One Spark Can Start A Fire

When someone is passionate, you can see the fire burning in their eyes. When we stand for something and truly love it, our entire being oozes out that adoration, commitment, and devotion to whatever it may be. I know that when my Daddy starts talking about God, his excitement becomes infectious. Passion is like a fire that you can’t help but catch!

But passion must be a wholehearted thing to be infectious like that. If I sat here and tried to tell you that Mary is a better name than Martha, there would be a lack of passion in those words because I lack confidence in my argument. How can I convince you of that if I myself am doubting what I want you to believe?

As Christians, we really need to be passionate. If our fire is just dim embers, how can we light other people’s fires? We can’t, it just doesn’t work that way. Do you believe in the love that your Father has for you? If you don’t know it beyond a shadow of a doubt, you’re going to really struggle in showing other people how awesome and amazing His love is.

And His love is just that. Awesome and amazing. I lose my breath when I think of how great He is and how much love He has for me. Extraordinary. Marvelous. Outstanding. Remarkable. Phenomenal. All the words in the world, in all the languages we have, could never even scratch the surface of His attributes.

We get to serve a God like that. So big and so omnipotent, yet so tender and so kind. The one and only. His heart breaks for the lost, leaps for the found, and loves without limits. Never doubt that He wants you.

We are the Impossibilities that get to serve such a God. We are the generation that gets to catch the fire and spread it. Let’s start a wild fire, completely and totally out of our control. Let’s bring down the walls of religion, the boundaries of the Law, and let’s let a Holy fire loose. Get passionate. Start a fire (not literally, please!). Spread that fire. Nothing can put it out, not if you keep it burning.

Have you ever noticed that after a fire has gone through somewhere, that place doesn’t look the same. That’s what we can do with our passion-birthed fire! We can totally transform our schools, our cities, our states, our countries, our WORLD!

So maybe I dream big. Maybe I long for this world to be overwhelmingly populated with passionate Impossibilities, thus causing a shift in modern day life. But maybe, if we could all understand what we believe, become passionate about it, and show that passion to others, maybe we could do just that.
I know it sounds impossible. But aren’t we supposed to be the Impossibilities, achieving exactly that through God? I believe so. I hope you do too.

Catch the fire. Start one with me. Let’s change the world.

Daddy’s Girl

Unstoppable

It was this huge wall. An enormous barrier. It kept me from getting to the other side. I tried to climb it. I tried to find a way around it. I tried to push it down. But nothing worked.

I was stuck behind it. Everything I did just made me weaker. I felt hopeless. But I had to be on the other side. It wasn't optional. Everywhere around me was dark. I knew from the light that filtered through a few holes in the wall that there was something beautiful on the other side.

You know when you know something in your heart, and you don't need proof for it to be real, because you know without a shadow of a doubt that it just is? That was how I felt in that moment. I knew that on the other side of that wall was a wonderous thing, and I had to get over there.

I refused to give up, even though I could barely stand. I kicked and I punched and I threw myself at the wall. Exhausted tears rolled down my cheeks. I couldn't do it. I couldn't get through. "What's wrong with me!" I helplessly screamed at the wall.

Whatever was on the other side I knew I needed. I felt this strange connection with it. I wouldn't stop until I got over. The darkness pressed in closer and I began to panic. So I screamed. I hollered. And then I heard something.

Maybe it was my imagination, but I could have sworn I heard someone screaming on the other side. Beating the wall, just like me. I pressed my face up against the cold brick and tried my best to still my breathing.

At first I could only hear muffled words. But once my heart stopped pounding and my breath stopped coming in huffs and puffs, I heard much more clearer.

"You can't get through! Stop trying!" I heard.

"What?!?" I screamed in dismay. That was definitely not what I wanted to hear.

I pressed my whole body up against the wall, hoping with all my might I'd hear more."Step back from the wall!"

I was befuddled. Why in the world would I step back from the wall. Fear creeped in to my heart as I looked at the inky blackness surrounding me. I didn't want to step into that... But the light chased away the darkness enough for me to step a few feet back.

Careful to make sure I didn't enter the darkness, I stepped back. A rumble shook my entire frame. I stared at the wall, curious about what was about to unfold before me.

Suddenly, with a loud thunder, the wall came crumbling down. I gasped and watched in disbelief. The dust settled and on top of the rubble I saw a man.

He was huge! No wonder the wall came down so quickly, this guy could probably knock down a few others at the same time.

Then I noticed the light. I noticed the colors. In a split second, I saw what I had been fighting so hard to get to. I scrambled over the bricks, past the man, and drank in my surroundings. Breath taking....

The thing was, though, I didn't feel a connection with the surroundings. Instead, I felt pulled by some invisible force to the man who had destroyed my barrier. I spun around and he stood right there. He was close enough that if I moved I would swat him with my shoulder.

