A real man is in love with Lord,
he's sensitive to the Holy Spirit that lives inside of him,
he sees that just having the knowledge of the Spirit means nothing without submitting to the Spirit.
A real man mimics Jesus Christ,
loves unconditionally,
genuinely cares,
selflessly gives and
eternally PROTECTS.
A real man follows in God's footsteps and remains faithful,
he says what he means and means what he says.
He knows I'm a princess of the King and treats me as such.
A real man is a leader and a teacher.
He acts & behaves in the ways of himself, the way God made him instead of the way everybody else wants to make him. He's God's own, not the world's.
A real man doesn't conform to his surroundings just to fit in, no! He stands out! He goes against the crowd, he's set apart. His qualities are nothing the world wants, but what God wants.
A real man gives his all to stay in the Word and stay focused on eternal life, instead of temporary.
A real man doesn't compare himself. Who's to judge? No one is any better than the other.
A real man humbles himself,
holds tight to his integrity &
remains faithful always.
A real man doesn't just say/do the things to please me,
because he knows that nothing on this temporary world
could give me the genuine joy that Jesus Christ does.
Therefore, his goal in making me happy...is simply
checking daily on my relationship with Jesus Christ,
teaching me new things about God's character,
holding me accountable to the Word,
embracing my spiritual walk & prayer life,
living out the example that he preaches.
This is the example that Jesus Christ has set for me...for my future husband. So I refuse to settle and just grow and grow and grow while waiting on God's timing. As for now, it's just me and the big man upstairs and it's the best relationship I could ever ask for.
Finally, a someone who genuinely loves me! and actually pursues me out of selfless ambition. A lover who wants to bless me and heal me and help me and grow me! He wants the best for me and wants to love me no matter what! HE PROTECTS ME! I have nothing to fear when He's by my side. And the best part of all? He's been waiting on me, humble & silent, to realize that I don't need anything but Him. God is my everything. And the Word is His love letter. A man who means what he says, and says what he means. Whose actions speak louder than words.
And He's been patiently waiting for me this whole time,
I think I'm in love :)
Maddie
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Rise Above...
So 2 months has felt like nothing. My heart sank a little when I saw that the last post was so long ago. But I've been away, making myself my own worst enemy. I've never truly understood that concept until recently.
I think I've been battling myself. Because of past heartache, back stabs, fake Christians and doubts, my life as a daughter of the King had been revoked...by me.I felt so beat down and so worn out, I felt that I didn't have anymore to give. This is when the world became tempting to me. I lost sight of my Bible reading, journaling... And to be honest, the only thing that kept me in for Christ, even the least bit, were my middle school girls.
“God can't give us peace and happiness apart from Himself because there is no such thing.” C.S. Lewis
Deep down, I knew that Christ would become the center again. Because I mean, once you genuinely and truly have the Spirit inside of you, you can't completey let go. The Word says that those who really loved Christ, couldn't choose the world over Him forever. With that, I knew I had to remain an example and a leader for my girls in this dry spell and they kept me from hitting rock bottom 100 mph. I thank God so much for my girls, and for putting them in my path/plan.
Last week, the middle school boys & girls grouped together. However, in planning out a lesson, I didn't know that so I called Stephen asking if I could have a TV in my room to show part of a Louis Giglio sermon. It just so happens, that Stephen had an extra hour that he didn't know what to do with. So God allowed the Spirit to speak through me to these kids and let me tell you how amazing and rejuvenating it was to know that the Lord still had my back.
The story was of the widow who just lost her son. As people were carrying this boy on a casket to his grave, Jesus Christ came up to the widow and said, "don't worry" I imagine him saying this with a huge smile on His face as He walks up to the boy and lays a hand on him, "Get up" Jesus says, and the boy rose. The lesson was aimed to our own grave. What's our stretcher? What's carrying you away from God and to your grave? Louis Giglio asks.
My stretcher has been doubt. I've been so focused on excuses and "logic" that the world has come up with to take the place of God's existence. I was looking into coincidences and reasonable thinking...worldly standard. I've been talking more to people without the Spirit of the Lord than people with it. I wanted to live my life for me to accomplish what I wanted.
