For Freedom

I'm one of those girls who talks a lot about perspective.

I haven't had much lately. Nope, none actually.


But that has changed.
It changed because of freedom. Yes, freedom.
One of my new favorite verses says this "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

How amazing is that? Jesus wants us free just because He wants us free. The experience of freedom was enough to set us free. 


My story in freedom is a long one. It's one that I'm not sure I can share completely yet. But what I can share is this: I'm not so much a new person now as I am who I should have been all along. I don't really have different qualities, it's more like I have started being who I started as. In the midst of it all, Father has started showing me what part of Himself He has placed inside of me, and the truth of how from the part of Him in me will the wellspring of life flow.


It's huge. 


And I can't really explain it all. But I'll try to post my thoughts as they come. 


It's a little hard for me to talk about this at all. I'm a REALLY privet person. But Holy Spirit is reminding me of Revelation 12:11 "And they overcame him [the enemy] by of the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony."


For freedom Father wants you free also. 


So I'm here to declare my testimony. It is after all how I will overcome the enemy.


I'm free! I'm continuing to fight for freedom everyday. I will not stop fighting for freedom. For when I'm free, I am who Father created me to be. I am who I am because He is I AM. 


Alana


Ps-The picture is just something that reminds me of freedom--just because it means travel :-) 

Hey World Changer...

I once thought I knew what it meant to be a world changer.

Maybe I did.

I thought it was living a life that was different than normal...overseas, making a name for myself among the churches I grew up in, being one of the best photographers in the world, telling stories of lives so far away from anywhere I grew up.

But then all of my world changing tools left me. I was Stateside. I became a new girl in town. I put my camera down. My writing was put on the back burner.

And when all that left, I realized what it truly meant for me to be a world changer.

It was love.

Every day I get to pour into peoples lives. I get to encourage, I get to uplift. My passion was never traveling, photography or stories, it was loving people. This is what makes me happy, this is what makes me enjoy all of my world changing tools. The people, and how much I just want to love them.

So now, I'm not overseas. I'm not taking pictures. I'm just starting to write again. I serve coffee, I manage, I train. I listen and hear. I give directions. I move boxes. But I'm loving, and ever learning how to give more.

When I really think about it, I'm grateful for the life change. Because I am changing my world. The Creator of the universe started with love. It was the only reason He sent His Son to change the course of history. It was the first motivation that ever compelled the Son to die. "Because God so loved the world..." (John 3:16)

Love is really that powerful.

So why is it sometimes the last resort? Why isn't it my main motivation and investment? Why is most of life spent trying to get to a place where one can start loving instead of loving and then getting to that place? Why are so many waiting until they get their lives together to start loving? I'm here to say that I had it together, I had a name. I was considered by many to be a world changer. But until I had to stop and start only moving forward with love, I never found the blessing I was looking for.

Thank about it friends? Are you a world changer? Are you following God's example and loving first? Because you ARE a world changer...active or not?

Hey World Changer....

Where have you been?

Then There Came Life...

I'll admit, I'm even wondering where I've been.

Here I am a lover of life and writing and I'm no where near this blog.

But as one of my friends said last night, "Sometimes life is just, you know, life."

Let's see...last July...oh garsh that was a long time ago. A LOT of life has happened. I've come up with several of my "theories" I've taken a few pictures (yes, only a few, it is a bummer.) I've written a story. Yes, a story. I've worked a ton, yes a ton. I've read about 4 books. Sigh, only 4. I've fallen in love. I had a birthday. I got a raise. I drank several gallons of coffee. I missed my family. I've exited Texas TWICE. Not yet the USA. Worked. Worked. Worked. Learned how to run a business, learned how to lead. Laughed, hurt, overcome, waited.

Since last July I've been grown. I've been through pain and experienced healing, I've done more living than I thought possible. This has grown me. It's changed me. I'm not sure why I haven't written about it. Maybe because I didn't think anyone would want to read it. Maybe because it was too crazy. Maybe because I didn't know what to think of life half of the time. I'm not quite sure what it was, but I'm hoping I'm back.

Mainly because when I write, my heart comes out. My passion is ignited. My dreams are bigger, my heart for my work is truly alive within me.

Writing is one of the ways I get to love people. Loving people is my favorite thing to do.

So this isn't much. But it's a post. I've enjoyed writing it. I hope you've enjoyed reading it :)

Alana

photo by Michaella Elliott 

We're doing life. Having fun. (Well he's overseas right now... more like we're having fun and missing each other.) 

Sometimes the things deepest in your heart are the hardest to find words for. It’s as if they are so close and so treasured that words just aren’t good enough.

So today I’m digging.

Because I’ve realized that I’ve fallen off the face of the earth. Because not only have I changed, but e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. about my life adventure has changed.

And I don’t just mean my new haircut.

I’m pretty sure if you would have asked me this time last year where I would be in a year I would have told you something like:

“Oh I’ll probably be back overseas somewhere, still taking pictures, still loving being this single girl making a difference for God. Yeah, I love life like it is right now, no need to change it!”

Um… in case you couldn’t guess—that is not what life is like right now.

Go back friends, go back and see what I wrote this time last year. Then come back and pick up where I am now… it’s different.

But I’m happy.

I’m in love. With this guy named Daniel. I didn’t want him to come into my life (didn’t even like him at first) and I wasn’t ready for a relationship in my mind. I guess God had other ideas.