"Who are you?" I asked. You would have asked the same question if he was standing just inches from you. And not only had he invaded my personal space, he had somehow invaded my heart. Now I knew why in all the fairytales the princesses fell for the knights who saved them.

"I'm love," he said simply. I waited for more, but he didn't say anything else, so I made a face to express my frustration.

"Love is invincible facing danger and death. Passion laughs at the terrors of hell. The fire of love stops at nothing— it sweeps everything before it. Flood waters can't drown love, torrents of rain can't put it out. Love can't be bought, love can't be sold."

So then I knew. It was kind of hard to miss. This man before me was my Savior. And this man before me was just as determined to break down the wall separating us as I was.

This man was Love. And this man would stop at absolutely nothing to have me.

Raptured in His love,
Daddy's Girl
Song of Solomon 8:6b-7


Love is invincible facing danger and death. Passion laughs at the terrors of hell. The fire of love stops at nothing— it sweeps everything before it. Flood waters can't drown love, torrents of rain can't put it out. Love can't be bought, love can't be sold— it's not to be found in the marketplace.

To The Heart

There's a deep chasm between human-nature and holiness. That chasm was put there when Adam sinned, and that chasm remains there because from the moment we are born, our flesh rules in our lives.

But there's hope. That chasm, which can cause so much despair, was bridged by a loving God. Passionately in love with His creation, He formulated a plan to rescue all of humanity. He gave up His only Son to become perfection, to walk the tight rope that so many people had fallen off of. And when His Son made it to the other side, He was crucified. But the cross that so many thought would end the teachings of this man called Jesus ended up bridging the gap for us all. Now, if we choose to see that cross and what it signifies, we can bound across the chasm to the other side. We can become holy and righteous through the blood of our Savior.

But now what? In all honesty, do we deserve this place of right standing? Not at all, and we never will. But that's the stunning beauty of this whole adventure. We've now made it across the chasm, and we can run straight to our Father's heart.

Religion, though, sees the tight rope and says to all those who have already bounded wonderfully across the separating pit, "We have to walk that rope as well." But how could we?! We're only human! And why would we?? If we've made it across, of course we would want to avoid the chasm AND the other side all together!

So rejoice, because if you have given your life to Jesus, you are now on the other side of that desolate land, having travelled across the chasm into a place of splendor and love. As an Impossibility, don't look back at what human-nature has to offer you. Instead, run. Straight to the heart. Never let religion hold you back.

2 Thessalonians 3:5, "May the Master take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God's love and Christ's endurance."

The heart of our Creator is full of love, compassion, and forgiveness. He desires a deep, intimate relationship with all of us. Don't let rules, regulations, and legalism tie your hands behind your back and force you onto the tight rope!

This is true love, found at the core of our Heavenly Father. As we chase after Him, we will understand more and more about this Romance between Creator and creation. Let your heart be wooed by His glory.

Let your heart be wooed by His heart.

Daddy's Girl

When the World Crumbles (Part 2)

Jane's eyes widened in wonder and awe. The man before her laughed, knowing that she had figured out who he was. "It's about time you recognized me. You'd think after spending your whole life with me in your heart, you'd know your own Savior."

Immobolized by the thought running through her head, Jane was rendered speechless. But quickly the bitter words and angry feelings came back to the surface, and she stepped back from the man.

"What do you want?" she asked, a caustic edge to her voice. "Haven't you taken enough from me?" Her accusations were meant to hurt him, but his face simply softened and searched her eyes- no, her heart. Slowly, he began to shake his head.

"You have no idea, do you? You really, truly, honestly, do not know who I AM." Jane was infuriated by these words.

"Oh, but I do! You're the man who died on the cross for me! The one who rose again from the dead! The one who stole my boyfriend, my friends, and now even my parents from me! Because you are the God who gives and takes away, right? You're the God who destroys lives just so that you, in your jealousness, can be the center of them!" Her anger rushed out in a torrent of words and tears. Her jaw tensed and her fists clenched. How dare he come here and try to woo her with his touch? How dare he invite her out here after taking away all that she loved?

Understanding filled his eyes. "Dear Jane... that wasn't me," he whispered. Jane was out of words, so she just stared at him. He reached for her hand and she let him grab it. What do I have to lose? she thought. He smiled, and she remembered he could read her thoughts.

He led her deeper into the forest, and Jane was shocked to see that the beauty continued to get better as she got closer to the core. Freshly fallen dew glistened in the light of the moon, trees were taller, and the distant sound of a creek filled the air. He stopped by a rock and turned to face her.

"It's much more prettier in here than it was at the outskirts of the woods, isn't it?" he asked.

Jane was slightly confused by the question, but she nodded. Why does the beauty in here matter? I just finished yelling at you and you're showing me how nice the forest behind my home is...

