The Best Yes

I am currently reading a book by Lysa TerKeurst called "The Best Yes." It is an awesome read that I would definitely recommend to everyone. I know it was definitely God ordained that I picked up this book. This book is about all about saying yes to the things that would best serve to glorify God. As TurKeurst put it, "There is a BIG difference between saying yes to everyone and saying yes to God." 

There is so much TRUTH in this. 

I personally have always struggled with this in some form or capacity. I have a hard time saying no to things because I tend to want to help everyone and make everything happen. This comes from a desire to please others and keep those around me happy. What I've found during my lifetime so far is that trying to do everything, please everyone, and make everything happen...while running around like a headless chicken causes nothing to be done...at least not done well. When you try to do everything, something will eventually slip through the cracks. Not just some things... many things. We all have a capacity and if we aren't careful we will burn out. 

In the book TerKeurst stated, "Not every assignment is my assignment...It's all about saying YES to those assignments that are truly meant to be our assignments. Not because we are guilted into saying yes. Or pressured into saying yes. Or because we couldn't figure out how to say no. But because we sense God's invitation to say yes. A BEST yes."

Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for man." 

We can't truly love God and people well if we say yes to everything. From my personal experience, when I try to do everything, I become burned out. I tend to not be in the Word as much, which leads to my mind not being renewed. When my mind is not being renewed, I forget why I do what I do in the first place. It leads to me doing things out of obligation, instead of love. The burn out leads me to be inattentive to people and things that God may be pulling on my heart to attend to. 

I don't know about you, but the burn out feels absolutely terrible. I am so hungry for more of God. I want to rest in His presence all the time. I want to know Him more. I want to experience genuine, non shallow relationships with others. I want to love God and others well. I want to glorify God in the simple and not make things so complicated with an overcomplicated schedule. 

You want this too? Join me on this journey. I'm about a third of the way through the book now and God has revealed so much already. I will be updating this blog with all He teaches me during the journey. Feel free to pick up a copy of this book at your local bookstore or on Amazon Kindle. I'm praying for us all in this journey. 

Grace and peace.

Mazie

God is NEAR to the brokenhearted.

My heart B R E A K S. 

Within these past two weeks there has been so much death. 

Three friends dear to me have lost parents. 
A lady at my church here in Columbia passed away. 
A man at my church back home passed away. 
A classmate and old coworker was killed in a boating accident. She was only 21 years old. 

During all of this, my heart is breaking for everyone around me. Seeing a close friend of mine and her sister close their mother's casket, nearly tore me apart. I can't imagine the pain she is feeling. Seeing the multiple messages my former coworker's sister puts on her wall everyday about how much she misses her dear sister who meant so much to her, breaks my heart. Receiving a text from a dear mentor and friend of mine saying that her father passed and she is preparing the arrangements, breaks my heart. Hearing about the man at my home church dying after a gruesome fight with cancer, breaks my heart. Hearing of a lady who had been coming to my church passing away, breaks my heart. 

One thing all of this is reminding me is that nothing is forever and constant, except Christ. We need to appreciate each and every person in our lives and show that appreciation while they are still here. It's so easy to get caught up in our own busy schedules and neglect the ones around us. Sometimes I get so caught up in my life in Columbia and the things going on, that I forget to call home or come home to spend time with the ones dearest to my heart. These past two weeks have reminded me to take that time out to spend with my loved ones. To give them their flowers and love while they are still alive. 

From a gospel standpoint, it has reminded me to tell everyone I come into contact about Jesus. Not just because I don't want them to go to hell, BUT because Jesus' love is better than anything this world can ever offer. And spending eternity with Him will be the best ever! These tragedies have produced in me an even deeper sense of urgency in sharing the truth of Jesus! 

For all my friends and family who are grieving, be encouraged: 

1. The Lord is NEAR to the brokenhearted (psalm 34:8). He is right there with you, holding you close. God understands your grief because His only son died on a cross for our sins. 

2. God is a comforter. He comforts us in our affliction. He cares for us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Psalm 147:3).

3. When Jesus returns, there will be no more death. For all who have accepted Christ, there will be eternity spend with Jesus. Praise God! 

Praying for everyone who is brokenhearted! Hold on! God fights for you! Pour your heart out to Him! When you are weak, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-11)!

It's NOT about me.

Warning: This post you are about to read is one of full transparency.

This morning, I woke up with my heart heavy. Heavy because I realized that lately I have made so many things about me.

It's NOT about me. It's not about how many likes I get on Facebook. It's not about whether or not people think I'm beautiful. It's not about how much time I put into serving others. It's not about whether or not I've failed or succeeded at being a mentor or discipler. It's not about whether or not someone respects me. It's not about me having the perfect six pack. It's not about how much money I have in my back account. It's not about the number of people who attend small group. It's not about how great of a leader I am. It's not about where I serve or what type of mission I'm apart of. It's not about how many people read this blog, follow me on Instagram, Twitter, or friend me on Facebook. It's just ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NOT ABOUT ME!!!!!

IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS!

It is so easy to get caught up in ourselves. Something that starts off being about the Lord can immediately turn into something that is about us. We have no good apart from Him (Psalm 16:2).

This is such a humbling reminder for me because it reminds me that I have to DEPEND on the Lord each and every moment of the day. I can do nothing apart from Him. I can't even purely serve Him if I am not abiding (dwelling) in the vine.

