Friendship with God

Today I just want to share my day with you guys.

Before you go to the next line...pray.

This morning I woke up emotional drained. From a long weekend of driving, seeing old friends, and having some emotional conversations. I struggled with getting up out of bed to get to work. God could change that. So I decided to do something that I've always had a hard time with. Have an open conversation with God all day.

It was difficult because many times my prayers turn into requests and praises which is good to go to God with. Think of a relationship with one of your friends where you only ask for things and give them thanks. It's a relationship alright, but not necessarily a strong one.

As my day progressed I was doing a good job talking and doing my best to listen to God with all the distractions going on at work. At one point a turkey vulture literally attacked our window for two minutes.

My day finished. I went shopping and then for a run. I came back confused. Although I had done a pretty good job meeting my goal, I felt like I didn't accomplish what I set out to do.

Going back to the friend analogy. Imagine a friend where you only ask for things and give thanks. Meanwhile you are busy the whole time not giving that person your full attention. It's pretty weak...

I decided to power down the phone for an hour. Listen to some worship music, pray and just let God talk. I felt like in that one hour I accomplished more then I did all day half talking.

So here's my challenge:

Reflect on your relationship with God. 

What kind of relationship do you have with Him?

My Soul Cries Out

Today I wanted to share one of my favorite worship songs.

"From The Inside Out"

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
Should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace
Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise
Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart, in my soul
I give you control
Consume me from the inside out
Let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out

Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring you praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out

I've been singing worship music the majority of my life. In highschool we had chapel every week and I remember singing songs of praise. I remember doing it because thats what we did in chapel and nothing else. It struck me towards the end of my highschool career that singing praise without meaning is worthless...it's empty. 

You're not singing to sound good, you're not singing because it's what you do at the beginning and end of church. You're singing because you're proclaiming you're love for God. I love the last line of this song...."Lord my soul cries out." That's what we're doing and when it happens it's such a powerful thing.

In the past month I had the opportunity to go to 2 worship nights. I'm still blown away with how intense a worship sesh can get when you just let it all out...

So my challenge for you is this:

Next time you sing praise to God...don't just sing.

Find meaning in your words and let your soul cry out!

Be Known

Hey Guys!
It's been a while. The move in process was great! I'm officially a VA resident.
I gave myself last week to get things settled. This week I have no excuse to not be writing blogs.

When I moved out to my own place. I decided to be intentional with my time and who I am. It's a pretty huge step from college into the real world. There are so many new responsibilities and it is so easy to get lost in the new life.

I decided to write down things I expected of myself and things I wanted to stand by and live for. The most important quality, I decided, was being a Christian.

I decided to take it a step further and not only be a Christian but be known as one.
I've been reading through the Gospels and one of the first things I noticed are these twelve disciples following Jesus. They are known for that.

I think it's very easy to feel comfortable going to church. It's very easy to share your spirituality with others who share the same views as you and be okay with that, hiding your spirituality. Stepping out and making yourself known to everyone else like Jesus and his disciples did is what we're called to do.

Since I've been here for such a short time some of my main relationships are at work.So a huge goal of mine has been to have conversations, reach out, and serve in the work environment. It's crazy...God has been actively moving within the company. I've had several conversations about faith with a few of coworkers. Others aren't on the same page but have been open to talking about it, and there's even service projects starting up to get involved with.

So here's my question for you:

Where do you need to make yourself known?

More God

Last weekend I went to a college/early career worship night.I got to catch up with some friends I hadn't seen in a long time.

You know when you're watching your favorite tv show that starts at 8 and it's like 8:50. The show is just starting to get really interesting. Then it ends and your left with wanting more.

This is exactly how I felt during that worship service. It was joyfully intense and a little saddening after it ended. The work week came and I found myself doing my daily routine: devotion, prayer, etc. I struggled with feeling satisfied. I began to pray, but I still wasn't satisfied. So I did some reading and sat in silent thought. I 're-realized' something you probably may have heard before. God satisfies us, He is the only Living Water that can.

John 4:14 says, "but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

So why wasn't I satisfied? Looking back to that night of worship feeling satisfied, what changed?
In that moment during worship I wanted more God. During the week I was doing my routine just to do it. With the big move out of my house this weekend, I was more focused on that then my time with God.
So how can I get more God?
Well the good thing is God is everywhere so we can get Him anywhere.
Devote more time to Him.
Like some of the past blog posts suggest: Give more, have a better attitude, bring God into daily things, take Him with you everywhere.

I think being more aware of God and focusing on glorifying Him even when it's hard to focus, will help you find more satisfaction. It will leave you always wanting more of Him.

I wanted to clarify what satisfaction means to me. Satisfaction means, "The fulfillment or gratification of a desire, need, or appetite." In my life I am the most satisfied when I am left wanting more of God

So my question for you:

Are you satisfied?

Glorify (Becky Booker)

Becky Booker and I go all the way back to like 1st or 2nd grade or something...it's crazy.
Keeping in touch with her I've noticed just how important following God's plan is to her...whether God sends her somewhere or not. Either way it's incredible and so inspiring to see her listen to God's plan above everything else. I hope you enjoy her post as much as I did!!!!!
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Ever had a door slam in your face? It’s not very pleasant: in fact it’s pretty startling, painful, and sometimes confusing. I recently had a door shut in my face… well, figuratively that is.