“There is but one good; that is God. Everything else is good when it looks to Him and bad when it turns from Him.” C.S. Lewis
Low & behold, the Spirit doesn't work like that. I can't tell you how unsure I've felt of myself while being in this rut. God or the world? The world or God? We are only complete and sure of who we are when we are walking in the ways of Jesus Christ. the ONLY way I can be me. As for all those who don't believe, my hope is that they try. Just read the Bible everyday for a week, give Him a chance and fully believe in your heart because that is when God can touch your life. And THIS is when you'll feel fully you and fully found.
So, back to last Wednesday night. The girls and I split away from the group and had this wonderful time to just hang out and be together! A certain sir came to me after the mini sermon and gave me more verses to add to what the Spirit spoke.
Isaiah 59:1-4
" Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save,
nor his ear too dull to hear.
2 But your sins have separated
you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you,
so that he will not hear.
3 For your hands are stained with blood,
your fingers with guilt.
Your lips have spoken falsely,
and your tongue mutters wicked things.
4 No one calls for justice;
no one pleads a case with integrity.
They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies;
they conceive trouble and give birth to evil"
I think I've been battling myself. Because of past heartache, back stabs, fake Christians and doubts, my life as a daughter of the King had been revoked...by me.I felt so beat down and so worn out, I felt that I didn't have anymore to give. This is when the world became tempting to me. I lost sight of my Bible reading, journaling... And to be honest, the only thing that kept me in for Christ, even the least bit, were my middle school girls.
“God can't give us peace and happiness apart from Himself because there is no such thing.” C.S. Lewis
Deep down, I knew that Christ would become the center again. Because I mean, once you genuinely and truly have the Spirit inside of you, you can't completey let go. The Word says that those who really loved Christ, couldn't choose the world over Him forever. With that, I knew I had to remain an example and a leader for my girls in this dry spell and they kept me from hitting rock bottom 100 mph. I thank God so much for my girls, and for putting them in my path/plan.
Last week, the middle school boys & girls grouped together. However, in planning out a lesson, I didn't know that so I called Stephen asking if I could have a TV in my room to show part of a Louis Giglio sermon. It just so happens, that Stephen had an extra hour that he didn't know what to do with. So God allowed the Spirit to speak through me to these kids and let me tell you how amazing and rejuvenating it was to know that the Lord still had my back.
The story was of the widow who just lost her son. As people were carrying this boy on a casket to his grave, Jesus Christ came up to the widow and said, "don't worry" I imagine him saying this with a huge smile on His face as He walks up to the boy and lays a hand on him, "Get up" Jesus says, and the boy rose. The lesson was aimed to our own grave. What's our stretcher? What's carrying you away from God and to your grave? Louis Giglio asks.
My stretcher has been doubt. I've been so focused on excuses and "logic" that the world has come up with to take the place of God's existence. I was looking into coincidences and reasonable thinking...worldly standard. I've been talking more to people without the Spirit of the Lord than people with it. I wanted to live my life for me to accomplish what I wanted.
“There is but one good; that is God. Everything else is good when it looks to Him and bad when it turns from Him.” C.S. Lewis
Low & behold, the Spirit doesn't work like that. I can't tell you how unsure I've felt of myself while being in this rut. God or the world? The world or God? We are only complete and sure of who we are when we are walking in the ways of Jesus Christ. the ONLY way I can be me. As for all those who don't believe, my hope is that they try. Just read the Bible everyday for a week, give Him a chance and fully believe in your heart because that is when God can touch your life. And THIS is when you'll feel fully you and fully found.
So, back to last Wednesday night. The girls and I split away from the group and had this wonderful time to just hang out and be together! A certain sir came to me after the mini sermon and gave me more verses to add to what the Spirit spoke.
Isaiah 59:1-4
" Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save,
nor his ear too dull to hear.
2 But your sins have separated
you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you,
so that he will not hear.
3 For your hands are stained with blood,
your fingers with guilt.
Your lips have spoken falsely,
and your tongue mutters wicked things.
4 No one calls for justice;
no one pleads a case with integrity.
