It is not the miles traveled but the amount of tread remaining that is important.

Maturity

So I went to church today. I chose to go to campus church because I honestly wasn't sure where else to go. A feeling of emptiness creeps in every time I enter a "church" on Sunday morning. So I went and I sat by myself and I wasn't expecting to get anything. They sang a song by Starfield called "Remain". The lyrics can really cause deep thought if we think long enough to realize He never moves one step further from us no matter what is going on good or bad. In darkness or light He remains.

Maturity was the topic and Ephesians 4:14 was the backbone of the discussion.

"Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth."

See starting in verse 14 comes the slap in the face of not going anywhere with your relationship with Christ. If there is no depth you can't tell who's speaking the truth of Christ and who doesn't have a clue what they're talking about.

Verse 15 and 16 were the ones that really started to sink in for me.

"Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."

Wow those verses have come alive. More than usual because I mean, c'mon, who hasn't heard the whole speak the truth in love thing...but that doesn't even touch the tip of the iceberg. Eat this: "Grow in EVERY way...like Christ." This leaves nothing out. How often do I fall into the trap that I can hide something from Christ??? Um, like every day. Unlike Christ who remains I'm fading and every breath I breathe could be my last. So why do I have this preconceived idea that I don't have to grow every moment to become more like Christ because I have all the time in the world to end up like Him?

Maturity. Doing what should be the desire of your heart even when you're not quite to that point yet.

"As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow..."

Mmk, so as I strive to go deep with Christ inwardly, outwardly I should be doing the same thing with the people I come in contact with every day...so that the ultimate goal is THEIR growth. Hmm, this sure reinforces the whole, it's not about me, deal.

"...so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."

A healthy body is something on more than one front that I feel America has lost sight of but for once I'll lay off the whole physical element (for those of you just tuning in I'm gonna be a PE teacher to physical health is debatable point from my view). Can anyone honestly say the body of Christ is healthy AND growing AND full of love?? I think we are seeing plenty of growth in churches...heck we've now coined the word mega churches for the really big ones. But from my personal experiences in a plethora of churches the "healthy" aspect and the "loving" aspect of a church body are lacking...seriously.

So you cynical one over there is saying that if that's the way I see it then go fix it...ok fine. I've been trying to do that through Christ as I worked with youth groups for the past 3 years as an intern and for the past 8 to 9 years as a worship leader and co-worship leader...but I can't fix the world. And I'm sorry but at times even I feel left out or unwanted WITHIN the church.

Through all this jumbled mess of my thoughts may be you've found an ounce of hope for tomorrow...if not try this on for size.

Ephesians 3:14-19

"When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."

I heard a clip of this song while browsing Christian music on iTunes...imagine the power of the Lord. Invisible is what the song speaks to be. That as people look at me they see right through me to the love of Christ. I want to be invisible...that requires DEPTH.

I leave in peace as I have been encouraged through the power of the Word of God that I have a purpose for remaining alive in this world.

> reassured Realist

Music brings joy, excitement, & life... & with good reason considering we're going to be singing Him praise forever :) No wonder I LOVE to sing! Rock Steady.

And you wonder why I don't care if I move states away

You're impossible to talk to. You crack jokes constantly. Did you forget you're the one who made me go to college? Did you forget you're the one who made me switch my major because you don't see the point in the things I find important.

You're the one always criticizing me and telling me that I need to go in with an open mind and basically saying no one likes PE. You're the one who keeps reminding me of that like you have any dang clue to begin with.

Oh, and you're the one trying to tell me how to stretch when I didn't ask...really do you not think I know how to stretch my quads? It's kinda like required you idiot.

You are the who challenges my knowledge on the subject to the point I have to verbally remind you that I'M the one taking the classes...not you.

I can't WAIT to move away and finally talk to people who will be supportive of me. Who will encourage me to stay with it and have fun.

...I can't freakin' wait to get away from you.

> irritated Realist

"When the ocean is raging I find stillness in Your presence" -Leeland

Urgency

''Even perfect days can end in rain'' -Francesca Battistelli

"I write about love and such, maybe 'cause I want it so much..." -Brandon Heath

"There are tears from the saints

For the lost and unsaved

We're crying for them come back home

We're crying for them come back home

And all your children will stretch out their hands...

Father, we will lead them home" -Leeland

So if you haven't figured out already I went to a Leeland, Brandon Heath, and Francesca Battistelli concert tonight. Lyrics always strike deep into my heart. Concerts always bring up emotion I'd rather not deal with. Music plays a powerful role in my soul.

As I heard one of the songs tonight this is the thought that wouldn't leave my mind:

Today's regrets end with the sunset.

Leeland sings "this is an emergency". I have this sense that I need to go home...the time is drawing nearer for me to go home. This may puzzle you because I live at home but I'm talking about moving back to Lakeland, Florida.

Home. Florida is home for me and there are people there that I pray the Lord will choose to use me in their lives because I'm worried about them. This post is titled urgency because I don't have all the time in the world because we never know when our time will come to an end and I don't want to leave before I have the chance to be a part of these certain individuals' lives.

I love them with all of my heart and I WANT so bad for the Lord to be number 1 in their lives so that I don't go to sleep crying for them.

Christ be the center. Lord use me where I am and place me where You want me to be used. Allow me to see how my life is to be used where I find myself TODAY.

"Why do we think if we trust God too much He'll fail us?" -BarlowGirl

"Why do we think if we trust God too much that He'll fail us?" -BarlowGirl