What are you saying??

"My manager doesn't know what she's doing."
"My co-worker is a drug addict and lousy at his job."
"The youth don't care about Jesus."
"So-and-so has no respect for anyone."

Um, hello? WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
God caught my attention this weekend about what I was saying in conversations. Things were flying out of my mouth without any filtration at all. Things that if I was really thinking about it, I would not say because that is not the way I want those things to go.
The Bible says to "call those things that be not as though they were." (Romans 4:17) I may not see a whole lot of good in situations, but what I see is not what is real. What is real is what God would say about the situation. God would look at the situations and say:
"My manager is full of the wisdom of God and makes wise decisions."
"My co-worker is saved and is walking in the grace of God. He is redeemed and delivered and realizes his God-given purpose which drives him to do his job as unto the Lord."
"The youth are awake, hungry, and on fire for Jesus."
"So-and-so fears God and loves people with the love of God that was shed abroad in their heart."

Which set of statements sounds more like what would be ideal? God's way obviously. So why keep putting words out there to contradict God's way, and create the far less than ideal situation (or reinforce it)?

I can't promise anyone that I will never slip up and say something contrary to God's way, but I want to strive from now on to only allow the kinds of statements God would say out of my mouth. And not just about others. Things like "I'm always tired." "I can't..." and "I am not good at..." have to stop coming out of my mouth. They disagree with what God has said. Colossians 1:29 says, "For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me." His energy is working powerfully within me!!  Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." I CAN!!  Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  I was made for anything God asks me to do, its not too hard, and I am well able!!
God has made His opinion clear, my mouth needs to line up with it. And think about it, don't you feel better saying the things God says versus what we've always said? It's because we were created to have those God promises operating in our lives, not failure, not defeat, not sin... but victory.

I would challenge you today to ask yourself: what are you saying?

Harvest Time

"And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race]." Mark 16:15 (amp)

"All during this time, the good news - the Message of the Kingdom - will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come." Matthew 24:14 (msg)

"Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" John 4:35 (nkjv)

"Jesus said, 'The food that keeps me going is that I do the will  of the One who sent me, finishing the work He started. As you look around right now, wouldn't you say that in about four months it will be time to harvest? Well, I'm telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what's right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It's harvest time!" John 4:34-35 (msg)

"And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.'" Mark 1:17 (esv)

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." Proverbs 11:30 (nkjv)

"How much do you have to hate someone to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?" - Penn Jillette (athiest comedian)

"'Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you  to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters, and servants and masters not to come there. And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world." - William Booth (founder Salvation Army)

"What are we here for, to have a good time with Christians or to save sinners?" - Malla Moe (Norwegian pioneer missionary)

"Some want to live within the sound of a church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell." - C.T. Studd (English missionary)

It is time to start doing what the Bible talks about. It is time to spread this Gospel to EVERYONE. Why would you not? Surely we don't hate anyone enough to want them to die without Christ. So the only explanation I can think of for why we haven't shared Jesus with the people around us is fear.

But 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

Also, Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

God has given us the ability to do what He asked us to do. He took away our excuses.

It's time to start doing what God has commissioned us to do, and spread His life-transforming good news with everyone.

It's Harvest Time!

Strength and Faith

Isaiah 51:9a "Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD;awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago."

Isaiah 52:1 "Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean."

1Kings 20:22 "Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, 'Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do, for in the spring the king of Syria will come up against you.'"

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

2Timothy 2:1 "You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus"

Nehemiah 8:10 "Then he said to them, 'Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.'"

I could go on and on, but I think this should be clear. God wants us strengthened. He wants us strong. He says that in Christ there is strength. But I notice something else here which seems to be the reason we seldom access this strength or seem to have it as often as we need it.  He doesn't ever say that He will just make you strong. The Philippians verse comes close to that, but even there it requires something to be done. We have to DO. We have to "put on" strength. We have to get into His grace. We have to strengthen ourself and consider what we have to do. And we must choose to not be greived - to be in joy. Its all a matter of what we choose to do. The way we choose to live. Nothing happens by magic. Nothing happens just because it happens. There is a deliberate act that must be committed in order to get any promise of God. Strength is no different.
But don't despair, it is not impossible. If it was, God would never have asked us to do it. He does require deliberate faith though. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). The moment you step out in faith to do what it takes to get out of being miserable, to stop being greived; when you decide to be strong and strengthen yourself, His grace and power go into action on your behalf.

