Rare Moments of Worship

[ APRIL 8, 2020 ]

This was originally written in February- just under a month before quarantine began.
I knew I wasn’t meant to share it then… but I had no idea how timely it would become.
I pray this encourages your heart and stirs your soul. This is, indeed, a rare moment.

We learn in church that worship is not just the music before the sermon- it’s a heart posture, it’s a way of life. We talk about giving Him our worship in the great moments and in the hard moments.

There are moments in life that are a set apart because they are “rare” moments- rare moments that we can choose to worship.

I’m a person of extremes- I feel like a day is either the BEST DAY EVER or the absolute worst… but the reality is that we live our lives mostly right in the middle of those options. Most days are fine; some are better than others and some are harder. We have happy days and we have sad days… and I want to be found giving Jesus all the worship that I can on those ‘normal’ days… but then there are ‘rare‘ days.

The details don’t matter for the sake of this post… but I recently found myself face to face  with sorrow. I found myself deep in the swells of heartache.

As I felt the pain sink into my chest I felt a stirring in my spirit and I got behind a piano and began to weep before the Lord through song. 

I’d love to say that all it took was that moment and I’m totally fine now.. but that moment was the first of many; sitting behind a piano, with my guitar, or curled up in bed… worshiping through tears.

When Mary of Bethany sees Jesus for the first time after her brother, Lazarus, has dies she falls at His feet and weeps and says, “If you had been here- my brother wouldn’t have died.” (John 11) Often we feel like a statement like that is accusatory… but it wasn’t. She is declaring who Jesus is even in the midst of sorrow- in the swells of heartache. 

The sorrow Mary was faced with was a rare moment in her life.

That rare moment that she chose worship in lead to an incredible display of the glory of the Lord.

The season I find myself in, although it can feel endless, is in fact ‘rare.’ One day, I’ll look back on it as just a moment in my story- it’s not the place from which I will live out my life.

The Lord is showing me that there is something so incredible about choosing worship in the rare moments of life. We give something unique to Him when we worship Him through them. We gain something unique in the Spirit, also. 

When we lift our tear-filled eyes, open our once tightly gripped hands, and confess that He is good and that He is trustworthy and that He is always more than enough in the rare moments- we find ourselves going deeper into intimacy with Him than we’ve ever gone before.

From this place, He deposits many worthwhile things deep within us.

He anchors us with steadfast hope.

“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” – Romans 5:3-5

He draws closer to us.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

He gives us eyes to see that we are becoming like Him in experiencing what He experienced.

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” – Isaiah 53:3

The list could go on endlessly.

Beloved friends, lets choose worship in the rare moments. The sorrow, the pain, the ache you are feeling will not last but while it is here- choose to worship through it. Choose to let it bring you back to His feet, weeping while you declare who He is.

He is near. 

To The Girl Who Doesn’t Feel Chosen

[ FEBRUARY 14, 2020 ]

To The Girl Who Doesn’t Feel Chosen,

Today is Valentines Day and I know what you might be feeling… the Absence of a significant other that feels like a companion in and of itself. Maybe you woke up not remembering the date and social media feeds of couples quickly reminded you… or maybe you woke up with the date ringing as loudly as a siren in your head. I know the feeling all too well. This is my 26th single Valentines Day. I know the emotional roller coaster that this day brings; I have memorized every twist and turn, every high and low. Even as I write this, those feelings come rushing back.

I don’t want to tell you to get content with your singleness. I also don’t want to tell you that you need to set your hope on a Valentines Day where your husband celebrates your fairytale love perfectly and meets every expectation that you’ve got.

Today, I simply want to tell you this:

You are chosen.

You are wanted.

You are dearly loved for who you are- quirks and all.

You are not less than and you are not too much.

I promise you that it’s the truth. I know how not true it can feel… but Jesus’ words over you are far truer than anything in this world could ever be.

Take time today and ask Jesus what He thinks of you (listening to His voice and His alone). Ask Him what it means to be His Bride.

