What are you thinking?

1 Thess. 5: 16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

What would you say the difference is between the flesh of a Christian and that of an existentialist? I say nothing. We were all born into this world from a mom and a dad. We wake up each day, we interact with the people around us, live the best we know how, and ultimately die.

We move, we talk, we learn & we love, we think & feel, we work, rest, and breathe. And things happen. Life is hard, and can be tough for Christians and non-believers alike. We come to our wit’s end and wonder if life is worth living. But wait, Christians have more than sinful flesh. We have a savior who has replaced our hearts of stone, so now the difference between us is great. Without a savior, in a difficult place we might say,

“I’m so unhappy today and nothing can fix it.”

“I’m in despair and don’t know what else to do.”

“I just want some joy in my life, because this life is it.”

“I want truth, but I can’t find it.”

BUT, with a savior, you and I can proudly declare the Word of God…

“I’ve had a rough day – but I choose joy because in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 it says, “’Rejoice always!’ I have Jesus on my side.”

“I don’t need to despair because in Isaiah 41:10 it says, ‘Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’”

“I have joy deep in my soul because Jesus said to the Jews in John 8:31 & 32, ‘If you abide in my Word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

We are believers, but there are days we wake up and feel like we could just have easily pass as an existentialist. Don’t let that happen. Today, I encourage you to cheer up because we have a Living God to glorify. Remember to choose joy; it’s worth it.

If I care, will you?

Here's the story:

You hear about this incredible mission trip. In this trip is a chance to see desolate places, meet the most impoverish people, and witness firsthand how spiritually deprived the world is. People whom you would never ordinarily speak with would pour out to you their secrets and struggles. You would learn about hunger, abuse, and disease; maybe even have the chance to work to build friendships or a school or church. You hear you have the opportunity to give a large amount of money to send someone on this trip or the chance to go there yourself.

One issue: you don't feel passionate about it.

Not that you don't care, it's just not something that directly affects the course of your every-day life.

Other people have been dreaming about going to Africa, Vietnam, NYC, India, Mexico, Chicago, the slums, Oklahoma, New Orleans, Brazil, Russia, Canada (fill it in) for months or years. Their "heart for missions" has been impressed in them ever since the age of 9 when they first met a missionary family who transferred to the church from Zimbabwe, Nicaragua, Haiti, (fill it in, again). You know it'd be great, and you would love to support people who are actively feeling passion from God. But maybe, since you aren't getting the "being called" vibe about doing/going to (fill in the blank), it must be something God is leading you away from.

Welp, guess you aren't cut out to be involved in God's plan...not.

Here's what I've been enlightened with lately:

Just because I don't have a constant, fire-y desire from the pit of my soul, even my being, to sponsor a Compassion child, join the Mocha Club, go on a mission trip, or donate $200 to support a ministry does not give me an excuse to not do it.

I agree that God does not call us all to fly to South Africa to translate the scriptures into an otherwise unknown language. What I'm saying is, if I ever feel discouraged that deep down, I don't have a passion to save the world: that is okay. Sometimes it takes training.

We don't have to feel called from the depths of our souls to give money towards a cause. The important thing is that out of obedience, we do it. God calls us in Matthew 28 to make disciples of all the nations.

Here's a link with a BUNCH of scriptures about it, just in case you don't already believe me!
(link is over here)

Test it out. Pick something that you know is in line with scripture that you don't necessarily feel "called" to and join. Start giving money towards this ministry, or showing up, and pray that if it is something that the Lord has been seeking your obedience in, that he will give you a desire in your heart for it. I've been praying that what it is that I'm doing will lead to some fruit (of the spirit, i.e. love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, ect) showing up in my life as proof that it's something that God really has for me.

I hope this means something to you today, especially as we enter the season of Thanks & giving :) Have a blessed weekend, and I'll be back soon!

Much love,
V

Photo compliments of The Mocha Club

My Commanding Personality

Wait, I don't have one of those.

Hello again, this is Vanessa, your blogging friend. Let's be real. I'm not commanding.

So, why the title? I don't want to be an overly-commanding coworker, friend, or family member. Yes, there is a need for that sometimes, but nobody likes a know-it-all. There is a part of me that needs to take control though, that is I want to command my day. I want to use the power of words to speak positivity, energy, and the Spirit of the almighty God into my day. Why? Because I can. And so can you. Words have power.

Today I want to go talk about ways I plan to do this.

First, attitude really is everything. A study from the Mayo Clinic came up with incredible results. A positive-thinking person is more likely to have a longer life, elevated moods, lower stress level, a better immune system, and a stronger sense of well-being and ability to cope during traumatic or stressful events. The bottom line here: cheer up!

Next, guard your heart. "Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Luke 6:45. If you want to have power over words, you must take control of your thoughts. This takes practice and intentionality. The bottom line here: use discretion.

If you guard your heart, you will have a much easier time watching what you say. This is the next piece of advise I would offer. 

This post has been surprisingly difficult to write, and I think it's because this is something that is hard to put into practice. It's easy to wake up on the good mornings and praise God for the sun and the free time and the money.

But life isn't always that way. Today for example: it's raining, I'm broke (I even have a broken car at the moment), and people let me down. So here I am, saying that when I woke up this morning, the first thing I did was not praise God. But when I wake up and do, it is ENORMOUSLY easier to see the blessing, or the light through the trees.


But one thing I can rest on, God is so faithful, I know He is with me always, and I know He is with you.

Much love,
V

The Perfume of Friendship

It takes a long time to grow an old friend.

Yes?

Okay, this blog will be exhaustingly full of cheesy quotes, take heed.

Proverbs 27:9, "The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense." 

Mmmm, perfume and incense. Time spent in the candle section at Bath & Body Works ;)... or the perfume isle at a department store could last forever.  But Proverbs says that a friend can be more enriching. A friend should build you up in the Word, and be there to provide you with encouragement, accountability, laughs, and honesty.  Friends can make or break you.  This is why I want you to engage in establishing Godly friendships.  Scripture clearly shows that your company will reflect you and your behavior.  Studies have proved the irrefutable parallels between the characteristics of your friends with the characteristics you develop. As the old saying goes: "you are what you eat," there is a similar phrase that goes, "show me your friends, I'll show you your future." Do you believe this?  If it's true, then maybe it is wise to ask are you holding up your end of the bargain?

Do you show kindness, patience, humor, and grace in your friendships?

I want to be the type of friend who uplifts. I hope that I am a good influence. I want to be a prayer partner; someone who will encourage another consistently with their walk with God. I want to always seek the Lord for the words I say and the things I do. I do not want to talk behind my friend's backs. I want to constantly encourage and forgive. I know it is so precious to be in the Word, and to be saturated in Scripture for the sake of my friends. A threefold cord is not easily broken. With the Spirit taking the third strand in a close friendship; there are long-lasting implications.

"When you forget the song in your heart,
a friend is someone who sings it back to you."

I pray that as you read this, you can think of that someone.

Much love,

V

When All Else Fails...

the Word of God can bring me peace, the Psalms are a cry to the Lord from David.  He shares these human emotions that we relate to so well. I hope that they encourage you too.  

Much Love,

V

Psalm 121
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.


Psalm 142
1 I cry aloud to the LORD;
I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy.
2 I pour out before him my complaint;
before him I tell my trouble.

3 When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
people have hidden a snare for me.
4 Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
no one cares for my life.

5 I cry to you, LORD;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”

6 Listen to my cry,
for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.
7 Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me.