Step on it

The other day I was driving my car. His name is Mo, in case you were wondering. Eventually I found myself stopped at a four-way stop sign, with no other car in sight. But instead of looking both ways and then continuing on my journey, I just sat there.

Car completely stopped.

I don't know how long I sat there before I realized I could go. I was completely capable of taking my foot off the break and moving forward, but I seemed to be waiting for some kind of signal (maybe a green one) that would tell me I could go.

Typical day in the life of Bailey. I laughed at myself all the way to my destination.

You are probably wondering why on earth I am telling you this story, but I have a good reason. Really I do.

I found that with my life I've been sitting at a stop sign. Life is flying by. Day after day. List after list. Even in the chaos of life God is calling me to serve Him but I've let myself sit at this same stupid stop sign for far too long. We are on a journey and this life is not a stop sign. It's a highway.

Let's not all brake out in Rascall Flatts.

Oh my goodness. Get it? As in a car brake? Oh, I'm just full of classy jokes.

Let's continue.

Is there something God has been calling you to do that you have been putting off? Have you decided that this stop sign is a safe place and until there's some kind of big flashing light, you're going to stay put? You're probably right. It is safe there. But was is life if not lived for God and His glory?

God has called me to serve Him, and in some ways I do. But there are other things He's called me to do that I sometimes put off or altogether don't do. Either way it's disobedience.

I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. (Romans 7:19-20).

But maybe you are sitting at the stop sign because you don't know the direction God wants you to go. And so I will leave you with this.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8).

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Where Streams Flow and Fruit Grows

Have I ever told you about the time I hiked through a quiet, thorn filled valley, in order to reach an ideal location to watch a sunset? Well, I'll tell you now.

It was nearing sunset and I was on a walk. Now, don't think I'm some athletic punk who does this for fun. I just wanted to go on a walk. Simple. I decided to veer off the sidewalk onto what looked like a somewhat, maybe tread once before, path. As I walked I spotted the hill I wanted to watch the sun go down on. The perfect spot.

So I journeyed on, my destination in sight.

It wasn't easy. I walked forward, and sometimes backward, in order to make way. I walked the same path multiple times and wrestled branches and twigs away. But I knew where I wanted to go, so I kept on.

When I hit a ginormous canyon maybe two feet wide gap in the ground, I pulled out an Indiana-Jones-like move and threw my bag across to the other side. Realizing there was no turning back after that, I walked a few steps back for extra speed, and leaped across the huge stream.

It took a few more scratches and some dirt under the nails before I reached my desired destination, but I made it. I sat, next to an ant hill and a spider, and I watched that sun go down in serenity.

It wasn't until after, while I made my way back to the road, when I found that instead of taking the path I took, through the low valley and poky bushes, that I could have simply walked directly from the road onto the very same hill I fought to reach. (Can someone say run on sentence?)


And you know what? I do not regret the path I took.

I just got back from summer camp where I was a volunteer, only two days ago. There are a lot of great things that happened, which I will be glad to tell you about another time. But there were also some very unfortunate things that took place, and my heart has been so heavy.

God is surely doing something, even if I don't know what.

Que the sad violins, will ya?

I'm dealing with a butt load of guilt when it comes to a student's suicidal attempts, and on top of it I dread, every single day, the news I might come home to at night. God is surely doing something, though. Right?

We all deal with our own valleys, like the one I spoke about before, and the pain we face is real. Very, very real. We can sit and ask each other why this happens. Why me? Why you?

Or not.

You can ask me all you want why I think I am going through the trials I've recently been facing, and I will honestly tell you: I don't know.

I don't know why. All I know is I will worship God anyway.

Sometimes God takes us through a low valley. It may be filled with some big, stubby rocks. It may have some weird, poky plants that you had no idea even existed in the golden state of California. And it may not make a bit of sense to you why you are there. Only God knows. He knows exactly why you are there.

