The List

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Dude! Happy Friday Friends!! This week’s LIST is by my friend Renee Fisher. Check it out and leave YOUR list in the comments…

Renee made a list of her top chick flicks. Given that it is a Friday…these might be good suggestions for a good weekend movie!

 

~Pride & Prejudice – My all time favorite. I’ve watched the 6-hour version many times with girlfriends and a whole bunch of junk food, but my super favorite is the one with Keira Knightley.

~10 Things I Hate About You – Who can resist Heath Ledger’s first blockbuster?

~Center Stage – I used to want to be a dancer every time I saw this movie.

~While You Were Sleeping – My favorite Sandra Bullock movie. Was she “leaning?” :)

~Step Up – Who can resist Channing Tatum’s first blockbuster?

 

Renee Fisher is a spirited speaker to the 20-somethings and author of Faithbook of Jesus & Not Another Dating Book. I love my engineering husband. Pit bull rescuer. She blogs at Devotional Diva.

 

Can’t wait to see what you would put on your LIST! Leave a comment…

 

Stress Points to Life Points Day 10!

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Welcome to Day 10 of Stress Points to Life Points!

A constant movement toward the throne of our King. That is one facet of spiritual maturity. We recognize that our purpose in life comes from worshipping Jesus and . When our life itself reflects a heart felt worship, we realize that everything else takes second place. For me, this is a day by day decision –– to allow Him to be my passion. I don’t always want to do the right things nor do I always want to worship my King. But, I know deep down His ways and making Him my passion leads to only good things for me in the long run. Here is a bit of a formula that I’ve come up with to keep me on track with finding my life passion and growing spiritually.

 

  1. Make Jesus My Main Focus-as we read in Stress Point, focusing on the throne of the King is key in every stress point of life. Digging into the Bible daily is a huge part of developing that lazar focus.

 

  1. Pray Daily At His Throne– If I’m not constantly in conversation with the Lord, I’m not opening up doors for Him to guide me. I don’t always hear answers right away, but the daily communication leads to an intimate connection to prepare me to receive direction.

 

  1. Believe We Serve a BIG King– I’m constantly reminding myself that He is bigger than I can even fathom. Thus, He is ever capable to take control of my life, purpose and passion…if I am willing to hand it over.

 

  1. Pray Some More– I’m learning day by day the importance of prayer, prayer and more prayer. I can’t jump into things feet first. I can’t assume that I know all the answers.

 

  1. Be BOLD And Go For Your God-Given Dreams– Search out what talents and gifts God has blessed you with. After prayer, worship, more prayer and time in the WORD, go for it…live out your faith and live out your dreams!

Truth Points: Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:26-30 ESV)

 

From my book Stress Point: Thriving Through Your Twenties In A Decade Of Drama

The world tells us that we are the master of our own destiny. That we make our dreams happen; that we hold the key to success in life. Though well- meaning dreamers like to spread this sentiment on greeting cards, with doodles on notebooks, in tweets, or through status updates, this misguided notion locks us into a state where we think we are in control of our destiny, our life path, our stress points.

There is freedom when we relent to His control. Why, you might ask, is there freedom in worshiping our Master? Won’t I miss out on the exhilaration of making life decisions for myself? Why would we feel tied down if we really grasp just who our Master is?

O Eternal One, our Lord, Your majestic name is heard throughout the earth; Your magnificent glory shines far above the skies. (Psalm 8:1 THE VOICE)

Approaching the throne to daily worship the Master means we also rid our heart of pride. I should say, we attempt to rid our heart of pride, for pride is one of those heart conditions most difficult to eliminate. But again, as we have journaled together in this book, the holy nature of our God inspires us to put our pride aside even though it is our nature to believe we are in control. One way that I put my own pride aside is to literally bow down before my Master or even lay face down on the floor. I usually do not take this posture in public. These are heartfelt expressions reserved for intimate, quite moments with God in my own house. I release the part of my heart that does not lift my Master up above all and physically remind myself that He is high and lifted up, above all of my life junk. He is greater than what I think I can accomplish on my own. {From Stress Point page 222-223}

Life Points: When we find something in life that we are passionate in life, it is easy to grip that thing with clinched fists in an effort to hold on to it and control it. On the flip side, when we are more passionate about our love and worship of Jesus, we are more ready to hand over our life’s passion to Him. For today’s Life Points, I would like you to join me in a seemingly simple prayer. It is simple in that it is short and sweet and to the point. It is dynamic, though, in what exactly we are praying. I encourage you to make this your daily prayer.

