Have you ever felt imprisoned...not necessarily behind bars, but captive none the less? Held in bonds in something that makes you feel like a prisoner? Have you ever felt trapped in your own life. Captives of our own souls? I have. But once you taste freedom...there is no turning back to that life. Once you taste and see that the Lord is good...well, freedom is an acquired taste. It comes from tasting and then yearning for more-being willing to fight for and to chase after it.

I have been thinking a lot about the issues of FREEDOM. In fact, I have been overwhelmed by the thought from Galations 5:1 that says it is for Freedom that Christ came to set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

I long for MORE FREEDOM. In fact, I am realizing that God created us to be free. From the beginning it was so...in the garden of Eden. Yet, sin came and took us captive, making us slaves. However, Christ came that we might be free...and free indeed. But not the kind of freedom most of us think. It is the freedom to do what is right, not to do whatever you want. For once we are freed from sin, we are enslaved to God-and God alone.

We were not meant to be captives....we were meant to have freedom.
Col 2 says IF you have died with Christ, (picture of true believer!) to the elementary principles of the world, WHY as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as "do not handle, do not touch." If God has granted us freedom, then why do we live as if we are captive? Why do we continually submit ourselves to the religious rules? The Pharisees had over 600 rules. Just rules...is that freedom? They meant nothing...and Jesus said so. Do we really need rules if we are free? Could it be that freedom is the ability to do what is right without the rules enforced...out of a love, passion, intimate relationship?
In Gal 5, Paul addresses this topic yet again by saying do not subject yourself AGAIN to a yoke of slavery. (he goes on to talk about circumcision-which was an outward sign of religion that people were trying to press in on others.) I love that word again....it so applies to us. AGAIN-as if we have done it before. He knew we were going to do it. He knew that we would be pressed to conform even in church. He knew that His yoke was easy and light and so He speaks to the issues of freedom concerning these things.

God wants us to have freedom, but it is our choice. We must stand firm and choose not to subject ourselves to the yoke of slavery. We must not submit ourselves to the decrees of man, but follow fervantly after God. We must know that Freedom is found in following Him alone.

John 8:36 says if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:32 says that the truth will set you free.

Jesus is all about FREEDOM in HIM.....and that means in HIM....nothing else, nothing more. God is not a warden, but a deliverer. He is so committed to your freedom that He was willing to be taken captive Himself and crucified for it...so that you could run free. But freedom in Him....looks like Psm 119:32: I RUN in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.
Freedom is running after Him and His commands.
Gal 5:13 says for you were called to freedom, only do not turn your freedom in to opportunity to sin, but through love serve one another.
1 Peter 2:16 says act as free man, but do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves to God.
Rom 6:22 says But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.

Freedom.....not to do as you want, but to do what is right. Enslaved to God. So running after His commands that your heart is set free, not bound to the yoke of slavery-of sin or religion, but to be free in the truth, free indeed. Free to serve, free to love, created to be free, called to be free...free to stand firm...to discipline your heart. This is true freedom....

and I want more!ALL FOR YOU

Anniversary

Today is my 16th wedding anniversary. It is a GOOD day. My husband brought home a dozen roses, a card and a promise of a night out....and a night in....lol! God has blessed us with a Covenant Love...it is a good thing, a God thing.
As I thought about our love and the celebration of it, I have been amazed by the journey we have been on and look forward to the journey ahead. I am mesmorized by the idea that through 16 years, good and bad-the passion has not faded, but only increased through the bonds of intimacy. Intimacy is key-not passion. For from intimacy comes passion.
The same is true for our walks with Christ. The longer we walk, the passion should not fade away. In fact, it should be more intense as the intimacy grows deeper. It make look different...more focused, more intentional, but it is strong and vibrant none the less.
Just like marriage, our passion and our intimacy for one another has got to be priority, that which we work on and are intentional about-so that our love does not fade away. I am thankful for a husband who understands that...and for a FATHER who explains it to us...so we can have good relationships!
Time to freshen up...I have plans....
ALL FOR YOU

Revolt

Revolts bring about revolutionaries. From revolutionaries come change. Jesus could be described as a revolutionary. Which caused me to pause and wonder what He would revolt against. Sin would be the normal answer, but I am not totally sure that is what His revolt was all about.
Although He came to redeem us from sin, as I read the gospels I am challenged by the thought that Jesus revolted against religion. In fact, He was down right defiant against it. He antagonized the religious. He was in their face. His very teachings stood in the face of what they stood for and taught.
I am wondering if Jesus walked the earth today, if the revolt would be the same. I can't help but hear Him say a resounding yes. A revolt against religious. He is simply looking for people whose hearts are fully His, fully seeking Him, full on, full throttle.
I wonder if Paul walked through our town if He would see our places of worship and think we worship an 'unnamed god' instead of the One who created it all.
I am thinking....Revolution is needed. We need a revolutionary-Jesus, to lead the way. He did...He revolted against religion and was defiant against hypocrites. If He is in us...Shouldn't His cause be ours?
ALL FOR YOU

ALL FOR YOU

2 responses

Jesus enters a small town and finds 2 men possessed by demons. The demons immediately recognize Jesus and realize that their end is coming. They say to Him, "if you are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine."
I have heard many ask what the pigs did to deserve such a sentence, for not long after the demons entered the swine, the pigs ran off the edge of the cliff into the sea and died. The story is not really about the pigs. In fact, it isn't really about the demons either. It is about the herdsman, to whom the pigs belonged.
You see, the pigs had herdsman that were at the very least watching over them. When Jesus sent the demons into the pigs and the pigs went over the cliff, the herdsman had a response to Jesus. They ran away!
They ran away and went to the city to report everything that just happened. Now, in my opinion, the event was a pretty miraculous, cool thing that I would have loved to have been present for. However, these guys thought differently. In fact, I am guessing their report was less than favorable. I mean...They did lose their pigs in the deal.
So, by the time Jesus got to the city, the whole place came out to meet Him. Not to say thanks for saving us from the demons, for making it where we could pass by the place where they were, for the miracle, for not sending the demons into ME. NO, they came out to implore (strong word) Him to leave. Jesus, the Son of God shows up, casts demons into pigs and the people ask Him to leave. Why? Because they lost their pigs? Crazy thought!

But when we encounter Jesus, we have 1 of 2 responses to Him. We are either amazed by Him or we will implore Him to leave. We will either be gripped by the amazing grace, mercy and sacrifice of Him or we will be afraid of loss, change and His power and will implore Him to leave. We will either be drawn to His love, His tenderness and forgiveness or we will be fearful of what He will require, the transformation that He will bring and what that will mean to us.
The question today....Is which response do you have to Jesus? Think carefully-before you say the first. Be sure that you have not asked Him to leave because what He wants done makes you uncomfortable. You would rather be in control of your pigs than to lose them to the King.
ALL FOR YOU

hypocrites

Reading through the sermon on the Mt in Matthew, my eyes fell on these words in chapter 6; "do not be like the hypocrites". Four times in that one chapter, Jesus speaks to His disciples and says the same thing. DO NOT BE LIKE THE HYPOCRITES! I think He was trying to get a point across to His followers.
There is grave danger for us and for the church when we don't heed Jesus' words. Today, the nice word for hypocrite is "religious".
So what does a religious/hypocrite look like?
1 : a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2 : a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings
an actor, a stage player, a pretender
Throughout His ministry, Jesus vigorously exposed and denounced the hypocrisy of many, especially the scribes and Pharisees-the religious leaders of their day. They paraded their charitable deeds, praying and fasting as a theatrical display to win the praise of men. They sought to give the appearance of being godly, but they were actually blind to the truth of God. This is what Jesus WARNS against.

