Fearing God

Ok… I know this is a subject we can all relate to. How many times have you heard your grandma or grandpa say something along the lines of, “That boy just needs some fear of the Lord to set him straight” or “Nothing like the fear of the Lord to come shake you up” (in order to get the full effect, please repeat these phrases back to yourself with a southern accent).

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I could be wrong, but I think we’ve accepted an idea about fearing God that doesn’t necessarily reflect His nature. We are commanded to fear God in scripture, so why is there such a negative connotation attached to this command? And maybe that’s not the case for whoever reads this, but it has been for me. I didn’t realize until recently that I subconsciously thought the fear of the Lord meant walking on eggshells waiting for that “great and terrible” moment.

…but, of course, the Lord has come to change my mind. That’s what He does, right? He is on a constant pursuit to reveal His character so that we’ll change our minds (repent) from our ideas about who we think He is. He wants us to actually know Him. 

The fear of the Lord isn’t an emotion of fear, it’s a mindset, and it’s beautiful. It releases us into a life fully lived. It is a constant awareness, a constant knowing… that we will stand before One and not many. Someday we will not come before the accusations, judgments, and slander that slides off the tongues of men. We will come before a loving, just, holy, righteous, merciful Father.

I believe we’ll all have a moment in this life in which we’re forced to decide who it is that we’re truly living for, and I don’t think God orchestrates this moment as a test so much as He does because He loves us (though He does test those whom He loves). He knows that without the Fear of the Lord, we’ll be bound to the accusations that come against us in this life, to the words that come like arrows to our souls.

At the end of the day, we’ll seek the approval of whoever it is that we fear… we will crave the praise of whoever’s approval it is that we’re seeking. But if we learn to exalt Him high above all the other voices in our life, we will find… life. His word says so.

“In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, 

And his children  will have a place of refuge. 

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, 

to turn one away from the snares of death.”

Proverbs 14:26-27

Just Thinking

The funny thing about mission trips is you always go thinking you’re doing someone a favor. It’s impressive isn’t? That we would take seven days of our time, raise our own support, risk having to pay from our own account if we don’t meet our goal…

and we, leave so much behind, don’t we?

and we, give up so much… don’t we?

          Or do we?

Imagine a week without picking up your phone to see if you have a missed call or a text message… Always looking down, then back up, then down again…                      Then getting frustrated because you really do wish you could live without your phone. But you can’t. That’s not how life works here.

And that’s ok. I don’t think cellphones are bad, and I don’t think Twitter is bad, or Facebook, or make up, or really any of the things, any of those things that we leave behind when we go.

But you know what’s good? Leaving behind all the ducks that are in a row and not looking back to see if they stay that way. It feels good to let go. And sometimes the only way to let go… is to go. And I’m not saying that’s a reason to go on a mission trip.

…but it just happens. Every time. We learn not to cling so tight to life. Jesus told us not to do that, anyways, right?

Jesus said that those who cling to their life will lose it, and those who lose their life, will find it.

It seems we’ve become too good at building, too good at gaining, too good at clinging, too good at earning, and I was just thinking that we really should start to wonder what it looks like to lose,

 

 

 

if we ever want to find.

 “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Jim Elliot (martyr)

As We Go, Here We Go: Ecuador

On July 23, four other girls and myself will embark on a journey to a village located in the jungles of Ecuador. We’ll be partnering with missionaries by the name of Joil and Leah Marbut, who have seen thousands give their lives to Christ over the past 10 years. I went on a mission trip to Ecuador in the summer of 2006 (the pictures I uploaded on this page are from that trip!) and worked with the Marbuts, so it will be nice to reunite with them and see how the Kingdom has advanced in their village since then. We don’t know many details, but I do know that we’ll be working with 400-500 kids as well as  serving at the Hope House, which is a home that facilitates restoration for women who come from abusive, physical and sexual, backgrounds.

I’m extremely excited about this opportunity and know the Lord has many good things in store. However, due to the trip being planned on such short notice, we each have a large sum of money to raise in a short amount of time! I am confident in the Lord that He will equip us for what He has called us to. I wanted to open up the opportunity for friends and family to give if led, so below is a link that will enable you to give directly to an account for the trip. 100% of the funds will go towards my individual cost, which is approximately $1650. So far, I have raised around $800 of my goal!