They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies;
they conceive trouble and give birth to evil"
SIN is what takes us away from Christ and what fulfills our doubts. This is why it's so easy to not see God anymore, because I let myself and my ambition get in the way of Christ & His ambition for me. I feel that I can put a check mark next to everything listed in these verses. My fingers with guilt, my lips spoken falsely & my tongue muttering wicked things. Where is Christ in this!?
Recently, I've been let down. It seems that the closest to you are the ones that can stab you the most. From people I've looked up to all the way through the list of people I've poured into.
"Don't let your happiness depend on something you may lose." C.S. Lewis
However, God's taught me to rise above. Rise above the crappy situation. Rise above the fake people. Rise above a mediocre lifestyle with Christ.
Just picture a path. This path is your life. Let yourself just grow so big and tall that you can see from beginning to end of this path. See that this person/situation is only a minor step in the pathway. My yellow brick road (that's how I picture my path) has miles and miles to go and if I let one wrong step bring me down this early in the hike, how am I supposed to be fully used by Jesus Christ!? This life is so temporary. I have no time to dwell on not-so-genuine people and sticky situations. As a Christ follower, I'm here to love and forgive, help and understand, serve and grow...all while living less than I could, just as Jesus did.
My eyes are on the path of Jesus Christ and just thinking about it gives my heart this fulfilled feeling. My music will change back to worship, my thoughts will transform to pure, my actions will be like Christ, my words will be an overflow of my heart which will be filled again.
Praise the Lord for loving me when I don't care to love back. How selfish.
We are a chosen generation to spread this love, darn it! So why waste the time dwelling on me? Why waste time when I could be pouring out? poured into? reading Scripture? watching sermons? praising and worship in my room? How often do I do these things? God, test and transform this heart of yours.
Isaiah 40:28-31
"Do you not know? Have you not heard?
He gives strength to the weary
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
and his understanding no one can fathom.
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles,
they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint."
Love,
Me :)
Friday, April 13, 2012
Edible Sparkles and a Godly Lady
This Godly lady is my mentor. She is beautiful, inside and out. She's on fire for the Lord. She is the complete definition of a servant for the Lord. This Godly lady is an inspiration, an encourager and a fighter. She knows that the Lord is faithful and that He only has the best plans for her life. This Godly lady is strong and courageous. She surrenders everyday to our God and constantly gives herself to let the Spirit lead her in every step she takes. She can live in the moment, instead of the future or the past. This mentor of mine is thankful for every little blessing of the day...down to the breaths she's taking. Though struggles come her way, she knows and fully trusts that God's got it. This Godly lady could lead an army, hands down, because she knows the Lord is victorious and on her side. This Godly lady, my mentor, is an angel...a blessing...a Godsend.
Yesterday was a lazy day until I got a special invite. Let's call her Beautiful. A word that describes how the Lord has physically created her and how the Holy Spirit has transformed her heart and mind to be. So I get to B's place and I'm handed this red velvet cupcakes with sparkles..not sprinkles..sparkles on top, I didn't think the day could get much better. So I get a house tour and new coasters with her face in them for my college dorm. Creeperstatus. We sit and then it starts...God uses her words, her past and her heart to mend mine. This is all the Lord's doing, but it takes a willing Spirit to do what He commands. She taught me a lot in these few hours...but I'll just share a few:)
1. That God has created a man for each of His princesses that are going to love them relentlessly, and fully, and no matter what. There's a man that's going to love them in a way they didn't even know what possible. That in everything this man does, even in anger, he still shows that He loves his princess. Nothing she did could change this eternal love.
2. Jesus..I am. Not I was, not I'm going to be, but I am. In the present tense. Jesus Christ was fully present in every moment and He was performing miracles left and right. Jesus Christ has called us to be of the moment, not the future. What have we missed by living in the past?
3. A thankful heart is a joyful heart. B has a journal of all the things she's thankful for. She carries this journal around with her and writes down every single blessing of the day. You see, she taught me that before every miracle, Jesus gave thanks to the Father. I'm not even performing miracles and yet, I have a hard time giving thanks daily.
4. B showed me that if we surround ourselves with God's work, then we have nothing else to talk about. So when the world says, "What've you been up to?", there's nothing else to say besides what you've been doing for the Lord.
