Most people Run from Lions... Not to them
2 Sam 23:20-23
Beniah chased a lion into the pit and killed it.
Lions run 35mph jump 30ft into the air
The right place often seems like the wrong place and the right time often seems like the wrong time!
If he hadn't ended up in the pit with the lion... Would he have been the kings bodyguard.??
It's in our pits on our worst days that God is preparing US for what he's got planned FOR us!!
Where you are right now... is on the way to where he's taking you!!
Keep taking risks! Keep chasing lions!!
How do we do that? 5 things to do...
1. Learn to defy the odds
The more the odds are stacked against me the greater glory God will get!! That's what God specializes in... God loves the impossible
Matthew 19:26
Hope you're "so far out of the boat people say... That's impossible!" elevate my faith to what is possible with God
Judges 7:1-7
The Lord said to Gideon... You have too many warriors with you! ...
Started with 32,300 men - you're going to take the credit... Because you have enough! I'm going to strip from you the things that you're comfortable with... Just getting you set up for a win!
If it happened the other way you would think it's about you. Your gift
2. Unlearn our fears. Our irrational fears.
2 Tim 1:7
You need an antidote to your fears!! Don't let fear take root! Grab it before it gets out if control!
There are things God wants to do in your life...
DO THINGS afraid!!! The fear doesn't go away if you run from it!!
The fear of failure is not success... It's a little failure!!
Expose yourself to small quantities of what we're afraid of!
Advance with wisdom... Not pulling back in fear
3. See problems in a new way!
See it differently! Keep Gods perspective! Don't zoom in on your problem! Zoom in on God!
Most if our problems don't have to do with our circumstances... They have to do with our perception
We usually reduce God to our biggest problem!
Adversity is the seedbed of opportunity!!
You're not meant to live without tribulation!!
Don't run from it! Engaged in what He's doing! I've got more ground for you to take!
4. Dare to look foolish!
Faith is a willingness to look foolish! Noah looked foolish building an ark in the dessert. Sara buying maternity clothes at 90. ...
1 Corinth 1:27
Normality is highly overrated!!
5. Stay curious playful eager!
2 Sam 6:20-22
God's looking for a generation that says I'm not going to let fear hold me back..
God is calling us to places we've never been!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
time well spent down under: THE CLIMB
*Warning - This blog may be all over the place - because I'm so excited!*
Background:
You may or may not guess/know this about me - I am a WUSS - and have been a fearful person most of my life...
Here are some fears - just to list a few
(please don't think that I'm neurotic... actually, if you do I don't really care - because I'm not afraid of what people think anymore!) ha.
Spiders. Being alone. Stairs (or anything that I could see bellow me). Bats. Roller Coasters (if I'm not on the side with the stairs.) Bridges. Not locking the door once I'm home (someone coming in). What people think of me. Not getting to say goodbye to someone I love.
These fears controlled me... paralyzed me. NOT ANYMORE!
I didn't know that I would face my fears and get over them in AU. I had NO CLUE! But I am changed. I'm not fearful anymore. Seriously it's amazing! :OD
I went to Australia gripped by fear. It had provided some sort of sick comfort. I think that I craved attention - so in my fear I got that attention. (ouch the truth is ugly!) There was something that IN being afraid - I was being taken care of. (note - one of my fears is being alone).
Christine Caine (who is one of my favorite women!) was preaching about "risky living" which is definitely NOT ME! I want to live that way - but don't. I liked my fear too much!
She talked about how she was afraid of flying (the woman travels 300 days out of the year now... she CAN'T be afraid of flying!) She wouldn't be able to do what she is MEANT to do - if she was still afraid.
Chris said, "It's time to look fear in the eye and Face Your Fears!" At that moment I KNEW I needed to climb the bridge. My sister and I had talked about doing it - but ran out of time...
I knew I needed to do it by myself! (again... fear of being alone). I wasn't going to tell anybody. I was just going to do it and show the pictures for proof after. BUT if I didn't tell anyone... I could have backed out. So I told a few friends. I called the Bridge Climb office and gave them my check card number and booked the climb (once you book it - you can't get your money back). SO... I was going to do the climb.