I appreciate any financial support you are able/willing to give, but more importantly, I am asking for something of far more worth… PRAYER! Persecution and witchcraft are prevalent in many areas of Ecuador, and I know for sure that there’s witchcraft amidst the area we’re staying in. I have no fear, however, I do know the power of prayer! We want to see the Kingdom of God advanced and God’s will accomplished on earth as in Heaven at the end of our eight day stay and this won’t happen without prayer and intercession.

How to give:

1) Clink on the link

2) Locate the “One-Time Gift” section

3) Give, and write my name for “Reason,” so it will go to my individual cost!

Give here!

I’ll use this blog to upload photos, journal entries, etc. immediately after the trip, so keep checking! Once again, the dates are July 23-30!

Thank you for ANY support, whether it be financial or prayer, that you offer! It means the world to me, and more importantly it means something to the world

-Britt

“For indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you.” -Jesus

Eyes Fixed

When we make the decision to follow Jesus, His light shines on us… therefore revealing our darkness. Initially, this is what leads to repentance. Like Adam and Eve, we all become aware of our sin in the presence of God.  We also know that He does this so that He can FREE us from the weight of sin. Ironically, you can’t acknowledge sin’s weight until you’re in His presence. That’s why most people who are in bondage to this world—sin—will say, “I am free” and actually believe they are. We aren’t capable of knowing the weight we carry until we step onto the scale. A person who carries a lot of weight is usually hesitant to be measured. In the same way, a person who is living in sin will usually be hesitant to step into the presence of God… knowing they will have to acknowledge their “weight” when they do. However, His presence is meant to call us OUT of sin, not to simply magnify it. His light is meant to call us OUT of our flesh, not to simply reveal it. Remember, He came so that we might have “life and life abundant…” He came to “make all things new.” Thus, His desire IS to make us new, He WANTS us to live a life filled with joy, peace, love, etc.

After the initial response to His light, repentance, I’ve found an obstacle that most believers repeatedly encounter, and the obstacle is this: the habit of being a “follower” of Jesus, but incapable of actually following Him because your gaze is elsewhere. A product of this is self-awareness… always aware of your imperfection—because you’re exposed—but never being rid of it.

In other words, when you aren’t focused on Jesus, you begin to focus on yourself. This is a strategy of the enemy. He will use anything to distract us… So long as our attention is on something besides Christ… he is satisfied. That’s why so many Christians are constantly evaluating their flaws, but never getting anywhere. When you are constantly looking down at yourself, you find yourself trying to “catch up” with Jesus instead of receiving the FULLNESS of His presence. His word says that if you seek His Kingdom, all these things shall be added unto you. That means if we seek Him, He’ll take care of the rest.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’” Revelations 21:5

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

Such a Time as This

I’ve heard it said that this is “practice” time or “preparation” time, and both of these assertions could very well be true, and often times are, for students, new believers, etc. However, statements like these evolve into a deception when they become excuses for present behavior and lack of obedience to His Word.

The thing is, our ministry begins the day we make Jesus Christ Lord of our lives (this goes far beyond merely acknowledging His existence). Why? Because our ministry is simply the overflow of our relationship with Jesus. The only qualification for being in the ministry is “loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength” (Luke 10:27). Because if you truly do this, you will experience His love so deeply that you won’t be able to keep it to yourself. If you truly do this, you’ll WANT to read His Word (and therefore do what it says), love your neighbor (and your enemy), and preach His kingdom. I’ve also heard many say that they’re just trying to “get right” with the Lord. While I completely empathize, I also, from personal experience, have learned that this is just another way of saying “I’m not ready to give up my sin.” While this may seem insignificant, it’s not because you were called for “such a time as THIS,” not such a time as “later on in life.” God gave you a specific identity and specific gifts for this generation, for this hour. The world pays a price when we (including myself) give up our pursuit to further His Kingdom for temporary desires.. even if it’s just for a day.

All of this to say, we cannot hope for bigger things if we aren’t faithful to what He’s given us now. We can’t say, “I’ll get it right someday” and expect it to happen when we aren’t willing to surrender now. What makes tomorrow different from today? We can’t say, “I want to be a worship leader” and expect it to happen if we aren’t even worshipping Him now. We cannot say, “I want to be an evangelist” and expect it to happen if we aren’t reading His Word now. The truth is, most of us are asking for a ministry or career that is far beyond what our spirit can sustain. It’s ok to dream big, but we’ve got to stay faithful to Christ first and foremost if we expect to be satisfied in the end.

