Longing for More

My pastor preached a powerful message Sunday about our foundation being in Jesus Christ and us being eternal minded.  Isn't that what we are learning right now?  To put our focus on Christ and the things that last?

During my sons' teenage years, I allowed them too much "world time", that's what I'm going to call it, meaning more time was spent on the seen than the unseen - extracurricular activities, whether sports, music performances, etc...these became more important than they should.  Here's where that entitlement issue comes in, we try and have it all, the kids involved in everything so we can keep up with what everyone else is doing (when they really need Jesus more than ever), the nice car, the good job, the perfectly decorated home and we squeeze God in so we feel better or okay with ourselves, with our lives and since most Christians are living the same way..we accept it.  It's "normal"...

And then, every once in a while the Holy Spirit pricks our hearts with conviction and we long for more.  We long to let go of the all the things keeping us from more, more Jesus saturating our lives, more seeing lives changed with the Gospel, more watching our family, friends, and others sell out to Christ...

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ." Philippians 3:8

What do you need to let go of in order to pursue things that last?

Anything Study ~ Week Two

Abandoning Approval and Entitlement

These are tough for me...especially abandoning approval.  I think this is why leaving my job is so difficult for me, I want people's approval and I knew this resignation was going to be hard for people to accept.  As I read chapter 4, I cried...it would be so much easier for things to stay the same, for things to stay "normal".  But I no longer want normal.

"Set your minds on things above, not on things that are on earth." Colossians 3:2

What if heaven and God and forever became our normal? Wouldn't that change everything?

https://youtu.be/Qs4WmkvYeVs

This week:

Read chapters 4 & 5
Study Matthew 19:16-30 and complete the questions in the back of your book
Complete Project One

Anything ~ Week One Wrap Up

Anything Photo from Angelia ~ Post or send me yours!

Wow! Week One is wrapping up and I have already been challenged, encouraged, and overwhelmed with what God is doing!

Share what you are learning and how you are fighting the things that keep you from surrender. Comment below or on our facebook group.

Here's a bonus! Every week we get a recipe - no, these are not original to me ;)

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

~ Ingredients ~
3/4 Cup Old Fashioned Oats
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 Cup Sweetener that measures like sugar
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
3/4 Cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
1/4 Cup unsweetened almond milk (or low-fat milk)
2 large egg whites
1/2 Cup creamy peanut butter

~ Directions ~
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8 x 8 in. baking pan with cooking spray. Place the oats, cocoa powder, sweetener, baking powder and salt in a blender. Blend until the mixture is smooth and the oats are ground up. In a medium bowl combine the yogurt, almond milk, and egg whites. Add the oat mixture and stir until well combined. Pour into the prepared baking pan.

Microwave the peanut butter for 30 seconds. Drizzle the melted peanut butter over the brownie batter. Using a knife, gently swirl the batters together to make a marbled effect. (Be careful not to overmix.) Bake for 22 to 25 minutes or until the brownies begin to pull away from the sides of the pan. Let cool completely and cut into 9 squares.

A Call to Obedience

I quit my job....a job that I've had for almost 6 years, a job that provided a substantial amount of my family's income, a job that I have loved and sometimes complained about but mostly loved.  I am feeling a wide range of emotions, I feel like I need to grieve over leaving yet I'm excited for what the future holds.  I know this is the right decision, God placed this on my heart long ago, but the follow thru has been and is still surreal to me.  I've never been more thankful for my faithful and trustworthy God.  He has appointed this time - His timing is perfect and I know this is the next step of obedience for me, the next step in my "anything" journey.

I am still in awe that this Bible study and big act of obedience have coincided like they have, I honestly didn't plan it that way.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

If I get too caught up in thinking in worldly terms or just fleshly selfish terms, fear and doubt start to creep in and the tears threaten to come.  In fact they haven't just threatened, I have sobbed over what I have lost.  But who am I to say what's best for me, God knows far better than I, I just need to be obedient, even when it's hard.  It's in those moments that Jesus surrounds me with His peace and reminds me that this world is not my home, that these "things" don't matter in the grand scheme of things.  I am sure thankful that I serve a holy, righteous, transcendent yet near and loving God.  I can put my hope and trust in Him.  I marvel at that, at who God is, how He cares about me, a rotten, self-centered sinner.  I love that word - Marvel.  Jesus used it seeing the centurion's faith, the Pharisees, His disciples and others used it seeing the wonder and majesty of Jesus.  Marvel at the awesomeness of Jesus Christ, He has great and unthinkable plans for you.  Step out in faith, in obedience to His calling on your life, He is worthy of our trust, our obedience.

Freedom through Surrender

This week we are looking at what we are holding on to...freedom comes when we surrender those things to Christ's care and control.  What are you fighting?  What are you trying to hold on to?

I have been fighting safety, comfort, and change...there are big things on the horizon that I know God is calling me to and the next step is giving up safety, comfort which is going to lead to big changes!

Here is my Project One prayer and response:

Lord Jesus,
Forgive me when I try to hold onto the comforts and safety of worldly things.  Help me to see that Your plans are the best plans and that if I let go, You will bring about Your purpose in me, for me, and through me.  Forgive me when I doubt who You are, forgive me when I don't believe or don't act like I believe You are in control.  Thank You for Your forgiveness, for Your truth and for the freedom only You can give and will give when we surrender everything over to You.  In Your name, Amen.

God's response: Depend upon me, Christy, you know I have the perfect plan for your life and that I want to do wondrous things through you for My glory.  I will make you holy and blameless, I have sealed you with the Holy Spirit and have given you an inheritance in My kingdom.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Ephesians 1:7-10

God wants to give us freedom, freedom through surrendering everything to Him.  He has the best and perfect plan for our lives.  Trust Him.

Conversation Cards - Pick one (or more if you feel inclined) and share.

In what ways are you pretending?

What is truth that you know about God, but you don't live like it's true?

Do you find yourself judging others' behavior at times? Why?

How have you experienced taking a Godly risk draw you closer to Jesus?

In what ways have you lived as if God were plastic?

What are you fighting that no one else can see?