Sometimes, I wonder if there is anyone out there who is like me, who will get me, who will understand me. And if there are, then why haven't I met them? Then I think that maybe they are out there a little bit further than I can reach, so I have to go adventure and take risks to find them. Maybe, to find our soul mates, our kindred spirits, our best friend, our true love, we have be brave enough to go out into the world and explore. To leave our comfy places, our normal habits, our mundane lives, to jump and not be afraid to fall. Maybe then, we'll find them. xoxo, Messy
A few days ago I wrote a post about how I've built up walls for myself in the past. I talked about how I've always compared myself to other writers and I think what they have to stay is way more important then anything I ever have to say. In the end of the post though, I said how I was going to brake down these walls of mine and write the words from my heart, even if they are messy and misfitted. So, since I've kinda made this a resolution of mine, I want to start writing whats on my heart, and part of it has to do with this topic of building up walls and comparing myself to other people. Have you ever had that moment when you read someone else's writing of what their latest breakthrough is, what is currently going on in there lives, or what they are learning and you think "Wow, she's really inspiring. I think thats amazing what she has discovered/ learned. I want to live like that too."? Have you ever compared yourself to them? And then maybe, for the next few days or so you think about what that person wrote and how you become more like them. You keep comparing or obsessing about them. Instead of it being a healthily thing by reading other peoples writing and what they've been learning, it becomes an obsession of being more like them. Or trying to mold your life to try to be like them and learn the same things as them. When in reality they are in a complete different stage of life then you are. I know I've had these kinds of moments. It can be really hard sometimes because most of the time I don't even realize I'm doing it. I also find myself comparing to others in the area faith or what their learning in life right now. I sometimes think I'm not as good because I haven't reached that step in my faith or I haven't quite learned or thought about what they are learning or thinking about. I think its great to read about someone else's experiences or breakthrough. I think you can learn partly from them or be inspired in a healthy way. But in the end, I've learned that sometimes you have to learn things in life for yourself, not just read about them and expect a change, you really have to live them and experience them to learn. I feel like I could read a post about something amazing, then turn around and write about it too, but unless I actually experienced it, I won't be able to write about it justice or really learn from it. God has a path for each and every one of us. Every path is unique, no to paths are the same. God lets us learn in our own timing and our own way. We are not behind or lacking because there is no true standard to which we can compare our self to see if we are behind or not. Everyone is different and everyone learns at their own pace. So along with breaking down these walls and sharing my messy misfitted words, I'm also not going to compare myself to others and there life experiences and truly embrace all that God has ahead of me and where He wants me to be at. I'm determined not to compare myself to anybody else, but to embrace God's plan for me and where He has me place in life. I am determined to write about my own breakthroughs and my own life experiences, not somebody else's. I know it'll be hard at times, because I've been stuck in this rut where I've compared myself to other people for so long. But I know with determination, God'll get me through. I hope and pray that you too, can learn and experience life at your own pace, and not compare yourself to someone else and where they are at in their faith or life. I hope you can break the walls you've build up, and learn to embrace all that God has for you and where He has placed you. Where you are at in life is beautiful. Don't trade it for anything.
~ Embrace where God has placed you in life, not where He has place another. ~
You know those times where you find a perfect snapshot. A little glimpse of sparkle or shine. Those moments where you find a little bit of magic in the mundane? You reach for you camera to take the shot, so you can cherish that moment forever. Or maybe, you stop in mid reach, and just enjoy the moment. Savoring it with your eyes and tuck it into your memories. Sometimes, though, in life there is no time to take a snapshot or even cary your camera. Sometimes the thing you want to capture is way to big, way to small, or way to fleeting for any camera lens. This is the time where verbal snapshots come in. Verbal snapshots are for when you don't have a camera or you just want to savor the moment, but you want to capture the image somehow. They are what I think as a verbal equivalence of Instagram photos. I just wrote this verbal snapshot, as the sun shines through my window and while I'm lighting my new candle.
"Gleam of the sun through window, the match snaps, hisses, and pops, then watches the fire slowly dance down the candle wick."
I love this way of capturing images and moments. I get to collect them and look back on them. I've been thinking about trying to find at least one moment to capture each day, and writing it down. Then at the end of the month, writing them all down all small slips of paper and then putting them in a tiny box. For every month I'd have a little box of good memories and joy. I'd always be able to look back on them and smile, remembering what I saw beautiful.
