These are the words that I was singing over and over last week with 230 young children and lots and lots of volunteers like myself! 2024 marked my third year in a row to be a part of Bayside OC Church’s ‘BREAKAWAY’ Kids Camp for Pre-K through fifth graders. And we truly “BREAKAWAY!”

We break away from the mundane, the boring and the status quo! We plunge head on into loving one another, side-by-side, shoulder to shoulder, as we sing, dance, throw water balloons at each other, give our best attempt at crafts and most of all, learn about how much God loves each and every one of us! 

We “BREAKAWAY,” to revel in and love one another with the pure, unashamed, love of our great God!

Sure, it can be exhausting as you wake up at the crack of dawn to be up and out extra early and be ready to receive those beautiful faces running at you, full to the brim with energy. But more so, it’s also refreshing as you “BREAKAWAY,” to spend the hour before eating breakfast with, having a devotion with, laughing with and praying with like-minded servants of God! 

Sure, it may cost you a week of work or vacation time or saying no to other things.

But it also renews your spirit as you “BREAKAWAY,” and raise your hands and move your feet and sing as loud as you want(because no one can hear you over the voices of rambunctious children), as you praise your great God!

Sure, it can leave you a bit more sore and tired as you have used your body up and down, up and down to tie loose shoelaces, to wipe popsicle drippings off of faces, and to move rapidly from station to station. But it also restores your mind and spirit as you “BREAKAWAY,” and put into practice “Loving one another with the love of Jesus!”

“WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US!”   I JOHN 4:19

God drew me anew this week to I JOHN chapter 4. It speaks of what we need to be careful of and NOT DO, as Christ followers, and then it speaks of what we are TO DO, as Christ followers!

“BREAKING AWAY” from our routines and schedules, and to-do lists can be difficult to nearly impossible! We tend to hold on tightly with both fist clamped to the control of our schedules! But I believe that 1 John chapter 4 is telling us that we also need to “BREAKAWAY” from our routines and practice loving Jesus and loving others!

When we do truly BREAKAWAY and give ourselves to Jesus we find that we are restored, refreshed, and renewed in Him!

TRUTH BOMB

TO TRULY BE RESTORED, REFRESHED, AND RENEWED, WE MUST BREAKAWAY TO JESUS!

What is it that you need to “BREAKAWAY” from, to BREAKAWAY to Jesus?

I PROMISE YOU IT’S WORTH IT!

Speak Truth Love

“This is how we walk, how we walk on water…one foot in front of the other!

He’s never gonna let you go under, just put one foot in front of the other!”

Sometimes I am feeling overwhelmed!

Life is great! God is clearly in control and blessing and then BAM! Life punches you in the gut again.

It takes your breath away.

It hands you a pile of difficult to impossible tasks to accomplish.

You want to run, you want to hide, you want to fall into bed, pull the covers up over your head and hibernate like a bear in winter.

With the faintest whisper, too quiet to hear, you ask God for help! 

The next thing you know you are dancing and singing alongside 200 kids at Kids Camp and His words come clearly to you as you sing the camp song and dance along!

“Just put one foot in front of the other!”

Just say one prayer, one after the other!

Just serve one person, one after the other!

Just love one person today, one after the other!

Just make one phone call, one after the other!

Just trust God with this one thing, one after the other!

Just rely on God’s Word, one word after the other!

This is how we keep from sinking. 

This is how we keep moving forward!

This is how we walk on water! 

We trust Jesus, we keep our eyes on Him, and we will never go under!

I cling to this promise from God:

“But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:1-3

God is so faithful and true to answer our every prayer! Those spoken out loud or those uttered with barely an audible breath.

The key is…are we listening to His reply?

If we listen to the Lord, and put one foot in front of the other in obedience, He will keep our head above water and He will show us the way through! 

Walking on water with Jesus is not a “Relax, I’m on vacation,” mentality.

Instead, walking on water with Jesus is reaching up, taking His hand and walking, putting one foot in front of the other, one moment and day at a time, as you take on life’s problems, issues, responsibilities and trials!

