Baby Steps

It starts right here. Right where I am. If I'm constantly waiting for the perfect conditions I'll be waiting FOREVER. It's a message that we've all heard a million times, but how often do we apply it? Especially in our relationships with Christ. It seems that at every level we find a way to excuse a stall. "God I'm too dirty to save. How could you ever love me?" "God I know that you want all of my life, but do I have to hand this part over? Because I really enjoy it." "God I know that you called me to serve, but I don't feel 'righteous' enough to tell people how to get to know you."

I promise I am not mocking the phrases. I have uttered them a few times myself, and the trouble is that they aren't even lies. They may all be true but there is a bigger truth. It may change your life so make sure that you are ready to read it. Here it goes...it doesn't matter.

He knows you, he's known you, before you came to him, before you knew him, before you were even born. He knew every mistake you would make, every lie you would tell and who you would tell them to and he sent his son to die for you anyway. He loves you and that's it. Period. There is nothing you can do to change it so you might as well get used to it. And all he wants in return is for you to trust him with your life, your whole life. I will go on record as saying that he is the most trustworthy friend that you will ever have. And he's patient, so you don't even have to do everything at once, but if you take the first step he will meet you.

Remember, "you don't have to be a seminary graduate to pray and read the Bible, or a prophet to hear from God, or a specialist to minister to hurting people. To do great things for God, be faithful in the little ones." - from The Word for you Today Daily Devotional

Live blessed,
Ina

Something New

It's peeping through your window like the first ray of dawn. Like rain on a warm day you can smell its approach. It is almost close enough for you to touch. On your side; breathless anticipation. On the other; a still small voice whispers "see I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do not you perceive it?" You smile back in confirmation, you know its almost here. Each moment prepares you more and more for its arrival. You don't have to see it yet, you sense it. And the strength of each of your senses enhances your faith. No one else perceives it. They all think that your aim is too high, but you know better. You close your eyes, open your heart and hands, and receive...

To: The Follower's of Jesus Girl, With Love

I can't tell you how inspiring it is to come to the site and see more and more people following the blog, or to do a show and have friends come up to me after and tell me how much this blog is blessing their lives. It makes me feel humbled. Here's why...

When I first came up with the idea for Jesus Girl, it seemed so immense. It was one of those dreams like wanting to put on a concert at Carnegie Hall. Yeah it sounds great, but is anybody gonna show up? And you did. You are, and I need you to know how much your support means. Sometimes we do a small thing forget all about it, and then realize later that it was the one stone that completed the whole house. Each of you is a stone in the house that is Jesus Girl, and I am so grateful to each of you for believing in my vision with me.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Waiting for Superman

I just saw "Waiting for Superman" tonight. A documentary directed by Davis Guggenheim. AMAZING! Every teacher, parent, principal, student, and concerned citizen needs to see this film. I saw so much of my own experience with public schools revealed, and watched as the myths about education in suburbia and inner city schools were challenged. I left inspired and ready to make a change, no matter how small. The film forces you to look at the future of this country if we continue to rob our children of what they deserve, simply because it makes us as taxpayers, teachers, and adults feel comfortable.

The movie opens in Atlanta on October 8th and I will not only be attending, I plan to bring as many people with me as I can. I encourage you to do the same. Visit the link below and find out when it opens in your area. Please support this film, because even if you don't agree with everything that is said, it is the beginning of a conversation that we must have: why doesn't our system work, and how do we make it work?

Take a moment to visit the link and watch the trailer.

http://film.waitingforsuperman.com

See you at the theater...

Mark the Moment

Mark my words and remember the moment. That felt like what my teacher and friend Dawn Axam was saying to me tonight. She had just seen me perform for the first time in several months, and she wanted to make sure that I understood the significance of my growth. First off, I would like to encourage everyone reading this to keep good honest friends in your life for as long as you can. They will help keep you on track, and warn you when you are getting off track. They are the best kind of friend and the most essential part of a life of greatness. At any rate, our conversation felt like such an important moment, that I knew I wanted to remember the weight and scent of it, so I am writing this...reminder.

I think we forget to do that. We have friends and family around us insisting that "it's not that deep." But what if it is? What if we miss key moments in our lives all the time because we allow them to breeze past us without ever giving them any real thought.

With that said, I intend to embrace my inner Abraham and believe God's promise, by way of Ms. Axam's prophecy, and I am treating this entry as a milestone to the moment when I received God's greatness for my life. PLEASE feel free to use it as yours, and mark the moment.

Trip Lee "Invasion"

So, this link was just emailed to me. I opened it unassumingly, and instantly became a Trip Lee fan. Not just because the music is good, but because it has a good and divine purpose.
I believe that when we find people or organizations that are representing the name of Christ with eloquence and professionalism it is imperative that we support and uplift them so that the standard for greatness will continually be raised. We want to be iron sharpening iron. With that said, this video, "Invasion" is my favorite kind of entertainment, the kind that is fun enough to catch the ear and eye, and poignant enough to catch the heart. I LIKE! Hope you do to. Watch, vote, share.

Watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7piEIaJvIo

Vote:
http://www.bet.com/OnTV/BETShows/106andpark/106_Vote_Poll.htm">http://www.bet.com/OnTV/BETShows/106andpark/106_Vote_Poll.htm

Remembering 6

I had forgotten. How to hope, or how to hope in a God so big that nothing is impossible. I forgot to be six. I was so busy growing up that I forgot the most essential part of growing up is to not grow bitter. But I just caught a glimpse, of what it was like to sit in one place and loose track of the time, and even forget where I am because I was dreaming so hard. I missed that, and I think I realize that all it takes to go back there is surrender. Ah, surrender, every American adults favorite word.
Let's face it everything in our adult life is about control. That's all planning really is, an attempt at control, and I'm not saying that I think that its a bad thing. I know that it is important to plan, but there has to be balance. Not knowing doesn't have to be as scary as we make it. It's kind of the best part, especially if you assume that every change, every detour, every setback is ultimately a good thing. That they are all arrows pointing you to something greater.
So I've decided to embrace my inner six year old again and allow myself to embrace an impossible vision. One that God will get all the glory from because people will see it and know that there is no way that it could have happened without Him.