The Alfombra Guides Me On

The path we are on is hard, but it's important and it's blessed. The beautiful flower carpets "alfombras" leading to the children's home this morning came as a sign to me to remember that I'm on the right track. I want to thank you if you were one of those people who spoke up when I was sharing deeply and honestly about my challenges. Some beautiful truths were shared that came together just like the patterns on these carpets.

Truth is perfect, our walk through life is not - when we walk along the perfect plan laid out for us we undoubtedly will stumble sometimes, but the point is to keep your eyes forward, fixing yourself to the one who is perfect. Don't get lost focusing on how your steps could have been more perfect or more even. I remind you to lift each other up as you have lifted me up.

Not everyone is as naive as me to share the hard stuff in such a public way. Many hold it all in and never get the chance to see how much they're cared for.

So keep reaching out your hands and hearts to people. Remind them that they matter and remind them of the truth of their worth, lay out the carpet.

I promise I won't sugar coat my life just because social media makes it easy to fake perfection. My life is not perfect and neither am I, but God is still using me. And that makes everything worth it!

I got to take my girl Alejandra out for a "walk" ...roll? today after the procession ended. She's the one who deserves a carpet of flowers... Love you people, so so much. It's not easy to be away from you, and that's a good thing. I promise to keep learning - it's a beautiful path I'm blessed to walk along.

My Grown-Up Christmas List

Coming up with a Christmas list this year is really hard. I have everything I need. But the weird thing is I happen own less than I've ever owned.

We came here to Guatemalawith 2 suitcases total... I bought one scarf to replace one I gave away, food and flowers, and that's it... literally. I think the word is called "grace" - we are practically drowning in grace.

So this year I made a "Grown Up Christmas List" it's under construction but worth sharing anyway: www.ambitiouschristianwomen.org/marketplace

What would make me really super duper excited and grateful is if you supported one or more of these small business owners on that list, these are people that I personally know and love, and they are part of an online community I'm building.

And yeah, we are on there too, with the 501c3 Hope for Home and your donation goes 100% to their organization, not our living expenses. You can even pick a disabled child to support monthly or give a one time gift. Write on the note it's our Christmas present so I can do some happy dances. <3

Thanks everyone. This is my grown up Christmas list. <3

My Christian Perspective With Trump Named President

I woke up in the middle of the night to see who won. Some say God won and are being very vocal about it on social media so as a Jesus follower I want to speak plainly about the outcome of the election for a moment. When I was out last night with the piñatas, I met a Indian woman and asked if she was a Trump supporter.

She simply pointed at her skin and said "what do you think?" I think that says a lot about a nation divided. 😔

Jesus would NEVER make anyone feel that way. We have a LOT of work to do.

A man who lives, acts, and talks like Trump is not what Christians stand for. We stand for Jesus whose life and speech was much the opposite.

 Christian friends, if you feel that God has won, mark my words: no one comes to God through law, they come to Christ by grace.

You must not rely on law to save the unborn, you must be a true friend to the hurting woman in her darkest hour. You must meet her at the well, or in the middle of people hurling rocks, and show her incredible levels of understanding, that's what Jesus teaches!

If you're not like that, if you don't actively support abused women or women on the streets on a personal level, you really haven't earned anyone's ear, heart, or mind on issues of abortion or anything else.

I think we will see what really happens. But don't be surprised if the outcome brings a ton of persecution to Christians, especially those who are now being vocal thinking that God somehow won through a political candidate.

For another perspective on this, I'd love you to take a look at my friend's blog Sincerely, Erin and her post entitled "Today is a Hard Day"

Just a Hint of Wrong - what maxims and mantras are you allowing into your life?

Today I'm writing you from Impact Hub in Guatemala. It's a special place for business owners to connect to ultra fast wifi in a unique co-working space. As a frequent traveler, I appreciate the ability to make new connections and strike up new business in a co-working environment.

This is my a free test day, and I'm deciding whether to make this my spot, or if I want to engage in more open environments like cafes like I normally do. It's not my first time in a co-working space, and I'm sure it won't be the last.

This particular co-working space has a giant picture of Steve Jobs on the wall. So here is my selfie with the giant.

It's funny to me the way he's idolized by entrepreneurs worldwide, but I get it.

Steve Jobs achieved massive success and overcame some huge obstacles. I enjoy and count on many of the products he developed (I'm writing this from a MacBook Pro). However, for all his good traits, some say he was extraordinarily difficult to work for, and he was by no means a perfect example of how to do life. No human being is perfect, and because of that I believe no one should be worshiped.

Before Christ overhauled his area of my mind, I definitely worshiped people like Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and others like them. I made a point of memorizing their words, as if they were scripture. But I experienced a healing that shows me that they are not better than me!

No, they not worthy of worship, we are actually equal in the sight of God. While our gifts, talents, and abilities are good, they not the true essence of who we are.

Even if all your abilities and skills disappeared overnight through some terrible accident or mishap, you would still be completely and totally valuable to and loved by your creator.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

That knowledge was truly freeing for me, and I hope it is for you too.

I recently wrote an article for BeLoved Ministries that dives a little deeper into this subject, offering some solid Bible verses that I think will surprise you... and make you look at yourself with more grace and acceptance.

The article is designed to free you from the bondage of slavery to worshipping human-sourced wisdom, and enter into the freedom of true and pure wisdom that transcends, because it comes from God. Yes, it is possible to build your business and become very successful, relying on the 1 source of real wisdom, God himself. And I believe if you follow Christ, he will guide your steps every day to help you build something that matters, without compromising on your treatment of others, your health, or your values of family and connection.

That article is here: Just a Hint of Wrong: what maxims and mantras are you allowing into your life? It's a short 2 minute read.

I can't wait to share more about my time in Guatemala. This is just the tippy-tip of the iceberg.

Never stop learning, growing, and reaching,