that-thing-called-money was turned upside down. Devastated by the seemingly ruin of run amuck circumstances, I turned back to God in desperation.

This time I pleaded, “Oh Lord, this is not the blessing I’d hoped for. This is not a blessing at all.”

But surrender and transformation are faint companions. Like fraternal twins who do not look like they’ve come on the same ship, they assuredly are born together under the same moon.

And what I’ve learned is this: the harvest takes time.

The surrender is never forsaken.

A yielded heart will be transformed.

The harvest blessing eventually comes.

Friends, though your heart may feel faint today, do not grow weary from doing good. Remember, (I am speaking with tender affection) that a pure spiritual harvest is rarely instantaneous. The seed of your prayer takes time to grow. And in due time, eventually, the harvest blessing will come for those who do not loose heart.

Have you ever met someone and fallen instantly in love? I have.

Today, in fact.

I was speaking at a quaint women’s luncheon in the basement of a church; covered by the tall Colorado Pine, on the edge of a quiet town. She walked into the room framed like the stem of a dandelion; spangled leggings tucked into cowboy boots, a slouched over shirt as vivid as blue corral waters. Her face: bright, smooth, and happy.

“Hello, you can call me Grannie. I’m only 92,” She announced, “I’m passionate about health and wellness and I love Jesus, oh, He’s the one true Healer.”

And instantly I knew that I loved her.

Grannie is a certified massage therapist. I kid you not! I moaned, explaining a nagging ache in my back going two months strong. She placed her journeyed hand upon my side and squeezed, “here?” I nodded and smiled.

“Perhaps… I wish I could…” Grannie looked over her shoulder towards the restroom. “Would you mind if I gave you a quick adjustment?”

I looked at the clock, ten minutes shy of my introduction, and then looked back at Grannie, “Sure!”

Ten minutes of magic: I emerged like new, shaking my head, grateful for the gift.

Besides the fact that this story absolutely delights my heart, I tell it because Grannie is a living, breathing example of what it means to use your gifts and passions to impact the Kingdom of God. What? Wait? So your saying a 10-minute restroom massage is Kingdom work? Um, yeah, I am. Because I believe that any time you are doing a good work, in the name of Jesus, pouring yourself out through the expression of your gifts and talents, you’re leaving an imprint on those around you.

So, will you do me a little favor?

Ask yourself:

What are my gifts?

What am I most passionate about?

The unique combination of these things is where you’ll discover the most power to influence what the world sees, thinks and knows about our God. This is Kingdom Living right here.

And this is the sort of stuff that causes hearts to draw near in love.

Go forth, and do your thing… just like Grannie!

Esther Havens has the best job ever. Or so it seems. As a humanitarian photographer, she travels the world capturing pixilated stories of people. Her work of storytelling through the lens has inspired Westerners to gain a cross-cultural perspective like none other. For many, we yearn for this sort of adventurous life style.

A classic case of, “If only I had your life…”

Last year I met Esther while attending the Allume blogging conference. During her storytelling session she shared a few lessons she’s learned about her line of work and her heart behind sharing someone’s story with the world. As she spoke, I watched a young woman in the audience raise her hand and ask, “How do you suppose I go about finding inspiring stories to share? I mean, I’m a stay-at-home mom who drives a mini van all day. I just don’t have the life that you have…”

I caught up with Esther after her session and an interesting thing happened. In response to the woman’s question she shared with me that one of her deepest desires is to be a mother, at home with her children.

And so, I thought to myself, what a curious thing. Here you have two women, each doing two different kinds of work, each carrying around different desires for a future hope. It made me wonder how often we look at another person’s life, their work, and wish we could do what they do or have what they have.