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself. Unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine: you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do NOTHING." -John 15:4-5

"By this my father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." -John 15:8

These two verses clearly state three things:

1. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches.
2. Whoever abides in Him bears much fruit. We can do NOTHING apart from Him
3. God is glorified when we ABIDE in Jesus. This bears much fruit.

This walk with Jesus is a moment by moment, day by day thing.

The moment I take my eyes of Jesus, is the moment I begin making things about me or become prey to temptation and many other things.

I have to CONSTANTLY renew my mind.

"DO NOT be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the RENEWAL of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect" -Romans 12:2

"Set your mind on things ABOVE, not on things that are on Earth." -Colossians 3:2

"I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against thee." -Psalm 119:11

"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." -Colossians 3:16

Letting these truths penetrate my heart today and everyday. Thank you Lord for breaking me. May you be glorified in my life. Hide me behind your cross. It's not about me. It's about your glory being revealed.

MKJ<3

The deception of being a hearer only.

It has been a long time since I wrote a blog post. So Just an update before I get started. I have been studying the book of James this summer using the study by Beth Moore. It has been rocking my world so far. I am currently studying James 1:25.

"The one who looks into the perfect law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

This ROCKED my world. let's back up a little. Before this verse, James 1:22-24 says:

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers, only deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like."

When I first read this verse, the word that stuck out to me was "deceiving." I thought back to how in the Garden of Eden, Eve saw that apple and was deceived into believing that it could provide for her what only God could. DECEPTION. In this text, James is talking about how being a hearer only is deceiving. If you think about it, even an unbeliever can hear the word. They can go to church, read the word, listen to sermons, etc.

But what makes the difference between an unbeliever and a believer is the Word taking root and ACTIVELY working in the believer, while in the unbeliever the Word just falls on deaf ears. 

I see a connection here with Matthew 13:1-9 & Matthew 13:18-23. This is the parable of the sower. To sum it up, Jesus is on a boat with a crowd around him. He tells them of the parable of the sower. The sower sowed seeds on a path, seeds on rocky ground, seeds among thorns, and seeds on good soil.

The seeds on a path represent someone hearing the word of God and not understanding it. When this happens the evil one (bird is the symbol in this parable) comes up and snatches away what is sown in his heart.

Seeds on a rocky ground represent someone hearing the word and receiving it with joy, but the word not taking root in his heart. This man endures some trials and persecution and he is immediately defeated and falls away.

The seed among thorns represents the person who hears the word, but the cares of the world and riches in the world choke the word and they bear no fruit.

Lastly, the seed on good soil represents someone who hears and understands the word. This person bears fruit.

What I noticed here was that the seed on good soil was not just one who heard the word, but also one who understood the word.

To understand the word, we must be prayerful. We must meditate on it. We set our minds on Him. This combines hearing with action. Understanding takes effort on our part. This effort is to seek God for understanding.

Beth Moore said in the study: "Our 'doing' may not always show up as physical activity. The initial act of obedience might be waiting upon the Lord or setting our minds zealously upon His faithfulness."

Sometimes I find myself like the seed sown on rocky ground. I hear the word and gladly receive it. I get excited and tell others about it, post status updates about it...get absolutely EXCITED! But let a trial come against me. I stumble. I began focusing on my trials instead of my ALL Powerful father who is way bigger than any trial i may face.

God is teaching me so much in this study. He is teaching me how to fight the good fight of faith. Cause if you didn't know already, it's a fight! We fight with the word of God. The enemy is constantly feeding us lies. We feed ourselves lies too. We must line everything up with the Word of God. The easiest way to do that is by the WORD BEING IN OUR HEARTS. Prayer, meditating on the Word, and relying on the Holy spirit cause the word to permeate our hearts.

Also, know that there is no condemnation in Christ. Because of Jesus living a perfect life we could not live, dying, and raising from the dead, we have eternal life and a relationship with him when put our trust in Him. There may be times when we are like the seed on rocky ground, or the one in thorns. When there is, just repent and trust God to help you trust Him. Trust Him to help you be steadfast and immovable in trials. Trust Him to help you keep your eyes fixed on Him.

Ultimately, being a doer who acts is one who not only hears the word, but seeks God for understanding and obeys his instruction. Also, because of God's love for us by sending His only son to die for us, our response is to want to read our word and understand it.

Holy spirit take over! Permeate our whole lives. Help the word to permeate our hearts that we may be doers of the Word, and not hearers only. Give us a thirst for your word and a desire in our hearts for understanding. Thank you for your presence! AMEN!

The Journey

So.... I decided to start a new blog. Decided to start this one (The Journey) because I'm just a young soul walking with Jesus. There is so much He is teaching me and I am learning to embrace the journey. Not just the Ups of the Journey, but also the downs. Every step of the journey is teaching me to cling to the cross even the more.With every step of the journey, The Lord is showing me what it really means to walk with Him...what it really means to let Him be Lord over my life.. what it really means to be saved by Grace (old blog name)... It all is a journey and a process. So thankful to have a Father who loves me so well to take me through this journey. It's not peachy keen walking with Jesus, but friends it is sure worth it.

The joy He gives is indescribable.

His love is unconditional....

His beauty undeniable....

His G R A C E  OH so sufficient.

He goes before me, walks with me...

AND one day He will Return for me and all who place their trust in Him!

"And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" -Philippians 1:6

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." -Phillipians 3:8

I don't have it all together, but I'm clinging to the one who does.

MKJ <3