Comfy, lazy, do nothin' -kinda day!

I LOVE lazy days. You know the days when you stay in your comfy clothes, drink a pot of coffee, and snuggle under a blanket all day? Those days are even better when it's a little cold outside, maybe even raining and when the house is stocked with snacks! I treated myself to one of those days last week. I didn't worry about the dishes, the laundry, and didn't even glance at my never ending "To- Do" list.  My idea of a comfy, lazy, do nothin'- kinda day still includes feeding, changing diapers, and lots of other things. So, I made sure that I maximized my doing "nothingness" as much as possible. I really enjoyed it and admit that I was pretty good at it.

The next day rolled around and I was tempted to give myself another one of those comfy, lazy, do nothin'- kinda days. I deserved it right? Maybe I did. Maybe I didn't. After a few minutes of debating what to do, I decided to pass on the comfy, lazy, do nothin'- kinda day and got moving. As I was getting ready for my day, a thought came to me. And, yes... a BLOG was inspired.

How often do we prefer the comfy, lazy, do nothin' kinda life over the risky, crazy, do all we can do- kinda life? How often do we look forward to the "weekends" and wish the week away? Where our mornings are spent complaining about going into the office and our evenings spent complaining about how much time our ministry has consumed? We daydream about the days where we can sit around, drink coffee, read our devotion, and just be lazy. But that's not the life we were meant to live. We were created to live extravagantly! You can not experience an abundant life while pursuing the safe, boring, self indulging life that we have convinced ourselves we deserve. Please, don't get me wrong, I believe we all deserve "me time, family time and vacation time;" but these should serve as moments of refreshing, not become our life's focus.

The truth is, is that there is much work to be done. And although it sounds good, we can't accomplish these things being comfy. This extravagant life you desire comes with a price tag. When we ask to be used by God, we will often feel like we are being used. It will cause us to be uncomfortable. We will be stretched. Our faith will be challenged. But our dreams will come true. Our hearts' desires will come to pass. Our life's purpose will be lived out.

So drink your coffee on the go, put on your running shoes, and together, let's live a risky, crazy, do all we can do- kinda life!
I.DARE.YOU.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 

                                                                                                                                                         -2 Timothy 4:6

"Can't Touch This"

Have you ever just busted out into song? Well, it seems like I do just about every few hours. My girls absolutely love music and they seem to love my singing... or maybe it's because I don't ever seem to sing the traditional lullabies or songs like "The Wheels on the Bus." Instead, I find myself singing songs by JLO, Train, Hillsong and this morning it was MC Hammer!

Everyone knows the song, "Can't Touch This," and now, my girls do to. It's such a fun song to sing, but only when you dance like a crazy person while doing so. I think I just figured out why my girls seem to enjoy their momma's singing so much... it really is my dance moves.

As I was singing this song, a thought came to mind. How often have I sang this song to God? How often have I told Him what He can and can't have control over? I trust Him with my marriage, my children, my finances and even enough to move across the country with two newborn babies! But I have a hard time trusting Him with my failures. I have always been a pretty competitive person, someone who doesn't like to lose. So, failing isn't easy for me. I consider myself a risk taker and someone who lives life on the edge, but I don't like the thought of failing. It's the season right after the step of faith that I take that I seem to tell God, "Can't touch this!" 

When we first arrived in sunny Southern California, I was so excited about the new season we were walking in. God had told us to pack up our things and head to California, and that is what we did. As we began to settle in and make this new season our life, I began to get anxious. I immediately started trying to figure it all out. Little by little, I started taking back what I had already handed over to God. Each time, feeling more and more out of control. We had done what He asked, we had been obedient, but He wasn't moving fast enough for me. I began to worry about everything. I mean, everything!! All of a sudden my great expectations of this new season became clouded with worry and doubt. I didn't want this BIG leap of faith to result in a failure.

After doing all that I thought I should do, like making "to-do" lists and writing out a plan for our life, I did what I was supposed to do, and prayed. It was an honest prayer and I received an honest answer. "The area in your life that you continue to withhold from me, is the place I will go and hide myself in, so when you look for me, there you will find me."  God hides himself right where you don't want Him to be, so, that when you  look for Him, you will find Him!!! 

What area are you having a hard time trusting God? What area in your life are you singing, "Can't Touch This" ? Whatever it is, know that the longer you withhold it from Him the more opportunities He will give you to hand it over. His desire for you is to trust Him with all of you... not just part of you. Because when He has all of you, you will walk in ALL that He has for you!