I've been thinking a lot about it and I'll probably start posting more verbal snapshots here on my blog. Maybe every week or every month, I'll post my favorites and give a little story behind each one. I hope maybe you too, will take a chance to write down little verbal snapshots of whatever is around you.
I've been thinking that I haven't had a guest post from one of my fellow writers in a while. So the past few days I've been in contact with one of my friends Michaela. I asked her if she would like to be a guest blogger and guess what, she said yes!! I was very excited about her acceptance and I loved what she wrote about. I hope you all enjoy.
"So Messy asked me to write something I'm passionate about, or New Year's resolution stuff. (patiently I must add, I'm not a punctual person, and this is one patient young woman to have had to deal with me). And so I'm going to choose “What I'm really passionate about” thing, and see how this all goes (just hold with me darlings).
M'kay. So I think everyone is deeply passionate about a good few things, and for me those things are poetry, adventure, nature, and music, but I'm not going to talk about any of those things, even if I could probably go on about them for hours. Instead I'm going to choose this new found passion of mine, a growing one, Loving others. Sounds pretty whatever, but you have to hear me out. These last couple years have been quite doozy's for me. I had a lot of bad things going on in the external world, stress from work, stress from high-school, that nasty drama between close friends and family, sickness in family, and myself (a journey of discovering I have Celiac disease), a couple deaths in the family and an unexpected death of a close friend that happened last Spring. And in general I'm a calm and steady person, nothing really rocks my boat too much for me to handle, but there was this constant sanding of all these things that slowly wore holes in my ship, wearing me thin, and forcing me to shore. Not that the storms were too much in themselves, but that I now had a completely useless ship, that even the slightest wave was making me sink. Kinda a trippy place to be in, so I got desperate. I turned hard and bitter, hoping that would patch me up. If I could just be stone hard, and cold as ice these things wouldn't sand me down as much (That is the twisted logic of a depressed person, it is totally faulty, and honestly the worst thing for me to do). I became unaffected by things, a boring numbness fell over me, and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. The sorrows in life soon became mere annoyances that I could handle, and the tears dried up ( I literally didn't cry for about a year). But even if this was convenient for me with the stressful things, it had side effects. Numbness to pain is also numbness to joy. I was never more than “somewhat a good mood.” Nothing made my heart jump anymore, I never had those feelings that shook you with excitement, The thrilling things that people live for, like love, passions, obsessions with all things beautiful and good, were just whatevers for me. I was never truly touched or moved, the world lost its wonder, and things became boring and taxing, and I became a hard and cynical person who, at first is what I wanted to become, but we are never fully aware of all the terms and conditions, I hit “accept” before I had even read half a page of the contract. So things got sucky, and quickly. I had been baptized earlier the previous years, but I was almost sure after a couple months that I didn't want to take God's wondrous path, it was childish in mind, a fantasy. I stopped asking him for help, because honestly I didn't think He was all he was cracked up to be, and I never actually doubted His existence, I just doubted that He was the God of love, the great friend and healer of man, so I guess I didn't exactly grow bitter towards him, just indifferent, really indifferent. And this had nothing to do with anyone around me really, I have a set of loving parents, and loads of siblings here to support me, it's just I didn't want to be crying in my room anymore, so I signed up for the heartless club. But being heartless and cold wears on you on different ways than being sad and helpless. People started telling me I was unsympathetic, people called me heartless, sociopath, mean, cold, Sherlock(random one I know), too objective, and insensitive, and by gosh were they right. I'm not easily insulted, so those things at first just got brushed off my shoulders, but after awhile I wondered if maybe they were right (because apparently it just didn't sink through my thick skull for a couple months). I knew I needed to check myself before I got worse, and what was probably the leading factor that pushed me into actually doing that was when someone very close to me took me aside quietly and asked me what was wrong, why I was becoming so mean and rude. And in the moment I f course just shook my head and said nothing was wrong at all, and they left me alone for awhile. But I knew it was time to sit myself down and discuss some things over with myself. I was so numbed it pained me, and I was so bored that nothing in life seemed worth living for (I was never suicidal, just extremely bored). So I forced some change, and at first nothing happened. I opened myself slowly, bit by bit to God, and still nothing really changed (except I became more aware of my sins). But about a month after I had asked God to take the numbness away, even if He just replaced it with sorrow, I just wanted to feel again, I had to know I was human. And apparently God didn't