(quiet)

Be still and know that I am God. What do I know of being still? Of being quiet? Of being in solitude with Jesus, and my Abba Father? I can tell you, very little. My life consists of reading some scripture, when I feel like it. Praying, when I 'think' about it, asking God for things. But I never stop, sit down, and listen. Allowing Jesus to impress his thoughts, prayers, concerns, commissions, and love upon my heart. My thoughts race, from one thing to the next, barely allowing for listening or feeling Holy Spirit do his thing. As I sit here and write, I have music playing. There is no silence in my day that is focused and devoted to my Father. The other day, I did sit down, and listen. Leaving my heart open, exposed, and devoted to nothing. My mind focused on what Holy Spirit was revealing. It was refreshing and fulfilling. I sat for about 10 minutes, but Jesus moved in that. I need Jesus, desperately! So to sum this quick thought up.......

Be still

Be quiet

Listen and discern

For God speaks

Ask for Him to move

Allow Him to move

Father move and shake my heart

Impress your fire on me!

Take the World, Just Give Me Jesus

So......the more and more I think about things, the more and more I get lost and confused in my thoughts. I look at my life, and what all I say, act, and think. I look around me at all the people I come in contact with, the ones I brush shoulders with, and those I see from a distance. I wonder if the Holy Spirit(HS) is apparent and impactful in their life. I wonder what their story is, where they have come from and where they are. The desires and passions that have been birthed within them. But, then I look at myself and wonder the same exact questions. Where is the HS's impact? What am I living out, if anything... The one whom loves me unconditionally is beckoning, calling, speaking, and reaching. Yet, I'm not listening, not acting, not caring. And Jesus, I'm sorry. I am one who listens to the flesh and to the world. I hate the concept of one or two days of spending time in worship, prayer, and 'church'. Yet that's what I'm living. Jesus is my motivation, but not my one thing. He fits into my life when I have time, and I give a piece of my heart.

I write this to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being apart of all those lives that read this, and yet never fully living the life of a bond servant to Jesus. My allegiance and focus has lain elsewhere, making Jesus the bookend to my life. To make sure He has things 'propped' up, and running fairly smooth. My heart has been devoted to other things without the breath of God on it. I have a duty and honor to glorify God every day; starting with the encouragement and love to all those around me. Stranger, friend, family, acquaintance.

Yet I have this fiery passion in the depths of my heart. What exactly it is remains to be seen. I have felt and seen glimpses of what God has birthed and what He stirs in my heart. And I am to tap into that, and to let Jesus come closer, and to allow the HS to speak truth and wisdom to me, and through me.

Let God invade your heart and mind. Allow his illuminating light of glory shine forth from you. May there be an aura and fragrance of the Lord upon your head, and your words. I say, pray BIG. Let the HS speak big things in your heart, those that seem impossible, or...well....possible! HS blow as a wind blows across our paths. May we glorify You, Lord Jesus.

Blessings

(Insert whatever title you want)

My eyes were opened to faithfulness today. But it came from a situation which, i never though of, or even crossed my mind. My faithfulness to the rowing team. I show up for practice Monday-Friday and race on Saturday. I show up on time, and work out outside of. I make sure my teammates are taken care of and where they need to be. They are depending on me everyday to do my job, so they can do theirs. We do life together, we offer each other what is needed to meet a goal. Someone mentioned that there is a faithfulness involved with this decision to be on crew. And I thought, do I have that sort of commitment and dedication to Jesus. It really made me question, which isn't so good. But it so put things into perspective for me. 

Jesus is jealous for our hearts, our lives, our loves, our needs and wants. He wants to be the center of your life. When I choose to neglect Him, what does He do? Well He sits at the right hand of our Father and intercedes on our behalf. Let me say that again, Jesus is interceding on our behalf, for you, continually! What?!

Holy Spirit wreck our lives and ravage our hearts! Because that's what He did to me today. Through another perspective of someone who knows nothing about rowing, He spoke to me, revealing what it does look like to be faithful. He wants us to be in a committed relationship with Him. He doesn't want our one hour of quiet time, and one hour of prayer. That's not enough. He wants those, but more, well.....ALL OF IT! No matter what He says to me, it's been hesitation on my part, because being vulnerable before Him is intimidating, meaning that I must rely on Him to bring me through the joys and the sorrows. He has asked and revealed some things in my life that mean hardship and uncomfortable situations. Draw near to Me, and I will draw near to you. Hmmm....so why is there worry? Our Father wants to draw near to us, and draw us into His arms. He knit us, He brought us from dust into beautiful things. I can't run, you can't run. We must determine within our hearts that Jesus and His heart are to be what we pursue. He didn't come to bring peace and good feelings. He came to the earth to bring the sword and division. Matthew 10:34, Luke 12:51  Jesus came to change our hearts, to baptize us in the Holy Spirit, that we might take the gospel into the world, the Truth that creates division and strife in mens hearts, because the world and the Kingdom are opposite. We can not have our foot in both. Either hot or cold, not lukewarm. Jesus desires excellence in our lives. He does not represent mediocrity, or less than average. He is THE jealous, loving, and all encompassing God that brings life and love, in a dark and hopeless world. 

