Diversity with Dinner

I sat around the dinner table with my family this last Sunday to welcome home a cousin to the US after years and years of trying to leave Iran. At 32 he will get to experience complete freedom for the first time. At the table I was surrounded by diversity in age, language, education. viewpoints and culture. And, I never felt more at home. Listening to Farsi, eating mast-o-khiar, having conversations with doctors architects and stay at home moms.

If you are sitting around a table with people just like you, it's time to change where you are sitting.

Why Do We Wait?

Why do we wait? Wait to let people know how we truly fell, wait do accomplish things, wait on running after a dream, wait to connect with people. Waiting to do things because we think that we have plenty tomorrows.

What if today was the day that waiting ended. Love today. Be honest today. Dream today. Start today. Live today. Laugh today. Write today. Begin today.

I'll Make Your Sandwich

Tonight I was talking to my husband on the phone and anyone that knows us knows that we have been living our lives 600 miles apart for the last 15 months. He was so exhausted, falling in and out of sleep on the phone...too tired to get up and make his sandwich for work the next day before going to bed. He joked and asked me to make it for him, begged me to make it for him and while we kind of laughed, it made me sad that I wasn't there to do it.

Next Sunday we will drive from Destin to South Florida as I begin my new position with my company and we will be living in the same house! We are so blessed and God has worked in so many ways in our life. And the first thing that I want to do for my husband on Sunday night...make his sandwich for when he goes to work on Monday.

In about three weeks I am going to take on one of the most challenging career opportunities I have ever taken on.  I am filled with excitement, I'm anxious to begin and most of all I'm thankful for the road I'm on.  Thankful for God showing up through the in the people in my life, and not letting me try to control this situation myself.

Heather, thank you for standing in front of me and being real, being honest, and letting God use you in ways in my life that only he can.  Never letting me step away, always keeping me plugged in and our friendship growing even with 600 miles between us.  

Pastor Troy and Steph, thank you for your entire family being devoted to God and what he has called you all to do at Flamingo Road Church.  My life has changed because of the teachings and the examples that you have set as a couple.  My life is beginning with my husband the way it should because of God working through you and impacting my life.

The Flamingo Road Church Pensacola team, thank you for being the family for me that you never knew you were.  We are 50 - 100 - 150.

Yamila, thank you for saying something that I will take with me for the rest of my life, "What can't you accomplish with you family, friends and church behind you?"

My family, thank you for loving me no matter what and no matter where I am.

We need to stop and give thanks.  We need to stop in the middle of something we feel is too overwhelming and give thanks to God and those that he has placed around us.  Our God is an awesome God and there is nothing too big for him.  Who are you thankful for?

Now Boarding

The airport has to be one of my favorite places to people watch.  I have spent quite a bit of time in airports, and today as I sat there by my gate sipping my coffee watching all the people walking and running back and forth from gate to gate, I realized that this is the one place where masses of people have so much and so little in common all at once.

Everyone in an airport is going somewhere, trying to get there the best way possible but they are traveling for so many different reasons.  Flying to meet the ones that they love and to say final goodbyes.  For work, for pleasure.  Taking first trips together, taking trips that are long overdue.  Yet, in all of this we rarely ever speak to each other for more than complaining about the flight delays.

We have this amazing opportunity to stop, in mid air, look to our left and right and begin true social networking...at 10,000 feet.

Moments of Definition

We have these moments in life that when we look back, we can see that they were part of defining who we are today.  Sometimes we know that they are defining us as we go through them and sometimes we see it in hindsight.  What I've begun to realize is that it isn't really the things I knew I had to do that have defined me, but those things that I didn't really have to do that did.

Where is Home?

They say, "Home is where the heart is." This weekend my mom and little brother came up to visit me and I realized that my home can be anywhere my family is, because my heart is always with them.