And… As you look to your own someday wedding day… remember that He’s waiting for His, too. He understands the waiting.

“There’s gonna be a wedding!
It’s the reason that I’m living;
to marry the lamb!”

Skip Ahead

[ FEBRUARY 3, 2020 ]

I thought this morning about, if I could, what day in my life I’d like to just skip ahead to.

My first thought was one I felt was rather clever- the day after the birth of my first child. I could skip past labor and I’d have a husband and a baby. Perfect! That’s my heart- to be a wife and mom!

But then I realized I didn’t want to skip the experience of being pregnant- no matter how challenging.

So I picked another day.

The second day was I thought of was my wedding day. I would finally be a bride and have my groom! The planning would be over and it would be the day I’ve dreamed of my whole life!! But then I realized I didn’t want to skip being engaged.

So I picked a new day.

I thought about picking the day I got engaged. I could just fast forward to the moment I get to give the “yes!!” I’ve always wanted to give… but I realized I didn’t want to skip falling in love with the person who would be doing the proposing.

So I picked a new day.

The day my future husband asks me out on our first date! That’s perfect, right!? To be chosen. To move forward in my love story…

But then it hit me.. I don’t wanna skip this season right here. This season of steadfast prayer and of full (often forced) surrender. I don’t wanna skip this season even though it’s hard. Even though it’s felt long. I’m learning things and gaining things in the Spirit that I wouldn’t trade. I don’t want to skip it.

I’m right where I’m meant to be. I’m inside of His perfect timing and beautiful plan for my life.

I don’t wanna skip one single moment

This Isn’t What I Wanted

[ OCTOBER 9, 2019 ]

In two days, I’m turning 26.

As this birthday, that moves me closer to 30 than to 20, approaches I find myself completely overwhelmed by one thought: this isn’t the life that I wanted. 

As a college student, I had a 5 year plan that I had “surrendered” to the Lord… aka informed Him of.  It would have placed me living in LA, recording music and touring all over the world, with a husband and kids as I approach 26. That was what I thought would fulfill me and be what I needed. I thought that that would give me confidence and satisfaction. I thought that would make me happy and useful in the kingdom.

That was the life I wanted.

But that is not the life I have.

If you would have told College Lia about the life she’d be living as she approaches 26 she would have wept  profusely… and that’s not an exaggeration.

But… As I look around at my life, I realize that the goodness of God often looks like His lovingly kind, “No.”

He said, “No” to my plan as I said “YES” to His best.

Did you catch that?

He said, “NO” to my plan as I said “YES” to His best.

When I finally and fully gave Him my “yes” to His best, He immediately started shutting things down all throughout my world. I remember the night I cried out, “I let go- God I want YOUR best.” The very next day, the unhealthy relationship I was forcing came to an abrupt halt. In the weeks to come I found myself without dreams for my life for the first time ever… and the months ahead were filled with heartbreak and feeling completely aimless.

After about a year, slowly but surely things began to come together. Surrender opened my eyes to the kindness of his “no” and the beauty of His “yes” in places I didn’t expect. 

So let me tell you about where His 5 year plan places me: I’ve been a missionary to Las Vegas for three years. I am the Worship Director at, what I think is, the best church ever with a worship/production team that is on fire for the Lord and have become my dearest friends. I have also begun preaching and teaching more frequently. I have the insane honor of being the director of Burn24/7 Las Vegas which is uniting prayer warriors and worshippers across the valley as we declare the worthiness of Jesus here. Joining  Burn24/7 has connected me to a global family of revivalists many of whom that have become mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters in the faith to me. I am the owner of a home that is perfect for gathering people for food, laughter, and worship. I have more ‘family‘ than I ever dreamed I would.

I wouldn’t trade His plan for my old one in a million years. Of course there are things I still cry out to Him for but I’ve found so much joy in the surrender.

