Journey of a Thousand Miles

I've been studying through the book of Numbers where the Israelites are scoping out the Promised Land to see what it's all about, and they see how rich it is, but they also see GIANTS! Caleb is the only one who wants to conquer the giants, but the rest of the Israelites are scared, and they'd rather go back to Egypt. I find it strange that instead of conquering their fears, they would rather go back to slavery. Why would you want to go back to being a slave when you have the Promised Land right in front of you? Then I realize that I'VE DONE THE SAME THING! I mean, how many times have I cowered out of fear and returned to familiarity instead of taking a leap of faith towards a dream? From the outside, it may seem like I'm a courageous person because I'm recording an album, but there are SO MANY TIMES when I have chosen the safer route instead of trusting God's promises. God had PROMISED the Israelites that they would take this land. And yet, THEY WERE S...

It's been awhile. I've been busy writing new music for the album, getting into a regular exercise regime, staying focused at work, and working through spiritual issues. I recently borrowed a book from a friend called "Rejection," and it talks about the spiritual side of rejection and why we feel it. Interesting stuff. It says that an evil spirit can enter a baby in the womb and manifest itself throughout that person's life. The spirit of rejection can move through several generations, and it's passed down to you through your family line. I know. Intense stuff! So I've been praying for God to remove this spirit from my life so I can get on with living, and it's a lot harder than you would think. Rejection can attach to you deep into your soul, and it takes some digging to get it out. But I don't want to live with it anymore, so I am grabbing my spiritual shovel and getting that sucker out. I want to live a good life without this fear hangi...

by Joel Osteen Most criticism is based out of jealousy and a competitive spirit. The more successful you are, the more criticism you encounter. Not everyone will celebrate your successes with you. Our successes draw out their jealousy. This isn't about you; it's on the inside of them. Until they deal with it, it will keep them from rising higher. God sends us tests to see if we can be happy for others' successes. Learn to celebrate others' victories. If God did it for them, God can do it for you. There are going to be people who try to bring us down with their words. Don't seek revenge or stoop to their level. Shake them off. You never win by sinking to their level. Rise above them! Don't let their jealous spirit bring you down. Don't live to please everyone. It's impossible to please everyone. Some people will always find fault no matter what you do.  Love those negative people from a distance! Accept that not everybody is going to like...

The reason a relationship feels difficult is that the person has become the living embodiment of the voices in your head. She taps into insecurities already roosting within. Her lack of approval or validation triggers a chorus line of inner complaint- it disturbs the little girl in you who uses any excuse to remind you what she deeply believes: If you were just smarter, thinner, prettier, holier or at least a better mother... you'd feel like Somebody. You'd meet with more applause. Your parking ticket would be stamped, and then you could make your way onto the freeway of life with all the other grown-ups. That may sound a bit strong. But honestly, when you peel back the layers of a person you find difficult to love- of a relationship that feels intolerable- this is the white noise in the background of your soul. It's true for all of us. We can be paralyzed by the power we give someone to name us. For a long time, the human tendency is to try harder- to perform o...

There was a guy I met at a dance hall that was a pro at swing dancing. Any time I danced with him, he would swing me up in the air, turn me in flips, and throw me around the dance floor as if I'd been dancing for years. The truth is, I knew nothing  about swing dancing, but because he was such a good leader, he made me look like a pro. As long as he guided my every step, and I followed him, I looked as if I'd been dancing for years. Lately, when I've been asking for God's advice, He's been telling me the same thing: "Follow My lead." "God, what should I do about my love life?" Follow My lead.  "God, when should I quit my job?" Follow My lead.  "Father, who should I record my next album with?" Follow My lead.  It was getting frustrating because I felt like I wasn't getting any answers. I'm the type of person who likes to see the whole picture and be prepared for what's coming next. That way, there...

Hey fine peoples! I decided to update you all on life since I haven't spoken to you in awhile. Everything is going gravy. Today I came home from work and took a walk with God. I talked to Him about everything that was on my heart, and I was completely honest with Him. I think it helps to just lay everything out with God, exactly as it comes out of your mouth. Sometimes I can have a tendency to not be frank with Him because I'm afraid I won't please Him, or that some of my thoughts are sinful. Well, that just wasn't going to fly today. So as I was walking, I just told God exactly what was on my heart, exactly as it came out of my mouth, and I didn't try to filter it or make my words beautiful. And lemme tell you, it helped so much. Sometimes I feel like a little kid with God, like my words and thoughts aren't fully mature yet. And I think it's okay to not sound like an adult when you're talking to God. It's okay to sound like a hot mess, or like a...

