Perspective

My ways of thinking have changed a lot, recently. I'm seeing things and situations in my life in a whole new light.

I've been challenged a lot in the way I view situations. We tend to blame so much on coincidence and forget that God has a purpose in every moment in our life. Sure, sometimes things just happen, but what God does with those things is amazing. Have you ever really thought about that? You take the time to go talk to the awkward kid in your class one day, and later you find out that they were thinking of hurting themselves because they feel alone and your words helped them. Or, maybe your being late for work saved you from being in an accident. I’m definitely being challenged to be more aware and to see every moment as an opportunity.

Another area that God has challenged me in is patience and trust. I always worry about everything, which ends up stressing me out to the extreme. I worry that I’m not doing what God wants me to do, that I’m going to end up in the wrong place. I even worry about who would want to marry me and even if that will happen one day. The message that God has been trying to tell me is that it’s okay.

It’s all going to be okay, every part of my life is going to be okay. Better than okay, it’s going to be better than I can ever imagine! God has a plan to use me right where I am. And as long as I’m pursuing Him, He’s going to get me where I need to go. Even if I mess up, He will still use that for his glory. He will provide for me in His timing. I don’t have to focus on “where” and “when”. I need only to focus on “Who” I am in Christ and What I’m becoming. He’ll handle the rest. And how amazing is it to know that our whole life has been perfectly planned? That we never have to worry because the creator is already setting that plan in motion and is going to make sure it happens. Why would I want to mess that up with my selfish needs and wants? How much greater is God’s plan. I’m pretty much awestruck at how much God really does take care of me. I’m beginning to see Him in so much more.

Like Pastor Brad said in his life lesson, “God’s will is a journey.” I am beyond excited about this journey and cannot wait to see what’s next.

Day 2

In the journal, the story of the prodigal son is compared to God and people that are lost. We often think on the suffering of the people who are lost, but what about God's suffering? This quote put it in perspective for me:

"When the devil has kidnapped a child of God, it is God who hurts the deepest, who suffers most."

That was challenging for me. Imagine if someone you loved more than anything was missing; wouldn't you want anyone who knew to be looking for them? That's what God wants from us -- we can't rest until His children are found. I couldn't help but think of all the people in my own family who are lost. If I'm going to be committed to God, I have to be committed to finding His children.

"God, I'm sorry for not looking
to bring your children back to
you. I'm committed to doing
more. I pray that your heart
would become my heart. Help
me to be open to see opportunities
and give me the courage to take
them." Amen.

Day 1

John 15:4-5,16: "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing... You did not choose me, but I chose and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you."

This chapter is about abiding in Jesus and spending extravagant time with him daily. Every person's quiet time is different; we have the same essential elements, but we all do them in our own way. I've never been one to spend a large amount of time doing these things, just as long as I did them daily. But one of the challenges the journal offers is to tithe your time during the 30 days of the journal. That's roughly 2 1/2 hours every day.

It can sound a bit overwhelming, but when you consider the things you clog your day with like T.V., Facebook, etc, it makes it easier to see how 2 1/2 hours isn't too much to ask. What do you really get from watching that movie or from sitting at the computer playing games? You know the saying "Could've had a V8?" Well, how about "Could've prayed!", or "Could've read the Bible!"

Then, when you start spending extravagant time with Jesus you want to do it more. That time becomes special. I just spent an hour only on reading the Bible. I've never done that before(It's a pretty neat, if I must say so)! I can't wait to see what I'll discover by spending extravagant time with Jesus every day.

Journey

In these past few weeks my life has taken a turn for the completely unexpected. Beginning with the final night at the Deepening with learning about the newly discovered people group in Peru, and then being confirmed by learning about the unreached people groups in East Africa, I have felt a call to missions.

I know, right? Who would've thought? Me? I'm one who has had my life planned since I was a little girl, knowing exactly what I wanted to be, how to some-what get there, and planned to live happily in Arkansas for the rest of my life. Let's just say I've been a bit emotionally overwhelmed lately.

It's a scary feeling knowing that my life is about to completely change. But, it's still satisfying, all the same. I mean, who's plan would I rather follow? My comfortable, flawed plan or God's fail-proof plan that calls me to do more than I could ever imagine?

In saying this, I have a lot of heart and life work that needs to be done. So, with the help of P. Randy and P. Rod I am starting a journey and want you to be a part. I'm beginning the "Live Dead" journal and it isn't easy. So, I plan on blogging my thoughts and some prayers throughout and would love to hear your thoughts as well.

Bottom Line

"When God invites us into His story, assigning us various roles that are seemingly too big for us to carry out, His affirmation is the same -- I will be with you. It's as if He was saying...'Don't worry about who you are, just focus on the reality that I'm going, too. And if I go with you, trust me, everything's going to work out fine.'...