The day of the climb came. I gave myself 2 hours to find the place (I'm a bit directionally challenged). Mom called as I was sitting there waiting - so I let her and my sister know that I was doing it... (I was so glad they called - because if that was the last time I talked to anyone - I got to say I love you and they could pass it on!)
I was petrified! I climbed with 9 other people and the Guide "Bernie". We had to introduce ourselves and say why we were doing the climb. I told everyone that I was, "Suzy from MN and I'm climbing the bridge to face my fear of bridges and get over it!" they all clapped. It was nice! Until I had the suite on - everything clamped to me and I was on my way up the ladder!
I seriously didn't think I was going to make it up the 10 foot ladder to a graded podium (that I could see bellow me) and back down. My heart was beating out of my chest and I was beginning to get dizzy. The worst thing is we had to stand on the top of the 10 foot podium and WAIT to get down. I knew I had to concentrate and get serious!
I was right next to the guide. He looked at me and said, "Suzy... your life will be transformed today. When you come off this bridge you'll be a changed women! No one will recognize you - your fear will be gone!" It took everything in me not to start balling! I looked at him - determined (not believing it yet) and said, "AMEN" that's all I could think of!
We began the climb. I was shaking and almost peed my pants - just reciting over and over, "I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me. I can do all things... through Christ" It was going over and over in my head while I white-knuckle gripped the railings of the stairs. Then I decided to look around and it changed to, "I AM doing all things! ... Ooh - that's a pretty building. This isn't so bad!" Then it was just steps. No more ladders - and I was latched to the side of the bridge. As long as I didn't look down I was fine!
Then Bernie announced that it was "Suzy's Right of Passage! Time to get over this fear!" The whole group cheered. I looked back and it was as if they were pushing me. I walked across a little cat walk (ABOVE THE 8 LANES OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC...) Bernie stopped in the middle and said, "Look Down." So I did. My hands gripped the side as I began to look down. Then it wasn't that bad and I just started laughing!
That was it.
It was over.
I wanted to say, "You don't got nothin' on me!!" Actually... I think I did say that!
How could something that was so paralizing be gone so quickly? I'm not sure but it was!! So I made it to the other side! The group cheered I smiled! Then Bernie started going the wrong way... we HAD to go to the summit and he turned right instead of left to go to the top. So I said, "Bernie, where are you going - we've gotta go to the top to get pictures (so I can PROVE that I did it!)"
He said, (in all his wisdom) "Suzy - sometimes it looks like you're going the wrong direction - but then just at the right moment (he turned on the wire) you realize you're going exactly where you need to." He just kind of giggled. I'm sure by this point he figured out that I like to know exactly what's happening.
Haha... another funny thing that God has been showing me. "I don't have to know it all!" (blog to be posted soon).
So I just laughed and followed!
We made it to the top. I got my pictures. And then we went down.
It was AMAZING! It was life changing. There were moments that I wanted to share it with someone special... but then I was so glad that I did it by myself!!
The best part has been AFTER the climb! There is truly a change in me. I feel it everyday.
I laughed on the way down at the stairs that I was so petrified of on the way up.
I went looking for bats that afternoon. I jumped on the grates on the sidewalk as I walked down the street that day. I just smiled as we drove across the Sydney Harbor Bridge a few days later. 2 spiders made webs in my windows at home (big spiders too... for MN) and I just looked at them and smiled. I love being alone (for the first time in my life). I'm not looking for something or someone to fulfill me! I don't need the attention that fear provided. The trade off is not worth it.
I can proudly say again... I'M NOT AFRAID.
I've had some cool things happen in my life. But I must say that this climb has been the most life changing experience so far! I've been saved from the grip of fear that once held me.
Background:
You may or may not guess/know this about me - I am a WUSS - and have been a fearful person most of my life...
Here are some fears - just to list a few
(please don't think that I'm neurotic... actually, if you do I don't really care - because I'm not afraid of what people think anymore!) ha.
