God is doing a new thing. I've been seeing it all around me. He has been breaking chains in the lives so many of my friends, and in my own life as well. I've been given new convictions over the last month or so, as well as have many of my friends. I've seen one of my best friends go after God with such fervor lately, something that I have never seen in her before, at least not to this degree. She has given Him the place of her number one priority and she's not letting anyone or anything take that place. I recently went to Hollywood on a missions trip, and the first day, another of my best friends told me that she didn't want to come home the same person. I have been worrying about this girl a lot lately, and praying for her quite a bit. I was so happy when she told me that; I know that she has a heart for God, but I'd been seeing her slowly fade into the things of this world. It breaks my heart seeing my friends be content going to church a couple times a week and reading their Bible a couple times a week, but still being perfectly okay with participating in many of the things of this world. However, just since about the time school got out there has been a drastic change for God. I've been watching several of my friends get bored with being complacent, and they've become excited about the things of God. For some of them it's baby steps, but for others it has been 180's.
I've often heard many of these same friends say that they aren't on fire for God, but that they know I am. But now, I'm able to say that I really believe a lot of them are on fire for Him now as well. Ev'rbody getting SOSAVED up in here!! And as they have been seeking God more and more, they've been talking to me more and more about, seeking my advice on certain issues even. A few of them have talked to me about what they want to see in their own lives, and God has allowed me to be one person to encourage these things. They have desires to go deeper and grow closer to God, and they're acting on their desires. I see girls keeping each other accountable in the areas they struggle with.
While in Hollywood, God gave me a dream about the girls in my youth group, about their relationships and their anointing to minister growing supernaturally and drastically. This is exactly what I've been seeing in all of us lately and it's phenomenal. And I really believe that this is just the tip of the iceberg. We ain't seen nothin' yet. There is a season for everything, and this season that's opening up is going to be a memorable one. It's going to be sooo good!! Look around you, just keep your eyes open b/c God is going to be shaking things up. Go deeper with God, and see who is able to keep up. Just run full speed after Him. Don't give up on your friends or family that are lukewarm, but rather be praying for them and try ministering to them the best way you know how, and if the way you know isn't working, then ask God to give you new approaches. Remember that His way is best.
Get Ready For REVIVAL SAN DIEGO!!
Monday, July 4, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Who do you submit to? Who do you love?
Have you ever NOT wanted to do what the Lord is asking of you b/c it's going to be hard, but you know you need to b/c it's going to be really good for you? That's been me for the last week or two. At first I didn't want to do it b/c I thought it might just be me thinking these things, and I had to pray about it a lott. When God confirmed to me that it was Him and not me, I still didn't want to do it. I knew I would, but I knew that it would be really hard for me. I had to write out to God that I promise to do what He is asking of me, and every word hurt, but it was such a good hurt. We don't always want to do what He is asking, but we have to anyways. "This is where you CHOOSE to do so because of obedience, not off of what you're feeling," (Claudia Rios). We may not always feel like doing something that the Lord wants us to do, but we still must choose to b/c of obedience. We are to live in submission to God. Out of our love for God we should be desiring to submit to Him, but if we don't truly love Him then why should we desire to submit to Him and His will? It's just like a marriage, if a woman loves her husband then she will want to submit to him. The husband see's what is right and what is wrong, whereas the woman doesn't always see this. A wife must submit to her husband so that he can help her to see and choose the right choice, just like we as Christians must all submit to the Lord so that He can direct us to the right choices. But if the wife doesn't love her husband, then she will not desire to submit to him. Likewise, if we don't love the Jesus, then we as His bride will not wish to submit to Him. Also, if the husband loves his wife then he will give her wise counsel and Godly direction. God loves us and will therefore direct us according to His purpose and His will. If a man does not love his wife, and also love the Lord first, then He will not give wise and Godly advice to his wife. (Bottom line, God needs to be the center of your marriage if it's going to work.)
Look at the Israelites, some of the time they praised God and served Him, but they would often then decide that they love themselves more and therefore would submit to no one and each would do as they pleased. (Judges 21:25). When we do as we please and not as the Lord pleases, we cause ruin in our own lives.
