turning your back…on the crowd

This post by Ann Voskamp appeared in front of me this morning. Here’s an excerpt:

 

We all get to choose where we set up the stage of our lives — before the Crowds, the Court, the Congregation, the Critics (inner or otherwise)-– or the Cross of Christ.

All except One will assess your performance.

Only One will accept you before your performance.

 

When identity is not drawn from a performance – but drawn toward a Person, the person of Jesus – this is the place where a life makes music. If your performance is fueled by a need for acceptance, that is what burns your life out.

But when His already acceptance is the very fuel of your performance – this is what ignites a life into pure glory.

Profound acceptance is what gives you profound performance.

Now you can give the performance of your life — because it’s based on the completeness of your acceptance: Which means you dance.

Which means an erupting relief of grateful joy moves you.

Which means there’s this symphonic movement — that moves the world.

Listen – it’s not how you perform; it’s unconditional love based on your acceptance by God

words?

just how powerful are words? This is what Proverbs 18:21 says in The Message:

Scripture_Prov18v21

It’s all about Him – not a cause

Copied and pasted from my friend Heather Pound’s blog

 

“People in the poorest countries that rely heaviest on aid are human beings—quite often, very thoughtful human beings—with equally valuable and important places at the table of God’s mission in the world as anyone else……Jesus was not known as one who dished out meals to prostitutes and other vulnerable sinners. He sat with them and ate with them. Doing mission, then, probably needs to look more like a shared meal than a soup kitchen, with none of us bound in gratitude except to God alone.”
-Rachel Marie Stone

 

I believe in Justice,
But I am not a preacher of the gospel of Justice
But the gospel of Christ who calls us to Justice
I Believe in Love
But I am not a preacher of the gospel of Love
But the gospel of Christ who calls us to Love
I Am committed to Peace
But I am not a preacher of the gospel of Peace
But the gospel of Christ who calls us to Peace
I believe in the value of the simple life
But I am not a preacher of the simple life
But the gospel of Christ that calls us to the simple life
Let us be aware of the ultimate plagiarism of borrowing some great concepts from Jesus, then running off proclaiming these concepts and not sharing the Christ that empowers these concepts.
-Myron S. Augsburger

It’s all Him.  Any gratitude belongs to Him, both of the receiver and the one privileged to give in His name.  Any presentation of peace, love, justice, hope, freedom is hollow without pointing the way to Him and giving credit where credit is due.

Him.  In us, but NOT us.  No one better than the next—but infinitely valuable all the same.
“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father………Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”  Col. 3: 17, 24

sozo

I saw this word. sozo, on Ann VosKamp’s blog today. Here is the link. http://www.aholyexperience.com/2014/01/what-jesus-said-is-a-life-changer-the-sozo-habit-camera-giveaway-winners It is an excerpt from her book One Thousand Gifts.

The Greek word “sozo” means “to save, deliver, protect, heal, preserve, do well, and be made whole.”

Keep Making Me

How to THRIVE?

“Keep Making Me”

Make me broken
So I can be healed
‘Cause I’m so calloused
And now I can’t feel
I want to run to You
With heart wide open
Make me broken

Make empty
So I can be filled
‘Cause I’m still holding
Onto my will
And I’m completed
When you are with me
Make me empty

‘Til You are my one desire
‘Til You are my one true love
‘Til You are my breath, my everything
Lord, please keep making me

Make me lonely
So I can be Yours
‘Til I want no one
More than You, Lord
‘Cause in the darkness
I know You will hold me
Make me lonely

the WORD

Scripture_John1v1

“Jesus We Crown You With Praise”

The first time You came they crowned You with thorns
As on an old rugged cross You were raised
But the next time You come, it won’t be as before
For this time we’ll crown You with praise.

Jesus we crown You with praise
Jesus we crown You with praise
We love and adore You
Bow down before You
Jesus we crown You with praise

Alpha and Omega
Mighty God, The great I Am
Emmanuel, the Ancient of Days
King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Calvary’s sacrificial Lamb
We love you and crown You with praise

THRIVE

thrive1

 

: to grow or develop successfully : to flourish or succeed

1: to grow vigorously : flourish
2: to gain in wealth or possessions : prosper
3: to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances

#oneword365

 

 

John 10:10

(KJV) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

(The Message) A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

(ESV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

 

Five Minute Friday: Lonely

Today I am joining Lisa-Jo for Five Minute Friday. If you’re new here (welcome!) the rules are simple: Write, don’t edit, link your post to her page, and then share the encouragement like wildfire.

The prompt this week is: Lonely

2013-08-07 18.21.12

What does lonely mean? Is it being alone? If so, I’m good with that. According to the tests (and after talking with friends and family) I am an introvert. I recharge by being alone. I’m seldom lonely. Shocker, right? I know that some folks hate to be alone and will do whatever is necessary to avoid it. Not me! I almost crave it!

But maybe that’s not what lonely means? Maybe it’s more of a heart or soul connection. In that sense I don’t like being alone. I need connection and community. I think God made us for community.  Having friends and family who know who I am is important to me. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about the church being the body of Christ – and how we have been created uniquely and individually with no part more important than another. Isn’t that great? And we all fit together and work together in harmony for His purpose and glory.

I guess the emotional definition of lonely is when the body of Christ is out of balance. Someone is left out and alone – not part of the body.

 

 

Tip: iGoogle / igHome

OK, so igoogle is going away – like google reader. Blah!!! I’ve been using igoogle for several years and it’s become quite a habit and convenience!

BUT ighome is pretty close. It’s based on your google account and you can add gadgets to see multiple accounts and feeds at once. It’s become my go-to page. It’s easy to customize what feeds you what and how they should look. I have my gmail, feedly, twitter feed, calendar, sports news and scores and weather all coming to one page. Then I can jump off to check out more info on any of these items.

Check it out!