Spiders. Being alone. Stairs (or anything that I could see bellow me). Bats. Roller Coasters (if I'm not on the side with the stairs.) Bridges. Not locking the door once I'm home (someone coming in). What people think of me. Not getting to say goodbye to someone I love.
These fears controlled me... paralyzed me. NOT ANYMORE!
I didn't know that I would face my fears and get over them in AU. I had NO CLUE! But I am changed. I'm not fearful anymore. Seriously it's amazing! :OD
I went to Australia gripped by fear. It had provided some sort of sick comfort. I think that I craved attention - so in my fear I got that attention. (ouch the truth is ugly!) There was something that IN being afraid - I was being taken care of. (note - one of my fears is being alone).
Christine Caine (who is one of my favorite women!) was preaching about "risky living" which is definitely NOT ME! I want to live that way - but don't. I liked my fear too much!
She talked about how she was afraid of flying (the woman travels 300 days out of the year now... she CAN'T be afraid of flying!) She wouldn't be able to do what she is MEANT to do - if she was still afraid.
Chris said, "It's time to look fear in the eye and Face Your Fears!" At that moment I KNEW I needed to climb the bridge. My sister and I had talked about doing it - but ran out of time...
I knew I needed to do it by myself! (again... fear of being alone). I wasn't going to tell anybody. I was just going to do it and show the pictures for proof after. BUT if I didn't tell anyone... I could have backed out. So I told a few friends. I called the Bridge Climb office and gave them my check card number and booked the climb (once you book it - you can't get your money back). SO... I was going to do the climb.
The day of the climb came. I gave myself 2 hours to find the place (I'm a bit directionally challenged). Mom called as I was sitting there waiting - so I let her and my sister know that I was doing it... (I was so glad they called - because if that was the last time I talked to anyone - I got to say I love you and they could pass it on!)
I was petrified! I climbed with 9 other people and the Guide "Bernie". We had to introduce ourselves and say why we were doing the climb. I told everyone that I was, "Suzy from MN and I'm climbing the bridge to face my fear of bridges and get over it!" they all clapped. It was nice! Until I had the suite on - everything clamped to me and I was on my way up the ladder!
I seriously didn't think I was going to make it up the 10 foot ladder to a graded podium (that I could see bellow me) and back down. My heart was beating out of my chest and I was beginning to get dizzy. The worst thing is we had to stand on the top of the 10 foot podium and WAIT to get down. I knew I had to concentrate and get serious!
I was right next to the guide. He looked at me and said, "Suzy... your life will be transformed today. When you come off this bridge you'll be a changed women! No one will recognize you - your fear will be gone!" It took everything in me not to start balling! I looked at him - determined (not believing it yet) and said, "AMEN" that's all I could think of!
We began the climb. I was shaking and almost peed my pants - just reciting over and over, "I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me. I can do all things... through Christ" It was going over and over in my head while I white-knuckle gripped the railings of the stairs. Then I decided to look around and it changed to, "I AM doing all things! ... Ooh - that's a pretty building. This isn't so bad!" Then it was just steps. No more ladders - and I was latched to the side of the bridge. As long as I didn't look down I was fine!
Then Bernie announced that it was "Suzy's Right of Passage! Time to get over this fear!" The whole group cheered. I looked back and it was as if they were pushing me. I walked across a little cat walk (ABOVE THE 8 LANES OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC...) Bernie stopped in the middle and said, "Look Down." So I did. My hands gripped the side as I began to look down. Then it wasn't that bad and I just started laughing!
That was it.
It was over.
I wanted to say, "You don't got nothin' on me!!" Actually... I think I did say that!
How could something that was so paralizing be gone so quickly? I'm not sure but it was!! So I made it to the other side! The group cheered I smiled! Then Bernie started going the wrong way... we HAD to go to the summit and he turned right instead of left to go to the top. So I said, "Bernie, where are you going - we've gotta go to the top to get pictures (so I can PROVE that I did it!)"
He said, (in all his wisdom) "Suzy - sometimes it looks like you're going the wrong direction - but then just at the right moment (he turned on the wire) you realize you're going exactly where you need to." He just kind of giggled. I'm sure by this point he figured out that I like to know exactly what's happening.
