Everything You Need

I love you Lord,

Even if you're all I ever have.

The sweetest moment of my life was the first time I looked at this phrase and meant it with all my heart.  I had reached a total dependence on the God of my salvation.  How beautiful it is when we realize that this is all our hearts need.  Nothing else will do, nothing else will satisfy or last because Jesus and Jesus only satisfies our every hunger.  

In John 6:35 Jesus explains it this way:

"I am the bread of life.

He who comes to me will never go hungry,

and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."

How wonderful it is to know that God created Jesus to fulfill our every hunger and desire.  He is the ultimate satisfaction despite what Satan tells you.  Many a young college student is tricked into believing that marriage is the ultimate fulfillment in life.  High School students fall for the lie that sex is what satisfies, and married couples sometimes hear Satan tell them they are missing out on a different life. 

Whatever your walk in life is, you can be sure of one thing.  Jesus Christ is all you will ever need to find joy, peace, and contentment for a lifetime and then some.  So turn to him for every weakness, every desire, every pain, hurt, and fear.  He promises he will be right there (John 6:37) and he will never turn you away.  

The more we depend on God the more fulfilled we will be.  This is the opposite of human nature, because human nature is to control.  But the Bible tells us the more we lay down at the feet of Jesus, the more he picks up and carries for us.  (1 Peter 5:7, Luke 9:23, Matthew 10:39, John 12:25)

The great apostle Paul put it this way:

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing

greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have

lost all things."

                                                        Philippians 3:7-8

So what can you give to God today?  What have you been holding on to so tightly that the satisfaction of Jesus can't get past?  Why are you afraid of laying it down, has Jesus' promises not been made clear to you?  What are you going to do today as a first step to laying down that burden in order to pick up Christ?

Homesick, Contentment, and Fulfillment

Music: Cannons by Phil Wickham

“The moon and the stars declare who you are..”

The past few weeks leading up to Spring Break my heart was extremely heavy. It longed for the country and nature and home. I was tired of all the concrete and lights and sidewalks, I wanted to be somewhere free and unrestricted. I wanted to see my mom and dad and little brother. I picture myself in the

front yard of my house just sitting there looking at the stars in amazement like I have so many times before. I remembered

laying on the trampoline with my Dad and talking about how big the universe is and how small Earth is. I wanted to see all my best friends, my family, my cat. The problem was I couldn’t go home. I had something school or activity-related every single weekend until a month after Spring Break.

One day my mom called me and she was even angry at me for not coming home in so long. I think she was just missing me like I was them, but either way it still made me even more homesick and lonely. I developed bitterness towards the city and where I was at. I began telling people how much I hated the city and how I couldn’t wait to graduate and leave this place. My heart just hurt for the place I called home.

Then came Spring Break. I went on a retreat to Colorado. Fresh air, springs, mountains, hiking trails, relaxed people, God, God, and God. What a refreshing time for my soul. God taught me so much my soul was overwhelmed with his goodness. Throughout everything he gave me a spirit of contentment and fulfillment. When I came back to Norman I felt so refreshed and full. I was happy to see this city. I felt like I had a big family here with all my friends from the BSU. I prayed for the city as soon as we pulled up, my heart had finally been moved so I could love this place too. I was completely fine with being there because i knew God had a purpose and a reason for placing me here at this time.

Next comes the best part—because we got home very late and I got zero work done over the break, I had previously planned on sleeping in Saturday morning, and then getting everything done around the apartment throughout the rest of the weekend. Mom and asked me one last time to come home, both of us knowing it probably wouldn’t happen. But before bed I prayed if it was God’s will he would help me get everything done earlier and give me time to go home.

The next morning I woke up after 10 wonderful hours of sleep, I had an extended quiet time, did my laundry and did as much of everything else as I could. By 2 o’clock I had checked off everything on my list, my roommates were still not home, and I was out of things to do. I took this as my sign. J So I through a couple things in a bag and hopped in my car for a surprise visit home!

On the way there I prayed adamantly that God would give me good strong QUALITY time with every person I encountered. I wanted to show everyone how much I loved and missed them, I wanted to show them that God cared for them as much as I did, and I wanted to show them how joyful I was to be there. I prayed that my focus would be on them, the people, and not just getting my errands and chores done.

Not surprisingly, God gave me what I asked for. He gave me lots and lots of wonderful sweet quality time with my parents, friends, and brother. Everyone I really cared about I got to talk to one-on-one and show them God’s love. It was the perfect end to a refreshing Spring Break. Just living and being with the ones I cherish the most. My spirit was overflowed with joy and happiness. My soul got to exhale even more that last 24 hours of my break.

I say this not to show you how blessed I am, or how great my Spring Break is, I show you this because it gives us insight to God’s heart. Remember the first of the story when I was longing for home and nature, I was unhappy where I was, I wasn’t letting God fill me, and my attitude began to show that? Sometimes we get that way about having a boyfriend or husband. We are unhappy, anxious, and impatient. The devil snatches us up by stealing our contentment. When we are not 100% relying on God it is easy to long for things we don’t have and belly-ache about the present setting. Again, this is a trick of the devil! God has a purpose for every time of our life and we are to fully take and grasp every second of it.

Ecclesiastes 5:7 says “Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.” Complaining about being single and constantly day dreaming about having a boyfriend or husband is meaningless. God says to focus on him. Keep HIM at the center of your thoughts and stop focusing on what isn’t yours. Matthew 22:37-38 “Jesus replied, love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and the greatest commandment.”

