Hello everyone! I have two great blogs for you this week! I hope you will both enjoy reading them and be encouraged and moved toward change. My words are not my words, they are God’s words to you because He loves you so much! He desires to know you and to heal you, Engage Him! Today I want to talk about selfishness vs. a Jesus mind-set. I have seen many good examples of selfishness in my life and known many people whose lives revolve around themselves, both Christian and non-Christian alike. A common theme emerges – their life is a mess; they aren’t happy, and they waste a lot of time and resources chasing after silly things and people. For many years, Elizabeth’s life revolved around herself and what she wanted – and just to Christianize it – she wanted God to bless it. I lived for me, not for Him. I spent what I wanted to and did what I wanted to, and I can tell you it was not for the Kingdom – it wasn’t bad or evil, but it was still for me. I loved the Lord, but my life still revolved around me. Guess what? I was not fulfilling the purpose He had for me, and I was wasting valuable time and resources, I was miserable in the big picture. It has taken me 25 years to admit this to myself. I pray it doesn’t take you that long. God began to deal with my heart little by little over 10 years ago, yet I’m a slow somewhat stubborn learner. It was a lot of one step forward, two steps back. I see many times where I was only thinking of me in many of the decisions I made – He was a distant second and what He wanted for me was a distant 3rd. Elizabeth wanted what Elizabeth wanted for a long time. I even carried that into bad relationships, people God did not bring me nor were good for me. But then again it was all about me and I was wise and educated so where could I go wrong? We’re not as smart and as wise as we think we are. Does anyone see an issue with pride here? My self – serving decisions have gotten me nothing but heartache and no where but down the wrong path or back to square one. Selfishness doesn’t work my friends. When our lives and our Christian walk revolve around us, we miss out on so much God has for us and we walk into places he never intended for us to go and meet people who were not meant for us. In the end, we just end up hurt, broke, and lost. Now don’t get discouraged. All that said, we can change this selfish, self-centered trajectory at any time while we still live. We must get our eyes off us and on Him, Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. We must give up what we want and take on what he wants for us. I can promise you what He wants for me is way better than anything I could have ever wanted for myself. What I’ve wanted for myself has usually gotten me no where and hurt me more than anything. What He wants for us will not hurt us and it will grow us, and it will fulfill us. The call He gives us will ignite our passions, not snuff them out. When He calls you – go! I have spent the last 5 years being called and being refined for that call. He has spent the last 5 years healing me, loving me and showing me the way – and making a way too. Here’s what I’ve learned about what Jesus was doing in my life in these last few years (and it is all very good). He was taking me further out of myself and pouring love into the deepest, darkest, unseen places of my heart. He was setting me free from the lies of others and the lies I'd told myself. He was setting me free from fear! This was not an easy journey and sometimes it really sucked. There were people I had to leave behind, and there will still be those I have to leave behind because they aren't going our way. It was a secret place of healing between Him and I alone. He has brought me out of the desert and into a vast field a wildflowers with a wonderful journey ahead of me that will involve others’ freedom as well. We aren't set free to live a life that revolves around us. We aren’t set free to hide. We are set free to take our light back into dark places and set the captive free! I'm not asleep at the wheel of Christianity anymore. I’m not living for me anymore. Not everyone can go with me or will understand where I'm going, and that is okay. I am no longer constrained by the opinions of others. I am healed and fully woke as they say, in 2019 and beyond! Christianity is not about us, what we want, how much money we make, how many empires we can build or even how many people agree with us. Christianity is about being Christ to others, walking in love, and doing things you never thought possible. Christianity is about Jesus, not you. He did not die and rise again with freedom for everyone so you could receive him and then keep him to yourself. He did not die and rise again so you could live like you want to live. He did not die and rise again so you could live the consumer - minded, American dream. He died and rose again so we could be His Light to other people and so that all men, women, and children will be drawn to Him! I challenge you to get out of yourself and what you want and pursue what Jesus wants to do in and through you. It won’t always be comfortable. You may not be popular. The sacrifice will be worth it, and you will be happier and more joyful than you have ever been! You will find your purpose and you will find a life fulfilled, not by things or the acceptance of others, but by Jesus Himself, the One who made you and loves you always! He has good things in store for you, let go, and go after them! He’s waiting! Jeremiah 29:11; 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. Love, Elizabeth