I’m in one of those weeks where my thoughts, my fears, my plans, my memories, and my prayers are fluttering around in my head so frantically that I am not quite sure how to untangle them. Each morning, I’ve slowly gotten out of bed, put one foot in front of the other, checked things off my seemingly endless list of to-dos, and done my best to avoid the “hot mess” that is my head.

But unfortunately Catalyst asked me to put together some thoughts on the theme for their Atlanta event, “Be Present.” So here I sat, staring at my blank white “edit post” screen, cautiously trying to make some sense of my jumbled thoughts and scanning the web for procrastination, or perhaps a touch of inspiration, when I stumbled upon this beautiful post from Amber Haines after discovering her 19-day-old son Titus has a small whole in his heart.

The presence of God is a riptide, and I do want to go under – thanksgiving, awe, love, and fear intermingle only there with truth and peace.

Let it be said of me that I knew I wasn’t in control. Let it be said that I threw my hands in the air, took the free-fall and found my joy deep in His mysterious river.

“Even though I walk through [hospital hallways (not to mention my insanely vivid imagination,)][the craziness of a cross-country move][enter what you are walking through here] I fear no evil, for You are with me.” (Psalm 23:4)

May we all BE PRESENT to this Truth. May we all discover the presence of God. May we all embrace the riptide.

And don’t forget The Catalyst Early Bird Deadline is tomorrow! Don’t Miss it – BE PRESENT.

I will BE PRESENT in my new role with Project 7 and I hope to see you all there. It is going to be an incredible event.

Call 888.334.6569 or go here to register: http://ow.ly/6b96t.

I am wrapping up my first week OFF the job {so far, so good} and thought I should check in and let you all know that…

1. I am alive. And well.

2. It might be 2011, but it is still not too late to put a 2009 spa gift certificate to good use.

3. Massages and pedicures are quite relaxing. Especially when you don’t have to pay for them.

4. You can, in fact, get a big ol’ sunburn when it’s overcast with a chance of rain. {I know. I am dumb.}

5. Part-time “Interning” for some of my favorite stay-at-home moms this summer might not pay big bucks, or any bucks, but it’s sure gonna be fun.

6. Catalyst knows how to hold a creative meeting.

7. The cafeteria at Chick-fil-A has an overwhelming amount of lunch options. And piles and piles of “life-changing” {and you know I don’t use those words lightly} Chick-fil-A sauce.

8. I am incredibly blessed with wise friends. I don’t deserve them. Or the advice and encouragement they continue to bestow.

9. Atlanta traffic can bring you to a standstill in the middle of afternoon. {I just don’t get it.}

10. This weekend is going to be epic. First-Ever U2 Concert + Out-of-Town Friends + In-Town-Friends + Fireworks = One Happy Girl.

What do you know?

I don’t know much about what this fall, next month, or even next week but I do know that I am going to “Be Present” at the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta this fall. It’s happening October 5-7 at the Gwinnett Arena and includes high-octane speakers, powerful worship, and an experience unlike any other.

Truly, it’s unlike anything you have ever seen or done.

Join me and learn from leadership authorities including Andy Stanley, Jim Collins, Francis Chan, David Platt, Priscilla Shirer, Mark Driscoll, Dave Ramsey and Judah Smith, along with several innovative thinkers and practitioners like Princeton professor Dr. Cornel West, TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie, Global Soap Project founder Derreck Kayongo, Hillsong United visionary Joel Houston, Barna Research President David Kinnaman, and adoptive mother of 13 Katie Davis.

Be sure to register for the Catalyst Labs so you don’t miss Michael Hyatt (Thomas Nelson Chairman of the Board and my former boss), Reggie Joiner, Mark Batterson, Pete Wilson (my pastor who is real, authentic and rocks quite “a do”), Tim Elmore, Scot McKnight, Margaret Feinberg, Bob Goff (the whimsy master and probably my favorite person to follow on Twitter), Mike Foster, David Kinnaman, Mary Graham (one of my very favorite women of faith), Samuel Rodriguez, Jon Acuff, Lecrae, Jo Saxton and Vicky Beeching (two of my favorite Brits), Eugene Cho, Lysa Terkeurst and others.

Best Rates on Catalyst tickets end on Thursday, June 23rd, so register now. Call 888.334.6569 to speak to a Catalyst Concierge, or register online at www.catalystconference.com. Use Rate Code FOB and receive a ticket price of $199 (savings of $120 off regular prices).

Catalyst will sell out, so make sure and register early!

Here’s the preview video:

Catalyst Atlanta 2011 {Be Present} Preview from Catalyst on Vimeo.

Okay, who’s in?

Today is one of those days where I have a thousand different thoughts circling around in my head and so instead of fleshing one out to make a tidy little post, or not blogging at all (which is the more likely alternative), you are going to get a whole bunch of randomness.