He smiled and winked at her, the laugh lines around his eyes deepening as he did so. Though Jane was still angry and befuddled with all that was going on, she let herself enjoy the moment she was in, hoping soon enough her companion would explain what was going on.

And he did just that. "Though the outskirts of the forest are pretty, the outter world can still reach you there. Outside predators can still see you and find you. But the deeper you get in, the more stunning the forest becomes, and the less the outsiders can find you."

Jane felt like he was talking in riddles, but she decided she would go along with it. He continued. "And the further you go in, the further you want to keep travelling, until you're suddenly at the heart. You get lost in the wonder of it all and no longer desire to be on the outside, because the pain can no longer reach you there. That's where you understand what the forest truly is. But if you stay on the outskirts of it, you'll never know, and you'll think that it's no different than living on the outside anyways."

Jaw dropping with what he was trying to get across, she finally knew what he was referring to. "But... religion never shows us how to go deeper."

"Religion isn't what I want, dearest. Religion is man's way of getting to me. Its like the vines at the edge of the forest, and so many people get caught in them. This makes them fair game for anyone on the outside." He made sure she was still following what he was saying, probably reading her thoughts. Then he spoke again. "Instead, I want you to run to the core, to the center, of me. I want a relationship. Seek me and you will find me, call on me and I will answer, draw near to me and I will draw near to you..."

Then he was gone. Jane looked around, frightened by his sudden disappearance. She heard a gentle whisper, "Chase me, and you will catch me."

So Jane ran, she wasn't sure where she was running but she ran. Using the sound of the creek as her guide, she went in the direction she thought would be the core. As she ran, she began to laugh. Then she came to a clearing, and there was the creek. "Jump in," the whisper said.

She jumped in, submerging herself in the crisp waters. When she came up for breath, she couldn't help the joy that flowed from her. At the edge of the creek, she saw her Savior standing. She got out quickly, wanting to hear more of what he had to say.

"Did you touch the bottom?" he asked.

Jane shook her head, "I couldn't find it."

He smiled. "That's because it's bottomless." She made a face, confused. "Like my love, it doesn't end. It just keeps going."

Jane remembered the thoughts she had during the day. A loving God... His teeth showed as he smiled once again at her. Then he took both her hands and began to dance. Jesus knows how to dance?? she quickly thought.

He threw his head back in laughter and she couldn't help but join in. This was wonderful, this was amazing, she never wanted to leave here. But she knew she would have to eventually. Obviously reading her thoughts again, he spoke up.

"You never have to leave, Jane. Keep this forest in your heart forever. Don't get caught in the vines, but instead run to the core. This is my Father's heart, flowing with joy and love and peace. The outsiders can't touch you here." Then he picked a flower from beside the creek and handed it to her. Jane remembered hearing that God was a romantic, but she never took the saying seriously. Now she knew that it was quite true.

Searching his eyes, she knew it was time to return home. Holding the flower close to her heart, she squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them again, she was in her bed and it was morning.

Frantic, Jane looked around her room. Was it just a dream? she wondered. Smiling at the memory of her Savior dancing with her, she sat up in bed. That's when she felt it in her hand.

The flower. "So it wasn't a dream after all," she whispered.

And that's when the vines of religion let go of Jane's heart. That's when she learned to run to the core of the forest no matter where she was. That's when she learned that the outside predators couldn't touch her.

That's when she found her relationship with God, and found life in it.

Daddy's Girl

Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

When the World Crumbles

The church pew was cold and hard, much like the preacher's face in front of his congregation. The people around her dozed as their 'shepherd' droned on about sin and hell. Jane found herself daydreaming as her gaze drifted around the sanctuary. The place was decorated with expensive chandeliers and stunning glass windows. So this is where our tithe and offering goes... she thought. Startling her, the preacher banged his fist on his podium, puncuating his point. What point that was, she had no idea.

This was routine to Jane. Go to church, pretend to care, sing "I love Jesus", go home, live her life in a way God would deem acceptable, and repeat the whole process next Sunday. Her soul was saved from eternal damnation, and that's all that mattered, right? She lived her life right, that way God wouldn't strike her with cancer or AIDS or something like that. But inwardly, Jane sighed. This life was colorless, bland, unattractive, boring. This life was religion.

Then one day Jane's world fell apart. Her Christian boyfriend dumped her, her friends stopped talking to her, her parents began looking at divorce, and she felt lonely. When Sunday rolled around, she went back to church and sat in a back pew.

If she had thought the idea of a loving God felt ludicrous before, she didn't recall it being this bad. Bitter words screamed in her head as the preacher went on about God being the God who, "gives and takes away." The old coot up front had no idea what Jane was going through, and his impersonal message of God's punishment made Jane want to scream. This is God's fault?! The reason I feel so alone is because HE saw it fit to tear apart everything I love?! What kind of God do I serve anyways?!? Her heart ached as the thought filled her mind.