We use the word "agape" to express our unconditional love, but what many don't realize is that this word doesn't not specify that it is unconditional love for another person outside of ourselves. You can agape yourself; you can unconditionally love yourself. But the word "philadelphia" specifies unconditional love for someone outside yourself. The Israelites expressed agape love, but do not appear to have understood philadelphia love. Do you understand philadelphia love? Do you truly love others unconditionally, and most important, do you love God unconditionally? Or are you still so wrapped up in yourself and your desires that agape is the only level of love you have experienced? We need to look beyond ourselves and see what God desires. Our decisions affect not only ourself, but also our relationship with God, God Himself, our friends, our family, everyone that we come in contact with, and our relationships with all these people. If you have true philadelphia then you will put all these people before you, and will make sure that your choices affect them in a way that will bring glory to our King. Do you agape yourself and therefore submit only to yourself? Or do you philadelphia the Lord and therefore submit to Him and those He has placed in authority over you?
We often see one clear way for things to be done, and when God has a different way of doing things we generally freak out to some degree. Jeremiah 29:11"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." His ways are always good but our ways generally aren't, even if we may think they are. He has known you since before you were conceived, so He definitely knows what you should do. He always makes the right choice, but sometimes, often in fact, we don't. God has only good in store for us. (Matt 7:11 & Luke 11:13). He desires good for us, not harm, and will bless us, never hurt us. Jesus=Love
Check your heart, see what kind of love you are offering. Have you been able to experience philadelphia, or are you only using agape? Make sure that love is the most important thing to you. God is Love.
Look at the Israelites, some of the time they praised God and served Him, but they would often then decide that they love themselves more and therefore would submit to no one and each would do as they pleased. (Judges 21:25). When we do as we please and not as the Lord pleases, we cause ruin in our own lives.
We use the word "agape" to express our unconditional love, but what many don't realize is that this word doesn't not specify that it is unconditional love for another person outside of ourselves. You can agape yourself; you can unconditionally love yourself. But the word "philadelphia" specifies unconditional love for someone outside yourself. The Israelites expressed agape love, but do not appear to have understood philadelphia love. Do you understand philadelphia love? Do you truly love others unconditionally, and most important, do you love God unconditionally? Or are you still so wrapped up in yourself and your desires that agape is the only level of love you have experienced? We need to look beyond ourselves and see what God desires. Our decisions affect not only ourself, but also our relationship with God, God Himself, our friends, our family, everyone that we come in contact with, and our relationships with all these people. If you have true philadelphia then you will put all these people before you, and will make sure that your choices affect them in a way that will bring glory to our King. Do you agape yourself and therefore submit only to yourself? Or do you philadelphia the Lord and therefore submit to Him and those He has placed in authority over you?
We often see one clear way for things to be done, and when God has a different way of doing things we generally freak out to some degree. Jeremiah 29:11"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." His ways are always good but our ways generally aren't, even if we may think they are. He has known you since before you were conceived, so He definitely knows what you should do. He always makes the right choice, but sometimes, often in fact, we don't. God has only good in store for us. (Matt 7:11 & Luke 11:13). He desires good for us, not harm, and will bless us, never hurt us. Jesus=Love
Check your heart, see what kind of love you are offering. Have you been able to experience philadelphia, or are you only using agape? Make sure that love is the most important thing to you. God is Love.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
God needs our trust
All I know is that God is love, and He is good. He will take care of us, lead us, and teach us His ways. We don't know where we will be 5 years from now, or what tomorrow will bring. But we don't need to. Our lives are not our own, they belong to God and therefore only He has to be in the know. All we have to do is be open and let Him take us where He pleases. "Take my life and let it be all for You and for Your glory"-Starfield. This is the only focus we should desire. If we give our lives as a sacrifice, then the future is not a worry. I've personally wasted a lot of time worrying about what to do after high school. I was first trying to decide for myself. When that didn't work I decided to leave it all up to God, which was the right thing to do, but I wasn't listening for His answer. I'd spent a good month or two thinking that He just wasn't answering yet and it was driving me crazy. But when I finally took a few minutes and really listened, He told me very clearly what I'm to do. When I'd come to a point where I wasn't worrying about what His answer may be, and I was completely fine with anything He gave me the answer. When I legitly went to Him about it in prayer He was happy to make it clear. We are so often wrapped up in ourselves without even realizing it, and it's hurting our relationship with Him. We worry too much about our needs and our desires, yet His Word says very clearly that He will provide for us. I'm definitely guilty of this. We worship Him for Who He is, but when He doesn't answer us the way we would like, then we look away from Him. But His ways are so much better than ours. We make things hard on ourselves for no reason.