Last night I got to help out with Cross Point’s new internet campus. I am such a huge fan of my church and so I am stoked that they have created a way for me to share the experience with friends and family who aren’t in Nashville. Be sure tune in with us next Sunday night at 6 PM CST at http://www.crosspoint.tv/live.

I am so very sad to be missing Catalyst Dallas. As I said here, Catalyst and Dallas are two of my favorite things so I am pretty sure that together they will be pretty freakin’ incredible. If you go (there are still tickets available here if you haven’t purchased yours yet), be sure to take good notes so you can tell me all about it. And will someone please keep an eye on Bianca for me? I have this fear that she is gonna go all cowgirl on us and we won’t be able to get her back to her to the “gnarly” Southern California girl I know and love.

Instead of heading to the Lone Star State, I am heading to Louisville, Kentucky to participate in the Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit at Southeast Christian Church. I am really excited to see some friends, learn more about how we can get better serve orphans, and blog about the experience. It’s gonna be awesome. And this is my first trip to Louisville. Any tips on things to do, or more importantly, places to eat?

Last but not least, today Shaun Groves posted a sweet introduction to all the Compassion Bloggers that are heading to the Philippines. Go meet them and join me in praying for their trip. The month or so before they head out can be scary (I know that I was a big ol’ mess before my trip) so pray that they will find peace as God begins to open their hearts and prepare them for this journey.

Now it’s your turn. What’s circling in your head today?

You probably know this already but I grew up in Texas. In Dallas, Texas to be exact. And yes, I am one of those obnoxious people that truly believes that things are ALWAYS bigger and OFTEN TIMES better in Texas – cases in point: the state fair, hair, food portions, and even churches.

This year one of my favorite things is coming to Dallas for the first time.

May 11 – 13 the Catalyst Conference will be in Dallas. Attend and you can hear from leadership authorities including Andy Stanley, Matt Chandler, David Platt, Christine Caine, Donald Miller and Craig Groeschel , along with several innovative thinkers and practitioners like hip hop legend Rev Run, best-selling author Scott Belsky, International Justice Mission founder Gary Haugen, long-time activist Dr. John Perkins, ESPY winner Scotty Smiley, and charity: water founder Scott Harrison.

And be sure to get there on Wednesday to catch Catalyst Labs featuring innovative thought leaders like Michael Hyatt (my extraordinary boss and Thomas Nelson CEO), Mark Batterson, Scot McKnight, Mike Foster, David Kinnaman, Samuel Rodriguez, Esther Havens, Shaun King, Anne Jackson, Gayle Haggard, Jon Acuff, Lecrae, Margaret Feinberg, Chris Seay, Vicky Beeching, Eugene Cho and others.

Catalyst Dallas 2011 Preview from Catalyst on Vimeo.

The early bird deadline for registration is THIS THURSDAY so be sure to register before then. Oh, and you can use the RATE CODE FOB and save an additional 15% off your ticket prices.

What’s your favorite thing about Texas?

Mine: Easy. The food. Tex-Mex, hamburgers, chicken fried whatever…it all tastes better in Texas.

I am 34 years old. I left home at eighteen and never looked back. Yet still one of my greatest fears, one of the things that keeps me awake at night, is the thought of losing my parents. Their sheer presence on this planet offers me a strength and a confidence that I simply cannot fathom living without.

And when I think of one small helpless child out there who is going to sleep without a parent to care for their most basic needs or to assure them that everything is going to be alright KILLS me.

I remember when it first hit me. The fact that there is an orphan epidemic. The fact that I (single, unattached me) could do something to help. The fact that I was in no uncertain terms called to help. It was October 2009 and I was crowded into Gwinnett Center as Catalyst introduced the 143 Million Campaign.

Catalyst is recognizing our call to care for orphans and widows (James 1:27). As believers, we feel led and committed to respond to this call in the year ahead. If you do not know, there are 143 million orphans around the world. This statistic has gripped the Catalyst community and left a desire to be the hands and feet of Christ to those in need.

Catalyst introduced a problem and they offered a myriad of ways I could get activated to help. Ever since I have been doing what I can and trying to figure out what exactly my role is in solving this heart-breaking problem.

Am I supposed to adopt?

Am I supposed to bring one child into my family and love them like they are my own?

Am I supposed to extend my time and resources to help organizations that are bridging the gap between the haves and the have-nots?

Am I supposed to seek out the gaps in the faulty system and work to bridge them?

Am I supposed to go get my hands dirty working with orphans in a developing country?

Am I supposed to seek out ways to help the motherless and fatherless in my hometown?

As I seek answers to these questions, I am focused on learning more about the issues and opportunities surrounding orphan care. And trying to decipher where God has called me to step in and act. But I know this, He has called me to act.

If you are like me and interested in learning more about Orphan Care, check out the next Idea Camp, February 25th & 26th in Northwest Arkansas, which is focusing on Orphan Care and the Church.

The conference will facilitate fresh, honest and transformative conversations with leading thinkers and practitioners on topics including US & International care, community development, trafficking of orphans, adoption, foster care, child sponsorship, HIV/AIDS, special needs, cross-cultural & religious dynamics to care, and many more.