My summer means staying in the States—oh wait I mean State, as in Texas. Other than my family vacation I wont be leaving Texas. I’m not used to this.

I actually have to follow a budget. Because I’m kinda grown up now, have my own cell phone.

Priorities don’t come easily anymore. I have to think about them, plan time with all the people in my life and make sure that it’s balanced. I’m used to flying by the seat of my pants. No more, I have a job.

All of these bullet points need words and pictures. So I’m digging through my heart and looking for the words I need, and through my files for the pictures.

Some things about me haven’t changed—I still believe stories are meant to be told. I still love to look at life different than others. It’s still easier for me to communicate with written words than spoken. And Jesus is still teaching me how to be free.

Be looking for these new life stories in the coming weeks.

[Here is a portrait of my man. So handsome right??]

Alana

Blessings

I am having a rough day. [This is where you all roll your eyes and say "Lans, it happens."]

But have you ever had one of those days where you wake up and just don't want to get out of bed? When you're so overwhelmed at what the weekend (yes, not even the week) holds that you don't know how to proceed? Have you ever made yourself get ready for a meeting then, get lost driving there, and then once you're there realize you missed a memo and it wasn't happening? What about when you walk all over a shopping center to find the cell phone store--because you need (yes, Daddy I did say 'need.' We've talked on this.) a smart phone. Once you're there, you realize that you couldn't afford it even if you lived off of the dollar menue once a day for the next month. By then you're ready to cry.

People it's not even noon yet and this is the pace of my life e.v.e.r.y day. So I did cry.

But you see, there is this thing about a loving God: He doesn't let you stay where you are.

Thirty minutes ago, I wanted to run away. I wanted to go home, sit on my daddy's lap, and watch my momma cook. I wanted to stop everything and play with my siblings for hours and jump on the trampoline, and watch the wind whip across the plains.

Now, I still want that, but I have been overwhelmed in a different way. By the blessings my Father has given me.

I was just standing there, tears coming, wind blowing my hair and Him whispering in my ear.

I love you Alana. I see where you are and what you need. I have given you so so much. People who love you, who cherish you. People who will listen to you, people you can rely on. I've given you a job you love, I've opened the door for you do what you're good at. I'm letting you write and take pictures AND serve coffee. I've given you favor just because you a.r.e. Mine. Your car is running, you'll have work hanging in a gallery next week and you have a good bed.

And above all, you have a Savior, who saved you from your sins and has given you the gift of the right to be my child. You are loved.

Friends, it doesn't always take a sermon to grow. Mostly it only takes the everyday ordinary challenges seen from His perspective.

This weekend remember that. He died for you AND He overcame death for you. Jesus gave the Just Father the sacrifice that was needed so we could have the right to become sons of God (John 1:12-13) Don't forget how much He loves you and wants to show you His perfect love.

Happy Resurrection Day!

-lans

change

Making art from art. I'm not sure if it's legit, but it helps my point for the post :)

There are times when songs get stuck in my head. "Change in the Making" by Addison Road has been floating around today.

Theres a better version of me
That I cant quite see
But things are gonna change
Right now Im a total mess and
Right now I'm completely incomplete
But things are gonna change
Cause youre not through with me yet

This is redemptions story
With every step that I'm taking
Every day, you're chipping away
What I dont need
This is me under construction
This is my pride being broken
And every day I'm closer to who Im meant to be
I'm a change in the making

I can't even begin to say how much there is to write about. I pretty much dropped off the face of the earth right before I few back to the States, so here I am to resurface and let you all know I've not decided to run away and never come back.

The last three weeks of my life have been indescribably hard, great, fantastic, wonderful, ugly and beautiful. Yes, all those things. I don't even think I could give the bullet points before blogger would tell me it was too long to post ;)

But really, life has been overwhelming.

And thank God, He's not finished with me. He's not finished with my destiny, my heart, my life.

He has me under construction. He is digging deep in my heart and pulling out things that have needed to be gone for a long time.

God has also been giving me great gifts. Like celebrating my best friend's marriage to the man of her dreams, my family coming in this weekend, dropping my little sister off at the airport for her incredible adventure to Alaska. Crying over pictures and seeing God give me the vision I need.

I'm convenced, at times it's the gifts that really push life over the edge to being overwhelming.

And so, there is much to write about. Like adjusting to the States again and the lessons I've been learning on that front, or what it means to endure, or about the wedding (*happiness*) or my next move, or what I've been learning about letting go, or Japan and how it has effected my outlook on life.

So. Much.

I'm a change in the making. And I take great comfort in creativity of my Abba. At times, life just seems like a bunch of useless colors, running around in zig zag lines, never seeming to be creating anything. Little do I know just how wonderful of an artist God is. He can take what seems worthless and make it beautiful.

That, is what it is to create change.

Hualien

I'm home.

It's the most wonderful feeling.... And one of the saddest.

It's painful to have so much joy at seeing the people you love, then turning right around and having the sadness of saying goodbye. It's not that I don't love being back, it's that it's so hard to say goodbye again so soon.

I really have much to write. But right now, all I have to say is that I've missed this. I've missed my Taiwan life. Especially the people. (Especially these two little boys.) And I can't wait for the time that I will get to come back again.

But right now, in this moment I'm more happy than I've been in a long time. For sure.