TRUTH: 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
      do not depend on your own understanding.
  Seek his will in all you do,
      and he will show you which path to take.

                                         PROVERBS 3:5-6 NLT

"What's next ,Papa?" - Why moving back to Cali was just crazy!

My girls will be four months old tomorrow! Can you believe it? I know I can't. It seems like just yesterday that they made their entrance to the world. I am so, so in love and absolutely LOVING being a mommy. They are always smiling, laughing and talking non stop. My most favorite times are in the morning, when they great me with a HUGE smile. I don't think I have had a bad day for over a month. I mean, how can you, when you start your day off smiling at your promises. They are beautiful and take my breath away every time I look at them. Since I find myself starring at them all day, I am not too sure how many breaths I have taken in four months. :)

Speaking of mornings, as I was reading God's word, I came across this scripture.

       This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave- tending life.

It's ADVENTUROUSLY expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's spirit touches our spirit and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us- an incredible inheritance!- Romans 8:15-17 MSG

As most of you know, we recently moved back to California after living in North Carolina for four years. Contrary to what most think, moving back to California was harder than our move to NC. When BJ and I moved to North Carolina, we were newlyweds and were so excited about the ministry opportunity we were offered, we didn't have much time to think about how BIG of a move we were actually making. Moving back to California after building a marriage and starting a family in NC was a different story...it was crazy!

When we were pregnant, we felt as though we were supposed to drop everything, pick up, and move ourselves and our newborn twins across the country to serve at the Los Angeles Dream Center. Crazy? Exactly! I remember telling God that we would be obedient to what He was asking us to do if He provided a few things before. We wanted some guarentees. I mean, we had two newborns; wouldn't He want us to do the responsible thing and make sure we had a few things lined up before making a committment like that? 

Our entire marriage has been a crazy adventure filled with crazy decisions we have made in order to be obedient to God. But this time it wasn't just BJ and Sarah that we were thinking about. We know we could go without food (FASTING) but we weren't sure how long Brooklyn & Kennedi could LOL. Joking and a little serious all at the same time haha. We found our conversations with one another about the girls' future and how we had to make a responsible decision. People warned us of how children would change our life and change our decision making process. In fact, people would tell us how we wouldn't be able to do everything we ever wanted to do because of children. I remember BJ and I disagreeing with their statements and even hoping for the chance to prove them wrong. Well, here was our chance. It was harder than we thought... until we asked ourselves the right question. What was/is more important to us... providing for our children a "safe/risk free" environment or raising our children to be risk takers always looking to God asking, "What's next, PaPa?" Yes, we want our children to have all they need and even things they want, but it's far more important to us that they live a life trusting and believing God. That is the inheritance we want to leave them!

So, we booked a UHAUL, found an apartment, and denied the chance to extend our lease that day! We were reminded that our God was not just the God of BJ and Sarah, but was the God of Kennedi & Brooklyn too! And just as He has always taken care of the both of us, He was going to take care of them too! We understand the GREAT responsibility we have as parents to these girls, but we understand even more so the GREAT responsibility we have as children of God. 

God has provided everything we have needed to make this HUGE leap of faith possible and we are certain He will continue! What's next for you? What has God been asking you to do? What crazy move are you supposed to make? Maybe it's not moving 3,000 miles with newborn babies. Maybe it is! Whatever it is... do it!

Life as We Know It

I love these girls with all of me... My life has been forever changed... In fact as I grabbed my coffee and began to type, my oldest daughter (by one minute) Kennedi Ila Johnson, started squirming and needed me to change her diaper. I was glad too.. having a healthy little girl who needs my attention makes my heart overflow with joy. I still can not believe she is mine...still can't believe THEY are mine. Brooklyn Elysse Johnson is sound asleep on her BOPPY, which she loves! Ok, now Kennedi wants to eat..didn't I just feed her? I think I did, but these days they do a lot of that. So feeding her is what I'll do, then little sister will probably want to eat too, so I will continue this BLOG in a few hours or even a few days. However long it takes me to finish it, I'm ok with that...I have two great excuses!