He is the lifter of our heads and He will lift us up and NEVER LET US GO UNDER!

TRUTH BOMB

Walking on water is trusting in Jesus, every step of the way!

Speak Truth Love

“God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”   1 Corinthians 1:9 (NCV)

I am not writing my Blog today solo. Rather, it is a duet as Jim and I both are singing God’s praises!

“Our God is an awesome God; He reigns from Heaven above, with wisdom, power and love, our God is an awesome God!”  

This duet is the praise song that keeps rolling off our lips as we stand in awe at our faithful God!

Week 6 of our faith-filled journey in following God in, but didn’t know specifically what He was leading us to, has now come to fruition. 

Last night, the Elders at Summit Christian Church called Jim to a meeting and officially asked him to be their next Lead Pastor! This offer was the final affirmation from God in our faith journey in following our faithful God! Three weeks earlier, also on a Monday, I received a call from the Elementary Principal offering me a contract to join their team as a 5th grade teacher this school year. In six weeks, since arriving back in Southern California, God has faithfully led and directed us to His next places of ministry for us!  

We are in awe of our amazing God, and we praise Him for every faithful step of this journey. God desires for us to have His best. I have always believed in God’s best!  To follow God in spite of hardships, clinging to Romans 8:28–“God causes all things to work together for the good of those love God and are called according to his purposes“–requires trusting Him when it isn’t all mapped out for us.

A wise friend said to me, “You cannot live God’s best and still control the outcome.” Getting God’s best requires us to let go of the controls, and let God steer our ship, AKA, the direction we go. 

This is not an easy way to live, but it is the only way to experience God’s best!

TRUTH BOMB

When we let God write our life script, then we are living God’s best!

Friends, there is so much freedom in letting go of preconceptions, interpretations, and expectations. We let our faithful God write our life script instead of us.

We give God all the glory for His faithfulness to us in this journey He has had us on! And now we pray that we will be found faithful to Him, and He will equip us to accomplish His purposes in this next phase of our life script!

To Him be the glory!

Speak Truth Love

Revived and Restored!

God’s presence + God’s creation + God’s blessings = revival and restoration!

“Be still and know that I am God…”  Psalm 46:10

God’s Presence:

In order to receive God’s presence, we must be willing to be still.

A week at the beach. The wisest choice I could have made was to take a break from the busyness and step into some time to be still. 

“Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord.”  Psalm 148:4

God’s creation:

Spending a week in God’s creation at the beach brought refreshment, not just to my spirit but also to my physical body!

“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.”  Psalm 113:3

God’s blessings:

Spending time with God, and giving Him the glory for our most precious blessings brings revival to mind, body, and spirit!

“Children (and their children) are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.”  Psalm 127:3

Giving God the glory for his greatest blessings in our life, and spending time in his creation brings true revival and joy!

After putting these three things into practice in my 4th week in following God faithfully back to Southern California, I am revived and restored!

TRUTH BOMB

As exhausting as life can be, God is always the true source of our soul restoration. 

Speak Truth Love

Sometimes, the biggest step of faith is trusting God and taking a break!

In our few short weeks back in Southern California, God has continued to show up BIG TIME! He has demonstrated His faithfulness as we continue to step out in faith!  

I cannot wait to give God all the glory and share with you all that He has done!

But that time has not yet come!

The step of faith that I want to share about today came to me as somewhat of a surprise.

I was on the phone talking with a special friend of mine who has known me for over 40 years. As I was sharing the past four weeks with her, I heard myself repeating, “DONE, DONE, DONE!” 

I heard the words, but didn’t quite feel the impact.

At the end of our conversation, as I was asking my friend to pray for all these things, she demonstrated her faithfulness and wisdom when she replied, “ I will pray for all these things, but my prayer for you this week is going to be that you rest from “DOING,” and enjoy God’s blessings!”

It is not easy for me to,

“Be still and know that He is God.”

Psalm 46:10

Although, God has been faithful time after time to bless me as I have practice His presence in this way!

