It's a Heart Issue

I used to be one of those people who wished for all kinds of things.  Things I believed would make me happy, if only I could just have it, my life would be made.  If I got it, I would just wish for something else.  Sometimes I'd get it, and I'd wish I never would have wished for that to happen in the first place.  That's where faith comes in.   I learned that wishing gets me no where... it often got me in trouble. 


Faith truly is "a heart issue".  Where is your heart at?  Some people worry and think that will get them somewhere when really it only stresses them out and frustrates them.  Other people become addicted to substances or idolize things or people because they believe it fills them up with what they need in order to be happy, or maybe just to numb their feelings.  When someone doesn't just know about God, but they know Him, they know Him on a personal level, and they don't make faith/church/God a compartment of their life, but they make it apart of their whole life, everything they do, they are giving up all their burdens.  They no longer have to carry that with them and they can live a life with true abundance.   God doesn't want to see us depressed, that's not something someone should ever have to accept as a part of their life!  He doesn't want to see us hurt and overwhelmed - why should anyone have to live a life like that??  When something wrong happens, I was told, that alarms should be going off in our heads - but "instead of being fearful, we should act practical, be wise, have a faithful heart because Jesus already died at the cross for us - he paid for all of these sins, for us!  Bring all of those hurts and worries to the cross, be done with it" and live in peace.  


I've realized that by having a heart wide open, God is able to get in and pour in what he wants to bless me with.  I am faithful for what I've been given, and I want to use it so I can be trusted with more blessings.  People will often be worried about worldly things, bad things that might happen to them or people they love, but it is completely "impossible to fail when you are dependent on the cross."


"Man is the sum of his thoughts." A mind renewed by true faith "does not permit thoughts of poverty, scarcity, ruin, frustration, or failure."  Rather, "the thoughts of the diligent surely lean toward abundance."


Where is your heart at?  Does your heart wish only to be left with worry and frustration?  Or is your heart dependent on the cross "so that you may live life, and live it more abundantly"?


"People who don't pray think they don't need God.  They think they can do it all on their own.  Wishing will never be a substitute for prayer.  In prayer it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.   Humble yourself and pray."  -Pastor Rich Wittmer 


[thank you to all the pastors and leaders at Generations Church for helping me see these revelations and for all the time you devote to spreading the word of God every day.  And most importantly, thank you God for living in my heart.]

Falling into 2010!

Well. It IS 2010! Welcome Mr. New Year. Thank you, as always, for a fresh start. :)


This year has a lot to live up to, considering I had a long list of resolutions last year and accomplished them ALL (except one.. i love downloading music too much to stick with that one, plus I got talked out of it). 
I lived up to my resolutions, and did some extraordinary things in 2009:

• Volunteered at the Children's Museum, resulting in a part time job
• Taught all kinds of kids at Sylvan Learning Center
• Deemed Valentines Day as "Love the People in my Life Day/Hearts are a cool shape day"
• Had my first Tropical Escape Birthday Party.. not to mention, I turned 23 and loved it!
• Got a gym membership & a short term personal trainer 
• Learned how to wake board (about time, huh?)
• Went to Country Fest for the first time... & loved it, minus getting kicked
• Got a full time teaching position in Arizona
• Got one of my best friends a full time teaching position in AZ.. and got her to move in with meee :)
• Bought & fell in love with my first new car... Ella the Elantra 
• Survived the first half of the year with a bunch of 6th graders
• Self-appointed myself as the Cheer Coach
• Went floating down the Colorado River... in the day AND in the night
• Traveled the whole five minutes to Mexico
• Cooked all kinds of new things with my roomie - including oven - explosive Ziti
• Drove to California for the first time by myself, in the dark, with no GPS 
• Dressed up as a Ghost Buster for Halloween
• Discovered an amazing church & had an Encounter!! <3
• Made a covenant with God to have a devotional life
• Learned how to truly forgive & be at peace with myself
• Built a fort with my roomie in our living room.. even created fort building gear
• Had Thanksgiving in Hollywood!
• Went to my first Christmas Party OUTSIDE without being freezing cold
• Made it home to my friends and family in WI without turning into an icicle!
• Prayed & witnessed so many miracles! 

No pressure 2010... you are the year of surprise and more miracles - I won't worry about it :)