*******************24 hours, 16 feedings, 20 diapers, endless kisses and hugs later****************

I cant not believe it has been 8 weeks since I gave birth to two perfectly healthy little girls. I remember like it was just yesterday that my water broke. In fact, about 4 hours before my water broke, BJ and I were talking about 2011 and talking about what we felt it was going to be for our family. As we talked, God lead us to a scripture we have heard many times, but this time I read it in the MESSAGE translation... Here is what it says...

"Forget about what's happened;
   don't keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new.
   It's bursting out! Don't you see it?
There it is! I'm making a road through the desert,
   rivers in the badlands.

Isaiah 43 MSG 

4 hours before I went into labor, this is the scripture we read and declared for our family for 2011. Wow! Many of you have kept up with our journey this past year through my blog...so you know that it hasn't been the easiest year for us as a family. We have been through a lot of ups and downs, highs and lows. In fact, a year ago today, we were pregnant with our first pregnancy where we lost the baby...that was a low... a few months later, that April, we found out we were pregnant...with TWINS...that was a high... I would have to say that there have been more trials than victories in 2010. It was a year filled with uncertainty, heart break, isolation... it was our wilderness. We were ready for a fresh year, a new start, and we embraced that scripture, believing God was going to do something new! And He did... about 15 hours later, two PROMISES came true... On December 30th, I gave birth to TWO healthy little girls. But God didn't wait for the big apple to drop in New York, He brought me my promises at the end of the hardest year of my life. 

On the way to the hospital, I was asked God, why He was choosing to give me these babies so soon? I was only 34 1/2 weeks pregnant and the doctors told us that the ideal week to labor with twins is 36 weeks...so I had some time...it was as though He was right in that car with me, I heard Him say, " Sarah, I am doing a NEW thing in you and BJ, but I am not willing for you to believe that everything you have endured this past year was in vain. This past year was simply the process to your PROMISE and instead of considering this year your worst year yet, you will know it as the BEST year of your life for as long as you live!" I was speechless and yet so full of words, as BJ and I were filming the drive to the hospital, wanting document every moment of this amazing experience.

A few hours later, the doctor let me know that one of the babies, Baby B, (Brooklyn) was no longer head down and that unless she turned we would not be able to deliver her naturally. Another factor was, I was not dilated... my cervix was completely closed. We had our heart set on a natural delivery but after talking with the doctors we felt it was in the best to deliver via C Section. The nurse said to me in that moment, "Sarah, you are doing the right thing, if you were to decide to attempt a natural delivery, we would give you medication to INCREASE the amount and the intensity of your contractions. In order for your body to labor, it must experience pain." 

uh HELLO!!! That spoke right to me. Pain is the very thing that causes us to labor and deliver the promises of God that are inside of us! Our bodies respond to pain by preparing a vessel to deliver. In the same way, God allows pain and trials in our life to prepare a vessel where His promises can come to pass.I don't know what pain you are enduring, what trials you are walking through, but know they are not meant to break you, but position you. God's promises to us will come to pass. They came to pass for me. And although my body did not labor, my body experienced a BURSTING OUT!!! I love how the middle of that scripture in Isaiah says, "it is bursting out." It makes me laugh knowing that the NEW thing that God did that day literally bursted out of me... twice! 

My cervix never dilated, which tells me that my body was not ready to "labor." The doctors explained that there were a lot of women who went into labor that morning because of their water breaking due to the change in the " barometric pressure."Before and during a storm it actually "tugs" or creates a suction on the amniotic sac and can persuade it to rupture. It had snowed the days leading up to that day and because of it there was a change in pressure which caused me to go into labor early.  Although my body wasn't ready to labor, God was ready for some things to come bursting out in my life. What pressures are you facing today? What things are you praying about that you want God to step in and pull out of you? Whatever it is, do not avoid the pressure that you are feeling, instead embrace it. 

 That evening, I gave birth to two healthy baby girls! There was absolutely nothing wrong or premature about them. In fact, the doctors went on and on about how impressed they were with their health. I owe that all to God. He knew what He was doing when He allowed me to deliver my girls almost 6 weeks before their due date. For He was doing something new in me! My life has not been the same since... and it will never be. My heart is full. I am so glad I chose to TRUST Him through this process. I am so glad  I didn't have to know what I know now then in order to trust Him with all of me....

BJ always says, "What God does in the natural, God does in the supernatural." I believe the Lord spoke to me through this process of pregnancy to demonstrate how He works and operates in our lives. He has my best in mind...He has your best in mind... 

           Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
                   don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
   he's the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all.
   Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
   your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
   give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
   your wine vats will brim over.

Proverbs 3:5-8MSG

                                      

"Jesus Loves Me This I know, The Bible Tells Me So!"

I As a young girl, I remember singing the song, "Jesus Loves Me." I am sure most of you can remember singing it too! For those of you who haven't heard the song before it goes a lil' something like this... As a matter of fact, let's sing it together! Come on, don't be shy... let's sing it aloud!

                                                    Jesus loves me this I know

                                                    For the Bible tells me so

                                                    Little ones to Him belong

                                                   They are weak, but He is strong

                                                   Yes Jesus loves me, Yes Jesus loves me

                                                   Yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so

I feel like it was just yesterday that I was sitting in Sunday School class belting out the lyrics to that song. The crazy thing about it was, I meant every word. There was no doubt in my mind that Jesus loved me, you want to know why? Because the Bible told me so. No one had to convince me, no one had to force me to believe that what I was declaring was true. But you know, over the years there have been times where I have questioned God's love for me. I am sure you have too. Whether He has not worked out a situation the way you thought He should, if you have lost a loved one, if He didn't answer a prayer the way you hoped He would. Whatever the circumstance, there are times where we might find ourselves doubting God's love for us.

Over the past six months I have to say that my belief and faith in God's love for me has been tried by circumstances and situations that I have walked through, but, they have only made my love for God stronger as I have began to grasp just how great His love for me truly is.  A few months back, BJ and I were laying in bed getting ready to go to sleep, and like most nights we began talking about our day, our future and about things on our mind. As we were laying there I asked him, "Babe, why do you think God allowed us to lose our first baby? Why do you think God called us out of a comfortable season to bring us to a difficult season? Why do you think He decided to bless us with twins in the most uncertain time of our life? Without any hesitation, BJ replied, " Because He loves us!"

Because He loves us! Because He loves us, He will allow us to go through tough times. Because He loves us, He will be silent in times where we think He should speak. Because He loves us, He will correct us and expose things we need to fix in our lives. Because He loves us, He will not let us get out of the wilderness prematurely. Because He loves us, He will never stop pursuing us. Because He loves us, He will always have our best in mind. Because He loves us.

Jesus loves YOU this I know...the Bible tells me so!

"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."- Ephesians 3:18,19


"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."- John 3:16

"For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."
- Psalms 100:5

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
- Romans 5:8

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love"- 1 John 4:16

But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children- Psalms 103:17













 

"I Love Your Journey"

I was talking to my best friend Alyssa on the phone the other day and as I was in the middle of telling her about my "not so normal day," she blurted out, "Sarah, I LOVE YOUR JOURNEY!" It caught me off guard because nothing about my day sounded interesting or exciting enough for her to tell me that she loved my journey. She continued by telling me how my life has inspired her in so many ways. Tears rolled down my face and I was speechless. I had just spent the past few minutes telling her about a tutoring position I picked up for some extra money and how BJ had just passed his "server test" at Olive Garden and how he had been up the night before studying the ingredients that go into Chicken Marsala... nothing about this update was inspiring to me. In fact, it had made me weary and a bit embarrassed (if i could be honest). After all, we are a married couple who has twins on the way. We should have our dream jobs and dream house by now...shouldn't we?


As I sat on the other side of the phone, Alyssa said two words that seemed to be louder than any other word she used when talking about my journey and the effect it has had on her life. She said OBEDIENCE and RISK. 


I realized in that moment that my journey, my life had been a summary of steps of OBEDIENCE and RISK! And unlike sacrifice, when we chose to be obedient, we are simply choosing to act on what God is speaking to us regardless of the pay off. You see, when we are obedient we don't always see the reward right away. When we sacrifice food when fasting, we usually see an immediate reward, answer prayer, etc. But it is much different when it comes to obedience. 


Mark Batterson, in his book, "Wild Goose Chase" says, "sometimes the will of God is IRRESPONSIBLE." I love that statement because it really helps me understand the season I am in... and not only that, but it excites me to know that the uncertainties and the craziness is only a mere result of being in the will of God. Mark Batterson goes on to say , " We feel something is wrong when we experience circumstantial uncertainty, but circumstantial uncertainty goes by another name.... ADVENTURE!" 