We have spent some amazing time together doing ordinary things that suddenly became extraordinary because I was with them.  Laughter and love shared with some of the most important people in my life.  It also has been an amazing reminder that I get to spend the rest of my life with even more family members than before with Kam's family and mine now being forever interconnected.  

So I say, "Home is where my family is."

RSVP, Declined with regret...

24 days until my wedding and it hit me as I was counting RSVP's and getting frustrated at those that can't send a pre-addressed envelope back with their name and a check mark on it.  Two of the women in my life that used to talk about the day that "I would get married" won't be at my wedding.

To my Nanny and Grandma,

Nanny, you struggled and persevered through life.  You always wanted to see me in church.  You wanted to see God in my life.  Nanny, I am not only in church, I am part of a church that God used to change my life.  I have given my life to Christ, baptized at the beach and serve alongside God followers with a vision of 50 churches, 100,000 members and $150,000,000 to accomplish our goals.  We are going to change the world, one campus at a time.  And best yet Nanny, my husband is a God follower - a Christian man.

Gram, you always told me stories and made me laugh.  We went on amazing adventures that only women can go on together.  You shared stories of life and love and how you wanted me to be with the man of my dreams - and that he had to have a sense of humor.  Gram, I have found that man, and while you were able to meet him only once, he makes me laugh from the same core that you did.  Gram, "We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of oz..."

An Easter Experience

They say that you never know what you have until you don't have it any longer.  In June I moved to Destin for my job, and for the last ten months as I have been separated from my church, family, fiance and friends.  During this time, I would have to say that "they" are right - especially during the holidays.

Thanksgiving my mom and uncle came to me, Christmas my fiance flew in the day of so I wasn't alone, Easter I told my family to stay home.  What?  Am I crazy?  This has been the most different holiday experience for me, in more ways than one.  I feel a void not cooking with my mom and eating dinner with my family but guess what I did instead?  

Worked with FRC Pcola for the largest egg drop Pcola has ever seen, interacted with 5,000 people that for the most part didn't know about FRC until they came to the event, prayed and cheered for 17 people getting baptized at sunrise, greeted over 350 people coming into Easter service and walked to the front to support those that chose to accept Christ into their life for the first time.  

I have been so humbled this weekend.  I spent time with my church family and gave it all to Jesus this Easter.  

Beyond dedication we find love.

I'm beyond dedicated to Jesus, I love Him

I'm beyond dedicated to Kam, I love him

I'm beyond dedicated to my family, I love them 

I'm beyond dedicated to building God's kingdom, I love building it

I'm beyond dedicated to FRC's vision, I love running after it

I'm beyond dedicated to my job, I love what I do

Collaboration

I have had the amazing opportunity to collaborate with a team of talented God-driven people in the last couple of months while planning for Flamingo Road Church Pensacola.  It has pushed me into areas that I didn't know myself I could go and explore areas that I felt comfortable with on a whole new level.

Through my experiences in my 9-5 job, I have learned that you have to know your strengths and then surround yourself with people that are better than you in the areas that you lack in.  Not because you have a list of things that are impossible for you but because when you put people together that have strengths in many different areas you can collaborate to accomplish even more amazing things.

Oh imagine the places that we can go...

I Am So Proud!

I am just overwhelmed with how proud I am of my mom.  We have been members of Flamingo Road Church for 4 years now and it has changed our lives individually and as a family.  And while I have been so blessed to plug into so many areas, meet so many people, have all of this bring me to where I am in my walk with God and the right walk with my future husband - my mom has never found 'her spot' to plug in.

Well, she stepped out of her box and on to the path that God has carved just for her just one month ago.  She started a small group, in an area she felt was missing, and is now connecting other people on an amazing level with God.  It started at 3 people and in two weeks now 6 members.  She is answering His call, allowing Him to use her for His work on Earth.  And, when asked if this woman, that works harder than anyone I know, has time for this, she has answered - in Him, all is possible and all time needed is given.

I love you mom!

What Would You Do?

