The Time

we are destined for greatness.
this is not a time for pulling back but for pushing forward,
a time to embrace conviction, not compromise.
will you run the race set before you,
or are you going to be left behind at the starting line when others roar past you?

Deep Breath

It's that time of the week again - Five Minute Friday! I encourage you all to check it out, try it out, and link it up! :)

Prompt: Deep Breath

GO

Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of things, we forget to breathe. Why do you think there are so many sayings such as, "take time to stop and smell the roses"? Have we as people become so used to this fast-paced, breathless life that sprinting without oxygen has become our normality?

Runners know how to breathe. Their knowledge doesn't appear over night. It takes hours and hours of blisters, sweat, and muscle aches to learn how to equip their bodies with the proper oxygen it needs in order to function optimally.

Singers know how to breathe. Beauty is birthed from the power bestowed by controlled diaphragmatic coastal breathing. Without hours of training, even the best singers would be reduced to mere sound-makers.

This is my proposal: We must learn how to breathe. We must practice and condition and cling to the Breath-Giver so that our song will be a pleasing one - one that carries us across the finish line as we run the race set before us.

STOP

Spurgeon Devotional

I read this devo about a month ago, and the last chunk pulled at my heart and has stuck with me since. I thought I'd share it so that it can bless others. (And it never hurts to have it tucked safely in my blog for future reference!) :)


"My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels." – Psalm 22:14b
Our blessed Lord experienced a terrible sinking and melting of soul. "The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a wounded spirit who can bear?" Deep depression of spirit is the most grievous of all trials; all besides is as nothing. Well might the suffering Saviour cry to his God, "Be not far from me," for above all other seasons a man needs his God when his heart is melted within him because of heaviness. Believer, come near the cross this morning, and humbly adore the King of glory as having once been brought far lower, in mental distress and inward anguish, than any one among us; and mark his fitness to become a faithful High Priest, who can be touched with a feeling of our infirmities. Especially let those of us whose sadness springs directly from the withdrawal of a present sense of our Father’s love, enter into near and intimate communion with Jesus. Let us not give way to despair, since through this dark room the Master has passed before us. Our souls may sometimes long and faint, and thirst even to anguish, to behold the light of the Lord’s countenance: at such times let us stay ourselves with the sweet fact of the sympathy of our great High Priest. Our drops of sorrow may well be forgotten in the ocean of his griefs; but how high ought our love to rise! Come in, O strong and deep love of Jesus, like the sea at the flood in spring tides, cover all my powers, drown all my sins, wash out all my cares, lift up my earth-bound soul, and float it right up to my Lord’s feet, and there let me lie, a poor broken shell, washed up by his love, having no virtue or value; and only venturing to whisper to him that if he will put his ear to me, he will hear within my heart faint echoes of the vast waves of his own love which have brought me where it is my delight to lie, even at his feet for ever.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there, physical or spiritual.

Church this morning was so powerful. God blessed us with an abundantly sunny, beautifully gorgeous day. When I approached the front of the building, there were red carpets laid out leading into the church. Many men and young men from the church were dressed nicely and were handing out a single flower to each woman who entered. Each woman was escorted into the sanctuary by one of these men.

I felt so valued by these extravagant acts of love.

During worship, God's presence showed up so strongly. His tangible love was gushing out all over us. I was weeping under the revelation of how much God prizes and values women and mothers. His adoration, approval, and delight were overwhelming. I looked at these extravagant acts of human beings, and I realized that all of this incredible honor and romance originates within the heart of God. It took my breath away and knocked me to my knees.

I have honestly never felt so cherished and honored as a female. I have always had a hard time viewing femininity as beautiful and honorable because of the way that I've grown up, but today I saw a new side of God's heart.

I love being a woman. It's such a precious gift.

Motherhood Should Come With...

It's that time again! Five Minute Friday! Join in and link up :)

Prompt: Motherhood Should Come With...

GO

 

Motherhood should come with a heart-guard.

Now I am not a mother of physical birth, but I am a mother of spirits, of souls. Mothering is in the very core of my being and its essence exudes from every pore of my heart.

But isn't that how it's supposed to be? Made in the image and likeness of my Creator -- the ultimate Abba Daddy.

Mothering is a wonderful gift... one that should come with a warning label. Or maybe a nice pair of shoes. Or maybe just a heart-guard.

Because when you're a mother, you can't help but offer all of yourself. You can't help but offer your heart, your hugs, your tears. Their pain becomes your pain. Their hurts become your hurts.

Sometimes I think that their tears sting your eyes more than their eyes.

But the good news is that mothering DOES come with a heart-guard. His name is Jesus. He  became your pain, your hurts, your tears so that you can become their joy, their strength, their comfort.

Don't be afraid to reach out and love. Your heart is guarded.

STOP

Realizations

My heart is tearing.

I got a 99% in two of my classes, a 94% in one, and a 98% in the last. One of those classes was A&P, and another was microbiology.

You'd think I'd be ecstatic.
I'm not.

I looked at my final grades, and I wanted to cry.
Broken.
Actually, I was pretty shocked that 1) I did so well and 2) that I was feeling broken.

Then God spoke.
There's no satisfaction in earthly pleasures.
They can't bring fulfillment.
They can't bring lasting joy.

I've been operating out of a spirit of perfectionism rather than a spirit of excellence. How idiotic! How vain! Grasping at the wind. And what for?

Tonight was rough. My youth pastor is leaving in six weeks because God has called him into something else. After many tears and many divine occurrences, I ended up getting to talk to my spiritual mama and then ended up staying late and helping my youth pastor clean up. This was so wonderful because I got to speak to him and his wife one-on-one. I left so encouraged. One thing that he said stuck with me. He said that school exists for God's purpose and my pleasure. He also asked if I have freed myself to dream.

I just started to let myself dream a few months ago. This is when I knew that I must change my major, yet again. It's stressful because I've spent my life squeezing myself into other people's molds. The fear of rejection is one that I'm still getting free from. I've just recently discovered that I CAN make a huge difference and that the world IS mine to interact with.

Pastor Brock and Alissa really encourged me. Alissa told me how beautiful I am, and both of them really encouraged me in my faith and my attitude. Because of last night, I'm committing to a season of dreaming and to a season of healing.

Saying good-bye just got so much harder.

Bin Laden's Death: What's the Right Response?

I can't help but to notice today that Christians seem to be divided over this question.

Some are elated because justice has been served.
Some are judgmental because others are elated.
Some are broken because another soul has ended up in hell.
Some don't even know how to feel because they don't know how they "should" feel.

Why all the complex emotions?
Why all the confusion?
What's the "correct" answer?

Here and here are two resources that I personally believe explain things well.

In the end, it's between you and God. Ask Him how you should react, and He'll let you know.