Hypocrisy is professing to be what one is not and is generally applied to religious character. It is forbidden to the Christian .

And yet, so many of us engage in the charade. I don't even think we realize that it is a charade. Honestly, most of us think we are 'religious' and that is enough. But as I seek to find the answers to this problem, I am drawn back to the words of Jesus. Don't play the part. Don't be religious. Don't go through the motions of do right things. Don't be involved in liturgy, rote or traditions of man. Don't put on an appearance, dress up and pretend to be fully chasing after me when you are not. Don't parade your good deeds before men, when I see what is true. Don't sing songs you don't mean. Don't do what pleases yourselves in worship, do what please ME.

Isa 29:13 Then the Lord said, "Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from me, and their reverence for me consists of tradition learned {by} rote,

Don't be like the hypocrites....these are Jesus' words to His disciples.
So are we?


ALL FOR YOU

shout out!

Just a little shout out to the EBAG girls. Love you guys!
ALL FOR YOU

is it written on your face?

Have you ever met someone that can't hide their expressions, passions, feelings and emotions because no matter how hard they try-it is written all over their face? I am one of those kinds of people. Somedays that is good, somedays...not so good. My passions, my frustrations, my love, my zeal, my disappointments are all written all over my face. I am a what you see is what you get kind of person.
Although I am sure that there are many who would like me to hold it in, pretend, conform and control that about myself, I am not sure it is something I want to change. Because the very thing that gets me in trouble sometimes is also the thing that makes me long to live out loud, reflect His glory and be passionately ALIVE for the Lord Jesus Christ.
I want to be as MOSES...who sat in the presence of God and as a result had the glory of God written all over his face. In fact, He shined so brightly that the people had him place a veil over his face because the glow was so strong that they were afraid. Moses' face was a light beam of the glory of God, unable to hide the presence of God and the power of God in His life. It was written all over his face.
Could it be that I could SO get in the presence of God that His glory could illuminate me and make me the reflection of His glory...beaming out my eyes and written on my face? Oh yes...that is my prayer. Make me a mirror of YOU!

So I am thinking about these things...and while at camp, my son gave me a perfect reminder of what that might look like. He was on the RED team at camp and so jealous for the world to know what team he was on that it was written all over his face. Although, I don't recommend you using your face as a coloring book, I am thinking that the principle is the same-may the passion for our team be so strong that it is written all over our faces!

ALL FOR YOU

chill out?

Chill out, self control, calm down, don't get so excited...all phrases I have heard lately that have made me really pause and think about our passion for Christ-or maybe our lack of it.
We worship with our hands in our pockets and with distracted hearts. We walk with a mediocre step that looks a lot like the rest of the world. We pray as if we aren't sure there is a God who will answer. We sing as if the love song we once knew has faded. We serve with half our heart only half the time. We have lost our focus, our drive, our motivation, our heart, our passion, our love....
However, we play sports with all our might. Dedicate all of soul to our work. Sing in the shower with all our voice. Dance to the rhythm of the world's beat. We cheer with all we are for our college team. We shout, we raise our hands and we sing with all we are-the fight song of the Tigers or the Cocks. We stay late for work and leave church early. We cut grass til we sweat, clean til it shines and practice til it hurts-all for things of little eternal significance.
But we want to chill out when it comes to the God stuff. We want to calm down, remain in control and not get too excited. I wonder if that is what Jesus is saying as He sits beside the throne of God. "they need to chill out. They are getting too excited down there." Or maybe, "they need more self control....get those arms down!" No....I think not....I can't help but think that Jesus is looking at the Father saying....that's all they Got? I died on a cross for them, suffered the whipping post, crawled down the via dolorosa...and all I get in response to that is pew sitting, hands in pockets, hymnal holding, scripted, mediocre following, status quo walking, people pleasing worship. That's it...that's all the response I get?
I can't help but believe that Jesus is crying out....get excited...don't you see what I did? Don't calm down, lose yourself in me and show the world how awesome I am. Unleash the passion in your soul. Begin a revolution of praise for my glory that points everyone to the greatness of who I am. Don't chill out....get on fire! Turn up the intensity, be focused, intentional and purposeful. Be my reflection! Be Bright, pierce the darkness. Be Alive, bringing life into death. Be Present, so that I am seen. Be Truth, destroying the lies. Allow the Jesus inside to burst forth from the controlled and the contained.
Be transformed.....
Chill out...I don't think so. And neither does He!

ALL FOR YOU

Passion or duty?

Do you remember having Passion? Not just physical passion for someone of the opposite sex or passion for a career/job. Do you remember when you were passionate about something? For some of us it was the car we drove, a motorcycle, a sport, a musical instrument, learning or even a skill. For others of us, we were passionate about tv, video games, friends, socializing or even church.
Do you remember when you first came to Christ and there was the Passion for Him and a Passion to share Him with all you came in contact with. I can remember being in Frist Grade and Jesus entering my life. I couldn't wait to get to school and tell my teacher about Jesus in Me.
I have been pondering passion a lot lately....where has it all gone?
Somewhere we exchanged passion for duty. We stopped living and began existing. We stopped breathing and simply began to try to survive-by gasping for breath-when we could get one. We abdicated our passions for duty. And in that exchange-we lost what drives us to live. Passion.
I don't want to just survive this life. I want to truly live. I don't want to merely exist. I want to Breathe deep, feel the wind on my face and run head long down the beach towards the Father....who is longing for me to chase Him so that He can set my heart free. I don't want to exchange my passion for obligations. I want to Live out of my passions.
It is then...that the world might see something worth following....a passion not of this world, not fulfilled in earthly pleasures. A passion that doesn't feel like duty or obligation or religion. But a passion that looks like Jesus is worth truly LIVING and DYING FOR...not merely existing for.

ALL FOR YOU

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change is in the air

I woke up at 6am on Wednesday morning. (which is a rarity for those who know me!) I tried to roll over and go back to sleep, but could not. I kept hearing the Father say come further....Come walk with me. So I quietly got up, slipped on some clothes and wondered down 4 flights of stairs, through the lobby of the hotel we were in and out onto the beach. It was a beautiful morning, the sun was rising and the breeze from the ocean was strong.
I stepped off the stairs, dragging my feet through the sand, feeling it between my toes. I quietly began to walk....with no destination in mind, except to simply walk with Jesus. I took several steps and felt my body cry out with the weariness it felt. It ached and hurt all over. I began to breathe deep, to allow the fresh ocean air to permeate my mind, my heart and my soul. It was as if God was the very air I was breathing. The deeper I breathed in, the more refreshed I began to feel. Starting to pray, I could feel the Spirit of God within me begin to direct my heart. I began to sing-out loud, praises began to ring from my heart. Tears flowed easily down my face, as worship spilled out onto the shore of Daytona Beach. The Kingdom of heaven arrived in my heart.
After my walk, I found a place on the deck that overlooked the ocean. I stood there breathing and just being still for a moment-enjoying the Sanctuary time with Jesus. It was in that moment I heard the Father say...."change". It was the only word I heard, but I knew immediately that would be the focus and the word for the day. Change was ahead, change had to happen and change was what the Father desired in me.
I meditated on that word all day. In corporate worship that morning, we talked about how Jesus EXCHANGED Himself for us and longs for us to do the same. During church devotions, Terry made a statement that said the definition of Insanity is doing what you've always done and expecting to get something different. A confirmation of the need for change. By the pool, I found conversation pouring out that surrounded the idea of risk for the Kingdom and being advocates of change. During the evening time of corporate worship, the speaker reminded us that if you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten. If you want something different-change what you are doing.
It was an amazing day....from the drawing to the beach and the Father speaking to the affirmation of His Word to me all day long. Change.....I have said for years that change is the One Word you can sum up the gospel in. For Jesus came for change-not to leave us as we are. To bring light into darkness, life out of death, relationship out of religion. He came to change those who were living in sin into righteousness, to make the unholy-holy. He came so that we would not remain the same, but so that we would be constantly transforming or changing, conforming to His image. Yes, it is a process, but change must be happening. Change is proof that you are His because you are being transformed. Rejecting change is rejecting Jesus.