That very day we went to the beach. My heart and mind and soul was captivated once again by the magnificence of God‘s creation! 

The ocean waves roll in and out, the seagulls fly with beautiful precision, and the sand warms my feet from underneath! 

I breathe in a fresh awareness of all God has DONE!

TRUTH BOMB

AS WE BREATHE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD HIS SPIRIT FILLS US AND HIS FAITHFULNESS IS EVIDENT.

Everywhere our eyes turn we see the hand of God. 

He has created the whole world!

He has created us and HE IS FAITHFUL!

“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof,the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.” 

Psalm 24:1-2

I pray for you, as my wonderful friend prayed for me, that you are able to rest from all the “doing” and open your eyes and breathe in all that God has done!

Speak Truth Love

Speechless.

I have no words! For me, that is a BIG deal!

I literally love talking! I love, sharing, listening, speaking, and being heard! 

For crying out loud, words are my

Love Language! That means that I not only love giving words, I also love receiving them! It is the way I most feel loved and most feel like I am giving love!

Truly, my favorite thing in all the world is talking to God!

Today, the day I write my blog, I AM SPEECHLESS! I have no words!

We are continuing to ‘Move Forward In Faith With Our Faithful God’, and the steps are leaving me speechless at the moment!

SPENT, I think that’s what I am?

You know when you go to the store with a set amount of money and you shop until it is SPENT! 

You have no more! It is gone! You reached the end of it and it is finished!

You’re not mad, you’re not upset, you’ve just reached the end and it’s time to go home!

Today, I reached the end and it was time for me to go “HOME!”  

My true, “HOME” where I find rest, peace, love, acceptance, and restoration, no matter my geography, standing or stability! God is my HOME!

He is there waiting for me when I have words or when I don’t! And when I am speechless and have no words, He gives me plenty! His Word is full of them and it is where I must run when I have no words of my own left!

This week, week three, I have learned that God is faithful to give us His Words even when we are SPEECHLESS!

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:1

“All my longings lie open before you, Lord;my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart pounds, my strength fails me;even the light has gone from my eyes.” 

Psalm 38:9-10

“I waited patiently for the Lord;he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit,out of the mud and mire;he set my feet on a rockand gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth,a hymn of praise to our God.Many will see and fear the Lordand put their trust in him.”Psalm 40:1-2

“Be merciful to me, my God,for my enemies are in hot pursuit;all day long they press their attack. My adversaries pursue me all day long;in their pride many are attacking me. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.What can mere mortals do to me?” Psalm 56:1-2

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;his love endures forever. When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper.I look in triumph on my enemies.”

Psalm 108: 1-3

TRUTH BOMB

WHEN WE ARE SPENT AND SPEECHLESS GOD’S WORDS SPEAK LOUD AND CLEAR!

Speak Truth Love

Week 2!

Nothing Stays The Same.

CHANGE! 

That seems to be the mantra of our lives right now!

I go to bed thinking, “What do I have to change?”

I wake up thinking, “What do I have to change?”

CHANGE THE CHURCH YOU GO TO!

CHANGE THE JOB YOU WORK AT!

CHANGE YOUR DOCTOR!

CHANGE YOUR DENTIST!

CHANGE THE BRANCH YOU BANK AT!

Those are just some of the biggies.

What about…

CHANGE who cuts my hair!

CHANGE where I take my dry cleaning!

CHANGE the gym where you have your membership!

CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS!

Have you ever received one of these forms?

I have filled out two of these in a little over a year’s time. Almost one year to the exact day from the other!

In that time, it has been an absolute walk of FAITH.

Praying for God‘s timing!

Praying for God‘s direction!

Praying for God to open doors!

Praying for God to close doors!

Praying for God to lead, guide, and direct our every step!

Praying for CHANGE!

As He called us to step out in faith and move forward with HIM that brought CHANGE, CHANGE, CHANGE!

I found my self screaming out, “Will I ever go to bed or wake up without a list running through my mind of what I have to CHANGE?” 