I was 5 days away from leaving on my 4.5 month missions trip to the West Bank. I had my stuff together, my books read, and my heart prepared. I was ready to go preach the Good News there! But God, as He so often does, had different plans. Long story short, I found out Sunday night that I wouldn’t be boarding my booked flight that coming Friday. The answer was no.

So the door was closed. But here’s the thing: I DID have a choice. I got to decide what my response was going to be. I could pout and curse God for ruining my plans, or “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks” (1 Thess. 5:16-18). Praise God for His grace. I was moved to my knees. To weeping and to prayer.

Scriptures like
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

and

Jeremiah 29:11 (Jimmy’s favorite, I believe!) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “ plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future.”
were a great comfort.

It kind of came down to one thing a friend told me. He said, “Becky, if you’re not glorifying God here, how do you expect to go halfway around the world and be a light for Christ??” That just made a lot of sense to me. Our purpose as humans is to glorify God. Period. The Bible says that we show our love for God by obeying Him. As Christians, our very definition is to be “Christ-like.”

Instead of throwing a fit, I threw a heartfelt prayer for God to be glorified, because that’s what matters. We are called to love, and to make disciples.


And here’s where my challenge comes in- for myself first.
Before I go halfway around the world, I need to check myself. I need to make sure I’m glorifying God HERE. Who am I intentionally sharing the Gospel with? How do I become the definition of a Christian?

So now your turn- step back. Take a look at your life. Is it glorifying to God? Or do you see a lot of complaining, gossiping, and just downright disobedience? Are you intentionally sharing the Gospel? Are you Living it?? Take tonight to get on your knees before God and tell Him how awesome He is and how much you love Him. Thank Him. Ask Him to be glorified in and through you. And the next time a door gets slammed in your face, take it from me- the best place to go is to your knees.

Moving Out

I have less then two weeks until i move out. I decided I need to bring the blog posts from every weekday to 2 times a week, at least until I get packed, unpacked, and moved in.

However, I did want to leave you with this.

I was talking to one of my coworkers today about a company trip to the D.R. and he told me that if he couldn't go it wouldn't be the end of the world because not only is his passion giving, but helping others to give.

So think about how this world would look if everyone gave more like Alex Smith's blog talked about.

Then go one step further...what if everyone also helped other people give.

It's an over humbling thought.

And if anyone would like to write a post. E-mail me or call me I'd love to chat!!

So my challenge: 

Continue to give.

But also...

How can you help others to give?

Spring Break with God (Alicia Zinda)

I’ve known Alicia Zinda for about 8 years now. I spoke with her recently about how she exercises her faith. (I’m gonna try to get this all right) She sings on the worship team, does bible studies, helps teach bible lessons to elementary education...the list goes on. My point is that it’s so inspiring to see someone who wraps their whole whole week in God.
Enjoy her post!!
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I was determined that my spring break this year was going to blow all the other ones I have had out of the water. Let’s face it, all my spring breaks in the past have consisted of going home to work, so ANYTHING would beat that right? 

Plans failed, and failed attempt after attempt. I was bitter and disappointed. Then, an opportunity! A last minute and very spontaneous one, the kind that actually feeds my soul more than ones that are planned out completely. My sister had a trip planned to San Diego, CA because of work related reasons, the same week as my spring break. Once I found out, I jokingly asked if I could tag along. Well, I took that joke to a new level and made it a reality- I was going to San Diego for spring break! With my sister! Hotel paid for! It was going to be amazing! I had never been to CA before so this obviously was going to be a great experience. 

I was packing light so that I could fit everything in to this carry-on sized bag so that I did not have to pay a fee for checking a bag. Please, my flight already cost an arm and a leg, that airline did not need my money for extra bags. At school, I’m currently in 3 book studies with 3 different groups of people and I was supposed to be keeping up with readings over break. I decided I could take one of those books, along with my bible, and my journal. But I couldn’t. It just wouldn’t fit with all the clothes, shoes, make-up, etc. that I wanted to bring along with me. So I took out some of those clothes, a pair of shoes, and my bible. I didn’t really need my bible to do the book study, because the book had scripture, prayer, etc. right? Wrong. If anything, I should’ve put the book and my journal back and kept the bible because that is what I found myself wanting the most while I was away. Sure, I read my book and wrote in my journal the first couple days, but after that, my mind was on vacation from not only school, but my life. VA and its problems were clear across the country and I was determined to have a good time. 

Well I no doubt had a good time. But as the week was ending, I realized that I hadn’t read out of my book or wrote in my journal since the beginning of the week. Now, my vacation is over, I am back in VA, and am feeling in a funk. Not only did I take a vacation from my life in VA, I took a vacation from God. I thought that I could provide for my own happiness while on vacation by spending money on all the food, drinks, clothes, and souvenirs that would fit in my luggage home. But I should have packed my bible, and I should have invited God to hang out with me on my vacation more so that I could truly find peace and happiness from my troubles. 

We can’t just take a break from God. Now, God was certainly with me that whole time- he never leaves us- I just chose not to acknowledge Him the whole time.  As Christians, we are called to acknowledge Him and praise Him in everything that we do, including going on vacations. 

1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV) states, “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” 

Like Solomon, we have been chosen as Christians to follow Christ and to seek him wholeheartedly. If you seek Christ with your whole heart, you are doing so day in and day out no matter where you are or what the circumstance. This is tough, but we can do it. And when we do, the reward is eternal. 

So, my challenge to you is this:

Next time you go on a vacation of any kind, continue to seek God wholeheartedly.

He will already be there, but it is up to your heart’s desire to find Him.