Lock Up

"...take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Cor. 10:5

What does it look like? To lock up every thought that enters our mind and make it obedient to Christ. What would it look like if we reexamined the thoughts in our own head and delve into the heart behind them? To take every thought and realign it with the Father.

I picture a great mission. Even a battle if you have it. Where the great white knight comes in with victory, on his white horse and kidnaps our thoughts. Wrangling them and locking them up, beating them into submission.

We are inherently evil. I heard once that there are three voices in your head: the enemy, you, and Christ, two of which are evil. Lord- I want you to take over my thoughts. Teach me to submit to you completely-not only in speech and action but in thought.

Julie

I have a best friend named Julie.
She is a treasure to me.
I love her dearly and I would not have made it through my summer without her.
She is gracious, loving, kind, warm, fun, generous and constantly being Jesus to me.
I love how our Jesus shines through her.
I want the whole world to know that I have the best friend EVER. :)

Jealous

"...I the Lord your God, am a jealous God." Ex. 20:5

"...for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." Exodus 34:14

"For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." Deut. 4:24

Jealousy... not always bad?

Our God is a jealous God. He is jealous for our hearts. He watches as we offer ourselves to all the things the world has to offer. And being an all knowing God, he watches and hurts knowing that what the world has to offer will only leave us dissatisfied, hurting and alone. He wants all of us. He wants every little bit and in fact he is JEALOUS when we chose to give ourselves to other things... EVEN good things. Sports, school, justice, music... so many good things that God created. But when we give them our heart, God is jealous. He wants it! He wants all of us and everything.

An encouraging word from my King

[Taken from the devotional Jesus Calling]

"You are on the right path. Listen more to Me and less to your doubts. I am leading you along the way I designed just for you. Therefore, it is a lonely way,humanly speaking. But I go before you as well as alongside you, so you are never alone. Do not expect anyone to understand fully My ways with you, any more than you can comprehend My dealings with others. I am revealing to you the path of Life day by day and moment by moment. As I said to My disciples Peter, so I repeat to you: Follow me."

I want to be characterized as a woman who carries out the calling to go.
GO.
God doesn't tell us, sit down, ponder it, and then if it fits with your schedule go.
He says GO.
No explanation.
No doubts.
No questions.
No plans.

He promises his Holy Spirit, his guiding and blessing. He does not say it will be easy or the way will be paved, but he does say that it will be an adventure. One where we trust God and have faith even when we seem to be lost and in the dark.

So what is the calling. GO... but where?
To quote my pastor, I think as human beings it all boils down to this small statement.

We are called to make the invisible God visible.

We are called to shine his light, in even the darkest parts. We are called to be his hands and feet. He has made us more than conquerors. So what is holding us back?

Comfort?
We would seriously put our own personal comfort before letting the king of the universe use us. We are automatically made WINNERS through Christ. WE CAN'T FAIL. But yet, we are scared to leave our comfort zones to let God use us. If we can't fail, why are we scared?

You can choose to step into the greatest adventure and love story ever told. You can chose to be the main character. Or you can enjoy the comfort of where you are at, and miss out. Not only in this life but for eternity.

WIN.

"Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise." Nehemiah 9:5

I am continually baffled by God's grace, faithfulness and love for me. We are EYEWITNESSES to his majesty. I get so narrow focused that I forget to open my eyes to the works around me that God is doing every day.

As a christian, we are called to live with an eternal perspective on life. God has been teaching me lots about this. As I entered an exam for school, feeling under prepared and frustrated with the material, I asked God why he wouldn't allow me to do well and understand the material if it was all for his glory in the end. In a small whisper, I heard, "What if a failure in the world's eyes, brings me more glory than a success." Success in the world's eyes is good grades, money in the bank, a nice car, a good family, etc. Yet God calls us to live for more than grades, give our money away, bring his kingdom and serve him. Success in God's eyes looks far different from the world, yet we all get so wrapped up in meeting the standards of the world rather than of God.

Dwell in truth.

God has called you.
You are his.
He has plans for you.
He will use you if you let him.
Its all about him.
He is faithful.
His love is better than life.

He has provided you with everything you need for life and godliness. [2 Peter 1:3]

His fingerprint is all over my story.
I will not be ashamed of the gifts he has given me.
God has blessed me.
He has made me smart.
I love learning.
Humility isn't downplaying the gifts God has given us- its giving him the credit because he is the one who created us and gave us those gifts.
He has plans for me beyond what I can imagine- I can't wait.
What a beautiful life, what a beautiful story.

We are called to bring beauty and order around us, to enable people to worship.

Joyful always.
Pray always.
Give thanks always.

Intimacy breeds contentment.

"Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good spirit lead me on level ground." [Ps. 143:10]

"Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire but you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." [Ps. 73:23-26]


This blog pretty much made no sense, just different jumbled up thoughts on my heart.

Take these hands
I know they're empty
But with You they can
Be used for beauty
In Your perfect plan
All I am is Yours

Take these feet
I know they stumble
But You use the weak
You use the humble
So please use me
All I am is Yours

I give You all my life
I'm letting it go
A living sacrifice
No longer my own
All I am is Yours
All I am is Yours

Take this heart
Set it on fire
Shining in the dark
I wanna tell the world of who You are
All I am is Yours

I give You all my life
I'm letting it go
A living sacrifice
No longer my own
All I am is Yours
All I am is Yours

I give You everything
To You I belong
Every beat of my heart
The breath in my lungs
All I am is Yours
All I am is Yours

I lift my hands up
God I surrender
All that I am for Your glory, Your honor, Your fame

I life my hands up
God I surrender to You

I give You all my life
I'm letting it go
A living sacrifice
No longer my own
All I am is Yours
All I am is Yours

I give You everything
To You I belong
Every beat of my heart
The breath in my lungs
All I am is Yours
All I am is Yours