Fade into the Crowd

As I walk through each day, I disappear into the crowds. The lives of other students, customers, employees, rowers, christians, they are all around me, and they consume everything that I am. They consume all that I am about, all that I know, all that I say. My words get lost wherever i throw them, they stick in the back of people's minds, falling to the ground, or rising to the heavens. As I get lost in this crowd of.....well.......everyone, I have no voice by myself. Is my voice worth being heard? Do people find value in hanging on every conversation, every sentence, every syllable that is audible or written on paper? Should people be ready to hear what I have to say, or what Jesus has to say? My words are just babble, but my Father's words are so much more. They are truth, wisdom, poignant, life changing.

I cannot walk any farther. I cannot think one more minute ahead, an I cannot look back even a second. I must stop, I must fall prostrate, and demand that God increase in my heart, as I decrease my desires, my heart, my visions. That God will come, birth, and flourish a vision and dream for my life, for my role in His Kingdom vision. My vision is worthless, my hopes are worthless, my 'goodness' and 'deeds' are dirty rags. Father, come in, speak on your terms, your heart MUST overtake mine.

I cannot be silent anymore, yet I cannot speak, not until Holy Spirit prompts my heart to speak.

Father, I ask for revelation in my heart, mind, and soul, that you would increase immensely, and that I decrease.  May I not fall into the crowd, being lost and not heard, but be a leader. I ask for your heart, your visions, your dreams to become my own. That I can pour those out into the cities, states, and nations, bringing your Kingdom to earth, as it stands in Heaven. Lord I will not move until you ask me to move, I will not speak unless spoken too.

This is just a bit of my heart, and speak and pray these things over all that read this. Abba wants relationship, He wants our hearts.

Father-Relational

Our Father wants to know us. He wants to build a relationship that is more than just being a Father figure that heads over us, demanding respect, showing authority. He demands our praise and adoration. We are to fear Him daily, in reverence. But at the same time, He is the our affectionate Daddy, Papa. He wants to grow closer to us as we grow closer to Him. Who wants to know you more intimately and loves you more than this God of the world, a God of wrath and destruction. These were times of despair for Him, but yet of necessity. Yet, we have the opportunity to find a God of love and involvement. He sits on His throne, receiving praise and honor, from every angel and entity. Yet he wants to know me? He wants me to know Him, intimately, to be a Papa. He loved us enough to send His Son, to bring life through death and destruction.

Son-Radical

Jesus sits at the right hand of God, interceding on our behalf, to His Papa. He is praying for our hearts and our words, speaking through Holy Spirit. The life He lived was that which was contrary to the government, to the people, and to the world. Still today, it is that same radical, out of the ordinary, set Him apart from the world. And we as the ones who inherit this call to live as such, takes a great deal of surrender and action. Jesus states that we will do even greater things than He. For real! Our lifestyle is to be that of a radical nature, contrary to the beliefs and views that others hold. What Jesus has instilled in our hearts is what we are to grasp and push on with. We cannot sit back and allow fear and complacency plague the passions and fire within our hearts. We have the instructions of what we are to do at the end of Mark. Jesus states it to the disciples, and conveys that to us as well. When He left this earth to sit at the right hand of His Father, Holy Spirit, the Counselor was given to guide us.

Holy Spirit-Revolutionary

Holy Spirit leads us in every precession of our lives. Every step we take, every word we speak is to be hinged on the words and impressions of Holy Spirit. There is no greater wisdom or knowledge except that that comes form our Counselor. The one who dwells within our souls, keeping us in direct contact with our Papa. When we pray, even in utterances beyond understanding, Holy Spirit intercedes with groans and prayer on our behalf. Our lives are a leading of radical and unfathomable desires, led by Holy Spirit. Our conscience is by that wisdom and knowledge the Father reveals through Holy Spirit. In which we pour these things out on those around us, bringing revolution: a sudden, radical, or complete change. Holy Spirit is what changes hearts and minds, brining the impression of the presence and glory of the Father. To be revolutionary is to bring about a shift in what lives look like. There is nothing greater.

These things have been revealed to me the past few weeks. Starting with a sermon my pastor shared one Sunday. I wanted to share with you all, what God is trying to convey our lives be like. How we are to interact on an intimate level with the Trinity. There is a desire for our lives to be revolutionary, reaching to the lost, building those up around us, and ultimately establishing the Kingdom here on earth.

Blessings

(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