Aggression... In its most Elegant form.

{ I haven’t really blogged in a while. But tonight I really felt like I just needed to blog in the midst of what I consider busy. I hope this one is for you… <3 whoever you are.}

I titled this blog roadmap because right now my life is going down a path. I know that the path is right. But sometimes, I still feel lost. Its like in the midst of me doing what I know I am supposed to be doing, I seem to ask myself this question… “is there more?… is there something I’m missing? When will I be able to just see the whole picture and know where I am actually headed?”

The interesting thing is that this question, while frustratingly honest for me. Is one that I think many people find them-self saying. As humans with limited understanding… We want a distinct, precise, and easy to read Map of our yesterday, today, and future. We want to know what everything we go through means… It has to have meaning right? We MUST be headed in a specific direction.

And if this is the truth… then I should know what I am doing means and somehow be able to see its future purpose in the moment life is happening in the present. WOULDN’T THAT BE NICE…

The word RoadMap actually means: A detailed plan or explanation to guide you in setting standards or determining a course of action.

After I read this definition, I began to think about what I have right in-front of me as a RoadMap… The sad thing is that we all have one. We just dont use it.

The first thing that I have is the Bible… It was written so that we could look into the life and words of Men and Women, who encountered the very feelings and issues that we deal with. It is also COMPLETELY God inspired… so that means that there are things in there that our MAKER, CREATOR, AND AUTHOR… wants us to see.

Not only that… God also gives us people, Leaders… that we can look to and learn from and follow. The thing that is difficult for most people is that leaders are not always perfect. BUT NEITHER ARE WE… SO THAT SHOULD GIVE US HOPE THAT GOD WANTS TO USE US TOO… Even-though we fail.

Leaders are not in our lives to be perfect. Read the Bible. Not one leader besides Jesus was perfect… God doesn’t expect us to never fail, He just wants us to get up when we fall! 

From this day forward, I want to actually USE the map that God has given me… The Bible tells us that we are to be “HOLY”… the literal break down of that word starts with “WHOLE”… The only way that we are whole or holy is when we actually live what we believe and live what we say… 

Without God, You don’t have a plan. At least not one with an expected ending… for good!

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, said the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

And the good news is that we don’t have to try to figure out how to make our “good ending” happen…when you read Gods word, when you apply Gods word, and most importantly when you live it… there is a promise for us…

In Isaiah 55:11, Isaiah (the prophet) confirms what God says to us,“My word that goes out from my mouth; shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

And this is said again by Jesus (Gods Son) inMatthew 24:35,  ”Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

 This brings me Hope that I can know that no matter what happens that seems to not make sense or have an end does have a purpose for me…

It is even stated in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

It is so important that we use what we have been given to guide us. We have a “Detailed plan to guide” us. You are the one that has to have the   “Standards or determining course of action” to actually live the plan before you. 

Like my dad always says to me… You are the Key, you are the one that will open doors… you are the Answer. You just have to apply what you already have and the RoadMap will always take you where you need to go… The key to make your roadmap work for you is through Obedience and Consistency. 

So stop trying to figure everything out and just DO WHAT YOU KNOW TO DO… I know thats what I am going to do… :) 

Yesterday was Easter. And as I thought about what that day means… The only thing I could say is Hallelujah!

But this word is not just a word. It is a Declaration…

Hallelujah litterally means “Let us praise God”. 

    In Exodus 15:2 it says, “The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”

Everyday we have a choice to live a life that lifts up God higher than our circumstances, emotions, and If you start to make God BIGGER than your problems and focus on Him rather than look to something that will just distract you…You will begin to see theGod of Problem solving, Our ultimate Promise keeper, and the King and Creator of all things start to come through in your times of need. 

     One thing that I am learning, is that it doesn’t matter where I am, whats happening in life, or who I am around. I don’t need a church or music to feel God. He is accessible to me at ALL times, and is in-fact just waiting for me to just see Him and ask Him to come. I do not want to waste my life by letting circumstances, people, or problems get in my way. GOD IS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN IT ALL…!!!

And He wants us to rise above our natural ways/thoughts/emotions and start living in a way that the supernatural is so strong and apparent in our daily lives that it is our natural. For we are a spirit, living on earth… and we have the power to call Heaven to earth.

     Everyday you have the choice to encounter God in such a great way. Dont let another day pass by that you dont Feel Him, Hear Him, and See Him in EVERY part of your life!

How do you encounter God? Well, It all starts with realizing the power you have to lift up your eyes/voice/mind to a place that is not of this world. The key to unlock that door to the supernatural is by starting to praise God and lift Him up higher than your way.

 By doing this you are DECLARING THAT YOU WILL PRAISE HIM, NO MATTER WHAT! 

                                   And… Even if you feel broken…. 

                                      Still say it… Declare it! 

                                                 Live it!

                                        H a l l e l u j a h !