God has been making Himself very known to me today. I watched videos about people who had gone to heaven and come back, and all of them remark about how much God loves us, knows us, and has a plan for us. They said His promises are true and can be trusted. One woman was turned away at the gates of heaven because her purpose wasn't done yet. It made me think of God's purpose for my own life and how there's a reason for everything I have today: my job, my living situation, the people in my life. God has a reason for all of that. And how do I thank Him? I complain. I complain about my job, my salary, my unanswered prayers, and what not, and I can't feel God's presence the way I want to. But He is there. Everything about my life is sovereignly purposed by God, and He will not take us home until our purpose is done here. After listening to these people talk about how beautiful life is and how much God loves us, it made me relax today at work because I realized that...

Today I just needed a break. The slow progress of daily living was getting to me. I was frustrated with my day job getting in the way of my life, and all I wanted was for God to open a door to get me out of my status quo. Then I opened an email and found this from rachelwojo.com, and it couldn't have come at more impeccable timing. It's almost like she was reading my mind: "Many times we feel like giving up because it seems the effort we are making is so small. We think "Why should I keep trying to move forward? I've hardly made any progress." But small effort over time is better than no effort. You never know when God is going to kick in the momentum you've been longing for. He only asks for our obedience in the present moment. Take that, Wednesday!" It made me realize that my steady progress is still moving somewhere. I may not see the results as fast as I want to, and sometimes it seems like I'm taking two steps back, but God will open d...

I get the feeling that I overwork myself. Today I was dealing with a lot of frustration and impatience over technology. Let me tell you, it can be frustrating when it doesn't work. But anyhow, when I get frustrated, I have to take a step back and give myself time to breathe and relax. Take a time-out and just inhale...exhale...inhale...exhale. As much as I want to accomplish my goals in one lifetime, I just have to be okay with not getting everything done in one day. Now that I'm single again, I have a lot of time on my hands to plug away. It has been a blessing, that's for sure. But on the other hand, I set too high expectations on myself, which causes frustration. I got a lot done today, but I want to make sure I am making time for relationships as well, especially with my parents. I live with them, but sometimes I lock myself in my room and don't come out until I "get all my work done." Well, that's never going to happen with my laundry list of goal...

Today ended up being a better Monday than I expected. It started off slow and gloomy. I had no motivation for work, no motivation for my goals, I was feeling sad about my breakup, and I just wanted to stay in bed. I guess cloudy days can do that. Then I met with my new mentor from church, and she changed everything! We talked about everything: my recent breakup (she encouraged me that this was a GREAT idea, and she's glad I'm no longer with him), mission trips, different cultures/religions, the differences between men and women, the hardships of marriage and children. It gave me perspective that I am exactly where I need to be. I am now ok with being single. I have the time I need to accomplish the goals on my heart, and I thank God that He is giving me this time in His ultimate wisdom. He truly knows what's best for me, and He knows that the demands of being a wife and mother would pull me away from my music, the book I want to write, and the business I want to start. I ...

Today I wrote down every single goal I have in life, then I made a list of every step required to achieve them. I am excited for all my goals. Now that I see a step-by-step map, I know what I need to do daily, weekly, monthly to achieve them. Little by little, I will see progress. Little by little, I will get to where I need to go. It may take longer; it may take shorter. And there may be new obstacles in the way, but at least I can move forward. And I will keep God at the center. If He decides not to take me down the same route I want to go, that's ok. I can take a detour. If anyone deters me from my path, I may have to remove them from my life. I can still love them as a Christian, and I can still serve the people God wants me to serve. But if someone is pulling me away from God and the path I need to be on, I need to let them go. I went on a detour this past year in the wrong relationship, but I am excited to get back on track. No more fighting. No more tugging and pulling. No m...

Stop being ashamed of your past. We are more than the mistakes that we make. The cross was enough. If you refuse to accept God's forgiveness, then you are saying that the cross was not enough. Use your past to help someone else, but don't beat yourself up about it. Only use it for God's glory. Embrace what you learned from your mistakes and move on. Guard your heart and mind from Satan's lies regarding your past sin. Don't waste Jesus' death by not letting go of past guilt and shame. "It is finished." God is ready to celebrate your return. He is not holding anything over your head.

Going outside of God's will is a disaster. It is God's will to be sanctified, to avoid sexual immorality. Sexual ability is not what brings a marriage down. Your first priority is to marry a godly spouse. The same God who tells a girlfriend to say no to having sex with her boyfriend is the same God who tells a wife to say yes to having sex with her spouse. Guys, you want a girlfriend who will displease you to please God. If they don't obey God BEFORE marriage, they won't obey God AFTER marriage. If they can't sacrifice for a couple years of dating, they're not worth a lifetime of marriage. You're not obligated to carry someone else's sexual baggage. But once you marry them, you have to forgive their past and let it go. When you marry a godly person, there's forgiveness and grace. A person who's a giver and not a taker will figure out how to please you. You don't need to "try it out" before you buy it.

