We're here!! Come on in!!

I am resurrecting the ole blog to say...

Take your shoes off, come on in, get comfy and join us for a peek into our lives here in Kentucky.  Whether you are joining us via Facebook, our emails, or our mailings, we're glad you stopped by! We are honored that you would want to walk this journey with us.  We feel like this is the best way to keep everyone updated.  There won't be tons of posts due to my school and family responsibilities but if you need me, most of the time...you can find me here...

or you can find Chad here...

You are welcome to head over to the top right corner and enter your email so that you will get a notice directly in your inbox when a post is added. You're always welcome here!

The past two months have been wild, great, and FULL of HIM (one of my favorite songs...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B27Z7hfGRI).  Who knew we could pack so much in and still be standing?  July 22nd was decision day and in 2 1/2 weeks, we had two yards sales to scale down belongings, many goodbyes, a house packed up and ready to go.  Directly following that we had a 14 hour trip(8 by car) to unload our belongings and begin making a home here in Kentucky.  Three days later, the girls started school.  A few days after that I finished my Greek class that I took over the summer (hilariously I took this class at that time because I wanted to take it when I had nothing much going on....HA! Can we say a slight unexpected change o' plans?!?).  A week later, I started my Fall classes. It was such a swirl of activity and emotions, but I can't say that I have ever felt the Lord's peace so tangibly.  It was like a thick blanket wrapped around us.  His provision was around every corner, and in every way...financially, materially, physically, time, emotionally, spiritually, human hands to help.  We would get to a certain point and think...How?  And whoooosh....in He blew threw. 

I have never experienced something so good, yet so hard at the same time.  There were many nights of tears longing for friends, family, familiarity, our church, and "home"at the close of days filled with laughter, fun, excitement of meeting friends, new experiences and settling into "home." Yet through it all, He was constantly making His presence known to us in very tangible ways.  A few examples: 

After the end of our 1st full day here, we were EXHAUSTED.  What shall we eat?  We hadn't been to the grocery store yet and were too tired to go. Wilmore consists of one main street...Main Street :) Well, before we left a family gave us a card full of gift cards to guess where?...

It's the only quick food type place here.  Right around the corner from us. 

Of course, cause that's how our God works. 

Then, the girls' first day of school.  We sat down to read the kids version of the Jesus Calling devotional and what do we read? The title was "Rock Solid".  Here's an excerpt...

“Because I never change, you can always count on Me.  Friends may move away; you may switch churches or schools; homes can be destroyed.  Sometimes it can feel like your life has been turned completely upside down.  When that happens, come to Me.  I am rock-solid.  You never have to be afraid, because I am always with you and I never change.”

Of course, cause that's how our God works.  

Before we left we had to say goodbye to our beloved cat, Izzie.  No pets are allowed where we live. We were thankful for the sweet person who took her in (another amazing provision).  Very shortly after our move-in, this happened on our back porch...

Even though this isn't the type of kitty that is for keeping or petting, another way the Lord was speaking to our girls that He was here and He knew.  The girls have affectionately named the cat "Kalas"  which is the name of our neighborhood, Kalas Village.

 Of course, cause that's how our God works.

And then, a very familiar, loved friend from Columbus, here "unexpectedly" due to some issues that arose he needed to take care of very close by...

Of course, cause that's how our God works.

Then so many friends for the girls....

Can we say two by two?  :)  This is another family full of gals...all matching closely in age to ours.  There are several other families that we could have these same kind of pictures with...There are many, many other sweet friends the girls are getting to know!! (However, missing terribly their old friends!!)

Of course, cause that's how my God works.

So many tangible ways for us to know that He's here, He sees, and He knows.  He went before us and has been preparing this place and this time for us.  Many of you who have been walking with us the past several years know how HUGE that is for us to be able to see after all the waiting, wrestling, and wondering.  To borrow from a the way a friend here put it...WE are here.  We ARE here. We are HERE. Thank you Lord. 

For all of you who have helped us, we are deeply grateful.  Your prayers, your financial gifts, and your helping hands have all been part of God's provision for us to be able to be here.  A privilege we do not take lightly.  Thank you so very much.  Stay tuned for a picture blitz on our next post. We'll show you around our house, neighborhood, schools and give a few more details about life for us here in Kentucky. 