My Catalyst 3DM coaching group is studying Building a Discipling Culture by Mike Been and Steve Cockram and has spent the last few weeks talking about rhythms and pruning. I have found our discussions around pruning particularly enlightening.

Here is what the huddle guide has to say on the topic.

“Bearing fruit is the most natural thing in the world for a branch. It doesn’t do it by straining to push out a grape. Looking at our lives, however, it would seem like producing fruit – making disciples – is strenuous. If fruit-bearing is not coming naturally in our lives, could it be that we have not spent the proper season abiding? Could it be that we have become overgrown branches, too weak to support a single grape, let alone a bunch?

Pruning is not the fun part of life. You can often recognize pruning as a painful, stressful, or challenging time – but if a grapevine is not pruned regularly, the branches grow spindly and weak. The branches need abiding time to gain strength for the growing season. Pruning is not always a sign of God’s discipline. Sometimes even healthy growth must be trimmed in order to make room for future growth.“

The book is right. Pruning is not fun. It can be painful, stressful, and challenging.

I, for one, am terrible at it. Terrible. At. It.

I am over-committed. My life is busting at the seams, and not only do I not have any room for future growth, but I often find myself tired, cranky, and a little burnt out. I am in a season where pruning is critical.

So this week I’ve asked a handful friends to share their thoughts on where they’ve been called to cut back. I sure hope you enjoy their perspectives. And if you, like me, find yourself needing some pruning, I hope this be a catalyst for change in your life.

Is there an area of your life where you are feeling called to prune?

Did you attend Catalyst last month? And come home feeling all warm, fuzzy and inspired? But quickly stash away your swag bag and your notes? Only to get immersed back into life as usual?

Or did something (finances, obligations, lack of vacation time) keep you at home? So you watched the seeminglingly-never-ending twitter feed and thought to yourself, “maybe next year?”

If so, you need to hear about a new initiative Catalyst is working on…Catalyst Connect.

Catalyst Connect from Catalyst on Vimeo.

Catalyst is creating intentional and strategic space for you to continue your leadership journey in relationships with those you already trust. Beginning in 2011, Catalyst will launch smaller, more intimate coaching huddles of ~5 other like minded leaders AND regional round table conversations of ~70 local leaders purposed towards facilitating conversation, collaboration, and long term leadership development. We will also encourage and support open source “meet ups” driven and championed by local Catalyst ambassadors. You are the Catalyst in your community, we want to support you and help connect you with other trusted leaders…

Pretty cool, huh?

I sure think so. I have been in one of the trial coaching huddles and it is has been one of the best things I have ever done. No lie, one of the best things I have ever done. I could go on and on about our coach, the group of people I huddle with, the invaluable (albeit painful at times) insight they offer. But I will save that for another post. Right now I want to talk about the meet ups.

On Thursday, November 4, Catalyst is having the official Catalyst Meetup Day. The hope is that we can connect with other local leaders and continue the conversation around “Tension.”

If you are in Nashville, hope you will come out and join us at 7 PM at Cantina Laredo (now, what is a meetup without table side guacamole and a margarita?) Click here for more information.

And for the non-Nashvillians, check out the meetup page to find or start a Catalyst meetup near you.

Do you struggle with taking conference experiences back to real life? If not, what have you done to make the learning, the inspiration, stick?

I’ll admit it. This is sort of a cop-out on a blog post. After all I have already tweeted this Catalyst video from Catalyst TWICE. But I can not stop thinking about this message from Francis Chan.

Catalyst East 2010: Francis Chan from Catalyst on Vimeo.

And I am processing Francis’ questions.

What is “weird”?

When they look at us what is going to be the “weirdness” about our generation?

When I look at scripture does my life “make sense”?

Do I live like I want my life to fit in Bible one day?

How about you?

Really? Just for a minute? Painfully honest?

As much as I loved Catalyst…

I kind of hated it.

You see, I was sick. And I was tired. I was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired.

For three days people (speakers, friends, and practical strangers) poured into me. They spoke wisdom. They spoke truth. They spoke love.

I should have been overflowing with inspiration, but I felt empty. I should have been thankful for all the incredible friends surrounding me, but I felt alone. I should have been confident in how much I am growing, learning, stretching, but I felt insecure. Really freaking insecure. I should have been encouraged, energized, empowered, but I felt beat-down, drained, and oh-so-broken.

Could have. Would have. Should have. Never changed a thing.

Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your need and be thankful for what has come. And know that the peace of God (a peace that is beyond any and all of our human understanding) will stand watch over your hearts and minds in Jesus, the Liberating King.

Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and with truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy. Keep to the script: whatever you learned and received and heard and saw in me – do it – and the God of peace will walk with you. Philippians 4:6-9, The Voice

So I am going to try praying about it. Praying about everything. Praying for peace. And hopefully someday soon the peace will follow.

Anyone else battling this right now?