Play the Background

"I know I'm safest when I'm in Your will, and trust Your Word

I know I'm dangerous when I trust myself, my vision blurred

And I ain't got no time to play life's foolish games

Got plenty aims, but do they really Glorify Your name

And it's a shame, the way I want to do these things for You

Don't even cling to you, take time to sit and gleam from You

Seems You were patient in my ignorance

If ignorance is bliss, it's 'cause she never heard of this" - Lecrae: Background

Today, I received a convicting message from my student ministry. The question we were all asking ourselves at the end of the sermon was, " What in my my life disgusts God?"

Yes it is true God loves us unconditionally even in the mistakes we make each day, but God is also a just God who will bring judgement upon us and for good reason. Many times we ease our way through the Christian life, clinging to God's love but loosing sight that He is the ultimate judge and ultimate King who presides over us. All sin disgusts God and if we are not on our knees in repentance than how much do we really care? We can sing worship songs on Sunday afternoon, but how much do we really mean the words we say? Actions do speak louder than words after all. 

I am convicted as much as anyone of not falling on my knees for all the times I have done wrong. And I promise, God did not convict me in an easy loving way. It's hard to realize all the guilt and shame I have in my life for not repenting of my sins and following my own will. Many times, God has to break us in order to reach us.  

For me, I confess, humility has not been my aim. I can say I strive for it, by my actions have not matched up. I have strived for a college decision best for myself, for my time to be used in the most productive means for myself, for others to see my efforts, and so on. I have failed to be a daughter humbly serving my mother, doing chores when unasked, seeing the needs of others above my own, and most of all, lacking to put GOD before myself! :'( 

Sadly, I will always fail, but that doesn't mean I won't try. Being a Christian is one of the hardest things you will do in your life. If it is not, than I ask you, Are you truly in love with Christ? Do you really fear God? 

I've been listening to these lyrics by Lecrae in a song titled Background. I have thought so much about the lyrics, I even dreamed I was listening to the song!? But mainly I am committed to playing the background. I am not that impressive at all except for the one gift I have, and that is Christ. Without Him, I am honestly amounted to nothing, so there is no point to glorifying myself. 

Dying to self,

Grace

Restless

All my days and my nights
Can't stop thinking of their lives
Is there a way I can escape
Move past the stillness in each day
My heart is afraid
For the gangs and the pains
Of a life marked with sorrow
Striving to make it to tomorrow
I cannot stand still with my heart
In the grips of the chains 
On the hands and the feet of the gangs
I am seeking a new tomorrow
To see Chicago
To share Christ with the lowly
the hurting, the broken
To share Christ with the rigid
the angered, the tormented
To share Christ with a diverse culture 
Marked by the world
Each so different yet so similar 
For they yearn for a greater love
I will wait on the Lord
Patiently wait for His Word
If He's calling me to this people
Who need to enter beneath His steeple
Oh Lord my heart is burdened
What am I to do?
Make your love burn bright 
In the soles of their shoes
That a pathway of light
may mark the streets in the night

Psalm 113

"Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!

Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised!

The Lord is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!"

New Design :)

       I felt creative today and decided to give some design to my blog. :) Hopefully it looks nice. I just reached Spring Break and my excitement level is high. In two days, I will be riding a bus to Chicago on a mission trip!! I Cannot begin to explain how excited I am for this trip. This will be my third mission trip to Chicago. I have fallen in love with the city and the people. I cannot wait to share about Jesus Christ!! :D

Like I said, I felt creative, so I created a cover page for my mission trip journal. Obedience is the theme of our trip and 1 Samuel 15: 22 is our key verse.

This week I'm striving to be Obedient to God through all my efforts in Chicago. It's not a sacrifice to live a life for Christ, it is a blessing. I feel so blessed to be apart of what God is doing in the city of Chicago. it's so nice to take time and be reminded of the awesome blessing we have to represent Christ through our lives. :)

~ Grace

Prayer Without Ceasing

       I know it's truly been a while since I have posted on my blog. I wanted to upload a video for you all, but I am currently technically challenged or my computer is. Btw, what is in my heart today may not make you feel better about yourself, in fact it has brought me down pretty low. Anyways, I've been convicted this week that I just do not pray enough. I am afraid I have been one of those scheduled pray people lately. I'll pray before bed, maybe in my car, and in the morning, but is that really enough? The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, to "Pray without ceasing." I fear I have greatly neglected this verse in my life. 
       Jesus had a ministry of only three years, yet he never ceased in prayer to his Father. Jesus would go and pray alone, without distraction and pray for hours, even days. There are plenty of things distracting our lives, but we can do what Jesus did. Not the prayer when times are difficult, the prayer to feel like you've done your part with God, the scheduled prayer that you have practically memorized, etc. No, the pray from the heart that never ceases in blessing throughout the day. Be constantly in prayer walking mode as you go throughout your day. I know I am going to try this today. I think I'm going to clear out my prayer closet tonight leaving books, Hw, distractions aside. Following Christ is sacrifice:
       
        Romans 12:1-2

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

       Presenting yourself to God as a Living Sacrifice. Now we shouldn't think that we are sacrificing our time to God. He is already in control of our time, but to be a living sacrifice is Obedience.        I know so many of you are already so Obedient to Christ in your lives and for that, I am striving to be. I want to take a moment to thank all who read my blog and all the blogs I read for never ceasing to strive towards obedience. You all inspire me. :)