Blessings-

Hollie

Crooked.

Crooked.  Most of us don’t like things crooked…right?  If we see a picture that’s crooked…we reposition …if we are cutting or drawing, correction is in order.  You should see my first grade class picture…my smile is so crooked…I remember my family commenting on it, and I thought…oh, can I please redo it?  Of course, now, I look and it gives me a good laugh!  Well, the past 6 years or so…you could say that the path the Lord has allowed for my husband and I has been “crooked” .   It definitely hasn’t been the traditional road that we always thought we would be on.  We set our hearts on a journey and though it has been amazing, I think many from the outside could look at it and think, “What’s so amazing about it?” 

In the eyes of the standard American life, it has definitely been less than desirable…job loss, a move, a yearly salary that has continued to go backwards, a house size that has also gone the opposite direction, a couple of years struggling financially (and not due to dept or overspending…just the facts of what has unfolded before us) despite thinking we had done everything right….longing to be good stewards of what we had been entrusted with…by giving, saving, and living wisely.  Somehow, what we were experiencing was definitely crooked.  Although, underneath it all we knew that God was up to something, there were many hard days and many times of questioning. 

Then, one day a person at my church gave me this verse and it was like a humongous confirmation from the Lord….

Ecclesiastes  7:13 “Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what He has made crooked?”

What sweet reassurance He gave us during that time…It wasn’t anything that we were doing wrong…It was all His plan…and His plan is always to prosper us and not to harm us. 

Now, I could write several hundred posts on what all the Lord has done for us during this season…provision, refining, healing, strengthening…and maybe I will at some point…but the short of it is this…HE DID put us on a road that is sho’ nuff crooked.  No doubt about that.  But it has been G.O.O.D.  Now hear me on this one…not always feeling good, but definitely good in what it has produced in us. 

Presently He has called us to continue on a road that is even more crooked.  Over the past few months, we have realized that the Lord is calling us into full time ministry.  BOTH of us.  Yes, I know that in a marriage if one is called, both are called…got that.  However, the Lord has made it perfectly clear that we are to BOTH pursue seminary.  Now that again is sho’ nuff…crooked!!  At 33 and 37, we will be uprooting our family of 5 to pursue this crooked road wholeheartedly.  We honestly have NO IDEA how this is all going to work!  That is what makes it so cool.  We are totally, 100%, in over our heads.  There is no way it can work unless it is the Lord’s will.  We do however trust Him with our future, with our sweet 7,5, and 3 year old, and with all this road holds.  If He is calling, the ultimate responsibility for provision is on Him! Whew! So glad I can take that load off and trust in that! 

We have had fun thinking about us being in our 30’s and sitting next to each other in class.  I asked Chad if he would sit in the desk next to mine…he said if I would go home with him…I told him I’m not that kind of girlJ 

All joking aside…would you please pray for us in this new venture?  There are so many logistics to work out…finances for school for both of us and supporting our sweet family in the normal day to day, preparation for all of our hearts (especially our kids), a place to live, and what to do in the here and now until we go.  I am looking for a part-time job and Chad is still technically unemployed (although, the Lord has provided a short term situation for him).  We would be so thankful for any time you thought of us and lifted us up in prayer. 

What situation has the Lord made crooked for you?  Have you buckled in for the ride or are you trying to force the path straight?

Join us on the journey to embrace crooked.  It definitely keeps our attention far better than a straight path where we can turn on auto-pilot!

Blessings-

Hollie

I've Got a Golden Ticket

Do you remember the song from Willy Wonka, I’ve Got a Golden Ticket?  If not refresh your brain here…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29_uSlEEPSk

I got this in my head the other day and it really got me thinking… more on the spiritual aspect of having a “golden ticket.”  What in the world are you talking about you say?  Well, I mean the thought that once you say your “I ask Jesus into my heart prayer” you’ve pretty much done your part of the deal.  You get your golden ticket into heaven.  As long as you act pretty alright and go to church…you’ve accomplished what it’s all about. 

