everything changes but does it stay the same?

I know I've said it before, but I'm in a constant state of trying to improve my life:

--Making my house more like a home

--Attempting to dress myself better and understand what does and doesn't look good on me

--Taking things apart (jewelry, clothes, etc) and putting them back together a better way

--Secretly gearing myself up to loose a little bit of weight/get in better shape... wait, did I just say that out loud? (Shhh, I'm not very good at that one)

--Gleaning ideas off of media and integrating them into my style

--Reading books that teach me more about the world and me...

Now, all of these things can be good.
But they can also be bad.
They can be a distraction.
The can be mis-focused.
They can be totally focused on me.
And often times, they have been.

All my abilities to see something and know how to make it better are completely useless if I'm doing it just for me.
Because these things are completely finite.
They will not last.
Period.
AND if I'm just doing them for myself and not sharing it and not giving God the credit for that gift He's given me... I'm just a selfish liar.

So, my big question for myself lately:

How do I live my life, doing the things I'm good at, and give the glory to God?

I'm not sharing this to make myself look cool or even to bring myself down for not having the right motives in the past.
My freedom is found in Jesus.
And He's glorified when I do these things and share them with others while acknowledging that He's the giver of my gifts.

I've been finding more freedom in this area of my life than I've ever had -
And I will continue to seek that freedom!

colossians 3:1-17

"Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, set you hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set you mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and you life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your sinful nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

guest post

Go check out my guest post on my lovely friend Angel's blog about Moxie Memorizers.

psalm 139:13-16

"For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be."

access

Our church community is in the habit of asking questions.

This is a normal part of life for us.

I was just thinking about the fact that not everyone does this.
It's not really that normal.

But I love it.
It's a huge part of my ability to intake and process what God is teaching me.
One of those said questions we've been asked recently is:

Who has been given permission in your life to speak of the truth of God?
Some simliar questions I've thought of for myself while processing that one are:
Are you in the practice of asking questions? Are you seeking answers?

Are you willing to let people speak truth into your life even if it strikes a nerve of sensitivity?

Do you go out of your way to ask hard questions to your friends and allow them to ask them to you?

Does your posture and availability allow you to be accessed?

hebrews 11:6

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

ownership

I don't know how to gently ease into this subject...
So I'll just come right out and say it:

Boy, have I been in a battle with my flesh lately. Big time.

It's funny (well, maybe more frustrating than funny) to me that coming out of a time of intense learning and anticipation of applying that learning, I just wanted to give up.

Ugh! I kept wondering, what is my problem??

I've been reminded of the vital importance of discipline... of pursuing Jesus daily... been challenged by the Holy Spirit to give up my selfish desires and to give of myself... to seek out God's purposes for my life...

But I just can't seem to get it together!

Well, just like everyone else out there, I'm human.
And I've been letting my own human desire get in the way of God's more than a little lately.

I can list lots of reason for this but I want to address the power of community and scripture right now.

I've not been in community enough lately.
It's not always been intentionally avoided, I just haven't been present.
And I truly felt it.
I need community.
Not because I can't try to do it on my own... because I can...
...But not very well.

I truly believe that God intends us to live in community because it helps us reach such potential that we simply cannot on our own.

The encouragement, accountability, reality checks, honesty, shared ambitions, swift-kicks-in-the-behind... and just the idea that I know they are there to point me to Christ and help hold me up... I cannot express how vital it has become to my life.

It also just so happens... I'm reading "Community" by Brad House right now.
As Andrew and I were talking about group last night (we meet on thursdays), the subject of ownership was brought up.
This book addresses the idea that the ownership of our faith inspires us to grow in it and share it.
I think I've really been lacking ownership of myself and what I believe in.

There's a gazillion reasons I could list as to why, but lets just say I'm in need of some owning up to myself... the good, the bad, the ugly and everything in between.

I've also been slacking at keeping up with my scripture memorization and I can really tell the difference it's made in my days.
There is power in God's Word.
I've truly seen a difference in my life since I've been memorizing it, and when I'm not, it is missed.
I'll just leave it at that and one of my verses for the month:

"My soul finds rest in God alone; 

my salvation comes from him. 

He alone is my rock and my salvation; 

He is my fortress, 

I will not be shaken."

-Psalm 62:1-2