No Turning Back

Last week I went to rehearsal at my church and we practiced a song I'd never heard before.  It's called Christ Is Enough by Hillsong Live.  I don't really like "new" songs so I was a little hesitant when starting but after a few lines I realized where it was headed.  I discovered that one of my favorite hymns was altered a bit and was buried deep in this new song.  I absolutely loved it and can't get that little part out of my head! It goes:

I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back
The cross before me, the world behind me, no turning back, no turning back

These lines are some of my absolute favorite, they are the cry of my life & I hope to fulfill them with all my being!  My greatest purpose in life is to follow Jesus & guide others to Him fulfilling the mission we were given in Matthew 28:19-20.  So whether I'm called as a missionary, or to stay here at home fulfilling the Great Commission, may my life ever proclaim Jesus and never turn back! The world is now behind me and the Cross is before me! My only focus should be Cross!

(If you want to check out the great song, you can watch it here) :)

Never live on memories....

"Never live on memories; let the Word of God be always living & active in you."

~Oswald Chambers

Living for Myself...

These past few weeks I've been thinking about how much I "know" about the Bible.  I was asking myself if I simply knew these things or were they being lived out in my life.  Growing up in a Christian household, I always went to church, home group and spent my own quiet time in the Word.  I read a lot of the Bible and different books to grow in my spiritual walk.  I learned so much!  However, I think I learned much more than I was putting into practice.  

As the older sister in the family, I always had the pressure of being the example to the rest.  I had to be the one to exemplify obedience, submission and love for Christ.  I had to show the younger ones how to do it.  At least that's the way I felt growing up.  I look back now and realize that I didn't always do it as for myself, I did it for my parents, my siblings and others.  I didn't always spend time with God because I wanted to, but because that's what was required.  

I don't want to know any longer.  I want to live.  I don't want to have all the right answers.  I want to show the right answers.  I want to be the example in 1 Timothy 4:12 because it's what I want, not what others are pressuring me to be.

This verse says to be an example to the believers in 

1. Speech

2. Life

3. Love

4. Faith

5. Purity

These are some of the biggest challenges...if it means making Christ's name known though, I'm up to facing them. I want to live in these ways because that's what God desires of me.  I'm no longer living in for my siblings/parents, but for myself. This life is for me.  Living in these five ways is going to bring me great joy and stretch me beyond anything I've ever tried.  Watching how you speak, your conduct, who and how you love, the way you believe in Christ, and staying holy & pure is no easy task.  There's no easy way to start, but I know if I just jump in and start living in this way, I'm going to be so blessed.  The Lord is faithful and will help me grow in all these areas if I earnestly ask Him.  He knows where I need more help and where I've become more confident.  All in all, though, I need Him for everything.  I could do none of these things without his patient guidance and loving grace.  

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." {Psalm 19:14}

What is in my heart is exactly what flows out of my mouth (which can be a dangerous thing!).  Having Him on my heart all day, though, can bring so much life to everyone I come in contact with.  If I let Him take control in those five areas, not only will He become greater in me, but it will overflow to everyone I talk to and spend time with.  That is what I want to live for.  To make Him known.  And if that can be accomplished, I want it-- no matter what it takes.

"I will sing of the Lord's great love forever, with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations." {Psalm 89:1}

"My Utmost for His Highest" Quote

"Paul is like a musician who does not need the approval of the audience if he can catch the look of approval from his Master." -Oswald Chambers

2013

I hope to learn some of these in 2013.... :)

quietness & trust

I love this verse.  It encourages me so!  Oftentimes, I want to voice my thoughts and do things quickly, but I need to remember that my strength comes from quietness and trust.  He is in control. 

He is so Good

The Lord has been so good to me lately! It's the little details that shows me how much He cares. The parking spot when I got to school, the 90% on my sight singing exam (remember I'm a piano major so singing isn't exactly my thing ;) ), the possible take-home exam in math...all these things are prayers I should, but don't often make. I prayed to pass my exam, but I certainly didn't expect an A! I've never had a take-home exam and considering the week it's been, it's like a miracle for me!  These are things that the Lord uses to just remind me that He's there, watching over me and blessing me. 

He really is good and His love truly endures forever. He never ceases to amaze me with all the little things... :) 

A Glimpse of Selfless Beauty- Fanny Crosby

"This is my story, this is my Song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long."

Be All There

~I can't even count the amount of times people have told me something and I not "register" it in my mind...

~I don't know how many times I've been listening to a sermon or be at a prayer service or reading my Bible only to find that somewhere along the way, my mind drifted off…

~My mom has sent me to do something so many times and then when I get to the place she sent me, I forget what it was she asked me to do…

~So often during school I find myself thinking about church, a friend, or any little thing that comes to mind instead of on the subject at hand...

~I often miss the opportunity to speak to people because I'm simply on my phone...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I read this quote by Jim Elliot in the book written by his wife titled Shadow of the Almighty.  When reading and pondering through this thought, I realized how often I really didn't keep my focus on what I was doing.  During that time, Charis Gonzalez came from Spain and shared something about that.  She said how oftentimes, she'd pray before entering class or speaking to someone.  She'd ask the Lord to keep her attentive and focused throughout and not get distracted by anything else. She said it worked and that she saw the way the Lord kept her diligent and focused and as a result she got better grades and had more friends. 

I needed that so I decided I'd take up the habit.  For quite some time now, I've learned to pray before doing anything.  Asking for strength of quietness to listen to someone (Isaiah 30:15), a happy heart and cheerful attitude to befriend someone (Proverbs 15:13), or a quiet heart to seek God (Psalm 63:1).  I want to make new friends and seek the Lord diligently.  I want to thirst for Him like that Scripture says; however, it won't happen if I let all kinds of distractions into my life.  Praying and asking the Lord to help me focus on what's truly important in any given aspect has actually helped me focus.  I still catch myself every so often letting little things in that keep me distracted or taking my mind off of Christ.  I still oftentimes forget to pray before doing something or speaking to someone, but I'm working on it.  I know God is pleased when we give something our all, because that's the way He is with us.  God doesn't give us His spare time or partial time as He multitasks.  He gives us His undivided attention and I know I should be the same way.  That alone motivates me.  I want to be known as someone who can be trusted because I'm diligent and attentive.  

Truth In a Beautiful Hymn...

Even if I should...

lose my family,
lose my home,
lose those closest to me,
quit school,
lose my health,
not be allowed to pray,
not be permitted to read His Word,
lose my church,
lose my dreams...

Even if I never see, feel, hear, or touch all that's dearest to me again...

....I will forever have Christ, thus it is well with my soul.