B is a God send. She's on fire and sets those around her on fire. She helps me to continue to see the world through God's eyes instead of my own. Please, find yourself someone like my B. A mentor, a servant. A cupcake giver, ;)
The rest of yesterday was spent at the mall, the christian bookstore, ice cream and my house. :) It was a very amazing day.
In Christ,
me
Yesterday was a lazy day until I got a special invite. Let's call her Beautiful. A word that describes how the Lord has physically created her and how the Holy Spirit has transformed her heart and mind to be. So I get to B's place and I'm handed this red velvet cupcakes with sparkles..not sprinkles..sparkles on top, I didn't think the day could get much better. So I get a house tour and new coasters with her face in them for my college dorm. Creeperstatus. We sit and then it starts...God uses her words, her past and her heart to mend mine. This is all the Lord's doing, but it takes a willing Spirit to do what He commands. She taught me a lot in these few hours...but I'll just share a few:)
1. That God has created a man for each of His princesses that are going to love them relentlessly, and fully, and no matter what. There's a man that's going to love them in a way they didn't even know what possible. That in everything this man does, even in anger, he still shows that He loves his princess. Nothing she did could change this eternal love.
2. Jesus..I am. Not I was, not I'm going to be, but I am. In the present tense. Jesus Christ was fully present in every moment and He was performing miracles left and right. Jesus Christ has called us to be of the moment, not the future. What have we missed by living in the past?
3. A thankful heart is a joyful heart. B has a journal of all the things she's thankful for. She carries this journal around with her and writes down every single blessing of the day. You see, she taught me that before every miracle, Jesus gave thanks to the Father. I'm not even performing miracles and yet, I have a hard time giving thanks daily.
4. B showed me that if we surround ourselves with God's work, then we have nothing else to talk about. So when the world says, "What've you been up to?", there's nothing else to say besides what you've been doing for the Lord.
B is a God send. She's on fire and sets those around her on fire. She helps me to continue to see the world through God's eyes instead of my own. Please, find yourself someone like my B. A mentor, a servant. A cupcake giver, ;)
The rest of yesterday was spent at the mall, the christian bookstore, ice cream and my house. :) It was a very amazing day.
In Christ,
me
Monday, April 9, 2012
Look Before You Fall
So, between no internet and a trip to Panama City...it's been a while since I've been able to write. This could potentially get long :)
This past week I got to have the best week of beach, shopping & family. This week I got to be with my little brother, most precious thing ever!!! Anywho, I went on this trip hoping that I could leave on a better track with God. I knew that I wasn't serving to my fullest potential and that I was to be used more than I was allowing Him to. So, my dad, Jax & I started on our 5 hour drive. How awesome of a drive. My dad and I grew, a lot. I always felt that we weren't too close but this time around, things have changed. :) So we get to the beach, it pours the first 2 days and we sun the next 2. Everybody else arrives...fast forward to Sunday. By today, I haven't journaled once, I haven't read once and I have yet to really motivate myself to stay in this lifestyle. I constantly feel bad for not being in the Word and for not being on fire, it was all just getting so old. Being in Panama, you see all those who live for themselves...all the parties, all the crazy spring breakers, living the life. "YOLO" or whatever that stupid saying is. How tempting, yet unfulfilling. So Sunday, we ended up with 20 minutes to spare in the morning. I felt a very strong pull to just sit outside with my journal. Unwillingly, I grabbed my pen, and wrote.
I told God I was sorry for avoiding Him and for not finding the importance of the lifestyle He wants for me. I admitted to Him that I know I'd feel lost in the world if I started down that path. I want to want Him, I want to want to admire every piece of creation as His artwork. 20 minutes pass and we head off to church.
The committed christian life is a real celebration of Easter, the pastor went on to preach. "You're here to bring His genuine joy into a lost world. Let the genuine joy He brings deepen your committment" He taught from John 20, 1 Corinthians 15 and Acts 10. "Though there is no limit to His grace, why would I want to live any different" he concluded.
By that point, I'm on fire. I'm ready to go study these passages and look deeper into them. He was talking directly to my spirit, my searching and broken spirit. Look before you fall. I write out my thoughts the best and my thoughts and my selfish drive wanted to pursue the world. But, the pastor truly opened my eyes through the Word of God to remind me that I'm here to bring the Lord's genuine joy into the world. I can't join the broken world, I had the chance to look before I fell. Praise the Lord.
