Part 4: Powerful Faith

Why is it that we shy away from the call of greatness? Why do we walk away from the adventure of a lifetime; a chance to be used by God in ways that seem impossible? All the power, strength, might, and love of God is ours as His children to wield upon this earth. To make earth a little more like Heaven! And yet still people turn away from such a majestic call. Well let me tell you: I will NOT turn away from this call. I know who wins this spiritual battle and you better believe I am going to give my life serving the winning side.

Jesus Christ is the rightful King of this earth. We cannot rest until everyone on earth knows about all that He is and has done for us! My soul longs for the day that earth will be filled with the glory of God, like the waters cover the sea. “Until that day, our swords (keep in mind this is a spiritual sword) will not rest, our prayers will not cease, and our passion cannot and will not dim”.

“Let us remember that God’s Word stands forever, and that His commandments mean for us today exactly the same as for His disciples twenty centuries ago. Those who act on them, in obedience, will in the same way prove God’s almighty power…Our fight is not against a physical army, a political party, an atheistic organization—or anything like that. Our fight is against organizations and powers that are spiritual.” –Corrie Ten Boom

“Beautiful words stir my heart…Pick up your sword, O mighty warrior! Ride out to victory defending truth, humility, and justice. Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds…Therefore God, your God has anointed YOU, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than anyone else.” ~Psalm 45

“Christianity is about a Kingdom, a glory, a power, a grace, a righteousness, an eternal triumph, and yielding to the all powerful King who is bringing it all about.” ~Eric Ludy

Christianity isn’t about being some fairy tale character in a dreamland but being a warrior for Christ in a very REAL battle adventure. I can promise you, living out the Gospel, following Jesus Christ wherever He may take you…is a genuine adventure of a lifetime. Each day is a brand new adventure and I wake up every morning excited for what the day will bring. Ready for whatever the Lord will have me do. Living a life that is completely spent on the things my Almighty Father and Savior deems most important.

We as Christians cannot listen to scripture like…"Jesus said to them, if anyone wants to be my follower, he must deny self, pick up his cross daily and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. ~Luke 9:23-24”…and not act on it when it convicts our heart. We must act and be obedient to what the Lord tells us to do. We must realize that unbelievers and even other Christians will make their impressions of Christ based on how we live. We cannot live a godly life shining and reflecting the radiance of God without Him dwelling within us. We need to be obedient to the Word of God and never stop fixing our gaze on Jesus Christ.

Know without a doubt that Jesus will continue to fill you up, change your heart to break for what breaks His heart, and if you lose your way or your light begins to dim—He will make you radiant once again! Chase hard after Christ with all you have. Keep breathing in His love and grace.

You don’t have to pray for Jesus to walk with you, to be by your side on this adventure because He has invited YOU to be apart of this adventure. Of course He will be by your side. What the real question is: Will you except the call and be by His side no matter where it may take you; no matter what you may have to give up or do…will you still stay by Jesus side? That my friends, is the true question you should be asking. Not whether or not Jesus will stay by your side because He promises He will never leave or forsake you. Can you promise the same to Him?

If God calls you to it. He will enable you to bear it! Jesus never asks us to risk, dare, or do anything that He Himself wouldn’t do.

My prayer for myself everyday is to reflect the radiant love of Christ, which burns so deeply inside me, to everyone God puts in my life. Father, I don’t want it to be my words but Your words! You are the one that changes hearts and transforms lives. Let me be a channel of Your love and power to the world. Work through me. Speak through me. I long to bring glory to Your wonderful name.

“When we yield our bodies to God, He moves us to action. He loves through us. He prays through us. He becomes a father (or mother) to the orphans through us. He rescues the oppressed through us. And He demonstrates His Holiness through us. It is not us that pulls of this miracle, but Christ working in us. God can do it!” ~Eric Ludy

"Not to us, O LORD, but to YOUR name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness" ~Psalm 115:1

Regrettably, my prideful and selfish heart gets in the way of being able to reflect Jesus Christ to the world 24/7. After I mess up big time, miss the mark of the person God calls me to me, or fall into sin, I like to read about David. The bible says David was “a man after God’s own heart”. He did some amazing, seemingly impossible things for the Kingdom of God. Yet, he also made some mistakes and poor choices. But every time he fell into sin he would take a step back, fall on his knees and cry out to God in repentance and ask for forgiveness. He would go back to his roots, his first love in God and let Him restore and set him back on track. The forgiveness of Jesus not only takes away our sins and puts us back on track; it makes them (our sins) as if they had never happened.

“Your sins and iniquities will I remember NO MORE! ~Hebrews 10:17

Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. God ALWAYS keeps His word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching (Jesus’ return). ~Hebrews 10:23-25 MSG

You are not guaranteed tomorrow. You do not know when Jesus will call you home. Or even more importantly…when Jesus will return. Live everyday like it would be your last. I know if I knew I only had one day to live I would want to spend it pouring myself out on Kingdom work. Loving others, sharing the Gospel, and helping people grow in their faith…not stressing about worldly things. When you live a life not in fear of death but in acknowledgement that it could happen at anytime; you live a more relaxed and Christ centered life. Not worried about the things of this temporary world.

