NEW BLOG SITE!
https://dwellingdaughterblog.wordpress.com
January 30, 2017
April 18, 2016
Dearest Over-thinker
Dearest Over-thinker,
You can't help yourself, can you? There's a situation, a project, a person- and you've already envisioned a dozen different outcomes. Most of them are dark and dismal because, well, that's life. You want to be prepared for every possible outcome because surprises can be unnerving.
Others tell you you're overcomplicating things. Are they right? Absolutely. Can you turn it off? Not to save your life.
So, you spend hours upon hours contemplating life and worrying over possible outcomes. Truth be told, you spend more time worrying about tomorrow than you do enjoying today.
It's a (seemingly) never ending cycle. And it's exhausting.
It feels like you're in a storm. Yes, you've committed your life to Christ and gotten out of the boat. You're walking on the water.
But the wind is howling and the lightening is flashing. Thunder explodes and the waves are twenty feet high. You're looking around, trying to find something to grab onto- just in case.
Then, you start to sink. The chaos within your mind is drowning you. But through the storm, you hear Him. "Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
You look, and are ashamed. You've taken your eyes off Christ. You sink because you doubt. He reaches to grasp your hand, and, suddenly, you're standing again.
"[T]ake captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." -2 Corinthians 10:5
Don't let your worries roam free. Take them captive. You may not be able to turn your thoughts off, but you can turn them over. Laying them at the cross is a daily, sometimes hourly, decision. Unload your burdens and leave them there.
Over-thinking can be good sometimes. It prepares you for what may come. But don't let the chaos in your head distract you from Christ. Keep your eyes on him.
You can't help yourself, can you? There's a situation, a project, a person- and you've already envisioned a dozen different outcomes. Most of them are dark and dismal because, well, that's life. You want to be prepared for every possible outcome because surprises can be unnerving.
Others tell you you're overcomplicating things. Are they right? Absolutely. Can you turn it off? Not to save your life.
So, you spend hours upon hours contemplating life and worrying over possible outcomes. Truth be told, you spend more time worrying about tomorrow than you do enjoying today.
It's a (seemingly) never ending cycle. And it's exhausting.
It feels like you're in a storm. Yes, you've committed your life to Christ and gotten out of the boat. You're walking on the water.
But the wind is howling and the lightening is flashing. Thunder explodes and the waves are twenty feet high. You're looking around, trying to find something to grab onto- just in case.
Then, you start to sink. The chaos within your mind is drowning you. But through the storm, you hear Him. "Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
You look, and are ashamed. You've taken your eyes off Christ. You sink because you doubt. He reaches to grasp your hand, and, suddenly, you're standing again.
"[T]ake captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." -2 Corinthians 10:5
Don't let your worries roam free. Take them captive. You may not be able to turn your thoughts off, but you can turn them over. Laying them at the cross is a daily, sometimes hourly, decision. Unload your burdens and leave them there.
Over-thinking can be good sometimes. It prepares you for what may come. But don't let the chaos in your head distract you from Christ. Keep your eyes on him.
April 08, 2016
As You Go
If you have ever been a part of a church for any period of time, you probably know about the Great Commission. You've probably been encouraged to go on a short-term mission trip, give to those going, and/or pray for those going. Personally, God called me to missions when I was ten. Up until recently, however, I've been doing it all wrong.
Matthew 28:19 says, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." That "Go" actually translates into as you go.
Do you have any idea what that means to a people pleasing, conflict fearing introvert?
It means, I must continually be die to myself. As I ride the bus to Haley, I am to make disciples. As I sit in biology, I am to preach the Good News. As I buy groceries in Kroger, I am to further God's Kingdom.
The Lord started convicting me of my lack of local missions at the beginning of this semester. I was considering a mission trip to Europe, when God showed me sinful heart. How could I affectively go and preach the Gospel, if I was unwilling to stay and share with the person next to me?
I started working harder to reach those around me. I set up coffee dates and study sessions, but life happened and it would often fall apart. I felt very stretched. Very ineffective. I became world weary and my fire for the lost started to fade.
I felt guilty. Guilty for not loving the lost and hopeless.
I felt like a failure. My best efforts were not working.
Then, the Lord reminded me that it's not about me. It's not about my shame, my exhaustion, my failure, or my busy schedule.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29: "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."
The Lord continues to humble me, to show me my weaknesses; showing me that any good thing I do is not of myself. Any good thing in me is from Christ alone. He's the potter, and he calls me to be a willing vessel.
As I pursue him, he enables me to pursue others. As my love for him deepens, it overflows into the world around me. He takes the broken pieces and makes something beautiful.
One day, I may be called overseas. But whether I'm in Asia or America, I am to make disciples as I go.
Matthew 28:19 says, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." That "Go" actually translates into as you go. Do you have any idea what that means to a people pleasing, conflict fearing introvert?
It means, I must continually be die to myself. As I ride the bus to Haley, I am to make disciples. As I sit in biology, I am to preach the Good News. As I buy groceries in Kroger, I am to further God's Kingdom.
The Lord started convicting me of my lack of local missions at the beginning of this semester. I was considering a mission trip to Europe, when God showed me sinful heart. How could I affectively go and preach the Gospel, if I was unwilling to stay and share with the person next to me?
I started working harder to reach those around me. I set up coffee dates and study sessions, but life happened and it would often fall apart. I felt very stretched. Very ineffective. I became world weary and my fire for the lost started to fade.I felt guilty. Guilty for not loving the lost and hopeless.
I felt like a failure. My best efforts were not working.
Then, the Lord reminded me that it's not about me. It's not about my shame, my exhaustion, my failure, or my busy schedule.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29: "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God." The Lord continues to humble me, to show me my weaknesses; showing me that any good thing I do is not of myself. Any good thing in me is from Christ alone. He's the potter, and he calls me to be a willing vessel.
As I pursue him, he enables me to pursue others. As my love for him deepens, it overflows into the world around me. He takes the broken pieces and makes something beautiful.
One day, I may be called overseas. But whether I'm in Asia or America, I am to make disciples as I go.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)