Because the world needs you to.

 

I don't know about you, but some days it is a struggle to keep my flesh in check. But the super cool thing is, is that it is getting easier. I know that sounds contradictory. Used to, my words, actions, opinions, thoughts, etc., were too hard for me to hush. Whether it be in my head, or out loud. And... maybe if I was being truthful, I didn't care to. {Side note: I haven't perfected this, and never really will; however, I am more aware of this weakness and strive to continually be better} Until God changed my heart and gave me a new perspective of Him and those around me.

 

I used to look at other people and so desperately want to be like them. I loved their attitude, their generosity, and their selflessness. That wasn't who I was or really ever was. And then it dawned on me that they are who they are because of whose they are. They spend time with Jesus, they look at people like Jesus did/does. Something changed in me. Drastically. The fears, uncomfortableness (if that's not a word, I just made it up!), shyness of letting God change me and use me begin to slowly fade away.

 

We get so used to seeing hurting people around us that we become mute to it. Too many times we put labels on people because of how they are or have treated us. Our waiters/waitresses, cashiers, parents, teachers, co-workers, etc., and we immediately think we have to give back to them what they are dishing out to us. Why? Because they "deserve" it. {So we think, anyway}

 

Matthew 5:7 says, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."

Mercy means: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within ones power to punish or harm.

 

That.Is.HARDDDD.

You can say Amen here!

 

But it is necessary.  Instead of seeing the bad in people, find a way to put some good in. When Olivia tells me someone was mean to her, I tell her to be extra nice back because they need some of her kindness.

 

Your life, and the way you view life, as well as those around you will change.

 

 









Hey you... Yes, you.

Right now, right where you are in this moment. The mistakes you made yesterday, or this morning, or just now. The desires you have in your heart. The dreams you dream about. The things you think about all the time.

How you don’t feel good enough. Not qualified. You aren’t ready. You can’t. You think God can’t use a person like you because of what you just did, said, or how you reacted.

STOP. Just stop.

God wants you. God wants your messy self. God wants your mistakes. God wants your desires. God wants your dreams. God wants your thoughts. Because he thinks about you. He sees your messy life, he has seen the mistakes you’ve made, he knows your desires, he has seen your dreams. He is those things you are searching for but can’t find. STOP tearing yourself down, and start tearing your walls down. Those walls you guard around your heart because you’ve been hurt. Those walls you’ve built up because you screwed up royally yesterday and there’s NO way God can use you now. Those dreams you constantly get lost in through out your day because you’re so desperate for more of something. The things you think on that are tearing your down. The things you are doing to yourself that are harming you.

 STOP.

The hurt and anger you have towards God because your life isn’t fair. The bitterness you are trapped in because you are consumed with hate. The negativity that you allow in your life because you have stopped caring. The prison that you are locked up in because you think you’re alone.

STOP.

You can point fingers at God all day in hate and doubt, or you can raise your arms in surrender because he is the ONLY one who can set you free. Free from yourself, your hate, your doubt, your prison, your thoughts, your dreams that never come true, your reactions, your mistakes.

Just for this moment let me be a modern day Moses to you. God wanted to use Moses in Exodus to free the Isrealites from slavery, and captivity. When Moses didn’t know what to tell the people, God told Moses to tell them:  “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)

The I am has sent ME to you. Why? Because he has set ME free from all of those things.

The I AM – is your savior, your surrender, your source of strength, your help, your mistake corrector, your hurt healer, your confidence builder, your dream fulfiller, your EVERYTHING you will ever need.

God loves you, right where you are. God wants you, just like you are.   

Captivated

... to attract and hold the interest and attention of.

I'm currently {captivated} by the lyrics in a song that go something like this: 

"You unravel me, with a melody. You surround me with a song. 

Of deliverance from my enemies, 'till all my fears are gone."

It's so easy to become captivated by people, life events, situations both good and bad, etc. Not only can we become captivated by these things, we can also be held captive by subjecting ourselves to situations and people that are not good for us. So many times we think of the enemy as a force coming against us; however, sometimes we are the enemy ourselves and sometimes there is a real enemy coming against us. Lately, my mind has been captivated by so many things in our world that my brain is like a hamsters spinning wheel that keeps going and going and going and, you get it. 

Not only is my mind overwhelmed, my heart is too. That feeling of your heart walking around on the outside of your body beating and aching, that's me. Christians being beheaded for their faith. Fear of not being good enough. The future. The now. 50 Shades of Grey {that's a completely different conversation}. And so on... Some of these things I am captivated by, and some things are holding me captive. 

Christians have been slaughtered for their faith for YEARS. You can read all about it in the Bible, and in our recent history you see it on the news [overseas]. However, the threats are getting a little too close for comfort. The question I keep asking myself is: "am I ready to confess my faith and face death for the cause of my faith?" This is a bold question. A question that I may never have to answer, and hopefully not. BUT, it could be. Period.  This is something I need to, we all need to think about. Would I/you let fear hold us captive? This song No Longer Slaves is an anthem song. One I play over and over in my mind. One that helps confirm the answer to my question I mentioned above. One that pushes every other fear that may try to hold me captive away. 

I love what Deuteronomy 31:6 says: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." {Them} can be applied to anything, not directly a person or group of people. God will exchange your availability for his ability to handle and conquer all that you need to. Fear should not hold us captive. The now, the future, and anything else trying to hold us captive, we just need to let it GO. If Elsa can do it, so can we. Her power holds nothing in comparison to the power available to us! When we accept Christ as our savior, the holy spirit resides in us to give us power to let go of the things that try to take us captive. God has given us the tools and resources we need to shake the enemy off. The enemy may be you limiting yourself, or it may be the enemy coming at you. Either way:  LET IT GO... let it go, and now that song will be stuck in your head for a while. You're welcome! 

"You split the sea so I could walk right through it.

All my fears were drowned in perfect love

You rescued me so I could stand and sing

I am a Child of God."

-No Longer Slaves by Bethel Music