The 7 Challenge

So, I am doing this new challenge. Its called 7 and it lasts for seven months. Its a challenge about the excess in our lives. Each month will deal with a different topic. I have listed the link below which gives the details. I figured with lent here it would be a good time to start.
It all started with one lady. She had the idea first, and wrote a book about her experience. It is really cool and everyone should do it. I am not doing it exactly like her. I am tailoring it to my lifestyle at the moment.

Starting today is the first month. Unfortunatley the first month's topic is FOOD. dang. I love food. I think I live to eat. Jen, the lady who started this, only picked seven foods to eat the whole month. I am not going that far. I don't know that I am ready for that yet. Instead, I have told myself that I will not pay to eat out at all this month. I will first eat everything in my fridge and pantry..THEN if the end of the month comes before that is done, I will only eat chicken, eggs, bread, and apples. Also, no snacking. Just eating during meal times or set meal times.

This is going to be really hard for me. I need to do it though. I feel like I always start things and never finish. I call myself a strong person, but really I don't think I am. Plus, its a good financial decision as well. I am really trying to become a good steward. I am definitely a person of the world, which needs to end. I need to be stripped of the world which is hard because ive been of it for so long. I am selfish whether i admit it or not. I am  in the top like 5% of the world when it comes to wealth...and in America...I am not wealthy. I consider myself very middle class if not lower.

Again, this is goign to be hard. I know no one actually reads my blog, but just putting it out there so i can say I tried to tell someone. I just need to get my life in order and back to the bare necessities. So i guess if you do for some reason read this and think of me just pray for me. This may not seem like a lot but it is for me. I know a lot of people say they will pray for me, but then don't...this time, please actually do it. Not just about this challenge but for my heart. Sure this challenge will be hard bc it deals with food, but ultimatley its my heart that will be affected most. Things aren't easy right now anyways, and I am already feeling like im setting myself up for failure..but im not gonna fail. i can't. i won't.

http://bibledude.net/7-project-mutiny-against-excess/#.T1BHmhvQdVs.facebook

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”

So if you are one of the blessed, don't take it for granted. Hold tight and never let go. 

Persecuted.

This always breaks my heart. We NEED to remember to pray for them. We are so blessed here in the United States...don't take it for granted.

You should look up and watch more videos from Voice of the Martyrs.

Rejected.

Different ways people reacted after getting rejected

People who thinks the person who rejected them is making a mistake:

people who would sarcastically laugh it off:

people who would cry all day:

and then there’s me:

.................................................................................................

cont.

Are you a person who wants the will of God? Don't be so quick to answer. This is a HUGE question. I'll be honest when I think about it there are times when I am unsure. Like many others, I am not oblivious to the riches and security that is all around me. I too get sucked in. Am I lukewarm? If I am than I am not strong enough to be in ministry right now. Sometimes we have to do what's best for our salvation and get away from what bringing us down. we have to be willing to do whatever it takes because God is worth it. He truly is all we need. How can we minister and help others be on fire for God, if we ourselves are not.

Its like if someone is struggling with drinking, you tell them to get out of the bars for a little while til they get stronger. Its the same for us in our spiritual lives.

I ask you. Please! don't let me forget this. We need to be there for one another and getting on fire for God. You can only make fire with fire. It spreads quickly. Just think what we can accomplish if we all stick together as a people on fire. truly on fire. Bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth.

John 16:33.

I have a lot of thoughts and they are hard to put into words here sometimes.

Luke Warm and Loving it

Luke 18-19    Revelation 13
I have been thinking a lot about salvation lately. To be honest sometimes I wonder if I am really saved just because I think we don't fear Hell and eternal punishment enough in this country. We don't live like we really and completely trust and obey God the father. This country is Luke warm and they don't care. I would put myself in this category at the moment. I think this is part of my problem. Many of us have heard this before that God wants to spit out the Lukewarm, but we just don't really get it. If we did, we would begin to care and either choose to be hot or cold. We don't realize what "spit out" means. In scripture the descriptions in that passage or words and phrases used to describe the unsaved not members of Gods kingdom. Its like saying to God, " I like my little house, family, friends...etc" and id rather stay here and be safe than give it away to spend eternity with you.  Basically you make God gag. We are comparing the worth of God with our homes, clothes, friends, family, retirement fund...etc. No wonder it makes God gag.
Those of us in America are filthy rich. Don't even dare think about and say to yourself that you aren't. We are 100 times more wealthy than most people around the world. Even me, one who can barely make it financially each month with bills. Jesus said these words, "it is easier to put a camel through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God". We are rich. We are already at a disadvantage. We always talk about how hard life is sometimes and we can't seem to catch a break in our lives or even in our spiritual lives (which are connected by the way). The answer is right there in Jesus' statement. We are rich. You take that away and our dependence on God and getting into the kingdom of heaven becomes easier. We are wealthy not with just money but in relationships too. Are you willing to forget your friends and family if that is what it takes to follow Christ? most of you would say no. Its real hard for me, but when it comes down to it....you gotta decide. They aren't worth it. It may sound cruel, but its true.
Don't read into this passage, just take it as it is. We all know the story of Zacchaeus. He admitted he was rich and was gladly willing to give it away to have Jesus come to dine at his table. Jesus said "salvation has come to this house".  The impossible happened! A rich man has entered the kingdom of God! Wealth gives you a false sense of security. The more you have the less you are inclined to think you are needy.

What concerns me the most is that some of us are Lukewarm, and we are okay with it. We like it. We don't wanna change.
Are you willing to do whatever it takes to become on fire for God?! We should all be on our knees and faces...not eating not doing anything until we "get it" until we are fasting and praying and we are on fire for God...in love with God! Don't go to work tomorrow if your lukewarm, sell your house, until you get there! this is important and crucial. Do whatever it takes..you can't end your life lukewarm! Jesus' words are so strong here. Be earnest and repent. He loves us and He doesn't want to "spit" us out of his mouth. He will have things happen in our lives to get our attention.

Revive

This is my prayer for all my loved ones right now. I just feel like there is a lot of hearts who need to be revived. We need to be revived so that we are completely consumed by the love of Christ and compelled to do whatever it takes to live that out and be that. I see a lack of passion and depth. I pray this for myself often. We need to be willing to do whatever it takes to rid ourselves of anything that isn't pleasing to God, rid ourselves of everything that is keeping us from being all we can be in Christ. What does your life declare? Would the world see that your life Declares the one and only Jesus Christ as Lord? or would the world see that school, friends, or money is what your life declares?  Now is the time to choose. Actually it was yesterday. Do you represent Christ well? It's something to constantly think about. Sometimes our hearts get heavy and we forget. We need to be revived. I need to be revived. daily. 


Consider my affliction and please deliver me
Plead my cause and redeem me
Salvation is not for the wicked
For they don't seek your word
Great are your tender mercies Lord

Revive me, according to your loving kindness
Revive me, that I may seek your word 
Revive me, according to your loving kindness
Revive me, oh Lord

You give me understanding
According to your word
Great peace for those who seek your face
I long for salvation
My lips shall praise your name
I rejoice in the treasure of your keep

For all my ways are before you
I let your hand become my help
My soul longs and adores you
Let my cry come before you oh Lord

Oh, Revive me
Revive me