So, I sat on the picnic table with Mama Sue and studied the lesson even more. I truly thought God was done teaching me for the day until we entered into the next conversation. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul says, "By the grace of God, I am what I am". We started talking about God's grace and Mama Sue said this: ..even if I didn't have the Lord's grace, I would still want to live in His light. I wouldn't trade it for any other lifestyle, it's loving and fulfilling... That stuck out to me and once again, God had fed my Spirit through conversation. You see, Mama Sue and I have always been very close. She's the grandma version of me:) We have been filled with the Holy Spirit and just connect in a way that I can't explain. I look up to her. She also helped me to look before falling.
God just filled this day with surprises because next came the Truth from Aunt Trish's lips..again, another MAJOR role model in my life. We made a joke about our height and it somehow led into a relationship conversation. Let me say this...Aunt Trish and Uncle Hank are ADORABLE together. They flirt and play and joke just like they had 10 years ago. They're still so in love and I'm patiently waiting until this type of relationship comes around. SO! Jesus and Trish...she says something like this, "Madison, you know when you know. And I used to wonder that meant all the time. But then I met Hank and I just KNEW. It's this overwhelming feeling that you can't drop. You just love him. It's a feeling that you can't miss and you can't overlook. You'll just know. You two will be a team. But most of all, the man will uplift you and encourage you" I always wanted to know what "you'll know when you know" meant, but she put it into quite the words for me. With Trent, I knew that the timing wasn't right..whether it will be in a few years or never, I don't know. But I learned a lot. Trish went on to teach me that a relationship isn't controlling. That a loving and genuine relationship has no abuse. This I knew. This I will see if I ever start to fall. God's man for me is whole and complete in Himself and in Christ. The Godly man lets God control. A Godly relationship encourages and loves, trusts and pursues, runs to be the first for forgiveness and is the first to forgive. A Godly relationship is POWERFUL.
To be honest, I had given up hope that I'd get any sign from Christ on this trip. By Sunday, I was drained and cared the very least that I could. He picked me up. He motivated and strengthened me. HE PURSUED ME... He opened my eyes before I fell. Praise be to Him. Let His light shine so bright in your face, you can't see anything else but Him.
In Christ,
me
This past week I got to have the best week of beach, shopping & family. This week I got to be with my little brother, most precious thing ever!!! Anywho, I went on this trip hoping that I could leave on a better track with God. I knew that I wasn't serving to my fullest potential and that I was to be used more than I was allowing Him to. So, my dad, Jax & I started on our 5 hour drive. How awesome of a drive. My dad and I grew, a lot. I always felt that we weren't too close but this time around, things have changed. :) So we get to the beach, it pours the first 2 days and we sun the next 2. Everybody else arrives...fast forward to Sunday. By today, I haven't journaled once, I haven't read once and I have yet to really motivate myself to stay in this lifestyle. I constantly feel bad for not being in the Word and for not being on fire, it was all just getting so old. Being in Panama, you see all those who live for themselves...all the parties, all the crazy spring breakers, living the life. "YOLO" or whatever that stupid saying is. How tempting, yet unfulfilling. So Sunday, we ended up with 20 minutes to spare in the morning. I felt a very strong pull to just sit outside with my journal. Unwillingly, I grabbed my pen, and wrote.
I told God I was sorry for avoiding Him and for not finding the importance of the lifestyle He wants for me. I admitted to Him that I know I'd feel lost in the world if I started down that path. I want to want Him, I want to want to admire every piece of creation as His artwork. 20 minutes pass and we head off to church.
The committed christian life is a real celebration of Easter, the pastor went on to preach. "You're here to bring His genuine joy into a lost world. Let the genuine joy He brings deepen your committment" He taught from John 20, 1 Corinthians 15 and Acts 10. "Though there is no limit to His grace, why would I want to live any different" he concluded.