If doing what you have always done, gets you what you have always gotten and insanity is doing what you have always done and expecting to get something different....I am wondering who many of us are insane? Change is in the air...Jesus is longing to transform us, to change us and we must not fight against that change, but embrace it. All we have to do is take a walk with Him, BREATHE deep and let Him speak. We must allow Him to draw us aside, to hear His voice and to embrace what He wants to do in each of us.

Maybe it is time for a change....in all of us! ALL FOR YOU

Running

These days my heart has been crying out for FREEDOM. And not just FREEDOM from sin, but FREEDOM from the traditions and expectations of man that seem to make my heart want to be men pleasers and instead finding FREEDOM at the cross to please God and God alone. I no longer want to be bound by the things of this world, but want to chase after HIM with all my heart.
Chase....it is a strong word that I have been using for about a year now. Chasing after Him-almost seems elusive. But that is not what I mean at all. Chasing just means that if we are running after God, He is always on the move, never stagnant or standing still. He is moving, we are following, chasing, because we don't know the way.
As I meditate on the thought of FREEDOM, the Lord continues to place things in my path that affirm that pursuit in HIM.
FREE to run.
FREE to live.
FREE to die.
FREE to sing.
FREE...is such a cool word. It brings with it the connotation of being no longer bound. As I have been seeking the face of God on this...He has reminded me that FREEDOM is why Christ died-to set us free.

I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free! Psm 119:32
Freedom comes as I run after Him and His commands. So the chasing, the running...is a GREAT thing-for it is in these things that we will be set FREE!

ALL FOR YOU

YOUR KINGDOM COME!

This week, the Lord has opened my eyes to a significant truth that I have missed all my life. It is a truth I know....but have missed, simply because I have glossed over it, never stopping to meditate upon these words to allow them to pierce my heart as they should.
The words of Jesus, spilling forth as He was teaching His disciples how to pray, were simple and yet filled with such depth.
OUR FATHER-Daddy...
Which art in Heaven, hallowed be your name-You deserve our worship....
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven....

So what are we to pray for? Jesus is instructing us to PRAY for the KINGDOM of God to be present here on earth. So how do we get the Kingdom of God in our midst? How do we see God?

We can have church. We can even have GREAT church. But these things are what man can accomplish on his own. What Jesus was instructing us to pray for was to seek to have the KINGDOM here on earth. Is this possible? If so, why are we satisfied with so much less?
In the KINGDOM, people live and don't die-for eternal life is present.
In the KINGDOM, people are saved from darkness to light.
In the KINGDOM, people are changed, healed, renewed, transformed.
In the KINGDOM, everyone matters, all ages, all races, all people groups.
In the KINGDOM, there is wholeness and unity.
In the KINGDOM, miracles take place.
In the KINGDOM, GLORY COMES DOWN and surrounds us, filling us up with HIS PRESENCE.
In the KINGDOM, people are rescued, people don't hide their sin or play religious games.
In the KINGDOM, tradition of man and liturgy are done away with in exchange for transparency and realness.
In the KINGDOM, people are full on worshippers, not content with half hearted, self contained expressions of God.
In the KINGDOM, everyone is loved.
In the KINGDOM, people get fixed.
In the KINGDOM, brokenness is beautiful and delierance happens.
In the KINGDOM, God is priority, worshipped and adored in such a way that everyone knows where our heart is-set fully on Him.
In the KINGDOM, there is fullness of joy. There is magnified fellowship, covenant and grace.
In the KINGDOM, Jesus is the only one we are worried about pleasing.
In the KINGDOM, God is the only one worshipped and everyone spends their time talking about Him.
In the KINGDOM, there is FREEDOM!

Sometimes, we desire to have church, even great church. But God is voting for KINGDOM.
Our prayer should not merely be for our church...but that the KINGDOM of heaven would come! And when the KINGDOM comes-His will IS done on earth as it is in heaven. We need to begin to pray for and expect that we have the KINGDOM-not just mere church. This life is not about what happens here, with a little Jesus thrown into it, but about the glory, the KINGDOM of heaven coming into our lives.

So we can have church, even great church. We can be religious, even very religious. But Jesus instructs us to pray for the KINGDOM of heaven to come here! Jesus votes for Heaven on earth-and so do I...

ALL FOR YOU

no power?

On Sunday, my downstairs air conditioner stopped working. We thought it might have been hit by lightening, so we called the repair service to come look at it. They told us it would be several days before they could get out there. We were not excited about the prospects of no air in July, but we had no choice. I began to pray that God would fix my air conditioner for free...money is tight and I was stressing the bill.
On Tuesday, the guy made it to the house to take a look at the air conditioner. He climbed around in the attic for awhile, confused and baffled by the problem. I finally left him to figure it out and went back to working on some things inside. A few minutes later, he came climbing out of the attic and said everything was fixed.
Confused, I asked him what the problem was. He began to explain that when the air conditioner was installed that there was a kill switch for the power installed. It looks like a light switch, but it actually kills the power so that you don't get hurt working on it. He said that sometime Sunday when we were looking for ski equipment for VBS that a box had fallen over and hit the switch, turning off the power source to the air. He showed us the switch and then left...and didn't charge us a dime. PTL!
I got to thinking about the fact that we could have had air all along, but we just had shut down the power. Wow, isn't that what we do in our walks with Jesus. We could have life and breath, power, but we choose or ignore the power source. We could have abundant life and yet we don't turn the power on that God has readily available for us. Instead, we live life in the heat of the moment-later wishing we had done differently...
I had the man show us where the power source is so that I won't live that way ever again. We know where our power source is and will make sure that it is ON at all times. What about YOU?
ALL FOR YOU

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

the church

During our Monday night Bible study, we have been studying about what the Spirit of God said to the 7 churches and how that applies to us. It has been a powerful time of "revelation" as we have seen truth for ourselves. Our last look at the churches concludes with the Sardis-a church that had a name, but was actually dead. It was a dead church in an affluenct community. And God's instruction to the church were to WAKE UP! and strengthen what has not yet died. He wants them to succeed, but that success can only come when when they remember what they have received and live in it....they have become complacent-a religious place, but not a place in relationship with Him.
Of course, we all remember Laodecia-the lukewarm church. But have we really stopped to contemplate that 2 of the last 3 churches were rebuked for apathy, complacency, religious activity or because they were so self sufficient that they didn't need God? God called this church wretched-condemned, miserable-most to be pitied, poor-beggars, blind-unable to see, naked-exposed.
I am overtaken by the address of Jesus to these....to us. 3 of the other 5 churches were rebuked for stirring up strife, immorality in the church, tolerating evil talkers and doers, losing their focus and not putting God First. Only 2 churches were even close to be acceptable-one which endured great tribulation and the other that kept the Word of God and was kept from tribulation.
As I am finishing up this study, I am wondering what God would say to us...the church? Are we apathetic, complacent-needing to wake up and gain strengthe before we are totally dead? Are we lukewarm-hypocrites, in name only, full of religious activity, having fallen away from our first love? Are we tolerates of evil, strife stirrers, wretched, miserable, poor, beggars, blind and naked? I am sure none of these are things we want to admit, but maybe it is time for us all to search our hearts and hear what the Spirit is saying to the church? That would be ME and YOU!
In my own life, I find such complacency and a need to arise....and not sleep or slumber. I see so many areas where I am apathetic and tolerate sin. I am so convicted-that as the church-I am not ready for His return and must immediately begin to turn my heart to match His.

