Get through this life at your own pace. What's the rush? What's with the planning?
Things don't go our way because we are meant to learn lessons and be hurt and mourn so that we may be joyful and humbled and to surrender because it is not in our control.
You don't have to give up your dreams, you just have to set your mind on what you want and realize you have the power of the Holy Spirit to achieve them. Be flexible to God's plan and just let go, don't worry because it will all fall into place, it's promised.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future."
Jeremiah 29:11
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."
Psalm 32:8
& my personal favorite:
A Man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
Monday, November 21, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
feMale enEmy
On the first Tuesday of the first week of school, Ben Stuart led a sermon of Breakaway focusing on finding God through our studies in school. This was the first day that God clearly spoke. (...sad it took till nearly the first Tuesday of the LAST month of school...) Nonetheless, God showed up in my most dreaded class and showed me something true, interesting, sad and once again, lit a spark reminding me of a calling toward women's ministry.
We were speaking about the feminist rhetoric of a woman named Cixous. Don't try to say it out loud, ;). While I usually paraphrase the quotations I felt the urge to write one in its entirety:
"Men have committed the greatest crime against women. Insidiously, violently, they have led them to hate women, to be their own enemies, to mobilize their immense strength against themselves, to be the executants of their virile needs."
While I don't necessarily believe this was intended in the same time frame as we would understand it today, and men aren't always the ones objectifying or humiliating women's mindsets, this is definitely still an issue. Women are self-conscious, judgmental, hypocritical, we all are because we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. We, as women, are extremely hard on ourselves and raised to be very critical of others as well, namely, other women.
"And why don't you write? Write! Writing is for you, you are for you, your body is yours, take it.
I know why you haven't written and why I didn't write before the age of twenty-seven. Because writing is at once too high, too great for you, it's reserved for the great...& it's 'silly'. Besides you've written a little in secret, and because you've punished yourself for writing, because you didn't go all the way."
If we change the context of this quote a bit, take away writing, let it apply to anything you are holding back from doing because of fear. Why are you letting fear restrain you!? Why are you letting the judgements of others upon you change your thoughts toward the things you enjoy? "In secret," meaning something that is enjoyed and pursued but avoided because of the high costs, holding back because of fear.
There is an end, there is a finisher to this story: Jesus Christ. We only have to fight the ways of the world, the lies of the flesh and the harsh warfare of Satan against us UNTIL Jesus comes back for us. There is an end to all sin but this harm toward ourselves, toward other women, the reasons we raise girls the way we do in today's society: there needs to be an end to that too, even sooner. We are drowning and we are bringing all of God's princesses down with us.
Stop. Take a breath of fresh air. Draw a circle of chalk around yourself. Start there. Be the difference. Be a visible difference for the glory of our romancers Kingdom.
We were speaking about the feminist rhetoric of a woman named Cixous. Don't try to say it out loud, ;). While I usually paraphrase the quotations I felt the urge to write one in its entirety:
"Men have committed the greatest crime against women. Insidiously, violently, they have led them to hate women, to be their own enemies, to mobilize their immense strength against themselves, to be the executants of their virile needs."
While I don't necessarily believe this was intended in the same time frame as we would understand it today, and men aren't always the ones objectifying or humiliating women's mindsets, this is definitely still an issue. Women are self-conscious, judgmental, hypocritical, we all are because we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. We, as women, are extremely hard on ourselves and raised to be very critical of others as well, namely, other women.
"And why don't you write? Write! Writing is for you, you are for you, your body is yours, take it.
I know why you haven't written and why I didn't write before the age of twenty-seven. Because writing is at once too high, too great for you, it's reserved for the great...& it's 'silly'. Besides you've written a little in secret, and because you've punished yourself for writing, because you didn't go all the way."
If we change the context of this quote a bit, take away writing, let it apply to anything you are holding back from doing because of fear. Why are you letting fear restrain you!? Why are you letting the judgements of others upon you change your thoughts toward the things you enjoy? "In secret," meaning something that is enjoyed and pursued but avoided because of the high costs, holding back because of fear.
