Onward and Upwards

 Complacency has been on my mind lately... I see it everywhere I go and quite frankly, it bothers me.

The questions in my mind is this: As an Apostolic Christian, should I feel complacency in any aspect of my life? Should complacency exist in the personal, social, or spiritual areas of my life? Is it okay to feel contentment or self-satisfaction with the who,what, when, and where's of my life? 

Yes, the Word says in Hebrews 13:5 "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  And in Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:"

Yes, we should be thankfully content with the things divinely given or the state in which we've been divinely placed. Contentment is different from complacency.  Contentment centers around being happy and according to freedictionary.com, complacency is "a feeling of contentment or self-satisfaction, especially when coupled with an unawareness of danger, trouble, or controversy." 

We should be wary of feeling self-satisfied within our life. Self-satisfaction leads to laziness. Read Proverbs, the book is full of what happens to those who are lazy. Proverbs 1:32 "For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them."

If we allow it, complacency will destroy us and our walk with God . We need to take on the attitude of Paul in Philippians 3:12-14

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

If we are still living and breathing, then we have not achieved our divine purpose. We must keep pressing forward towards the "upward call of God."  We must not become complacent in what we possess or where we are. Our life motto must be like the cry in 'The Last Battle', the last of the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, "Onward and Upwards,..." 

I choose life...

The Word says we can speak Life or Death with our tongue.

The Word also states that our tongue can set a fire and consume the life around us. 

   

How many times do I speak negatively of circumstances, events and individuals when a postive word would have completely altered the atmostphere of the conversation?

Am I a Death Speaker?

Or a Life Bringer?

Do I bring depair or hope?

Do I tear down or build up?

Do I consume the joy?

Or do I promote joy?

I have power to control my personal perspective and that of those around me; the power rests in my speech.

Put out fires with your tongue rather than start them.

Change your speaking habits.

Choose to give life.

My Portion,...

     Yesterday, I came into work early and started my morning routine which includes taking time in the Word before doing anything else. I follow a "Bible in a Year" program and yesterday happen to fall on Psalms 119.
How many of you have taken time to be still and just empathically read those words? I know that I have speedily browsed that chapter many times but yesterday as I began to read verses began to jump out at me. They were things I needed to read, apply and believe. I needed to pray those things into my life. 

Example:

30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. 31 I hold fast to your statutes, LORD; do not let me be put to shame. 32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding. 33 Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. 35 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.

36 Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. 37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. 38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.

39 Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good. 40 How I long for your precepts! In your righteousness preserve my life.

41 May your unfailing love come to me, LORD, your salvation, according to your promise; 42 then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word. 43 Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.

 Whenever you feel that you don't have the words to pray, open the Psalms and begin to pray them. Ask God to "fulfill His promises" in your life. Pray that He "teach you and give you understanding,..."  And He will.

"You are my portion,..."



Splendid Twenties

   Yesterday, my good friend Amber and I were talking about our career goals and how we need to write about our experiences. (Who knows? Maybe this could be the start of a book!)  Thus Splendid Twenties was born, July 18, 2011.

   It's a blog about our professional experiences-the humorous and the not-so-humorous tales.  Craziness seems to follow us around. No lie! A day doesn't go by that something insanely peculiar doesn't happen to one of us. If you are in your 20's and need encouragement that you aren't alone in this rat race for success, you should check us out. Or maybe you want to read because you are curious about what sorts of adventures two female Twenty-Somethings could have in a corporate setting! This is our story of success and the humorous adventures along the way... Splendid Twenties.

May I never be useless,...

   John Knox, a missionary during the time of the Reformation, cried out to God saying, “Give me Scotland or let me die.” It was all or nothing with him. His passion consumed him. He knew his life was worth nothing unless it was being used to save souls.


Here in America during this 21st Century can we not do any less? We must develop the burning passion of John Knox for our community and world. When was the last time you desperately cried out to God to use you? Are you actively serving in your divine purpose? Or are you actively serving your personal desires therefore being useless to the kingdom? John Wesley said, "God grant that I may never live to be useless!"

God has a sacred use for us. It goes beyond any dream or thought we have for our lives. He has given us the tools and abilities now all He wants from us is a passion for the cause.

Are you willing? Are you ready? Are you consumed?

“…For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” – Romans 9:17

Actions that Persuade

  Many of us have heard the term, " Well, it's just the principle of the thing." 

But I disagree, ...Sometimes it's more than the principle.

Sometimes it's the actions that precede that words.

Sometimes it's the lifestyle that practices the principle.

It's not the principle of the thing, it is the practice.

Our actions will always speak/preach louder than carefully chosen oratory.

We can talk all day about our personal convictions and beliefs but it is our actions that persuade.

Scott Ginsberg says, " Practice comes before principle. People aren't listening to your mouth talk, they're listening to your life speak."

So my question for you is this:

" Does your mouth and lifestyle match up?"

Such Hope,...

