I am a passionate person.

If you know me personally, you know there are several things that I could sit and talk about all day - how I came to know Jesus as my Savior, how I fell in love with my husband, my little boy, Micah and how awesome it was to carry him for nine ten months, birth him and now be his mom, how important it is to go on overseas mission trips, how Mike Huckabee should have been president four years ago and how much I love Taylor Swift as a songwriter.

But if you really want to get me fired up, especially during an election season, just mention the word abortion.

I am not one to shy away from controversial subjects and I'm also not one to apologize for being politically incorrect. Which is why I am going to take a moment and share some of my very passionate thoughts on this topic.

Abortion is murder. Not going to beat around the bush here.

There is just no other way for my mind to comprehend it. Even had I not experienced trouble getting pregnant and the miracle of finding out we were expecting (and seeing little Micah's life begin on the ultrasound!), I would still believe this. But going through those things has made it even more abundantly clear how cruel the act of abortion is. I'm pretty sure that I'm speaking in good company, as most of my friends and blog readers are Christians, and well, most Christians have no trouble believing this. But here's where I am going to lose a few of you - I believe a vote for anyone other than a pro-life candidate is a vote for murder. 

I've had several discussions with Christian friends who don't agree with this. And actually go so far as to say that voting for someone because they are pro-life is ignorant, stupid, ridiculous... and so on. After all, it's not like any president is truly going to end abortion... they say. And it's true, the act of abortion may never end. Just as murder will never end, rape will never end and poverty will never end. But does that mean we don't fight against it?

This thought came to me the other day and I knew I wouldn't be able to dismiss it until I shared.

The Bible warns us that we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil. Every day that we get up we are in a battle against Satan, also referred to in Scripture as a "thief." John 10:10 sends chills down my spine when I think about Satan and how he is living out this verse in regards to abortion,

"The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." - Jesus

Satan has created the biggest massacre in the history of mankind and is disguising it as a "legal act!" He is killing lives that were created by God!! Does this anger and infuriate you as much as it does me?! Who knows how many future warriors for Christ Satan has already destroyed! I am thinking somewhere in the millions! And we wonder why this world is so full of hate, and yet so few seem to stand for truth. Maybe God has been trying to send down warriors - but they are being killed off!!

I know this sounds desperate. But that's because I am! I am desperate for Christians to rise up against evil and stand for the Biblical truth that we claim to believe saves us. This applies to every area of our life, not just abortion. I know God is God and there is ultimately nothing out of His control, but we see many times in Scripture where the Lord handed people over to their sin.

"So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices." - Psalms 81:12

"Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done." - Romans 1:28

It scares me to think that might be true for us today. Could it be that our minds have been so blinded by the enemy, that even Christians do not believe that voting pro-life is "worth it" anymore? I am much more likely to trust that a candidate who cares about life from conception is going to care about life after conception. 

I know many arguments can spur from this discussion -- and I want to avoid that. Hate is not the answer, never has been and never will be. But I do believe that we can have a godly anger towards sin. Starting in our own lives. And this anger towards sin should be reflected in every aspect of our life, including how we vote. But if we are not careful, we can have a depraved mind and forget the truth that we hold to. This is just me giving you a little reminder, that hey, abortion is still murder. 

As most of you know, I'm married to the best student pastor in the world...(ok, there's no official award out or anything when it comes to ministry, but he's my favorite!) and last Wednesday he asked the associate student pastor's wife, Cassie and I (we have great names!) to speak to our students at Source. The message was titled, "Girl Talk" and yes, it was directed toward the girls in the room. Although, I believe it is a very valuable and important lesson for guys to know as well. Check it out below!

Hope you all are having a great weekend!

YOLO - Week 3 "Girl Talk" from Source Student Ministries on Vimeo.

"The fruit of the Spirit's not a coconut! The fruit of the Spirit's not a coconut! If you want to be a coconut, you might as well hear it, you can't be a fruit of the Spirit! 'Cause the fruits are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control!"

This was the childhood song that helped me memorize the fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23. It went through all different types of fruits - apples, bananas, cherries, watermelon and yes, coconuts - with motions to represent each one. It was a fun song to sing as excited children on our way to church on Wednesday nights!

But the fruits of the Spirit have proved harder to practice than memorize.

I am a fruit lover. Always have been, and this pregnancy hasn't changed that one bit! But when it comes to the fruits of the Spirit, I think I have fooled myself into thinking that being a "coconut" is good enough. I look good, I taste nice and I cause nobody any harm. But after meditating on Scripture lately that would encourage these actions and attitudes in me, I've realized that truly possessing and living life in the Spirit is not all peaches and pineapple. And I am taking this responsibility even more serious knowing I will be a MOM in just a few short weeks!

My heart's greatest desire right now is to raise our son up to know and love the Lord. In order to do this, Josh and I have been evaluating our own lives and asking the Lord to show us areas that we need to improve in before he comes. We have begun establishing boundaries in areas that we know will be unhealthy and calling ourselves to a higher standard of living. Knowing we will never be perfect, but desiring to be holy because HE is holy.

Here is a great passage of Scripture that says it best.

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.   With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.   But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.   So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.   If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.   And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.   Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. - Ephesians 4:1, 17-32

I have taken these verses and made them personal to my life. This obviously isn't a passage of Scripture to be taken lightly, as Paul states in the beginning of this chapter... "I BEG YOU to lead a life worthy of your calling." That is a powerful statement!!

When we truly begin to take God at His word and practice what is called of us... hello! it is difficult. Even more difficult, is when it causes division between those we love. Sometimes raising the bar for yourself, means losing a few friends along the way. Sometimes leading a life worthy of your calling, means separating yourself from the old life you once lived. And still, sometimes you are lucky enough to influence others around you to lead a life worthy of their calling as well.

But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! - 1 Peter 3:14, 17

God has us on the journey of our life right now... we are in the home stretch of becoming parents! But this calling of living a godly life starts now. Yesterday, really. It should not be put off, even if it's difficult, even if you have to make adjustments that hurt. God will reward your faithfulness.

And remember, if you want to be a coconut... you can't be a fruit of the Spirit.