There is an end, there is a finisher to this story: Jesus Christ. We only have to fight the ways of the world, the lies of the flesh and the harsh warfare of Satan against us UNTIL Jesus comes back for us. There is an end to all sin but this harm toward ourselves, toward other women, the reasons we raise girls the way we do in today's society: there needs to be an end to that too, even sooner. We are drowning and we are bringing all of God's princesses down with us.
Stop. Take a breath of fresh air. Draw a circle of chalk around yourself. Start there. Be the difference. Be a visible difference for the glory of our romancers Kingdom.
Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother of sister.
Romans 14:13
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Do What You Will
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?
-Jeremiah 17:9
I woke the other day to an apartment of couples that had just spent the night together and suddenly instead of feeling envy of having someone of the opposite sex to share my life with, I found myself thanking the Lord that I was single in this season of life and that He had filled that void in my heart.
I heard something recently I'd like to share here:
"Girls, there are Christians everywhere, don't settle for just a Christian,
go find someone that's foundation is Jesus.
Find someone you know will hit their knees and look up in times of need,
someone you have no doubt is after the Lord's own heart."
This is so incredibly important.
How often do we waste time or affections
on pursuing relationships with people that aren't seeking the Lord?
I know I have, years worth of waste, they were lessons but I know better than to repeat them again.
So now, I find comfort knowing that though, my own heart deceives me with lustful, wasteful desires but that the spirit in my soul is after something much better: The Lord and that through God's Truth, I will find another.
We cannot rejoice unless we are encouraged and uplifted, we are sinning to be wasteful.
Moses warns us to live as though our days are numbered because though we don't know the exact number, we are on a short timeline here on Earth.
Eternity is awaiting us, who will you allow to fulfill you in the mean time?
I hope it's Christ as #1 and someone significant after that, who shares your values and claims you behind Jesus too.
Spiders of Darkness
Earlier this week, a very chilly evening, as my covers slowly slipped off the bottom side of my bed, I gave a good yank to get them back and then freaked when I saw a small, black spider sprint across comforter. He was too fast for me to mercilessly smash him and after a solid thirty minute attempt to hunt him down, I gave up and decided that I may have to become acquainted with the fact that I am not alone in my bed any longer, my place had been intruded as well as my mind, which suddenly flushed with anxiousness & worry about where that little spider had ended up.
At the end of the day, we all have spiders in our homes, darkness in places we need light. We all have burdens to let go of and a devil that whispers our name, calling us into sin. But he is not the hero in this story, Jesus is calling us to a live worthy of a Heavenly Kingdom-- full of promise, love and mercy. He is a romancer of our hearts. He is gentle and caring. He thinks we are more beautiful that the stars in the sky or the sound of rain hitting the pavement in a drought. He loves us for who we were uniquely molded to be and He wants to love us and comfort us and He wants us to know Him and engage with His people.
Don't be concerned with outward beauty that depends on fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
1 Peter 3:3-4
All beautiful you are, may darling,
there is no flaw in you.
Song of Songs 4:7
He wants every tribe and every soul and every unbeliever in all countries, all colors, all sizes, all ages to know who He is and how He has saved us. The devil wants those spiders to get away, he wants us to hunt them down and for us to be constantly worrying of their whereabouts.
And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world
as a testimony to all nations, and the the end will come.
Matthew 24:14
For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Romas 10:12-13
Christ has already won the war, let it be done.
Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.
Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers,
against the powers,
against the world forces of this darkness,
against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore, take up the full armor of God,
that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything,
to stand firm.
Ephesians 6:10-13
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4
It's kind of beautiful, isn't it? How small those spiders are under our Mighty God's palm?
But this isn't really about spiders, right, it's whatever sin or lies from satan that you're allowing to worry you. Give it up. God wins.
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Matthew 6:27
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)