Breaking off the “chill out”
One time, I was having a Godly conversation with someone, and I brought up someone who I thought displayed awesome leadership, and was full out for God… The persons response was a little unsettling… He told me he didn’t really want to be that “radical” for God because it was weird… and “too much”. This happened about two years ago, and as I look back it shocks me in a way that didnt even bother me back then. How can you love Jesus and proclaim relationship with Him, and yet you dont want to be “too radical”… or too “on fire” for fear that others may think your are weird or get offended?wow. I feel like this is a major… wait.. THIS IS the major problem of the church today. We are so concerned with pleasing our peers by being passive on our beliefs and accepting of other’s… but we fail to even mention God, to even display the one who should be the center of our lives.. not just an aspect of it. This mindset of “staying in the bounds of being cool but still proclaiming Godmaybe in a facebook status” is extremely deadly. Here is where we get the word “lukewarm”. When I moved out here, I can honestly say there was a “lukewarm” wall inside of me. I wanted to love God and do ministry, but I was scared of proclaiming my faith to anyone… I was scared of what others would think of me. Praise God, He has delivered me from this mindset and continues to set my heart on fire every single day and step of the way. I have encountered the living God. The God who is near, who loves, who is just, who is peace, and who is all joy, and there is no turning back. I want to be on fire. I want to be transformed into His likeness, and how can I do that If I am constantly afraid of saying the wrong thing that might offend someone. NO. My confidence is in God, “Whom then shall I fear?” So, this is my encouragement, my claim, my heart… Dont be half hearted. Dont go after God 80% of the way, give Him everything. Paul tells us to love Him with our heart mind soul andstrength! Put all of your strength into loving Him, and break off the “chill out”. Set your hearts on fire.
Letting Go
Its weird sometimes how life works out. You think you are SO set on one thing: a relationship, a job, a degree, and then God has a way of showing you that you are wrong. I think for me, controlling my life is my problem, but isn’t it for all of us? We want things done on our time, we want people to say the right things, we want everything to work out for our benefit, the list goes on… Its selfish really, and I am a victim of this self centered life. But, God always has a way of showing me I am wrong. He has a way of showing me that even if I want something so bad, maybe its not what he wants for me. And although its hard to let go of some of these things, I know that God’s plan for me is way better than my own. So, here is my goal. I am leaving all of my worries to an amazing God who has an amazing plan, who is going to put the right people in my life at the right time, and in the right way. :) Life is unpredictable, and though sometimes I want things to work out on MY time, I know they will work out in perfect time, which is way better than I can ever imagine.
Waiting in the Rain
I have never been in love before, and I have had the worst luck with “relationships”. Looking back on my life, since I was 13 years old I have had little “flings” or “crushes” with guys that never turned into anything, and here I am, almost 19 years old and I can truly say I haven’t had a REAL boyfriend. Yet, as l look back on high school and all of the messed up boyfriend/girlfriend relationships some of my friends have had, I am not only thankful, but I think truly… blessed? I never had to go through the heartbreak. But this has made me think; out of all of the guys that I have been interested in and/or ones that have been interested in me, I have never found someone that really truly meets the standards I have. Then I look at the failed relationships of my friends and those guys didn’t meet ALL of their standards either… so why did they date? I think people are afraid of setting standards because they are scared they will be disappointed. Everyone wants to be loved, but so many people find fulfillment in the “good times” in these messed up relationships. Im not saying anyone is perfect, but how can people just count on the good without looking at all of the wrong. How can SO MANY people brush aside REALLY important things. MY advice: Dont settle. Ever. Even though at times I feel lonely, or I want to be “in love”, I remember that God has it all worked out, and he is going to place someone in my life who meets all of my standards. Someone who truly treats me like a princess, and above all, who loves God with his whole heart. Im not searching. Im not lonely. Im just waiting. And when that day comes, I will be ready for love.