Father, stir our hearts from the complacency and apathy. Awaken us to Your truth.
Bring us back to our passionate pursuit of you. Rescue me from the state of wretchedness, miserable, poor, blind and nakedness that I am in. Help me to keep your Word and to endure.....persevering to the end in YOUR Truth. Do not let me be a pleaser of man, but of you. May your standard be mine and may I not compromise or follow after those who are not holding that standard forth....
let it begin in me....ALL FOR YOU

Transformed into Captivation

Have you ever been captured by a word that so describes your soul that you are almost in awe of how precisely it fits how you feel?
Well, I am all about words. In fact, my office is slowly becoming my WORD wall. Words that describe the journey that the Father has me on-markers of rememberance, to help keep those things in front of my face, so I won't forget. Words like BREATHE, SIMPLIFY, GET REAL, DREAM BIG, FAITH, PRAY, BELIEVE, REMEMBER, LOVE...but today...today I have a new word. A word that has captured my heart and has sent me on the next step of my journey.
Well, let me back up, it first began with another word....the word TRANSFORM. I have been mesmorized by this word. I have become acutely aware of how overlooked this thought is in Christendom and that the call to Christ is a call to die to self and be transformed into the image of Him. Salvation is Consecration, Conformation and Transformation-all part of sanctification for a true Believer.
But today, that word came alive for me. Transformation comes about by the renewing of your mind. As we renew our minds and see God for who He truly is-it ought to CAPTIVATE us. We were once held captive in the kingdom of darkness, but we have now been transfered to the Kingdom of His beloved-not held captive, but CAPTIVATED by HIM.
Could it be that too many of us were not transformed or captivated by Him and yet think that we are safely in the Kingdom. I am coming to realize that transformation=captivation and that these are what describes true conversion. The question is not do you know Jesus. Even the demons know Him. The question is have you be transformed and are you Captivated by Him so much so that your life radically reveals your passion for Him?
I am asking for MORE transformation and captivation.
Captivate us, Lord Jesus, set our eyes on You.
Devastate with Your presence, falling down.
Rushing river, draw us nearer, holy fountain consume us with You.
Captivate us, Lord Jesus, with YOU.(hall)
ALL FOR YOU

Dead tired?

the past few days have been tough ones. Not because anything necessarily difficult has happened. It just seems that the weight of ministry, the burden of life, coupled with the fact that I have not "felt" good (been sick) have made living and moving tiresome. Whether just walking to the kitchen (which causes me to HURT all over), Counseling those in need, teaching or just dealing with life, I have struggled to put one foot in front of the other.

I am not whining or complaining, just being honest about where I am today. The strain of ministry is heavy and the burdens that we bear often weight us down. I feel DEAD tired.

Funny, as I thought about those words....the Father reminded me that Dead people don't get tired. For they are dead. It is those who are "doing the deal"/working at it in life that get tired. How is it that I forget the basic lessons of my faith and retain the tidbits of tiny details that don't really apply to life? Today, I felt like a dead man walking....and the Father....simply states that I am! I am called to die to self, to crucify flesh, to be dead-so that Christ in me can breathe life. Somewhere in the last few days, I forgot to breathe...to inhale Him. Not because I wasn't in the Word or praying....Not because I wasn't seeking. But somewhere in the journey my flesh arose and I began walking in my own "trying" ways. Trying to do everything, to be everything, to carry everything. Instead of dying to self and allow Christ in me to be, carry and do all things.

Tonight, I am dead tired....tomorrow....I will just be dead...for I WILL die to self and my trying....Good night self...Hello, dead man walking....IN YOU!
For in HIM, I live and move and have my being....may I die that you may LIVE....

ALL FOR YOU

Obedience

We must obey God rather than man. Sometimes that is a hard one. It shouldn't be, but the truth is that we often desire to please other people more than we desire to please God. Obedience comes from a heart that longs to please God ONLY. If we do not desire to obey Him in ALL things, we will certainly end up pleasing man-thus making man god in our lives for that moment.
Acts tells us that the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey. We know that the Holy Spirit is given to believers at the point of conversion. But the proof of conversion would be obedience.
I have been spending a lot of time thinking about conversion. It's picture is found in Romands 12:1-2. In view of the mercy of God-because we understand the mercy of God and all He has done for us, we lay ourselves on the altar as a Consecration offering to God-for God. He consumes all of what we are and calls us to NOT be conformed to the world but to be conformed to the image of His beloved Son. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, proving the will of God is good, acceptable and perfect.
Salvation is here...Isaiah 46 says. But it is not found in simple statements of faith, confessions of lips or acknowledgements of truth. For many praise Him with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him, serving Him from rote and tradition. Salvation is found in NO other. But salvation does NOT look like the easy gospel that is preached to so many, deceiving them, lulling them into a false sense of security.

Salvation (according to Scripture) is
Consecration-being set apart by God and for God and totally consumed by Him alone.
Non-conformation to the world, but conformation to Jesus and His cross.
Transformation-CHANGE through the power of the Word

All of these things are marked by OBEDIENCE.
Obedience is state of the heart, not just a way to walk. It is a heart that screams-I must obey God, rather than man! It is a heart consumed by God and the Holy Spirit, who CAUSES you to walk in HIS ways. It is being transformed into HIS likeness instead of being pressed into the mold of the world.
Salvation is here....NOW WALK in these things.


ALL FOR YOU

Circumcision

Yes, I know...that is a weird title, but stay with me long enough to see the truth that is behind it. I have been studying in Colossians and was reminded today of truth about Christ that I believe has been dismissed and neglected.
It says: (col 2:11) and IN HIM you were also circumcised with a cirumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of flesh by the circumcision of Christ.
Romans 6:6 enlightens us to this truth by stating that "our old self was crucified with Him in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin."
Deut 30:6 says the Lord you God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants to love the Lord Your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live!"
And Gal 5:24 says "those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

Circumcision is a cutting away of the flesh and in Biblical terms it is no different. Christ has removed our body of flesh. It was crucified with Him in order that our flesh might be done away with and we might walk in the Spirit of God that now lives within us, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin, but free to walk in Him. God has cut away the flesh of our hearts and Ezekiel takes it a step further to say that he removed our heart of stone and gave us a new heart. Our flesh lives no more if we have died with Him, raised to walk in new life. This means our fleshly desires and passions do not control us.
So why do we live as if they do? Because we have not "considered the members of our earthly body as dead" to these things!

God has cut away our flesh...at the cross. Old things have passed away, all things are new. He has circumcised our hearts! So quit living as if the old person is still alive.
For me, it means remembering to die everyday, every minute, that Christ in me might be glorified and exalted. I am not to be controlled by my flesh, my desires or my passions, but by the Spirit of God, by Christ Himself, living in ME! That is the mystery of this age...Christ in me, the hope of Glory!

