Taken Seriously Enough pt. 1

In the last couple of weeks, I've had a revelation about the fear of the Lord.  I don't think we take Him seriously enough.  I've been reminded of our call to a righteous lifestyle and the power of repentance.  The latter of which, I will address in a later installment.  

"I just can't press through any more... " is a common concern and theme I've heard in the last weeks.  Well, WHY can't you press through?  What are you doing to counter the "issue"?  Yes, we DO have desert seasons, but even in the desert, we have sustenance.  We have promise.  We have hope.  We have a future.  We have a decision to be made.  

I do not pretend to be a master of a pure life.  I don't sit in a judgement seat, but from a mercy perspective, I encourage you that our response in righteous is easier than we complain.

Scripture tells us from start to finish, that we are a "good", "wonderful", "free" creation, destined for "priesthood."  We are reminded in Corinthians that we are "a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come."  Not to mention, Jesus Himself prayed that we would experience He and the Father in us just as He and the Father are within one another (see Writer's Block for further explanation).  

We have a decision to be made.  So much of our freedom and experiencing the Truth is a matter of setting our will and choosing such a lifestyle.  For example, scriptures tell me I am free- so I choose to be free.  In the moments when circumstance, feelings and emotions lead me to think otherwise, I choose all over again, to trust and believe- I am free.  Often times, speaking this out loud.  

When we see the lurking lies, we often get caught up in determining the "source" of the lie and trying to figure out "why we struggle with _____ over and over again."  I am a firm believer in the need to cut out sources from the roots... I am a firm believer in Inner Healing and what the Holy Spirit can do when we give Him such freedom to renew our hearts and set our spirits into a whole new level of freedom.  However, instead of looking for roots all the time, we need to look for the truth that contradicts that lie.  When I hear that I am "filthy" and "unworthy," then I need to seek scriptures that speak of my clean heart and how the Lord has handpicked me.  I need to eat and devour these verses until they take control in my heart like a natural reaction- "Duh, of course I am chosen!"  When I am overcome with exhaustion, I return to verses of the Lord's strength within me.  When temptation and lust are in front of us, purity and righteousness are just around the corner.   

Is it a quick fix?  Sometimes.  Mostly, no.

When we rearrange our focus and make the choice to set our WILL to the Truth, our souls will follow.  I am talking about a real choice, though.  This is no, "yeah yeah, ok, you say I'm free.. so I guess, I think I'm free" sort of decision.  This is a "In  faith, by the strength of Jesus Christ, I choose YOU Holy Spirit and where YOU are there is freedom.  Therefore, I choose to trust that I am free just as you have promised." type of decision.  Like I said to a good friend last week, then it is a matter of taking our vitamins.  We don't become spiritually healthy by tending to our souls first; it is the opposite.  Our spirit is head over our soul and body and therefore, filling our spirit with verses of Truth is what will bring this experience of freedom.  This could mean reading the appropriate verses applying to the given lie 20 times-an-hour, posting them all over your house, listening to them from an audio Bible while you sleep, or any other method the Spirit shows you.... just get the truth in there.  Don't worry about your soul taking time to get the hint; I assure you that your soul WILL catch up with the Spirit of Truth.

she makes me smile

*ding dong ding dong ding dong*  Ya know, they say living out here is a quiet residence.  I beg to differ.  We have the noon-time Catholic church bells ironically sounding from the "House of Silence".  Then, there's the mid-morning, mid-evening, and MIDNIGHT sirens screaming across the hills.  Now that it's prime harvest season, the tractors are running through the fields at any possible working hour.  This includes late night hours and early morning hours.  This weekend, folk music was singing from the neighborhood at the bottom of the hill.  The funniest of all the noises, however, is the cow.  Every so often, there is just one cow who bellows just one mighty bellow, also a day or night sounding.  She makes me smile.  

Just letting you know I'm alive.  :-)  Happy Tuesday!

WAKE UP!

Counting the stitches on my beloved quilt, conviction settled into my mind.  I don't speak enough.  The previous post "Passion" is the prequel and introduction to this post- and hopefully a number of posts to follow.  

