Christians in Camo

I recently found myself at a Guns N Roses concert. My husband has been a fan for years, but he has never managed to make it to see them in concert. His birthday was just around the corner and I knew it was something he had always wanted to do. They happened to be coming to our area so I purchased some tickets to surprise him. To say the least he was pumped!!



Just for the record.. he is completely spoiled rotten!


I really had no idea what I was getting into, I'm more a Toby Mac/Jamie Grace kinda girl. All and all I had a pretty good time. Not my cup of tea but glad I went in the end.


For those of you who don't know me very well or my story I made the choice over 3 years ago to give up alcohol. It was a good choice for me and one I felt called to do. I do struggle still from time to time with this but it is few and far between. The night of the concert was one where I questioned myself and my boundaries.


When we got the the concert we got in line to get drinks before we found our seats. I usually will have a energy drink in situations like this one, I don't know why, it's just what I've done and it has worked for me. When we got up there to order, they said they were out of what I wanted.


So we went on to the next stand.... same thing. out.


We went to 2 or 3 more stands and same answer... out. out. out.


Wow! As if it wasn't already enough of a struggle to just choose something other the very enticing swirly strawberry lime margarita!


When the last concession stand worker told me "were out" I asked my husband what he thought about me ordering the swirly "pretty" drink??


He said "do what you want to do, but I think it's a bad idea." We went back and forth for awhile and I said at least three times, "I can have just one .. I know I can. "


He stuck to his guns saying the same thing. "not a good idea." I got stressed out so I told him let's go find our seat, I wanted to think about it and not be so impulsive. So we did. We sat down and I heard God tell me that he called me to be the light in the dark. I knew THEN I was NOT ordering a "pretty" drink.

God began to ask me to look around me, I looked at hundreds and hundreds of people. There was so many people. God continued to speak to me so clearly, He began to tell me many of them believed in him and where saved, born again Christians. He then asked me to look again and tell which ones are which?? Who was for him and who was against him...?


80% of them were double fisting their drink of choice, hooping and hollering. Cussing and yelling.  Some were sneaking up to get a better seat that they didn't pay for. I saw some people sitting close to me that were obviously on drugs. People sweating through their shirts from head banging. People with hands up yelling "we love you" @ the band.  People who were jumping for 3 hours solid to every last beat.


All and all it was interesting.


Know as I describe this I am not judging. This is exactly what I saw. God was just softly opening my eyes to what he sees.. He wasn't missing a beat. The love and compassion I felt as I looked around was not of this world. It could only be God. It was Awesome! I actually found myself wholeheartedly praying for many of the people in my eye shot through much of the concert.


See, you can have "church" anywhere. We are to BE the church!


God told me if I had picked up that drink I would have been camouflaging myself.


Are you in camo? Maybe just in certain places???


He said if I had that drink I would be like temporarily "cloaking" myself on darkness.


He just kept saying I have called you to be the light in a dark world.


Ps, He has called YOU to be the light in a dark world!


What are you cloaking yourself in?? Are you a "Christian" in church and then cuss like a sailor on the other side of those doors? Do you cloak yourself in gossip, or casual sex outside of marriage or little white lies?? I believe most of us  have more then 1 cloak... we have like 5 or 10 ... maybe more!! We put different ones on for different people and different places. I challenge you to go to your secret stash and hand each one of them over to God. Get real with God and yourself. Ask Him what it is in you holding on to all the different capes and cloaks...He wants you to have 1.


Yep, I said 1. (I didn't say this was easy, it isn't, and it takes time)


This is what it means to be Genuine. Real. True. Honest


He wants you to be the same all the time. In church, at work, and on vacation far away from home.


Who are you...? really.


My flesh wanted that pink and green drink! My spirit was telling me quietly, oh soo quietly to resist the temptation. My flesh was screaming and yelling throwing an all and all temper tantram to order that pretty drink because "EVERYBODY" else had one. The most important thing to remember in those types of situations is that the inner voice that seems to be the hardest to hear is the usually the one to follow. Whatever is screaming at you is the lie. Satan will do his best to get you going around that same mountain again!


I "felt" like I stuck out like a sore thumb @ that concert. I also once again almost bought the lie that I wouldn't have as much fun as everyone else. He always likes to pull out ol' trusty, the "fun" card.