So, beloved friends, in the disappointment, in the heartbreak, in the wandering… finally fully surrender. Let your “yes” leave room for His loving “no” and His even greater “yes.” You just might find yourself living His dreams and trust me- they’re just. so. much. better. than you could ever imagine.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”– Isaiah 55:8-9

Proud to Be Desperate

[ JULY 6, 2019 ]

I remember being in 8th grade and I had my first boyfriend. I was so excited! We were about 2 months in and he called me one night and said, “We need to talk.” My sweet little 13 year old heart had no idea that that was code for, “I’m about to dump you.” We talked for a while on the phone as he explained to me why it wasn’t working out and during the duration of the call, my mom came into my room and I quickly clicked mute and told her that he was dumping me. My mom’s response was the same as many mother’s response would be, “I’m so sorry, honey. Don’t let him hear you cry.”

All throughout our lives we are taught many many things all leading to one common goal: independence. Think about it- from day one we are taught how to not need other people and how to make it on our own. (Now don’t get me wrong, if we are totally unable to do anything on our own we end up becoming codependent and suck the life out of the people around us.)

Our culture is obsessed with independence. How can I prove that I can make it on my own? How can I show everyone around me that I don’t need them- I’ve got this! And ladies??? NEVER let a guy think for one second that you need him at all! You are a strong independent woman who don’t need no man!!!

I found myself in a wild season recently. I guess I sang ‘Oceans’ too many times in college because let me tell you- I was out where my trust was without borders. I found myself so incredibly aware that I needed Jesus for every single step. I needed His promises, His presence, His voice, and all that He is in every single step. We always need Him for every step and every breath… but some seasons highlight that need more than others.

When the Lord called me to buy a house, I immediately thought about my relationship status. Was the Lord asking me to be a single woman living as a missionary on financial support… trying to buy a house?? Yes. Yes He was. Scripture talks about Jesus being the Bridegroom and the Church being the Bride… so I told the Lord that I’d need Him to be my husband in this process. But that’s just it- Jesus is the best husband ever. Through the entire process He was right by my side, guiding me and comforting me when the road got rough.

I found my soul in a place I’ve never been before- filled with JOY over my sheer desperation for Jesus. I relied completely on Him in a whole new way and it caused me to know Him in a totally new way. I’m so PROUD to be DESPERATE and utterly dependent on Jesus. I am NOT a strong independent woman who don’t need no man. I am weak in my flesh but made strong in Christ, I am completely dependent on Jesus and I do need Him, my man. 

With joy in my heart, I proudly declare my total desperation for Jesus. I will never find myself having a need that He does not satisfy. When I need a husband- He reminds me that He is forever my Bridegroom (Isaiah 54:5). When I was unsure where I would live, He promises to my safe place (Psalm 46:1).

Lean into desperation today, my friends. Rejoice that you need Him and rejoice all the more that He more than meets every single need that you’ll ever have.

“Jesus, I’m so glad that I’m desperate for you. I will boast in my need for You because you are the great I Am. You satisfy my every need- You are more than enough. I lack NOTHING in You. Remind my heart, soul, and mind that You are all I’ll ever need. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Don’t Miss the Moment

[ JANUARY 25, 2018 ]

I currently live 2,226 miles away from my parents and my childhood home. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life in Vegas and I know I’m right smack dab in the center of God’s will for my life… but I’ve learned something very valuable about the little time I get to spend with my family-

Don’t. Miss. The. Moment.

My parents and brother came to Vegas for Christmas this year and it was honestly the best Christmas ever. My brother played in the band with me for Christmas Eve and I looked out into the congregation to see my parents arms around each other and their candles illuminating their faces as I lead silent night… it was like a dream.

We spent the rest of our time together- together! Not always doing something elaborate or fancy but just enjoying each other. We typically ended our days in a family cuddle puddle on the couch watching a movie together! One night, my mom suggested the movie, “While You Were Sleeping” and for whatever reason, I protested. I hadn’t seen it and just didn’t want to watch an unfamiliar movie. My mom requested it a few more times while she was visiting and each time I had a reason to not watch it. (I’m still really not sure why I did that.) It honestly wasn’t a big deal and we ended up watching other classics that we loved and we moved on from it!

