You are your brand

That was spoken to us in our first day of training. And it's so true. The way you dress, how you present yourself, what comes out of your mouth, who you associate with. We are all brands. Of course that meant taking a bit more time in the mirror this morning. But as I was putting on my makeup, Jesus spoke. He said I was of His brand. People can either see me as Lauren or Lauren daughter of the King of Kings. 

It reminded me yesterday and the activity we had. It was a bingo of sorts. You know the game. You walk around the room trying to fun people who fit the description in one of the boxes. When people asked what my favorite music was I blatantly held my tongue, paused and said classical. Don't get me wrong, I like classical, but worship music is my favorite. I had lied. I had denied Christ and each time the question was asked, it became easier and easier to tell that lie.

I don't want to be that person. Lying about my best friend. Just needed to share.

How are you branding yourself? Do people know you love Jesus? Or do you blend in with everyone else?

This was not the planned post, but I thought it was fitting. By the way, I had a great first day of work!

Game face for day 2!

Anything

Telling God the word anything is terrifying. Letting Him take control of something I think I am handling so well (which I'm not) is probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do. (That last sentence is grammatically incorrect. I'm already over it.)

But really. Have you let go? It's hard. One minute I'm singing at the top of my lunges: "I will climb this mountain with my hands wide open." But the words begin to change as I ponder my life and the upcoming mountains: "I will climb this mountain with my hands closed fisted." First of all, I'm glad this is a metaphor, because if I climbed the mountain with my hands wide open or close fisted, I will be seeing the mountain up close and personal if you know what I mean. It's the act of surrender, giving Jesus your all, your anything.

I prayed that prayer yesterday. That anything prayer. That prayer that tells God, I'm done trying to do it on my own. I'm done trusting man and myself for the answers and the abilities.

Why is God the hardest person to trust, when He's the only One who hasn't let us down? If someone can answer that question for me let me know, actually don't answer it. I don't need to know the answer. I just need to know at all times, God's got it under control. He's got my back.

Even when there's sickness.
Even when there's death.
Even when there's heartache.
Even when there's betrayal.
Even when there's depression.
Even when there's loneliness.
Even when there's hate.
Even when there's [fill in YOUR blank].

I'm reading this book by Jennie Allen with the ladies over at Good Morning Girls. It's great! The title of the book is called Anything. It's hard. It's hard to tell Jesus to take it all. Because I'm scared of what He'll take. It's hard to let go of the known for the unknown. But I know it's worth it. Because I've prayed those anything prayers. And I can tell you, those were the hardest days of my life. But, they were the most fulfilling. I had God encounters you wouldn't believe when I prayed those prayers. He showed up, I grew. He spoke and I knew who I was in Him.

Are you willing to let go of the known for God's master plan? It means different things to different people.

For me it means leaving the place I've called home for over 8 years, to build a new home. I knew I was leaving Lincoln in the foreseeable future and I had my idea of what that would look like. But, it changed. Not saying God wouldn't have honored my idea or plan. But, instead, I get to move with my whole family - parents and siblings (one who's an adult and haven't lived with for years). We're all going to be together as a family! Yes, I'm an almost 27 year old living with my family. But, I do have a job and bills. :)

That's not the point. Your anything may not be what you thought it would be, your anything may not look like mine. But, you won't know until you try!

My anything was confirmed yesterday morning that I was following the path He's laid out before me.

Check out GOOD MORNING GIRLS, and the Anything Bible Study. Also, you can get Jennie's book, Anything, at Amazon. (I really need to sign up for their affiliate program so I can get credit for sending people to one of my favorite sites!)

What does your "Anything Prayer" look like? Why haven't you prayed that prayer? If you have, how has God transformed your life?

is my faith showing?

There are times when I didn't want to share my faith. I wanted to be the "cool" christian. Who did what everyone else did.

That got me no where fast.

Then I woke up.

The Person I was running away from was the very Person I needed to be running to.

I love Jesus, with every fiber of my being. He's my All in All.

Daily, I have to dethrone myself and let Him take reign again.

I'm not the same person I was last year, last week, or yesterday. I don't hang out with the same people. I can't. There have been a few times when all I want to do is hide in my old lifestyle. But, that tug is so much smaller then the PULL from my Savior!

What I watch, listen to, and read are different. I've purged so many things out of my life. I rarely listen to secular music, even when that itch to listen to Mumford and Sons sneaks up on me, I'm ready with a simple answer:

Philippians 4:8: Finally brothers, whatever is TRUE, whatever is NOBLE, whatever is RIGHT, whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVELY, whatever is ADMIRABLE - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.

Sadly, most of their music doesn't fit into that verse.

I'm not yelling, judging, or preaching. I'm not trying to condemn or even convict. But, I am sharing my heart. I don't want this blog to be something that is superficial. I'm not superficial, so everything that represents me shouldn't be either.

I love tv, it's apparent in my old posts. The excitement for a new season of shows, the anticipation of old ones. I just can't do it anymore. There are still some things that I watch that could lead others astray, but I've been learning to spend less time on things that aren't beneficial for me.

1 Corinthians 6:12: All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (NKJV)

I love how scripture helps me make decisions. There are so many things I've "dipped my toes in," and if I'd read the Bible with the help of the Holy Spirit, I would have never "gotten wet." My appetite for things of this world were stronger than my appetite for Jesus.

So, now we've arrived to the title of this piece... is my faith showing?

I mean I hope so. What does that question mean?

Am I only posting about Jesus, Bible verses, and my "blessed life" via facebook, instagram, twitter, my blog, etc.?

The real answer is no. I do show my faith, I just don't let my faith show me.

What? I know you're trying to figure out that last statement.

Let me break it down: I'm not going to share my faith to be showy. I've cut down on my sharing of Bible verses on instagram because it was to get likes (BIG HONESTY MOMENT). God isn't looking to see how many "likes" I have. He's only looking at my heart. The same heart that ran away from Him. The same heart that struggles every day to surrender. The same heart that gets caught up in everything else. The same heart that adores Him and wants more than anything for that adoration to grow.                                    

My "blessed life" is a redeemed. My life isn't just roses and fairytales, but real crap and dilemmas too.

I am who Jesus died for. I am redeemed.

Finally brothers, think on such things: Whatever is TRUE (Lord, may I speak only the truth, and since You are Truth, may Your praise be continually on my lips), whatever is NOBLE (God, I want stand up for You), whatever is RIGHT (Jesus, may I clothed in righteousness), whatever is PURE (God, may what I think, say, and do be pure), whatever is LOVELY (I want to be known as someone who is thought of as a woman of God), whatever is ADMIRABLE (May I do something because it's the right thing to do, not for show), - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things (God, may I strive for excellence in all You have called me to do).  - Amen