Still stuck?

Hey everyone!!  I hope you've had a GREAT week!!!!
Were you able to look at yourself?  Where are you stuck?  Relationships?  Studying? Wanting to do good but not being able to? Frustrated with life?  Tired?  Torn between something??  LOTS of places you can get stuck!!

So, we kind of have established that 'stuckness' can be an issue for all of us!!  If you were thinking of being stuck in a spiritual area (reading your Bible, praying, etc) that stuckness can make you feel like a failure.  anyone been there with me?  That will probably lead to feeling very hopeless, and feelings opposite of joy, confidence or contentment!!  Do you think this is what Jesus meant by "abundant life" in John 10:10?  Do you think Jesus really came so we could live each day with feelings of failure??  Hmmm......

God does not want us to remain stuck!!  He wants us to move along and GROW!!  In any human relationship, if there are bumps in the road, most of the time you get over it and move on.  That is what GOd wants us to do!! God talked to Isaiah about a fresh start.  Is. 43:19 says, "I am about to do something new.  See, I have already begun!  DO you not see it?  I will make a pathway through the wilderness.  I will create rivers in the dry wasteland!"  WOW... what a promise!!  Do you think God still is doing something NEW?  Do you want something new??  I just wonder if any of the areas in which you are stuck could use a new-ness to them?  I know mine could!!

But how??  Do you find yourself in the place where you ask that question?  "How do I get unstuck?"  Some of the answers you may come up with may sound something like this:  Read my Bible; Pray more; go to church more; etc.  Have you been through this process?  How did it work for you?  Did you read your Bible more?  Pray more? Did it stick?  Did you change the things you wanted to?  What NEW came from that?  The fact is.... we CAN change, and we are FREE to change, but not by our own very limited power!  Real lasting change comes from God's unlimited power!!

God created you just like He wanted you!  Do you think it is a surprise to Him that you become stuck?  Do you think He looks at you and thinks, "Aw, dang!!  What was I thinking when I made _____?"  Um.  NNNOOOO.  That is NOT what He thinks!!  God is in the transformation business!!  YOU do not have to come to Him all clean and 'changed'.... that is HIS job!!!  Does this take some pressure off?  Does it make you feel better?

So... Here is the deal:
~We all get stuck! (Adults especially are good at being stuck!!  We've had lots of practice and tend just to stay stuck at times.)
~God knows you're gonna be stuck!
~You are allowed to be less than perfect!!  God does NOT expect perfection!!!!!  He expects you to lean on Him and trust Him to transform you!
~You can have a fresh start more than once!
~God wants to transform you, he does NOT want you to transform yourself!!  He has NEVER wanted you to transform yourself!

What now?  What does this mean?
I want you to smoke on this verse:  2 Corinthians 7:1
"Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."

At first glance, you might think this means to quit doing everything fun and put on your sad, Christian face.  NOT AT ALL....
It simply means, if something is getting in the way of your relationship with Jesus, get rid of it, and do it because you love God.  (Easier said than done, I know.)

I want you to make a list of the 'everything' in your life, those areas that contaminate your character and rob you of your character.....  Spend some time thinking about it... be honest with yourself.  That is hard stuff... I know.  This, my friends, will be the first step in allowing God to transform you... if that is what you want!!

We will pick up next week with this same verse.  Really... read it... smoke on it.... think about what contaminates you have in your life right now......  I"m not asking you to DO anything about them... just recognize them!!
If you are having trouble with that, ask God to show you what they are!!!  He will, you just have to allow Him to.

I hope you have a GREAT week!!  The weather is supposed to be feeling a little more like Fall this week.  I hope that will prove to to be true.  Please pray for Judgement House.  It is only a few short weeks away!!!  God is already doing some pretty cool things... and Satan is trying to get his say so in, too.

Love you people... more than you'll ever know....
Let me hear from you!!!!!

Krista

Fresh Start, anyone???

Ahhhh, a fresh start.  Feels good when you get one, doesn’t it?  Maybe it is something big, like in an important relationship.  Or, maybe it is something as simple as an unexpected nap on a very tiresome day!  What does having a fresh start mean to you?

Can you think of any fresh starts in the Bible?  Can you think of a time that people asked for/needed a fresh start and Jesus denied them?

