three key things have honestly changed my world and I hope can speak into your world today.
worshipI think I came to Australia expecting to learn how to be a better worship leader. Funny, because WHAT YOU DO DOES NOT DEFINE WHO YOU ARE. I am reminded of the journey that got me to Australia, and now, the very painful moments I have had here in Australia so far. I may sing, I may have incredible talent... but, if my life does not reflect the God I am worshipping it is all for nothing. I have been challenged in this time to truly seek Christ in every area of my life. He hems me in from behind and goes before me. I think I came to Australia with the expectation that my life would begin to look glamourous and beautiful and I realize that I must seek God more than riches and fame. More than anything else in this world, I must first choose Him- even in the small things. Even in the things that I think, “People aren’t going to see that...” Even in those moments. It literally changes everything to begin to walk in the Spirit more and more. I am finding myself more broken for injustice, more passionate for life, more hopeful for the hopeless. I have been challenged to continue to lay down my rights as a human. All of humanity was made for the glory of God. I want to be used by God with worship more than ever before. My calling has been confirmed over and over. Therefore, I am beginning to wholeheartedly and without relinquishing, pray for God to breathe songs into me. Songs that I am simply a vessel for. Pray that God would bless me with a guitar. Please pray with me. Please pray earnestly and believe with me. I am so grateful and ready...
prunes [pruning] John 15: 4-8
"Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
5-8"I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.
I am taken back by this verse lately. I have accepted that God is pruning me. He is cutting back the branches that don’t bear fruit. He is building in me a solid foundation to stand on...forever. Not for a season, but forever. I think I will be candid and say that my faith, up until now, has been more than not like an ocean wave. Tossed back and forth. Gray areas, not black and white. Lukewarm. Undecided. “But God, just let me keep this habit or this idol...” Not to be cheesy, but the waves in my heart have stilled. My tree is being pruned. Places that bear much fruit are being grown and watered. Places that don’t bear fruit in my life are painfully being snipped. I have never been more sure that God has created me to be a lamp stand to a dark world, to be a vessel to help bring broken humanity back to God. My life must reflect the God I worship. Every area, not just the pieces I want to hand over.
so that is that... I hope that is ok for you.
burned popcorn Honestly, I just made some popcorn and was anticipating how great of a snack it would be...and I opened it and it was burned. And I had a moment’s twinge of let down. And then I got all creative and imagined that the disappointments that I have met along the way so far are much like the burned popcorn [that I am still eating...] In the moment, burned popcorn seemed like a problem [ especially the smell], but in the long run...it isn’t a big deal. It is only a snack. In the long run...the good outweighs all the bad that I have faced over here so far. The bad has ended up not being a big deal. And the goods have been really good [if I could ever make unburned popcorn...] But, I wouldn’t take back anything that has been difficult here thus far... I truly believe I am being positioned to be a blessing to those people that I will encounter in my world. I believe that God is helping me overcome moments of “wanting to throw the towel in” for the future generations, for more people to rise up and declare Christ’s Lordship over their life, for my future husband that I could be the Godly woman He needs, for my future kids that I could be an awesome mom for them, for the songs that God will birth in my heart... burned popcorn, you have got nothing on me. ; )
well friends, that is my heart at this moment in time.
I pray that out of His glorious riches you would KNOW how wide and long and high and deep God’s love for you is today.
If you don’t love God today and you are reading this...man, just know that He loves you today.
Be Encouraged. [I promise to update more than every 2 months...I am even trying to catch up writing in my journal]
