Terrible Twos.

Our girls will be 3 this December. I still can not believe they're that big already. Time sure is flying! Although it makes this mama a bit sad knowing they are not little babies we swaddle each night, it brings me so much joy seeing them develop, learn and grown each and everyday. Whenever people see this baby bump of mine-which is very large by the way, and I mention that I have two year old twins, they look at me with a such sympathy. I usually laugh. We have all heard of terrible twos- we like to refer to them as terrific twos, even though not every day is, terrific!

Terrible Twos.

Parenting two girls who are two going on thirteen can have its fair share of challenges. My girls know what they want, how they want it, when they want it and they are not afraid to let us know when something isn't going their way. They are very passionate, out spoken, determined little girls. I still wonder who they get that from? (wink, wink)

Terrific Twos.

I like to think that terrible twos are a result of little humans, we call toddlers, trying to grow into their big personalities. What's happening inside of them is way bigger than their little bodies can handle. They want to do things on their own-like take a bath, brush their teeth and even drive our car (true story). But their little bodies and lack of experience prevent them from being independent. Whether they think so or not, they still need mommy and daddy!

Frustrated.

I think I am going through my own version of terrible twos, or ' terrific twos', as I like to call it. There are so many dreams, and desires inside of me, that are way bigger than my little mind can handle. I so desperately want to not only see those things happen, but make those things happen, that I can become quite frustrated when I realize that I am not as independent as I'd like to be.

The dreams that I have for my life are way bigger than me, dreams that can only come from the assistance and help from God. I have learned over the years that in His hands things just work better. But, it doesn't make times when He closes a door, waits to act or even doesn't respond in the way I would like him to any easier.

Grown Up Tantrum.

This week in particular, I threw a tantrum! It seemed like so many things I thought were in my reach were not as close as I would like. Things that I was hoping would happen, weren't looking like they were going to happen- and I was frustrated. In the middle of my tantrum, I had a BLOG moment.

I was frustrated because rather than believing IN the right person, I was focused on believing FOR the right thing. Instead of putting my confidence IN God, I was putting my confidence IN my situation.

My girls do this all the time! Instead of trusting IN mommy to do the right thing for them, they are hoping/wanting FOR a specific thing. They are too young to understand that I will always do what is best for them, even if it means not allowing something to happen.

Don't Lose Your Confidence.

My confidence was depleted and I felt so overwhelmed until I realized that as long as my hope and confidence is IN Jesus, I always win. When I put my trust and hope in WHAT I am believing Him for, I will sometimes come up disappointed.

Bringing It Home.

Maybe you are like me, and you have been believing FOR something very specific, whether in your family, your finances, your kids or your home. Turn your attention to the ONE who will always do things for your best. When we realize that our hope is in the hands of the one who created the heavens and the earth, we can rest easy, knowing that all things work out for our good!

Every week I highlight a TRUTH about you, your life, or about a situation you may be facing and then I DARE you to believe it.



Here is this week's TRUTH or DARE.


TRUTH: 
“I don’t think the way you think.
The way you work isn’t the way I work.”
God’s Decree.
“For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
not come back empty-handed.
They’ll do the work I sent them to do,
they’ll complete the assignment I gave them."
- Isaiah 55:8-9


DARE: 
Put your hope IN Jesus, not your situation.

Moving Day. Smoving Day.

If you have been around the Johnson's for a long time, you know that we like to move! Or at least that's what it may seem. This past weekend we moved to a new place. It is located in a great place and a lot more convenient for everything we do! Moving is never fun, especially when you are pregnant. I am not the kind of person who can sit around and let people do the work-I always have to be doing something. I know, I know, I should be milking every ounce of this pregnancy and should have been relaxing while the rest moved our family of four to our new place. But, that is just not me. I took it easier than I would, but none the less, I worked hard getting everything out of one place and in to the next!

Moving Day. 

