Only one you

"...think about the things you have gone through so far in your life – especially the difficult or challenging things where God has met you with his faith. That information is not just for you, it’s for you to empathize with and encourage others who have encountered similar struggles.

God isn’t messing around here. There are no accidents with our lives. Whatever we have received and experienced has shaped who we are, and because of that, we are qualified. There is truly no one else like you … for a reason.

-pdl devotional (excerpt), sept 27

...so maybe i haven't blogged anything directly out of my life, but seeing as these devotionals can be close to home at times, take them as peek into mine.

Flunking Witnessing

Witnessing is being so in love with God that you eventually end up talking about him. Witnessing is being so overwhelmed by the undeserved nature of your salvation that you can’t contain your joy. Witnessing isn’t coercing someone; it’s quite the opposite. It’s having someone coerce the Gospel out of you, because they can’t stand not knowing what’s going on with you anymore.

- pdl devotional (excerpt), sept. 22

What to Renounce (excerpt)

". . . not walking in craftiness. . ." ( 2 Corinthians 4:2 ). This means not resorting to something simply to make your own point. This is a terrible trap. You know that God will allow you to work in only one way— the way of truth. Then be careful never to catch people through the other way— the way of deceit. If you act deceitfully, God’s blight and ruin will be upon you. What may be craftiness for you, may not be for others— God has called you to a higher standard. Never dull your sense of being your utmost for His highest— your best for His glory. For you, doing certain things would mean craftiness coming into your life for a purpose other than what is the highest and best, and it would dull the motivation that God has given you. Many people have turned back because they are afraid to look at things from God’s perspective. The greatest spiritual crisis comes when a person has to move a little farther on in his faith than the beliefs he has already accepted.

-utmost, sept 15 (excerpt)

feelings... nothing more than feelings.

i've learned that -- if decisions are made according to God's will, no matter how difficult -- the feeling of God's peace is only an after-effect of the sacrifice. a bonus, if you will. kinda like getting paid for volunteer work: I don't expect compensation (in money or otherwise), and most certainly I'm not doing the work for the purpose of being compensated (hence 'volunteer')... but it's really an awesome surprise if the One I work for *actually gives me something. This in itself is indeed worthy of thanks, in the form giving more of ourselves through both faith and action. it's a great cycle.

the feeling of God's peace is just that -- a feeling. feelings change. God makes it that way so we don't depend on the good ones He provides (although we can all admit -- it's a nice-to-have). if we were created by Him to love Him, and if love involves sacrifice, then.... we're to undergo the sacrifice of humility simply because we're made for it and for no other reasons.

and He's worthy and all-deserving of that sacrifice, no?

............or maybe i've been reading into Utmost and PDL all too much.

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ps: throwback. catching up on Utmost readings during my lunch just now reminded me of previous blogs. just sharing.

The Far-Reaching Rivers of Life

The Far-Reaching Rivers of Life
He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water —John 7:38

A river reaches places which its source never knows. And Jesus said that, if we have received His fullness, "rivers of living water" will flow out of us, reaching in blessing even "to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8 ) regardless of how small the visible effects of our lives may appear to be. We have nothing to do with the outflow— "This is the work of God, that you believe. . ." ( John 6:29 ). God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others.

A river is victoriously persistent, overcoming all barriers. For a while it goes steadily on its course, but then comes to an obstacle. And for a while it is blocked, yet it soon makes a pathway around the obstacle. Or a river will drop out of sight for miles, only later to emerge again even broader and greater than ever. Do you see God using the lives of others, but an obstacle has come into your life and you do not seem to be of any use to God? Then keep paying attention to the Source, and God will either take you around the obstacle or remove it. The river of the Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles. Never focus your eyes on the obstacle or the difficulty. The obstacle will be a matter of total indifference to the river that will flow steadily through you if you will simply remember to stay focused on the Source. Never allow anything to come between you and Jesus Christ — not emotion nor experience — nothing must keep you from the one great sovereign Source.

Think of the healing and far-reaching rivers developing and nourishing themselves in our souls! God has been opening up wonderful truths to our minds, and every point He has opened up is another indication of the wider power of the river that He will flow through us. If you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has developed and nourished in you mighty, rushing rivers of blessing for others. - utmost, september 6

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it just sounded so familiar.

jesus, i love you and i trust in you.

forget self-confidence. foster God-confidence.

*edited // pay attention.

"Whenever I claim a love for something, the Lord sends something my way that takes away the joy I have for it. I believe He does this to purify my love for it. I learn that true love is proven by how much you're willing to suffer. That true love can't be without suffering or sacrifice, whether the feelings of joy or whatever are there or not. I guess that's why it's said that love isn't a feeling (which is so temporary and fleeting) but a committment. When you're committed to something, it's a matter of trying to stand firm and resolved through thick and thin. As for my service in CFC Youth for Christ, it's learning that my joy or nourishment isn't totally from my service position and what I'm doing, but in the fact that I've been greatly blessed by His Mercy with the opportunity to serve Him and that's it, regardless if it's something I like/want to do or not. ... and for other things that I just don't wanna expand on 'cause it's late and I have to drive ppl home, whatever calls for greater faith, whatever gives God the greatest Glory, whatever gives you the greatest grace, and whatever gives you peace after taking the leap of faith, that is what I've been told is OF GOD in discernment. Special graces such as signs come after the decision has been made as affirmations. God isn't an 8 ball."

-cat quinto (emphasis mine)

let's storm the heavens with prayers.
with everything that we are, and everything that we've got.
and stick things through to the end.

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brian, I'm warning you -- pay attention to Me.

-- Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (proverbs 29:18)

-- .......http://www.rbc.org/utmost/index.php?month=09&day=03&year=06

you will find My vision when you look for it. but you will need to lose your own.

you really aren't worthy this blessing... pour the blessing out to Me, with everything that you can! and when your human-ness is soon exhausted, let My Spirit pour it the rest of it out to me.

Am I not worthy, or deserving of your devotion to Me? Will you keep trying to hoard the blessing for yourself?

though you do not deserve it... I will make you worthy. lay down your life to Me. Pay attention.

John Legend - Ordinary People

girl, i'm in love with you // this ain't the honeymoon // past the infatuation phase
right in the thick of love // at times we get sick of love // it seems like we argue everyday

i know i misbehaved // and you made your mistakes // and we both still got room left to grow
and though love sometimes hurts // i still put you first // and we'll make this thing work
but I think we should take it slow

we're just ordinary people // we don't know which way to go
'cause we're ordinary people // maybe we should take it slow
this time we'll take it slow

this ain't a movie, no // no fairy tale conclusion ya'll // it gets more confusing everyday
sometimes it's heaven sent // then we head back to hell again // we kiss and we make up on the way

i hang up -- you call // we rise and we fall // and we feel like just walking away
as our love advances // we take second chances // though it's not a fantasy
i still want you to stay

we're just ordinary people // we don't know which way to go
'cause we're ordinary people // maybe we should take it slow
this time we'll take it slow // take it slow

maybe we'll live and learn // maybe we'll crash and burn
maybe you'll stay // maybe you'll leave // maybe you'll return
maybe another fight // maybe we won't survive // but maybe we'll grow
we never know baby you and I

we're just ordinary people // we don't know which way to go
'cause we're ordinary people // maybe we should take it slow
we're just ordinary people // we don't know which way to go
'cause we're ordinary people // maybe we should take it slow

this time we'll take it slow.

-john legend, ordinary people