Follow the Leader

"Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, 

but will have the light of life."

John 8:12

Each day is a ministry opportunity, a chance to do all that God has called us to do for that twenty-four-hour period. Sure, for me it might be serving someone popcorn at the movie theater, tearing their tickets to allow them into a movie or making someone's coffee and getting a pastry they have been drooling over. But in that  minute and a half is a chance to build a relationship. Make them smile, laugh, encourage and to show God's love. But no matter what is in front of us, there is a deeper purpose to the day-to follow after Christ and pay attention to how he wants us to live in the moments of life.

"As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him."  Mark 1: 16-18 

In the passage from Mark, the disciples had to do two things to fulfill God's call:     

1. Come: to approach or advance towards
2. Follow: to pursue or go after

We must too do those two things! A lot of the time we get these great ideas, dreams, and goals and we go for it! We are always on the go, until one day we just run out of steam. Personally, working two jobs keeps me busy most of the week. I always like to be on the go and have something to do. On days off, I want to get out of town, go to the beach, go hiking or to the zoo. Knowing my body needs to rest, I still try and fit everything in until... I run out of steam. But after reading this chapter, I know that there is a better way. Asking myself the question, What if I made it a daily practice to come and follow? What would that look like if I applied that to my life? Not only waking up, putting my plans or goals aside and allowing God lead me where I need to go that specific day, but also taking the time to listen to what he has to say. Staying busy isn't always the best thing, so for me it is going to take some self discipline, to take a stand and set aside time for my Heavenly Father each day.

We must learn to place God first, then listen and watch for what He would have us to do or become. Maybe some girl friends want to go have a night in the city, go to the beach or there is a party that night. If you can't find your keys, car doesn't start or some sort of obstacle gets in the way of your plans, not saying that you shouldn't do that certain thing, but take a second and honestly look over your day. Have you had that one on one time with God? Is your heart in the right place or is that a place where you are able to honor God? 

I would encourage you to go to a place where you can be alone. It can be anything from a locked bathroom, sitting in the car, beside a field, to in your room or even a coffee shop. Just find a place. While in that place, for ten minutes thing about what it would mean to follow God rather than yourself. Think of things that might change. Now I dare you to do the very thing God first spoke to you, the thing in front of you that you have probably put off. I double dare you to see all things today as spiritual in nature, even though they are physical, practical acts. God is a life changer, a people mover, a restorer to all things. We have a choice each day; we have to come and follow.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11 

The Miracle of a New Heart

"As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man."

Proverbs 27:19

God has many gifts for us. This one in particular is beautiful. Receiving a new heart. Metaphorically speaking that is. A new foundation to your entire being! Changing the way you think, respond, and live. Just the thought of our father giving us a new heart is so cool to me! Despite all our imperfections and failures. Beating to the same rhythm of God's heart and moving to the sound of His voice! Ahh! Like seriously, get out of town! 

In this chapter, it talks about how Ezekiel describes the two types of hearts:

• Heart of Stone: hard, heavy, dull, cold, dead.
• Heart of Flesh: soft, light, warm, alive
• Self Willed: wanting to do what you want, when you want. 
• God Willed: living for the purposes of God the Father. 

What heart do you have? What heart do you want? I know now that living with a new heart does not come automatically. It needs to be a genuine prayer to allow God to come in and radically change you from the INSIDE out. A daily surrender of self to the Father. I can't promise it will be easy and that temptations won't come, cause they will come and we will want to fall back to our old habits, but when you give your whole, undivided self and live for Him, it will make it that much easier to turn away from those things.

The definition of undivided: 

1. Not divided, separated, or broken into parts.
2. Concentrated on or devoted completely to one object

Our hearts must be centered, focused, undivided, and intentionally loyal to God. That's a big word when you think about it. Undivided. I can't get over it and how important it is. Reading this first chapter, lots of things popped into my head that have divided my relationship with God. Things that just slip in between, maybe some things that I put more time into than I should? Facebook, relationships, friends, phone, work, appearance. I realize that's the 20% I still held back from God and instead of being self-centered I need to learn to be more Christ centered. I encourage you to pray from Psalm 86: "Teach me your way. Give me an undivided heart.." Maybe cut back on a few of the things that popped into your head and fill in that time with God. Determine to live out of that new heart from this point forward. I pray to be a woman with one focus, one vision, one purpose. Today, for me, HE has that other 20%.

A New Beginning

Every summer for the past 7 years I would attend Hume Lake Christian Camps in Central California. Always coming home with that "spiritual high." This year was a little different. At the beginning of this summer, I got a second job. For a while, I would work, eat, sleep, repeat. It got very tiring and exhausting very fast. No social life, my relationship with my family, friends and boyfriend where aching. I needed a break and I wanted to get away. I have family that lives in Colorado, so my plan was to go stay with them for a couple weeks. I called and called, but no one would answer. I got frustrated, thinking, "All I want to do is get away. Why is no one answering?" I tried one more time. Still no answer. About 2 hours after that, my youth pastor calls me and says that they need a girl camp counselor and that I'm going. Having two jobs, one I had just started so I was really nervous about requesting time off not knowing if I would be able to or not, but I knew if I did, that's where God wanted me. I prayed and got it off! I was so excited! I realized that I need to learn to let go of my plans and focused on the plans God has for me. His plans are far more greater than mine. 

Dale told me I would be with the freshman girls. I was pretty nervous about it wondering do I have what it takes? Do I have the wisdom, strength, love, and patience needed for these girls? Throughout the week, through all the tears, the laughter and joy, God was definitely present. He revealed Himself over and over again. He moved in the lives of everyone there, including mine. It was more than incredible. I was forced to get out of my comfort zone and to be strong and courageous. I made lots of new friends and got closer with old ones that I know will last a lifetime. Like I said earlier, I didn't necessarily get that spiritual high coming down the mountain, but as the Lord spoke through the speaker, it did give me a new perspective on life. I realized the relationship I needed to break away from, things in my daily life I needed to change and the faith I needed to grow. 

We went threw Exodus and towards the end the speaker talked about how God is going to take us to the desert. He is the King of the Desert and we need to realize that He is enough. He is going to take us to the nothing in order to take make us something. I realized that my home town was part of the desert. That I need to take a stand for my faith and to start being more of a light. I purchased a book while I was there that would help me with just that called, "The Faith Dare" It's pretty much a 30 day challenge to live out your faith every day, in every situation. To make you more aware of his presence, to break self-reliance, and to trust in God alone. To live a life that pleases him. I am really excited to begin reading this book. To have a new beginning. To open up and start live in the power of God's word. Let's do this!