“Praise The Lord! Praise The Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels, praise Him, all His host! Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you shining stars!” (Psalm 148:1-3)

{Thank You Jesus. Thank you that you had a plan for us even before we were formed. We just want to worship you, Hold NOTHING back from you. Because You Deserve it all! All of our Hearts, All of our Lives, All… Take it all… We lift you up HIGHER God! Thank you for taking my sins. For Giving your life up for me, even when I did not love you, even-though I do not deserve it. God you still Love me, Accept me, Fight for me! And although I have little to give, Take it all! I make you bigger in my life! I declare that you are Good, you are God, You are BIGGER than my circumstances, You are wayyy MORE than I need. You are my Portion, my Love, my savior, my GOD! And you are ALIVE! Hallelujah!}

Leonard Cohen wrote a song called Hallelujah, and said that, ”I wanted to write something in the tradition of the hallelujah choruses but from a different point of view… It’s the notion that there is no perfection ~ that this is a broken world and we live with broken hearts and broken lives but still that is no alibi for anything. On the contrary, you have to stand up and say hallelujah under those circumstances.”

“Love is not a victory march… 

Its a call. And its a broken Hallelujah!”

To give your life to God costs you EVERYTHING… But to keep it for yourself will gain you NOTHING! God made you. He is the one that put desires, dreams, passions, ideas, and ALL of who you are inside of you!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

So doesnt it make sense ”that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philippians 1:6) That is His promise for us. 

     God Literally BREATHED His life inside of you. He knows you, Loves YOU, and He wants whats best for you! Sometimes I have the tendancy to think that I can handle certain things/issues that may arise. Or I only give God parts of my life and by holding back… I begin to live in a way that I am withholding exactly what God is asking me for!

He wants to turn my tendency to hold back~ Into freedom and passion, to turn my fears~ into confidence in Him, which leads to my dreams coming true, God wants to turn my pain~ into Joy and peace that is unfathomable…        

                        And all He asks is that we TRUST Him with these things.

     But it cant be a partial way of living. Living your life for your self brings nothing but dissatisfaction in the end. But when you live your to give your life back to the one who created you… you are actually EMPOWERED to do more, be more, and receive more, than you ever imagined.

You were created for relationship with God and have a distinct purpose to Love God, Love ourselves, and Love others. If you dont get your relationship right with God first, nothing else will work how its supposed to… When you are in right relationship with Him and you seek to understand Gods ways, you start to see and hear and do things that may not make sense, but present results that you could have never created on your own. 

     One of my favorite scriptures is (Ephesians 4:1-6) which says, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” 

     I could probably go on-and-on about this scripture and expound on it. But In Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus, he frequently refers to himself as a “prisoner.” In his case, Paul was a prisoner on many occasions. But in this scripture he referrers to himself this way, to express that he had surrendered his self-interests and entire life to God… for whom he gladly suffered.

When we have a clear picture of WHO GOD IS, we are able to fully give WHO WE ARE… and we then are able to become WHO WE WERE MADE TO BE! Thats one of the things that is so great about God. He gives us a choice to Love Him, to serve Him, and to use what He has given us. 

     What many people do not realize is that until you choose to surrender, instead of making your OWN way… You will never experience TRUE freedom. God is not a God who wants to control you. Its not like surrender means that you now wear chains and He drags you around. 

Surrender is not always pleasant, and it for sure is not easy… The word Surrender is actually derived from the Greek word “paradidomi” which can mean yield up, transmit, and entrust.

      By yielding, transmitting, and entrusting God with your life, you are saying that “Your ways are higher than my ways.”

And when you are open to what God is saying, and where He is leading, You end up finding that HIS WAY is SO much better than what you could have chosen or discovered on your own. The best part of surrender is that you have no other option but to succeed!

      God want whats best for you! He Loves you… Dont you think that He will guide you and lead you into what is BEST for you!>? Think about your level of surrender to Him… He surrendered Himself so that our sins would be washed away…

He gave EVERYTHING He had… (His Life). The question is… Are you willing to do the same for Him!?                                          

                                In the bible it says…. 

“I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” (Genesis 28:15)

{In this part of the bible, Jacob was running away… And in the midst of his running, he not only had an encounter with God, but Something changed in Jacob… forever. He started off as a man who stole his brothers birthright and lived with the guilt of lying/stealing. And somehow, Just like Jacob, we can find ourself choosing ways that are not what is best for us. (but seem beneficial at the time) 

Yet while, God does not approve of our actions all the time… He still chooses us.  just as He had chosen Jacob even before he was born. While we were not even born God had a plan for us.}

     So dont get caught up thinking that because you have made mistakes, God cant use you. As long as you learn from what you have or haven’t done… you seek God & you choose to give Him everything… 

EVERYTHING. Not just pieces of your life, heart, mind, body, soul, day, relationships, emotions, desires, passions, fears, regrets, un-forgiveness, or whatever else…

If you give ALL 

you are to God, He can and will use you!

