Being a radical...

So recently I began reading David Platt's book, Radical. I'm probably about 60ish pages in and everything that I know and hold to has been put in a brand new perspective. Think about this. In the book he talks about a time right before he was going on a mission trip to Sudan. He was reading a BAPTIST newspaper and the headlines caught his eye. One headline was about a church celebrating their 23 million dollar new sanctuary. The other headline was talking about how the baptist were raising money for 350,000 Sudanese refugees. Naturally he got excited seeing this, especially since he was heading out to Sudan. He read on in the article, much shorter than the one about the 23 million dollar sanctuary, to find that the amount raised for the refugees was 5,000 dollars. Only 5,000 dollars for 350,000 men, women, and children. Puts a lot into perspective.

This story has been stuck in my mind for days now. I keep going back to it. It hits me close to home, I guess. Before I go on, let me say this. I don't think there is anything wrong with a growing church and a big building, just to be clear. But I attend a church thats growing. So much we have outgrown our sanctuary and we are almost finished building a new one. It's great to see God's hand working within my church, but I almost felt convicted at reading David Platt's story. I feel like we put so much emphasis on numbers and growth and state of the art worship centers that we lose focus on the needs of this lost and dying world. We can't reach out to Sudanese refugees by sitting in our cool air conditioned buildings in our comfy chairs with our hands underneath us. We have to think about the people with needs.

I am blessed. I go to a church that is growing, BUT it also has a heart for the lost world. I just pray that we as christians as a whole, forget the numbers game and focus on something a bit more important: the billions of people that have never heard the gospel. We are called in Matthew to GO and make disciples. Are we making disciples or are we more worried about what color the church is painted or the color of the carpet. It's great to have a place to worship as a church family, but please don't lose sight of what is important.

I hope I worded this all right. I got a little offended when I read the book, but I quickly realized it wasn't me taking offense. It was the Holy Spirit convicting my heart. Sometimes I get a little proud because of our church growth and our building, but God has brought me back down to size. In closing, what is important to you? The multi million dollar worship center or the Sudanese refugees. Because that's what it comes down to.

What's your desire?

I'm a strong believer in this: When you take the big leap. When you make that big decision. You surrender your life to Christ. Something should happen. A change should take place.

"What kind of change is that?" you may be asking.

Well, I'm glad you enquired.

"Getting saved" as we baptist like to say is not just about making a statement. In the 21st century accepting Christ into your life has become so watered down. It is not some magic prayer. When you make that choice a lifestyle change should occur. That's the change I am talking about. Its a desire change. A complete 180 in what you want. Yea, we are still sinners and of course we're gonna mess up, but its the after we mess up that counts. Are you convicted as you are sinning? Do you want to stop? When we have a desire change we don't want to go anywhere near things we know will cause us to sin. With salvation there should be a change of heart. We should look different than the world, not blend in with it. So with all that, what is you desire? Where does your heart sit? It's something to ponder and think about...

Total Surrender

Lately the question "what is total surrender to you?" has been bouncing around. Up until today I haven't had an actual response to that question. It has been in the back of my mind, but I hadn't given it much thought. All that changed today as I did my daily devotional which is currently out of My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. I was reading about how Paul said he was completely overpowered by the love of Christ. The words in the devotion went onto say that people rarely are totally and completely gripped by the love of Christ. When one is completely overtaken by His powerful love it is evident in the life of that person and we can see God moving unhindered there. The question came to my mind. Is this how I look? Does it look like Christ is completely unhindered in my life and that He is moving freely? Have I really experience the true gripping love of Christ.

The total surrender point is coming. Later on in the passage it says "This total surrender to 'the love of Christ' is the only thing that will bear fruit in your life. And it will always leave the mark of God's holiness and His power, never drawing attention to your personal holiness."

Christ's love needs to brand us. As Christians we are called to look different and be different than the world. Have we let this unfailing love put a brand on our lives? Have we totally surrendered to this love and let in change us from the inside out?


Just things to ponder.

