keeping up

"Jesus is intense;casual discipleship won't keep up with Him."- Chris Tiegreen



I haven't been keeping up.

Not that anyone will ever be able to compete with Jesus or be on the same level, but how incredible would it be? To live a life that is keeping up with Jesus. Where He goes you go. When He moves you get to see it. When He speaks you hear every word. When He leads you follow. When He cries with compassion you are so close that you get wet from His tears. You aren't only hearing stories of others, but you are letting God write stories through you.

Jesus is intense, so a life following Him should be nothing less.

Being with God

So I'm reading this book, which I highly recommend-

Christlike: The Pursuit of Uncomplicated Obedience by Bill Hull

This book has conjured up many thoughts throughout my reading sessions and I want to share some of those thoughts.

Being with God

Revelation 3:20 (NLT)

 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends."

who are the people that you open up to the most? the people that you share your everything with, emotions, frustrations, shortcomings, joys, ideas, plans....

you share those things with your best friends. and what makes them your best friends? you don't feel judged. you don't feel as though they are trying to change you every time you are together. you don't feel like you have to impress them.

you don't feel uncomfortable.

yes, our God is the Judge, He is the Lord of lords, He is power and might, but He is also Mercy, Love, Forgiveness, and our Father.

I say time and time again that I desire to have intimate quiet time with Jesus. devotion that is unhindered by time or objectives. I don't want a check list. I don't want to do it because it is seen as a "must" within Christianity.

If we approach God as a checklist we will never feel comfortable. intimacy doesn't happen out of duty. we need to take a step back, clear our heads and see God for who He truly is. If we do that then we will be in a place of awe. A place of joy. A place that puts us within the defending walls of Jesus.

yes, Jesus has the power to change our hearts in order to change our lives, but that doesn't mean we can't be comfortable around Him. See He doesn't change out of duty. Jesus doesn't do it so that we will see Him as the boss ruler who has power over us. He changes us out of love. Our God is the architect of life. He has the plans. He knows what works best. He changes us for the better so that through us experiencing the most abundant life in Him, He will be glorified.

STOP.

we have to stop turning to God out of duty. Jesus promised that He would enter into our lives and that we would share a meal together, as friends.

How intimate is that!

here is the reality that i see:

if we can't feel comfortable in the arms of the Father, if we don't experience the most intimacy with Love Himself

then what do we find comfort in?

everything else is fleeting. people come and go, but our God is never fading or fleeting. all else fails in comparison.

so let's all live into the life of abundance that Jesus has already promised and given.

that life, the life of full breaths, complete love, joy that overcomes the enemy...

it comes through seeking and knowing the One who created and designed it all.

enjoy the Lord.

Simple

I have come to find that within the world of Christianity we far too often busy ourselves talking about the non-essentials. We get lost in the do’s and don’ts, carry on about what if’s, and argue religion.

I have been a fan of simplicity. Not because it’s easy and I am lazy.

 Simplicity brings clarity.

 Simplicity takes away the fluff.

Simplicity gets to the point.

I know that I am not the only one who has been absolutely blown away by a sentence, a statement, or a quote. And the amazement always comes when it is so simple. Simplicity doesn’t have to mean stupid.

I have this professor that often times says the simplest things that blow me away. The other day in class Dr. Ledbetter said,

“Death could not hold Jesus because death was the result of sin…Jesus was without sin!”

We try to fluff these things up and sound so smart in order to prove to others that Jesus is Savior. The reality is simple.

Death was the best that the enemy could work up and Jesus defeated it hands down.

He came.

He resisted temptation.

He was blameless and pure.

He defeated sin.

He rose from death because death could not hold Him!

He paid our price and made a way.

what we stand for

the authors of Perspectives:On the World Christian Movement define witness as such:

"A witness is what you are far more than what you do. God arranges for His servants to display what they declare. By public testimony in the face of hostility, ordinary people accomplish far more than merely affirming the truth of Christ. Witnesses establish the value of following Christ. Their persuasive power is not only because their words match their life-their words and their life match those of Christ Himself. It is as if Christ Himself stands to testify before the world." - Steven C. Hawthorne

talk about a standard for life! too often we say "this is such an opportunity for me to witness" rather than looking at every single day, every choice, every word,every  action, every conversation,every  attitude, and every mindset as a witness.

the reality is that whether we chose to or not we are a witness everyday. people will see something in us, but it may not be that of Christ. we don't have to go out on a mission everyday to seek out someone to "witness to". the pieces of our lives need to add up to Christ. a simple choice may seem small but if it lines up with Christ it is huge. it is different. it is the sum of our everything that needs to equal being a witness of Jesus not one trip or projectt every so often.

challenge

challenge attitude

challange words

challenge reactions

challenge conditional love

challenge grudges

challenge anger

challenge discouragement

challenge judgment

challenge lies

challenge injustice

just as Jesus challenged the world, we should challenge the world.

He took our place on the cross then left this earth.

