On my educational journey I will never forget the first book that I cracked open as I began down the path that God had laid before me.  The first words that I read was a quote: “There are five Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and you. Most people will never read the first four.” Let me tell you, that quote has stuck with me.  When I reflect on what it means to be a witness this quote is it for me.  Every day of my life people are watching me, knowing that I am a Christian.  It is important to remember that many people will come to know Jesus simply by how you walk out your life. I want to be a witness that draws people closer to God.  To know the true love that fills me and spills out into this world. So, I guess simply, your witness is your walk.  That right there is it.  You do not have to have any special words or scripture to share, just basically shining the light of Jesus into every step you take in this world.  It sounds simple, but really that is the most profound witnessing tool I think we carry. Be authentic. #LoveAlways Laura Dahl

The definition of Posture: the position in which you hold your body while standing, sitting or lying down. Spiritual posture is how you carry yourself in heavenly places.  When you have bad physical posture, you feel it in your body.  You look down, you carry yourself in a way that was never meant to be carried.  Spiritually this could be you not walking in your purpose, it could be not walking in your authority, it could be not connecting with God because you are not focused spiritually on Him and the heavenly things above.   This brings spiritual pain into our lives, we feel depressed, defeated, disconnected, fear, anxiety, using things to try to escape from the world, and feeling not worthy or not good enough. The world will talk about this in the term of energy.  The energy or vibe you have.  When someone that has a heavy spirit, or one that is not properly postured in the spiritual realm you will feel it when they enter the room or you enter a conversation with them.  Many times, it will feel like you are stuck in the mud with them. There is a choice that comes in this world.  Life is not easy and can knock you down, but what will you do with it?  How will you properly align your spirit and posture to be one of receiving the Holy Spirit verses getting stuck in the mud of this world.  When we are stuck in the mud, that is when our mind begins to play tricks on us and it is “the foot in the door” for Satan to have a playground.  We must purposely posture ourselves daily before the Lord to take up our cross and walk with a spiritual posture of authority no matter what the world tries to throw at us to knock us down (Matthew 16:24).  Jesus is there alongside us and ready to catch us. How do you properly posture yourself spiritually? ·        be in constant conversation with God (prayer) (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) ·        reading His word daily (the Bible) to renew our minds (Romans 12:2) ·        being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and obedient in the Spirits promptings (Isaiah 61:1). This is when we will have eyes to see and ears to hear (Proverbs 20:12).  A whole new world will be unlocked, a world of true freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17), full of fierce and fiery love (John 13:34), and an abundant life (John 10:10). So, daughter, lift your head up, straighten your back, set your shoulders back, set your eyes on the things God has for you.  And smile because God has got you and we can walk in confidence because of whose we are, the daughter of the One True King… (say it with me) Jesus! #LoveAlways Laura Dahl

As I was driving this morning there was a heavy fog present.  There were times that I could not see more than 10 feet in front of me. I found myself slowing down and a bit of panic set in.  This is when I heard the Lord say to me, slow and steady, I am with you. As the drive continued and the sun came out, the fog began to burn off. The Lord was showing me that as the sun comes up and gets brighter it clears the sight and path for clear vision again, removing the fog. The same can be said for His Son. As Jesus, His Son, comes into our life and begins to burn brighter in our lives he makes a way that is clear and safe for us. I know for me, this was such a powerful word and the timing was perfect.  I have been walking through a season where I can only see one step in front of me and have been walking by faith with God by my side.  The fog is beginning to clear and the path is able to be seen in front of me, brighter, clearer than ever before. I pray this is speaking to someone reading this right now. Maybe you are in a place that seems foggy and you cannot see where God is taking you right now.  Know that He is with you and guiding you, but you have to slow down to navigate the fog safely and to stay with Him each step of the way. Lord, thank you for your patience with us.  Your ways are so much higher than ours. Your plans are for us to prosper and have a future. Lord help us to be sensitive to your spirit and obedient to your promptings as you guide us along both in the fogginess and the sonshine. Amen #LoveAlways Laura Dahl

Matthew 21:22 (ESV) And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith Didn’t I pray hard enough? Did I not use the right words? Don’t you hear the cries of your daughter? Is my faith not deep enough? The many questions that plagued me when I suddenly lost my only brother and only 15 days after my father went onto glory. I thought you are a good father… Have you prayed for something so much, that it became your hearts passion and yearning?  That was prayer for my brother, the prodigal son.  When you pray expectant and waiting to shout from the mountain top, “Look what my God did!!!” But what about the prayers of my brother?  In this journey God has opened my eyes and strengthened my faith in ways I could never imagine. Perspective and authenticity are key. Lifting our eyes and crying out authentically to God in our grief, there is no reason to lie to him, he already knows our hearts.  He knew I was questioning why he allowed these events to unfold. If we are talking to him then we are drawing closer. God help me understand.  I wanted God to share the good that he knew was coming from this indescribable pain of these losses.  This would bring me comfort and peace through it all.  I still want to shout from the mountain top, “Look what my God did!!!” He tells us in his word that he works all things for good for those that love him.    With each day, digging deeper into His word and seeking to understand his ways that are higher than ours, He began to pull the curtain back allowing me to see his hand in every single moment.  He will do this for you too! I can sit here today and tell you that God heard the cries of his children in the situation with my brother.  My prayer was in direct opposition of my brothers.  My brother cried out to God to take him, that he was tired, he couldn’t do life in this world anymore.  My brother had been crying this for years to God.  God took my brother swift, and on His terms.  That is our good and great father.  He heard my cries too and knew that in the long run this would deepen my faith because my feet were anchored into his truths and I knew his character.  It would also send me on my next level of commissioning. Lean into God and His word in times of struggle.  It is ok to wrestle with our faith, that is when we truly get to see who this good and great God is that we serve, He will take you by the hand through it all and walk with you pointing out to you all of the unseen moments and treasures that may have been missed along the way. Heavenly Father, I thank you that I can trust you in every situation.  I know that you see the big picture and as long as I stay focused on and connected to you that you will continue to direct my path even when I doubt myself and at times you.  Help me to have the eyes to see you in every circumstance.  Thank you for being able to handle my humanness, to see through to the inner most parts of my heart and know that I still love you through it all. Amen. #LoveAlways Laura Dahl