Over the next few weeks, this will be our topic, “Fresh Start.”  As we go along, I want you to really try and find some time to sit down and think.  Perhaps early in the morning, or late at night.  Maybe even between classes at some point, but as you have settled into your class routine, I’d like to now make sure you have this blog/study as part of that!!

Many of you were able to go with us to either New Orleans or Centrifuge, or both this summer.  This has been one of the most powerful, thought provoking, ‘light bulb’ summers ever that I’ve been a part of!  For those of you who did not go with us, but has been somewhere like that before (New Orleans, Ecuador, Centrifuge….) you know how powerful these times can be!  You know that there are things that God speaks to your deepest parts in situations like these… but then we come home.  Then what?  Does God keep speaking?  Do we stop listening?  Are we so distracted by life that we can no longer hear? What is the deal with that??  Seems we all come home (adults included) having been touched to the very core of our being, but in no time, the fire and desire is gone…..

This is exactly what we are going to discuss the next few weeks!!  Where does that desire go?  When do we lose it?  Was God REALLY speaking?

The question we will start with this week is this:  “Do you feel STUCK?” (This is a good place for you to comment!!!!)  Where do you feel stuck?  Do you realize you are stuck?  Do you want to stay stuck?  How do you get yourself unstuck?

Please respond to this statement:  “We want God in our lives, and all the good stuff He promises, but we also want what we want-even if it’s harmful to us.”  (If I were going to comment, this might be a good place)

Please look up John 10:10.  It simply says, “I have come that they may  have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  What do you think this abundant life looks like?  Does it mean riches?  Friendships? Jobs? Good grades? Happiness all the time?  (another great place for you to comment!!)

How does your ‘stuckness’ affect your having abundant life?

We are going to leave off here for this week.  During this week, I’d like you to make a list of those things in your life that might be keeping you from having abundant life.  OR Make a list of those areas where you feel stuck!  Either one, or both would be great!!!

I want us to work on getting Unstuck together, ok??

Love you guys to the sky and back.  You are precious and God has big plans for you!!!!!

Glad!!

Hey everyone!!  Hope you've had a great week, and are looking forward to another one!!

I REALLY want you to comment!!  PLEASE???  Many of you indicated to me that you really read the blog.  I want this to be a place that you come to learn from each other....  NO ONE likes to 'hear' me blab that much!!!! So, please participate, ok???  PLEASE????

First of all:  Just want you to know I miss you and I love you!  When ya'll spend all this time growing up and coming on Wednesdays/Sundays... seeing you at school..... going on trips..... it just sucks when you aren't here!!  BUT... I'm SO proud of you!  You are showing yourself each day that you CAN make it in this world.  Some days are better than others, and some days you feel more success than others... but you are doing GREAT!!!!  (And, as much as I'd love for you each one to be back in my life week in and week out, I'm so proud of you for having what it takes to grow up!!)

Now.  I want us to think about something for a few minutes.

(Hint:  This could be what you would comment on!!)
How do YOU define glad?
What makes you glad?
Do you feel it is a strong word?

Here are some ways that this tiny word is used:
~I sure am glad that test is over!!
~I'm glad I didn't run out of gas on the way to the gas station!
~Whew... I'm glad I got to hang out with ______ this weekend.
~OH MAN, I'm so glad that I didn't go to the _________.
~Oh, you got a new ______?  I'm so glad.  You needed one.

Those are some ways  that we often hear the word "glad" used.  Can you think of any more?

NOW.  I want to know what makes you just so excited you can't hardly stand it!  What is that makes your tummy do flips?  Is there something that absolutely you think you will explode if it doesn't just hurry up already?

For me, that is Christmas!!  When I was little, I thought Christmas Eve MUST be THE longest day in the history of the world!!!  It seemed the clock would tick forward one and back two!  Then, at bed time... goodness... the NIGHT was horribly long.  I would get so excited about getting up Christmas morning, my tummy really would tickle!!!

Another thing that makes me kind of giddy like that is knowing I'm getting a surprise.  The surprise doesn't even have to be huge... just that someone cares enough to think about doing something for me absolutely sends me over the edge at times!!

What is it for you?