Haha... another funny thing that God has been showing me. "I don't have to know it all!" (blog to be posted soon).
So I just laughed and followed!
We made it to the top. I got my pictures. And then we went down.
It was AMAZING! It was life changing. There were moments that I wanted to share it with someone special... but then I was so glad that I did it by myself!!
The best part has been AFTER the climb! There is truly a change in me. I feel it everyday.
I laughed on the way down at the stairs that I was so petrified of on the way up.
I went looking for bats that afternoon. I jumped on the grates on the sidewalk as I walked down the street that day. I just smiled as we drove across the Sydney Harbor Bridge a few days later. 2 spiders made webs in my windows at home (big spiders too... for MN) and I just looked at them and smiled. I love being alone (for the first time in my life). I'm not looking for something or someone to fulfill me! I don't need the attention that fear provided. The trade off is not worth it.
I can proudly say again... I'M NOT AFRAID.
I've had some cool things happen in my life. But I must say that this climb has been the most life changing experience so far! I've been saved from the grip of fear that once held me.
time well spent down under: Face Time
I love how the right people come into our lives at the right time! I also love that we can't know the impact they will have on our lives in the long run - but we can be thankful for today and acknowledge what they mean to us today. Face time with friends in Australia was amazing. I learned things about myself that I didn't know I needed to learn. I saw new things in myself that I haven't seen before.
It was
So much fun.
So much music.
So much laughter.
So many mates.
So many prayers.
So little sleep.
So much uneaten food.
So many chocolate covered strawberries.
So much confusion (interpretation please).
So much family.
So much comfort.
So little internet.
So many "lemon-lime bitters"
So little dancing (cause I can't dance!)
So many "hot drinks"
So many smiles.
So many taxis.
So much snoring. (haha!)
So many trains.
So many Church Services.
So many cards.
So many conversations.
It was nice going through everything face to face.
I don't know if A PERSON can change your life. But I know my life has been changed because you've been in it! No matter what life brings.
I've grown. I continue to grow. It was everything I needed and more.
It was
So much fun.
So much music.
So much laughter.
So many mates.
So many prayers.
So little sleep.
So much uneaten food.
So many chocolate covered strawberries.
So much confusion (interpretation please).
So much family.
So much comfort.
So little internet.
So many "lemon-lime bitters"
So little dancing (cause I can't dance!)
So many "hot drinks"
So many smiles.
So many taxis.
So much snoring. (haha!)
So many trains.
So many Church Services.
So many cards.
So many conversations.
It was nice going through everything face to face.
I don't know if A PERSON can change your life. But I know my life has been changed because you've been in it! No matter what life brings.
I've grown. I continue to grow. It was everything I needed and more.
time well spent down under: Hillsong
"Once your mind is stretched by a tremendous adventure of faith, it will never again return to it's original shape." I won't be the same
I'm trying to collect all of my thoughts about conference - there are so many that I don't know where to start... so let's start with the basics.
Faith. Hope. Love
That was the emphasis at Hillsong Conference 2009.
Faith that Acts.
Hope that Believes.
Love that Trusts.
Faith that Produces.
Hope that Prompts.
Love that Inspires.
Faith in the midst of Circumstance.
Hope for the Future.
Love for Others.
The funny thing about Love is - it's not what love says - but what Love does inside of us! Let's have Hope that doesn't disappoint because of lack of Love! - Pastor Brian
Faith Hope and Love - the greatest of these is Love. 1 Corinth 13
It was amazing to be in a place - with people that are DRIVEN by these 3 things!
Driven by a Faith that is Unshakable. A Hope that is Relentless. A Love that Never Fails. Never gives up. Always trusts. Knows exactly where we're at. Knows what we need. Does not - WILL NOT hold back the best from us. A love that does not keep records of wrongs. A love that if we choose to let it - will change our lives.
LOVE has changed my life.
I'm trying to collect all of my thoughts about conference - there are so many that I don't know where to start... so let's start with the basics.