When Alyssa made that statement to me it was like a light bulb went on in my spirit. You and I are on a great adventure filled with seasons, moments, jobs, situations, that don't always make sense; but when we understand that this life God has chosen for us to walk in is confusing and complicated at times, we will be able to enjoy the journey rather than curse it. 

I embrace this season not because it is my end result, but because it is a part of my journey, it is a part of my story. In these seasons we grow, we learn, and we gather our weapons that will make us ready for the next. I am so glad my life isn't a cookie cutter, boring life, but instead is filled with uncertainty...filled with adventure! I love my journey too, and today I hope that my honesty has helped you get excited about yours. I know that those who choose to walk in obedience no matter what it looks like, and those who choose to TRUST God in the uncertain times, will truly live the life they were meant to live. 

Let's be risk takers, let's step out and trust God in a new way...let's be people that are willing to walk in the fullness of our purpose and destiny no matter what!!


I love my journey...and I love YOUR journey too!

You Know You Are Pregnant When...

We are 17 1/2 weeks pregnant and I am finally starting to show, or should I say, my belly finally looks like I have babies in it rather than just too much nachos & junk food! My first trimester was not at all what I expected. I was so tired all the time and had a constant nausea. Thankfully, I have not thrown up! But it has been so different than I pictured in my mind. I guess I always imagined being pregnant as a time you always have the "glow" inside and out? I mean, after all, there is life inside of you and it is the most exciting time of your life right? Well, the other day I was laying down and  daydreaming about our babies, our future and getting excited about our life. I began to think about the past 17 weeks and how I had experienced great days, sad days, days where I felt pregnant, days where I felt fat, days where everything made me laugh, and days that everything made me cry. I discovered just how fascinating and detailed being pregnant and preparing for life truly is. I started to see a pattern between my physical babies and my spiritual babies, my children and my dreams.

BJ has always said, "what God does in the natural he also does in the supernatural." I thought about that while I was laying down and God began to show me the parallel between what He is birthing in my naturally and what He is birthing in me supernaturally. So, maybe you are not pregnant with twins like me, but I know that God is conceiving dreams, purposes, visions, inside of you that are in a process of being birthed. 

When I first had a thought that I was pregnant, I went to a website entitled, "You Know You Are Pregnant When." It had a listing of symptoms that if you had been experiencing, the chances of you being pregnant were likely. It also went on to talk about the early stages of pregnancy, and just how important and critical it was to take care of your body if you were in fact pregnant.


So, if you have any of these symptoms, the chances that you are pregnant, spiritually is likely!


1.) You are being STRETCHED- Are you in an uncomfortable season? Are you feeling like you are being stretched in ways you didn't think you could? Well, being stretched is a critical part of pregnancy... you need ROOM for your dreams to grow! 


2.) You are feeling FATIGUED- Are you feeling so excited about your future, your dreams that you feel stuck and unable to move? Are you feeling like you are having a hard time being motivated to pursue the things inside of you? Resting is an essential part of pregnancy, it is your quiet place where God can speak to you! 


3.) You are feeling IMPATIENT- Are you on a countdown to see what you have dreamed about come to pass? The process of your dream is essential. Dreams who go full term do NOT need to be sustained by other things and resources, but are healthy and fully developed. Going to the doctor today and starting to push is NOT the best thing for your dream...enjoy the process!!!


4.) You are feeling EMOTIONAL- Are your emotions all over the place? Not only are you changing spiritually, but you are changing mentally. Your old mind sets, ways of thinking must change in order for you to fully embrace your future. Don't view this as a negative thing, but rather what is necessary for you to sift out what is God, what is not! If you are feeling insecure in yourself or your dream, remember just because you can't always feel a kick doesn't mean you are not pregnant. TRUST!


5.) You are experiencing CRAVINGS- Often times your body begins to crave things you are lacking. What are you craving? As you prepare to birth what is inside of you, it is important that you fuel yourself with HEALTHY things as well as raise your caloric intake "spiritual intake" in order to nourish your dream. What worked before will not work in this season! 


* CAUTION* If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, your chances of being pregnant are likely. Being pregnant with a God dream will not always feel awesome and amazing, but there is a necessary process you must go through in order to see your dreams birthed healthy, secure, not lacking anything! Seek Him, have confidence in what he has spoken, don't remove yourself from uncomfortable situations, and most of all be EXCITED....because you are PREGNANT!!!


"Your dreams are your offspring."- Jentezen Franklin