Worthy. Find. Lose.

"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:37-39

worthy: having value, honorable

find: to come upon by searching or effort; to discover by effort or study

lose: fail to use, let slip by; to fail to keep control of or allegiance of

I am worthy of Christ when I put Him as first. I have value when He is number one. All I can think is that I have not been putting Him first in my life. My laziness, excuses, selfishness, relationships and pride can testify to this fact.

I think I am too busy trying to find my worth and life in a world that is fleeting. Finding, searching, discovering... isn't that what the world says is our job? I hear a constant shout to FIND YOURSELF! How funny, Jesus specifically tells me not to. It is not my job, but His.

Here is my job- to lose my life, to not discover who I am, but WHO CHRIST IS. That's it!!! Do you see what I'm seeing? I need to just stop looking at me, and look at JESUS. Nothing else is as important. It's when I focus on Him that He finds me, declares my value, and makes everything else work.

Have you ever noticed that when you are obeying God's heart that your life seems to just flow? Even when things are hard, that there is a peace to sustain you? I know that to be the truth and yet I find myself in constant disobedience.

For me it comes down to this: I must conscientiously lose myself. I like the definition that says fail to use. I need to fail to use my sinful desires so that I can find my life in Christ.

"Just There" Branches

"So every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced." Matthew 7: 19-20

We have a tree in our front yard that will have to be removed because it not longer produces leaves or blossoms. Do you know why it does not? It wasn't properly pruned and is dying as a result. Pruning is very interesting, sometimes you cut off perfectly fine pieces of a plant in order to get more out of the plant.

In order to produce "good fruit" we need to be pruned as well. God has to cut off pieces of us in order for us to produce fruit and keep producing.

Are there areas in your life that you feel a slight nudge about? Something that isn't necessarily sinful, but it is not adding life or taking away... it's just there. What's the point of having something that's just there? I think I am starting to long for things that are in my life to bring about the best in me. I don't know that I have room for the useless things and the useful ones.

Do you want to know my "just there" thing is? I have a difficult time writing it down because then there's no going back, everyone knows and I'm accountable. My nudge is- media, everything from TV, music, movies, and even books. I like to have noise around me because I am used to it, but some it is "just there" not doing anything for me, not taking either. Yet I felt the Holy Spirit softly whispering to me, saying what is the meaning of this, how is this pushing you to me?

Isn't that what being the Bride of Christ is all about? Aren't we supposed to be constantly preparing and thinking about our Love? Shouldn't we be doing things that draw us closer to the day when we stand before Him?

Think of a young, happy fiancée. What is she doing all the time? She is thinking about being her man's bride, she is always ready to glimpse him, thinking of what needs to be done to enjoy the moment they are united for life. Where is our yearning, not only for our earthly spouses, but for the only ONE that truly matters for eternity?

I want to be a bride to Mr. Warner and Jesus. I believe these go hand in hand. I need to start removing my "just there" branches so I can produce more amazing fruit. Even if I am just a tree that has pretty leaves and flowers, that my only job is to be pretty... I want to be as pretty as I can for my Eternal Love. That's what this life is all about, I am preparing for my wedding day.

How are you getting ready for the big day?