I am not sure if any of you have seen the show on abc, "What Would You Do?," but it has changed my perspective on life and the people in it. I have been struggling lately on figuring out just how I was going to blog about how important the diversity that surrounds us is, and tonight as I watch the show again, I realize this is it. As I watch this show as people stand and allow people to hurt others, to disrespect others, not to intervene when others are hurting, it causes a pain in my heart. Was I this way before I watched this eye opening, truly reality show? Did I always choose to love others?

So many times, when we are in situations that aren't comfortable for us, around people that are different than us, don't want to butt our nose into what we think is other people's business and we miss out on the richness of the life that those around us can bring. We miss out on the opportunity that God is giving us to serve. Step in, Step up and live the life that God has planned.

Don't Put God in a Box

Questions and conversation that revolve around the subject of 'what is next in my life' or 'what is my purpose' are abundant. Pastor Chris from our Flamingo Road Church Campus in Pensacola had an amazing service that hit me in my core this past weekend and I think covers a subject that many of us struggle with.

Know this: God has given you something and he has given you something unique. What has God put in your hand? What are you doing what what He has given you? We have to ask Him, open our eyes, ears and heart and allow Him to work through us. He can do more with what he put in your hand than you can ever imagine.

God is doing amazing things to get your attention.

The Best Valentine's EVER

My (almost) husband and I have a rule in our relationship - no surprises.  Last Thursday he felt that this was definitely a rule that was to be broken.  We had planned a trip to Gainesville (our half way point between Destin and Ft Lauderdale) for the last month.  Where we were staying, what I was going to do with the dog, blah blah blah.

On my way back to the office last Thursday night around 7:30pm to pick up something that I forgot, my husband poked his head out from around the corner of the hallway to surprise me with a Valentine's weekend here in Destin.

Maybe it was the surprise that was beyond all surprises, or the fact that he did the entire thing unselfishly and planned everything without one bit of my help but this was the most amazing weekend I have ever had.  I soaked in every bit of Kam this weekend, we ate up every second we had together.  I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with this man.  And, to see how good he is with surprises, check out this video that our security team was able to pull from the cameras in the hallway!

Just Me and Him

It was one of those unbelievably gorgeous days and I finally decided to not think twice about what I had to do in the house or for work and grabbed my bible, chair and dog and head out to the beach. I needed some major one on one time with God.

For two hours I read, prayed, listened, observed and opened up to God. I've been struggling with quite a bit, another big change in my life coming up in three months, and I am lost. Things that seemed defined are now undefined. Things that would never have happened, happened. Decisions I didn't have to make for a long time are now here. And, as I sat there with Him, focusing on Him and giving it up to Him, I realized that while I know that I need to give things to Him, I was trying to keep them under my control. It snuck up on me something fierce - didn't even know it was happening - but it did.

Thanks God for always being there, encouraging me to give it to You.

Be still, and know that I am God

It's Never Too Late

It is never too late to ask for forgiveness.  I was blown away on Friday when I watched the story of Elwin Wilson and John Lewis.  Over half a century ago, Wilson attacked Elwin, a freedom rider for Martin Luther King, while he was in a "white" waiting room in a South Carolina bus station.  Now Elwin is one of the most influential democrats in Congress.  Last week, Wison apologized.  

When Wilson was in church, he was asked "If you died today, do you know where you would go," and his answer to himself was, "hell."  So powerful a God moment in his life, he has been seeking out those that he has wronged to apologize. You can watch the story on this on abc.

This is an amazing example that we need to ask and give forgiveness.  Puts a lot of things into perspective.

Not everyone needs their 15 minutes

As I have watched the news in the last couple of days, one quote that I love has come to mind quite often. Don't want to call anyone out in particular, they know who they are...governers, women with 14 children, etc.

It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.