Can I tell you that it is so much more than that?  Not meaning so much more to add to the list of “being good.”  I mean there is SO much more to life in sweet Jesus than that.  He wants us to have life…abundantly.  Abundantly in our relationships, abundantly in our pain, abundantly in our emotions, abundantly in the blessings he so freely offers.  That heartache you have been carrying around for so long (possibly right under the surface), those relationships that are tough, those financial struggles, that lack of peace, lack of purpose, those bad habits and cycles…in  ALL of those things He wants to give you freedom, healing, and victory over.  He wants to set the captive free.  And you know what….it’s a whole lot less work on our part than most of us believe.  It isn’t a list of to do’s and don’ts.  It’s not sitting under the weight of horrible condemnation, realizing how terrible we are and will never “get there.” 

Did you know in His word He tells you that He rejoices over you with singing? (Zephaniah 3:17)  No matter if you are in the biggest mess of your life….He rejoices over you with singing.  He delights in who He made you to be.  You are not an accident. You are not a screw up.  You are a masterpiece, created by a God who loves you….who made you for a purpose…He created you out of the overflow of His love for you.  Not an object to rule over harshly or hurl constant commands at. 

I get so sad thinking about the millions of church goers all across our country who really do not have any idea about abundant life in Him….especially here in the south.  We’ve got all the answers if someone was sent to ask the question...Do you know Jesus?  The quick reply is, “Yes.” Well of course we know the stories of Jesus…I mean who grows up in the south and doesn’t know the story of Jesus dying on the cross?  But truth be known, that’s about where it ends.  I am convinced that one huge reason is because of fear and the other is because we don’t know how to do this thing called a “Christian life.”  We have had too many make it too hard.  We’ve had too few to show us and truly teach us.  We have seen many who can spout out Bible trivia like nobodies business, but when we look at their lives, they don’t seem much different than the next person.  They may even make us feel inferior because our lack of knowing all they do.  Now, let me get back to fear for a moment.  Some just don’t know what to do.  They only have heard of a God who is so full of wrath and anger that they are afraid they are gonna get zapped at any moment…so why even try? 

Our churches are filled with pews full of people who are dead on the inside.  Oh, how this grieves the heart of our loving Father.  There is so much more He wants to give us…freely.  He wants  to awaken your heart to life…with passion, with joy, with purpose.  He wants to remove that cold heart of stone and replace it with one that is flesh…alive and beating and well.    He wants to give us a “golden ticket” to be cashed in for the here and now.  Of course, what we have waiting on the other side of this life is so much more amazing than we could ever imagine…but He wants us to experience little pieces of Him every day.  He is so mindful of us.  Ask Him for a tangible expression of that truth…Lord, would you show me that you truly are mindful of me?  Be prepared to be blown away.  He will eagerly answer that request!

So, this all sounds good, but how in the world does this happen tangibly, you ask? Stay tuned to this blog for more…bits and pieces to come here and there.  He is so good, and faithful, and trustworthy, and slow to anger and abounding in love!!

Blessings-

Hollie

ffffff, ffffffff Is this thing on??

Yep. I'm still here:) Can't believe it's been almost 2 months since I have officially "posted."  I tried one night not too long ago and blogger was down.  Go figure.  BUT the exciting thing is that there has been so much excitement and stirring in the Wells family, that I can hardly sit still enough to write a post.  Then, I really have a hard time focusing on which of the thousand things I want to blog on.  So thankful for that!!  God is so good, and He is so faithful.  He is exciting and fun.  He is healer.  He truly wants to awaken hearts to life.  So glad that He is all of those things even when I am not and when I am not feeling it.

So thankful that even though my last title was "Jobless" the joy and peace in our house has not decreased...in fact it has increased!!  Nope, no job yet but we are so thankful for this season that we are in.  It has been full of Him pouring out provision after provision for us.  Amazing.  Truly amazing. 

In my head is that simple little song...My God is so BIG, so STRONG, and so MIGHTY, there's NOTHING my God cannot do!!!  Seems so simple and so familiar that I often times miss the maginitude and complete truth in those words. 

That's all I've got for now.  Just a quick post to say I'm still here and we are still truckin' this crazy, wild, unknown, and undefined road with Him. No deep revelations, no perfectly put together words...just tons, and tons, and tons of gratitude for all the Lord has done and continues to do...and for His unfailing and patient love for me.
Maybe real soon I will be able to post some details on what the Wells family may be up to in the near future.  so.very.awesome.  Please keep praying for us.  We need every one of them!

