All The Single Ladies, All The Single Ladies.

All the single ladies, all the single ladies. 

{for the love of being single}.

I see you. I see you as you flip through your newsfeed, and sigh as yet another one of your friends is engaged. Yet another one of your married friends are having a baby. I feel your pain, I share in your longing. I understand the desires of your heart. Those dreams, deep inside of the most vulnerable parts of your soul.Those holy, pure and beautiful dreams. 

I hear your cry, in the dead of night, when you can't fight them any longer, and the emptiness of your bed is more then you can take. I know those angry and confused prayers that you finally break down and pray. I know the frustration. I know the feelings of rejection that comes and attack your identity. I know the hopelessness that sneaks in. I know the lies you hear. I know the insecurities that gnaw at you. Is there decent good men left out there? Let alone a righteous man of God. 

I know, because I'm right there beside you. Fighting the same fight. 

In a moment of hot, angry tears, fresh heartbreak, and major frustration. The elephant in the room came in the form of my unanswered question, and it just seemed to hang there. I wasn’t so sure I wanted the answer anyhow. Yet still, my heart asked for me.

“God, Why am I single?” 

So began my beautiful, eye opening journey of learning heavens perspective. 

Maybe the reason you are single is not because you’re “not pretty enough”. Maybe it’s not because you are “too much”. Maybe the reason you are single is not because you’re “fat”. Maybe it’s not because of any of the things you thought.

What if you find yourself single in this season of life because everything about you is amazing?

What if you are single right now because you have been called into glorious purpose?

What if the Lord is giving you this precious gift of time and freedom?

What if the King of kings set you apart for such a time as this?

What if there is something distinct about this season of singleness that the Lord is calling you into?

What if singleness is a vocation given by God, to be cherished, enjoyed, and to be faithful with?

What if singleness is a gift after all?

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13

Why getting married isn’t enough for me.

Why getting married isn’t enough for me.

I grew up with the dream of getting married, having babies and being a mom. I mean, my mom and my grandma married young, so I just assumed the same would happen for me. I thought that my calling in life was to be a wife and a mother. 

But when high school graduation rolled around, no perspective husbands were lurking about, and I failed to find any college majors in “mommy hood”.  

Since then, and I’ve grown in more ways then I could ever count, and I've learned a few things about myself. 

 It’s not enough for me in life to just be married.

Let me explain.

I believe that marriage and motherhood is the most beautiful and precious thing. I believe that it’s the Lords design, and it’s something I still want and desire. 

But thats not my life calling. 

This is my life calling:

“Inspiring and leading others into a life of intimacy

   with the Father where they will discover their 

         full potential, freedom, and adventure”.

My life’s calling is so much bigger then what I had deemed it to be. It’s about bringing His kingdom to earth, its about proclaiming His love, His freedom, His life, and who He says that we are! It is this calling that covers every aspect of my life. In singleness, in marriage, in motherhood. 

Marriage is such a temporary thing for here in this life.  As John Piper says

“Marriage is meant (marriage exists) to display the covenant between Christ and his church”. 

Yes, I still dream of being married. But I have bigger dreams for my life then to be married, just for the sake of being married. I dream of being a husband and wife team, on fire for the Lord together. Being as one mind and soul, doing crazy, radical things for His Kingdom here on earth.

But there are ways I can better display this convent as a single woman now, then a married woman ever could. for example;

“She will bear witness that relationships in Christ are more permanent and precious then relationships in families. If she can leave her family without bitterness and regret, and build into the family of  God and build into His kingdom, then she will find treasures better then she ever dreamed of and flower her womanhood in such amazing and unique ways beyond anything you've ever imagined. She also bears witness to the truth that marriage is temporary, and finally gives way in the end to the relationship that it was pointing to all along.” (My notes taken from the podcast “the ultimate meaning of true womanhood -John Piper).

 Marriage is not the main thing.

 It's momentary. 

Jesus Christ is forever.

My first two weeks in Georgia

My first two weeks in Georgia

Greetings from the land of sweet tea and peaches!

My first two weeks here have been a crazy ride! I had the amazing opportunity to drive down to Georgia with my mom. Bless her heart. If I wasn’t sleeping, I was talking. The whole way down. Going on and on, verbally processing all of my excitement. I moved into my new house. I explored my new city! I went on a crazy intense hiking trip for four days. (Still processing some things that happened there. Blog post on that coming soon!).