think it good to pour it all down on me right away. I had worked hard to become so hard, I was going to have to work hard to become soft again. I'm really glad God didn't just go “Oh! My darling Kaila is finally seeing sense! Lets give her all she wants right away.” because then I think I would have turned back to being hard-hearted pretty quickly. If God would just grant me my wishes right away, I doubt I would have appreciated the gift. So yah, I'm really glad how God had that all planned out, but in the moment I thought He was just sorta ignoring me. Now! Back to the beginning of my passion for loving others. It's not really my passions at all thought, it's a passion I begged God to share with me, and He, like the darling He is, obliged my weak heart. He showed me that I need to love him first, because once you love God, loving others is sorta this sweet bonus pack, it's hard to come by sometimes, but it's still a pretty rad bonus pack. I wanted God to change me instantly like in the movies or testimonies of others, but I realized that just like any relationship, you need to take things slowly. And there will be amazing glorious breakthroughs, where you look up with tearfully joyful eyes and whisper things like “This is what you were talking about, you really love me, it's all around me, the signs, the whisperings of your romance for me.” and I swear you can feel God smiling back down on you and replying: “Darling, of course I love you, and nothing makes me happier than when you see that.” and it's like, a chills and shivers moment of the deepest love, an everlasting love that is gentle, yet so strong that nothing can break it, and it will never grown hard. And I discovered that this is not so much a religion, but more a relationship with God, that this is what my life was lacking, and everything slowly cleared up. The clouds and fogs lifted, but they also shifted a bit, meaning I do not have it all figured out. I still find myself tripping up and being the bitter and unloving person I loathe (I slip up more than I want to admit, but since I want to be real with you here, I slip constantly through every day, like, a lot). Sometimes I will stop and think “Great Scotts. What is my life even about anymore?”, and I'll stumble along for while before I grasp the remembrance that this life is about God, it's about life, and that I'm here to love, and that above all, love! This is the greatest lesson I have learned so far in life, this is that one piece of advice I would pass down or up to anyone I can. Love always, love deeply, love faithfully. And yes you'll be hurt, and yes you'll have hardships (but I'll inform you now that those always deepen love in the end). Just never close you heart to love, that's never worth it. Even in the moment when you're like “Ah yes, finally life doesn't rattle me anymore.” that's not the point in life. We're not here to master this feeling of numbness. We're here to be touched, to be moved, to really love every second of life, to all be the messy paintings that might not look perfect, but always makes you feel the thrilling things you had no idea were possible. We're here to love every inch of others, and to discover that love truly does conquer all. Love is worth it, love is worth any hardship, every pain, every dear teardrop, it's just all so worth it, and I hope I can help you see what I'm talking about. Because I used to think love was nothing more than tolerating others. That being like “Well, I'll love you, but only because I HAVE to.” no, I was so foolish. When you actually feel love, a true love, not a knight-in-shining-armor love, but the marvelous love of God, everything just makes so much sense. You love others because you want to, not because you feel obligated, you find beauty in life because it's there, and you don't have to strain your eyes to see it. You truly start to love others flaws and imperfections (and your own), you start to serve others because you just need to show them in every way you can, the love that's around us. The most poetic love engulfs you, devours you in the most lovely way, and pours out of all your broken pieces, and it shines on the shadows, and it's just so lovely, and I wish and pray everyone has a chance to see it, to feel it. Because nothing has shaken me like the poetic and wild love of Jesus Christ. Nothing has changed me in such a wonderful way. It is my most passionate of passions, and I send out invitations to you all to join me in it. It's so much better shared."
If you would like to read more from Michaela you can visit her at her blog, A Novelist Garden.
You know those days where thoughts just keep flowing and you can't turn it off. You don't get much on your todo list done, but you sure get a lot of things processed in your head. Today was one of those days for me. I was sitting in my bed, pen and journal in hand, writing out my thoughts and feelings. Trying to work through some hard things. After I was done, I wrote 5 pages worth of dreams, fears, and what I all the craziness floating around up in my noggin. And it was so so good. I think sometimes, we all need time to just sit down and process what we're going through. Let our fires rage, let our tears flow, let our bones ache, let our souls soar. Whatever comes, let it pour. Think about it, pray about it, have hopes and dreams. Wherever your vibes get flowing, a coffee shop, your bed room, or driving on a country road. Go there, drive there, get there, be there. Once your there just let it out. Just process and undo yourself. It may be hard at first, but in the end there will be something beautiful.
