Special Note: Today I am taking part in a blog series on Prodigal Magazine. You should check out the other articles from a list of incredible bloggers. You can submit you own article there as well. Just go here. 

If you have been around here before you probably know that I am a huge fan of Donald Miller, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years and the concept of living a good story. I’ve credited all three with changing the way I think, and the way I live. So when Darrell mentioned this Prodigal Magazine series on what it means to live a good story I had to say ‘yes.’

“A good story helps us answer the question: Is life worth engaging?” — Donald Miller

An element that has appeared throughout my story {more so in recent months and years} is suspense, intrigue, and the disarming appearance of the unexpected. No one could call my path predictable. And no one would find my story engaging without its twists and turns.

Last Monday, I announced that I will be leaving California to move back to Nashville. When I made the decision nine months ago to pick up and leave the home where I felt so safe, secure, and comfortable, I thought my Orange County adventure would be a lot more…permanent. Truth be told, I thought I would settle in, meet a kind man who liked the way I say ‘y’all’, and slowly but surely embrace the lifestyle, the culture, and even the vernacular, but what I expected wasn’t what was in the cards.

My California adventure wasn’t the fairytale I had assumed, instead it was a much-needed season of restoration and reflection.

And now…unpredictably, unexpectedly, intriguingly, I’m scheming the second cross country move in less than a year.

And so…as excited and as hopeful as I am about the future, I know I can’t even fathom what’s next. But that’s what makes life fun and that’s what makes my story engaging.

The epic stories that I want to read, and watch, over and over again aren’t boring, predictable, or comfortable, so why should my story be? 

What’s a recent twist and turn in your story? Have you learned to appreciate the unpredictable-ness of life, and of God? 

And a special announcement…

As a part of my new unexpected adventure, I get to travel to Ethiopia {my first trip to Africa EVER – insert squeal here} from July 9th through the 16th. I can not wait to travel with some old friends and meet some new ones, to see firsthand the work of Food for the Hungry, to interact with a little boy I just sponsored and his family, and to blog stories so you can all share in this journey with me. So please go here to learn more about the trip and the incredible bloggers that I am traveling with. And go here to consider sponsoring a child with Food for the Hungry in Ethiopia. We’ll be meeting these kids so if you do choose sponsorship prior to the trip, shoot me an email to lindseyrnobles@gmail.com so that I can keep an eye out for the new additions to your family.

Today’s post is from Bianca Juarez Olthoff. ‘B’ works for The A21 Campaign as the Chief Storyteller. And she is believes in me, and my dreams, even when I can’t believe in them myself. Bianca dreams and she dreams big.  I am immensely thankful Bianca and her husband Matt and how they have welcomed me into their life and their family. 

Read Bianca’s blog here. 

Follow her on twitter here.

In a pivotal moment of life, I had the opportunity to connect with a brilliant man who challenged my dreams, my aspirations, but more importantly, my fear. It went a little something like…

Me: I want to do [______________] and I can’t.

Him: What’s stopping you from doing it?

Me: I don’t know. I can’t explain it…

Him: I don’t know you well, but I can tell you know what it is. And I’m pushing you to articulate what’s holding you back.

Me: Okay, okay. I’m… I’m so… fearful.

Him: You’re fearful of being fearful?

Me: Yes.

Him: What’s the worst possible thing that could happen? What’s the worst case scenario? Lay it on me!

Me: I’m fearful of the consequences of following my heart and failing. I fear losing money on empty pipe dreams. I fear poverty. I fear inability to change what everyone seems to believe cannot. I fear failure and embarrassment and humiliation. I fear being a neglectful wife and poor step-mother and failing homemaker. I fear dreaming so big that I’m lost in the orbit of a universe outside of our galaxy… floating past the point of no return where I can’t come back and live a life I once did. But most of all, I fear the audacity of believing I can change the world and feeling ridiculous for believing I can.

Him: If all those things happen, are you still alive? Can you still dream? Will your family still love you? With all due respect Bianca, I don’t think your fear is of failure. No, your greatest fear is that you will succeed. And you don’t know what to do with that.

In pursuing the calling God puts in our life, what can fear kill? Everything. Fear will inhibit and thwart us from being the person we sense in our hearts we truly are. The one who is talented and compassionate and gifted. The one who is smart and logical and able. The one who is called and predestined and confirmed.