I am by no means saying we have to be perfect to be used, but we do have to be surrendered. There’s nothing He can use more than a surrendered heart—obedience in it of itself.

“Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39).

What are you waiting for? : )

The Face of Redemption

It is not the magnitude of our sin that is so detestable, but our inability to acknowledge it at all. We all know it’s there… so why do most, if not all, get so offended when it’s pointed out? Well, the answer is quite obvious: when someone points, we have to look. And deep down every man knows it is his most painful experience to realize his sin. It is both terrifying and beautiful, all at once, because in that moment we know we are encountering the Lion and the Lamb.

I have found that the days when I knew He was drawing me in and still denied Him glory are my most regretted days. Why? It wasn’t because my actions, my sins, were so terrible. I’d known that same sin for years… it was nothing new to me. But, for some reason, it’s only the last months, the last weeks (before surrendering to Him) that I cringe at when He reminds me of where He brought me from. “Why so hated, why do those few days stick out so much?” I finally asked the Holy Spirit. He was not silent for long. His reply? Perhaps my heart can bear the “worst of sin,” from long ago, because I did not commit it while looking Christ in the eyes.  On the contrary, my heart cannot bear the most recent, and to some extent “smallest,” because it was committed while looking Christ in the eyes. For in those days my heart knew that the lover of my soul was seeking me out… to know, and still deny… that’s truly what is, and should be, detestable: to be so prideful, so blatantly selfish, that even the presence of the living God cannot bring you to your knees.

 And so, we tend to be afraid of remembering the sorrow of repentance, but the sorrow of repentance should serve as a fuel for The Redeemed. For when we look at those moments, or a moment, straight in the eyes… we find Him whispering, “Mark WELL the paths by which you came” (Jeremiah 31:21). We should remember all those places He carried us from. For though we should not be dictated by our past, we also shouldn’t deny its depth in regards to where we stand now.

 “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed;

Do not be discouraged, for you will not suffer disgrace;

For you will forget the shame of your youth,

And the disgrace of your widowhood you will remember no more.

For your Maker is your husband,

The Lord of hosts is his name;

The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,

The God of the whole earth he is called,

For the Lord has called you

Like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,

Like the wife of a man’s youth when she is cast off,

Says your God.

For a brief moment I abandoned you,

But with great compassion I will gather you.

In overflowing wrath for a moment

I hid my face from you,

But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,

Says the Lord, YOUR Redeemer.” Isaiah 54

The Problem With Feminism

Feminism, ironically, compromises a woman’s femininity because it causes her to give up feminine qualities for masculine qualities. It, in essence, loses the very thing it seeks to gain: power. The power of femininity cannot be fulfilled when femininity itself is being compromised. And that is the problem with feminism. It can only reach a certain level of success before it meets its limit. We women can only walk so far into the realm of masculinity before we can go no further.

When we take on roles that men naturally walk out, we end up stripping them of their masculinity. Likewise, when men abandon their masculine duties, especially in a family, often times the woman is stripped of her femininity. In the world of economics, opportunity cost is what we give up in order to gain something else. The opportunity costs in matters of femininity vs. feminism are crucial. When we take on a feminist lifestyle, not only do we suffer from giving up femininity (in its purest and intended form), but men suffer as a result too. The thing is, men NEED us to be WOMEN. Why? Because only true femininity can bring out true masculinity.

 The problem with feminism is that it attempts to equalize the roles of two, separate entities, instead of the worth of two, separate entities.  

…To be continued.

In Light of Perception

The majority of people are incapable of seeing past their present circumstance, which therefore prevents their knowledge of the Truth from surpassing their present circumstance as well. The result is an inability to make decisions for ultimate purpose. The root of this condition is a lack of perception into the unseen. Blurred perception is yet another condition that our flesh is prone to. However, as in the same light as sin, we are capable of overcoming our natural conditions when we let the supernatural dictate our natural. We must learn to not be dictated by our present circumstance, but rather by HIS truth… knowing that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are CALLED according to HIS purpose” (Romans 8:28). Whenever you find yourself loaded down with stress or anxiety or heaviness, command your emotions to get in check with His truth. This will switch your perspective from present to eternal.  I have to do it everyday!