Before I knew it, I was driving my parents to the airport, hugging them goodbye three or four times, saying tearful, “I love you”s, and driving away with an empty car. I’m convinced that saying goodbye to family never gets, easier.

Days later, I found myself scrolling through Netflix dying to find something fun to watch. Nothing. So I gave in and watched, “While You Were Sleeping.” I laughed my head off! My mom was so right- I loved it!

I called my mom that night and cried as I apologized. We could have really enjoyed that movie together. It would have blessed her heart to watch it with me and it would have been even more enjoyable than me watching it alone! My mom has the most infectious laugh and I could have heard it the entire movie!

But I missed the moment.

So… What’s the big deal? It’s just a silly 90’s love story and my mom wasn’t mad at me over it!

The other morning, I woke up, said my good morning to the Lord, grabbed the devotional that I’m working through, and then scrolled through Instagram and Facebook. I had more than enough time to do so and still read through my devo for the day!

But I heard the kind voice of the Father nudge me and say,

“Lia, don’t miss this moment!”

There was an invitation to sit with the Father in the stillness of the morning- before work began, before problems needed solved or fires needed put out… there was an invitation to enjoy just being with Him. Is it sin to scroll through social media? Heck no! Would it have been a sin to have been eating breakfast at that point or working out? No!

But am I filling my life up and missing moments with my Father?

Of course He’s ALWAYS present and active… but am I missing the sweet little moments where I could bless His heart and soak in His laughter and presence?

He’s teaching me something so important in this season:

Don’t trade sitting at His feet for working for Him.

Don’t trade the sweetness of His presence for mere head knowledge and facts about Him.

And don’t trade looking into His eyes and blessing His heart for always seeking a move of His hand.

Don’t miss the moment. ❤️

{{ Endless Alleluia }}

A Bed of Despair

[ JANUARY 17, 2018 ]

I arrived at the place a few months ago where I felt absolutely crushed by life. I had shoved myself into being a workaholic, I felt overwhelmed by Sin City, I felt frustrated with people around me, and to be honest? I felt disappointed and frustrated at God.

Bill Johnson says that when we are disappointed with God, we have literally built a case against Him in our hearts… and that was exactly what I had done. I had let things that I believed should have happened or should be happening build up in my heart. Instead of leaning on who the Lord has always been from generation to generation, I sat in my own little pit of despair and I made a bed for myself there.

Sometimes despair feels like a big comfy bed- it’s familiar and it’s easy to just lay in.

When a friend or family member would offer wise words or even scripture to the problem I was pining over on any given day, I would have some rebuttal that, to be honest, wasn’t completely false.

Let me give you an example conversation:

Me: “I’m just so tired of being single and being alone in life.”

Trustworthy and wise friend: “You’re not alone in life! You have a great group of friends who love you and Jesus is always right beside you!”

Me: “Yeah, but at the end of the day, it’s just me. I have to make hard life choices alone and yes I have the Lord but it’s not the same as having someone sitting right beside you.”

I could do this with many other things as well but I think you probably get the point. Was I wrong that I don’t have a partner in life to listen to the Lord on our behalf and help make hard choices? Nope. But I had given myself over to despair- something about giving answers like this felt validating. It was as if I was saying, “No! I’ve decided that God has let me down and you should see that, too!”

Proverbs 1:7 says, ” The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. ” 

I was actually tired of people telling me the promises of God because so many of them laid before me unfulfilled and I felt hopeless that they would ever come to pass.

What was the first sin in all of humanity? Was it that Eve disobeyed? Or was it unbelief? “Did God really say you couldn’t eat from this tree?” (Genesis 3:1)

Unbelief slithers into our hearts and minds and it breeds bitterness and disappointment which lead to anger and despair.

All of this can change in one moment when we remember that everything we believe about God, ourselves, and this life has to flow from one fact: He’s our good Father.