You may be dealing with some low valleys. Maybe it's divorce (your own or your parents). Maybe it's rejection or suicidal thoughts. Maybe you deal with bullying and it's caused eating disorders or lack of faith. Maybe you're dealing with health issues or the loss of a family member. Whatever it is- it may not make a bit of sense.

But you are going through this valley for a reason. It's not easy, but it's where water flows and there fruit grows. How can there not be pain in a caterpillar's transformation?

But this valley is not without hope. There is a hill on which the sun does shine, and the view is great. Even if there are some bugs.

Sure, I could have taken a much simpler route. But the view would not be so sweet. I probably wouldn't have even enjoyed it because of those creepy crawlies. But because of the difficulty and the fight I put in, the end result was nothing short of a sweet conclusion.

So there are two paths. One is simple. The other, not so much.

But when God calls me on the tougher one- the narrow path- I will follow Him there.

Always.

"And the lord said, 'Now get up and cross the Zered Valley.' So we crossed the valley." (Deuteronomy 2:13).

Would you like another post regarding valleys? Alright my dear friend, Click Here.

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Grab That Ax and Let's Get Chopping

I can't do that.

I'm not smart enough.

I'm too busy.

What if I go and never get married?

My past is to dark.

You know, we come up with a lot of excuses. God calls, and we become afraid, so we hide behind the shrubs of these lies. We find comfort in the state we are in because it involves no pain, no confusion, and no fear.

It also includes no growth, no impact, no victory, no revival. 

So how's that going for you? Are you willing to look at the cross, see lost souls dying, only to crawl your way back, right behind the shrubs of those lies? Because I know I have done it. It's nice back here. There is shade and I think if I can stretch out my arm far enough I can probably reach some grapes or something.

So God calls.

Will you go? Will you hide? In all reality, God's not on His knees begging you to do it, as if you're the only one. 

No.

If you don't do it, He'll send someone else. But He called you. He called you because He not only wants to make an impact in those lost souls- He wants to make an impact in you. 

So maybe you're not qualified to do the one thing He's called you to. I am certain the reason He does this is so that it can be known among all that it was not you who did this great thing, but God Almighty. 

And I'm about to tell you something, so hold onto your socks because this leaves room for no more excuses.

"God is not looking for ability, but availability," (Holly Wagner).

Where He's calling you will stir up some fear. It will make you cry, and your heart will pound a thousand miles a minute. But when you are at your weakest, that is when God shows up and shows off. 

So I am raising my hand. Send me, God. I am pulling out my largest ax and chopping down these shrubs of condemning lies. (because I own a variety of axes). Shoot, I'm grabbing the shovel and digging out those roots too, because I will not let these lies exist in my life any longer.

God is calling me and He is calling you. 

So look around. Where is God already working in your life? Join Him there. It's not about what great thing you can do, but what great thing He's already doing. That's where we need to be. 

You need to love, because the scowl on your face is not becoming on you.

You need to sing, because your life-song is leading others into the throne room of God.

You need to speak, because when you open up your mouth diamonds come rolling out.

You need to lead, because there is an army rising up, and someone needs to go first.

You need to listen, because no one has ever taken the time to listen to that young lady's story.

You need to fight, because we are on the winning team and we are about to take that land. 

And you need to go. Because He has called you.

He has called you. 

"For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen you," (1 Thessalonians 1: 4 NIV).

"He has saved us and called us to a holy life- not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace..." (2 Timothy 1: 9 NIV) 

"Look at the nations and watch- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told," (Habakkuk 1: 5 NIV). 

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Saved to a Life

Jesus,
Starting now, I will place my life in your hands.
I will rise with the new sun and choose daily to follow you.
I will not dwell on my past mistakes, for they are things You don't even remember.
I will take a moment to quiet my heart and sit at your feet.
I will put others before myself and search for the opportunities you give me.
I will choose to be the woman you created me to be.
Nothing more, nothing less.
I will be me.