ALL FOR YOU

WHY

Have you ever wondered why God does things? I mean, let's be honest. Some of the things God does-I don't understand. That is until I finally figured out the context of why God does everything.
To the human eye and heart, we would question why God let's children get sick or die? Why houses burn to the ground? Why good people are killed in car wrecks? Why tornados, hurricanes and drought? Why tsunami's or famine?
Then I began to understood that the whole reason anything exists at all is for the GLORY of God. I know there are many who struggle with this thought, because it makes God sound all about God. For some, that is a hard concept, because we want God to be all about us. But if God is all about us, then He isn't really God-we become god to God. For whatever you are most passionate about, most focussed on, whatever you love the most, is the priority of life-that is your God. So for God...it must be God, or He ceases to be. He has no other choice. There is no one like HIM, none to be worshipped or adored. None to be glorified.
Therefore, we exist to glorify God-it is the chief end of man. And Scripture confirms it. Isaiah 43 says we were created for His glory. All throughout Scripture, God affirms it by saying that what He has done, He did for His name's sake-for His glory, that the world may know Him.
I was reading in Isaiah 41 this morning and was reminded once again that the world does not revolve around me or what I want. It revolves around HIM getting glory.

V20 reads:
That they may see and recognize and consider and gain insight as well, that the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.

All He has done, is so that we may see, recognize, consider and gain insight into Him. Knowing HIM and Making HIM known!
ALL FOR YOU

Who is this Jesus?

in whom we have redemption, forgiveness of sin.
the image of the invisible God
the first born of all creation
All things were created by Him and for Him. ALL THINGS!
He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning.
the firstborn of the dead.
Firstplace in ALL Things.
All the fulness dwells in Him
through Him reconciles all things.
through His blood, peace is made.
through His death, we are presented holy, blameless and beyond reproach.

He is our only hope-of Glory.
Christ in us....the Hope of Glory.
How then can we not live and breathe and move in Him?
It is in Him that we live and move and have our being.
How then can we choose not to die to self?
For to live is Christ and to die is gain.
How then can we live....only in ALL things by Him and for Him.
ALL FOR YOU

Will of God?

Have you ever been seeking the Will of God and wondering what it is? Sometimes that is an easy one. I mean I know the will of God for my life is NOT to live in sin, to walk in disobedience or to live like the world. But what if you are making choices between a good thing and another good thing...how do you know which to choose? How do you know what the WILL of God is in those kinds of situations?
I was reading in Colossians this week. It says that Paul did not cease to pray for the church to be filled with the knowledge of HIS WILL in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Wow...Paul understood our struggles. He understood that we needed to be filled with the knowledge of HIS WILL. So, I began asking the Lord what HIS WILL was and to fill me with that. Romans 12:2 says that we are not to be conformed to this world, but TRANSFORMED by the renewing of our mind, so that you may prove what the WILL OF GOD IS. His will is good, acceptable and perfect.
So what is the Will of God in a nutshell-to be transformed. The process of transformation is not just a one time thing either. It is a process of continually being changed into the Image of the Invisible God-this is His will, good, acceptable and perfect. In fact, Colossians goes on to say that in order to walk in a manner worthy, we must be filled with the knowledge of His Will (transformation!)
A pretty powerful thought when you stop long enought to chew on it.
So, may you be filled with the knowledge of His will (be transformed) with all spiritual Wisdom (the ability to flesh out or apply what you know-not just knowledge) and understanding (the ability to take what you know and mentally understand how it applies to all areas of life.)This is the Will of God for us all! So when choosing between 2 good things, ask....which will bring about transformation through wisdom and understanding and choose that! ALL FOR YOU

Faith, courage and fear

Today....I was reading Mcmanus, by the pool...and was so challenged by his assessment of Faith. That in order to walk by Faith you must be willing to face your fears. God calls us to great dreams and to have the courage to live them out. Great dreams require great courage. We are seldom afraid when the dream is smaller than us, when we can manage it. But this is not life by faith-but a way to manage our fears. One way to deal with our fears is to surround ourselves with security and predictability-we minimize risk. Whenever God calls us to something, it requires faith...but it also brings fear-because He is summoning us to something bigger than ourselves. And yet God is in the business of transforming the hearts of cowards and calling them to face their fears, by faith and walk out the dream. This requires courage and is why the Lord told Joshua when entering the promised land...be strong-take courage, be courageous, do not be afraid-have faith-I will be with you. Without courage we cannot live the life God wants for us, instead we relinquish life to choose the path of least resistance or ease. Would I rather exist in the now or walk into God's dream for the future. It means facing fears, walking by faith and finding the courage to risk it all. God chooses desperate followers to be leaders. May I be one of those-facing fear, walking by faith, strong and courageous-risking it all. ALL FOR YOU

IN PROCESS

Over recent months, the Lord has continued to stir in my heart a phrase that if you stay around me long enough, will eventually be something you will hear me say over and over again. Why is that? Because I am all about STAYING IN THE PROCESS. I have come to realize that we are ALL IN PROCESS. None of us have arrived and none of us are good. None of us are righteous and not one of us has any worth apart from God-the hope of Glory living in us. We are all in process. Which means most of us are just one big mess and the Lord is at work to conform us more to His Image everyday. It is a PROCESS that the Bible calls Sanctification. God is all about TRANSFORMING who we are into His likeness. But He will not force us. So, our job is to make sure that we stay in the PROCESS. That we don't step out and chase after sin or something else. In order to STAY IN THE PROCESS, we must be willing to lay down our lives that He might live in us. In order to have our mess cleaned up, we must be willing to sacrifice it all for His names sake, for His glory.
The problem is...many of us step out of the process. We start the journey, but we don't finish well. Paul challenges us to finish the race, to run well and to be a finisher...not just a starter. He challenges us to STAY in the PROCESS. For most of us, this is the hard part. Because somewhere along the way, there is something that tempts us to step out of the PROCESS. Although, we can't stay there....God understands. That is why He has given us His Word which is profitable for showing us the process, showing us where we get out of the process, showing us how to get back in the process, and showing us how to stay in the process. (2Tim 3:16)
So, I am thinking all this through....dwelling on the fact that my job is stay in the PROCESS and to help others on the journey to do the same. So, I am walking into Starbucks....and I see the sign. AMAZING....even Starbucks gets the whole idea of the process. So why is that so many in the Kingdom don't? Maybe it is time to have a cup of joe and consider where you are in the PROCESS-in it, on it, off it, need some help back to it? I think if Starbucks can get it....so can you.
Pardon the mess....but we are all in PROCESS!
ALL FOR YOU

THIRSTY

When you are ready for a drink, there is no other way to describe it but THIRSTY. Sometimes being thirsty is great. Because it is when you are thirsty and you get that long, cool, refreshing drink that you realize just how thirsty you were and how to have that thirst quenched. It is in the long, hard drink that you realize that you have been missing the nourishment that you need. Even if for a short time.
We all need times of refreshing, time to get away, get some down time and take a long drink from the fountain. Especially if you have been burning it off faster than you take it in.
Recently, I found my soul was thirsty. I have been burning it at both ends and I needed some time to just taste, see, drink and have my soul satisfied by the only one who can...the Living Water. I took a long, cool, refreshing, revitalizing drink from the fountain and realized-just how THIRSTY I was. It was so renewing to have my soul nourished and revived after much output. It was awesome to sit in the presence of the Holy God and to worship, listen and respond-to drink deeply and to be filled.
It is not as if I don't drink on a regular basis, but it is nice to just step aside and refuel for the journey ahead. It isn't until you step off that you realize just how thirsty you are!
Maybe you are thirsty too....maybe you are longing for that drink. It is offered to all, available to everyone, but it is our choice to drink...all we have to do is come to the water all who thirst...and be filled.
ALL FOR YOU

Hard Things

Sometimes being obedient is a hard thing. why? because sometimes God asks you to do things that are outside of our comfort zone, that require taking a risk or mean that we must sacrifice of ourselves for another.
Obedience is a MARK of the believer. A true believer is one who has enslaved their life to the Father and is obedient to His bidding no matter what is asked...even if it is a hard thing, a risk thing, a sacrifice thing. Obedience is where the truth of our faith is seen-whether it is a mere facade or mask that we wear or the evidence of a heart fully changed and transformed by the Father.
The question of the Father is not what do you want, what do you think or does this make sense. The question of the Father is what have I said and will you obey? Obedience is hard because sometimes it requires us to walk in contrast to our own desires and opinions. However, choosing to disobey when confronted with truth is evidence that you are not on the path that God has for you.
I am so glad that the Father is patient with me concerning these things, because there are days obedience is just hard. But that doesn't mean I don't have to choose to obey.