Side note: the way you strengthen yourself is to meditate on the Word, to let it change you in the way Romans 12:2 describes. Also, taking time to pray in tongues (Jude 20). And, spending time in worship (Psalm 16:11). Strengthening yourself is actually pretty easy... if you make the decision to just do it. (Nike)

Love

♥ overlooks insults
♥ talks well of others
♥ forgets mistakes
♥ does not nag
♥ does not quarrel
♥ uses kind words
♥ is honest
♥ is forgiving
♥ listens and cares
♥ delights in the success of others
♥ is helpful
♥ is not just a feeling. It's unselfish and giving, and it is proved by unselfish actions.
If you refuse to do these things, you are not acting in love.
But those who search for and desire to move in love, will know God

Proverbs 3:11/8:17/10:12,18/13:24/17:9/18:21/27:5/29:10

(taken from Proverbs for Kids from The Book)

I would love to type into this box a lovely exposition about the Sold Out lifestyle. About what it means to be fully surrendered. These subjects are resonating inside me like a newly struck bell tone. They are shaking who I am and how I see things.
However, I am not capable of putting into words the tremblings within. The only way that I could explain would be to do. To live that shaken life. To live a servants life, sold to the Master, and His to control.
I pray that I can do that. That my life can explain the joys of full surrender to those who do not understand.

rivers of living water...

John 7:38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."

there is one thing i've known for almost forever that holds true in this case- only what is in you can come out. this is why it is vital to guard what you put in, and be selective over what takes root in your mind and heart. because when the river gushes, you dont want it to be poisonous water. you want it to be that living water Jesus talked about. in order to have that living water rushing out, you have to be full of the life of God. so dont contaminate the water- guard your eargates, guard your eyegates, guard what you say. renew your mind to the Word. then pure clean ALIVE water can rush out of you... and "everything will live, wherever the river goes."  :)

i got a twitter today... still not sure what i'm doing with that. i feel old. but yeah if you wanna follow me, i put a little link thing on here (side bar under my pic), just click and follow... :)

Gifts and Talents

sometimes i get kinda down on myself because i dont write well. when i want to, i can have perfect spelling and perfect grammar, and perfect format... but the ideas dont flow. my thoughts dont make sense. i'm just not a writer.
yesterday while reading a blog by a girl 9 years my junior, i began to talk to God about this. she writes so profoundly. and so eloquently. and sometimes i wonder at her being only 15. she writes essays similar to what i had to read when i was in AP English III in high school. they are written so maturely and with so much passion, and i always am floored when i read them.
and so i whined to God "why cant i ever write like this?!  i cant even come up with something to say in a comment usually. 'wow' is about as profound as i get. i cant ever seem to get words to all the things going on in my head." and He laughed at me. (always fun when God starts laughing at you... its like "uhm God thats not funny to me!").   He said "i didnt call you to write now did i?" i looked down and said under my breath "well, no" He said "well then. why do you need to be able to do it like her?" i thought on it a moment and tried to let that sink in. He continued, "i have specific calls for you. she wont be able to do the things i've called you to do anywhere near as well as you. because i place the gifts in you that match your calling" now there is something to meditate.  this isnt the first time He's told me this. throughout my life its been one thing or another where i've compared myself to someone else (He said in the Bible not to do this!) and found myself lacking in some area.  but its because i wasnt called to that area. i dont need that gift. instead i need to be seeking the face of God for help in discovering and using all the gifts He DID give me. He hasnt left any of us without talent. and only He can make this flower of a person bloom. this tulip might not look like that daisy. but if all were daisies, wouldnt that make for a boring world? 1 Corinthians 12 addresses this- Paul says it in relation to the body- if all were an eye, where would the hearing be?  and so i see, if all were great writers, where would the scientists be? if all were writers, where would the musicians be? if all were writers, where would the counselors be? if all were writers, where would all the mechanics, janitors, cooks, mathematicians, teachers, athletes, etc be?  we all have purpose. but none of us have exactly the same purpose.
the comparisons stop now. its time to find my gift and run with it.

I surrender, all to You, all to You

brokenness.
most people dont teach on this. its not a popular message. doesnt make people feel good. isnt easy to prove with lots of scripture. no "thus saith the Lord, you must come to a place of brokenness before you are usable".  however the bible hints at it over and over. our pride must break- we cant do anything without Him. our will must break- we will always fail without Him. our view of the world must break- nothing is anything without Him.  and so often these things only break after much sorrow. when we've come to the end of ourselves finally and God says "are ya done? can I take it from here please?" and at that point, we finally can be that softened pliable clay that God the Potter can mold into the person He actually created us to be. we'll never be anything striving on our own. we'll never succeed trying to do things our way or even the way we think might be a good way. good ideas arent always God's ideas. so we have to surrender all- even the supposedly good things. all those things that we have been justifying as "oh thats not bad". if it's not God's best, then it needs to go cause it's a barrier between your heart and His. brokenness is about tearing down every barrier. its about smashing the idols in our hearts. it's about ripping out everything in us that isn't right or pleasing in His sight.
but on the other side of broken. :)
once all the demolition is done and all the rubble has been cleared away. once all the walls are down and your heart is laid bare. thats when God is faithful to what He said in His word. He is close to that broken heart. He is the healer. He is love. and so He comes and cleans up. He puts His healing balm in every scrape and gash that we've been hiding (or that was caused by the removal of the junk), and He soothes and massages every hurt. and suddenly our heart of stone has become a heart of flesh. and He can get the glory from the new us. the holy us. and He can transform us into the people He created us to be. and we can walk on painlessly.
but first comes the brokenness. first comes that surrender. first comes the demolition.

