dying or dead?

this week we have had 6 straight nights of Vacation Bible School. I also sang at an FCA camp and it was Jim's bday. Now, I have a cold. (done whining...sorry!)
But inspite of it being a long week, I have been reminded that transformation is the process by which we are all BEING conformed into the IMAGE of God. That process is proof of our salvation. And that process is hard. For in order for transformation to happen, we must all die first, so that we can be raised to a new life, transformed by the power of the Spirit and His Word. Rennovated...and renewed.
I have been amazed as I have sensed from the Father, His desire to bring me further and closer. But I am also very aware of what that means in terms of warfare and attack. However, as I challenged the youth last night, proof of the process is when we know that we are dying for Jesus....just as He died for us.
Dying for Him, daily-taking up the cross and following after Him.
Dying for Him, in the flesh, so that the life that I now lead is Christ in Me-the only hope of glory.
Dying for Him, to transform and transfer me from what I was formerly into the reflection of His glory.
Dying for Him, willing to stand til the end for His truth.
Dying....
Isn't it funny how life....is found in dying?
I guess the real question of salvation is are you dying....are you dead, yet? For if you have died, then your life is hidden in Christ.

ALL FOR YOU

obligated

Many of us have given up our passions for obligations Somewhere along the course of life....we grew up and thought that maturity meant abandoning what we love for the mature, responsible thing. In living this way, we have become apathetic because we have lost our passion along the journey. We confused our purpose and our mission. We gave up what we love for our obligations.
There is truth in saying we must all grow up and be responsible. But it is a lie to think that we have to give up what we are passionate about-in fact, there could be no bigger mistake than to abdicate what you love.
The problem is that we have made our passions the wrong things. (sin) God gave us passion. He wants us to be passionate about HIm and not fill that hole with the things of the world. We have sought to fill our lives and look for satisfaction among things in stead of in His heart. His Word promises that if we delight ourselves in HIM, He will give us the desires of our heart.
The second dilemna is that we have not only allowed our passion for God to be replaced by the things of this world, but we have also made our walk with Him an obligation, a duty, something we must do verses something we love and are passionate about. God doesn't want us to feel obligated to love Him, He wants us to be passionate about Him.
Many of us are in danger of allowing our obligations to religion and our passion for things of this world, make us miss HIM altogether.
ALL FOR YOU

ALL FOR YOU

Boot Camp #1
Precept Ministries International
ALL FOR YOU

Thanks for the lesson Josh!
ALL FOR YOU

lessons from a mocah frappaccino

This past week, I went to Chattanooga to hang out at Boot Camp at Precept Ministries International. The camp is an awesome place where kids can be trained in Inductive Bible study and de-noise from the world, spending quality time with the Father. These are NOT your run of the mill kids. It is encouraging to see kids who want more and are willing to put forth the effort to grow in Jesus.
While there, I met a student named Josh. I was immediately intrigued with Josh, because he reminds me a little bit of my son Noah. (although older) He is a pretty cool guy with tons of personality (a little bit of attitude), a heart for the Lord and a desire to grow. However, Josh is a Gamecock fan and since I am from Clemson Tiger county-we had a little bit of trash talk going on about our teams. During the course of our stay the World Series was going on (for college) and Clemson was playing Georgia Tech. Josh took every opportunity to thrash my Tigers...and to praise his Cocks. It made for interesting conversation. He was very confident and cocky that the Tigers were going to get beat, however they won 8-4.
So, I wanted to be sure to make the most of the opportunity to rib him about the win. Although the Tigers won, he did not want to concede to the TRUTH that the Tigers were indeed a team to be reckoned with. After much banter, he headed back to class, but not before discovering that I was making a trip to Starbucks for coffee. All of a sudden, he is begging me for a Mocha Fappaccino. I'm like....no way...not after you wouldn't admit that Clemson has a good team. He continued to beg. Being the Christian Woman that I am, I immediately told him I would buy him one if he would apologize. But then, we thought better of it. Perhaps a lesson should be learned. In order to get his Mocah Frap, he had to apologize on one knee and concede that Clemson was a good team.
It didn't take long for him to decide that it was worth it. He crossed room, knelt before me and apologized and admitted Clemson's greatness.
I made my trip to Starbucks and picked up his Frap. He couldn't have it during class, so I let him know it was waiting for him. As soon as they were on break, he came flying downstairs to find me. He thanked me for his Frap and began to enjoy the moment. That is until everyone wanted to know how he got his Frap.
I insisted that he explain. So he began to tell the group gathered around (all wanting what he had) about the story-how he had to apologize and admit that Clemson was great. I laughed and gave him a hug, but then asked him what the lesson was that he learned in all this.
He looked at me a little funny. I simply stated, "with great humility, comes great reward." The light bulb went on and he understood. By humbling himself, he not only got what he wanted, but had what everyone else wanted as well. What a lesson for all of us...ME included. Often I am quick to defend, fight for or even try to work out the things that I want. When the Father is simply saying, bend the knee and humble yourself and great reward will follow. Sometimes we miss out on the great things God has for us, simply because we won't admit we were wrong and bend the knee.
Josh got a lesson from his Frappaccino. He taught me a lot that day....he was quick to bend that knee when there was something he wanted. If I want more of the Father....i need to be just a quick to bend the knee as well. So maybe the next time you want something....the best way to go about getting it is to humble ourselves before the Father.