Isa 14:24-27
24 The LORD of hosts has sworn saying, "Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand,
27 "For the LORD of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate {it} And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?"

His plan will not be thwarted or changed. We are not going to it back or frustrate it. So we might as well obey and get in on God's deal, because He isn't going to join ours. HIS deal, His plan will stand-not matter what.
So leave your mark.....OBEY!

ALL FOR YOU

tuning up

Have you ever thought about what it takes to make harmony. It means everything must be in tune in order for the harmony to produce beautiful music. In fact, all it takes is one string, one person, one harmonic to be out of tune to ruin the entire masterpiece that is being played.
Just think if one string on the piano was out of tune. No matter what you played, it would effect the sound. Just think of one string on the guitar being out of tune. No matter how hard you strum, the music will not be beautiful. Just think if one voice sings off key in a choir, the whole sound of the choir is effected to the negative. All it takes is for one instrument in the orchestra to be out of tune for the sound to be off.
It is that way for us in life as well. Whether we want to believe it or not, we all effect one another. We are not islands, that only effect ourselves. What we do, how we live and what we say all effect one another. We are made to be an orchestra, all sounding together to make beautiful music that reflects the glory of God. But when one person is off...it effects all of us.
All it takes is one hypocrite, one person in sin, one bad attitude, one gripe or complain to effect the whole sound that is coming forth.
This is why when God created the body of Christ, He meant for us work together, hold one another accountable, to disciple and mentor one another. We are to help one another stay on course...because all it takes is one Christian walking outside the lines to effect the whole idea of who and what Christians are. The church has abdicated this role, not wanting to help one another, to hold one another accountable, to get our hands dirty...and thus the whole has been effected by the ones that are out of tune.
But the beauty of it is...that when we tune up...we get involved, help people and hold each other accountable, we tune up and harmony becomes beautiful...that is if we are tunable.
Don't fight the fine tuning...it is what makes life worth living. ALL FOR YOU

friendship

True friends love the friend more than the friendship.
What does that mean? It means they will ask the hard questions and broach the hard subjects despite what it might do to the friendship in order to help the friend. It means they will take the risk to say hard things and get messy in someone else's business in order to help the friend despite what it might do to the friendship. For me, I have some friends like this and I want to be a friend like this. I want to be the friend that loves the person more than the friendship.
I am a friend of God as well. I am so glad that He loves me that way. God loves me more than He loves being a friend to me. This is why He will say tough stuff, discipline me, question my heart and ask the hard questions-because He loves me more than a relationship with me.
I want to be that kind of friend-one that loves the friend more than the friendship. ALL FOR YOU

mission statements

for the last 5 days, I have been carrying around in my pocket a receipt for my lunch from Zaxby's. Zaxby's has great chicken and we love to eat there. In fact, I know we have eaten there probably 50 times in the couple of years. I don't know why I never noticed it before, but this time something caught my eye on my receipt that I had never noticed. It was their mission statement. Usually, I am not even interested in those things, but this one is different. It is strong. It makes a statement. It made me stop in my tracks and really think hard.
It reads, "CONSISTENTLY create ENCORE experiences that ENRICH lives one person at a time."
Wow...Now, that's a mission statement. And then I thought...wait a minute. This isn't a ministry, a church, a discipleship group. This is CHICKEN for crying out loud. This place that does chicken has at it's very core the mission to CONSISTENTLY create ENCORE experiences that ENRICH lives one person at a time. Chicken...
Made me think....maybe if the church(body of Christ)listened to the chicken place...we might actually get something right for a change. I mean, after all, I keep coming back for more chicken.
What if the church had at it's core a desire to be CONSISTENT-instead of inconsistent at how we live, what we do, how we love, our walks with the Lord?
What if the church had in it's heart to create ENCORE experiences-experiences that made people want to come back instead of running them off?
What if the church's backbone became to enrich the lives of others one person at a time-returned to the idea of accountability, discipleship and mentoring?
What if the church learned from the chicken place about what it's mission should be?
Maybe we should be begin to consistently create encore experiences that enrich lives one person at a time.....
I will carry this receipt with me for awhile...to help me remember that as Believer it is our lives goal to disciple, mentor and help hold accountable one another so that we might consistently create encore experiences that enrich lives one person at a time. (have I said that enough-maybe we will remember it.)
ALL FOR YOU

lead?

the Lord continues to ring a in my heart the truth that "you can not lead someone to a place you have not been." Or at least a place you don't have directions for. God continues to remind me that as a leader, you can't take people to a place you have't been. You can't take people to the throne room, until you have been there yourself. You can't lead people to the cross, until you have been there yourself. You can't help people journey in faith, unless you are going yourself.
As leaders, we often want to challenge people to do great things for God. Great challenges....but we can't lead people to places we are not going ourselves. If you want to see faith increased, let it begin in you. If you want to see grace increase, let start in your heart. If you want to see people go further and higher, than lead the way-by going there yourself.
the problem seems to be that we want to challenge people to do great things without ever doing them ourself. And God's heart is that it would begin in you and in me. If we want others to see God....then be in His presence so that you know how to take others there. As leaders, we can't take people to places we have not been. So "move it, move it, move it." others will only go as far as you lead them and you can only lead as far as you have been!ALL FOR YOU

intimacy

Intimacy is found in coming together, whether it be between man and woman or just friends. Intimacy is NOT found in being apart, but in time spent and invested in one another. We all long for intimacy. The ability to be totaly bare before another and unashamed. It was what Adam and Eve had in the garden. It is what comes from the union between man and woman. But it is also found in laying down the masks with one another. To have an intimate friendship is to be able to share eveything because no shame or vulnerablity exists. Intimacy with God is found in coming together with Him and laying it all out there. The world is longing for intimacy...and so are we. But it takes risk to have intimate spouses, friends and relationships with God. You can't hold back...you must lay it all out there. It is a scarry place to live, but the only place intimacy is found. I want intimacy...with God and with man. I want more than just the facade of relationships. I want depth. I want to be able to be vulnerable and transparent-without fear. I want more than just the average, status quo...I want to come together with others in REAL, authentic, intimate relationships for the glory of God. Could it be that others are looking for the same....?ALL FOR YOU