I wrote this poem the other day out of the blue. People ended up really liking it and so I thought I would share it here. I hope you enjoy. <3 font="" nbsp="">
I love to write and play music. Creating melodies, intertwining words, and then putting them together is one of my passions. I guess it is just part of the Freeheart I am. I'm definitely not a professional, I just like to write music from my heart. Here are a few tips I've learned throughout my time writing songs. I hope they are helpful to anyone who reads them. <3 nbsp=""> - Write from you heart. Don't write something to please someone else or to fit to someone else standards. Write about whatever come from your heart.
- What you write doesn't have to be perfect the first time. Just get what is in your head and heart out and you can edit or change later.
- Record whatever your singing or playing. There are countless times where I would be playing the piano or making up a song as I'm singing it and I have the perfect lyrics, but once I'm finished I either can't write them down in time or I can't remember them. You don't have to have a fancy recorder. I just use the one on my phone.
- If you have writers block, get different sources of inspiration. I always go to my Bible or Pinterest. The Bible is full of inspirational things that you can build songs off of. Pinterest has so many quotes and verse and pictures where you can get ideas too. You don't have to copy them specifically, just let them bring ideas.
- One thing people think about writing songs is that you either write lyrics first, and add music later or write music first, and lyrics later. Which actually it is best to write both at the same time. I like to sit down at the piano or with my guitar, have my Bible opened by my side, and just play little tunes and hum a melody. And then slowly add words that come to my heart. This is also where the recorder comes in handy. Whenever you have these moments its hard to stop and write what your playing down. It makes you loose focus and it stops the flow. You can always go back and listen to the recording though.
- Be you. It's good to have an artist you look up to and your inspired by but always try to make your music your own. Don't try to copy someone else.
Day 24 in the Write 31 Days challenge. Click here to learn more and to see other 31 Day posts.
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Via Pinteest
This morning has been good. It's friday, I have a new candle burning, Jesus has left peace and joy on my heart, and an exciting weekend is to come. I have a lot to be thankful. Soon October will ending (it went by so fast, I know) and November, the month of thankfulness and holiday seasons, is coming. I thought after the Write 31 Days Challenge I would start sort of a thankful season of writing. Were I write a little bit about what I'm thankful for. I may not post each day because since it is the holiday season and everyone is busy during the holiday season. But I'd try to post at least 3 times a week, maybe more! This Write 31 Days Challenge has really gotten me used to writing a lot and I don't want to stop. I'm so excited for November to come. It is a start of a new season in life for me and what better way to start a new season and celebrating thanks and all we have! So yes, this is just a little update and excitement post. :) I hope you all have been enjoying what I've been writing on the Passion and Worship topic for the Write 31 Days challenge!
Day 23 in the Write 31 Days challenge. Click here to learn more and to see other 31 Day posts.
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via Pinterest
At the beginning of this month I wrote a post called Be Brave. The verse I talked about was Haggai 2:3-5 :
"'Do any of you remember how great the Temple was before it was destroyed? What does it look like now? Doesn't it seem like nothing to you?' But the Lord says, 'Zerubbable, be brave. Also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, be brave. And all you people who live in the land, be brave,' says the Lord All-Powerful. 'I made a promise to you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit is still with you. So don't be afraid.'"
I wrote about how the Lord was speaking through Haggai and telling Zerubbable, Joshua, and the people who lived in the land, to be brave. I related this situation to us and how God tells us to be brave. When we lose our passion and fire for Him inside and we just get lazy or to afraid to do what He wasn't us to do. He's telling us to be brave. He's cheering us on, telling us to keep moving, and sticking with us as we move through what we are doing.
It's been a few weeks since I wrote that post. During my quiet times in the mornings or when I open up the Word to get encouragement, God still shows me that verse. I have now underlined it and in tiny letters wrote next to it "Be brave, God is with you." Through out this month I've really need that verse. Things have come up and road blocks have been put in front of me and I've almost felt like giving up. But then God shows me that verse and whispers in my ear again "be brave. I am with you and for you.". It has helped me get through a lot even in these past few weeks.
God is with us, no matter what. Even though we have setbacks and road blocks we face, He is still there and He helps us through them. Making us stronger in faith. It builds character and helps us be who He wants us to be.
Whatever you're going through right now and whatever you are facing, I'm encouraging you to be brave. Even still. Keep being brave. This life will never be easy, but we hope and faith in the Living God who saves us and helps us though. Be brave for He is with you.