I will always ask you to soften my heart, though I know it comes with pain and hardship.
I will not allow this world to change me, but You alone, so I may look more like You.
I will choose daily to follow You
to fight for You
to run to You
to love You

I will also become weary, but I know that You are my strength.


Dear friends,
There are times in our lives when God will bring us to our knees and remind us that we cannot do this alone. He's been showing me lately that this life spent in comfort is less than ideal. I've been brought to a point where I cannot stand to continue as I have.

I want to give Him everything. Every single little thing I have to offer. I want it in His hands because He knows what's best. He knows the steps that I take and He will lead me to a FULL life.

He has saved me to a life.

Yes, God has saved us from death. Yes, He has saved us from eternal separation from Himself. But He has not only saved us from damnation, but has saved us to live a life as blameless and as pleasing to God as possible. We make a decision to follow Christ, but it does not end there.

We must choose daily and hourly to follow Him because He has saved me to a full life. This is why I will rise daily with the new sun and set aside myself, for it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

Don't settle for mediocrity, friend. God has more for you.

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Do It

The other day I was driving to the all-famous El Pollo Loco (literally my only go-to) on my lunch break. I was stopped at a red light when I heard someone honk. I wondered if I knew them so I peeked out the corner of my eye and they were waving like some maniac. I came to the conclusion that it was some creeper creepin'. So I sat there, begging the light to turn green, as this creeper continued to honk his horn.

Would you just stop already? Oh boy you can bet my face was red. And oh, the relief when the Light turned green.

Well, a few days after the incident I came to find out that the creepy-honking-waving-maniac, was not a creepy-honking-waving-maniac, but was indeed the youth worship leader at my church. I serve with this guy and his wife every week in the Jr High, and he just wanted to say hello.

My fear kept me from something that would have brightened up my day some.

I think this is something we tend to do a lot.

I've been reading through the book of Jeremiah, and because God's people worshiped false gods and listened to false prophets and did not serve the Lord their God, God aloud the Babylonians to take them out.

I was so excited when I was in Chapter 42, because the remaining remnant of Judah went to Jeremiah the prophet and asked him to pray to the Lord.

"Pray that the Lord your God will tell us 

where we should go and what we should do."

"I have heard you," replied Jeremiah the prophet.

"I will certainly pray to the Lord your God

as you have requested..."

(Jeremiah 42:3-4)

I was all excited because the people were finally seeking what God wanted them to do and not seeking their own interests. 

"Whether it is favorable or unfavorable,

we will obey the Lord our God,

to whom we are sending you, 

so that it will go well with us,

for we will obey the Lord our God."

(Jeremiah 42:6)

Well, I mean, it was mostly not for their own interests, right? 

Wrong.

It breaks my heart because the Lord went on to reveal to them what He wanted them to do, which was to remain in that land. He told them that if they obeyed, He would build them up and not tear them down.

The remnant of Judah did not obey the Lord their God, but chose instead to do what they though was best. This did not go well with them, I will tell you that much.

Their fear drove them to disobedience.

We do this over and over again. I know I do. We know that God would have us go and do something and we choose not to. Or He calls us to specific calling and we turn the opposite way because of our fears. We are not only disobeying God, but we are missing out on the full blessings that God desires to shower on us. 

I sat there, reading chapter 42 of Jeremiah, praying that I would not be like the remnant of Judah.

When the Lord tells me to go, I want to go. When He tells me to stop, I want to stop. Though it may be scary, and it may make absolutely no sense in the slightest, I want to obey. 

I do not want my fears to control me, but God Almighty. 

And so, just like my fear of the car next to me stopped me from a kind hello from a friend, our fear can often hinder us from the meaningful purpose God has placed on our lives. (Not that you should always wave back to the creeper who honks his horn at you). My prayer is that God will become our strength and bravery, and because of Him we are are drawn into a purpose-driven life that brings glory to His name. 

Maybe God is revealing to you something He wants you to do. My advice?

Do it.

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