2 Corinthians 5:14: Either way, Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for us all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life." (NLT)

"It's the little imprefections"

La la la. This blog is something that has been born out of sheer boredom so it wont say much of anything, because I cant think of anything catchy to write about, talk about a run on sentence <<. Sitting here being bored, listening to the sounds around me, I realize--woah. I am happy. Life is good, God is amazing and I have everything I could ever need. So quit focusing on what is wrong and count your blessings. (: Its good to go. (: byye now.

oh goodness--

I feel like it has simply been ages since I graced the blogging world with my presence. So here I am back by popular demand. Well not sure if its popular demand, but here I am nonetheless. Happy to be back, too for the record. Looking back over past blogs I find myself smiling and laughing at the things I have said. I started this blog a little less than a year ago, but I look back and think about how much has changed and how much I have changed and grown. There are a lot of things different, but there has remained one constant in my life. That is Jesus. A lot of things have been crazy and ever changing in my life, but there has been this one thing I can constantly count on and that thought alone is comforting and encouraging. I have so much to boast about in my relationship with Christ. When every worldly gain has fallen I can still boat in Christ. When I feel let down, I have a hope. It is simply one of those indescribable feelings you simply must experience to understand. It is not something I can sit and put into words in a short blog. I could write a million pages and still not capture His true essence and who He is to me. I am at a point in my life where a lot is changing and I am about to have to take on more than I am used to, but I know that God has a plan and he will get me through. I take so much comfort in knowing I have a special plan, created just for me. It may not seem like much, but let me tell you, it is. It is EVERYTHING. HE is my everything. My air, my life. He continues to reveal new things to me everyday through prayer and his word. I love the feeling of hungering after Him. It is a good feeling.

In ten days the world celebrates each other, the year. They spend small fortunes on getting the "perfect" gift. Shopping and decorations and wrapping will take over the scene. I say we take these ten upcoming days to focus on this season and our true celebration for it. There is a place for the gifts and decorations and shopping, but lets take it off the our main thoughts and replace it with Jesus. He humbled himself, came to earth, was born in a stable, just so he could live and die for me and you. If that doesnt blow your mind I dont know what will. Remember why we celebrate.

Well I think this is a good start back. I am looking forward to many more blogs to come. Keep reading! (:

Have a great rest of your week. (:

Peacee

Blogging all of the sudden became over rated. and now I miss it.

I never blog anymore. And this is sad. Summer has been crazy. I PROMISE once school starts back and I get a routine I will commence blogship. (:
Much love and peace.

SuMeRr TiMe iS FiNaLlyY HeRe! (:

Okay so wow. Summer so far, has been AMAZING! (: So many memories made already and it has just begun! I hit up the beach THREE TIMES last week and I also got in a lake day filled with friends, fun, && WAKEBOARDING (finally). I am sort of burned, but it has all been so very worth it!! (: God is speaking to me in a lot of ways. I am loving the fact I have plentiful time to spend in his word! I am so excited to see things unfold according to His plan. Today in church, Bro. Scott spoke about seeking God's will and praying according to it and I want to do that! I am also looking forward to upcoming ministry opportunities! He is teaching me so much and something He has been reminding me of is how blessed I am. I have all that I need and more and what amazes me is that I dont deserve it. Not one bit. BUT He keeps the blessings coming. This coming up week in VBS and I am looking forward to toating around little ones for a little while. Then next weekend its off to the beach till Sunday! (: Then Monday morning I head out again for PC Beach and an exciting Pre-teen camp. I love playing music for God's glory. There is so much going on and summer is such a great time to let God use you! Be salt and light in this lost and dying world. Dont conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind! Dont try to win the approval of man. Only GOD truly matters! Pray for someone and be an encouragment!


So, on a random note:
Something that always makes me mad is that the word "wakeboard" or "wakeboarding" is ALWAYS a typo! Gr! It is a weird people! Lets get with the 21st century!
Another random topic: Watching Rocky react to being sprayed by the spray bottle is priceless! (:

Another random note: My best friends left me. NOT cool! (: I miss Kase and Corey!

Well until next time, this has been BCS from the big blue comfy couch! (:

Much love and peace beach bums!

Listen to some Kenny Chesney or Beach Boys! Get in the summerrr spirittt!!