When I got back from Colorado and my heart was fully relying on God, I was completely content with not going home. I was happy wherever God placed me, even in the city. Only when I found complete contentment in the Lord Jesus Christ was I able to go home. God isn’t going to give you the man of your dreams until you are completely content with being single and living for God. This is something I feel strongly about. He wants us to learn to be completely dependent and completely satisfied with him alone before he gives us what our heart truly desires. In Philippians 4:12 Paul says he learned the secret of being content in every situation. The secret is contentment! Not false contentment, but true 100% satisfaction with God alone.

The white board above my desk in my room at my apartment says, “I love you God. Even if you’re all I ever have.” This is a lifelong commitment, but it has taught me so much. If I can’t honestly read those words and mean them, I know I’m not living completely for God.

So trust God with your heart and he will give you what you need.

More on Searching

I just realized that my past few posts have been about searching (Sooner Secrets, Jamie's Post entitled "Stop Searching," and the post I am about to make.)

You should know that I did not plan this out, and I don't believe it is coincidence that it keeps popping up. I think God has laid this subject on my heart for a reason. So listen up, this could be God's way of trying to tell you something. :)

Last night my friends and I went out dancing! I LOVE to dance, so I always have fun. :) Although, it is important

that you know me nor my friends drink, smoke, aim to go

home with a guy, or even let guys dance with us. We go to have fun and to dance with each other (but not ON each other.) We usually cause an uproar for being sober, because most people can't understand the concept of having fun while sober.

Anyhow, so towards the very end of the night I sat down for a couple songs and just watched everyone else. While I was observing these people in this dark, smoky, hormone-enraged young people area, I heard God speak very clearly to me about something.

We are all looking for something. Searching. Wanting. Striving.

"How does that become clear at a nightclub?"

Well, for one thing I am always amazed at the girls. Girls show up to clubs wearing little more than a tank top and shunderwear, and as if that didn't cause enough attention, they also bend over and dance provocatively with each other in front of guys to get there attention. THEN when guys come up behind them they go all out poppin and grindin and giratin' tryin to keep this guys attention, not even understanding what is going through the guys head.

As I watch the girls I know what it's like to want attention that badly. I understand wanting a

guy, but being that desperate is NOT okay. Do you realize that grinding on a guy like that causes his thoughts to go wild and yes he usually becomes sexually stimulated, and girls (usually without knowing) continue on from there, causing the guy to "ejaculate" in his pants. (I'm trying my hardest to keep it pg-13, but true.) Seriously, it is sad to know that girls are that desperate for guys attention. That is one step above prostitution. You're letting the guy use you for what he wants, and the only thing you get in return is some bad looks from girls across the room and satisfaction from watching this guy's friends drool.

I also think it's crazy how people get all dressed up, pay to get into these places, and yet they still cant dance or have fun until they have at least a few drinks in them.

And the guys stand around like vultures, waiting for the girls to get a little tipsy so they will bend over and give them a show. If their lucky they might even get to take her home for the night!

The point of this isn't to point out people's sins or cut them down. My point in describing all this is that we are all searching for something more. We must be wanting more out of life or we wouldn't go through so much trouble just to get some temporary satisfaction, a.k.a booty in this case. And it doesn't always come in this form. Some people get overly-wrapped up in hobbies, Facebook, drama, etc. For most girls though I see it being boys. Girls are always looking for Mr. Right, or Mr. Right Now. They want that attention, even if it ha

s to be negative sometimes. The thing is, none of this stuff fulfills you..

"SO WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR??"

Obviously we all have a hole in us we are trying to fill. The world says keep that sucker filled with sex, alcohol, and whatever else you wanna do. I know +20 billion people out there who can tell you they've tried this formula and the truth is it doesn't work. I can even attest to that.

"So how do we fill this gut-wrenching ache at the bottom of our soul that just keeps coming back?"

God. You may have never heard that before, or you may

have heard it so many times you are disgusted. Either way, hear me out. God, the one who created you--wants to have an open and intimate relationship with you. He wants to fill your life to the point of overflowing (Ephesians 3:19.) He wants to give you a life so exciting and meaningful that you don't have to search anymore, (John 10:10) A life free of living under others judgment. A life free of guilt, anger and sin.

"So why doesn't he just give me that?!"

1. God is a perfect gentlemen. He doesn't force himself on anyone. He has offered you the gift, now it is your choice as to accept it or not. (Romans 6:23, Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10) We were given the gift of free will. We get to choose whether we want to walk with God or not.
2. We have to seek him. Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

"But I've heard people try it and their lives still suck."

1. It is not a half-hearted deal, this is a commitment. If you want to see God drastically change your life you have to surrender yours to him. (Luke 9:23, Matthew 22:37) Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."
2. You have to believe...at least a little bit. Psalm 9:10, Psalm 37:3-6
3. You have to obey him. If you don't do what he asks it shows God that you don't trust him or value his instruction. Job 36:11-12, James 1:22, 2 John 1:6
4. Don't give up. It will undoubtedly be hard. In fact, you are promised persecution: John 15:18-20, 2 Corinthians 4:8-11, 2 Timothy 3:12. But hold on, because if you do you will be blessed, both here on earth and eternally. You will see the fulfillment and true satisfaction that comes from knowing and walking with God. (Hebrews 3:14, Philippians 3:14, Philippians 4:1, Philippians 4:19)