And the answer came clearly back…

You don’t need the things of this world to stay the same, stop changing, because I NEVER CHANGE!

“JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER!”

Hebrews 13:8

No matter how many CHANGES we go through, or how many CHANGES, JESUS CHRIST NEVER CHANGES!

JESUS CHRIST ALWAYS STAYS THE SAME!

TRUTH BOMB

JESUS CHRIST NEVER CHANGES,

HE ALWAYS STAYS THE SAME!

As long as our feet are planted firmly on the ROCK, Jesus Christ, we can faithfully step through any CHANGE He calls us to!

Speak Truth Love

Week 1!

‘Not Having To Say Goodbye!’

“How many sleeps Mamma! How many sleeps?”

My five year-old granddaughter jumped into my arms and hugged my neck so hard I thought I may not be able to breathe! And I didn’t care! The question came pouring out of her mouth, “How many sleeps Mamma! How many sleeps?”

This has been our dialogue for the past several years now. We both hate saying goodbye, and as she would put it…

“My heart hurts when you leave Mamma!”  So, we have developed a way that we both can handle the anticipation of having to say goodbye, and that is by counting the number of “sleeps“ (AKA nights) that we have together. 

This time, however, because we have chosen to move forward in faith with our faithful God, I was able to say, “Lucy, we have as many sleeps as we want! We don’t have to say goodbye!”

As we continue to move forward in faith with our faithful God, there are still many steps that have yet to be answered! But there are many blessings that are crystal clear! One of the sweetest is not having to continuously say goodbye to our loved ones.

Lucy graduated from preschool today! We did not have to watch her graduation on video and we did not have to send her gift through the mail! I was able to put my arms around her, hug her, and tell her face-to-face how so very proud I am of her and the award she got for displaying the fruit of the spirit of FAITHFULNESS!

I couldn’t have made that up if I had tried! As her teacher read off the traits that she displays in her classroom on a daily basis, I was reminded that faithfulness is something we live out! When we do, it is not only seen by others, but it encourages them to walk in faith as well! 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

FAITHFULNESS, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 

It is a fruit of the spirit! Which means that it is something that by the spirit of God and the grace of God we can all have! Even if we are only five years old, or a child of God at any age!

Today I was built up and encouraged by my five-year-old granddaughter, to live out faithfulness to God no matter where the steps He leads me on takes me!

TRUTH BOMB

LIVING A FAITHFUL LIFE DEMONSTRATES THE FRUIT OF GOD’S SPIRIT!

Meet me back here next week for week two of ‘Moving Forward In Faith With Our Faithful God!’

Speak Truth Love

Moving Forward!

This is moving week! So this week’s Blog is short and sweet as I sweat and continue to pack. 

For most of us, moving produces stress as it inevitably involves change! Statistically 99.999% of the population cringe at anything that calls for change. The problem is anything that causes us to grow mandates change. The good news is we have a FAITHFUL God, who is with us every step of the way as we navigate change. 

“God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭

Boy, has God been faithful to us!

I have several Blog’s worth of ways that God has demonstrated His FAITHFULNESS, but the greatest lesson He has taught me is that in moving, I must move forward!  

Moving forward with God will challenge us, stretch us, and at times push us to limits we doubt we can survive, only the faithfulness of God sustains us and propels us forward! 

TRUTH BOMB 

WHEN YOU MOVE IT’S THE DIRECTION THAT MATTERS MOST!

When you move with God it is always forward. It can feel at times as you are struggling through, that you are moving “two steps forward and then 2 steps back!” However our God is FAITHFUL to keep us moving in His direction and that is always forward. 

PHILIPPIANS 3:14

“Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward we press on!”

We are excited to be moving forward in what we know God is leading us toward, but the journey has not been easy. Our FAITHFUL God lead us and blessed us every step of the way. Please join me back here next week as I begin a series on moving forward in faith with our FAITHFUL God.

Speak Truth Love

Treasure is defined as:

1) wealth or riches stored or accumulated, especially in the form of precious metals, money, jewels, or plate.