Everything Jesus said was purposeful; not one word He spoke was unintentionally said. When the disciples asked Him how we should pray, He didn’t start with, “Oh sovereign, all consuming fire,” or “Oh, One who opposes the proud,” or even “Oh, Provider and Healer”- no, He starts with, “Our Father.” Everything else flows from that place.

He’s a present, active, kindhearted, loving, and all together good Father. 

What if we believed that was true?

What if, in my pit of self pity and despair I chose to believe my Father is who He says He is and that He will always do what He say’s He’s going to do?

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
– Romans 8:32

He willingly gave His Son’s life for me and I’ve convinced myself that He doesn’t care that it’s a desire of my heart to be a wife and a mom someday?

He willingly gave His Son’s life for the city of Las Vegas yet I’ve convinced myself I need to work myself into the ground to see it transformed because it isn’t happening on my time table?

He willingly gave His Son’s life for YOU yet you’ve convinced yourself that He won’t come through for you? That He doesn’t know your heart? Or worse- that He knows your heart and just doesn’t care?

Oh, dear friends, what if we believed He is who He says He is?

What if we believed that WE are who He says we are?

Fully known and deeply loved Sons and Daughters.

It changes everything.

Despair has no place in the life of a Child of God.

So, my dear friends, I implore you to ask the Lord if there is hopelessness, despair, or unbelief in your heart. This can be so humbling and hard to even ask if pride is in the way but let Him reveal any bit of it that you have in your heart! (Don’t be afraid- Remember, He’s gentle and kind.) Then repent of it and ask Him to fill you with faith!

“I believe; help my unbelief!”
- Mark 9:24

Lastly, ask Him to show you who He truly is- His very nature and heartbeat, and who He says you are. I advise writing down what He speaks to you- His thoughts about you are better than you think they are!

He loves you.

He loves you.

He loves you.

He loves you.

When Jesus Speaks Through a Harry Potter Puzzle

[ DECEMBER 14, 2017 ]

This past weekend I was given an early Christmas present- a Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone PUZZLE! I was absolutely delighted and began working on it as quickly as I could- obviously!  😉

My stress level has been through the roof lately so I was excited to have something to do that was ‘productive’ but relaxing.

As I began to get lost in the world of puzzling while humming “Hedwig’s Theme” to myself, the Lord began to speak to me.

There were several times that I would pick up a piece of my puzzle and think, “I know EXACTLY where this one must go!” and try and fit it right where I had an open space. Much to my surprise- I was wrong several times! And several times, I wanted to just shove it into the space and make it fit.

Other times, I would put a piece down, and it would fit and I would move on only to realize later that although it fit, it was not the perfect fit. It looked okay and the parts lined up, but it messed up the rest of the puzzle.

I got to the point a few times where I would pick up a piece that looked like maybe it was from another puz

zle and think about not even trying to get it to fit only to find that when I took the ‘risk’ of placing it somewhere- it was a perfect match.

The Lord, who loves to use the funniest things to teach us, nudged me in these moments. He showed me that this puzzle was much like my life, except I don’t have a picture to

help me figure out where all the pieces go- HE DOES.

So often, I feel a need, a missing piece, in my life and I search and search to try to figure out what goes there. Often times, I think I find something that looks and even feels like the right fit and I try to cram it and shove it around to make it be what I was looking for… but it just isn’t.

Other times, it fits just fine… but it isn’t the best fit for my life and it will affect the rest of my life in a way that it should not.

And then there are times when something comes along that doesn’t seem right at all or doesn’t seem like it’s worth the risk but if we don’t take the risk we could be missing out on the absolute best fit for us.

Wether the missing piece is a job, a spouse, an apartment, a university, or whatever it may be- wait for God’s best.

Don’t try to make something work that clearly isn’t meant for you.

Don’t be deceived by things that seem to be good but aren’t His best.

And don’t let past ‘failure’ or ‘rejection’ stop you from continually seeking out His best. 

He has something for you that will make everything line up in ways that you can’t imagine right now! He knows what the puzzle will look like in the end and how it will all fit together- perfectly.

Hold on to that while you’re in the waiting.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. Or just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9