By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. -John 15:8
Wherever you’re planted, be always blooming. Bear fruit by making disciples.
christianity
myTunes Monday
Do you have a song you’ll never skip while shuffling through your music library? This week’s myTunes Monday features “Something Beautiful” from NEEDTOBREATHE‘s album, The Outsiders. No matter what mood I’m in, this song is just what I need to hear and I will never shuffle past it. NEEDTOBREATHE is hands down one of my favorite bands. Their music strikes a chord in my soul, they put on an phenomenal live show and their harmony is unmatched. If they’re new to you, I highly recommend checking out some of their other songs. Before you download every song they’ve ever written, sit back, relax and enjoy one of the songs that put them on the map.
In your ocean, I’m ankle deep
I feel the waves crashin’ on my feet
It’s like I know where I need to be
But I can’t figure out, yeah I can’t figure out
Just how much air I will need to breathe
When your tide rushes over me
There’s only one way to figure out
Will you let me drown, will you let me drown?
Hey now, this is my desire
Consume me like a fire, ’cause I just want something beautiful
To touch me, I know that I’m in reach
‘Cause I am down on my knees.
I’m waiting for something beautiful
Oh, something beautiful
And the water is rising quick
And for years I was scared of it
We can’t be sure when it will subside
So I won’t leave your side, no I can’t leave your side.
Hey now, this is my desire
Consume me like a fire, ’cause I just want something beautiful
To touch me, I know that I’m in reach
‘Cause I am down on my knees.
I’m waiting for something beautiful
Oh, something beautiful
In a daydream, I couldn’t live like this.
I wouldn’t stop until I found something beautiful.
When I wake up, I know I will have
No, I still won’t have what I need.
Something Beautiful
Hey now this is my desire
Consume me like a fire, ’cause I just want something beautiful
To touch me, I know that I’m in reach
Cause I am down on my knees
I’m waiting for something beautiful
Oh, something beautiful
October 7th
I’ve dreaded October 7th for a while because it symbolizes the end of a chapter and a leap into the unknown. I’ve had a full-time seasonal job to occupy my days for the last eight months. A job with people I adore. A job that was joyful. A job that was fun.
October 7th marks the end of eight months of consistency. I’m not a huge planner, but knowing where I’ll be from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday is something that gives me comfort. I’m surrounded by amazing people who encourage and support me in times of need, and fortunately I’ll be working part-time for an incredible woman of the Lord for the next few weeks. Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provides. I have income for another month as I continue job seeking and interviewing. PRAISE THE LORD!
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:19
But what’s next? That’s the unknown that sends chills down my spine because honestly, I have no idea. For the first time in my life, my next days don’t have a specific plan. I know what my passions are, and I know I am blessed with intelligence and useful skills. I have so much joy to offer, and I’m searching for the place where my passions and career ambitions intersect. Am I called to stay in marketing? Am I called to ministry? Am I called to write? Am I called to missions? Am I called to stay in Austin? These are just a few of the thoughts that launch me into a whirlwind of confusion over where I’m headed next. After the confusion sets in, I start questioning who God has created me to be and the purpose of my life. In these moments, I hear the sweetest Voice whisper in my ear that He brings peace, not confusion. The Voice reminds me that He has me in the palm of His hand, and He has plans for my future that were ordained before time. I find myself stepping out in blind faith, trusting that I’m not walking off of a cliff, but rather into a life lived for the Voice’s glory. The Voice overwhelms me with peace. The Voice brings me joy. The Voice gives me purpose.
Here’s what I do know about tomorrow: it’s never guaranteed, Jesus is the same and my purpose to glorify Him remains. So cheers to what tomorrow brings, and the vulnerability of walking by faith, not by sight. It’s amazing to me that when we are most vulnerable, we are the most secure.
[Heart Fuel] Live A Great Story
Austin’s Town Lake holds a special place in my heart. The combination of nature and athleticism is something that always puts me in tune with the Spirit and I never leave the trail with a lack of inspiration. At the completion of my latest run, I stumbled on this reminder to live a great story and, as usual, it spurred my thoughts.
Living a great story starts and ends with Jesus Christ. Your great life story begins when Jesus becomes the reason why you live it, and it ends when you join the heavenly voices in Hallelujah praises. The in-between is an opportunity to live out the purposes God has appointed in your life by walking in obedience.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast… – Ephesians 2:8-9
This is the start of your great story.
…For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:10
This is the journey of your great story.
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure” -Revelation 19:6-8
This is the final destination of your great story.
Live it.
myTunes Monday
My first encounter with The Reliques was at a concert featuring Jimmy Needham, Trip Lee and Andy Cherry. They played an acoustic rendition of NEEDTOBREATHE’s “Washed by the Water” that was absolutely incredible. If you’ve ever heard of NEEDTOBREATHE, you understand why their name is in all caps…they’re that awesome! I actually enjoyed The Reliques’ performance more than the original, which is testament to the duo’s talent. This week’s myTunes Monday features “The Love of God” off of the band’s latest EP, To Feel And Be Loved. Be blessed!
[Heart Fuel] Identity
Yep, I’m a “pinner” and every once in a while I scroll across something that stops me in my tracks and gets me thinking. I like to refer to it as “Heart Fuel.” Be encouraged!
I am a perfectly imperfect child of the cross. My beauty comes from the righteous robes of Christ. Through Jesus, I am empowered by the Holy Spirit and armed with the life-giving message of the Gospel to boldly live and love for a purpose greater than I could ever imagine.
Your identity in Christ is BEAUTIFUL. Never, ever apologize for who you are or what you believe in. You are thought about, handcrafted and known by the Creator of the Universe. That is an INCREDIBLE identity. Embrace it!