Holy Spirit speak into our hearts. Bring a peace that allows for Your heart to work through ours to accomplish Your desires. May your presence be all that we need. May we be the ones to do the dirty work. To be pioneers. To pay the asking price of our willingness and commitment to Your heart and mind.

In Pursuit

This week, I have been somewhat lost for what to write. Jesus has hijacked my life, leaving no room for anything else. I have no choice but to follow His leading, yet I find myself still following my own wants and desires. Making my list of things more important than incorporating Jesus into the DNA of all I am. Yet, He still pursues me! Let me say that again, rephrased to get it across. We chase our hopes, dreams, and desires. Fleshly or otherwise, we choose what we want, when we want it. We find Jesus when we need Him, or when it's easiest for us. We all do it. Yet, our Papa is chasing after us. He is pursuing my heart, and everything that I am. Because He is seeing a totally different person. He is the bride groom; while we, as the Church, are the bride. He is the one to pursue in the relationship, relentlessly loving us, finding us, letting us know who He is. And we miss it! We ignore it! We overlook it! Why?!?!?! Every time I turn to my own desires, He shows up a little bigger. Letting me know who is who in this vertical relationship. He desires me, He desires YOU! 

"Walk with me and work with me -- watch how I do it. Learn unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11:29-30 The Message

Whoa! That was dropped on me today. So I pass it on, letting you know, Jesus is waiting for you. He is at this moment, interceding on your behalf. Praying for the Spirit to fill your entire being, speaking and guiding your heart. Baptizing you in the Holy Spirit, that truth may permeate this earth. That the Kingdom will be undeniable throughout the land. That we will be of like mind, pursuing Jesus in honor and glory.

Open your eyes, your ears, and your hearts children. He IS speaking and moving. Shifting hearts, minds, and lives. Bringing the unknown and the uncomfortable closer to us. Allowing us to feel His heartbeat, that we may adopt it as our own. The Spirit stirs our inner beings to the core.Let us sit still, and listen for His words. Let there be no other distraction, but the voice of our Father, calling to us. Come my children, rejoice in the life that has been give to us freely. Let us speak words of Jesus into those around us. Let the uncomfortable become the normal. May Jesus surge through our beings, truth and love being spoken into those around us. This is the great commission. To share the Truth, to spread His word, to permeate a dark and beaten down world. Disciples multiplying, being baptized in our Fathers name. Holy Spirit consume our hearts, take our lives as Yours. 

Blessings  

Where to Jesus?

Do we ever know where we are? Do we know where we are going? Are we walking with the Holy Spirit, banking on Him leading us through this life; guiding our every step, down to every breath, knowing that every inhale and exhale is possible only in and through the Lord? Is the very DNA of our day filled with Jesus? Or is he just a priority on a list that we have? Being number 1, and sometimes not even making the top 2. Where to next then, what does that look like; that's certainly what I would ask. It's simple, really! One word that can redefine our lives, in Jesus!

RELATIONSHIP

I am talking about a relationship, a unhindered love, with Jesus. He doesn't ask for us to complete a list of items, or say that until we follow these principles, He will love us. He ask that we draw near to Him, to love Him with all our hearts, minds, and souls. Until we enter into a committed relationship, when our hearts are broken, humbled, vulnerable, and laid down at his feet, we can never know what relationship with Jesus is. We will never understand what God has promised us. All that I am, and you are is a broken person, desperate for love. What better way to fulfill that than with a Jesus who has an unending love for His children.

Yesterday in a worship service, Beautiful Things by Michael Gungor was played. I really focused on what the words were saying, and it hit me hard. We are all but dust. But God makes beautiful things out of us?!?!?! What?! I am nothing, God doesn't need me, but yet He put a specific calling on my life. How awesome is that! I am so humbled that God made me, intricate and beautiful in His sight, and has a specific path for my life. That I may bring Him glory day in and day out.

Holy Spirit, I ask for an anointing and covering on my brothers and sisters. That your presence would be all consuming. That our hearts would be filled with your love and joy, overflowing into our lives, affecting everyone in our life. May it not be about me, but the light shine forth through me. My life is forfeit in You. Take my life Jesus, reconcile it in Yours, and the Kingdom come to earth. Speaking life, giving grace and mercy, showing love and glory. Praise and honor the King.

Phrase of the week: Just Jesus, nothing else!


Blessings

Growth

Here we go.......

The past few months has been a plunge into who God is and what He desires for me and all those around me. Propelling me into something I had never imagined. God has been revealing himself in new and fresh ways. Through people, personal encounters, time in His word, worship with music. There is so much that I don't even think that I can articulate to anyone. Which makes it even that much more, well, awesome. Knowing that I follow, believe, and obey a God because of who He is, what He has done, and what He reveals to me. And I don't have to explain it to anyone. They ask me why I say this or do that, and I can say because God states it in His word, or because God has revealed that and birthed it in my heart. There is a string of confidence in that, even though it doesn't make sense to anyone else, anywhere. My vertical relationship is first and foremost, and sometimes will not be taken well by other people. But I must know that God has my back, that I am His adopted son, and He is Abba Father.

Phrase of the week: Raw and broken before Jesus