It's Not Just a Game

One of my brother's teenage friends just came in my room and asked me if a specific pick up line would work on a girl.

"A specific girl, or just any girl," I asked.

"Oh, any girl..." he said with a determination in his voice.

Nice.  I thought to myself.

First I told him the pick up line was completely cheesy and it would never work on me.  Then I thought about it and spoke the truth.

"But...girls are stupid and any girl you send that to will be eating out of your hand in less than 2 seconds."

He grinned and said he knew that would happen and that was the object of his plan anyways.

If you know me, you've heard this rant before.  Regardless, I feel like this is something everyone needs to hear, (mostly because I am an egocentric person probably, but oh well.)


GIRLS:  First of all you are stupid.  Second, it's not your fault you're stupid. Third, you are worth more.  Allow me to explain:
       Point one: I say you are stupid for very true reasons.  I've seen this happen in high school to beautiful popular girls, also in college from the sorority girls right down to the computer nerds, and now I've seen it happen to women in their 40's at night clubs.  The truth is your easy.  You are way way way to easy.  I'm not asking you to put on a front and "play hard to get,"  because that would still be "playing."  I want you to actually be hard to get because you deserve more, and better.  The lower we set the standards for men, the lower the effort they exert.  Example:  All a man has to do to win your affection is show you attention, tell you that you are pretty and ask for your number.  I know you are tempted to argue, but watch your heart, emotions, and actions the next time a guy walks up to you and 1. shows you attention, 2. pays you a compliment, and 3. makes a move forward.  Guarantee you the emotions will fly.  Why?  Because that's the heart of a woman and men (who aren't as stupid as you think) have figured that out and now use that to their advantage.  (See A Woman's Heart.)  This makes you "stupid" to put it bluntly, because you ask for a man to pursue you forever, you ask for a lifelong romance, a real strong man to lead you, a smart man, a steady man, etc.  Yet you fall for the player of players who knows the three tricks that disguise him as something he's not, yet still make your heart fall for him falsely.  (Study Proverbs 4:23.)

       Points two and three:  Why is it not your fault that you are stupid?  Because somewhere down the line, you never had it engraved in your head that you are valuable and worth fighting for.  Does your heart know that?  Yes. Which is why you fall for the compliment, the attention, and the pursuit (value.)  On the other hand, does your brain understand your value? No.  Or else you would see right through this player player and understand that you deserve a lot more than a compliment and an introduction to lure you into a man's presence.  Its up to you to take the journey of figuring out where you first heard this lie, (See What is Identity, and read: Lies Young Women Believe, Captivating, and Strong Women Soft Hearts.)  After you locate the lie, extinguish it with the Word of God.  When you study the Word and God's character, you understand how he designed you and what worth you have to him.  Daily entering into his presence and reminding yourself that can help you overcome the trap Satan throws at you through men.  God and only God can affirm your value.  I have linked a few blog posts to help you get started, but this is really a commitment you must make for yourself personally with the Lord.  (Read: Made in His Image, You're Beautiful, and God's Love For You.)

I close my lecture to the girls by saying this:  Don't give a guy your heart because he took three seconds out of his day to look at you.  The fact is, you aren't the first girl he's laid eyes on, and you won't be the last.  I care about your heart and God does far more than we can even imagine.  It's the most intimate part of you, and it doesn't deserve to be spread around like an epidemic to little boys who don't know the care and love it truly deserves.  "Above all else, guard your heart...for from it everything flows."  That's a pretty big command, but I see it as the most essential in preserving your womanhood.

(To be continued..)

Transform Your Mind, Christian

Romans 12:2

"Be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."

One of my friends posted this as her status a few days ago:

"My identity is inescapable. My destiny is an enormous desire of my heart. I long for what God has for me. I'll long for it more and more, as the time approaches. At just the right time, God will have all the pieces in place. He will send my leader to walk me into what He has called me to."

CHRISTIANS:

We have got to stop living like the world!

I'm not talking about drinking, cussing, sex, smoking or drugs.  Yes, those are bad and yes we are told not to do them.  But quit judging people for these things and look at your heart compared to God's!

For one big huge thing: STOP WORSHIPING MONEY!!

You do not have to base your life around the comfort of a fat income.  The Bible teaches all over to trust God FIRST, then he will provide absolutely everything you need..and THEN some!  Don't you know those O.T. stories by heart yet?  How many times did people get called into crazy scary things?  How many times did God come through for them?

God never changes...so that means that stuff still applies to us and still happens today!

Also, STOP DATING!
That's not loving your neighbor, that's not thinking of other people's feelings.  That's not trusting God.  It's not being patient.  It's not focusing on the Lord, his will, or his Word.

You agree, yet how many of you can raise your hand and say you are in college right now to get a fancy job and find a mate?

How many of you can raise your hand and say you already did that?

Where was God let in on any of these plans?