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matt 6:34
"Do not worry about anything but instead pray about everything." Phil 4:6
"But seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you." Luke 12:31
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:34
"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it." Mark 8:35
When we put God first, He takes care of the things that we need in this life. If we glorify Him then He will bless us. It seems that we often try to make our own decisions, and find our own happiness. But we fail ourselves so much of the time. We seek our fleshly desires too much of the time, and don't seek God's desires enough of the time. Where is your heart? Joshua 24:15 "And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day who you will serve[...] But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." Are you serving the Lord, or is your heart somewhere else? If your heart is in the Lord, and the things of Him, then your treasure will also be in Him, but if you are giving yourself to anything else then the treasures you receive will be worthless. When you seek and serve God above all else, forsaking everything of this world you are everything God is looking for. When you give your whole heart, and everything that you are to God, you become usable for Him and His glory. But when you hold on to things of this world, even the smallest of things, you are going to be spit out of His mouth (Revelation 3:16). You may appear to many as a sold out Christian, but if you still are clinging to things of the flesh Jesus see's that. He will not accept you on judgment day if you are unclean (Matt 7:21-23). He requires submission. Submission requires trust. In order for a relationship to work, trust is necessary.
Just think about where your heart is and who or what you are trusting in :) And don't just take my word for it on any of this, but seek the Lord about everything in this
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matt 6:34
"Do not worry about anything but instead pray about everything." Phil 4:6
"But seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you." Luke 12:31
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:34
"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it." Mark 8:35
When we put God first, He takes care of the things that we need in this life. If we glorify Him then He will bless us. It seems that we often try to make our own decisions, and find our own happiness. But we fail ourselves so much of the time. We seek our fleshly desires too much of the time, and don't seek God's desires enough of the time. Where is your heart? Joshua 24:15 "And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day who you will serve[...] But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." Are you serving the Lord, or is your heart somewhere else? If your heart is in the Lord, and the things of Him, then your treasure will also be in Him, but if you are giving yourself to anything else then the treasures you receive will be worthless. When you seek and serve God above all else, forsaking everything of this world you are everything God is looking for. When you give your whole heart, and everything that you are to God, you become usable for Him and His glory. But when you hold on to things of this world, even the smallest of things, you are going to be spit out of His mouth (Revelation 3:16). You may appear to many as a sold out Christian, but if you still are clinging to things of the flesh Jesus see's that. He will not accept you on judgment day if you are unclean (Matt 7:21-23). He requires submission. Submission requires trust. In order for a relationship to work, trust is necessary.
Just think about where your heart is and who or what you are trusting in :) And don't just take my word for it on any of this, but seek the Lord about everything in this
Monday, May 16, 2011
Life Full of God
I'd just like to start by saying that God is amazing!! I have had one of the most amazing weekends these last 3 days (and really this whole week). For me, this Renovate conference was probably more powerful than any of the other Renovates we've had. Also, God surprised even me by using me this week to confirm something in someone else's life. And He used another person to confirm something in my life. And He extended my Christ family even more this weekend :) God is just so great!! And before you read this, I'd just like to say that NONE of this is to glorify anything about me or anything that I do. It is ALL meant to glorify the Lord. And I'm just hoping that this will encourage you that God will use you and that He is always active in your life.