   Lately, it seems that many of my family members and close friends have been struggling with a lack of hope. Just this last weekend, I sat down with two friends on two separate occasions and listened as they discussed their struggles with hope. Life and its negativity were slowly eating away at their emotional, spiritual, and physical health. I watched as they cried in frustration at the problems in their life. I listened as they listed the things coming against them and their families. They felt like hope had disappointed them; that it had left them standing with the proverbial bill.
In Romans chapter 5, it says ¹ Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have^[a] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Read verses 3-5 again.
The Amplified Version reads this way:

3)Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. 4) And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of [a]character (approved faith and [b]tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] [c]joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. 5) Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.

  We need to stop seeing our problems as horrible occurrences. Life problems and issues are opportunities to grow. Like everyone else, I have problems and situations that I would rather not experience. BUT each problem was learning, growing time in my life. If I hadn't gone through _____, I would have never learned _____. When in the middle of a trial we tend to be blind to the rewards to be gained from the trial. Yes, the trial is terrible and heart-crushing. It tears at our emotions. We struggle to stay upright. But like a tree during a storm, our roots will sink deeper. We will become stronger.


   We will build character which will produce a strong, "joyful and confident hope."
This type of reinforced hope will carry us through any trial or storm. This secure hope recognizes the briefness of the storm and will give us the endurance needed to get through it. This hope can't be disappointed. It knows and reassures us of the Greatness of our Creator. We can glory in the Bigger, Unseen Plan, knowing it is for our good.

Such hope never disappoints,...

Prepare the House

  In Genesis 24 we read of one of the Bible's famous love stories; it's the story of Isaac and Rebecca. For those of you who may not be familiar with this story, here are the cliffnotes.

Abraham's wife Sarah dies. After this Abraham realizes Isaac (his son) needs a wife and sends his servant to find Isaac a wife. (That level of trust amazes me! Abraham trusted his servant to find his son a wife. AND apparently, Isaac also had high trust in the servant's ability to chose a wife for him.) Servant packs up the camels and heads to Nahor, Mesopotamia. Once he gets to Nahor he prays a simple prayer asking God to give him success. And he asks for a sign, the woman who gives him a drink of water and also waters his camels, "let her be the one."
The Word says before he finished praying that Rebecca came to draw water. She offered him water and watered his camels. Worshiping God the servant asks if he may come to her house to stay. She says yes and that there was plenty of room in the house. She goes to get her father, Laban. Laban comes out to the servant and says these words, "Come in, O blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.”
A few short verses later Rebecca was riding away to land of Abraham with the trusted servant. Isaac seeing her from afar knew who she was and he came to meet her. He took her home. They married and

began their life together.

Amazing story! There are so many valuable points to pull from this story but the one that jumped out at me this morning was in verse 31. " And he said, “Come in, O blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels."

"For I have prepared the house,..."
 For those who read yesterday's post know that the idea of preparing is on my mind.
The definition of Prepare: transitive verb meaning  "to make ready beforehand for some purpose, use, or activity  or  to put in a proper state of mind."

Laban was ready beforehand. He didn't know that Abraham's trusted servant was outside his house choosing Isaac's wife. He didn't know that his daughter was about to presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. But because his house was prepared he linked his name & family the heritage of Christ.  Yes, I am aware that Laban doesn't exactly have the best resume in the Word but he was able to join his daughter to a powerful family legacy.

"For I have prepared the house,..."
Are we prepared for what is outside our house? Are you ready for what God has in store for you & your life? When the time comes are you going to be able to say, "I ready for I have prepared"?  OR will you miss out on an opportunity because you have to waste time getting ready for it?
Example: The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

Can you say, “Come in, O blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house,...?"


 

"Condition yourself,..."

   This weekend I was blessed to be able to speak with one of my real-life heroines, Vesta Lane Mangun. This woman has always been an example role model for me. I love everything about her. Her fierce loyalty, her pure elegance, her love for people, her passion for the things of God, her zeal for Truth, and her love for family.

As I previously said, this weekend I was able to sit down on two separate occasions and talk with her. The first opportunity was full of general conversation concerning my work, schooling, and family. But the next opportunity contained gold. She sat me down and took my hands and prayed a powerful prayer over my life. After the prayer, she looked at me and said these words, " Baby, I pray for you. You have a calling and right now you need to begin to condition yourself for it."

Those words have run over and over in my mind, "Condition yourself,..." 
I have no clue of the how's when's and where's of my future. I don't know when those God dreams will come about in my lifetime. I don't know what signs to look for. But I can prepare for it.

I can be ready when the divinely appointed door opens.
I can be ready when my time comes.
I can be ready when He speaks, " This is the way. Walk in it..."

I can begin conditioning my physical self. I will work on my physical health so that it will not hinder my purpose. I can begin conditioning my spiritual self. I will start habits that will postively affect my purpose. I will pray more, study the Word more, learn more about Him. So that I may be effective. I can learn and study more about my culture, my passions, my world. By doing so I will "show myself approved."

If I prepare now I will be ready when He is ready.
It starts today.
Condition yourself,...