wondering if God gave you the short straw.

Sometimes it's easy to look at circumstances in our life (crummy job situations, crummy relationship situations, crummy debt, crummy health, etc etc etc) and wonder “did God just ask everyone to draw straws and I got the short one?!”

in case you didn't know, God doesn't carry around a batch of straws in His pocket; ready to spring them on us and make us draw one at a moment's notice.

God isn't out to “get us”. He isn't out to make us feel forgotten. He isn't out to cause us pain. He doesn't cause chaos and watch us squirm.

If anyone felt like he got the short-end-of-the-deal, it would be David who could win that award. He was the youngest son, he was the smallest son and he was chosen to deliver snacks to his big brothers while THEY fought the raging war. David probably felt like he was constantly having to prove himself. He probably wondered when he'd catch a break. When it'd be his turn.

If David would have gotten frustrated every time he felt he was proving himself 

or every time things were hard or every time he faced something frustrating;

 he would have never made it to a defining moment in his life.

In Samuel 16, God puts it on Samuel's heart to go and anoint a man. A future king. He goes to look among a local man's strong, able sons.

“ Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too. When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!”But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:5-7)

Samuel went searching through 7 sons, and none were the ones the Lord had sent him for; but rather the youngest was chosen.

 The one who was working as a shepherd of sheep.

 A song writer to a crowd of wandering animals.

“So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.” So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on.” (verses 12-13)

the Lord looks at the heart. Keep your heart right when you face frustrating, disheartening, weary situations; it's your heart that the Lord is looking at when He comes to anoint you and set you on a wild adventure.

Jesus is a gentleman.

Often (if not most of the time) I blog about when Jesus challenges me or brings me to examine something in my life or heart. (like David's prayer "examine my heart O Lord") 

Today though I'd like to share something short and simple: Jesus is a gentleman.

In John 4, Jesus crosses paths  with a Samaritan woman 

at a well and they begin discussing what 

is generally discussed at a well: WATER.

During the course of the conversation 

of living water(thirst quenching)

 vs. tap water(temporary fullfillment),

Jesus tells the woman "Go, call your husband and come back"  (verse 16)

Jesus knew that she didn't have a husband, that in fact she was a woman who had had several husbands and was currently sleeping with a man whom she wasn't married to. Jesus knew this and yet He was still being a gentleman. He could have called her out right then & there, but true to his character and His nature, He waited for her to tell Him that she didn't have a husband.

It can be easy to forget how compassionate,

kind, thoughtful and gentle God is

during the course of the daily walk; it's much

easier to see how He challenges, stretches and prunes us.

so here's a reminder for today: Jesus is a gentleman.

how are YOU going to show that side of Jesus to people around you today?

God doesn't gossip.

"were your ears buzzing yesterday? because we were talking about you!"


God causes our ears to buzz or "tingle" but that's not because He's a gossip. He's revealing something to you. to me.


Ever woken up and felt like reality smacked you in the face, gave you a wedgie and then splashed ice-cold water in your face?  That was me on Monday. I woke up and it suddenly became oh-so-real that my lease is up on July 31st, the Grad program I want to go into is shut down until further notice and I don't have a long term career or prospect at this moment.  My Dad was encouraging me to think about what I wanted to do with my life, to think about what I was created to do. what was Mary Catherine created specifically to fill that only she can? "some need in the world that you are uniquely positioned to me" (steven furtick, sun stand still)


I immediately felt like I didn't know. I felt like my dreams as a little girl pretending to give a 'Best New Artist' interview to Entertainment Tonight or my college dreams of being a Motivational Speaker with a Masters in I/O Psychology were null-and-void.

"your vision will probably flow from something

 you're already doing--relationships you've already established,

 priorities you're already passionate about" (steven furtick)

I've mentioned before that when I get anxious or stressed I run around like a chicken with my head cut off and am unable to hear from the Lord in the midst of my melodramatic wailing sessions, so He decided to wake me up at 4:35 Tuesday morning and beckon me to spend time with Him.  I picked up where I left off in my current ready, Sun Stand Still (By Steven Furtick) and then felt led to read the story of when Samuel heard from the Lord in the middle of the night.

Like Samuel, the Lord has often tried to speak to me and I get confused or think I'm hearing things (" ' my son' Eli said, ' I did not call you, go back and lie down' " 1 Samuel 3:6)  But when Samuel finally responds to the Lord ( " 'speak Lord for your servant is listening' so Samuel went and lay down in his place" verse 9) the Lord gave Samuel (and myself) a very distinct way to identify when the Lord is speaking to us, especially when He is trying to tell us of things to come.... tingle.

"See I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears

of everyone who hears of it tingle"

1Samuel 3:11

What is it that the Lord is causing

my ears to tingle about?

What need around me gets me excited

and causes me to bravely think

I was designed to meet it?

In the course of my day, what am I passionate about?

"if the dream in your heart isn't biblically based,

focused on Jesus,

affirmed by the key people in your life,

tethered to your passions, gifts and life experiences,

chances are,

you're way off prompt"

(steven furtick)

 I don't have an answer for you right now, but I am what I am doing is actively listening for the tingle....