Faith. Hope. Love
That was the emphasis at Hillsong Conference 2009.
Faith that Acts.
Hope that Believes.
Love that Trusts.
Faith that Produces.
Hope that Prompts.
Love that Inspires.
Faith in the midst of Circumstance.
Hope for the Future.
Love for Others.
The funny thing about Love is - it's not what love says - but what Love does inside of us! Let's have Hope that doesn't disappoint because of lack of Love! - Pastor Brian
Faith Hope and Love - the greatest of these is Love. 1 Corinth 13
It was amazing to be in a place - with people that are DRIVEN by these 3 things!
Driven by a Faith that is Unshakable. A Hope that is Relentless. A Love that Never Fails. Never gives up. Always trusts. Knows exactly where we're at. Knows what we need. Does not - WILL NOT hold back the best from us. A love that does not keep records of wrongs. A love that if we choose to let it - will change our lives.
LOVE has changed my life.
I believe everything happens for a reason.
People change so you can learn to let go.
Things go wrong so you can appreciate them when they're right.
Sometimes good things fall apart so the Best things can fall together.
-author unknown-
a Beautiful friend of mine gave me this.
It's good to look at life and appreciate what we have! No matter what stage we're in. Whether it's in a time of letting go. A time where things seem to be going wrong. Or when everything seems to be right. Good things in life can fall apart to make way for the Best things to fall together.
Living life - and loving EVERY stage!
Things go wrong so you can appreciate them when they're right.
Sometimes good things fall apart so the Best things can fall together.
-author unknown-
a Beautiful friend of mine gave me this.
It's good to look at life and appreciate what we have! No matter what stage we're in. Whether it's in a time of letting go. A time where things seem to be going wrong. Or when everything seems to be right. Good things in life can fall apart to make way for the Best things to fall together.
Living life - and loving EVERY stage!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
this song broke me.
Tear down the walls see the world
Is there something we have missed
Turn from ourselves
Look beyond
There is so much more than this
And I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this
Fire deep inside my heart
Look to the skies hope arise
See His majesty revealed
More than this life there is love
There is hope and this is real
Cause I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart
This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
It’s all for You
Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You
Oh for all the sons and daughters
Who are walking in the darkness
You are calling us to lead them back to You
We will see Your spirit rising
As the lost come out of hiding
Every heart will see this hope we have in You
Cause I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart
This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
It’s all for You
Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You
Tear Down These Walls - Hillsong United
Is there something we have missed
Turn from ourselves
Look beyond
There is so much more than this
And I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this
Fire deep inside my heart
Look to the skies hope arise
See His majesty revealed
More than this life there is love
There is hope and this is real
Cause I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart
This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
It’s all for You
Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You
Oh for all the sons and daughters
Who are walking in the darkness
You are calling us to lead them back to You
We will see Your spirit rising
As the lost come out of hiding
Every heart will see this hope we have in You
Cause I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart
This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
It’s all for You
Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You
Tear Down These Walls - Hillsong United
Monday, August 3, 2009
... It's been a while ...
I just came back from an amazing trip to Australia.
I haven't had consistent internet in about a month and a half. Now it's back to reality! My time in AU was so great! Filled with just about everything that you can imagine. (the stories and blogs will be coming).
It's good to be back! I just spent the weekend with my fam! Laughing, eating, playing cards and doing a lot of nothing... except being together. It's so good to just be in the same room together! We don't get that too often only about twice a year... but those times are the BEST times!!
Love them. So much.
More to come soon. (sorry if it's a lot all at once - there's so much in me to write about). Hope you enjoy! It's been a while
I haven't had consistent internet in about a month and a half. Now it's back to reality! My time in AU was so great! Filled with just about everything that you can imagine. (the stories and blogs will be coming).
It's good to be back! I just spent the weekend with my fam! Laughing, eating, playing cards and doing a lot of nothing... except being together. It's so good to just be in the same room together! We don't get that too often only about twice a year... but those times are the BEST times!!
Love them. So much.
More to come soon. (sorry if it's a lot all at once - there's so much in me to write about). Hope you enjoy! It's been a while
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