Eunoia:

Over the last week God has been really working in my heart. Renewing me, and drawing me back in closer to Him. It never ceases to amaze me how God seeks us. He wants us. He pursues us. He chooses us. Ephesians 1:4-5 says that "He chose us before the foundation of the world". That's pretty amazing! I mean, take a second and think about that. The God, who created the entire world in 7 days, desires to have a relationship with us. With you... with me. He doesn't need us. Not even in the tiniest way. We don't complete Him, we don't make Him better. He's completely, fully, God. Period. And He desires to know us. wow. 

But I think often that's where we stop. We love that He loves us. I mean, I love that He loves me! And I love Him! But it's not about us. The Gospel was never about us.

Growing up in the "Christian culture", I've asked myself so many times, "what is God's plan for my life?"  And Now, I go to a Christian college, where a lot of other Christians ask themselves, their friends, and their mentors, "what is God's plan for my life?" Rightfully so. We're at the brink of life. We "Have our whole lives ahead of us". We want to find our purpose. We want to be successful. And we want to get it right the first time, darn it! So of course we ask this question! 

But I think we're getting it all wrong. We're making it about us. Not Him. John 3:30 says "He must become greater and I must become less." So, I think the real question here is, "What is God's plan, and how can I be a part of it?" Obviously we can't know everything. God doesn't just give us a map and say, turn here, stop here, go to school here and get married here. But there's a thing called trust. When we trust God, He shows us how He can use us. Henry and Richard Blackaby, and Claude King explain this so well, in their study,"Experiencing God". Here's what it says: "God never asks people to dream up something to do for Him. We do not sit down and dream what we want to do for God and then call God in to help us accomplish it. The pattern in scripture is that we submit ourselves to God. Then we wait until God shows us what He is about to do, or we watch to see what God is already doing around us and join Him." I don't know about you, but I would much rather have God directing my path, than myself. I'm horrible at directions. And I think God is far more creative than I am. I mean, He created the mountains and the oceans ... and everything in between!

I am amazed and incredibly blessed to look back on my life and see what God has invited me to be a part of in His grand plan. I've spent a summer doing ministry in Hungary, I've helped build houses in Mexico, I've been able to be a part of ministry in my home church, and now He has me at an great school, learning amazing things and learning so much more about life and the world we live in. And these are just highlights! Four years ago, I would have never imagined my life would look like it does today. I would have never fathomed that my heart would be where it is in ministry. It's so crazy how God uses you when you allow Him to. 

So how about you? How is God at work around you? How can you be part of God's plan? He's inviting you in!

Cultivate.

New years resolutions never really work for me. They last for a week (if I'm lucky) and soon enough fade away because "there's just so many more important things to focus on". In hopes for breaking this horrible habit of failed resolutions, for the last three years I have been trying something a little different. I stumbled upon a website called My One Word. The point is basically to choose one word to inspire you and focus on for the upcoming year. I absolutely love it! It's something fun to do at the beginning of the year and has really helped me evaluate what I need to work on in the upcoming year.

This year, my word is Cultivate: to prepare or promote the growth and development of. This idea came to me from a Matt Chandler sermon. He was speaking about how so often we seek all kinds of things and put our hope in fleeting things, when we really should be putting our hope in God and and growing in Him. He said "Cultivate your mind. Cultivate your soul. And put your hope in Christ."  I really love that idea, and even though it is so basic, it is something we forget too often. 2 peter 3:18 says this: "But grow in the grace of knowledge of our Lord." This year I want to really focus on cultivating a healthy relationship with Christ and the people who I am surrounded by.

As I was reading a blog by Matt Chandler today, I came across two questions that I think would be beneficial for anyone who is wanting to grow in their relationship with Christ. The first is "what stirs my affections for christ?" What for me creates a passion or hunger for Christ and His mission? For me it is:
1. Starting my day with coffee and a quiet time with God.
2. Listening to anything by Hillsong or Bethel church.
3. The book of 1 Corinthians
4. Sermons and writings from Matt Chandler
5. Experiencing God devotional
6. Being surrounded by loving friends & family 

And the second, "what robs my affection for Christ?" What creates in me an unhealthy love for this world? It doesn't mean they are inherently bad things, it just means they are robbing my zeal for Christ. For me, these things are:
1. Staying up late for no reason.
2. Spending too much time on social networks ( Facebook, pinterest...etc.)
3. Watching too much tv.
4. Laziness.
5. Procrastination.

For me, asking myself these questions is a heart check. It helps me see where my heart posture is, and where it needs to be. So how about you? What is, stirring your affections for Christ? And what is robbing your affections for Christ?