For the past three years I’ve been working on my first novel. Of course the writing journey, once immersed in the work, looks and feels completely different than I’d once imagined. Today, my love and passion for writing remains the same. But holy smokes, it’s a lot of work. Through the years I’ve therapeutically shared bits and pieces of this process on my blog. One time, after announcing my book would be published, I received a poignant message from a reader friend. She began by saying that she needed to be honest with me. She explained that my work, this book coming into fruition, was causing her to feel jealous. You see, one of her greatest desires has always been to write a book. In fact, she already has her story idea. She just hadn’t set to the work, yet. My friend concluded her message by thanking me for inspiring her to begin writing the story she’s been holding onto all these years.

Her letter helped me to recognize two ways in which these bursts of longing, if handled in a proper manner, have the potential to work themselves out for good.

Confront it.

Nothing smolders the fire of envy faster than speaking the truth in love. Being honest with our feelings, speaking it out, whether with God or man helps us bring light to those sheltered corners of our heart. Careful though; we need to remember to guard our words from spiteful gossip. Speaking it out means, go to the source!

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

Stories inspire stories.

To desire actually means to suffer or ache for the coming of something to pass. We were born for longing; it’s our eternal quest. This is good because if we didn’t desire, we wouldn’t be alive.

Be encouraged.

Never underestimate the power of living in the present. Your work right now is leading you towards those desires you hold dearly to your chest. Believe it! It’s about the journey. I firmly believe that your God breathed story to-date is just the thing another person needs to hear. Share. Give. Tell. Stories change stories!

“Look out!” My husband tugged on my arm just as my foot was about to strike the tail of a squished snake on the road. I screamed bloody-murder, naturally, until I realized that the creature was already dead. But three more times, thereafter, I nearly stepped on the heads’ of snakes slithering across my path.

Why so many snakes, all at once, I wondered?

A snake, clearly defined throughout history, has been a symbol of poison, danger, suspicion or trouble. This stepping on snakes scenario brings me back to a distant time in my past. A time of trouble and confusion; a time when it felt as though, at every corner, I was being attacked by circumstances that intended to do me harm. I felt swallowed up and I didn’t trust my own feet to move…for fear.

We’ve all encountered snakes on the road. Our path. Our life. Obstacles that drive fear, cause us to take a wide detour or keep us from finishing the race.

“Look out!” I’m tugging your arm, to help you shift your gaze. Do you know that your snake-like circumstance is merely a pawn? A disguise intended to cause you look down, run away, flail your arms, side step… anything to keep you focused on seeking truth by looking up. Listen, friends, there is a real Snake in this world, indeed! This snake-like Devil, he is not for you, he is not in favor of your best laid dreams and he has been creating strategies to throw you off since before you we’re born. It may seem as though THE CIRCUMSTANCE (insert name of person or people group or issue) is the real and present danger but I’m urging you to consider looking at your present struggle through a different set of eyes.

Sometimes, there is so much confusion in our layered troubles that it can be hard to distinguish the real enemy, right? Oh, I know what your thinking. If only I knew about that one person, the one whose eyes glow neon when you lay awake at night. If the world only knew the things they’ve done, to you.

But I’m not talking about that one person or group or thing that’s got you all tangled up inside. Nope. THAT’S JUST THE CIRCUMSTANCE. Consider the master-mind, the invisible player pulling the strings of human hearts and minds. Remember our REAL enemy, the one who is looking to devour us.

If we are to grow deeper in our faith, we must give pause to these patterns that cause such a ruckus in our lives. We must give pause and consider the present darkness. And look to do battle against the REAL enemy. So, PRAY, dear people. Here is some TRUTH to send you on your way:

1) No weapon formed against you shall prosper. -Isaiah 54:17

2) In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I (Jesus) have overcome the world. –John 16:33

3) And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. –Ephesians 4:32

4) 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. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. – Ephesians 6:14-18

PRAYER: Help us, oh Lord, to have eyes to see the snakes and the circumstances before us! Grant us perspective into your work in our lives. Help us to stand firmly planted in your goodness. We give to you this day, may our weakness be perfected by your strength. Thank you for the breath in our lungs on this day. May we give you honor and praise for the victory that is ours in Christ Jesus. Amen.