At Renovate I wasn't pressing in at first and therefore wasn't really feeling God. But I soon realized what I was doing and as soon as I started to really focus on God it was incredible. I just felt His love sooo strongly! On the second day of the conference they were talking about us getting an accountability partner, which at first I was like "ehh, I probly won't do that" but then God pointed out the person that I needed to have as my partner. And I am so glad that He did :) Before this person, I had never met someone whose testimony is almost exactly the same as mine. Later in the conference, during worship, I felt like God was wanting me to leave the front of the sanctuary and go worship from the table where I was selling shirts. As I got close to the table, I for some reason decided to make eye contact with one of the leaders who appeared to be in a lil prayer huddle. It was totally God's timing that I was there right then. There were 2 girls who wanted to accept the Lord and there was only him and a boy there to pray with them, so he asked me to pray with them too and lay my hands on them. And afterwards I just got to be the big sister, and hug them. It was so, so powerful, and just such a legitimate acceptance of the Lord. One of the girls didn't have a Bible and I was able to get her one (thanks to my big bro Josiah), and now I get to keep her accountable to read it, which is going to def be keeping me accountable to be reading it too. I'm really excited for these girls and I really hope that I'm able to help them with their walk :)
Last week, on 2 separate nights (which also weren't in a row), I had a dream about someone I don't really know that well. I had figured that it was likely a God dream, but I didn't wanna assume anything. I held off on telling this person until a week after the first dream, and even asked about what their life based on what the dream appeared to be about. Well, little did I know that that was going to be the exact day that this person needed to hear what God had told me through this dream. And it was more precise to his circumstance than I had imagined it might be.
A few weeks ago I had a dream that I meant to tell this one person who is a leader in my life, like I was supposed to tell her the day after I had it. I waited 3 weeks instead, mainly b/c I just forgot. When I finally told her the dream, God interpreted it through her. And I know that it was completely right on! And as it turns out, it was basically about what has been going on with me spiritually over the last like 3 months or so, that I had been avoiding talking to her about. But I was really glad that I was able to talk with her about it afterwards :) I was able to just release the burden of keeping it hidden I guess.
Just for fun, I'ma change some names here.Well, there was a person (let's call this person Kik) I met earlier this week, who later in the same day met my youth pastor. Both of us had invited Kik and their friend (who we'll call Raw) to renovate. The friend ended up coming the first night bringing quite a few more friends. Throughout the weekend I got to get to know them better. Today I brought a bunch of my friends to Ignite Church, which is the church that Raw and his friends go to and a church that I go to on occasion. We all got to fellowship with them and build the family bonds :)
This whole weekend I have been filled with so much joy, and I still am. aAnd even in the adversities I am/
At Renovate I wasn't pressing in at first and therefore wasn't really feeling God. But I soon realized what I was doing and as soon as I started to really focus on God it was incredible. I just felt His love sooo strongly! On the second day of the conference they were talking about us getting an accountability partner, which at first I was like "ehh, I probly won't do that" but then God pointed out the person that I needed to have as my partner. And I am so glad that He did :) Before this person, I had never met someone whose testimony is almost exactly the same as mine. Later in the conference, during worship, I felt like God was wanting me to leave the front of the sanctuary and go worship from the table where I was selling shirts. As I got close to the table, I for some reason decided to make eye contact with one of the leaders who appeared to be in a lil prayer huddle. It was totally God's timing that I was there right then. There were 2 girls who wanted to accept the Lord and there was only him and a boy there to pray with them, so he asked me to pray with them too and lay my hands on them. And afterwards I just got to be the big sister, and hug them. It was so, so powerful, and just such a legitimate acceptance of the Lord. One of the girls didn't have a Bible and I was able to get her one (thanks to my big bro Josiah), and now I get to keep her accountable to read it, which is going to def be keeping me accountable to be reading it too. I'm really excited for these girls and I really hope that I'm able to help them with their walk :)
Last week, on 2 separate nights (which also weren't in a row), I had a dream about someone I don't really know that well. I had figured that it was likely a God dream, but I didn't wanna assume anything. I held off on telling this person until a week after the first dream, and even asked about what their life based on what the dream appeared to be about. Well, little did I know that that was going to be the exact day that this person needed to hear what God had told me through this dream. And it was more precise to his circumstance than I had imagined it might be.
