Inevitable...

Tragedy.

It's inevitable. We're human, this world is fallen. Tragedy is bound to occur. But even in the simplest form, it is heart breaking. Maybe it's my personality, my heart, but I never want to look tragedy straight in the eye. Ever. Yet, it's going to happen. That is an absolute that we can surely rely on until the day that Jesus comes.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."
Jeremiah 29:11-12

There's the promise that we need to keep pressing on. It's a promise that you must believe to have hope. Because, this world, is truly hopeless without our Father. When I sit to long and think about all the imperfections in this world, I have to stop and turn back to Him, who is the Creator of all things. And I know, that His plan, is 100,000 times better than mine. And if He wanted us to live in a perfect world, it would here. But it's not.

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Lie: I am not good enough.

Truth: I am perfect in Christ.

because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
Hebrews 10:14

Translation -- You and I are perfect because of Jesus dying on the cross.

Did you get that?

We are PERFECT.

Wholly. Without blemish. Spotless. Perfect.

Think for just a second, what does that mean to you? Not what everyone else says, but for YOU, how does that blow your mind?

It blows mine. Because I want to be all things, to all people. I want to be a friend, a counselor, a teacher, a chill person, a go-getter, a know-it-all (that actually does know it all), a determined young person, a special kid, an honors student, a minister, a loving acquaintance, just to name a few. But I want to do my very best, and to me, most of the time, my very best isn't good enough. Even if everyone else thinks it's okay. But this whole mindset that I have crumbles when God reminds me, that I am perfect in Him.

Try to grasp THAT concept.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10

Belief and Faith

So last night I was talking to one of my friends pastor's while doing homework at my friends house. And he was talking about this book about liturgical fallacies that we believe as truth. One of the one's that he was talking about was belief and faith. He told a story about a preacher giving a sermon in Germany. The preacher spoke English and was differentiating belief and faith, but about half-way through his sermon he noticed that the translator was using the same word for belief and faith. He stopped and asked the translator why he wasn't translating correctly. The translator responded with, "Belief and faith are the same word in German."

The fallacy is that belief and faith are separated, they are not tied together in some way. But in reality, they are the same thing.

Having this new found truth, I embarked upon my daily Bible study in the book Be Transformed, by Scope Ministries. The Bible study group I'm doing it with calls it the "Book of Pain." Mostly because it is a self-examining book, where you really look at the root of your belief system about how you view yourself and God. Anyways, this week's lesson is about learning about how you view yourself. Today's specifically was looking at the lies that you believe about yourself, and the truth that God says in His words that contradict your beliefs. Then God gave me a revalation about that! The lies that we believe as truths are things that we put our FAITH in. We put stock in them to where we expect them to happen. And when they do, our belief/faith is strengthened because "faith without deeds is dead." Yeah, my mind was pretty much blown out of my brain at this point. I just don't understand how all this time, I was under the influence that this wasn't the case. When the Father talks about faith without deeds is dead, he's also talking about beliefs. Each belief that we hold is held there simply because we've SEEN IT HAPPEN. Again, faith/belief without deeds is dead. But when the deed is there, our faith in it becomes stronger. And we are more likely to hold to that belief even more so now.

CRAZY, RIGHT?!?!

But when our perspective is changed, as in this case, it is in our best interest to wait on the Lord and let him change our heart in it. It's not a time to say, "Well, now that I have a new perspective, I want to change." That's not at all what he wants us to do. He wants us to allow him to change our hearts because of that new perspective that we are given. He wants us to let it take root in our hearts, which in turn will change our behavior, our attitude, our thought process in more ways than one. AND we won't even realize it until it's already done. We have nothing to worry about it then. We just let him do it. Plus it's SO much easier that way. Like the old cliche says, "Let go, let God."

Maybe...

Maybe it's cause I'm emotional....
Maybe it's cause I've finally realized it...
Maybe it's cause my walls are coming down...
Maybe it's cause I promised God...
Maybe it's cause it's time...
Or
Maybe it's just cause.

Regardless, it's happening.

Today I realized that my life will not be predictable again for a while. It used to be. I used to have a home that I didn't have to pay rent for, I used to know who was going to be at my house, and when they were going to be there. I used to come home and know that my family wanted me there.
But it's different now.

When you move out, life changes. But apparently, it doesn't hit you 'til a month later.
Since I've moved out, or since last year actually, I've become a horrible friend, a person who doesn't know her place in this world and someone without a home.

Then I realized something else...
Jesus is home.

Not because there's no one else, not because it's convenient, and not because I know he has to be.

It's because He is the only on I want to be home.