dave hasz used to tell a story called "The Dangerous Prayer". it was about his life and how when he was in his late teens or early 20s he prayed and told God that he would surrender himself completely to Him, and that he would do whatever He asked him to do.  shortly after this, his fiancee cheated on him with his best friend and he lost both of them. he went thru some other stuff i cant remember at his work and his church. and finally one day he began to yell at God "why is this happening to me? i surrendered all to You!!" and God said "yes and now those things are out of your life. are you ready to see what I have in store?"  not long after that he met the lady he is married to now and rather than being the selfish cheating kind, she was a prayer warrior and faithful and loving. he ended up in better situations in another job (in the ministry i think) and changed to a better church. turns out that by following his own plan, he had himself in a fairly "successful" place that was totally out of the will of God, but once he was broken, God fixed him up real nice. :)

and no i'm not saying God causes bad stuff to happen to us so that we'll do things His way, but what i am saying is sometimes the rough stuff happens because we havent surrendered ourselves fully and therefore God cant really prevent it. we've wanted to chart our own course our own way, and so we have to live with our own consequences. until we come to that breaking point where we say "God i can't go on like this, i need you to fix my life Your way" and then He can come to the rescue...


sometimes people my age think i'm sheltered, weird, or a goody-two-shoes because of my standards. they are like "whats wrong with secular music? this song doesnt have any cussing or anything really BAD in it, so what's the big deal?"  or "why dont you wanna go see that movie? its only rated pg-13, you've been over 13 for a long time, dont you think you can act like a 'big girl' yet?" or "so what if it's rated R, you're an adult!" or "who cares what your parents think? you're 24, act your age and make decisions for yourself!" or "oh you think you're so righteous dont you? a glass of wine or a beer every now and then won't hurt anyone, and the bible doesnt say not to anyways"
but no, i wont listen to secular music. i wont even listen to alot of "Christian" music. because it wears out my spirit. makes me feel gross inside. it doesnt bring glory to God, and usually just sows to my flesh nature.
no i wont watch alot of pg13 movies because the content is not going to build me up, its going to bring me down. its going to plant seeds of lust or hatred or some other sin in me and i dont want that mess growing up.
no i wont watch rated R movies (exception being The Passion) because to me, why fill your mind and heart with something that people under 17 shouldnt be watching... if they cant, why is it suddenly ok for me? its not.
no i will not do things that go against my parents wishes right now. i'm not a rebel. and they really are not strict. if my parents have said "dont do something" generally there is a good reason. a reason for my safety or to save my reputation, or to simply keep myself out of furthur trouble.
no i wont drink. end of discussion.
i'm not trying to be "holier than thou" with anyone. shoot, i wish that people lived holier lives with me and gave me higher aspirations. and i'm not saying my actions make me holy either. holiness isnt determined by what you do, but by His grace.  plus having a "holy" lifestyle is more about the heart behind what you do. some people think women cant wear makeup if they are going to live a holy life, but in my heart i dont feel convicted about makeup. i wouldnt ever wear so much as to distract from God in a church service or something, but God hasnt said for me not to wear it. if He ever did, i'd give it up in a heartbeat. and He knows that. and thats probably why He's never told me to.  the willingness of your heart is what God looks at. like with Abraham. God saw that he was willing to sacrifice Isaac, and He didnt make him do it. i dont know but what Isaac would've died young or something had Abraham not taken him up there to die that day. but his willingness to obey God at any cost is what God was looking for, and is what saved Isaac.  i wanna have that heart. i havent had it most of my life, and i know i still dont in some areas. but i'm getting there. i'm coming to a place where if God says "give this up" i'm like "sure ok" instead of whining "God do i have to? are you sure?" like i used to. that way of living only brought heartache. and i'm so over that. i wanna live a life of no regrets. a narrow road life. a life being fully surrendered water that He turns into wine.

i dont have much to say right this moment. i think everything on my heart was covered in my "blog description". but no worries, there will be more... :)