If you are interested in reading my first blog post called Be Brave, click here.
Day 21 in the Write 31 Days challenge. Click here to learn more and to see other 31 Day posts.
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Via Pinterest
Some God has given bravehearts to be fearless for Him. Some God has given sweethearts whose kindness always speaks of His. But my God has let me have a freeheart... Which flys high, creating and playing and worshiping Him in every which way without borders.
I've been learning a lot lately… that I'm a free heart. I fly, create, and worship my God in every way with out borders. I've also been learning that there are other types of hearts too. like bravehearts or sweethearts… and more that I haven't found out yet. All of this has got me thinking about you, my readers. What kind of heart do you think you have. If your not sure, just give it some thought. I'm sure if you look deep enough God will show you and He'll us it for His glory. If you know what you think you are… please feel free to comment below… I'd love to hear!
Day 18 in the Write 31 Days challenge. Click here to learn more and to see other 31 Day posts.
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Gods Word is the most powerful book in the world. His words cut into our soul and change us. Today, I'm just going to just quote some scripture. It's is more powerful and alive than what I could ever write. I hope and pray these few verse really encourage, inspire, and help you.
"Sing to the Lord a new song, because He has done miracles."
Psalm 98:1(NCV)
"Let the sea and everything in it shout; let the world and everyone in it sing. Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains sing together for joy."
Psalm 98:7-8 (NCV)
"Shout to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with joy; come before Him with singing. Know that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to Him; we are His people, the sheep He tends. Come into His city with songs of thanksgiving, and into His courtyard with songs of praise. Thank Him and prize His name. The Lord is good. His love is forever, and His loyalty goes on and on."
Psalm 100 (NCV)
"God’s word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts."
Hebrews 4:12 (NCV)
"Open my eyes to see the miracles in your teachings."
Psalm 119:18 (NCV)
Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way."
Colossians 3:17 (NCV)
"So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of this age."
Matthew 28:19-20 (NCV)
"I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare you way."
Mark 1:2 (NCV)
These are only a few verse. I encourage you to open up your own right now and read it for your own. God can show up so much. Let Him teach you.
Day 16 in the Write 31 Days challenge. Click here to learn more and to see other 31 Day posts.
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Taken by Shanna Noel
Prayer and reading the Word are very important to me. My Bible has become to have its own smell and it's getting to be worn in all the right places. My journal is the same way. The leather cover, which was once smooth and perfect, is now starting to look like its been well loved. Perfect.
I will be honest, there have been times in my life where praying and reading the Word have been stale to me. Not being able to feel God or what He's saying to me. Not knowing where to start in reading or where to start praying. Feeling like God is far away and He doesn't care about me. I've been there. Over the years, though, I've realized that it's not so hard as it seems. I've learned that God is alway right here beside me, closer than I can even think, and He wants to know my thoughts and what I've going through. He wants to hear my voice and her me sing. He loves me.
In the few months I have learned a new way to concept with God and His word. I was reading the blog of Shanna Noel (her blog is lovely. Especially if you like scrapbooking). In one post she was talking about her journey with Christ and how she has a Bible journal. A Bible journal is a normal Bible but there is extra room on the sides to write. You can write about prayers, thoughts, refections. Anything really. What Shanna did with her Bible journal was she used it kind of like an art Bible. She used her scrapbooking materials and made beautiful things in her Bible. To help her remember certain things she learned and what the Lord was saying to her.
After I saw her Bible Journal I was so inspired to start my own. I ordered the ESV Signal Column Journaling Bible and started on it. My first few attempts weren't perfect and I was nervous. I've never written in my Bible really before that. I was scared about messing up and making a mistake. I've now had my Bible journal for a few months now and I love it. Sure, I've made a few mistakes here and there but God works through those mistakes. And through Bible journaling I've gotten even closer with Jesus.
Today Shanna posted a new blog post about Prayer Journaling. She's doing the same that she's done with her Bible journal, only now she's doing it with her prayer journal! I absolutely adore this idea and I'm going to be trying it her soon. I can't wait.
Journaling and creating with the Lord's Word has brought my so much closer with Him. I've been able to be myself and create. Expressing what He's teaching my through making the Bible pretty. I love it.
If you're interested in reading Shanna Noel's blog click here.
Here is also her first post on Bible journaling and here is her prayer journal post.
If you are interested in buying a Bible journal I suggest these.
