Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Lay open

I am almost 34 years old, and I've been through quite the stuff in life. I have endured all forms of abuse, single motherhood, health problems, multiple surgeries, and more recently, a broken marriage. In those times I have had many revelations, or "epiphanies". And each time, I think it's the last one. I think to myself, "Uh, that was so painful and rough to go through; I learned so much and am at a new level of maturity, I can't imagine God or God through people can teach or show me anything else about myself or life." I am clearly wrong.

To sum up my point I'll say this. IF you stay before the Lord, and lay openly before Him on a consistent basis, and the core of your life is God, you will NEVER stop growing. You will never stop maturing. The key word here is IF. It's so hard in this day and age to not let other things suck us in and choke our spiritual lives. But we must stay before God, and lay openly before Him and be willing, and invite challenges in. It's so not about the actual circumstance in your life-it's what you do with it, and how you respond. If we are open before God and open to God, He will never stop working in us and showing us things.

But if my mind is all consumed with other things, and I'm not open or focused on growing and learning, it won't come so much. You have to be in the game of life in Christ. Seeking, searching, asking, begging for God's hand in your life. And let me tell you, He'll do it. And it isn't always easy. As a matter of fact, the important stuff, the stuff that helps us grow, is always the toughest, the most painful. But we have to be open and willing to walk through that.
The goal is to be perfect, and that won't happen until Jesus comes back, but until He does, it's our goal to be as much like Him as possible. And so much of that is up to us!

If you don't find yourself thinking about Jesus, or wanting to be like Him-or if you don't find yourself drenched in His word, or if you don't find yourself in environments that it is inevitable that you will change and learn and have revelations, then ask yourself what is occupying your mind. What is driving you? What are you laying open before to keep you going? What are you feeding off of? Is your head in the game as a real Christian? Are you asking God for solutions, and ways to be like Him? Are you asking Him to change you and show you His will in all you do?

It takes a lot of courage to step in the direction of learning and growing. It's such hard work. I am in the middle of one now and my brain is going crazy! But God gives us responsibility, and if He thinks I'm ready for whatever revelations I have, I guess I am blessed.
Even though it might not want to be something you want to face about yourself-it's OK-your character will look more and more like Christ if you do.

It's some things that I don't even want to realize about myself or a situation-it's things I often have a hard time admitting. But God will know when I'm ready, and when you're ready. Just don't give up, and keep your head in GOD'S game!

Go and Glorify 3 (final thoughts)

One other great way to think about this is this: Live in Christlikeness, and God gets all the credit!
That is basically giving God the glory. We don't get the glory, because we are only able to be like Christ in so far as we are in relationship with Him. But God gets all the credit for all we do, and say! Just like He gets the credit (glory) for the beauty in this world!

And in 1Peter it says it's our job as believers to bring God's glory forth. And if you aren't out there living your life for Him, that can't happen. It will only happen if we are livin' for Christ. And together, collectively, it's our job to do it.
OK, thanks for listening!

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Go and Glorify Part 2

I feel like I didn't explain what it really meant to "glorify" God. I talked a lot about making sure we are glorifying God, but what does it actually mean?

In a nutshell I explain it that it means in all we think, say and do, is it pleasing to God in a way that it shows Him off so to speak? Does it put God in the lime light? Do our actions and words and deeds radiate goodness that we get from God? If we behave ungodly or say ungodly things, it makes God look bad. And that matters because being ungodly isn't from God. We have to give God a good name, because He is so good!

We need to show the true character of God and that is found in Jesus. If I exude goodness, kindness, gentleness God gets all the glory, and in that He is glorified. I must say it is our duty to do so! He gave His life for us, let's start making choices that reflect our gratitude toward Him, and be disciplined in crucifying our flesh everyday. We will never accomplish glorifying God on a day to day basis if we don't die to self. It being connected to Him, abiding in Him as He in us. It takes intimacy with Him for His glory to come forth.

Bringing glory to God shows the world how awesome He is! It's like bragging on God! Let's do what we have to do to be spiritually disciplined in God's word, in prayer, and in community with one another to give it all back to God!

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Latest inspiration

New album! I can't wait to write about my take on 'Remedy'! See you soon!

Go and Glorify

Glory, glorified
1.Something that is a source of honor, fame or admiration
2.adoring praise or worshipful thanksgiving: Give Glory to God
3.very great praise, honor, or distinction bestowed
4.the cause to be or treat as being more splendid, excellent, etc., than would normally be considered
5.to make glorious


It took me a long time to understand what that meant. It bugged me actually, not just before I was a Christian and I'd hear people say it, but even after. I don't know why. I know I can't get irritated easily with people for certain things, so maybe it was a judgmental type frustration. It just annoyed me.

Once I became a new person in Christ, and became more well read in His Word, it started to click with me more and more. I was at the point where it didn't bother me anymore, but I still wasn't living day to day with that mind set. Until now.

As you know already I LOVE the new David Crowder Album. Well, he has a song titled ' The Glory of It All'. That has been what hit me with it.
The way I see it is this. Each day as we struggle back and forth with Spirit and our flesh-a good mental picture of bringing God glory in all we do would be this:

Is the lie you're about to tell glorify God?
Is what you are about to eat glorify God?
Is the movie you are about to watch glorify God?
Is the music you are about to listen to glorify God?
Is what's coming out of your mouth next about to glorify God?
Are your priorities glorifying God?
What about your thoughts?
What about your actions and choices?
What about your marriage?
What about your friendships?
What about the way you talk with co-workers? What about what you THINK of co-workers?

I could go on and on. This has been such a good reminder and visual for me if I am about to be rude, or short with someone. Or if I am about to saying something I REALLY FEEL like saying (if you know what I mean). It helps keep my emotions in check-and to look at my fruit to see if it looks like Calvary. We won't be perfect, and we need Christ to survive in all we do. We must not separate. He is the Vine, WE are the branches. What is a branch good for if it isn't with the vine? It lays there on the ground-alone-dried up, with no life attached to it. We have to meet God everyday if not every hour-and keep before Him, His ways, and choose His will-that is what will glorify Him. Will it honor Him? Make Him happy? Make Him smile? Please Him?

I bet as you go day to day you'll be able to figure it out-I know I'm still trying too, but with Him by my side-and a continual heart surrender, and seeking-I know I can do it with Him, and He can change me!

NOTE*God being glorified and giving Him the Glory is a lot more complicated too theologically than I wrote about here. Like the whole reason Jesus coming to earth to save us-and defeating Satan at the Cross-was all for the Glory of God-anyway, just a side note; I just didn't go that deep!

Stayed tuned for more David Crowder inspired pieces!

Peace