But as for me, I know my Redeemer lives, and He will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decade without my earthly body I will see God! I will see Him for myself. Yes, I will see Him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought. ~Job 19:25-27

This poem is something that inspires me every single day! I hope it inspires you as well. May we all live lives centered on inviting as many people to the brilliant city in the Heavens where Jesus Christ sits as KING!

When she enters the beautiful city
And the saved all around her appear
Many people around her will tell her,
It was YOU that invited me here
~Unknown Author

Part 3: CRAZY Love

Reading and praying (PRINKING) over Job 29 this morning! Love, love, love this chapter in Job. Not only is Job 29 how I want to live but is everything that I want in a future husband! Someone completely devoted to God and has a heart for the least in the world. But, most of all Job 29 is a perfect description of Jesus Christ.

All who heard me praised me. All who saw me spoke well of me. For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help. I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy. Everything I did was honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban. I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help. I broke the jaws of godless oppressors and plucked their victims from their teeth… Everyone listened to my advice. They were silent as they waited for me to speak. And after I spoke, they had nothing to add, for my counsel satisfied them. They longed for me to speak as people long for rain. They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain. When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them. (Job 29)

So I started thinking about earthly relationships vs. being content with Christ. When you are happy, filled with pure joy, and content in your life it shows that you are living in the center of God’s plans and will for your life. Because true happiness is found by being secure in Jesus Christ.

I use to believe that God took away promising relationships with guys to make me follow Him. Like God was saying, “Oh no, girlfriend…don’t even think about dating him or how could you ever want that…because I need your full attention on me…so I am just going to take this away from you so you have no other option except follow me.”

I believed that’s how God worked until I read Tramp for the Lord by Corrie Ten Boom, and read this…

“God does not take away from us. He might ask us to turn our backs on something, or someone, we should not have. But, God NEVER takes away. However, God gives. If I reach out and take someone for myself and the Lord steps in between, that does not mean God takes. Rather it means He is protecting us from someone we should not have because He has a far greater purpose for our lives” ~Corrie Ten Boom

Then God reminded me of two scriptures and a quote that reinforced this…

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope ~Jeremiah 29:11

But I (God) hold this against you: you have forgotten your first and forever love! ~Revelation 2:4 (paraphrase)
“True love is: unreasonable, undeserved, inconvenient, unpopular, irrational, unfair, and selflessly beautiful…such is the love of Christ”

See whenever I got upset at God for “taking away” promising relationships, what I was really doing was telling God that He wasn’t enough for me. I had forgotten my first love. My one and forever love. I had forgotten my burning love and passion for God and his people. Instead, I was grumbling throughout my day about how “unfair” God was and if He really loved me He would give me what I wanted. (I know…I know. I sound like a three year old spoiled girl—sadly, that’s how my flesh sounded at the time).

I cried out to God: “Please show me your love! Make me completely content in your love”. God answered that prayer way beyond my imagination. In my heart I was only praying for an overflowing cup of God’s love; instead I got an overflowing ocean. The love of God, of my Jesus, is far more than I can ever deserve. What a blessing it is that even though we are sooo undeserving, He still overflows us with His amazing love.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us ~Ephesians 3:14-20
Our lives here on earth are temporary, in the same way our earthly relationships are temporary. When we are standing before our first love Jesus Christ; I am convinced we will not be thinking of our earthly sweetheart. Since earthly marriages are meant to point to something greater: to be a reflection of our relationship with Jesus.

When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven ~Mark 12:25

God reminded me that earthly love stories can only be as beautiful, powerful, and strong as your relationship with Christ is. Your relationship with Christ is your FOREVER love story. Your earthly love story is only a reflection of your relationship with God. Therefore, if you truly want to have a breathtaking earthly love story doesn’t it make since to devote all your time strengthening your relationship with Christ?

Now my hope is that this would not be your main reason for wanting to grow and strengthen your relationship with God. Because lets be honest now…

Earthly Love story will never come close to a FOREVER LOVE STORY WITH CHRIST

Love this quote: It is a safe thing to trust God to fulfill the desire which He creates ~Amy Carmichael. If you feel that you are called to get married one day, if that is one of the desires God has put on your heart. Then you can trust that He will fulfill that desire in the most beautiful and perfect way! God is using these single years to teach you that marriage is not the answer to happiness or being content. Jesus Christ is the answer.

“Contentment is the product of a heart resting in God. It is the soul’s enjoyment of that peace that passes all understanding. It is the outcome of my will being brought into subjection to the Divine will. It is the blessed assurance that God does all things well, and is, even now, making all things work out for my ultimate good” –A.W Pink

Whenever I doubt God’s goodness or love for me all I have to do if remember that Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit and according to scriptures: …we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love. –Romans 5:5 God’s love is within me always. I know I have a never ending supply of amazing God love right in my heart. I have come to understand that real love comes from the heart. It is spontaneous, organic, and not planned. Love is also inconvenient! You can’t plan love. But love is always worth it! Love is powerful. God is love. All good things to remember as we: Answer the call to embark on the Set Apart Adventure.