 I met all of these awesome people who are just as crazy as I am! I went to the Japanese festival.   We had unbelievable times of worship, where the Holy Spirit just came and blew our socks off. People’s bodies were healed by just being in the room! I got wrecked some more. I got visions of just being drenched, like with water, but it was all the love of Jesus, all over me. Soaking into every conner of my body, spirit and soul. I’m entering into this new season with hands wide open, ready to receive all that Abba has for me.

My time here with CGA (Center for Global Action) is broken down into three main components: Apprenticeship, Discipleship, and Community.

I have been placed in the “Short term missions” department for my apprenticeship! This department of AIM (Adventures in missions) is responsible for any of our mission trips under a month long. I will be working here four half days per week! 

I have a personal disciple-er, (is that a word? It is now). named Betty. Who is also my house mentor.! I am really excited to be able to live with her, as she is the most beautiful and amazing woman, set on fire for the Kingdom!

Speaking of my house, we call it “The Nest”.  I share it with four awesome women, Betty, Lacey, Kellie, and Tayo! We had our first family dinner last night! These women are awesome. I am so blessed. 

Under both community and discipleship is my “Track” of study. I am in the “Worship track” Here one of their goals is to teach us how to cultivate a lifestyle of worship to our King. Our first gathering as a track was on Tuesday. We spend a gooooood long time laying hands on one another, praying awesome, big prayers, speaking words over each other. It was so life giving. There are no words to describe it.

Today we had our first classes. We’ll have two courses of study, and we’ll meet once a week. One of the classes I will be taking is all about discovering the calling of God in your life. We get one on one discipleship, along with some really, really awesome material to dig into. I cannot wait. Our other class is titled “Dangerous Jesus”. It’s challenging. It’s uncomfortable. It’s powerful. It’s truth. I’m pumped! 

I’m still in need of $3,200 for my funding in order to be here. I’d ask if you’d  join my ministry team! In prayer first of all. I need lots. :) If your able to donate financially? Awesome! You're an answer to lots of prayer. To learn about all the different ways you can give, click here: Donations for Brook

I’m ready to grow.

To be stretched.

To be challenged.

To fail forward.

To dive fully into what the lord has for me here.

To step outside of my comfort zone… Way out.

I’m ready to dwell at the feet Jesus.

Get ready world. Cause here I come.

I'm packing for Indiana…What?!

I'm packing for Indiana…What?! 

I kept waking up in the middle of the night.

 This isn't normal for me. When the lights are out, so is Brook. See ya in the morning!  

But it kept happening night after night...

I know that my God is faithful. I know that he can provide. 

 But I was getting overwhelmed. Fundraising for CGA was starting to stress me out. 

But these feelings crept back in ever so slowly, I didn't ever realize that they were there.

Then one night I woke up at 3am, and my brains first reaction was to panic, stress, and try to figure out how I was going to get this accomplished.

But I refused. 

I gave it to God.

Then I immediately fell back into a peaceful sleep.

That following day, I got a text from an unknown number. 

Long story short, a family friend offered me a job.

But not just any job. She is literally making this job up for me. (What?!)

And she's invited me to stay in the guest room of her home, to stay with her and her family, in Indiana. 

As a means to raise some money for my discipleship program at CGA. 

She is one of the most amazing women that I have ever had the honor of knowing,

and I am so excited for the time that I'll be spending with her. 

She has been more then an angel about everything already, and I haven't even gotten there yet!

So, as the kingdom kid that I am. I quit my other job early, and I'm packing up, and moving on down!

This is the most unbelievable offer to me. My mind is blown (again). All glory to Jesus… 

He made this crazy big dreamer, yet he just loves to open up the floodgates of heaven, and bless me with things better then I could have ever imagined!   

The plan for now is two weeks down there, and we'll see from there.

 I leave Sunday afternoon!

So there is the quick update on my crazy good life. Stay tuned for more to come!

Blessings!

-Brookie

  Kingdom kid.

But Jesus, I really like luke.

But Jesus, I really like Luke.

My life was going great. Or so I thought.

 I was enrolled in a photography school where was excelling, I was working my butt off at four different jobs. But I was totally okay with that because "you gotta work hard for your dreams" I'd tell myself when my 4:45am alarm would go off. I was blessed with really awesome friends, and I had a wonderful family. Life was good. 