(I had more fun because I remember it and didn't have to hug the toilet, and I don't have any drunkin' regrets! Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about either! you know! just sayin') ;)


On our way home the next day as I was thinking about it again. God told me that this whole ordeal happened because he wanted me to write my next blog and call it "Christians in Camo". It still amazes me how willing He is to use me.. me!??? A been there-done that, normal, everyday mom, friend, and wife. Who I might add still has soooo far to go! But, like Joyce Meyer said.... "I may not be where I need to be, but Thank God I'm not where I used to be!!"


I am thankful. I am thankful I can pass on his wisdom to you. What a blessing!!


This conversation brings me back to this song..


This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine.
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on it's stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before men that they may see your deeds and praise your Father in heaven. -Matthew 5:14-16

Dear Lord, show us what it means to be genuine and true. Teach us Father to love you with our whole hearts and hand over all of our extra cloaks. Lord,  I don't want to be stagnant in my walk with you, but ever moving forward. Even when it hurts to change, I want to be the kind of woman who presses past the pain and into all you've called me too! Let the Zeal for your house consume me like your word says in Psalm 69:9. I pray for all who read this to find themselves "cleaning out their closets" in the very near future. In Jesus name, Amen.

it's been paid

Got an email not too long ago from my good friend Dee. She has a prison ministry for women in the Austin area. She had recently been contacted by a lady named Monica who was newly out of the system. Monica had been being taken care of by her boyfriend but he walked out the door when the going got tuff! She was left broke, alone, and with little hope.



Monica is a new believer and is really seeking a new life. Many times when these ladies are released from prison they have nowhere to go but back to their old ways, old habits and old life. Most of these ladies were raised in a home where stealing, drugs and hate is apart of normal everyday life. Usually the people/friends/family that are waiting for them on the other side are still using drugs, prostituting and dealing. So you can imagine how difficult it would be to get out and start a whole new life. It is very hard for these ladies to get a job many times due to there past. Many of them want to change and have a better life, but the world makes it very hard for them to get out and have a fresh start


When people turn to Christ in prison and start to walk out their faith, they begin to change. Change their thoughts and actions. Change their wants and desires. Change their hopes and dreams.


Where will they go? Who will help them? Who will support them? Who will comfort them?


I Thank God for my friend and so many like her who love these women with the Love of Christ! God has Dee connected and plugged into all the right places. She has been invited to teach classes in prison on how to hear God's voice and has also on many occasions been able to wait at the gate as ladies come out for the first time a free woman! God is really working in prison ministry! Many lives being transformed!


Back to the email, it came in with the subject- "i need your help!"


As I read it I learned of Monica and a little of her current situation. I was asked to help in any way possible to pitch in on a $245.00 fee/payment Monica had coming up asap. If she didn't have it paid by the next day at noon she would be headed back to jail! I felt lead to give and forward the email to some friends and family.


The next morning another updated email came in at 8am. It was letting me know that $95 in donations had come in. So that meant that we had 4 hours to raise $140 or my new sister in Christ would be headed right back to the big house at Christmas! I prayed and sent out a facebook post with my email asking for help from anyone who felt lead. Within 10 minutes I had 2 calls from friends who said they were wanting to help. The office that was taking the payment opened at 9am. By 9:30 am both of my friends were able to get through and each paid half!!


IT WAS PAID!!


When I got the email that it had been paid, God immediately told me that not only had the $245 been paid but that Monica had been "paid" for!! He wanted me to let her know that she was paid for by the blood of Christ!!


One of my favorite parts of this while ordeal was that the lady taking the phone calls and payment over the phone said what a real blessing it had been for her watching this unfold. She said she had never seen anything like it!


Amazing!


For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ - Matthew 25: 35-40


Dear heavenly Father, Thank you for your presence and for reminding us that "it's been paid". I pray for Dee and all the women who are involved in prison ministries around the world. I thank you for allowing me to be a small part in such a wonderful event! Open our eyes Lord to see that there are many ways to help a hurting world. I pray for each and every single person sleeping in a prison cell tonight.. Guide them to you Father, soften their hearts to hear your voice, free them from family bondage, heal them from past wounds and fill them with peace and joy right where they are. In Jesus precious precious name. Amen


Remember this season that thanks to that sweet and perfect baby boy who was born on Christmas day ALL your sins have been paid for! Every single one... great and small!


Psalms 103:12, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us