Father God, Help me to love YOU more. Give me a heart and a passion for You alone. I will trust that everything else will fall into place. Amen.

What are your thoughts on a simply dynamic prayer such as this. Do you see the benefit in these few words? 

Leave a comment…let’s chat!

 

Click HERE to get your copy of Stress Point: Thriving Through Your Twenties In A Decade Of Drama

Stress Points to Life Points Day 9

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Welcome to Day 9 of Stress Points to Life Points!

Stress Point: Making A Difference In The World

This decade of the 20’s is super exciting for many reasons. You have the opportunity to start out your adult life with a firm foundation of faith that will set the stage for your 30’s, 40’s, 50’s…80’s, 90’s and beyond. Oh how I hope I’m still kickin’ it and loving Jesus in big ways when I’m in my 90’s! Your decade of your 20’s and even 30’s is the prime time to pray through your life passion. What gets your heart pumping? What gets you energized to get up in the morning? As you navigate this journey of figuring out your life passion, I encourage you to pray through how Jesus  will use that passion to make a difference in the world and serve Him.

There is so much need in the world. So many ways to live out your faith and show the world all about your King. Keep in mind one very important fact…

~We have the opportunity to to BIG things alongside of Jesus when we allow Him to guide and direct our actions.

Anything we do in our own power, our own design or for our own fame will fall flat compared to the impact we can make in our community when we keep our focus on Him.

Truth Point:

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.  These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:1-11)

From my book Stress Point: Thriving Through Your Twenties In A Decade Of Drama

 

As I’ve learned over the last year, my grand plans to do great things for God fall flat if I think that I can dream and plan and then expect God to graciously join in and bless me. A major paradigm shift occurred when I realized that God is already doing amazing things around me. If I take some time to ask Him to reveal an area where He is moving and shaking things up, then and only then can I join in with my God-given talents and affect change. Jesus serves as the perfect example when He says,

 

My Father has been working until now, and I have been working. . . . Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. (John 5:17, 19–20)

 

If you are like me, you may be thinking, Whoa, whoa, whoa! You mean I can’t come up with fanciful dreams and expect God to grant them at my beck and call? You mean I can’t plan out my life or projects and pray God’s will over them? Huh?

 

After I got over the initial shock in this new thought process, I searched for a way to visualize this new concept. When we have determined that we desire to follow Jesus and His plans, it is as if we are stepping onto a subway. We have to physically go to that subway station, hop on a train, and join in on its predetermined journey. This is what it looks like to join in on what God is already doing.

The opposite of taking the subway is when we plan out a place we desire to visit, call a taxi, the taxi comes to us, and we tell the taxi where to drive. Are you catching my drift here?

I have found myself walking through these two scenarios every time I feel a nudge of a new brainstorm or a new plan brewing. I used to come up with these fanciful plans of wonderful, noble things I would do for God and then call up my taxi to take me there. Yes, those plans would pan out some or most of the time. But I have to wonder: would my grand plans be more impactful had I just made my way to the subway and joined in on what God was already doing? Would things have gone more smoothly if I had prayed for the Lord to show me ways He was moving around me and prayed for the doors of that subway to open so I could join in with my God-given talents?

 

If Jesus followed this way of thinking as He states in John 5, I sure as heck better follow it too, right?

 

 


 

Life Points: With in chapter 9 of Stress Point I gave a ton of examples of ways to make a difference in your backyard and community in light of hoping on the subway instead of the taxi. But, if you are like most women in their twenties who sees the great need in the world around you, I bet you have a few dreams of your own on how you would use your life passion and talents God gave you to serve Him. Make a dream list of ways you would love to make a difference in your world if time nor money were an issue.

 

Write out that list…then…

Pray this prayer…

Father God, You gave me talents, gifts and passions to be used to serve you and serve others in my community. Show me where You are already working and how I can join in on Your grand plans. Help me to keep my eyes open as to ways I can make a difference and look to You first as to where I should prayerfully join in. Help me to organize my life and my time so that I am ready and able to join in with You in making a difference in the world. Amen.

Keep this list before you for sometime and pray over it often before you jump in and do what I’m guilty of doing: concocting my own grand plans on how I’m going to change the world. The Lord has special ways for YOU to use the gifts and talents and passion in which He equipped you.

What do you think about the concept of the taxi vs. the subway? Does this seem like a beneficial way for you to look at making a difference?

Leave a comment…Let’s chat…

Click Here to get your copy of Stress Point: Thriving Through Your Twenties In A Decade Of Drama.