risk

I have come to believe that most of Christendom does not like getting involved in other peoples lives because it is messy, time consuming and requires a measure of risk. It means you have to decide you love the friend more than the frienship. It requires that you are willing to sacrifice your time and be vulnerable to being hurt yourself in order to reach out and help someone else. However, most of us have decided to live life with our hands in our pockets, never risking, never getting involved because it will cost us and there is risk; rejection is possible, fear is prevalent, and it might bring loss to our own lives. And yet, Jesus was all about sacrificing His life for the sake of others. He did not come so that we could be safe, free from risk or worry. He desires that we extend life to those who are drowning, to get involved in others lives. I am so glad He got involved in mine!
But that means we have to be willing to deal with our own mess...AND that we don't get so caught up in our own mess that we neglect those around us who are struggling as well.
So take a risk....deal with your stuff...and then reach out to someone else who is drowning in a sea of hurt. Sure, you might get rejected, you might lose a friend...but are you a true friend if you don't risk anything?. If you care more about the friendship than the friend-is that a real friend? Sacrifice....and show them you love them!@
Isn't it time we journey together instead of apart?
ALL FOR YOU

christian OLYMPIANS

It is rare in life to be an Olympian. Only the cream of the crop, the best of the best are ever recognized and able to compete for the prize. And only a small few of those that get to compete actually win the prize. Nevertheless, there are many in training-as early as 2 years of age, planning, preparing, practicing for a chance to be an Olympian. They work long hours, push themselves to extreme lengths, spend outrageous amounts of money, sacrifice everything, simply for the chance to compete. All of this for a piece of gold to hang around their necks.
What if there were some Christians that chose to train as if we were headed for the Olympics...truly trying to compete for the gold. What if we started training early, planning, preparing, practicing. What if we worked long hours, pushed ourselves to extreme, radical lengths and spent our money on and for things of the KINGDOM of Heaven instead of our kingdoms here on earth? What if we sacrificed it all, simply for the CHANCE to compete...to be a Christian that was unleashed, untamed and barbaric? What if we abandoned other things for the call to follow Christ and treated it as if we were training for the Olympics-instead of the half hearted effort most of give?
And the reward is much greater than gold around our necks, trophies on a shelf or crowns on our heads. Our reward-to run the streets of Gold, knowing we have no need to be ashamed because we buffeted our body in such a way that we attained the prize-the high calling of Jesus Christ, to walk in a manner worthy of Him, pleasing Him in all respect, bearing fruit in EVERY deed, increasing in the knowledge of Him, strengthed with all power, giving thanks and knowing that we are truly the champions!
ALL FOR YOU

Passion lives here

I have been watching the Olympics. It has been incredible to watch the competition between countries and competitors and to see the spirit in which the competition is played. It has been both inspiring and motivating to watch atheletes compete for the gold with their whole heart. In the midst of it all, no matter what venue you are watching, there is a sign that is the theme of the Torino Olympics. It reads PASSION LIVES HERE. I love that sign, but I love the message even more. And it is true. It is evident that those who are there indeed have passion within them for what they do. No one has called into question their passion or their quest for gold.
I wonder if the same could be said for us as believers and church members. PASSION LIVES HERE? might be a better way of reading the sign for us. We might declare that as a fact, but people watching would question that truth in many of us. Why? because there is no PASSION for what we are doing seen in how we live. We do not compete as if we were striving for gold, motivated to win with a passion for glory (God's) so great that it pushes us beyond the natural boundaries of human frailities, fears and acceptance. We say there is passion, but we are not inspiring and motivating to others-in hopes of drawing them into the competition. We do not strive for excellence. We are comfortable and lazy. And we will never be an Olympian-in this world or for the Kingdom.
This is not a competition you say? I beg to differ with you. We are in a battle for the souls of men. And if our enemy/our competitor can convince us not to compete or to have a lack of passion, motivation and inspiration-he wins.
I want the sign at my house, my church, for my family to read....PASSION LIVES HERE!!!!! OH YEAH!!! I don't want there to be any doubt as to whether I am passionate about what I do for the glory of the Lord. I don't want there to be any doubt that I AM a COMPETITOR. I don't want there to be any doubt about the passion that lives within me and I want to inspire, motivate and challenge others-so that the world look at our sign not with a question mark, but with an exclamation mark. I am on a quest for gold. I will not sit on the couch, be comfortable or lazy. I will press on towards the call of Christ Jesus. I will buffet my body and run in such a way that the prize is won. I will....because PASSION LIVES HERE. ALL FOR YOU

In need of rest

Today I find myself exhausted. I am need of rest. Sleep. Downtime. And yet, who has time for that. I push and push until I crash and burn. Rest....I need of rest.
As I dwelt on that thought, I was so thankful for my husband who recognized that need and provided extra time for me today. I was reminded how Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for her-even though she was underserving. I am so thankful for a VALENTINE who loves me as Christ loves the church. I am so thankful for a God that is not just concerned about the things I do, but is also concerned about things I need to stop doing so that I can rest. Discipline is a good thing, but there should also be times of rest. Sometimes I forget that. I am so wrapped up in the idea that there is no retirement in the time of war-that I forget that tired soldiers make dumb mistakes. So today....I shall rest with VALENTINE...in Him. For He is good-both of them! Thanks honey....for being my VALENTINE and for giving your all for me. What an example of Jesus you are to me! ALL FOR YOU

infected

Over the weekend, my computer caught a virus. At first, we thought we had stopped it by simply removing the program. But over the next couple of days, we realized it was slowly eating through my hard drive. It was nasty and a huge problem. The frustration came because I got it from someone else-who sent it to me. So for the past couple of days, I have thought a lot about what it means to be infected with a virus that is passed on from someone else and the idea of how that affected me.
Infected....we all are infected. Maybe not with a computer virus, but most definately with sin. we are born with it. Just like the computer virus, the sin of one affects us all. And when you are infected, it stops you dead in tracks until you deal.
Miriam understood that. For it was her sin and her leprosy that stopped the forward progression of God's people. Her sin/infection kept everyone from moving forward-until she dealt with it. It is the same for us today-sin in the camp stops the forward progression of God's people. If one of us is infected and we do not deal-it will affect all of us. Just like a computer virus....it may not be my sin-but we all crash and burn if it isn't dealt with.
So I want to be sure my sin is dealt with...but I also want to be sure that those who affect me are dealing as well-so that the forward progession of God's people is not stopped and we don't all crash and burn. ALL FOR YOU

Goggles

My niece, Gabby, is five years old. She a bright, intelligent little girl that probably communicates better than any five year old I have ever met. Gabby asked Jesus to come into her heart several weeks ago. She was at school and asked her teacher if she could ask Jesus to come in and the teacher encouraged her to wait and talk with her parents at home. At pick up, the teacher informed my sister that Gabby had asked about asking Jesus into her heart. With tears in her eyes, my sister drove home, called her husband and they decided for my sister to go ahead and talk with her (before he got home from work). My sister got her Bible and they laid down on the bed, looked at some Scripture and talked about what asking Jesus to come in meant. Gabby fully understood and quickly asked Jesus to come into her heart. PTL!!!
However, there was a whole other issue to this Jesus thing-being baptized. After asking Jesus to come into her heart, Gabby knew that baptism was the next step. It meant going underwater in a baptistry and this was going to be a problem. But Gabby, had thought this through! She is a smart kid and she had figured out an answer to her dilemna. She explained to her Mom that she was a little afraid of the whole baptism thing, but that she would do it (because Jesus said to) if she could wear her goggles while being baptized! What a hoot! My sister told her that she didn't think Jesus would have a problem with her wearing her goggles.
When my sister told me the story, I cracked up laughing, but saw a cool corelation spiritually. Gabby has just asked Jesus into her heart and is a little afraid of the next step. So she wants to wear her goggles. She wants to be able to see and not have water in her eyes. What a beautiful picture. The Lord has just opened the eyes of her heart to see Him and he desire is to continue to see through the next step of baptism. How cool is it that a 5 year old understands what so many of us don't. I am sure Gabby's reasons for wearing goggles is not spiritual-but what a cool visual for us...a young girl, in the waters of the baptistry...simply wanting to see and breathe.
So Gabby was baptized yesterday....and SHE WORE HER GOGGLES....isn't that AWESOME!
Her daddy had the opportunity to baptize her. A Father, helping his daughter to see, breathe and come into the family of God. What a picture that is!!!!
And so God opens the eyes of her heart....breathes life into her flesh-that she might live forever!
ALL FOR YOU

Own NOTHING

I was just sitting at my computer when a message pops up from AIM. It says, "own nothing, have everything." I think it was advertising downloads, but it hit my heart as a message from the Lord.
Paul said in Phil 3:7-16 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ,and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from {the} Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which {comes} from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

Wow...I love that thought....I own nothing. It is all loss in view of knowing Christ. And yet I have everything, because in Christ I have all things.

