Life is just Going.

Hello dearest friends, 

I am thankful to say that life is going. Not necessarily great (that is for another blog post sometime in July). But at the same time not going bad either. Life is just going. 

Do you ever feel this way? 

Tell me I am not alone. You don't necessarily feel distant from God. You just feel like you haven't moved. God still is close (as always) but you haven't strived ahead, you have just gone….forward. It almost makes sense right?

I cannot speak on your life, but I don’t want a life that just “goes”. I want a life that I make exciting, not matter where Jesus has me or how I may be feeling. I want to always be feeling, living, experiencing and growing the the Grace of Gods wonderful Gospel. 

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.

1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

You are living a passionate life while being pruned in the process for the glory of the gospel. The Glory of GOD.

It is quite funny actually. God knew I needed a few helpful hints to live more passionately. In being pruned he taught me this at my small group. Being to hold my tongue. Not just with how I speak to people, how I speak of them. Not how I “run” events but how I speak of them after. Not just about ministry, but how I speak of his ultimate good works in that. Ultimately, how I speak to myself. I have been convicted of self talk more than anything lately. How I speak to myself and about myself really have a toll on how I live my life. 

Friends this is good news. 

Now that you know your tongue is like a blazing fire that can start a forest fire with just a spark. You can prepare yourself in prayer to fight the battle well. Yup, it’s a battle for me as it is for you. 

As you and I continue to live our lives more passionately and not allowing it just to “go” I want to encourage you. The same God who's blood has concurred the grave lives in you. Though sin is easy and very comfortable take pride in knowing that Christ rescued you with reckless love.

This week, this month, this year you can live being encouraged that God is your rock, he wants you to live passionately, he wants you to speak truth into the lives of other because they are his as well, lastly be encouraged that you are being pruned.

My lovely friends, do not live your life just “go on”. Live confidently in where you are at, in where Christ has you and where you are being pruned. 

This post has a lot of random thoughts that I hope somehow landed in your court. 

Praying this week you realized where you are being pruned and run with it. Run like your butt is on fire towards Christ and his open arms!!!

XOXO, 

Tiffany 

Christ is Consistent.

My dear friends, 

      My how time flies. Looking at the “consistency” of my posts on this blog I have come to realize I am not consistent in any way shape or form. Is there anything wrong with that? No, just something interesting. I have high hope to start posting more things and really grow in the blogging world, I guess I just need more assistance in that field. 

In being reminded how inconsistent I am, I am reminded that the Jesus is never inconsistent. 

Ever. 

    One of my closest friends said once that God is never surprised and that was something that I appreciated. God is never surprised at our mistakes, decisions, life events or emotions. EVEN STILL in all of that he is always consistent. 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.

     The previous verses, along with many others shows us Gods beautiful consistency! God is consistent in his promises, in his forgiveness, his Word, his grace, his mercy & the amazing renewal of the Holy Spirit. Even his consistency in the world. For example, trees. They are all pretty consistent. They may be a little different in shape, size and color but all are made of up of the same things. Time is consistent in Christ. He created a very constant world so we would know an Ocean has water, a forest has tree, fruit is usually sweet & animals provide many tools to help us all live. 

     As humans, we are so inconsistent. One day we want an Latte, the next day a Mocha. One day we want to move to the Ocean, the next we feel comfortable where we are at. Even with bigger choices such as school or jobs, we go back and forth, change our minds and I feel like sin is the same way. Sin is usually inconsistent, but consistent enough. Looking at it from a biblical and practical standpoint I would say most of us are probably very inconsistent with reading our Bibles or even evangelizing to people. 

     Both of those things are things we are called to do! Read our bibles and learn for our self. Christ loved us and pursued us, so in turn we are supposed to do that in his name with other people. Obviously we are not perfect, nor will we ever be. Shocking, I know!

     Outside of what we can control is a life that is nuts. Our society seems to be getting darker, harder to live in and overall just more overwhelming. We cannot control other people, the way people treat others, or life events. Whether you lost that job you needed, lost that offer on your house, lost a friend, schedule changed, got a cold or just don't feel yourself. It is just another reminder this world is out of step with Jesus and his beautiful plan. Christ is consistent. Our world is not. 

     All of that to say, be still and know that he is consistent. When everything else is crazy, life is hard, you are stressed because your job is overwhelming, you're not blogging enough, your car isn’t working, family drama is driving you to rip your hair out….rest in this. 

CHRIST IS CONSISTENT. ALL THE TIME, ALL THE TIME. 

XOXO, 

Tiffany 

The Bible is not about me.

                Yes, you all heard me correctly; the bible is not about me. Guess what, it is not about you either. The bible is for us to ultimately show us truth and bring us back to the Gospel, back to Jesus. The bible, if you haven’t noticed is about Jesus. From beginning to end solely focused on the grace and truth that saves us. I have been convicted all, and I pray the Holy Spirit convicts you as need this morning.

                I have been convicted that the bible is a road map for my life (which it is) but that I am always the center of attention. As I read I think how does this relate to me? Is this for me? Wow, am I that great? Wow, am I that terrible? Gosh, I can’t live up to that very easily. The list goes on and on…… Am I wrong? I would like to think not. Whether you realize you do or not, you probably have at some point in your life.

Friends, the bible was not written for you to be the Hero.

                If I were to take joy in God and delight in the different barriers Christ sets up for my benefit. I would have reminded myself of this much, much sooner. My life may have been my way, but it definitely was not the way. I liked my way. I mean, who doesn’t right? It was easier and fun to think of myself. Being selfish is easy, similar to my last post. Being selfish is also fun. It is time to look at the bible not how it can be centere around my life but how my life can be centered around it.