Me: What are you dreaming of? What is stopping you?

You: _______________ 

Today I am guest posting over on Ed Stetzer’s blog as a part of his “Thursday is for Thinkers” series. {I know, I know, I probably don’t come to the top of your mind when you list out today’s great thinkers.} I shared a little bit about the quest I’ve been on lately. And man, has it been a wild ride!

The Quest

Let me start by saying that “Thursday is for Thinkers” is probably the most intimidating title for a guest post series, at least one that I’ve contributed to. {Not sure I belong in the ‘thinker’ camp.} But regardless, I’m excited to contribute and share a little of my story and my heart.

The other night as I was scanning through Twitter, I saw a friend post a 140-character excerpt from Jesus Calling. As many have experienced who have spent any time in the work of Sarah Young, I felt like the words were written from God just for me, just for this season that I’m walking in.

“Do not fear change, for I am making you a new creation, with old things passing away and new things continually on the horizon.

When you cling to old ways and sameness you resist My work within you. I want you to embrace all that I am doing in your life, finding your security in Me alone. ”

– Sarah Young, Jesus Calling, February 17 

Click here to read the rest of the post.  And be sure to leave a comment. We are going to send one lucky commenter a Project 7 gift pack with gum, mints, t-shirts and of course, COFFEE.

Happy Thursday friends!

My friends Justin and Trisha Davis asked if I would be willing to guest post on their blog. I happily obliged because I adore the Davises and there aren’t many things I wouldn’t do for them. But it has been a little difficult to find the discipline to get the post written. Why?  Well, because the topic they asked me to blog about is “transition” which I feel like is all I have been talking about, all I have been blogging about, and all I have been living. Candidly, “transition” has me a little exhausted.

It’s hard, you know?

Waking up in a new apartment, in a new city, in a new state, in a new culture, throwing on new clothes {the weather and the casual Orange County atmosphere necessitate}, heading into a new job with new co-workers and a new boss, and escaping in the evening to grab a quick dinner at a new restaurant before going to a new small group at a new church. Nothing is familiar. It’s all new. It’s disorienting. And it’s hard. Click here to continue reading. 

Hi. Trisha Davis here…

Today I decided to hijack Lindsey’s blog! Because I have moved thirteen times and because I may have dubbed myself  “Queen of Moving Land” if there was such a place. Moving is that season of life where normal no longer feels normal. A season in which familiar is replaced by unfamiliar and “remember when” is no longer spoken. But like all seasons, this season of moving will come to an end and before long normal, familiar and “remember when’s” return.

So while Lindsey is still in the thick of her season of moving I thought her online community could be her normal, her familiar and her “remember when’s” because today is…

Lindsey’s Birthday!

So will you join me today to give this birthday girl the best online birthday party ever? (Remember I’m the queen and if you don’t it’s off with you head)

I’ll go first… Happy Birthday Lindsey! You are a gift and I thank God for the way he has used you in the life of my family, friends and church family. I’m thankful that you have taught me new words that one day Jesus will want to talk about with me. I hope your day is AWESOME!!!

Wisdom Brewster Laid Down at Echo

Programming is really about planning, preparing and executing great ideas to create atmosphere. Hustle is not about how we work, it’s about how we approach our work. Hustle is a mindset one embraces. It’s doing whatever it takes and refusing to accept excuses or hinderance from allowing us to do the things we have been made to do.

Why does programming matter?

At Cross Point, we want to create an atmosphere where our communicators can win every time they stand up.

Here’s our process:

Meet and review what needs to happen {big picture} over the next 12 months.

2 Vision Series, 4 Regular Series, 1 Summer Series, 1 Christmas, 1 Easter.

Then break it into Series View.

Work one series out. The first filter we have is to not be safe. How can we stretch, grow and experiment?

Our competition is not other churches. It is the NFL, the ML, the couch, and the lake. We have to create environments that distinguish themselves from the clutter.

“If content is king, context is God.” Gary Vaynerchuk

Then comes the fun part. Brainstorming ideas. Executing a creative meeting.

Find creative ways to make your creative meetings…creative.

Use the 3 Doors method.
1st door – Large group comes prepared with a lot of ideas.
2nd door – Small team with a lot of trust. Ideas are edited and fleshed out.
3rd door – Pitch ideas to communicators.