- Mark Twain

My Favorite Super Bowl Commercial

So, it is that time of year when amidst all of the economic struggles, some of the major consumer goods products invest $3 million for each 30 second commercial during the Super Bowl. Not to sell anything necessarily, just for a humorous branding promotion. Well, it works...here is my favorite one:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

The Man In My Life

I had a conversation with someone today and we were discussing when we found the most amazing men in our lives.  The ones that opened us up to who we were and who we could be.  While she shared how amazing the man that she is married to today is, and I often thought about my amazing husband to be, I couldn't help to be struck with who the most amazing man in my life truly was.

This is the man that accepted who I was, always holds true to the dream of who I can be.  Inspires me, forgives me and encourages me.  When I fall, he picks me up.  When I am running full speed, he is the ground I am running from.  He has taught me to be kind and to be honest.  He has opened my heart and my soul.  He has prepared me for the man I will be married to and He has prepared the man I am marrying.  He is with me wherever I am.  He is the almighty, all powerful, everywhere at one time God.

Thank you God for opening up the person that I can be and the person that I aspire to be for my entire life.  I live for you.  

Amazing Women

I met two amazing women last Thursday.  I use the word women because of who they are, in reality they are 15.  Kelly went through cancer at 10 years old and her friend, who also had cancer  stood by her side last week as she shared her story with 100 adults in a room.  People she didn't know, sharing her story for the first time for one purpose - to accelerate change.  To help others.  For every other reason besides herself.

Her parents stood proud across the room as this woman, their 15 year old child, spoke about cancer, treatment, how people treated her when she lost her hair, and most importantly, how she wants to grow up, be a doctor and console parents going through the same thing that her and her parents went through.

This woman has no idea the amazing strength that she holds, her parents told me that she is the most amazing person that they know.  They have come out individually and as a family deciding to be positive.  Deciding to affect others.  It was an amazing showing of strength and love and I am a better person just for being in the same room as these amazing women who have survived cancer and are wise beyond their years.

Change

Interesting quote I heard today...

If the change outside of you is happening faster than the change inside of you, you may be in trouble.

Dreams I Didn't Know I Have

If you have been following our current series at Flamingo Road Church, you have probably been thinking quite a bit about dreams.

I've started my journey of finding what God's dream for me.  Know, I have a LONG - life long - journey to take, but as this is a constant on my mind, I realized that while I am on the search for my dream some of the most amazing things I have ever done is to play a part in another's dream.

My mom's dream was to have children and now I can live my life upholding and reminding her of this wonderful dream she had, sharing my love and life with her.

50 churches.  100,000 members.  $150,000,000.  I signed my name on the stage at Flamingo Roach Church to be a part of the dream to helping others know, love and reach their God potential.  I will do anything for that dream!

What amazing dreams I am already part of.

Responsibility

Responsible, defined by dictionary as:

1. answerable or accountable, as for something within one's power, control or management 

2. involving accountability or responsibility 

My biggest pet peeve, giving someone all the tools they need to accomplish their responsibility and they don't do it anyway.  Got me thinking, what tools is God giving me that I am not using to accomplish what I am responsible for.  If that is my pet peeve, and it gets me fired up, I can only imagine how many times in my life that God could have gotten fired up at me but instead He gave me another chance.

Step one in my 2009 God dreams journey...give more people less of my fire and more of my chances.

Seek and you shall find

Do you want something?  Really, really badly?  For the last 8 months, I have seeked to find a local church.  Before I moved and after I got here.  Online and in church.  Driving and writing new church names down, looking into churches that others I know go to.  It has been on the tip of my tongue and the front of my mind.  Every weekend.

While I am a proud member of Flamingo Road Church and absolutely LOVE going to church online, I knew that I needed to find a local church and I was beginning to think that I might not find one.  But, the passion never ended and today I think that I have found one.  God is with me and was with me today as I stepped into an unconventional setting.  As every minute passed and it was more and more of what I was looking for I continued to pray 'please let this be it.'

Ask, be specific and pursue it.  Pursue God's will for your life and all that you need to fulfill it.