In a day when we are challenged by the idea to own everything and have everything, God is calling out a people who will own nothing and still have everything-because we have a view to eternity.
It's all for YOU!
ALL FOR YOU

Lover of my Soul

I had a little bit of a break down on Monday night, for various reasons. But mostly because I have been pushing really hard for a long time and just needed to let some stuff out. Jim was so awesome about it, reminding me that our home is as much a Sanctuary for me as I try to make it for other people.
In the midst of all the crying and sharing, he just took me in his arms and told me that he loved me for who I was, who God created me to be and for who I am growing to become-more like Jesus. He took care of me, pampered me and reminded me that he is the lover of my soul. He was the perfect picture of Jesus to me. How awesome God is to give me a husband that loves me as Christ loves the church-giving Himself up for her and loving her no matter what. I am twice blessed-given to the Lover of my Soul-both of them.. I love you Jim.....
ALL FOR YOU

It's HIS DEAL

I have been soaking in saying for the last few days that is radically changing the beat of my heart.
Religion is our way of getting God into our "deal".
Christianity is God's way of getting us into His.
Every one of us are trying to get God to join our "deal", whatever that may be. Jesus, bless this, help this, fix this, make this....We are always trying to get God to bless our religious activity. And yet religion is what makes the Father sick at His stomach. Jesus is being lost in a religion that bares his name.
God is all about getting us to join HIS DEAL-not the other way around. He even sent His Son so that we could join His deal. He invites us to join Him where He is at work. He is not waiting to be invited into where we are working. He is longing for us to join His activity, His plan, His deal. But instead, we spend most of our days trying to get God to join ours.
I don't think God will ever join our deal....for then we would be God-in control of the plan. I think God's plan from the beginning was to make a way for us to join His. Somewhere in the midst of that plan-we misunderstood and got religious. We think that we should invite God into OUR lives, OUR plans, OUR future and OUR goals. When instead, HE IS INVITING us to JOIN HIS!
So maybe it is time we stop asking God to bless our deal-and just join HIS!
ALL FOR YOU

Worshipping....

It is amazing to me that we will offer more to the pleasures of this world than we do in worship to our Father. We will pay more, love more, rejoice more and serve more. I know...we say that is not true, but if we were really honest, few of us abandon ourselves in worship like we do at a football game. And the last time we gave as much to God as we did M/C-well, we can't remember when. And who can remember the last time we spent more hours serving the Father at church or somewhere else than we did at PTA, Little League, Boy Scouts, Dance or whatever. And even more astonishing is the thought that when given the chance to stand in line for a movie or for a worship service-the movie always wins.
But I believe that the Lord is awakening a few, stirring the hearts of a remnant, captivating the souls of a group of people who will abandon the norm of Christianity for a barbaric faith that looks more like Jesus than any before now. As a result, I believe church will look radically different. This group of people is called Revolutionaries-a people who live in concert with the Bible, but have no patience for irrelevant traditions and customs, who won't go with the flow, but seek a spark and are willing to pay the price to see the fire of heaven fall. They make people uncomfortable and are not very popular. But they are a people who are passionate about following after Jesus-not as the church has defined, but as God has outlined. They are a people who want to start a REVOLUTION, leading to Change...
I want to be a Revolutionary!
ALL FOR YOU

YOU ARE MY JOY

Every branch that bears fruit, HE PRUNES it so that it may bear MORE fruit. What a thought for those of us who long to be fruit bearers. The reality is that if we are being productive for the Kingdom, working hard for the Lord and accomplishing much for His glory that the Father is going to prune us. We understand why. Because without pruning, we will not continue to be productive. However, when the pruning comes, we often see it as discipline or hardship. When in reality, it is the Father pruning us so that we can bear MORE fruit. For the Father is glorified when you bear MORE fruit, proving that you are a disciple and not a hypocrite. Pruning means More fruit...are you up for that?
but I guess the crazy thought of all this is that Jesus says the things so that we will have joy in Him and that our joy will be made full or complete. It is in the pruning, which allows us to bear more fruit, which gives God glory that we will find true Joy-Joy in Him. He is our Joy. So get out the shears and clip away...for more fruit, for more glory, and FOR MY JOY!
God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him! ALL FOR YOU

Live or Die

While at Passion last week, my heart was awakened and stirred by the Lord. We all need times of refreshing, where HIS presence brings to life truth inside of us. I stood in the arena, filled with other believers, worshipping with all that I had within me. Tears were streaming down my face, my shoulders ached because I could not make myself put my arms down. I was like a child, wanting to be held by my daddy, arms outstretched and crying for Him to hold me. And Hold me He did. I laid my head on His chest and wept, while proclaiming that He is my life and that I would gladly die for Him and His glory.
We often think of death as the worst thing and so I was trying to say that I would do the very worst of things, endure the hardest of things for HIM.
In that moment, I heard HIM speak clearly to MY heart saying, "I would rather that you live for me...for that is harder! I have already done the dying."
It was a moment of revelation for me. Christ died for me. And I would gladly die for my Lord. Although we think that is the worst thing-to die for Him....He was very plain with me. Dying meant I would be with Him and that isn't the worst thing, but the very best of things. The harder thing to do, the thing in which He gets even more glory is to live for Him in this perverse and wicked generation, harassed, troubled, suffering and struggling.
Yes, He has called many to die for HIM...and I am not minimizing their sacrifice. But, His question to me was not would I die....He knew I would do that....but would I live for His glory everyday?
Rom 14:8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
Isa 26:8 YES LORD!
ALL FOR YOU

leaving a mark

Leaving my mark on Passion 06-Doxa on the graffitti art!
ALL FOR YOU

This week was spent at Passion 06. I have so much to write about that, but tonight, my brain hurts. It has been an incredible journey with the Lord-ABIDING in HIS presence for 4 days. Dwelling, tabernacling, marinating in Him. It was truly amazing and indescribable. But today, I have walked away with a thought that challenges my heart for worship. Today, I am weary from worship. NOT weary in the tired of it sense, but weary in the I am tired from it sense. I am weary, worn out, spent and tired from pressing in so close, from drawing near, from listening, worshipping and praising. My shoulders ache from holding my hands in the air for 4 days straight. My knees hurt from being on them. My voice is almost gone from singing and shouting to Him. My heart is full, my body is weary.
How many times in life do we get weary FROM worshipping. I know many of us get weary OF worshipping. And yet, if we are full on worshippers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would be like David, who danced with ALL HIS MIGHT. How often do we tire FROM worshipping. We tire from work, from play, from relationships...but do we ever worship so hard and press in so close that we are worn out by it.
It is a good feeling...I think...I will do it more! ALL FOR YOU