5 Things Friday- Things that make me smile

Things that make me smile

1. The FINAL Harry Potter comes out in ONE week! (And we watched the Live Premiere yesterday at work.)

2.  Reading great blogs (check out this one.)

3. AWESOME Old Navy Sale tomorrow... going with my boss and work buddies.

 4. VYC Summer Kickoff tonight!

5. It's Friday!

Aslan

Sometimes I like to think of God (or Jesus)  as Aslan.

He's mighty, powerful, loving, forgiving. He's a conqueror, a protector, a warrior. He brings peace, order, joy, and life. He fights for me. He sacrificed His very life for me. Sometimes I tremble in His presence, and other times I just wanna give Him a great big hug. Yup. Sounds like Aslan to me.

5 Things Friday- Decisions you can make to make-over your time.

Decisions you can make to make-over your time.

1. Unplug your cable cord.

2. When tempted to surf the internet mindlessly (Facebook, tv shows, etc.), find websites that bring you life. Research organizations or causes that you are interested in, or find a site with encouraging messages, videos, and articles. My fav is http://www.setapartgirl.com/ (online magazine and other resources from Leslie Ludy).

3. Wake up a little earlier to spend time with God to start off your day.

4. Choose to fill your brain with good books and conversations rather than staring at a computer/tv screen for hours.

5. Find ways to get yourself motivated. Maybe you're a list person. Maybe you need to be more active. Whatever gets you motivated to get things done and kills apathy, do it!



 

Where do you spend the best hours of your day?

What do you go to for rest, enjoyment, and pleasure?

Are there things in your life you can't imagine giving up?

Holy Counterculture

"Let's be a holy counterculture."

-Shane Claiborne

A counterculture is a cultural group that runs counter to those in the social mainstream. To those in the world. But living as a holy counterculture is a choice we have to make.

Being a part of a counterculture isn't an easy thing. We get ridiculed, questioned, and looked down upon. Our plans are seen as impractical. Because our plans are formed by a God who isn't limited by human practicality. We get to be divine troublemakers, just like Jesus. We fight for the poor, the hungry, the sick. We become a part of God's redemptive plan for the world. We do things because it's what we were made for. We find our identity in our Father. We remember who we are. We realize that our view of God is one of the most important things about us. So we search after that. We seek Christ with all we are. We are empowered to live a holy life because of God's grace. We live by the spirit by understanding who we are. By learning how God views us. We have discipline in the ordinary, day-to-day life so that we can have courage in the extraordinary days. We seek out God's dream for our lives. We ask God what He wants us to do, then we join Him on His mission.

Living as a holy counterculture is not normal. It's not our flesh's first desire. It's not easy when others aren't doing the same. But that's why it's a counterculture. That's what Jesus has called us to. It's a lot of obedience, but also a lot of intimacy. Intimacy with our Savior, our Creator. And when I remember that the God of Ages delights in me, oh it just becomes so much clearer. It becomes a relationship, a precious calling, rather than a bunch of rules. It becomes a privilege, not an obligation. It becomes my desire.

Let's be a holy counterculture.

[These are just some of the ideas I took away from Desperation Conference]

5 Things Friday- Things that are on the Horizon

Things that are on the Horizon

1. DESPERATION CONFERENCE! (June 20-25)

2. Going to the cities to see my cousin play basketball (THIS weekend!)

3. VYC Summer Series Kickoff (July 10)

4. My future roomie getting back to the US (July 16)

5. Block Family Reunion (August)

Heather Who? Part II

So I wrote a post awhile back about old Heather and new Heather. And it seems that this needs to be re-visited.

Because apparently new Heather comes out to play only when she feels comfortable to do so. In big groups, old Heather stifles new Heather. She doesn't let her talk. She gives into torment. She believes that she doesn't have anything to offer. I've realized that nearing the end of this last semester, old Heather was doing this more and more frequently. Overpowering new Heather. Sure, new Heather would come out at Valleybrook, VYC, and Navs, but she was letting old Heather get the best of her when it came time for school, work, or RAing. I didn't realize until a conversation I had yesterday that because of the way I was living out those areas of my life, I was really letting old Heather live them out.

I would see the mandatory, more mundane activities of life and label them as less important than the things that I am passionate about. But really, God wants my best in everything, He wants new Heather, real Heather, Heather He created me to be, to flourish in every aspect of my life, not just the things I'm passionate about. He wants me to be who I was created to be at school, work, and as an RA. He wants the same passion and drive that I put into my "more important" activities to be the same for those activities that I deem less important. Because the truth of the situation is that He has put me here. He has put me in school, as an RA, and at work to be who He created me to be to all the people I come in contact with.

God wants me to be someone very specific. And I know some of that picture. Not the whole thing. He is always revealing more of who he wants me to be. And my part in this is just to obey. To say "yes" to Jesus when he gives the simple call- "Follow me."

Are there areas of your life that you deem less important, and thus aren't living out who you are meant to be?

Passion

...or at the very least, boring.