Today's soap box: America.  

Somewhere in the middle of my list, I wrote I am passionate about politics, reform, local missions, and culture/nations.  I am going to take each of those passions and mold them into one [stretched] stream of thought.

I am not going to speak about conservatism and the great republican way.  I am not going to encourage anyone in one partisan direction or another.  I am not going to encourage anyone to eat organic and switch your bulbs to energy efficient.  I am not going to speak against the current President.  I AM, however, going to encourage you to start speaking.

I keep up with the status of America as best I can from over here.  These questions have run through my mind; as I am sure you've also asked yourself.

What IS going to happen to America in the next few years?  What's going to happen as this quarter ends and the first of 2010 begins?!  What's going to change- for the better? -for the worse?  How will those changes take seat?  How does it all effect ME?

Before I can say ANYthing else, PRAY for the leaders and our nation; the issues.  COVER America with the blood of Jesus, and I assure you, we will see change (for the better).

National level politics is a big leagues field.  It seems like the coach's pitch all-star MVP trying to play with Mickey Mantel and Cal Ripkin.  Reality is, becoming involved in the happenings of the nation is not so difficult.  Glen Beck put it clearly in a summer broadcast- we are being OVERLOADED with information, and it is absolutely impossible to keep up with everything the Obama Administration is saying. 

What CAN we do?  

1. Re-familiarize yourself with the constitution.  

2. Pick an issue and follow it.  Research that issue and know that issue inside out.  

3. Pick a person (persons) and follow them.  Research that person and learn as much as you possibly can about that particular political head.  Whether it be a senator, delegate, or one of these new appointees- PICK SOME ONE!  

4. USE THAT INFORMATION.  Compare the happenings within the realm of that issue/figure to the constitution.  When something does not fit together, then begin to speak-up about it.  Instead of complaining at the dinner table, write emails to your local representative and to the media.  

That's the national level.  

What I believe is far too often overlooked is the local level of politics.  We get so into the news and rhetoric of the national politicians, that we forget that our neighborhoods are being impacted right in front of us.  GET INVOLVED IN YOUR LOCAL POLITICAL SCENE!!  Know who your Delegates are and begin to communicate with them.  Attend board and council meetings.  Again, you cannot do everything, so pick an area and invest yourself.  Seeking local reform is eventually going to impact the nation on a broader spectrum.  

So, WAKE UP America!!  I can see from here that much of America has already awoken... now become proactive in your stance.  

Passion

I am passionate.  

I am a passionate person when it comes to nearly everything I do.  When I choose to invest in something, I go all the way in without reserve.  What's reserve for, anyway?  Back-up?  I don't do "back-up" plans.  I do full throttle, all my faith, all my gumption plans.  And, if there happens to be a fail, I take all my energy into resolving the situation, or into developing a new method.  Is it a waste of resources?  Perhaps.  For me, I'd rather run over failure with all my momentum, than get stuck in the rut.  That's just me.  

So, what AM I passionate about?

I am passionate about change.  I am passionate about seeing people realize their potential.  I am passionate about prophetic destiny.  I am passionate about perfection  I am passionate about divine order.  I am passionate about coaching, encouraging, and teaching.  I am passionate about prayer and intercession.  I am passionate about creating and developing.  I am passionate about music.  I am passionate about worship as a lifestyle, but also as creative expression.  I am passionate about truth.  I am passionate about justice and mercy sharing their respective responsibilities.  I am passionate about theater and opera.  I am passionate about dance.  I am passionate about turning a stage into a fantasy world.  I am passionate about colors.  I am passionate about light.  I am passionate about life.  I am passionate about politics.  I am passionate about reform.  I am passionate about local missions.  I am passionate about culture and nations.  I am passionate about learning.  I am passionate about health services.  I am passionate about blood/organ donation.  I am passionate about friendship.  I am passionate about reading.  I am passionate about writing.  I am passionate about running and sports.  I am passionate about competition.  I am passionate about leadership, problem solving, and communication.  I am passionate.  

What are YOU passionate about?  Comment.  Email.  Facebook.  Let me know what you're passionate about.