Know what tempts you and why.  Marriage is the sole outlet for sex.  Sexual sin is always destructive in one way or another. (physically, emotionally, spiritually) Sexual sin comes from hearts that reject God. People who refuse to repent grow increasingly perverse and leads to spiritual insanity. It blocks the process of our sanctification.  People who engage in sexual sin disregard God.  Sex outside of marriage is not ok just bc we love someone enough. This is not biblical.  Scripture never validates, "how far can I go before it's sinful?" To ask this question shows a divided heart. An undivided heart asks, "how holy can I be?" We compromise bc the desire for physical intimacy is the most powerful drive we have.  Sexual temptation hits us right in the ego.  What happens if we give in: loss of honor loss of strength and character ongoing physical consequences regret death divine judgment The root of discont...

Prosperity and hard work are correlated If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Get rich schemes don't work. Wealth gained hastily will dwindle. A lack of wealth is actually grace. Don't seek your security in money. God alone deserves our trust. We have no control over our personal security. He uses our sins and mistakes; he brings good out of our folly. Go back to God; His restoring grace waits for you. Let go of your regrets. Get on with what really matters. Ask God to transform you through your mistakes and to bring good out of it.

Self-control- emotions, appetites Submit to God's control Self-control- to be controlled by God Proverbs 25:28 Without self-control, we have no defense against our enemies (anything that separates us from God). Proverbs 5:22-23 If we seek fulfillment outside of God's ways, we live as fools. We don't dip into sin just a little bit. This is fantasy. Once we start downhill, there are no lines we won't cross. How high can we rise? Galatians 5 - includes self-control Self-control is only possible through Jesus. Walk by the spirit. The desires of the flesh are against the spirit. We are to starve our ungodly cravings. Hindrances to self control competing desires- our desire for control vs. what has control over us. yo-yoing means we have no control over what we desire (on/off relationships). torn b/w 2 desires wrong motives- we want it for the wrong reasons, tired of the consequences; it should be about God. Attempts at self improvement don't...

Bonds can form around sin. Real change doesn't begin with trying harder to not do something sinful. Change starts when we're honest with God that we don't want to try at all. Don't hang with people who indulge in earthly pleasures. Insecurity- if God is not our anchor, we'll find security in people (the wrong people). Friendships like this can't work. Don't make friends with angry people. We are conformed to whatever we focus on. Bad company ruins good morals. Surround yourself with people who bring you closer to God. Spiritually edifying. Not afraid to talk about our sin struggles. Be honest about sin. We need friends who will hold us accountable, not someone who will say our sins are no big deal. Our choices in friendship are a reflection of where we are in God. Taking over someone else's responsibility is more harmful than good. Get unentangled by codependent relationships. Co-dependency = fear of man Unhealthy dependence o...

Foolish- doesn't fear the Lord, doesn't submit to God, feeds on arrogance instead of humility 6 Traits of a Foolish Woman Drawn into worldliness- devotes time and money into appearance, misses the freedom to age gracefully, materialistic and ambitious for worldly success Believes the lie that material blessings can be gained apart from God. The world will always tempt us to go after more stuff.  Hates knowledge- She rationalizes away biblical counsel, lives solely by her emotions, and fulfills her personal desires at any cost. Believes that her way of thinking is always the right way. Refuses to embrace God's ways, to give up a destructive relationship or bad habit. Scoffers never get what they seek. The root of scoffing is pride.  Complacency- ok with a mediocre Christian life. We are always going forward or backwards in the Christian life. We're never sitting still. We can't straddle the fence between the world and God. We may have to give up something to ...

Notes from this podcast: https://www.rightnow.org/Content/Series/149678#2 Worldly wisdom is centered on self. Biblical wisdom is centered on God. Centering on God enables us to enjoy life more. As we live out His principles, we realize that life tends to run more smoothly. As this happens, God is showcased as the All Wise One, and He is glorified. Where does wisdom come from? (Proverbs 9:10) The fear of the Lord What is the fear of the Lord? Recognizing that God is God, and we are not. Humbly bow before Him in trusting submission. Wisdom is the realization that God is everything. How to live wisely: build our lives around God rather than ourselves Proverbs 8:8-9 The trouble is never with scripture; it's always with us. Soak yourself in scripture. It shapes our understanding of life. The guidance we need will come to us easier. Proverbs 8:1-3 We sin because we think the wisest way is the way that will make us happiest. We let our natural passions direct our liv...

As I get ready for SHINE, I decided to write a blog on how grateful I am for this opportunity because it is God that has brought me to this place, and I couldn't have made it this far on my own. Never did I think I could be this close to my dreams. For a long time, it was just that: a dream. Not a reality. I've wanted to act since I was a kid; I wanted to be a songwriter since I got my guitar at 16; but fear and circumstances kept getting in the way of my dreams. I'm glad I got to do some growing up, and I'm glad I have a relationship with God that I did NOT have as a kid or at 16. Don't get me wrong, I believed in God, but I didn't truly know Him like I do now, and I definitely didn't know my identity in Him. I was searching for all sorts of things at 16, and if I had pursued these dreams at that age, I think it would have been the death of me. God knew in His infinite wisdom the proper timing for me to start pursuing my dreams. With all that said, I am...