Keeping it Real

Sometimes, the things that make me think a little deeper can be very strange things! Recently, I downloaded a new cd by Mandisa. The title is "What if we were real". Leading up to the release of this cd, I had been reading several tweets by Mandisa and how this album came about. She became very frustrated with herself, her struggle with weight, etc., and one day she blurted something out on twitter. Something very real to what she was struggleing with that day. I have to admit, I've always thought her tweets were more real than something I would but out for the public to see. (Let me be very clear, she is always tasteful and is never putting out information to get attention. But, she tells the truth about exactly what she is doing that day.) Somedays are up and some are down.

This has had me thinking about being real with people. I always try to be authentic with people, yet I'm not sure I really do a good job of speaking what is on my heart. Sometimes I'm not even sure what is stirring in my heart! lol  I don't always have the words to describe how something affects me. I certainly rarely have the words to describe what God is trying to do in my life. Sometimes, I'm not even spending enough time with God to give any advice on that category. Now that is real!! lol

One day recently, God gave me two situations where people were very real with me. In just a matter of "hello how is it going?" two different people poured their heart out to me about some very tough stuff going on in their life. I was blown away they trusted me enough to share this information. I was reminded that people are real, if we will just listen. And, I was reminded that my heart needs to be open to really hear what they are saying. And, I was challenged to be more real with people. They don't want or need fake Christianity. They need the real deal! I appreciate it when folks are real, so why would they feel any different?

Now, I'm not saying go and tell everyone your problems, but you know who you can trust. You know who has a heart for Jesus. You know a kindred spirit when you see one! So, share! Open up, be honest! You might just be surprised what God will do with it.

The Holy Spirit has Spoken, I have Listened

My heart has been plowed this weekend and I don't even know where to begin.

First, let me say that the Holy Spirit is real - in case you had a doubt! And, sometimes, when you hear him speak, you can't translate it into words. But, your heart knows when it has been spoken to. Your heart is different. Your heart is better. I'm convinced this is why we all get tripped up on explaining God to people because you simply can't put the Holy Spirit into words.

I told you last week I was longing for my Jesus. Today (and it's Monday to boot!), my cup is overflowing. Not my bank account, not my situations, nothing has changed at my house...except my heart.

When the Holy Spirt works in my heart, he allows me to "feel" more and to soak up Jesus. With ease I can soak up his love for me, his grace, his majesty. Somedays I can put on the music, pull out the Word, but I'm just not feeling it. But when the Holy Spirit shows up, it is effortless.

Today as I listened to a song that mentioned him being slain for me, it hit me fresh: Jesus, not any other god that people bow down to, or make up or worship, was slain for me and you. What other god has that resume? I don't know of one who laid his life down for his people like Jesus did. (Historically the bible is true. A man died. Whether you recognize the spiritual element of his death or not, someone was really slain and died a brutal death.)

This weekend, the Holy Spirit spoke. The ground didn't shake. Lightening didn't strike. He simply used someone who was listening to Him, to speak to his people. My longing heart has heard and is filled. My ears are opened. My walls have been knocked down...once again. All of these make it easy for me to feel his presence, hear his word and draw near to him. It is amazing that a few words, uttered by an obedient disciple of Christ, words that in the natural make no sense, can open my heart and plow hard ground like nothing else I could ever dream up on my own. The Holy Spirit has spoken and praise God that he has allowed my heart to hear and be changed.

As Long As it Takes

Much of my job entails marketing and promotion, so I'm hypersensitive to marketing when it comes to the Lord. I don't even like to write on this blog unless something has moved me so much that I think maybe it is worthy of putting out for the world to read. And, sometimes it is only meaningful to me.

I just heard this song for the first time. Before I listened to the song, I watched a short interview about how this song came about. And, it was exactly where her (Meredith Andrews) heart was at that moment. She didn't want to put music out there just to fill an album, she wanted it to mean something, but she felt empty, like there was nothing left to say. I can relate.

So, please take a moment and listen to this. It's beautiful. What blesses me is that there are people in the music industry who actually care enough to seek God first, and put out something meaningful. Trust me, it matters. I can hear it in their songs. And, I appreciate that they are walking the walk and not just talking the talk. It challenges me to do the same.

Here is the link. Hope you enjoy.
http://youtu.be/8uYOHsX_o7s

Who Are We Listening To

Here are a few verses from Proverbs 14 that spoke to me today. I really could have posted the entire thing, but in an effort to keep this short, I only put a few.


12. There is a way that appears to be right, 
   but in the end it leads to death. 
23. All hard work brings a profit, 
   but mere talk leads only to poverty.

29. Whoever is patient has great understanding,
   but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.

Today I'm pondering my connection to those God puts directly in my life. We, as a nation and generation of the world wide web, value the opinions of many. We seek knowledge from various sources. We read and read and read about various topics, trying to stay current on everything humanly possible. But, today I've stopped to ask the question: Should we only be listening to those God has put in our path? 

God has a message for each of us. When you read his word, it may speak to me differently than it does you based on my life and what is going on. If God wants to reach me with a particular message, maybe he has given me a husband, a pastor, a friend to deliver that message to me. Certainly he can use the internet, the television, but he is such a personal God that I have to believe these people he has placed in my path may be a more direct connection to his message for me. 

Like I mentioned, I'm just pondering this thought today. I'm not saying I 100% have reached a conclusion. I'm wondering if maybe I should listen more closely to what those around me are saying and stop pursuing outside sources. Maybe everything God wants me to know is right in front of me, and I'm missing it. Information is good, but things can get lost in our age of information overload. That is all I'm saying.