A few weeks ago I had a dream that I meant to tell this one person who is a leader in my life, like I was supposed to tell her the day after I had it. I waited 3 weeks instead, mainly b/c I just forgot. When I finally told her the dream, God interpreted it through her. And I know that it was completely right on! And as it turns out, it was basically about what has been going on with me spiritually over the last like 3 months or so, that I had been avoiding talking to her about. But I was really glad that I was able to talk with her about it afterwards :) I was able to just release the burden of keeping it hidden I guess.
Just for fun, I'ma change some names here.Well, there was a person (let's call this person Kik) I met earlier this week, who later in the same day met my youth pastor. Both of us had invited Kik and their friend (who we'll call Raw) to renovate. The friend ended up coming the first night bringing quite a few more friends. Throughout the weekend I got to get to know them better. Today I brought a bunch of my friends to Ignite Church, which is the church that Raw and his friends go to and a church that I go to on occasion. We all got to fellowship with them and build the family bonds :)
This whole weekend I have been filled with so much joy, and I still am. aAnd even in the adversities I am/
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
I LOVE GOD AND HE LOVES ME PERFECTLY!!!
God is just always blowing my mind. He is so incredible! Even in the simple things I'm amazed. He sometimes shows me hearts in the clouds; it even happened just last week when I got to school. And a couple weeks ago at a job interview I got to tell the guy interviewing me that I want to get into youth ministry, like a youth pastor of sorts, and he was just like "oh, so that's ur calling." The he asked if it runs in the family. So basically I got to talk about God in an interview, and i'm almost positive that the guy is a Christian :) Last week I got to spend a few hours with some of my Jesus family, and heard an amazing devo. Just being with them I could feel the love of Jesus. Then I got to go to a sleepover where we ended up praying and worshipping most of the night. I got to share the vast majority of my testimony, all the parts that I have only ever told a couple women that I really trust. It was just sooo freeing, and totally a God oriented thing. We went in the streets and worshipped. Later we hiked up to a cross and God's presence was just so there!! The littlest things, and the biggest things all make a difference. God makes the difference. I heard one song on my way home last weekend and all my thoughts were shook. I realized just how jealous God is for my affection. He literally showed me His love. (See my note "Eden" if u wanna know the deets about that.)
Yaweh has just SHOWERED me with His Love the last couple weeks. He shows up in the craziest places. His love knows no bounds <3 Jesus is my best friend, my lover. He is terribly jealous for my love, for my intimacy. He's reaching out, crying out to me all day long. I just need to grab hold of all that He is. He is near to me even when I am far from Him; I'm the only one who blocks anything in our relationship. He is always pursuing me, but sometimes I'm the one pushing Him away. I don't have perfect love to give, yet His perfect love is given to me. I can't even tell you how crazy perfect God is in every way and in every attribute He possesses. It is so incredible. I LOVE GOD!!!!! Everyone can know!!
When I need it most or expect it least, God is always pouring His love out on me. So I have a list of things that I desire in my future husband, and one of the things on my list is that he shows me he loves me in the most incredible and crazy ways; lately, I've realized that God is always doing that for me. You know, people are always saying that He is Lover, but not until I really looked at my life did I realize how real that fact is. I mean, one of the things I most want in a husband God has fulfilled in Himself. Psalm 37:4"Delight yourself also in the LORD,And He shall give you the desires of your heart." He knows my heart. He knows all of my innermost thoughts. And He chooses to give me what I want most!! That is just incredible. I mean,not only did He die on the cross in my place, which is a HUGE deal, but He also takes the time in my everyday life to say "I Love You." To me! Little, tiny me, on this little, tiny planet called earth. He has said that I deserve to be loved, and not just by anyone, but by the One Who is Love, the One Who loves perfectly. He chose me to be His bride. He chose me to be His first love. Not dogs, not birds, not venus fly traps, or even the ocean. He chose me, chose you, chose us, as totally imperfect humans, to be who He loves the most. GOD LOVES ME!!!!! <3<3<3
In case u can't see it, this is a pic of the first time God expressed His love for me thru showing me a heart in the clouds <3
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