Bottom Line: God and anybody else is an overwhelmingly powerful team"

-Louie Giglio. "i am not but i know I AM"

As I've been reading this book, different parts have really stood out to me. I think this part is my favorite because for me, it paints such a perfect picture of how close God really is.

About a month ago, I had some friend issues and ended up with my feelings hurt. Even though I didn't feel like I was being told by God to do some task I felt I couldn't handle, this quote from the book just reminded me of God's closeness and involvement in my life. He's there -- constantly surrounding me with love and acceptance, letting me know that I can lean on Him and His strength to get me through. God is all I need to face the tough things in life.

Christmas

"I celebrate the day
That you were born to die
So one day I could pray for you to save my life.

To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me..

The first time that you opened your eyes
Did you realize that you would be my savior
The first breath that left your lips
Did you know that it would change the world forever?"



So songs make me think a lot..and with my habit of over-analyzing just about everything, they really make me think..maybe a bit too much. I was thinking about how Jesus was born to be our savior. And He's God, too. So when he was a little kid, did Jesus grow up knowing that He was going to die one day? And if so, that seems kind of like it would be a sad childhood..but then again I think, "He is God, and He wants us to be with Him. So, he knew why He had to die." But then, that's an interesting way of doing things..and then I remember that with the old covenant, something that was completely perfect had to be sacrificed.

The whole trinity thing is interesting to me, too. God knows everything, Jesus is His son, and the holy spirit lives in us to help us do the right thing. But yet they are one? Wow-that's all I have to say. So was it God coming himself to us? In the form of a human? Then it was God speaking to us. But then, He is pleased with His son..who is himself. Whoa.

And what about Mary? Did she know that the son she birthed was going to be killed for her and the rest of the world including the people who killed and hated him? I don't think I would ever let my son out of my sight if I knew that was going to happen.

All I know is that Jesus cane and died to save my life. He changed the world and left us the mission to finish what he started. Christmas is an interesting thing..and hard to understand sometimes. To think that God came to us in a baby, but He was still in heaven because it was the son part of the trinity. Then He grew up just like we do. Learning about himself almost since he was God, and then changed the world by telling us the right way to live and then asking us to follow Him. Then rising from the dead to ask us to tell others about Him. And taught that all we have to do is believe in Him and ask Him to forgive our sins so we could live in paradise with Him forever...AMAZING!

So thank God for His Marvelous love

[[Just some things I liked in these verses]]

Psalm 107:
"Oh thank God-He's so good!..All of you set free tell the world!"
-If God has done so much and even set you free, why wouldn't you want to tell the world about his love so others can experience it, too? That's what we are commanded to do-to love others and tell them about Christ.

4-9:
"Then in your desperate condition, you called out to God. He got you out in the nick of time; so thank God for His marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves.."
-All we have to do is say His name and he comes running to us-right when we need him most. He's there to love us, even though we don't deserve it. He will never stop loving us. We're never alone.

10-22:
"He led you out of your dark, dark cell...so thank God for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children He loves."
-Even in the darkest times, God hasn't forgotten us. His love is always there. Even if we don't know it. He's there guiding us back to Him-out of the cell. We're his children that He loves. He's merciful and wants to help us-just like a father with a hurt child. No matter what we've done, He's there to take care of us.

23-32:
"Then you called out to God in your desperate condition; he got you out in the nick of time..He led you safely back to harbor. So thank God for His marvelous Love, for His miracle mercy to the children He loves. Lift high your praises when the people assemble, shout Hallelujah when the elders meet."
-God is there. He sees us out in the middle of the sea with no direction, but guides us and brings us back to Him. And what about other Christians? Shouldn't we celebrate what God's done for them, too?We were made to worship Him together. We have to thank God for them-even the elders. They're God's children just as much as we are. You're never too old to come to Christ.

33-41:
"He blessed them and they prospered greatly;... Good people see this and are glad; bad people are speechless, stopped in their tracks. If you are really wise, you'll think this over- it's time you appreciated God's deep love."
-How often do we take for granted what God has given us? I mean, we are alive for one, have an amazing church that loves and gives all people the chance to worship and be involved in ministry. We live in the best country in the world-we're actually allowed to worship freely and get a free education. Even though we don't always like them, He's given us all amazing families and uses them to teach us things we need to know in life. Sometimes just taking a look outside gives you a reason to be appreciative. He loves us so much He wanted us just to have something beautiful to look at and remember him by- to show His power and love to us every day.

"Amazing love. Now, what else shall I need?
And I found myself in you"- Found by Hillsong United.