This move was probably one of the harder moves- we have two toddler girls who require a lot of attention, we both work full time jobs, we pastor a church launch and have other responsibilities that we have to continue to do whilst moving. While packing, feeding my kids dinner, doing laundry, cleaning up dog pee (something he never does, but I'm guessing not feeding him for two days had something to do with it), packing the girls lunch for the next day, prepping for our upcoming events for church, I had a meltdown- a BLOG moment.

My Thoughts.

In that moment, I felt so alone and felt like BJ and I were doing this thing all alone. I felt like we were carrying the weight of the world on our backs and no one was around to help! How could this be? We are surrounded by amazing people, who at the drop of a hat, serve our family and church so well and so willingly!

In a matter of 10 minutes, my mind went on a crazy adventure. I came to the conclusion that no one wanted to help us! I questioned if we had friends, if we had people who are in our corner. The list goes on and on!

Ask. Seek. Knock.

In the midst of these crazy, conclusions, the scripture, "You have not because you ask not" came to me! It was like a broken record, as I heard this scripture over and over and over until it dawned on me- I had not even asked a single person for help! Not one! Of course we were doing this alone, we had created that reality. Of course no one was around to help. How could they? I had not even asked for their help. If I almost forgot it was moving weekend, I am almost certain that they did too.

How could I expect or desire people to do something that I had not even given them an opportunity to do? Wow! How many times have I done this? Surely it was not my first rodeo at doing things without asking for help. Sigh!

Opportunity. 

How many of us have done this? We assume that people are going to do certain things or act a certain way towards us and yet we have not given them a fair chance! We put unfair expectations on them, resulting in disappointment and frustration. Sometimes I catch myself expecting others to act in way based on how I would act. How unfair is that? BJ and I have always been people who seek opportunities to lighten someones load. I think it is a gift that God has given us. We often see holes and areas where we can bring solution.

But not everyone is wired that way. Especially when you have people like us, who have a hard time asking people for help. We don't pretend to know how to do it all or that we have it all together, but just like we find great joy helping lighten someone else's load, we never want to be the ' load givers.' 

Help!

I immediately called on a handful of people and simply asked for help. You would not believe it, they all said yes without a single hesitation. In moments, I had the help I had so desperately wished would magically appear. They made the move so much easier! 

You and I are not meant to do things alone, nor are we are commissioned to save the world in a single day by our own efforts. Instead, God has strategically placed people in our lives to help us accomplish all that He has called us to- even when doing something as annoying as moving.

Nothing New.

One of the enemy's tactics is to convince us of realities that are not true. He often does this by the way of assumption- we all know what they say when we assume! When we assume certain things or draw up our own conclusions, it will ultimately result in offense. When we carry offense, we live a life not reflecting our true reality. 

Think about Eve- the serpent posed a question she had not yet heard/thought about before. He made her question God's intentions towards her. She assumed that God had not given her his best, when in reality He had given her all that she needed! Rather than seeing what she possessed, she focused on what she 'lacked.' This 'offense' led to sin, and the rest is now history! 

You are not alone. You are not broke. You are not hopeless. You are not lacking. 

Bringing It Home. 

When you are tempted to believe the lies of the enemy, rather than sulk in them, do something about it. If you're doing life alone, be friendly and make friends! If you are feeling like you are hopeless, seek out people who are hopeful! If you are feeling like you are moving your entire family without help, ask for help! 

TRUTH:

 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened- 

Matthew 7:7,8.

DARE: Don't assume the worst, but instead, assume the best!

One Year.

Exactly one year ago, we arrived in South Florida to begin our new journey! We arrived with so much excitement, uncertainties, hesitation and expectation! Florida is known as the "Sunshine State" and let's just say- it gave us a very different welcome. It poured down rain for 2 weeks straight upon our arrival! Moving boxes in and out of a moving truck was extra difficult, as our items were soaked, some even damaged in the process.

Blind Move.

