Until The Whole World Hears

Our church has been going through a series on simplifying our lives in all areas. Money, time, and our relationship with Jesus. My heart hurts for the world in this day and age. The devil has come to steal, kill and destroy and if we take a good look at our very own country, you will see that the devil has been hard at work doing just that. He has cluttered our lives with so much junk. Things that the "world" says you have to do. For instance, you have to watch this movie or TV show because if you don't well then, you're wasting your time on other things. Or, you have to go shopping and buy this, this, and you just HAVE to have that! You have to get your kids involved in every extra curricular activity or else you're a nobody. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of "Keeping up with Jones'"! The devil has been attacking me and my family and I'm sick of it! But I know that the book of James in the Bible teaches us that going through these trials, brings us perseverance.

Since Nick and I have purchased our home, there have been many things that I think we should purchase to make the house feel more like a "home". I have been guilty of living in the world and thinking that everything is great with my relationship with Jesus. I turned to Jesus through that situation and with his help, I have not purchased anything extra for our home except for what we needed. I have come to realize through prayer and reading God's word, that I need to be living within my means and not buying into what the "world" is selling me. False hopes of happiness in material things are not what I desire any longer. It is only through Jesus that I could ever fully understand the more meaningful things in life, like keeping my thoughts on things above and not things on this earth.

We have it so good in America. Every person I knows has a roof over their head, clothes to wear (though they may not be the most fashionable), and food to eat (even if they depend on Jesus to get it). Everything we have belongs to our Father in Heaven. He gifted it to us and we are enjoying the gifts he's given us. I have really started asking myself, "what am I doing with the things that God has given me? Am I using it for his will or my own selfish desires?" I am not even close to being perfect...these are just things that I feel the Lord is teaching me and molding me to change me into being his creation. There are so many people in this world who need to hear the word of God. It's hard to imagine but it's true, there are many people who have never heard of Jesus.

My desire is to please Him, and to live my life fully for Him. I know that it's not going to happen at the snap of a finger. It's a process that I must go through, a time of learning and changing of the heart and mind. During all of this change, many songs have helped during this process. Music speaks to my soul in ways I can't explain. One song in particular that I love to listen and sing to is a new one by Casting Crowns.

Casting Crowns is one of my favorite bands of all time. There new CD is set to come out in November. The album is called "Until the Whole World Hears" which is where the hit single came from. This song just speaks to me in so many ways. Not only is the beat great, but the lyrics are amazing. The combination of the two just blows me away and gets me pumped up to go out and speak it until the whole world does hear. Check out the song by clicking on the link to listen to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICxIWulmsDo&feature=fvw

These lyrics speak to me deeply:

Want to be your hands and feet
Want to be a life that leads
To see you set the captive free
Until the whole world hears
and I pray that they will see
more of you and less of me
Lord I want my life to be
the song You sing

Scripture:

Mark 16:20- Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Ephesians 3:20- Now to him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

Galatians 2:20- I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Ephesians 2:10- For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Proverbs 13:7-8- One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. A man's riches may ransom his life, but a poor man hears no threat.

Proverbs 14:32- When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge.

My final thoughts are that the devil does tremble at the name of Jesus. He cannot control us unless we let him control us. I am working to have Jesus control me fully because he does desire what's best for me. For example, in Jeremiah 29:11-13 it says this:
"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 upon 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." God is great, and I pray that you may find him, and if you've already found him, then I pray that you can let go, and let God do it all for you...anyone of you who may be reading this.