By that point, I'm on fire. I'm ready to go study these passages and look deeper into them. He was talking directly to my spirit, my searching and broken spirit. Look before you fall. I write out my thoughts the best and my thoughts and my selfish drive wanted to pursue the world. But, the pastor truly opened my eyes through the Word of God to remind me that I'm here to bring the Lord's genuine joy into the world. I can't join the broken world, I had the chance to look before I fell. Praise the Lord.
So, I sat on the picnic table with Mama Sue and studied the lesson even more. I truly thought God was done teaching me for the day until we entered into the next conversation. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul says, "By the grace of God, I am what I am". We started talking about God's grace and Mama Sue said this: ..even if I didn't have the Lord's grace, I would still want to live in His light. I wouldn't trade it for any other lifestyle, it's loving and fulfilling... That stuck out to me and once again, God had fed my Spirit through conversation. You see, Mama Sue and I have always been very close. She's the grandma version of me:) We have been filled with the Holy Spirit and just connect in a way that I can't explain. I look up to her. She also helped me to look before falling.
God just filled this day with surprises because next came the Truth from Aunt Trish's lips..again, another MAJOR role model in my life. We made a joke about our height and it somehow led into a relationship conversation. Let me say this...Aunt Trish and Uncle Hank are ADORABLE together. They flirt and play and joke just like they had 10 years ago. They're still so in love and I'm patiently waiting until this type of relationship comes around. SO! Jesus and Trish...she says something like this, "Madison, you know when you know. And I used to wonder that meant all the time. But then I met Hank and I just KNEW. It's this overwhelming feeling that you can't drop. You just love him. It's a feeling that you can't miss and you can't overlook. You'll just know. You two will be a team. But most of all, the man will uplift you and encourage you" I always wanted to know what "you'll know when you know" meant, but she put it into quite the words for me. With Trent, I knew that the timing wasn't right..whether it will be in a few years or never, I don't know. But I learned a lot. Trish went on to teach me that a relationship isn't controlling. That a loving and genuine relationship has no abuse. This I knew. This I will see if I ever start to fall. God's man for me is whole and complete in Himself and in Christ. The Godly man lets God control. A Godly relationship encourages and loves, trusts and pursues, runs to be the first for forgiveness and is the first to forgive. A Godly relationship is POWERFUL.
To be honest, I had given up hope that I'd get any sign from Christ on this trip. By Sunday, I was drained and cared the very least that I could. He picked me up. He motivated and strengthened me. HE PURSUED ME... He opened my eyes before I fell. Praise be to Him. Let His light shine so bright in your face, you can't see anything else but Him.
In Christ,
me
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Distractions & Tattoos
Things that distract me from living a life truly and only focused on Christ: laziness, worldly music, thoughts, convincing lies of the world, my future. ("If you are depressed, you're living in the past. If you are anxious, you're living in the future. If you're at peace, you're living for the right now" -Pintrest ;) )
I have to DESTROY distractions to receive full blessings on a life that is COMPLETELY focused on God. Getting rid of the distractions and pursuing Him will lead me to His Word. And His Word will lead to be to yearn for deeper insights. The stronger I lean into Him, the stronger He leans into me. (Kurt Parker) So how much do I give our relationship? Is it 50 50? or is it more like 25 75?
Tonight, Tom-E spoke about teaching THE Scriptures not from the Scriptures. We don't teach Christ and then apply His Word to what we're trying to teach, but rather read His word and let the Spirit move through the Scripture. The Holy Spirit makes the Truth of God relevant to those who are listening. Acts 2:13 shows us that the Gospel can seem foolish to those who aren't understanding.
We're not here to earn, but rather honor others. It's a privilege to serve others, even in the smallest of ways. We're here to be a representative of Jesus Christ. We can't let Satan distract us! When we're distracted, we lose the worth we have in representing the God who created us. "We traded our wretchedness for His righteousness." We were made RIGHT. So let's rightly represent.
So let's live by the Spirit, shall we? He knows what we need, so why can't we just surrender it all? ..Suppose he asks you to surrender the closest person to your heart? What about the drinking and partying? What if he asks you to give up clubs? He knows what we need. Hanging on to these distractions isn't worth it. "Surrender to who God is and what He accomplished."
What are your distractions?
