Ode to Iowa State: It was a heck of a season boys!

Now that I am back in the States, I forgot just how much I love Cyclone athletics! 

I came back just in time for an epic season! 

Ode to Iowa State below...

It can’t be described, but I sure will try. 

It’s a feeling of emotion. 

It’s passion at its core. 

It’s joy and sorrow.

It’s victory and defeat. 

It’s life and love. 

It’s unpredictable yet worth the ride. 

It’s up and down and everything in between.      

What is it?  It’s a CYCLONE LIFE!

We are a family that bleeds red and gold.  We gather around TV screens, congregate in sports bars, arrive early to games and drive through the night for a 2-hour event.     

We are often a group strangers that embrace with a smile and hug, knowing the bond of red and gold goes deeper than colors on a t-shirt. 

We aren’t fair weather fans.  We don’t understand the term bandwagon.  We were here at the beginning and we will be here till the end.  We are tried and true.  We shout loud, cry hard, and are faithful in every season, with every coach and player. 

When names like Johnny Orr, Fred Hoiberg, Cael Sanderson, Paul Rhoads, Jack Trice, and others of new and old are mentioned, our hearts can’t help but warm as their significance brings honor and prestige to a University we hold so dear.

We back our team.  We fight with our team. 

We are loyal to our team.  We believe in our team. 

We are Iowa State. We are the Cyclones.  We are family. 

Like I said, the love of Iowa State can’t be described, but I sure did try!

Win or lose, Iowa State we will choose.  So sing it loud and sing it proud!

GO STATE!  From one sport to the next...

 O we will fight, fight, fight for Iowa State, 


And may her colors ever fly.


Yes, we will fight with might for Iowa State, 
With a will to do or die, 


Rah! Rah! Rah! 


Loyal sons forever true, 
And we will fight the battle through. 


And when we hit that line we'll hit it hard ev'ry yard, for I. S. U.

These are a few of my favorite things...

As requested from a friend to share, here are a few of my 
favorite books, movies, sports teams, & music...

Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson | Fashioned to Reign by Kris Vallotton | Anything by AW Tozer | Bernstein Bears (thanks to my nieces) | Culture of Honor by Danny Silk | Good Morning Holy Spirit by Benny Hinn | James Patterson's murder mysteries | Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller | Strengthen Yourself in the Lord by Bill Johnson | The Message translation of the Bible | The Shack | Killing Jesus, Killing Lincoln, & Killing Kennedy by Bill O’Reilly | Twilight series | Hunger Games 

The Bourne series | Home Alone | Christmas Vacation | Clue | The Lord of the Rings Trilogy | The Chronicles of Narnia | The Shawshank Redemption | The Dark Knight | Gladiator 

True stories such as,  Saving Mr Banks, Zero Dark Thirty, American Hustle, Argo, The Blind Side, The Social Network, 12 Years a Slave, Captain Phillips, 42, Moneyball, We bought a Zoo, Lincoln 

Sports Teams: 

Iowa State Cyclones (Sweet 16 baby!) | Kansas City Chiefs | Boston Red Sox's

We try to brainwash the Schaefer children from a young age! 

Music: (I do love music, although not as much as books, movies, and sports, as you can see!)

Journey | Mumford & Sons | United Pursuit | Les Miserables | Ben Howard | Bethel | Jesus Culture | Rend Collective |  Fun 

Have you experienced your greatest compliment?

Have you experienced it?  Do you remember it?  What did they say?  The moment when they leaned in and softly spoke the greatest compliment you have ever heard.

Maybe you took a step back and awkwardly said thank you, oh wow, that is so kind of you, and only when you walked away did you smile to yourself and your heart filled with joy. 

This is the power of a compliment.  It brings hope, joy, and releases love into our life.  A compliment communicates that who we long to be is shining through and people are noticing. 

As I left England, I received one of these grand-daddy compliments.  A wonderful person said to me, “Know the best thing you could have done for all of us was not what you left us but what you have left in us.”

I don’t write this to brag on myself, but rather because it’s been a comment I have reflected on and been challenged by time and time again. (and I have enough of you out there that keep me humble on a regular basis!) :) 

For over a year now, God has been highlighting to me the "who" factor. 

Who am I when no one is watching? 

Who am I to strangers? 

Who am I going to be, rather than what am I going to do?

This who factor won’t escape me and I am thankful God will not let it.

Everywhere we go, we release who we are.  If we carry judgment, envy, hatred, or hurt that’s what we release.  If we carry joy, hope, peace, patience, or love then that’s what we release.  It’s that simple.

Yet for me, the what questions always seem to take precedence over my life. 

What does God want me to do? 

What’s my purpose?

What goals should I set? 

This year I am striving to ask the who questions more frequently.  

Who am I becoming? 

Who am I going to strive to be ? 

Who needs extra love and blessing today? 

At the beginning of the year I posted a similar blog, but like I said, the who factor won't escape me so maybe the more I talk about it, the more I will live it! 

Ok, enough about me already, what about you?  When did you experience it?  What did they say?  The moment when they leaned in and softly spoke the greatest compliment you have ever heard.

God is calling forth His hidden ones....

    

   For such a time as this, God is calling forth His hidden ones…

You have probably experienced trying to go up a downward moving escalator.  As you know it’s incredibly frustrating as every ounce of effort you put it barely moves you closer to the top.

This was the picture God gave me a few days ago, as I heard Him say, He’s calling forth His hidden ones for such a time as this. 

In this picture I saw someone struggling up an escalator and heard God say, “Stop, Rest and Wait.”  The person did just that and immediately disappeared at the bottom.  I then saw God take them the back way, tucked under His arm, hidden from sight, and held securely in His arms.  

He was taking them up and up without anyone noticing, and without them having to go through the extra striving and struggle.   In God’s perfect timing they were being fast-tracked to where they need to go, and lifted high for such a time as this. 

I believe this word is coming to fruition as He’s been hiding some of His children and soon they will come forth and be released to their God-given destiny.  He’s moving people into the right places and positions, as He prepares His people for the task at hand. 

These hidden ones have made it their mission to stay at the heartbeat of God and will soon rise up and take their stand to be commissioned and released. 

As I have reflected on this word, the only response that continues to come to mind is this.....

GET READY!

It's that simple!

For such a time as this, He's calling forth His hidden ones...