On a Thursday

. . . I sit here perplexed regarding the number of people who underestimate the power they possess daily. I see the quality in people. I see the person the girl at the counter has the potential to be and I even believe she wants to aspire to a higher standard. But to decide to "go there" and live by THE standard means that everything has to be hung on the line - and left there.

Because it's easy to say, "Yes, I will" but it is ten times harder to ensure our actions align with our words - yet it is not impossible. Neither does it require perfection, but what is required is a daily commitment to surrender "it" all at His feet, repent and accept His forgiveness, learn to believe BIG, and have BIG faith. When we decide to live for Christ, we immediately submit our WHOLE selves to Him. Counter to, when we give ourselves to the world, technically that is our decision to not live for Christ since it's not beneficial to do both.

completely living in Christ > living in the world

halfway living in Christ = living in the world

not living for Christ = living in the world

Aforementioned, the work is not always easy, but I'm willing to always chance that the reward for the work that is intricate is always more gratifying. You are God's child, He is your Father. He loves you today just as much as he did on the day you were born. You do not have to have it all figured out at this moment, He just wants you to be willing to let Him lead. He wants you to give Him a chance.

Which would you rather have? A strenuous present and a delightful eternity, or an effortless present and a rueful eternity?

"Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

- Joshua 24: 14-15