Jobless...

So today our family finds ourselves jobless....with no prospects on the horizon.  So what are we gonna do?  We are going to trust Our Heavenly Father.  We are going to proclaim that He is GOOD even when our circumstances are not.  We are going to stand on the comforting fact that He is Sovereign and His plans are to prosper and not to harm us.  We are going to keep our eyes fixed on Him and know that He gives good gifts to His children.  We are going stand on His promise of protection and provision for His children who are seeking Him the best way we know how.  We are going to continually thank Him for the abundant blessings He has so graciously poured out on our family.  We will not falter.  We will not doubt.  We will not question.   We will not ask why us.  We will not let the enemy steal our joy. We are going to smile and laugh like never before as a family.  We are going to enjoy peanut butter and jelly like never before.  I will stand by and be more proud than ever of the precious man the Lord has given to me as a gift to share this life with.  We will allow the Lord to burn off whatever layers of the world are still on us.We are going to tell our children (in a very age appropriate, non threatening and non-scary way) about the situation so that we can allow Him to build their faith even at 3yr, 5yr, and 6yr. and they can see how He is good and faithful and even at their age, see His hand on our family.  They can have the opportunity to know that He hears their prayers and is attentive to them.  We will praise Him with every fiber of our being.  These are the things we will do in our strong moments.

And when we are in our weak moments...we will pour out our hearts to the One who can be trusted with our deepest, hardest, and most tender emotions...who can take when we are weak.  We will ask for fresh strength and He will freely give it.  When the very real feelings set in of "what is our next step?" and working on crunching numbers....we will bow our knees once again and ask for patience and the reassurance that He has the master plan and everything happens in His perfect timing.  We will ask for wisdom and He will give it.

I love this song by Hillsong...check it out on youtube...it's called The Time has Come.  It is one of my favorites right now because it is so true of where our family is...the time has come for us to stand for all we believe in....where it's not just head knowledge but it's also deep heart knowledge...not just statements that come out of our mouths, but proclomations that we have lived.  Below are some of the lyrics..

The time has come
To stand for all we believe in
So I for one am gonna
Give my praise to You

Today today its all or nothing
All the way
The praise goes out to You
Yeah all the praise goes out to You
Today today I live for one thing
To give You praise
In everything I do
Yeah all the praise goes out to You

All we are is Yours
All we’re living for
Is all You are
Is all that You are Lord

He is so very good, and faithful, and trustworthy.  Praises to Him!!!!
And Blessings to you~
Hollie

That Ain't Yo' Daddy...

No, I am not going to tell you about the latest episode of a raunchy talk show:)  I want to share one of the biggest realizations for me that has absolutely changed.my.life. and my relationship with God.  Almost 5 years ago we moved to Columbus, Ga.  A year or so after moving here and finding our present church home, I heard the most wonderful, but at the time suspect, statement.

"Condemnation is never from your Heavenly Father. Conviction, yes....Condemnation...NO."

I had never heard such a statement, but my mind was reeling so I knew that I had to sit with this and find out if this was really truth.  I never even realized that I did believe this and how very far from the truth I was.  Wasn't His job to tell us when we've done something wrong?  To reprimand? To point out our wrongs?  This is were the second part of the quote comes in....the word "conviction."  To explain all this a little more clearly I'll give you some practical examples of what is and what is not of the Lord. 

NOT the voice of the Lord (Condemnation)...."Hollie, that was awful.  You always fall short in this area.  I wish you could get it together.
What WOULD be the voice of the Lord (Conviction)...Hollie, I love you and this is not My best for you.  I have given you all you need for life and godliness.  I love you too much to leave you where you are, there is so much more life in Me to be had, just follow my direction.

NOT the voice of the Lord....You always lose your patience.  What a terrible mother.  Do better.
IS the voice of the Lord....Hollie, I am for you.  When you lose your patience I know you see the effects on your family; it brings division.  Ask me for forgiveness and move on. I do.  I have an abundance of patience for you, just ask...and my mercies are new EVERY morning.

