The Olive Branch

I recently got a tattoo of an olive branch on my right forearm. Before I allowed permanent ink to secrete into my body, I brought the idea before the Lord.

As I knelt down on the floor in my small bunker on the ship we lived on in Greece, I waited on God's voice. I surrendered my own desire for the tattoo (whether that be wanting it "when I wanted it", wanting to get it in a foreign country, or wanting it because all my friends were getting tattoos at the same time). I didn't hear a simple yes or no, but rather,the only thing God spoke was to have the stem of the olive branch come from my vein.

Later when I went to the tattoo shop, my artist and I were trying to figure out a placement on my arm; I told him that I had an idea to have the stem come from my vein. To my utmost shock...He nearly leaped with agreement! I looked at him stunned-I thought...this idea must have been from God if I am receiving this type of reaction (a reaction foreign to Greek male culture).

I got the tattoo.

I knew the meaning behind why I wanted the tattoo-only to a certain extent. Today, I was listening to the Pastor of Zoe Church, Chad Veach's, sermon 'Pushed, Pressed, and Passion Tested'. Through this sermon, the Lord revealed even more meaning behind why I got this tattoo. In the Bible, oil represents the Holy Spirit or anointment (etc.). Olives need to be crushed and pressed and pressed and pressed to obtain its full potential.

At the Mount of Olives, before Jesus was betrayed, He came before the Father in preparation- a time of being crushed and pressed and pressed and pressed for the journey set before Him. He came before the Lord in full surrender to the Father's will ("not my will, but thy will be done..."). He pressed deep into the Father. Jesus allowed the Father to crush and press Him in order for Jesus to reach His full potential (Mark 14).

The higher the calling- the more pressing and crushing their needs to be in your life. Only then, will you have more to offer. Every person has the ability to chose his own will or God's will for their life, and it begins with the surrender-which builds faith- which builds character. While I was living in Switzerland a year ago, I felt the Lord calling me to Australia, but I was really really angry and stubborn about it. Believe it or not, I did not want to move there. I wanted to go back to Colorado Christian University and finish my degree. It took about 3 months of me "ignoring" God's direction until I finally laid down my right to go to college and get a degree. Australia was one of the best experiences of my life where I met some of the most incredible people; I would choose Australia again in heartbeat. God's will is always better than our will. Don't let the pride of independence prevent you from falling gracefully into full dependence on God- we can do nothing apart from Him.

My Tattoo is a reminder.

The olive branch stems from my vein; He is in everything I do.