We had made a 'blind' move if you will to our new home in Florida. We had some friends come check out our new apartment community and surrounding neighborhood prior to us moving; based on their comments, we felt it was a great place to land. Well, we were wrong! Our apartment community was a nice area to be in, during the times the sun was out! Once the sun went down, it was a whole different story. So, we packed up back up and headed to a different city in South Florida.

In a matter of 6 days we had already lived in two cities! Anything and everything that could have gone wrong during these first few weeks here went wrong! When I say everything, I mean it, everything!

Everything Is Different.

Just a few weeks prior to moving to South Florida, one of our biggest investors had to rescind their offer to us, creating a need for us to find full time jobs upon our arrival. So, in the midst of finding a place to live, we were also on the job hunt! Good times!!!


I don't know if you have ever moved to a different city or state, but if you have, you understand how everything about your new city seems SO much different than what you are used to. All of a sudden you catch yourself comparing every Starbucks experience, grocery store trip and even the way people drive to what you are used to. For some reason, you predict that what you are used to is "the way it should be." This feeling only makes you frustrated and vulnerable.

Going Back.

It was tough, and there were plenty of moments where I considered going back! I remember being on the phone with BJ one night- He was loading up our U-Haul truck for the second time while I was sitting at a restaurant with the girls. I told him that I wanted to go back, that I didn't want to be here any longer and that somehow we must have "missed it!" How can so many things go so wrong if you believe what you are doing is so right? Surely we had missed it!

He listened, took a minute to respond, and then asked a simple question that changed everything. "What will we do when we go back?" I fished for words, but couldn't find any. I didn't have a strategy plan or even a clue. Going back wasn't an option, not now, not ever.

Victories In Hardships.

In the midst of great challenges there were victories that served as grace to our crazy, new life here in Florida. Our team, including us, found full time jobs in a matter of days, we found the perfect apartment community, city and place to land and call home.

After unpacking our things and deciding that we weren't going back, we began getting to know our new city! We like to say, we began romancing the city-exploring new places to eat, meeting new people and most of all discovering the needs of South Florida.

Romance The City.

We've never wanted to come here with a cookie cutter, already thought out strategic plan to win South Florida for Jesus, but instead we knew that as we made this place home, God would show us how we can bring resolve to so many of this regions problems.

We've established community here through what we call City Groups and have served a local, low income neighborhood through Adopt A Block every Saturday morning. We have adopted a family for Christmas, partnered with local charities and organizations who have served South Florida, as well as met some incredible pastors and churches here who have given their lives to serving this place we call home.

Daring Adventure.

It has been an incredible journey! By incredible, I mean it has been the most rewarding, most challenging thing I have ever done in my life. There have been times when we have felt like everything is stacked up against us, times we have felt so alone and times we have felt so uncertain about our days ahead, but, in all those moments, God has proven himself faithful.

I have learned that the will of God for our lives is the most uncertain, daring, crazy adventure you will ever be on. I have learned that God is not concerned with making us comfortable, but instead, making us dangerous. So many people give up too soon, retreat and choose the safe route instead of the road less traveled.

Dangerous.

I don't pretend to know everything, but what I do know, is that God is searching for people who are willing to stick it out, willing to look at adversity and challenges square in the eye and face them! He is looking to do miracles through us! We can't be a part of the miracle if we are not positioned for one!

Before we moved 3,000 miles across the country God spoke to me so clearly. He gave me some foresight of my season to come.


"It is not going to be anything like the way you see it, but I promise, it will be everything you ever hoped it would be."


This one statement has been grace to me in this season and for every season that is to come. It has not looked like anything I have ever imagined it would be, but it has been everything I have ever hoped it would be. I'm thankful that we didn't give up, throw in the towel or go back!



Cheers to another year of adventure!





TRUTH:      "You held me down, but I got up

                      Already brushing off the dust

                      You hear my voice, you hear that sound

                      Like thunder gonna shake the ground

                      You held me down, but I got up

                      Get ready cause I’ve had enough"



DARE: Don't give up, give in or turn back. Be dangerous!