In the four short years that we've been married, Josh and I have been on quite the journey.

Our engagement and first year of marriage was spent in Jacksonville, Florida at FaithBridge Church, before we moved to a small town in Alabama where Josh accepted the position as student pastor of Watermark Church. Just as God clearly called us to each of these ministries, He has now, even more clearly, called us to another one.

In the past four months, a lot has happened in Josh and I's life. We found out we were expecting our first child! Something we have prayed for, for the past year. And then a couple weeks later, we got the news that my mom was diagnosed with stage IV Lymphoma. Having walked down this road before with Josh's brother, Jordan, we were devastated to see someone we love facing the horrible "c-word" again. I have been traveling back, once a month, to my hometown in Ocala, FL to visit my mom after her chemo treatments.

A new struggle began to arise in our hearts, and Josh came home one day just exhausted emotionally. We both were. It never crossed my mind to move, since... well, I was pregnant. A move would require a change in doctor, home, stability - all things that (on top of labor, ha) were my worst fear. But as Josh and I talked and began planning for our future, we were not at peace with staying where we were.

God worked in ways that only He could, to lead us to the Church @ The Springs.

It is an incredible story. One that I don't even know where to begin in writing down. All that I can say is, we are blessed. Blessed to be called to serve with a church whose mission beats right along with our heart for people, blessed to be called to serve with a church located 10 miles from my mom's (and dad's) house, blessed to be able to give birth (Lord-willing) to our son in the same hospital that I was born in, and blessed to know that God is completely in control and has worked every detail out perfectly.

As with any move, leaving people we love is bittersweet. We have made some great relationships at Watermark and are going to miss them dearly! My prayer and hope rests in the fact that I know God is going to continue the work that He began in so many of the students and families that we were able to share the past three years of our lives with. It has nothing to do with us. His work will be completed regardless. I am just thankful that we are allowed to be a part of it.

Criticizing for the sake of criticism...

That seems to sum up some of the "religious people" I know. And yes, I just used the word "religious" on purpose.

It seems like a trend has developed amongst us Christians. Where anytime someone does something good or noble or vocal for the cause of Christ - we criticize, we judge and we look to dethrone them from whatever lofty pedestal some people have placed them on. Lately the person under the microscope has been Tim Tebow. But just recently another example of this is the, "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus" guy - Jefferson Bethke.

  Tim Tebow, well known for his bold and steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, has had many criticisms against him. And no, I don't mean the ones about his football skills. I'm talking about the statements I hear from other Christians saying things like, "He shouldn't be praying in public!" and "He's not the only Christian to ever play football!" Statements like these are meant to "dethrone" Tebow from the inspiring platform God has given him as a pro-athlete. Instead of criticizing, we should be celebrating that many are taking note of his godly character and desiring to emulate it. What is so wrong about this? Especially, when in 1 Corinthians 4:16 we read that Paul is asking other believers to imitate him as he imitates Christ! Imitation is not wrong, as long as that person is imitating Christ-likeness. And from what I read, hear and see about Tim Tebow - I believe he is doing just that.   Jefferson Bethke just posted a very inspiring spoken word on "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus" that has almost 7 million views in three days!! He breaks down the difference between saying one thing and doing another and what REAL Christianity is all about. I found it encouraging and a breath of fresh air to hear. But as usual, anytime a Christian has some kind of success in being vocal for Christ - there is criticism. Claims that he was misusing the word 'religion' were brought up today. It was expected, but not at the extent that I began hearing. It almost seemed like the ones doing the critiquing were trying to prove that they were more  "theologically sound" than the average viewer. But why go to such extremes to do it? Claims that Jefferson was "off-base" led me to check out more of his videos, in which I found him to be very ON-base! This guy is for real. I read his Twitter and he is already thanking his "critics" and humbly, acknowledging that he "has a lot to learn" and "appreciates the rebuke/encouragement." Great response from him. But a poor response from so many other Christians trying to squash his platform.   All of it has me thinking, why do we do this? Is it because we have seen so many other Christians fall under the pressure of their platforms? Are we afraid that these men will not live up to what they claim to preach?   Well, here are my thoughts... GOOD! Be afraid. They WILL fail! None of us are perfect and never will be. I think it is incredible that God has given Tim Tebow and Jefferson Bethke these platforms and His word is being proclaimed through them! Amen! We should never credit man for something that God is doing. But instead of criticizing, we should join in promoting the name of Jesus Christ through these vessels that are being used by Him.  

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth... Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? - Romans 9:17,21

I have been so overwhelmed by the messages I have received lately. You really don't know what others are going through, until you allow yourself to be REAL about what you are going through. And it can be embarrassing and painful to admit you are struggling... but honestly, who isn't? We are all struggling with something. If you aren't struggling, then you aren't really living.

I wrote a song a few months ago about this "waiting" period in our lives. Waiting for a baby, waiting for our "dream careers," waiting to see loved ones again. If there is another thing in life that we all seem to have in common... it is the process of waiting. The fact that so many of us are bonded by at least these two things, struggling and waiting, should bring us closer together. But there are some who instead of embracing the struggle, choose to complain and sink into a hole of self-pity. Now I know this is a serious problem for some, and depression is very real, but I believe that so much of this can be prevented if we allow ourselves to just, be REAL.

I read a quote the other day that put this in perspective for me.

"Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those who are obsessed with themselves. The happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others. By and large, I have come to see that if we complain about life, it is because we are thinking only of ourselves.” - Gordon B. Hinckley

How true! When we serve other people and see their needs, our problems seem so much smaller. This is obvious when we go overseas on mission trips, for example, but what about in our daily lives? Why not start with our friendships?

As a follower of Christ, there is ONE commandment that we are given to fulfill the "law of Christ" here on earth. This blew me away when I realized it...

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." - Galations 6:2

Carry each other's burdens. Wow, seems so simple and yet so difficult at the same time. In order to carry a burden, the first step is to admit you have one. Going back to the beginning... be REAL. Leave me a comment, email me, call a friend. Whatever you need to do to share your burden with someone. And then, let them carry it.

Thank you to those who have carried our burdens this week. Perhaps next week it will be yours on our shoulders. :)