For so long I have been very much focused on saving the lost and putting MUCH of my energy into saving them. This began with the desire for my dad to know God when I was in Junior High School. Then with co-workers and others that I am surrounded by that don't know Jesus as their Savior and King.
God has been speaking...
I can't save anyone. Though this is something I have thought, I am just realizing it...for real. I can't save them, can't talk them into loving Him, and won't be effective as long as my motivation in being their friend is saving them. So, I am just gonna live my life and love God. He comes first. It sounds so "simple and stupid" as Annell says in Steel Magnolias, but seriously, how many of us have a grasp on this concept?
I have lived with God as my savior for too long...YES He IS my Savior. I just want Him to be more. I want Him to be the King of my life. You can be saved without doing anything but believing in Him, that is true, but I want to do more for the One who saved me. As my king I will lay everything at His feet, I will glorify His name in the land He puts me in and I will fight for Him.
So...then, I was reading 1 Thessalonians 5. A couple of things spoke to me in this. Verse 8 says, "But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of salvation." When I rest in Him, and He provides me with the peace that passes ALL understanding, that is when I am clearheaded. That is when I realize that nothing on earth matters but my salvation. Resting in His promises is all I need for that moment. I can be confident that whatever this life throws at me I have salvation, Praise the LORD!
1 Thess. 5:12-19
12Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 13 Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.
14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
19 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 20 Do not scoff at prophecies, 21 but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 22 Stay away from every kind of evil.
Reading this passage, I realize how much growing I have to do...it all sounds so good and ideal, but following through is so hard! It is EASY to encourage our leaders when they do a great job....how many of us do it when the sermons, lessons, praise time, etc. is mediocre? How many of us are comfortable going to someone who is lazy and warning them? BE PATIENT WITH EVERYONE??? WHAT? They guy who just cut me off, the lady ordering her starbucks that doesn't know how to order, then I give her what she ordered and she gets mad because I didn't put whip cream on the frappuccino LIGHT! I have such a long way to go, but, like I said earlier, I am going to work on loving God...the rest will come as I grow in Him...I want toe encourage you, my brothers and sisters, to do the same! LOVE GOD TODAY...DO it again tomorrow and the next day....
10.19.2008
Desire
Friends, many of you have been asking about my journey. I am still at a loss as to answer most questions.
A lot of thought and change has begun to take place in my life during and after my 40days. I had so much time alone, in my car driving for thousands of miles, camping for several nights (though less than I wanted to), while sitting on the beach watching sunsets and in a camp chair looking at mountains. Though I was busier than I thought I would be, I was also cut off from much of the world that usually surrounds me!
That being said, I am still learning to be still as God wants me to. It is so hard in this world we live in to just be.
I absolutely cherished the time I had with Him. Some things He and I shared, such as His Creation were an absolute thrill. Other things we shared such as heart wrenching conviction not so much a thrill but much needed.
I am struggling with some decisions I feel Him calling me to make and I am absolutely ecstatic about others.
Some of these decisions include changing my lifestyle as I knew it before my trip. Surely there will be relationships that are affected and I do not want anyone to be offended though I know I have already offended one or two people. Please know that these changes are decisions made by the prompting of the Spirit in my heart and they do not come easily for me.
I choose to live for Christ. I desire to SERVE Him above all else. I don't know what else to say right now, other than my heart is absolutely overflowing with His love while breaking for the decisions to be made. Pray for me and know I love yall because of His love for me!!!
"And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today." Deuteronomy 6:5-6
A lot of thought and change has begun to take place in my life during and after my 40days. I had so much time alone, in my car driving for thousands of miles, camping for several nights (though less than I wanted to), while sitting on the beach watching sunsets and in a camp chair looking at mountains. Though I was busier than I thought I would be, I was also cut off from much of the world that usually surrounds me!
That being said, I am still learning to be still as God wants me to. It is so hard in this world we live in to just be.
I absolutely cherished the time I had with Him. Some things He and I shared, such as His Creation were an absolute thrill. Other things we shared such as heart wrenching conviction not so much a thrill but much needed.
I am struggling with some decisions I feel Him calling me to make and I am absolutely ecstatic about others.
Some of these decisions include changing my lifestyle as I knew it before my trip. Surely there will be relationships that are affected and I do not want anyone to be offended though I know I have already offended one or two people. Please know that these changes are decisions made by the prompting of the Spirit in my heart and they do not come easily for me.
I choose to live for Christ. I desire to SERVE Him above all else. I don't know what else to say right now, other than my heart is absolutely overflowing with His love while breaking for the decisions to be made. Pray for me and know I love yall because of His love for me!!!
"And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today." Deuteronomy 6:5-6
10.02.2008
...For the One
So...I was very moved during my time in Billings MT. It started when one of my favorite songs was sang by Mr. Travis Cottrell. The song is entitled "2000 years" and I listen to it on my ipod almost as much as his other song entitled "Annie's Song"...Anyhow. I just wanted to share what God has spoken to me through that song.
God gave us His son. His son Jesus gave us EVERYTHING he had to give...He gave up possessions, glory, honor, royalty, all the riches of this earth and Heaven so that he could offer us ETERNAL life enjoying the riches of Heaven. This life is so temporary. I sometimes feel like, I NEED this to help me through, or I go for some retail therapy to help me feel better. The Truth is that going to Him not only makes me feel better and have peace, it fills my cup and spirit to overflowing.
What if instead of going shopping for a new pair of shoes, new longaberger (sorry gals), new make-up, whatever it is that you do instead of seeking Him...what if we sought His face? How much more fruitful could we be? I really recommend listening to the entire song which is in the video in my most previous blog but regardless of if you do or not, I leave you with the line form Travis' song that inspired these thoughts...
"Would I realize what was really in store? That there would be so much more? Would I fall down in worship? Leave all that I treasured behind? For a chance to be closer to the man who might be the ONE who saves my life?"
God gave us His son. His son Jesus gave us EVERYTHING he had to give...He gave up possessions, glory, honor, royalty, all the riches of this earth and Heaven so that he could offer us ETERNAL life enjoying the riches of Heaven. This life is so temporary. I sometimes feel like, I NEED this to help me through, or I go for some retail therapy to help me feel better. The Truth is that going to Him not only makes me feel better and have peace, it fills my cup and spirit to overflowing.
What if instead of going shopping for a new pair of shoes, new longaberger (sorry gals), new make-up, whatever it is that you do instead of seeking Him...what if we sought His face? How much more fruitful could we be? I really recommend listening to the entire song which is in the video in my most previous blog but regardless of if you do or not, I leave you with the line form Travis' song that inspired these thoughts...
"Would I realize what was really in store? That there would be so much more? Would I fall down in worship? Leave all that I treasured behind? For a chance to be closer to the man who might be the ONE who saves my life?"
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