How would you feel if:
~Some random person approached you with a check to cover your full tuition for the rest of your college career?
~You were able to accomplish the biggest goal or meet the biggest challenge you face right now?
~You were able to provide something for someone else that they have struggled with?

Now.  This is going to be a change of gears, but hang with me.  I'll tie it all together, ok??

On my wedding day, I felt like a princess!  My mama worked herself silly and made me the most beautiful dress.  She made it with such love (and frustration at times!!)~ It was beautiful!  I was so proud of it, I couldn't stand the thoughts of getting anything on it (and, she might have skinned me!!)  I wanted to look perfect for my man!!  I wanted my hair, my make up, my dress... everything to be so perfect!  Even though I know Chris loves me, and it wouldn't have mattered if I had a hair or two out of place... does a groom really want to meet his bride who is a mess?  Have you ever seen a bride who really just kind of threw herself together?  NO!!!  Brides spend HOURS getting ready....

Did you know that WE are the Bride of Christ?  That sounds weird, especially for your guys, but it is the truth!  All through the Bible, we are referred to as the Bride of Christ.

Now.  In Revelation 19:6-8; here is what John writes:
"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:  "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.  Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!  FOr the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.  Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear."

(Have you heard people speak of 'The Marriage Supper of the Lamb'?  This is it.  This will be the party of all parties!  Not a 'supper' like we in the South know it.  It will be a time of great celebration!  Jewish weddings are traditionally a time of great celebration; and it goes on for days in some cases.)

Did you notice the word "glad" in this passage??  Think about this:  If you are going somewhere that is THIS exciting, are you 'just' glad?  This is kind of how I think I can show you some emphasis.... Are these the same kind of glad?
~I"m glad I'm going to Walmart in a little while.
~I'm glad I'm going to Ecuador, or New Orleans.
Which is more?
Well, as we are clothed in our white linen that is all bright and clean.... don't you think we are going to be just a LITTLE bit excited???

Now, lets look at Isaiah 61:10: "I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God.  For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, and as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."

WOW.  This kind of tells us it is coming... WARNING... Kind of like someone tells you, "Hey... this weekend when you are home, we're gonna hang out at the park and ride (or wherever)."  So.. from that time until the time it actually happens, the excitement builds.  Just like my own wedding... from the time we decided on a date... much was to be done, but excitement was building!!

These words, "delight greatly" ~ hmmmm

Now.  Look at Matthew 5:12:  "Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

So, here is how all this ties together:
In the original language, glad means this:  To exult, to rejoice with exuberance, and very often literally to leap for joy.  When is the last time you were so full of joy you just could not contain yourself??  In both of these passages (Matthew and REvelation) this word glad means literally 'to leap very much'...

The word delight in the Isaiah passage means, "rejoices greatly" and means to spin... to be so happy you just spin.  Literally, I spin before the Lord.  As a Bride, I really did feel so beautiful that I wanted to just spin so my groom could see.  (Have you ever seen a little girl wear a 'dress up' dress and just kind of walk on air?? THAT is what we are talking about here)

This has absolutely challenged me to look at myself... am I glad??  Do I look at the my salvation and it make me so happy that I literally cannot contain myself?  Do I look around me and what the Lord has done for me and do the same thing?  I AM the Bride of Christ.
You may not understand this, I don't completely.  But, I do understand the bride part.  I am Chris' bride and I so wanted him to be pleased with me.  Guys, you don't want to wait at the end of the isle for your bride and her not look beautiful, right?  Girls, you want everything to be perfect (and it will be... when God sends your man... it will be!!)!!  So it is with my Bridegroom.... Christ.  WOW.

There is MUCH more to this and we might dig a little more in the next couple of weeks, but for this week, I want to challenge us to examine ourselves.

~Are you glad?

~Are you screwing up the look of the Bride of Christ?  (how you livin?  Are you TRYING to learn and grow in your walk with Christ? NO ONE is perfect, and NO ONE EVER stops growing... do NOT let yourself think that you will 'arrive' one of these days!! THere is always something you can learn)

~Do you let little things distract you from how much He really loves you? (Do you walk around like Eyeore because of the crap in life, or do you dance around like Snoopy being oblivious to the junk?)

So~ Let me hear from you!!

I love you.  Thanks for hangin' in with this today.... Wrestle with it... really, that is alright!!