Day 14 in the Write 31 Days challenge. Click here to learn more and to see other 31 Day posts.
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Via Pinterest
Kari Jobe is my favorite worships ever. She is such and inspiration to me. These three video are of Kari Jobe speaking at a conference (I think back in 2012). God really spoke me through these videos were Kari is talk. They're in three parts and its kind long, but there worth the watch. I hope you enjoy them and they inspire you. :)
Day 13 in the Write 31 Days challenge. Click here to learn more and to see other 31 Day posts.
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Via Pinterest
I'm a perfectionist at heart. I always try my hardest to get everything right. No matter what is it. And when its not right or perfect I'm frustrated and sometimes I just quit… thinking I'm not good enough. I'm sure a lot of you reading this are the same way. I've been really struggling lately. There are so many things that I want to do. I want them to be all perfect, but no matter how hard I try, they always seem to be messed up in no matter what I do. I think why I'm so consumed with the idea that all I do has to be perfect is because if it's not, I'll fail and fall on my face. I won't be good enough. I've been consumed with this feeling for years if feels like. Yesterday, God told me something though. I heard Him whisper into my ear and say, "It doesn't have to be perfect. I work through your imperfectness." When I heard that I stop in the middle of what I was doing. It was a real wake up call to what I've been thinking, that all things I did have to be perfect or I'm just no good. Just those few words He whispered is really changing the way I think and feel. I am human, I'm not perfect and I'll never be perfect. Since I'm human, the things I do won't always be perfect. But guess what… God is perfect and if we let Him, He can work through us and make the things we do, perfect or not, for His glory. So this is my excuses to be imperfect. To be messy, free, and not always right the first time. Because Jesus works through my imperfections and weaknesses and He makes them for His glory. Its all Him, none of me. And I'm so happy because this makes me free from my weaknesses and imperfections. I don't have to worry about it any more. I don't have to live in the weight and pressure of perfection, because the grace of God will cover me, no matter what. Today, I was reading the blog of one of my internet friend, Patience Pennington. A few days ago she wrote a post about breaking through her insecurities and being brave, even though she's not perfect. To end this blog post, I would like to quote her:
"Maybe this whole creativity thing is less about being perfect and more about just being brave, you know? Just being willing to step out and do what you think is right- even if you’re not one hundred percent sure how it will turn out. Just singing your best, and being willing to fail and face the consequences. And then getting back up and trying again."
~Patience Pennington
"But he said to me, 'My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.' So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ's power can live in me. For this reason I am happy when I have weaknesses, insults, hard times, sufferings, and all kinda of trouble for Christ. Because when I am weak, then I am truly strong."
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NCV, italics mine)
P.s. If you would like to read Patience's blog post in full, you can click here.
Day 11 in the Write 31 Days challenge. Click here to learn more and to see other 31 Day posts.
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Via Pinterest
"I was thinking about this thing called worship and sometimes we think worship is about the song, its about the great sound, its about the worship set. Really what is boils down to its like, its about being a good dad, being a good husband, its about being a good friend, it about cleaning up your messes when you make them. Its about closing the doors that need to be closed, opening the doors that need to be opened, its about the daily life your walking with the Lord. Its about faith, its about believing God for who He says He is. Its all of those things and thats what worship is…. Don't forget for a second what God is looking at." ~ Brian Johnson
I was watching this video where Brian Johnson (a worship leader at Bethel church in Redding, California) was talking about having a heart of worship and living a life of worship. The quote above is one of the biggest things I took away. Worship isn't only about the music on Sunday morning (or anytime really), It isn't only about the craft that you do, or the thing your most passionate about. Why yes, that has a lot to do with it… but theres more behind it.
Kari Jobe says "Worship isn't just music. But it's what we do with our hearts. It's giving God everything we are." God whats all of us. Not part of us or half for us or only the part that sings on Sunday mornings. He wants the way we live and the way we think. He wants our everything. He wants us to be a light for all the people around us. He wants us to be open before Him so He can shine through us. And when we give God everything we are, we do just that, we are a light for Christ to shine through.
I've been learning this a lot recently. God has been showing me that He wants me to worship with my whole heart at every part of the day, not just during my quiet time of when I'm singing or journaling or dancing. He wants me to worship Him through everything, even in the things I don't like to do. When I teach, when I clean my home, when I do my work, when I'm loving someone. It all has to go to the glory of God.
