If you’ve been following my blog for a bit then you know I have been talking about making a radical change.
I can’t get away from this verse:
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. – Acts 20:24 NLT
My comfortable Christian life is quickly fading away and abandoning myself to follow Christ is right in front of my face.
David Platt’s book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, has spoken more truth to me than I wanted to hear. But I’ve heard it. I can’t rewind. I can’t pretend his words didn’t affect me. I can’t act as though God’s not saying, “Get Ready!”
I recently talked about not being tied to my possessions. God smiled I’m sure. But then came the test. Will I really do what I have said? The above picture is a large portion of my possesions that have been setting in a storage shed. Here are just a few things in this pile:
Books I’ve never read
An Ebay Dolly Parton collection that I would be too embarrased to tell you the cost of
A collection of Loretta Lynn coasters from the 1970’s
A television
An electric guitar I haven’t touched in two years
Does taking up our cross and following Jesus mean we have to get rid of everything? Not necessarily. I think it depends on where our heart is. But these possessions no longer mean what they once did. Some I have given away. Some I am selling.
I’m preparing to take part in the Radical Experiment, which I will be blogging about soon. I’m hoping you’ll be praying about doing it with me.Let’s get radical! No more waiting. What do you need to get rid of? Comment below…
Today our pastor took a different approach and shared “What Jesus Didn’t Day” I wanted to share with you.
Here are Four Things Jesus Didn’t Say:
If you don’t the know the date of your salvation then you are not saved. Everyone doesn’t have a dramatic salvation. My pastor was 8 years old when he was saved. It was simple. It took a hurricane on the other hand to bring my parents to know Christ. Everyone doesn’t have to have a dramatic story to share. Do I share my dramatic story with others? Yes. My friend Suzette shares her story as well. Her salvation experience isn’t dramatic, but she speaks about everyday life. And people listen.
If you want to be saved just invite Me into your heart. When you first see this you may not agree. But the point he is making is that many just say, “Accept Jesus into your heart and everything will be okay.” Wrong. Trusting in Jesus brings salvation. Believing you’re a sinner. Believing Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins. Trusting your life to Him.
When you miss an opportunity to share Me with someone, it’s your fault if that person goes to hell. This statement is powerful. See Ezekiel 3:18-19. Our job as followers of Jesus is to bring Christ to people. God’s job is to bring people to Christ. LOVE THAT!
If you come to Me, I want either all of you or none of you. See John 3:15-18. John 6:47. John 11:25-26. Luke 14:26-27. The once saved always saved issue comes into play here for some of you reading I’m sure. But as I looked closer today it makes sense. The first three pieces of Scripture above state that we are saved. The last piece of Scripture talks about discipleship. If we don’t pick up our cross daily to follow Christ we cannot be His disciples. That doesn’t mean we won’t go to Heaven. Do I believe we will have to answer for being lazy Christians? Absolutely!
Are you simply saved or are you a disciple? Comment below…
God has given me a heart for those in sex trafficking. I’m not quite sure what He has up His leave regarding my involvement, but I know He has placed the desire on my heart.
Yesterday I was reading a post from one of my favorite bloggers, Jeff Goins. He caught my attention and called me to action.
Seth Barnes, the director of Adventures in Missions released this statement:
Backed by corrupt government officials, an orphanage we work with in Haiti has been trafficking its orphans. Suspecting foul play, we’ve been investigating for the last year. We’ve not been ready to go to the media until we had the facts.
As a result, the orphanage director is now in jail, but the 75 children left in the orphanage are still in danger.
A worker said, “The kids are in terrible condition — the doctor gave them some prescriptions, but we doubt that the medicine will ever be administered to the children. Instead, the medicine will probably be sold.”
What does this mean?
According to Goins, donated monies aren’t getting to the people in need. Children are missing. An eleven pound five-year old is on the verge of death.
A petition has been created toget the story on the radar of CNN. Here’s how you can help:
From Sundi Jo: This is a guest post by Haelie Heard. Haelie is a follower of Christ, wife, mother of a six-year-old son, and a full-time Nurse Informaticist by profession. Her personal blog is To Not Decide…Is To Decide and you can also find her on Twitter. Her life mission is to be a voice, both written and audible, that unapologetically points to Christ and His sovereignly redemptive love and forgiveness.
Okay, so I admit I am a bit out of shape. There I said it.
Strength is definitely an area I could use some improvement in…but…
…one thing I have discovered working out cannot prepare me for nor get me used to is kneeling.
You see, recently I have been participating for the first time ever as a Group Leader in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). In our various leadership meetings, we do something I honestly have not done in far too long. We kneel and pray. Often the floor we are kneeling on is basically concrete covered in a nice shiny thin layer of linoleum. (I now bring a pillow to kneel on, as many of the others do.)