ALL FOR YOU

boot camp

I have spent the last three days at boot camp in Chattanooga Tenessee. We have had a great time and have been so excited about what we have seen from the kids. It has been amazing to see that these kids CAN and WILL spend 6 hours in the Word of God everyday. We have had amazing discussions with 15 year old kids about predestination, God's choosing and God's Glory. But we have also had great conversations about what kind of music we should listen to. It is amazing when you hear a student say that I don't think my music measures up to God's glory so I need to go through my music and get rid of some stuff. The power the Word of God has to change hearts....is amazing. It conforms you to the image of Christ.
I have been reminded in the last few days that we so short sell our kids...thinking they can't or won't...and then we are frustrated when they don't "act" like they should. But the Word is what brings change. It pierces the heart, divides joint and marrow.
For me....it was just a fresh reminder that of how important personally and corporately it is for us to be in the Word everyday...so that we are more and more conformed to HIS image. Otherwise....we are just religious people. NOT GOOD.
So...Word UP! and then lead others in the way!

ALL FOR YOU

satisfication guarenteed

There are a lot of things that say they will guarentee satisfaction. But that just isn't true. Some even promise to give you your money back if you are not satisfied. Which to me is just saying....we hope you are will be satisfied, but if you aren't, well there is an out.
I am finding as I search my own soul that I am looking for satisfaction. I am not sure how that is defined or what it looks like this side of heaven. I mean I am always wanting more, needing more, longing for more. Nothing seems to satisfy fully. However, I have come to understand that God created me with that longing and that it is what continually draws me to Him. For when I am satisfied-even momentarily, I become lazy and complacent-slacking off and not at all pursuing Him like I should.
I realize that God has a satisfaction guarentee that I can rely on and know to be true. But I am beginning to think that the lack of satisfaction is also a good thing....for it is what pushes me for more instead of being satisfied with the mediocre. ALL FOR YOU

Going Nowhere

Most days, I try to get up and exercise. I am not as consistent as I would like, but at least 4 days a week-I usually succeed at some sort of exercise. I have a recumbant bike that I love to ride. It is great for exercise, but it also allows me to multi-task. I can ride and work on my Scripture Memory, read my Bible and basically redeem what could be mindless time for me.
Today, I was riding my bike and my four year old climbed into my lap. I laid my Bible aside, and cuddled him up while I kept right on riding. I held like a "baby" (he loves that) and was kissing on him when he looked up and said, "why do you ride this bike mommy....it doesn't go anywhere?"
I laughed as I thought about his track of thinking. When he rides his bike, he likes to go somewhere-even if it is just down a hill. He couldn't understand why I would choose to sit in a room and ride without going anywhere. Now that I think of it, I am kinda baffled by it a little. So, I got to wondering....
Treadmills, bikes, elipsers, gyms-we are fascinated with the idea of going nowhere. We are consumed with the idea of working on our bodies-exercising, taking care of them. But we aren't really concerned that we are going nowhere. It kinda makes me laugh. I realize it is good exercise. It strengthens our body. It increases our heart rate. Yet, we are getting healthy and going nowhere.
The journey God has on is not a staionary journey-it is moving, breathing, changing and growing everyday. It is great that we are getting in shape, but if we aren't going anywhere-what good is that? God wants more from us than healthy bodies. He wants a people that will train themselves and then move where He moves-being willing to go anywhere instead of nowhere.
We can become comfortable with our staionary bikes-but going nowhere gets old. What if we stepped off the treadmills and began to journey with Jesus? And show our children what it is like to go somewhere...instead of causing them to question why we are going nowhere!
ALL FOR YOU