Oceans

I recently attended the Hillsong United concert as a part of their Welcome Zion US tour, and can I just say that amazing doesn't even begin to describe it?! What an incredible opportunity to worship God alongside such a talented and humble group of artists. With so many people filling the stadium, it could have been easy to feel like just one in the crowd, but God really spoke personally and quietly amongst the passionate praises of thousands to let me know I am loved, and that He so delights in the praises of His people.


One of the most beautiful (in my opinion) songs on their album is entitled, Oceans, and it speaks of God leading us to a place where we have no borders to our trust, and we respond by following His guide wherever that may take us...even if the storms come, we'll keep our eyes above the waves, always on His face.

What a beautiful picture of complete and absolute trust, walking on the water, following Him to the place where we lose the sense of boundaries, those confines that often we place in our own way of where we think God wants us to be. In life we sometimes feel lost in the crowd, with waves crashing down all around us, but like those lyrics, we need to keep our eyes above the waves, rest our souls in His embrace, and He will lead and guide us to places beyond the wildest of imagination.

(P.S. If you haven't heard their new album, be sure to take a listen! It's absolutely wonderful!)
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Applause


I was flipping through radio stations the other day, and the lyrics of a Lady Gaga song got me thinking. She has a song Applause that is something along the lines of,

"I live for the applause, applause, applause
I live for the applause-plause
Live for the applause-plause
Live for the way that you cheer and scream for me
The applause, applause, applause"

What a picture of the way we tend to live our lives...always seeking approval, always wanting acceptance and applause from others to validate our work/self/existence. How many times have you found yourself doing something that you know would get other people to notice or to admire you? Even the way our social media apps are set up condition us to feel good when someone "likes" your status or photo. I know I've found myself thinking like that from time to time, and while it's ok to be excited when others compliment or applaud you, let's not fall into the trap of their applause dictating how we live our lives. The fact of the matter is that trends come and go, what's admired for awhile, soon becomes passe or obsolete. Live your life in such a way that is not centered around acceptance from others, but rather one that is in alignment with how God calls us to live. 

Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." 

The world says that to live a great life you must gain popularity, you need acceptance, people who will applaud and admire you; however, as people of faith, we aren't to follow in those footsteps. Instead, we are to be the kind of people who are self-less rather than selfish, always giving to others, full of integrity and being challenged to walk the right path, even if it's not the popular one. Instead of looking for acceptance and applause, seek integrity and righteousness...while it may not be glamorized or applauded, it's worth far more in the end. 
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Faithful In Much


Sometimes we think that we need a big break, the big promotion, overnight success..etc to be great. What we often forget is that it is the faithfulness with the small things, the details of our routine, and the responsibilities we are entrusted with currently that will prove to be the stepping stones to the greater accomplishments we strive to achieve. Over the past few days I've been thinking about the story of the men who once worked for their master, each was given a certain amount of talents (currency in the day) and was instructed to care for it while their master was away. The one with 5, invested it and it doubled, same with the one who had been given 2. The man who had been given one decided to bury it in the ground, and when the master returned, he was displeased with this man. You see, it's the same for us today. We're each gifted and talented in many ways, and perhaps it can seem like your talent isn't worthy or useful, but God gives each of us something for a specific purpose, and he has instructed us to use and invest them in his kingdom. Your talent is important and needs to be shared. Be faithful with what you have been entrusted, and then you can take on more responsibility. It is the small things that amount to the great things over time. Be faithful with little things, and He will bless you beyond belief.

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Problems & Dreams


I posted this photo on instagram recently, as it's been something that's been on my mind lately. The circumstances, situations and things we deal with on a daily basis can easily affect our lives and attitudes...if we let them. Excuse me, what? You might be saying "but you don't know my situation and what I've been through..." I don't know where you've been, and what trials you've endured, but I do know this: our attitude should be independent of our circumstances. You and I have the power to choose our outlook on life, and we can, as Emerson put it, "be led by your dreams". 

Have you ever been in a situation and held on to the tiniest bit of hope, even though you knew, or perhaps everything around you said "it's just not going to happen", but yet you still held on? It's the same idea. Perhaps your life has been a series of storms to be endured, and you're tired of fighting to hold on.. don't give up. Grab hold of that dream, know that God walks with you through each and every trial, and continue to go confidently in the direction of your dreams. You can do it. Choose to be led by your dreams, and not to be pushed around by your problems. The more time you invest dwelling on the problems in your life, the bigger they become...dream big, become solution oriented, and choose to allow the passion and excitement of your dreams take you where you want to go! You've got this! 
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The Key To Prosperity



right·eous

ˈrīCHəs/
adjective
1.
(of a person or conduct) morally right or justifiable; virtuous.
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I've been thinking a lot about righteousness lately...it's a word that is not often used, and when referenced, usually brings about a different connotation (see self-righteous, conceited..etc). I found myself coming back to this theme of righteous living, and it led me back to this verse

"Whoever pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity and honor."
-proverbs 21:21

It seems to me that this way of life is exactly what we're all striving for...we want a life of meaning, prosperity & honor. If you look around, people are searching for this in so many places, yet most miss the most obvious place to find it. Righteousness is not about a 'holier-than-thou' attitude, it is not about judging others, in fact, it is so much the opposite. Righteousness is integrity...doing the right thing, regardless of whether anyone is watching. It's not a false pretense or an act of any kind...it's not moralistic or intolerant. It means humility, and serving others because you know that it's not about you. Righteous living is not self-seeking, it is not prideful and in it's purest form often comes with love, as referenced in the verse above. Righteousness is striving to do the right thing, not only because it brings a full & blessed life, but because it is who we are to be. God calls us not to follow the patterns of this world, but to be transformed...we are to be righteous as He is righteous, and He will guide and direct us to become more and more like Him. (We are made in His image, after all!) The challenge for us today is to be willing to walk in the path of righteousness, and to be open to God's guiding...to become people of virtue, and to see others the way God sees them: people of value and gifted to do great things. Have I figured it all out? No, not yet..it's a process, but the more I learn and begin to put things into practice, the more exciting life becomes. It's not about quick changes..it's often the little things, day after day, that soon become habits and will strengthen your life & your faith.  


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