Daily, I need to pray and ask for a heart that is seeking….

Seeking lost people.

Seeking only his character.

Seeking only his word for others.

Seeking his will for all of our humanity.

                I cannot seek all those things and more if I am always asking what the bible is saying about me and only me. Now, let’s not jump ahead too much. I am definitely not saying to never look to the bible to better you in pursuit of the Gospel. That is an essential part of sharing God to a lost and broken world. You can’t share something you don’t know. All I am saying is when you do, make sure you are praying and seeking with correct intent and boldly proclaim that God is for God, the bible is not about me, I am not the hero.

God is a really good God. Don’t think he doesn’t love you immensely or that he didn’t breathe that word for you to read, because he did. Just remember, the Bible isn’t about you. The pursuit of the Gospel for other to hear is much more important then your average day or your bad morning in Starbucks.

Love you all,

XOXO,

Tiffany Anne

Breaking the Silence.

Hello Fellow Friends,

Have you ever just needed silence? Have things just gotten so busy, chaotic and crazy you just needed time away? That’s where I was at. Don’t worry or fret, I’m not saying I was depressed. Far from it actually, I just needed silence. I tried to write a blog post a million times it felt. I tried to type a post for any event/occasion. The words just weren’t coming. My fingers would type but it wouldn’t make sense and more times then not, the words were just fillers. Words I wanted to say so that it wouldn’t be silent. I was annoyed God wasn’t supplying the words.

That was wrong.

I was fighting so hard for it to be anything but silent when that’s all he wanted. Sometimes you learn the best when you sit in your room, starring at a wall and meditating on how gracious God has been too you. There were many nights close to Christmas I was making chocolate covered pretzels or Oreos and realized just how silly I had been. Why wouldn’t I want to be silent in front of the God who created the world, and me? It showed me just how selfish I was/is. How dare I get annoyed with God when all he wanted was for me to take time and be silent?

I think that me titling this “Breaking the Silence” is more of a metaphor for my own sanity. See, this is hard to explain but I wasn’t only trying no block out the silence I was also trying to block out feelings I had about myself. I have had to come to a rude awakening that while I may volunteer, share the gospel in the best ways I can with those I love, and pursue the Gospel daily I was stuffing from something very deadening; selfishness. The gospel calls us to cast it all away, to give up everything, even when it may not be convenient. I had to decide, could I do that? Could I be silent when asked by God? Could I listen when he spoke?

Yes, yes I can.

In starting a new year it caused much reflection, obviously. With that it also caused new hopes in my pursuit of the Gospel. Even with the Chaos of what God is calling me to, school, my life and my pursuit of the Gospel…. I will listen. I will learn how to become selfless in the shadow and hope of Christ.

Are you with me?

Praying for 2014, for everyone who reads this post and praying that you can break the silence, figure out what God is showing you and camp in that for a while.

Love you all,

XOXO,

Tiffany Anne. 

Trying to Catch Up.

Friends,
   
    Do you ever feel like you just can't catch up? Like you have such a crazy busy life, but you never have time for yourself? Do you feel worn down trying, trying, trying?

    I want to be really real with you all. I want to express my heart, struggles and concerns so that you all can help me grow. I have always had a difficult time feeling like I am never catching up, therefore not resting. No matter how hard I try, my schedule is always packed NAND I never find time for the things that really matter like resting and feeding on The Lord and his truth. This week I have been heavily convicted.

God compares us to sheep.
Sheep? Yes, sheep.

Lets just take a moment and think about this. What do sheep do?
Eat.
Sleep.
Wonder.
Eat.
Sleep
Wonder.

   That is what we are supposed to do. Weird right? What is so confusing, is why this is so hard. Specifically in my own personal life. This sin, yes sin, isn't easy. More times then not I find sinning to be easy, fun and so catching we do without even thinking. Never feeling like I am caught up, never resting leads to a cycle that is un-healthy. I get stressed out, sassy, And usually depend on my own strength instead of The Lords. 

These verses are what seems to remind of his truth, his love and his grace in times of never feeling like I'm caught up....

Isaiah 40:30,31 

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Romans 8:6 

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Philippians 4:6,7 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

  Why can't I seem to get this down? I think that especially in our culture today we are so pressured to do, do, do. And the lord just wants us to rest, rest, rest. Pratically what does this look like? For  everyone it's different p. No two people think and grow exactly the same. For me it. For me it means three things. It means I need prayer, accountability and refocus. Along with that I need your help. Please continue this season of my life that isn't easy or fun. 

Are you tired of trying to catch up? 
I encourage you in love today to rest in HIM and HIM alone. 
He desires you. He is running after you.
Be a sheep.

I love you all so very very much.

I haven't left.

Dearest Friends.  

Don't worry I haven't left. 

I am just figuring out exactly what this place is for.

I'll be back soon enough and with a vengeance. To blog my heart out.

June post in August?

Sorry it's been a little quiet around the blog lately. 

I really do want to try to do better, I will do better. 

Until then you'll have to deal with these late posts, thank you for being patient.  

This is my best friend. 

She graduated in June and is doing amazing things.
She will be going off to Vancouver for event planning. 

As much as I will miss her I know 9 months will go fast and it will only grow our friendship more. 

These are pictures from the special day! 

Please enjoy and I hope they touch your heart as much as they have mine.