In Need Of... Abundance!

Sheep. They produce wool. They go "baa"..... Who cares?

I do.

I want to be a sheep..... Jesus describes himself as the shepherd... Who wouldn't want to be a sheep when it means u have someone watching over you as good and loving as Jesus?
He says in John 10:11, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep."
Jesus will protect you, guide you, shelter you.... Make sure you have enough to eat and drink.... Ensure that you are healthy and productive each day! Life so good! Love so great! Protection so strong! He gave up His life to make sure that YOURS was saved!

Why would we follow this Good Shepherd (in case you haven't figured it out yet)?

Because just before He said He'd give His life, Jesus said in John 10:10 - "The thief does not come exept to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

He DIED so we can LIVE. Live ABUNDANTLY.

In Need Of... A comfort zone :o)

It's interesting.....
So many people are worried about getting stuck in their "comfort zone"..... There's so much emphasis put on "getting out of your comfort zone" and "making changes in your life in order to grow in your faith."
I don't think it's always necessary to make a change in order to stretch your faith......

Many people reading this blog know me..... They know how, in the recent past, i've had MANY changes, relocations, etc... I've learned how to step out in faith when God decides to move me somewhere......

My problem is, I haven't learned to stay put. I haven't learned how to grow my faith when i'm standing still..... when i'm not trying to find a place to live...

Since i've gotten a job and an apartment (with a one-year lease!), God has found new ways to expand my faith, and to shape my character...... I've had to learn commitment (strange as it may sound).
God is still teaching me about this....
I'm excited! I've actually stopped feeling stir-crazy! When i hit the 4 month mark of living here (at which point i would normally be moving on) i went out and cut off my hair.... lol.... i needed a change.... january was a tough month for me... but as february and then march came in, i've stopped NEEDING a change.

God is sufficient for all my needs. He can provide enough change in a stable environment.... He can make my comfort zone exciting :o)

And if you think about it..... There are so many times when God said to someone "Go to this place to live".... He wanted them to stay there and claim that place.... (Ex. Abram/Abraham... Genesis 12)

But really... whether coming or going, moving or staying, all we have to know is...
John 15:4 - Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
It doesn't matter where u live or how often you move, as long as u abide in Jesus and continue to bear fruit.

In Need Of... Pruning.

so, yeah... Pruning hurts.
And i'm not talking about trimming those overgrown, over-thorned rosebushes, either. (Although that does hurt.)

When God cuts things out of your life, or when He points things out to you that He wants u to cut out on your own... That's the tough stuff...

Learning about yourself, and figuring out what those things are is tough, too......
I've brought myself into a new light recently, and found some things that look ugly.... Things that need to be adressed...

Proverbs 12:1 says "Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid."

So i talk to people... People give me insight. And i talk to God... He corrects me. Sometimes the lesson is hard, but i know that in the end, it'll make me tougher, stronger, and more righteous. It'll help to turn me into someone i want to be... (and that's still a long way off)

It's like they say, "If it doesn't kill ya.... It only makes u stronger." 10points if u can find that in the Bible somewhere. ;o)