A home isn't somewhere you live or where you've put down roots. A home is a place where you know that you are always loved, accepted, cherished, and wanted. That's why HE is my home. I never, ever have to question those things with Him. Yet, everyday we do.

Our security, our trust, our hope...

We tend to put those in the world we live in, when we're not focused on Him.

But none of those things are possible without Him.





And ANOTHER thing.



Forgiveness is not trust.
Forgiveness is something that we need to do, because God has told us to do so.

Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?
Jesus answered, "I tell you , not seven times, but seventy-seven times."



THAT ^ my friends, is forgiveness.

But forgiveness and trust do not go hand in hand.
~
To be able to trust, you have to take a few risks and see how they respond.

are you willing to take a risk? are you willing to forgive? or do you just need Jesus to give you that desire?

Just COMMUNICATE ALREADY!

One of the hardest things for me to handle is when people don't communicate. I am in no way, shape or form saying that I am awesome at communicating, but i know how important it is and why we need to do it. God did not give us a mouth just for eating, i'm pretty sure he wanted us to talk too! One thing that God has been teaching me through this Bible study book called Be Transformed, is that it is so incredibly crucial to know and understand yourself so you can better help the people around you know and understand you. When you know what your beliefs are you are better able to see how you came to that conclusion, and how to change your belief if need be. Not only that, but you're also opening up the door to God and asking him to show you the truth to that specific thing.

Communication with God is something that is super incredibly needed. He tells us multiple times in his word how he WANTS and DESIRES us to pray and talk to him. We do that because it is what he has asked us to do and it's helpful for us. There are so many people that i know that keep things bottled inside and don't just let it out. It's so hard to know what to do around those type of people because you know that something is going on but if they aren't telling you then you can't do much. and you know what, 55% of all communication is non-verbal. So when you think you're getting away with lying to someone, or keeping something from them, you're really not. All you're doing is hurting your relationship with them and you're hurting yourself.

If for some reason, you really don't want to communicate with people, then at least talk to God. Cause he'll listen and be understanding. People aren't always like that. Actually, most of the time they're not. But God is. He desires you to talk to him. So just start to communicate!

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thes. 5:16-18

A Story

We each have a story. A story that is filled with mistakes, joys, adventures, laughs, disappointments, pain, heartache, love, hate, anguish, sadness, peace, comfort, security and so much more. Each persons story is significant to them, even if they've forgotten certain parts, or decided to live in the moment. Regardless, every person has a unique story that is simply their own. No one else can copy it or truly live anyone else's story. And most of the time, no one will ever fully be able to understand another person's story. The only exception to that rule is Christ.

But, when you genuinely care about their story, they might just let you in. At first, you may just be listening to their story; seeing it from their perspective. Then you might start to understand their story and how they became like they are today. Next you'll become a part of their story and if you're lucky, you'll get to start living that story with them. And your story will be in theirs and vice versa.

Part of what Jesus does is he lives our story along side of us. Just like any relationship though, you have to let him be a part of it. You have to allow him to hear you. The great thing about God is that he knows everything that has ever happened, everything that ever will happen and all the things happening right now. He doesn't need time to process your story, or understand where you've been and how you got to where you are. He isn't judgmental or rude. He is always caring, always there and always listening. God has designed us to desire to be a part of other people's stories. It's not a maybe thing, it's a gonna happen thing. Being a part of someone's story is exhilarating and new and full of someone else.

What I'm getting to is that living in another person's story is selfless. It's real. It's authentic. It's humbling. It's laying down your life for another. And that is what God has intended marriage to be. Now I can't say from experience, but what God has been showing me is that when you allow yourself to choose to love another person, you are committing one hundred and ten percent of who you are to that person. That encompasses every emotion, every desire, every hurt, every joy that you have, you are laying down and saying that they are more important. And you are willing to put aside all of those things for that person. But he has also shown me that that person, when they are equally yoked, WILL do the same. No if's, and's, or but's. That is just the way it is.

I don't know how I'm gonna get to that place, but I will pray from now on that God show's me exactly how to do that, because my husband deserves nothing less than that. My unconditional love that I choose to give him every day of my life.

So I encourage you, if you are in a relationship, or thinking about having one, pray about this for yourself. Because your heart is too special to let anyone, besides your future spouse, have.

Mish Mash!

These are some thoughts, verses and quotes that I have been compiling for a while. And I thought I'd share :)

12/28/10
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
As we seek after God, he will empower us, break us, then build us back up, so our humility stays in contact. But he will bless us beyond what we think.
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

12/29/10
You have to "walk in the light" of the vision that has been given to you. -Oswald Chambers

1/4/11
Jealousy
-human jealousy is an emotional response (it's relational). It is out of passion and ones self, born out of insecurity, mistrust, and fear.
-God's is a creator/creation desire for goodness. It's a compassion jealousy. He wants you to experience his love for you.