2) wealth, rich materials, or valuable things.

3) any thing or person greatly valued or highly prized.

The first two definitions state options for what a “treasure“ can be. The third definition describes perfectly what my intention is for writing today’s Blog!
The first two definitions tend to be where our minds automatically go when we hear the word TREASURE.
The Bible warns sternly against putting too much value in these earthly treasures!

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”  Matthew 6:19-20

The next verse in Matthew chapter 6, verse 21, says…
”For where your TREASURE is there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

In Luke chapter 12, verse 34 it records the very same words. Why? Because they are the words of Jesus! Jesus cares about where our treasure is, and what our treasure is. Jesus is also the giver of all good treasure! Both verses point me to what God sees as Treasure, and what HE desires me to treasure!
A little further down in Matthew we find the KEY to knowing what true treasure is and how to manage it.
”But seek FIRST His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

“AS WELL” implies that something comes first. Seeking God’s kingdom and the treasures that do not get eaten by moths or destroyed by rust and living lives that pursue God and His righteousness leads to God’s “as well!” When we seek God‘s kingdom and His righteousness FIRST, we are then blessed, “as well” with TREASURE beyond earthly compare!

When I took a huge step of faith and went to a Christian college at the age of 18 years old, because I knew God was calling me too, even though my parents were not happy about it, I received a TREASURE BEYOND COMPARE! It was not immediate! It came after my steps of faith and perseverance, and trust!

I found myself alone at a Christian college almost 500 miles away from home! Considering I had no money for gas or airfare, it may as well have been 5000 miles away. I checked into the dorms only to find my roommates had not arrived, and we’re not even going to my college. They were both attending the university across the street.
I FELT SO ALONE!
I asked where the closest Christian Church was? They literally pointed out the back of the college and across the street. I woke up that first Sunday morning and watched through the back of the University, across the street and into Eastside Christian Church.
That morning the pastor preached the sermon on Matthew chapter 6! He challenged us to “Matthew 6:33 it! To live a life seeking after God‘s kingdom and his righteousness as our TREASURE!
I have never forgotten that sermon. God spoke directly to my heart and spirit that day, and Matthew 6:33 has become a “mantra” for my life!
I committed my life at that time to Eastside Christian Church. I would attend there and fellowship with fellow believers, I would join a small group(a.k.a. the College group which was anything but small, over 250 college students), and I would go to a smaller Bible study within that group. Then I would serve and give financially to this church home that God had brought me too!

I sat under that great preacher and man of God, and heard him preach the word of God time after time after time. I was learning to  ”Matthew 6:33 it!”
Over a year later, God gave me the first piece of my “as well” story! I kept pinching myself and praising God at the same time. Jim Swaney had asked me to marry him! I knew right then in there, beyond a shadow of a doubt, God answers prayer! Three years later God gave me “MY TREASURE!”
Christina Nicole was born on May 22, 1987.
I looked down at those crystal blue eyes looking back at me and thanked God for “My Treasure!
MY GIRL, she is my TREASURE, a priceless gift beyond measure or compare! 
Tomorrow is her birthday, and I celebrate her and praise God for the continued treasure she is! She is beautiful on the outside, but her heart shines through with even greater radiance! She is intelligent and discerning. She is compassionate and caring and gives 100% of herself all the time no matter what it costs her! She is wise beyond her years and has been a compass for me over and over again! She is kind, loving, stable, confident, and sure! She is unwavering in the love that she gives and is no nonsense, so you always know that what she says and does, she means! She is my TREASURE, my jewel , my priceless gift from God!
Happy, Happy Birthday My Girl, My Treasure!

God wants to give all his children treasure! He wants to lavish His love on all those that call Him God and Father! He just loves us too much to allow us to get our priorities for “treasure,” mixed up!
As we learn to “Matthew 6:33 it,“ we will also learn the “as well,” gifts from God are nothing less than true TREASURE! 

TRUTH BOMB 

A TRUE TREASURE IS GOD’S GIFT OF “AS WELL!”

Speak Truth Love