I've had a lot of time this week to think about my commitment to God. How committed am I really...and to be honest, self evaluation sucks sometimes. But we're to hold ourselves accountable. I believe I got so caught up in finding answers that I wasn't waiting for God to help me. I was doing it by myself, and this was a burden. He has all the answers. His love sets us free. His guidance sets us free. Psalm 119:45 "I will walk in freedom for I have devoted myself to your commandments." As long as I keep myself in His Word and learning His commands, my feet are free to walk anywhere they please. When the Lord changes the route of the path, my freedom feet follow. When the Lord closes a door, my freedom feet wait patiently for the next move. But until then, they remain still in Him...growing and learning from the spot that I'm in.
The Lord is amazing.
Don't let the world dissolve any thoughts or love for him.
In Christ,
Me :)
I have to DESTROY distractions to receive full blessings on a life that is COMPLETELY focused on God. Getting rid of the distractions and pursuing Him will lead me to His Word. And His Word will lead to be to yearn for deeper insights. The stronger I lean into Him, the stronger He leans into me. (Kurt Parker) So how much do I give our relationship? Is it 50 50? or is it more like 25 75?
Tonight, Tom-E spoke about teaching THE Scriptures not from the Scriptures. We don't teach Christ and then apply His Word to what we're trying to teach, but rather read His word and let the Spirit move through the Scripture. The Holy Spirit makes the Truth of God relevant to those who are listening. Acts 2:13 shows us that the Gospel can seem foolish to those who aren't understanding.
We're not here to earn, but rather honor others. It's a privilege to serve others, even in the smallest of ways. We're here to be a representative of Jesus Christ. We can't let Satan distract us! When we're distracted, we lose the worth we have in representing the God who created us. "We traded our wretchedness for His righteousness." We were made RIGHT. So let's rightly represent.
So let's live by the Spirit, shall we? He knows what we need, so why can't we just surrender it all? ..Suppose he asks you to surrender the closest person to your heart? What about the drinking and partying? What if he asks you to give up clubs? He knows what we need. Hanging on to these distractions isn't worth it. "Surrender to who God is and what He accomplished."
What are your distractions?
I've had a lot of time this week to think about my commitment to God. How committed am I really...and to be honest, self evaluation sucks sometimes. But we're to hold ourselves accountable. I believe I got so caught up in finding answers that I wasn't waiting for God to help me. I was doing it by myself, and this was a burden. He has all the answers. His love sets us free. His guidance sets us free. Psalm 119:45 "I will walk in freedom for I have devoted myself to your commandments." As long as I keep myself in His Word and learning His commands, my feet are free to walk anywhere they please. When the Lord changes the route of the path, my freedom feet follow. When the Lord closes a door, my freedom feet wait patiently for the next move. But until then, they remain still in Him...growing and learning from the spot that I'm in.
The Lord is amazing.
Don't let the world dissolve any thoughts or love for him.
In Christ,
Me :)
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Crazy & Confused
The Word says that the Spirit leads us. Where the Spirit is there's freedom but lately, I've been finding myself a prisoner of confusion. Did I make that right choice? Am I supposed to be going to UCF? How am I supposed to fix this or that? Nothing seems sure to me. I know I write a lot of about feeding the Spirit, because obviously this is going to strengthen you and give you confidence in the right steps.
In Him,
Me!
But I believe that sometimes there are more than just that 1 open door. That's where free will kicks in. You choose which door you feel is best. And no matter where that door leads you, you stay committed to Christ. Well, what happens when it seems all the doors in every direction are half open..where do you walk then? My mom always told me that God doesn't give us a Spirit of confusion, but a Spirit of peace and confidence. I believe this too.
The confusion that takes place so much in us...ranging from confusion of doubt in Christ to confusion of life..is one of Satan's biggest battle tactics. We're in a war, granted God's got the victory, but the spiritual warfare continues on this earth. Satan is going to play our weaknesses. He's going to try his hardest to get us on his side.
I'm finding out that you really can't defeat those thoughts, doubts & confusions on your own. I thought I was the strongest ever and a few days without my Bible reading was fine...but that turned into weeks and weeks into months and now trying to get the ball rolling is so difficult. Tom-E taught us how to pray to want to want God. Get it? To want to want him...it's so true.