We All Need Backup
They say: “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone…”
I’m 99.9% sure you’ve heard this phrase countless times after a breakup. Today I’m going to spin this overused quote a different way and apply it to community within the Church body.
In the past couple months community was hard to engage in. During college I found a church home that embraced me and all my strange quirks (obnoxiously loud and uncontrollable laughs being the frontrunner). They’ve loved me during life’s valleys, watched me grow in my faith, cheered me on in volleyball and so much more. After entering the “real world” suddenly making it to church on Sundays became impossible due to circumstances outside of my control. Accountability was out the window, worship seemed to lack luster and honestly I felt alone, vulnerable and left out for the wolves. When I entered back into community, I was immediately embraced and the relationships that were hard to maintain during my absence picked up right where they left off.
I say: “You don’t know how important community is until it’s gone…”
There’s a difference between knowing and realizing something’s importance. I’ve known what scripture says about the importance of community, but thanks to a community-less season of life I now realize its importance. There’s a reason Jesus tells us He’s present when two or more are gathered in His name (Matthew 18:20) and Solomon, in all of his wisdom, wanted us to know that one person can be overpowered, two can defend themselves and a cord of three strands is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Jesus prayed for the unity of believers (John 17:20-21) and Paul refers to believers as the body of Christ for a reason (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). We can’t do it alone. Satan wants us isolated so he can fill us with lies and make us turn from Truth. Jesus claimed the final victory, but there’s still a battle for hearts raging everyday and we all need backup!
If you are struggling and aren’t an active part of the body of believers, get involved…RIGHT NOW! Send a text, shoot an email, make a call. Do something! You weren’t created to enter battle alone.
Much love,
Meredith
myTunes Monday
Music is one of the many things that stirs my affections for the Lord. My music library ranges from Christian hip hop to hymns and I’d love to share some of my favorite tunes with you in hopes that they stir your affections and bring you closer to the presence of our Savior. myTunes Monday is going to be a weekly post where I do just that! I’m giving you an all-access pass to some of the greatest music on the planet (clearly I’m biased)!
This week’s post features “Make” by Johnnyswim. Yes, Johnnyswim is the band’s name. You aren’t suppose to judge a book by its cover, so don’t judge this band by their name. Believe me…this husband and wife duo feature incredible harmony paired with powerful lyrics. Enjoy!
Trust Without Borders
If you’re into Christian worship music, you’ve most likely heard of Hillsong United and one of their most recent hits, “Oceans.” It is one of my favorite songs to reflect on and has convicted me to the point where I’d consider “Trust Without Borders” my latest life mantra (yes, it also inspired my blog title). To trust someone is to believe they are reliable, honest and good. With that said, I’ve decided to dive into what it really means to trust God without borders.
For those of you who know me or have read some of my latest blogs, you know I went to Haiti in March. That experience wrecked my life for the better and continues to do so on a weekly basis. One of the things I admire and envy about the Haitians I met is their reliance on God for everything. In the United States, it’s easy to make things happen for yourself without fully relying on God. If we’re sick, we can go to a 24-hour clinic and get the medication we need to get better. If we want to pursue a dream, many of us have the funds to do so. If we want an education, we show up to school. The amenities we have readily available in the United States aren’t as easy to come by in Haiti. Doctors and medicine are scarce, dreams are often crushed by harsh realities and school is a privilege. The irony I’ve realized in this assessment is that although we’re rich in amenities, Haitians are rich in trust. They embrace trusting God without borders because He is all they have. I thirst for that kind of trust and sole reliance.
We often say “if God is all we have, we have all we need,” but do we really believe that? Honestly, I don’t think so.
I’ve never been at a point in life where if God didn’t come through, I’d be at a complete and utter loss. That is, until now. I’m a college graduate, my internship is ending in less than a month, I’ve applied for 15+ jobs and haven’t gotten a single bite, my 91-year-old grandpa who I absolutely adore has aggressive kidney cancer, my family is tangled in a web of unforgiveness, my bank account is dwindling at a rapid pace and yet, I see God’s reliability and goodness in the midst of every curve ball Satan chunks my way.
According to the standards of the American Dream, my life is spiraling out of control, but trusting without borders means my standards are no longer set by the American Dream. Trusting without borders means that I believe that God’s infinite wisdom is greater than my finite wisdom. Trusting without borders means that I believe in God’s perfect record of faithfulness. Trusting without borders is the willingness to lay down my plans to become a part of God’s bigger plan, wherever that plan unfolds. Trusting without borders means it’s no longer about me, it’s about He. Trusting without borders means that I wholeheartedly believe God is using every circumstance to shine His glory. Trusting without borders means that when I feel like I’ve hit rock bottom, the world is at my fingertips because God has brought me to a place of complete reliance on His perfect guidance, protection and provision. Trusting without borders means that when I hear the call, despite uncertainties, I go.
And let me tell you folks, that’s a beautiful place to find yourself.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.” -Proverbs 3:5-8“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'” -Jeremiah 29:11-13
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” -1 Corinthians 10:13
I’d love to hear what trusting God without borders means to you! Feel free to share in the comment box below.
Last, but not least, I’d like to send a BIG thank you to my friend, Whitney Rhoden, for designing the new graphic for my blog. She’s a rockstar graphic designer and you can check out more of her work here: whitandwonder.blogspot.com
Mo Isom: Freedom Redefined
“You are not defined by your past or your plans. You are only defined by the scars on Christ’s hands.” -Mo Isom
Mo Isom, former LSU Soccer star and current inspirational speaker, redefines freedom in her first spoken word. The Truth in this video rocked me to my core and I hope it does the same for you.
sojourney 