Then He came along. I had known him all my life. My entire family loved him. I loved him. But he wasn't content with our relationship being the way it was.  

He wanted more. 

I wasn't so sure.  

He began this all out pursuit of me anyways. Inviting me to spend time with him. To talk with him. I'd spend time with him when it was convenient for me, but I was was working four jobs after all, spare time was something I didn't really have. So I'd squeeze him in here and there.

 He began to romance me. He kept up the pursuit. Instead of begining to slack off, he actually stepped it up. But I knew what he wanted, and I wasn't ready to give that to him. I was comfortable. I was busy enough to get through the days without much thought of this pursuit of my heart. But in those quiet moments before drifting off to sleep, I couldn't avoid thinking about it.

Jesus was pursuing me. 

He wanted my whole heart.

 He wanted my EVERYTHING.

 But that was really scary. That would require giving up my control.

 I grew up in the church, in a loving christian home. I really did love Jesus. I really did want him to guide me… as long as it was in the general direction I was heading anyways, with an extra blessing or two thrown in there.  

I was lukewarm. And I was okay with that. 

But I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more.

I was here, and Jesus was over there. On the other side of my comfortable. On the other side of this lukewarm spirit that I had allowed myself to slip into. 

He was there, beaconing me to come to him. 

I loved Jesus.

 But I wasn't In love with him. 

And I learned that there was a BIG difference in the two. 

So I gave him my heart. All of it. It didn't happen over night, and its still something that I have to be disciplined in daily. But I am SO glad that I did. He began this new work in me. It was uncomfortable, awkward and down right painful sometimes. But its one of the best things I have ever done in my life.

I am so beyond thankful for Jesus' relentless pursuit of me. I am so humbled and grateful for his abounding, steadfast, fulfilling love. I am so thankful he pulled me out of the funk of "lukewarm-ness" Because let me tell you, there is SO MUCH LIFE waiting for you at the other side of this! We were created to do miraculous, inspiring things in this life! We were created to be fully fulfilled, fully satisfied, radical, loving lives, through Jesus Christ. Reject the lie that this lukewarm spirit is ok! It is soooo not okay!  

"So because you are lukewarm -  neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth"

-Jesus (Revelation 3:16)

Are you in love with Jesus?

I mean passionate, adventurous, soul quenching, spirit over-flowing love.

 Or do you find yourself on the other side of things with this thing called lukewarm plaguing you? 

Seriously, examine your hearts. 

Because this is a big deal.

 Reject the lie that says that its not. 

Thats not from God. 

Here are 17 signs that you are lukewarm. 

- from Francis Chan's book "Crazy Love" (read it) - 

1. Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do, so they go. Isaiah 29:13

2. Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so, After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right? 1 Chronicles 21:24, Luke 21:1-4

3. Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives. Luke 6:26, Revelation 3:1, Matthew 23:5-7 4.

4: Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one. John 10:10, Romans 6:1-2.

5. Lukewarm people are moved by stories of people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for “extreme” Christians, not average ones. Lukewarm people call “radical” what Jesus expected of all His followers. James 1:22, James 4:17, Matthew 21:28-31

6. Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion. Matthew 10:32-33

7. Lukewarm people gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren’t as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street. Luke 18:11-12

8. Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives, their money, and their thoughts, but he isn’t allowed to control their lives. Luke 9:57-62

9. Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn’t really possible for the average person; its only for pastors and missionaries and radicals. Matthew 22:37-38

10. Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love for others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is a little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, who kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached. Matthew 5:43-47, Luke 14:12-14

11. Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give. Luke 18:21-25

12. Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today’s to-do list, this week’s schedule, and next month’s vacation. Rarely, if ever do they intently consider the life to come. Philippians 3:18-20

13. Lukewarm people are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor. Matthew 25:34, 40, Isaiah 58:6-7

14. Lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare minimum, to be “good enough” without requiring too much of them. 1 Chronicles 29:14, Matthew 13:44-46

15. Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them sacrificing and risking for God. Matthew 10:28

16. Lukewarm people feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America.

17. Luke warm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don’t have to trust God if something unexpected happens-they have their savings account. They don’t need God to help them—they have their retirement plan in place. They don’t genuinely seek out what life God would have them live—they have life figured and mapped out. They don’t depend on God on a daily basis-their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn’t look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God. Luke 12:16-21

18. Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Matthew 23:25-28, Luke 14:34-35

                                              Are you lukewarm?