Those are just a few examples.  I hope they are helpful and that you can see the enemies tactics.  The enemy's full time occupation is to steal, kill, and destroy.  He does not want you to be built up.  He doesn't want you to see or feel hope.  He wants you to feel like there is no use in even trying.  The Lord however wants you to see the hope that He offers.  He wants you to know how much you are loved by Him...and that He loves you NO MATTER WHAT.  His love is unconditional.  His voice towards you is never hateful or unkind.  He will speak things that are hard to hear, but will never demean you or beat you up.  His word tells us in Zephaniah 3:17 that He takes great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, and He rejoices over you with singing.  Wow. That's pretty awesome.  His word also tells us that we are the apple of His eye.  I also love, love, love the story in Luke 15 where a son goes out and squanders all the wealth his father has given to him.  When he "came to his senses" ,as my Bible says, and went home...while HE WAS STILL A LONG WAY OFF, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.  What a wonderful picture of our Father.  It is so very true.  He loves us on days when we think we are doing good, he loves us when we think we have blown it, and when we are far away....He longs for us to be home.
Yes, this quote has redone some wiring in my brain as to how I see and experience sweet Jesus.  To know that He is for me and not against me.  He is not waiting at my first wrong move to zap me.  He IS gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love (Psalm 145).  Below is ole' websters definition of condemn....

con·demn verb (used with object)

1. to express an unfavorable or adverse judgment on; indicate strong disapproval of; censure.

2. to pronounce to be guilty; sentence to punishment: to condemn a murderer to life imprisonment.

3. to give grounds or reason for convicting or censuring: His acts condemn him.

4. to judge or pronounce to be unfit for use or service: to condemn an old building.

5. U.S. Law . to acquire ownership of for a public purpose, under the right of eminent domain: The city condemned the property.

6. to force into a specific state or activity: His lack of education condemned him to a life of menial Jobs.

7. to declare incurable.

If the voices you are hearing sound more like this definition....It ain't yo' Daddy.  Your Daddy is tender, merciful, gracious, kind, loving, and giver of life.  Pray that He would help you recognize the voice of the enemy...tell them to go away in Jesus' name....and then allow the Lord to fill you with His truth about who you are and what He thinks of you.  Write them down.  Post them where you can see them.  Email me if you have questions.  I'd love to share more if you need it. 
Blessings sweet friends and family-
Hollie

Well, I did it...

So, I am not big into jumping on the bandwagon when it comes to "trendy" type things.  In fact, most of the time I feel quite resistant to said things.  This whole blog thing would definitely fit into that category.  I LOVE reading other people's blogs, and never really thought about or was interested in having my own.  In fact, I can't tell you how many times I've said..."Yep, love other people's blogs but I just don't feel like I have to have my own or feel a need to start one."  In fact, it would be one of those things I would most likely start, post once or twice, and then never keep up.  Then enters that wonderful, still, small voice of the Lord...."start a blog"  Me- Ha! That's funny!  Several times more comes the voice I know and love..."start a blog"  Me-That's funny cause I really don't think that's for me....BUT if that is You Lord asking me to do this, then give me a name 'cause I knows lots and lots of people who really stress over just the name of their blog and I'm am so not willing to stress or give too much thought to that, with all the other real opportunities for stress in my life:)  Then...immediately...Extraordinary family, Extraordinary God.  How's that for a name, and for easy? (It is also a combination of recent titles from church and a quote from a friend...which I will share in another post)  Sooo, here I go....and am not even gonna really allow myself to "go there" about what if I do it and nobody ever reads it?  I know that obedience is worth it...even if I am the only person to ever read it!  At least I will have a journal of sorts.  The really cool thing is I am not really doing this to show you how cool my family is or all the cool stuff we do (though those are fun too!)...I just feel like the Lord has blessed me with some amazing people in my life...which help me tremendously in my own walk with the Lord....and many of my thoughts/revelations are directly related to "doing life" with those people...which I think are worth sharing about.  I also love, love, love how the Lord works and moves and speaks and delivers and encourages...and I think this is a cool way to get some of those thoughts out of my head and into a logical, documented format:)  So, if someone reads it and is encouraged in some way, great, or if no one reads it and it's only for my benefit, great.  I just love life in Him...there's nothing like it...no greater sweetness...no greater peace...and I LOVE sharing the practical ways that He helps me experience these conclusions.  So welcome to my blog.  May the Lord be glorified.