Love
-There are 4 kinds of love ~ the one that is most talked about is the affection love, which is storge in Greek. The other three are agape, phileo, and eros.

Hate
means to passionately disliking someone; to feel extreme aversion or hostility; detest.
-The word hate is thrown around so much, and yet God has so much intense stuff to say about it. Why take it lightly if He doesn't?

1/12/11
Everything that is NOT of faith is sin.

"Now FAITH is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
Hebrews 11:1

The joy of the Lord can be so evidenced in us that we will be filled with God and able to rebuke the devil. -Smith Wigglesworth

Lord, let prime mover of my thoughts be you.

1/16/11
Overcoming~by the Grace of God

What does it mean to be a Biblical overcomer?
Titus 1:1-5

The answer: 1 John 5:4-5 "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."

YOU are an overcomer of the world!
Betcha didn't know that, huh? It's pretty kewl.

We are each a dynamic expression of Jesus.
Today Jesus told me that He wants me to be that dynamic expression and not worry about how other people do it. No one is exactly like me and He has placed in me each desire, each love, each joy, for a specific purpose. How he desires me to love is specific for who he has made me to be.

Nehemiah 8:10
"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Speak victory over your struggles!

You know when you're at that point where you just cry out to God that He is all you have left. I can just imagine God looking at us and being like, "Yeah, all you've got left is the
Creator of Universe. How do you think that is gonna work out for ya?" Silly humans. We always let ourselves think that just having God is a bad thing. Well, it's not. Not at all in fact :) God is all we've got left ALL the time.

I want to ooze Jesus. But each person has their own color of ooze. That is part of our dynamic expression of Jesus, oozing Him in a different way then the next guy. It's GOOD to ooze Jesus in a different color than your friends. It shows how individual and unique you are to Him. He has done that with a beautiful purpose in mind. And it's great, cause we know that God has not just flippantly made us, He has a plan for us, whether we know it at this point or not. He does, and that's what matters.

Go God!



So after all of my mish mash, how are you gonna be the dynamic expression of Jesus that you are today? Don't hold back, don't be afraid. Just be Him that way He has created you too!

Healing and other things...

It [Bible] always addresses the big things that need to be healed. Demon-possession, sickness, diseases, pain, paralyzation and seizures. But it doesn't give much salt to the mental games that we play in our heads. It seems to not address the inside, and yet, God gives us the promise that if we ask, we will receive. The Bible tells us that Jesus went through all temptations that we go through so even those mind games, the lies and deceptions, the falseness of our thoughts. He dealt with them and conquered them. If Jesus can do that and he lives in us, we will surely be able to do that with him if we ask. Because truly it is in those seconds that we take those lies captive that we are obeying God in the simplest and most beautiful of ways. Who are we to think that we less than what God thinks of us. His love is so deep and real for us. It is so magnificent in the way that He desires for us to go. I always take comfort that God accepts me just the way I am. Every quirk, every ridiculous phrase, every deep thought, every shallow comment, every failure to love, every thing that I take joy in, every person that I hold dear, every person that has hurt or disappointed me, every person that has broken my hear in one way or another, every flaw, every phobia. He accepts me for who I was, who I am and who I will become. And more than that, He wants my "who I am right now," to grow into the "who I will become." That why he takes our emotions, thoughts and complexes so seriously. He desires to bring those deeply rooted and/or hidden complexes to light so He can heal them. He wants us to acknowledge those issues, to deal with them and ask for healing. Because He will bring it. Maybe not soon, and it pry won't be easy, but it WILL BE healed, if you ask and seek Him.

Ask yourself... Self, what is holding me back from doing this?

Most of the time, for me, it's fear. Fear of having to dig deep, find the root and acknowledge that the issue is actually an issue. And then seeing how that issue has corrupted the way I think. Which affects the way I speak, act and do God's will. WHICH SUCKS!!! Cause I don't want to let my own crap get in the way of God, but it does. And you'd be blind not to see that.

I won't give you a 3 step program to help, but if this is something that you struggle with and don't know how to change, then here are some things that help me:
Ask God to reveal to you things that are an issue for you
After they have been revealed, seek Him even more. Be in the word, talk to people about this issue so that can be praying. And PRAY! Talk to God about that thing, or the stuff or the thought process.
And let God have it. Slowly, but surely, God will heal you. But you have to be willing to go to the root. To dig deeply and just sit with God. Let Him wash over you, let Him fill you with His love and grace.

My friends, this is not an easy task. It's simple though. Because God is on your side. He wants the very best for you. :)