Laying in her bed that night, Jane began to cry. Softly, she whispered her bedtime prayer and stared at the dark ceiling. Then a thought came to her mind- a crazy, insane, completely out of character thought. I should take a walk in the woods.

Quickly, she got out of bed and slipped on a jacket and sneakers. She grabbed a flashlight and tip-toed down the stairs and out the back door. Turning on her light, she scurried to the back woods, her heart quickening with every step she took. When she entered them, she looked around. The trees loomed overhead and the moon peaked through the branches. It seemed like something from a book, the moonlight casting shadows all around her. She glanced down and saw flowers with their petals closed. "I should probably be asleep too..." she said aloud.

"But you weren't, so I invited you out here to visit me." Jane spinned around when she heard the other voice. She didn't see anyone, and fear quickly gripped her throat, constricting her breathing. "Don't be frightened, you know me." She was still afraid though. She didn't like strangers, especially not in the night. "I know you don't like strangers, but maybe if you weren't so busy reciting cliches to me and actually tried to get to know me, you would recognize my voice."

Jane's brow furrowed. Had she accidentally said that out loud? The other voice laughed. "No, baby doll, you did not say that out loud. But your thoughts are easy to understand, I'm the one who gave you the brain to have them in the first place." She suddenly gasped. Who was playing such a trick on her? This was absurd!

Then a figure formed before her eyes. He had deep brown eyes, and laugh lines around his eyes. He brought his hands up to her face and brushed away a few stray hairs. Jane was so captured in the man's eyes, she couldn't move away from his touch. But when his fingertips met her skin, an electric shock ran through her veins...

And that was when she knew.

To be continued...

It's Good For a Reason

She was anorexic. Blind to her natural beauty. Starving herself to appease her need to be in control of at least one thing in life.

He was depressed. Unable to feel any emotion beyond sadness. Cutting himself to divert the pain at least momentarily.

She was flirty. Rejected by her father. Running to any other male figure that might fill the void for just a while.

He was an alcoholic. Terrified of life's problems. Drowning out the world with a bottle of whiskey in the company of strangers.

She was obsessed with work. Needing to prove herself to the world. Wishing that she could just live up to the expectations of her parents.

He was a rebel. Pretended nothing bothered him. Never let anyone close enough to see his true feelings.

She was broken.

He was broken.

And God saw them. 

So God did what He saw fit. He sent the Prize of heaven, His only Son. He let His Son take it all on the cross.

And Jesus died. And then He rose again.

Eternity then became accessible for the broken. God then became available for the broken. Healing then became optional for the broken. 

And the broken came to Him.

And He was known as Love. 

Love appeased her need to be in control.

Love eased the pain and brought joy to him.

Love accepted her and filled the void.

Love made his fear virtually nonexistent.

Love proved to her she didn't need to prove herself.

Love showed him feelings were okay to have.

1 Corinthians 13:8a, "Love never fails." 
And so, Good Friday is called good for a reason.

Daddy's Girl

The Impossible Warriors (continued)

I must defeat the Defeat before the Defeat defeats me. For if I'm defeated, then who will slay the dragon? We all say someone else will do it. But if that's what we all say, then who is that someone going to be? If we all sit down, hoping one person may stand, who will stand?

We're captured in this terrible cycle of defeat, willing to lay down and take the beating because it is easier to be defeated than defeat the monster. Victory is already ours. We just have to walk it out. But we toss aside our victory for an easier journey, willing to be kicked in the gut once and give up.

So I will lead. I will defeat the Defeat through Jesus' strength. And I will walk out my victory, willing to receive an occasional bloodied lip. I will put on my armor, the armor that God graciously provided for all of us.

Defeat's shadow stretches so far, darkening the horizon. It appears so fierce. But through the Son, I have become a daughter of Light. And as I go into battle, I'll carry that Light with me. The Defeat really isn't that scary. Where there is Light there can be no darkness. Defeat's shadow will shrink and its true size will be revealed. Then, with the weapons I wield through Christ, I'll take it out.

My victory through the Blood of the Lamb will bring one reaction: praise, because my Shepherd has once again kept me safe.

By faith, I'll march on. I'll allow God to us me as an example. An example of the love that conquers all, including Defeat itself. What better prize than showing others exactly what it means to be an Impossibility. What better reward than following Christ out on the water, showing others what it's like to not only keep my head above water but walk on it!

"Here I am Lord!" I cry. "Use me!"

The Lover of my soul has not only saved me from eternal death. He has put me in a place of righteousness. He has given me tools for success.

No, I will not be defeated. Not when the Keeper of my heart has won the war for me already. I will not toss aside the gift given to me through grace.

Defeat may look like a mountain. But I can move mountains. Because nothing is impossible with God.

Defeating the defeat,
Daddy's Girl