And not just the parts that we pick and choose we want of Him, but all of Him. "You cannot take out the parts of the Bible you do not like. You either love Jesus and everything he says or don't love him at all." -Mark Driscoll. If we're going to accept that He loves us, we also have to accept that He's going to protect and discipline us to stay away from the worldly things...which we don't necessarily want to do sometimes. But when we constantly and genuinely fill our Spirit, He's all we want.
I've made it to that point in my life and unfortunately fell from it, but am begging Him just to help me back up..as if He hasn't already done enough for me. But things like this remind me that He's closer to me than ever: Yesterday morning I was laying in bed again just battling my confusion. And because I'm a girl, I cry because I get so frustrated sometimes..any who, my mom comes in to check on me and talk. She gets up to walk out and just read me a random verse off my encouragement board that said " The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:14. God just used her and he's been showing me in different ways how close to me He truly is...even though I can't seem to grasp it during this dry season.
People, we're all in a battle. Whether you struggle with doubt, confusion, disbelief, purity...anything, we're all in this battle together. But to choose the victorious team is a decision thats backed up by confidence, strength and freedom. That definitely, has no confusion or doubt about it.
In Him,
Me!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Burn Baby, Burn
So, all day long, I literally sat on my bed and found "important things" to do on the computer...facebook, pintrest, yahoo and some school. Mucho importante. Throughout the day, I was thinking, wow I need my God time. But I kept putting it off. Why is it so hard to just feed the spirit and get into the Word?! It's not hard to be on fire when you're at church, or when you're at a Passion conference or a youth group event. So I compared the difference between a normal day here and a normal day at a Jesus conference & came to this...
at a conference: ...no phone, no worldy interruptions...
breakfast, sermon & worship, quiet time,
lunch, something exciting, sermon
dinner, sermon & worship, fellowship & meditating time
Compared to a normal day...I can see why we lose our fire so easily. This is my goal: none of the world (music wise, movie wise); prayer time when I wake up; 3 sermons/Bible devo's everyday; talk to someone about what they learned in their devo and quiet prayer time & worship before bed. I just want to try it for a week and see what happens. Would this really re motivate me to be in the Word more and more?
Not only will the fire start burnin, but it'll be a fire of freedom. A good ole' pal sent me Galatians 5 tonight: Freedom in Christ. Allow me...
"So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law...
But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us...what is important is faith expressing itself in love.
You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn't God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough. I'm trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person...
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy yourselves. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love...
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil...And the Spirit gives us the desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. The two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions...
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature: impurity, lust, sorcery, hostility, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, drunkenness, wild parties..that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
The Holy Spirit produces LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS & SELF CONTROL...
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives "
One more time- Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives...Where's the Holy Spirit that's been inside of you since baptism leading you?? A life of freedom. I need to feed my Spirit...
Can you imagine if you weren't ever fed...you'd have ZERO energy to talk..hm.
In Christ,
Mads :)
at a conference: ...no phone, no worldy interruptions...
breakfast, sermon & worship, quiet time,
lunch, something exciting, sermon
dinner, sermon & worship, fellowship & meditating time
Compared to a normal day...I can see why we lose our fire so easily. This is my goal: none of the world (music wise, movie wise); prayer time when I wake up; 3 sermons/Bible devo's everyday; talk to someone about what they learned in their devo and quiet prayer time & worship before bed. I just want to try it for a week and see what happens. Would this really re motivate me to be in the Word more and more?
Not only will the fire start burnin, but it'll be a fire of freedom. A good ole' pal sent me Galatians 5 tonight: Freedom in Christ. Allow me...
"So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law...
But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us...what is important is faith expressing itself in love.
You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn't God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough. I'm trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person...
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy yourselves. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love...
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil...And the Spirit gives us the desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. The two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions...
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature: impurity, lust, sorcery, hostility, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, drunkenness, wild parties..that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
The Holy Spirit produces LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS & SELF CONTROL...
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives "
One more time- Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives...Where's the Holy Spirit that's been inside of you since baptism leading you?? A life of freedom. I need to feed my Spirit...
Can you imagine if you weren't ever fed...you'd have ZERO energy to talk..hm.
In Christ,
Mads :)
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