We are here. We are to take His place.

our witness is to be "as if Christ Himself stnads to testify before the world."

dream like Jesus

right now i have so many thoughts. i want to talk about this or that and bring it all together. but that would simply turn into a book rather than a simple blog. i wanted to talk about creativity, relationships, being like Jesus, dreams, being radical, and so many other things. maybe i can bring these ideas together. let's try

creativity.

i often find myself saying that i am not a creative person. well not when it comes to important things in life at least. but wasn't i created in the image of God? God created me. He is the Creator. God is creative which means i am creative. i have the ability to be creative. saying i am not creative is separating myself from the person God created me to be. so i got to thinking and i realized that i am a dreamer. i dream every day. i look at the future and dream.

what is dreaming if not creating?

we don't know the details of our future so we dream.

we create options.

dreaming = creating

this leads me to think that for me to be Christlike. to be like Jesus...

dreaming is an essential part of discipleship.

i have to be able to look at this world and dream of the desires that overflow from Christ's heart.

in a recent conversation with my good friend B in Canada we brought up the idea of dreaming. while the context had nothing to do with being like Jesus i said something in the moment that both of us thought was great, not because it was my thought though. I think it was great because it lines up with Christ.

I said something along the lines of, "then we can't be anything different than what's in front of us.

If we don't step into dreams."

this is why i think it's crucial to being like Christ to dream.

dreaming = creating

Christ is creative, one with the Creator.

we are to be like Christ which means being creative.

dreaming is a form of being creative.

God gives us dreams. He allows us into His mind, heart, and will.

why would He give us such an opportunity if He didn't want us to do something with it?

once we are exposed to His heart we are responsible for sharing it.

why do you think salvation comes through a Person?

salvation enters you into a relationship with Jesus,

a relationship that reveals who He is to us.

He came and lived, asking His disciples to do as He did, and then He passed on the action to everyone who claims to follow Him.

we are to do as He did.

how can we know that if He does not reveal it?

dreams are a place where God can reveal His desires to us.

but more than just dreaming we must actually do something with those dreams.

the dreams must go from our minds to our mouths, feet, hands,and relationships.

so here is what i say.

DREAM!

but do not be afraid to step into them. i love dreaming and seeing what life could be like if i wholeheartedly, passionately, and uninterruptedly lived a life of full glory to God.

then.

i get distracted by the world around me. i am afraid to step into the dreams because they are so different than what is in front of me.

the difference is what shows me that i need to step into them.

Jesus was different. He is holy.

to be holy means to be set apart, to be different.

so dare to dream the dreams and look into the heart of God.

then we can bring a different reality to the world, a holiness.

_______________________________

i'll stop this entry here for now. like i said, i'm not writing a book, not yet at least.

more thoughts to come on living a radical life, a life after Jesus.

Perspective Glasses

Thank you Steven C. Hawthorne for your words:

hope. "God has called us to live our lives as a bold act of hope. To hope is not merely to wish for small improvements of personal circumstances. Hope expects all things, large or little, to be overwhelmed and filled with the immense glory of Christ. Thus, true hope pursues global glory and total triumph over evil. Lives of hope can face great evil with relentless courage, since there is no telling how soon God will break through with ultimate victory."

I think it's time we go to the Doctor and get some new glasses. Our outlook on life is far too easily tainted and blurred. So let's try on some new perspectives. How about hope? True hope that is.

Then, Now, Still To Come

Life right now has me in a place of reflecting on the past and dreaming about the future.

relfecting brings joy, triumph, thankfulness, and even tears.

dreaming brings me excitment and encouragement.

being in the middle brings me an unknown feeling.

I have to think to myself "How did I get where I am now and where am I heading?"

How am I different now than I was then and what am I doing to line up with the dreams I have for the future?

I'm thinking, dreaming, having conversations, learning, remembering, hoping, praying, longing, being confused, battling discouragement from myself, all the while trying to live for today...

When I look back a few years I am amazed that I somehow ended up where I am now.

Then: I was an insecure child just trying to get by. I had no real dreams. I had an emptiness inside me that left me questioning at the end of the day. Through the grace, mercy, love, and breath that God has given me I am where I am today.

Now: I am a student at a Bible college intrigued with learning the Word, how to teach it, what ministry means, desiring for all to know this Life I have found in Jesus. I have dreams that are bigger than myself. I have been given the gift of wisdom in order to share it. I have grown up a bit, grown up in Christ. Recieving His desires, His dreams, and His burden for people. I am different to put it simply.

Because of who I am now I look to the future. Looking into the future I have desires and I have dreams. But I am very easily discouraged with complacency. I dream in a radical world but I live in a complacent one. How am I ever going to make these dreams reality if I only keep them as dreams? Like I said, I easily get discouraged.

BUT

when I look at the transformation that God did in my life from my past to my present I have hope.

God opened doors. He taught me. He lead me. He used me. He embraced my hand and said "I will walk with you wherever you go. Even if you fall down I will pick you up. You will do things that make my heart sad, but I will never leave you or give up on you."

And now I have to stop for a moment in silence and listen so I can hear...

"Ashley, my dear child. What I said then I say now. Yes, you will fail and you will get discouraged. But My will is not done in your power, it is done in Mine. Your failures cannot stop my will from being done. Stop looking at your weaknesses and start looking to Me. If it is my dream then it will be done. Stop thinking it can't be done because I will do it no matter what. If you get too distracted then I will have to use someone else. Don't miss out on My glory. I want you to be a part of this."

I may not be able to see the future. I may not even know what my tomorrow has in store. But as long as I am looking to my Jesus and choosing Him in all my little choices, then I will once again be able to look back and see how God moved and transformed my situation.