And just like Jacob, who was transformed so that he had a future and a hope. You should be encouraged in knowing that God has promised that he would be with you… and that He will finish what He started in you… before you were even on this earth if you just 

TRUST Him to do it!

{My dad wrote this poem about LOVE… & It really touched my heart! I hope you like it as much as I did!}

                         LOVE IS…

“Love is a feeling, in the beginning of life.
It is something we miss, when there is a lot of strife.
Love is something we long for, that we never outgrow.
It’s a lifelong search, everyone wants to know.

As you grow older, love can be harder to find.
Some say love, can even make you blind.
To be loved, is the quest of every man.
To find someone, somewhere that makes us feel like WE can.

Love is like the ocean, where some swim and some drown.
It can take you up, or take you down.
Love comes natural, yet it doesn’t automatically grow
It’s a paradox of yes, and many times no.

Love is a mystery, a story to unfold.
Everyone wants to discover it, before they get too old.
Love seems illusive, beyond ordinary grasp.
It does not work, if you’re content in wearing a mask.

While love begins as a feeling, it is so much more.
It is the sustenance of life, it is formed in the hearts deepest core.
It’s capacity knows no limits or bounds.
The ability to love and be loved for all, is our most sacred ground.

So what is, this thing called love.
More than a feeling, it is a privilege from Above.
An ability to see the best, when the worst has been displayed.
It’s a heart that believes, even when circumstances dissuade.

Love is hope, in a heart that has been hurt.
It is cleansing solution, to internal unseen dirt.
Love is an Action, directed by the human mind.
When we choose to love, we are Divine.

Loves search begins, on the day we are born.
It leads some to feel secure, while others feel battered and torn.
But for anyone who is willing, to make love THE choice.
They can rise above anything because Love gives God a voice.

For love is a language, that can be spoken by all,
It’s a choice to be God-like and to answer His call.
To love like He loved and live like He lived.
No greater love, can any man give.

Love is a feeling, in the beginning of life,
But as it grows deeper, it soars higher than hatred and strife.
Love conquers all and covers all sin.
Love in the end, is God’s invitation to Win.”

http://keithcraftblog.com/

                                       Σ’αγαπώ: “I LOVE YOU”

I tell you, the more I think, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.”   ~Vincent van Gogh~

Going by with your day… not caring about anyone but yourself is not original or even hard to do. In fact, it takes a conscious effort to get out of your comfort zone and love someone. I think that so often we get caught up in our day/our ways… that we forget why we are on this earth.

Contrary to how we usually prioritize our lives… we were not put here to:

-work a job

-get married

-have a family

-make millions

-have the best fashion

-be famous

-graduate from the best college

-or make the most friends

     God made us so that we could first worship Him and be in relationship with Him… And then to from that point, Love people in such a way that they come to know Him as well.

 In the Bible it says in 1 John 4:7-11 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

 As you can see… there is more to living than simply living. Whether people know God or not… Everyone can feel that there has to be MORE! The good news is that there is. But too many people spend their time focused on what they like and don’t like… and what they “THINK” God likes and doesn’t like… that they loose sight/forget that our JOB is to tell people what God LOVES…!

     Imagine what the world would be like if we consciously smiled all the time… If we Loved even when we did not receive it in return… and what if we actually were able to make a difference in the world, by making a difference in someones life… everyday! You see, we do not have to be a political figure or even a famous figure in society to make something happen. Small change in our every day lives can make a HUGE difference!

     A technical term that can better explain this idea is called “Butterfly Effect” (or sometimes referred to a Chaos Theory). A butterfly’s soft tiny wings can make changes in the atmosphere, that can ultimately alter the path of a Tornado, it can even create or prevent the occurrence of tornado at certain location. It doesn’t mean that flapping of a butterfly’s wings only can create tornado, but its a consecutive chain of effects whose initial conditions would be different… if not because the flapping wings of a butterfly.

Sometimes I feel like the day-to-day seems so insignificant. But really it is the most important thing… “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” (Leo Tolstoy) 

Being a better you starts with you making better choices everyday! And when you start with changing the way you do things/think about things, and start to focus on Loving others. Thats when you begin to make a difference. God begins to bless you like never before, and it is in that place that He can use you on a greater level because you are actually doing what you were created to do, which is mirror God. (Who is Love!)

     Like the quote at the top of the page says… “There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.” This is true because there are {Hundreds-Thousands-MILLIONS-B I L L I O N S!} Of ways to show that you LOVE someone. It doesn’t matter if you know the person or if you cannot remember a moment without them in your life… The fact is that, It takes no creativity or sacrifice to be selfish and focused on yourself… But to be Self-less… That takes courage!

It takes someone willing to let go of their way… and comfort zone. It takes effort to choose to Be the person you were created to be… And by doing so, you will be able to paint a Beautiful picture unlike any other… (called life) that will CHANGE the world around you…!

:)

_LOVE… Always_

“Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”

-William Shakespeare