Don’t be safe. Be original. Try to challenge the systems in your space.

And always think through the 5 different venues you have to present a concept. How can you present a concept from stage, in print, on web, through social, and virally?

Today I am guest posting on Jennie Allen’s blog. I had the pleasure of spending some time with Jennie several weeks ago as I was finishing up at Thomas Nelson. And I just adore her. She has the kindest spirit. She is fun. She has a heart for adoption. {She and her husband just adopted a three year old boy, Cooper, from Rwanda.} And she lives in one of my favorite places, Austin, Texas.

I have seriously considered quitting my job {oh yeah, I already did that}, packing up my belongings, and moving next-door to her so we can be the best of friends. And eat Mexican food every day.

Oh yeah, and Jennie is on the cusp of some HUGE things. Her first curriculum, Stuck, is being published by Thomas Nelson this fall. And she is working on a trade book. God has BIG things in store for Jennie Allen.

Jennie asked me to share thoughts on the following words: Risk. Change. Faith. Waiting. Uncomfortable. {I know I thought they were pretty tough words too. Next time I am hoping the words will be: Annoyances. Ice Cream. Holiday. Animal. Amusement.} Well, anywho, check out the post here. 

Be sure to go here to follow Jennie on twitter. 

And here to subscribe to her blog. 

What are your thoughts on the word: Uncomfortable?  

Today’s “Pruning” post is from Justin Davis. Justin, his wife Trisha, and their three boys are such a blessing to me. They are a living testament to how God restores and redeems our brokenness. Through their ministry at Cross Point Bellevue and Refine Us, they teach others (like me) the power of authenticity, truth, and grace.

Find their blog here.

And Justin’s twitter here.

I’ve been a Christian long enough to know that you never arrive. I’ve also been a Christian long enough to know how easy it is to have a sense of arriving. There is a tendency in all of us to think that our relationship with God has arrived. It’s not that we think we are done growing, it is a sense that we don’t think we need to grow anymore.

This isn’t something we would articulate to anyone, it is this feeling we have inside as we go to church; compare ourselves to others; evaluate where we are now compared to where we were 3 years ago. It is easy to have a sense of “I’m good. I’ve arrived.”

I guess to some extent, that is the season I’ve been in. My marriage is better than it ever has been. My relationship with God has a nice rhythm. I’m being intentional about developing my relationship with my boys. I have good friends that I enjoy spending time with. God has blessed me richly to give me a second chance in ministry.  I didn’t even realize how much I was struggling until about a month ago. Our family was on vacation in Florida, and Trisha and I just started to read together The Me I Want to Be, by John Ortberg. I had heard so many good things about it, that I was a little nervous that it wouldn’t live up to the hype for me. Be careful what you wish for.

After reading the first chapter, Trisha and I were sitting at the table talking and she said to me, “The first chapter is you, right now. You know that right?” Tears started streaming down my face. I knew that the life I was living wasn’t the life that God had in mind for me. I had a diminished sense of joy and peace in my life, and I didn’t know why. I said, “I’m not the me I want to be.”

We continued reading and at one point, I said, “I just feel like crying. I feel like mourning the life I pretended to have.” She said she wouldn’t think I was crazy if I just cried. So I did…for a while.

Through some very grace-filled, heart-felt conversations that week, I realized that I had not dealt fully with my parents divorce last year. I had not processed and mourned the news I was given last year that the man I thought was my dad, wasn’t and I was adopted. I wasn’t pursuing deep, meaningful friendships in a way that brought life to my heart.

God is not done with me. I have not arrived. I am in a season of pruning. I am in a season of refining. I am in a season of preparation. I’ve come to understand that God uses pruning and refining in our lives to prepare our hearts, our faith, our minds for a renewed call and responsibility. It is our choice to engage it or not.

In the past, I had been more than willing to embrace the expanded call and responsibility, without embracing the pruning and refining. What happened as a result was I had more responsibility than my character could withstand. I pretended for a while, but eventually imploded.

In this season, I am giving God full reign. Peel back every layer. Uncover every hurt. Walk me through every flaw. I surrender to the pruning. I want to become the me HE wants me to be. Not arriving has never felt so good.

Are you content in not arriving?