Sometimes, I feel like we get so caught up in trying to be a better worship or leader that we really forget what it really is about. It's about the small things and the everyday life. Today, let turn back to Jesus and give Him our all and our worship. Lets worship Him with our lives and be a light for others.
So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship.Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will
know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.
Romans 12:1-2 (NCV)
"Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the master Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way."
Colossians 3:17 (NCV)
If you interested in watching the video that the quote came from. It is right here below. Brian's words are very inspiring. I hope you enjoy. :)
Day 10 in the Write 31 Days challenge. Click here to learn more and to see other 31 Day posts.
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"Everyone knows that I was the good girl
I did my best to make everyone happy with me
But then I found out that it was impossible to please the whole crowd
So I spoke up
And I spoke out
I learned that love don't hold its tongue
And passion doesn't bow to what they think
It's You and me
Sometimes it's painful to be brave
To look fear in the face and know your name
To find your strength"
These are the lyrics of Steffany Gretzingers song I Spoke Up. The first time I hear these lyric, I cried. I honestly did because they touched my heart so much.
If you don't know me, I've always be the "good girl". I've always tried to please everybody. My family, my friends, and even the people I didn't know. And to this day I still try to please everyone around me and get there approval. I want to make everyone happy and I want them to like me. But like Steffany said in her song; "its impossible to please the whole crowd". In this past year especially, I'm becoming coming to learn that. There are times that I've been in tears because there are things I'm truly passionate about that I want to pursue but other people want me to pursue something different. Or there are two people I love so much but they both want something different, and I can't decided who to please. How can you choose one other the other?
This doesn't have to be this way though. What I've learned, and I'm still learning, is that you only have to please God. No one else. Not even your family or closest loved one. Passion doesn't bow to what they all think. Its just you and God.
Sometimes, God matches up what He wants and what your family or loved one wants so you all can agree. But not always… and when that happens… always follow God. His will for you will appear for you the more and more you pray and read His Word. All you have to do is earnestly ask with all your heart. Sometimes is can be as simple as, "Jesus, please help me. What do you want me to do, what way should I follow. Whats Your plan and will for me?".
I know sometimes it's "painful to be brave" and "to look fear in the face" but God will always be there for you and always have your hand on you. Even when it doesn't feel like it. You have just to have faith.
Day 8 in the Write 31 Days challenge. Click here to learn more and to see other 31 Day posts.
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Via Pinterest
"Isn't it a comfort to worship a God we can not exaggerate?"
~ Francis Chan
Scrolling through my Pinterest feed the other day, I found this quote. Francis Chan has always been an inspiring author to me. I love his book Crazy Love. When I saw this quote from him I stopped and thought about it. "Isn't it a comfort to worship a God we can not exaggerate." What does this exactly mean?
God is unfathomable. He knows everything, He is everywhere, He created you and this earth, He breathed the breath of life into you. His thoughts are higher than our thought, His ways are higher than our ways. He created not only this world, but also galaxies that we didn't even know existed until a century ago. He saved you from death and evil so you could live in eternity with Him. He is so so so much more than what I'm even describing! I can't even put into words all He is. I can not exaggerate Him because theres nothing to exaggerate on. He already is everything. Isn't that amazing? It blows my mind every time I think about it. And guess what? We get to worship Him!! This is our God who we can not exaggerate because He is already everything unfathomable. And we are the ones He chose to give Him honor and praise. He is so merciful and loving. After I read this quote and thought about what it truly meant. I just had to praise. I had to give Him the praise and glory that He really does deserve! This changes how I want to worship. It changes me to want to give my all to Him. It makes me want to throw my hands up in the air and jump and sing and dance because our God who loves us, our God who saves us, our God who created us, is so huge and so mighty that I can not exaggerate on Him!! Do you understand!? Do you see!? God is so amazing! Sometimes I feel like we don't give God enough of us. We try fit Him into this mold, into this box. And we think of Him like we want to think of Him. But God can't fit into a mold or a box, He is so big. If we saw Him face to face, we would be blinded. If we truly learn who He is, and not just assume and fit Him into this mold, He will show us His glory like never before. So right now, lets change the way we worship and the way we think about God. Lets give Him the praise and adoration He deserves because He created us, saved us, and made all things, and has done even more!! Lets worship Him, together. And see His glory become like fire. This video below is by Francis Chan. I watched this video when I read the book Crazy Love, and remembered it when I was typing this post out. I want you to watch it, and just see how unfathomable our God is and what He has created.
