Whenever I gear up to head overseas again, I have so many thoughts running through my head. I am excited to begin a new season, with a new team, new teammates, and new culture…but I also am always a little sad when I think about leaving my family and friends behind and my boyfriend as well.
ONE thing that I absolutely love about being able to play the game of basketball is that it has been such an amazing opportunity to honor the Lord with the talents He has blessed me with.
I wanted to type out the notes below from the message. I was so thankful to hear this message today. What a challenge for me to “live and pursue a life of holiness” as I embark on another season overseas. This world is full of evil and full of people who want to trip us up, but we serve a God who desires to walk alongside us and support us every step of the way.
Thomas Road Baptist Church
Charles Billingsley
9/22/13
“The New Normal” – NEXT?
LIVING A LIFE OF PERSONAL HOLINESS
1 Peter 1:13-16
New Normal – “Radical Change”
“If we will concentrate on getting better our customers will demand we grow bigger.” Truett Cathy
Don’t worry about the breadth, but worry about the depth.
1. Holiness is a position.
a. God Almighty is the embodiment of Holiness itself.
b. God is Holy!
c. Our culture today is about being tolerant…not moral.
d. The Christian life is about WHO YOU ARE?...not what are you going to do?
2. Holiness is a process.
a. The bridge between vision and accomplishment is DISCIPLINE.
b. Continue growing!
Discipline in three areas:
A. Body
B. Mind
C. Will
“Any lowering of the standards of your will leads to justification in your mind, which leads to sin in your body.” Charles Billingsley
If there is doubt…don’t!
Avoid what you can’t resist!
God is with you at ALL times.
FOUR practical ways to be HOLY:
1. Get rid of the sin.
2. Get rid of the distractions.
3. Let God change your desire.
4. Walk in devotion to Him.
Colossians 3:23
“ALL WE DO NEEDS TO BE DEFINITELY DONE FOR HIM!”
“Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to thee” – many of us have heard these words to a song countless times I am sure. If you look at the words above, I ask myself and all of you...are we living a life consecrated to the Lord? Are we giving ALL of ourselves to Him or only part of us? There is quite an interesting history behind this song. Frances Havergal is the author of this song. Charles shared a little bit of her story with us today during his message. What many of you many not know, is that Frances lived a life where most of it was spent in bed or feeling pretty puny. Another words, she did not have good health most of her life. As the time was nearing where she would no longer be living down on this earth, she wrote a devotional called "Kept for the Masters Use"...and in the mean time she also penned the words above in the song "Take My Life and Let it Be". It isn't surprising that she would write such a song, because when she was nearing her final hours on this earth her doctor came in and told Frances "It is time...you don't have much longer". Frances' reply to the doctor was, "Oh Beautiful...it's too good to be true." When I heard her response, I couldn't help but search my own heart and life and wonder if that would be my response when given the news that I had but a few hours left on this earth. What would your response be if and when you are given a notice that you only have a few hours left to live?
A challenge personally, that I want to make as I head overseas, is to be an intentional light for the Lord. I am so thankful and blessed to be able to do something that I love to do, and do it for a living. Are there hard times? Yes, there are times that are difficult and times where I question “Is it worth it to be over here and away from people that I love”? BUT it is in my moments of discouragement that I am reminded to be full of JOY. I have so many things to be thankful for, AND ultimately, I am never “alone” because the Lord is always with me.
I just got back from watching the movie “The Ultimate Life”. In the movie a young man starts writing into the air. His friend asks him, “why are you writing in the air?” And the man replies…”I am filling out my ‘golden list’”. What is a “golden list” you ask? Well, it is a list of 10 things that you are thankful for. The reality of it is we ALWAYS have something to be thankful for. Even in our most desperate or destitute times, we can be thankful.
What are you thankful for today? What are some things you would write down on your “golden list”?
The Lord has been working in my heart over the last few weeks…or maybe I should say I have been letting Him work on my heart and in my life. The reality of it is, the Lord is always willing and ready to grow us, shape us, and mold us, but we have to be willing to let Him. Sometimes the process of growth can be painful, and other times the process is smooth, but it is the end product that makes it worth going through the pain, discomfort, joyful times, and heartache. Ultimately we will never be disappointed when we choose to let the Lord take control of our heart and our life. What a TRUE JOY it is to have Jesus as my leader!
So a challenge to myself and to you as we have officially ended Summer and have started this new Fall season is to “fall” into the arms of the ONE who wants you and is willing to hold you up when you feel like you can’t. May we aspire to live a life of holiness that is pleasing to the Lord. Are we going to make mistakes and mess up? You better believe it, but may we strive to live a DISCIPLINED life for the Lord!
The Lord truly is worthy of ALL our praise!! Let’s make our lives a praise performance to the Lord!!
I wanted to attach this song that was sung today at church as well. Enjoy :)!!
God bless,
Megan