I didn’t think much of kneeling until I actually started doing it regularly during our leadership prayer times.
Kneeling is truly humbling. It not only lowers my position and posture in reverence, but it also reminds me of just how weak I am. In this case, physically weak, though my physical pains cause me to recognize how much my heart is out of shape in the prayer and humility arenas.
Additionally I am reminded that we often get so caught up living in a self-absorbed world of thinking we know what is best for us that we become too weak to kneel in humble reverence and submission to the One who created us. The One who alone can give us the strength we need to endure the difficulties of this life. The One who can give us the strength to admit when we are wrong and turn away from our self-indulgent, destructive lifestyle so many have fallen victim to. The One who can give us the strength to kneel.
When was the last time you knelt in prayer? Ever?
Are you in a self-serving period of life?
Do you even recognize it? Do you recognize your need to kneel in humility?
Do you, like me, need strength to kneel?
Go now to the One who made you—Jesus Christ—the only One who can give you the strength and wisdom you need to face the many challenges of this life.
The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.
~ 1 Samuel 2:7 ~
You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
~ 2 Samuel 22:28 ~
You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me.
~ Psalm 18:39 ~
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
~ Psalm 25:9 ~
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand,
that he may lift you up in due time.
~ 1 Peter 5:6 ~
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
“You and I can choose to continue with business as usual in the Christian life and in the church as a whole, enjoying success based on the standards defined by the culture around us. Or we can take an honest look at the Jesus of the Bible and dare to ask what the consequences might be if we really believed him and really obeyed him.” – David Platt
What do you think when you read that?
I have been reading the book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dreamand to be honest, it has opened my eyes and my heart to things I’m not sure I’m prepared for. But…
God is telling me I better get prepared, because it’s too late to turn back now.
Do you ever find yourself living a comfortable Christian life? You know what I mean. You go to work. Come home. Have dinner with the family. Donate to the homeless shelter once a month. Go to church on Sunday. Laugh with your Life Group on Wednesdays. Go to work. Come home. Life is grand. I know I certainly do. I get comfortable. We all do.
But Platt says that the true message of Christianity is to abandon ourselves. Really? Is that in the Bible? Sure is..
Jesus said it in Mark 8:34-35. “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, 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 and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.” NLT
Ok – so let me get this straight.
If I want to follow Jesus I have to turn from my selfish ways.
Take up my cross.
Stop trying to hang onto my life.
Give up my life for the sake of the Good News.
Then my life will be saved?
Wow!
“Plainly put, a relationship with Jesus requires total, superior, and exclusive devotion.”
Want to see Amy Grant, Mandisa, Lisa Welchel, and more all in one place? Me too…
The opportunity has presented itself and I want you to join me and thousands of other women in Kansas City, MO in November for one Over The Top event. Women of Faith will be at the Sprint Center November 4-5 and I can’t wait.
I’m taking a date… My mom…
Ok – here’s the amazingly talented lineup:
Patsy Clairmont – Who’d have thought the teenage runaway who spent later years housebound with agoraphobia would grow into the gifted communicator and best-selling author you see and read today?
Marilyn Meberg – Her biblically-based brand of common sense and good humor is cherished by women across the continent.
Sandi Patty – You may know she’s a Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee with 39 Dove Awards, five Grammy Awards, and an armload of platinum and gold albums.
Lisa Welchel – Amazing actress. Author. Gifted Speaker. I saw her a few years ago at the Fresh Grounded Faith Conference in Springfield, MO and she was amazing.
Brenda Warner – From divorce to poverty to being married to NFL star Kurt Warner, Brenda has one amazing story of hope to share.
Deborah Jo Winans – If you recognize the last name as belonging to CeCe Winans you’d be correct, as CeCe is her aunt. Departing from the musical history of her well-known family, Deborah Joy chose to study Theatre instead. Be prepared for a great skit.
Amy Grant – They say Amy Grant put Contemporary Christian music on the map. I would have to agree.
Mandisa – GRAMMY-nominated American Idol finalist with a stunningly expressive voice.
Ok.. now are you ready to get your tickets? Grab a girlfriend, your sister, aunt, cousin, mother, grandmother, or even a stranger and make plans to come. Can you tell I’m excited?
God loves us more than we know. He gives us more than we can ask or dream. He’s unrestrained… excessive… outrageous… Over the Top.
Let’s go..
I’d love to meet you for lunch while we’re there.
For those of you who can’t make it, tune in to Twitter and follow hashtag #wofott for updates. Have you been to a Women of Faith Conference before? What was your greatest experience? Comment below…
and to be honest, it has opened my eyes and my heart to things I’m not sure I’m prepared for.