Oh good, you prayed at the ceremony.  That's all the power he probably wants anyways...much less deserves. -_-

I only rant because I too have been guilty of these things. The truth is, God has called us to a much higher standard, and if we want His best for our life, we've got to let go and start trusting him.

Now.

You will never reach your destiny if you keep it in your hands.

Check out these lyrics from Kasey Musgrave's song, Merry Go Round:

Tiny little boxes in a row,
Ain't want you want it's what you know,
Just happy in the shoes you're wearin'.

Same checks we're always cashin',
To buy a little more distraction.

We often get so sucked into tradition and culture and everything else that we forget to ask God what he really wants for us.  We assume, thus missing out on some of life's greatest blessings.  

Lessons from Alan Watts

God puts passions into our hearts for a reason.

Satan has used the "love of money" to distract us from these passions, thus leading us into a life of slavery.  Slavery to money, slavery to our jobs, slavery to sin.

By doing this he wins.

He keeps us away from our families, away from our hearts, away from God's original design.

He distracts us from our purpose by danging security and money in front of our face [despite the fact that both are false and fleeting.]

But what matters in eternity.

God, God's men and the God's word last forever.

Nothing else.

How are you spending your life?

Are you satisfied?

Do you worship God through your occupation...

or do you worship money through it?

Perhaps God is calling your heart to do something else.

Something scary.

Something that doesn't promise money.

Yet..it's what you're passionate about.

It's what you were born to do.

It's your destiny.

Will you do it?

Will you trust him?

Or are you too scared?

Would you rather just sit back and take the "safe" road.

...take life into your own hands.

Never mind his plans...yours are better.

More convenient.

Less humiliating.

More....normal.

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight."

I'm not challenging you to be stupid.  I'm not challenging you to worship Satan.  I'm challenging to really, really look deep inside your soul and ask God what he created you to do.  Once you figure that out, ask yourself if you're doing it, and if not, why?
Perhaps you too have become a slave to society.

What would you do if no one was looking?

What would you do if your full trust was in God instead of money?

Paint, read, write, parent, dance, farm...?

Born To Fly

"But how do you wait for heaven,
and who has that much time?

And how do you keep your feet on the ground
when you know, you were born to fly."

I'm so excited and proud right now. One of my sheep has found her heart story.  Her God song.  Her calling.  Her place.  Her American Honey.

A few months back I had lots of posts about my heart, God, and jumping where he wanted me.  Certain close friends also got a 78 page book about this.  My point in all these ramblings was that God showed me what it's all about.  It's not about the money, society's view, or the popular choice.  It's not even about the easy choice.  It's about finding your God given desires and destiny and living straight from your heart by doing those things...no matter what other people think or say!

Gosh this has been such a big thing this year.  I have relocated and changed my whole outlook on life because this Spring I learned what faith was.  I learned how amazing of an adventure God has planned for each and every one of our lives.

We all have an adventurous story and a boring story. Every one of us stand before a road of two paths...especially people my age--college and life decision making time!  We stand at the break in the woods.  We can turn one direction and dive head first into the dark and mysterious unknown, letting nothing but our faith in God lead us.  Every minute of every day is a surprise and there are absolutely no plans and no promises.  Trust in God with everything and he will provide above and beyond for you, leaving you breathless and excited.  

BUT, we also have the choice to turn in the opposite direction.  This is the common, easy, simple direction.  Most people have labeled it the "Duh" choice.  Why?  Because everyone else does it.  Our parents did it, and so did their parents, and so did their parents.  This choice leads us into a safe, convenient, comfortable life.  The biggest risk you'll ever take on this path is deciding to wear plaid underpants to bed instead of white ones.  You'll have all your appointments, housing preferences, finances, etc planned out for the next 1-5 years easily.  The big surprise will be a medical bill from a small accident that involved hanging pictures around the house.  Yes this choice is safe and easy, but deep down you'll always be miserable, hoping for something more.

Of course, I guess this is in essence, the Christian life.  Trust God and let go, or hang on for dear life and keep everything in your "control."  

I posted "Born to Fly" because it is my friend's heart song.  Tonight she kept saying this phrase, "I just don't know what it is about this song...or what it's supposed to mean..."

Sister, I'll tell ya exactly what it means.  It means God has put you at the end of a ledge and is giving you a great big option of choosing his way or their way. This song pulls on the strings of your heart because it says just that.  How do you keep your feet on the ground when you know you were born to fly?

How do you choose the everyday mundane lifestyle when you know God has something way better out there for you?

You don't.

You follow your heart and enter the promised land.  If God tells you to go, you go.  If he tells you to stay you stay.  

When the Lord speaks to you, you'll know it.  His voice is unmistakable.  At the same time, right after you hear his voice you should beware of your stupid thinking.  Over analyzing and thinking through God's command will leave you doubting, worried, and troubled over making this huge leap of faith.

Psalm 37:4
"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."

Matthew 6:33

"Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all this will be added to you as well."

Matthew 22:37
"Love the Lord  your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment..."