All The Single Ladies, All The Single Ladies.

All the single ladies, all the single ladies. 

{for the love of being single}.

I see you. I see you as you flip through your newsfeed, and sigh as yet another one of your friends is engaged. Yet another one of your married friends are having a baby. I feel your pain, I share in your longing. I understand the desires of your heart. Those dreams, deep inside of the most vulnerable parts of your soul.Those holy, pure and beautiful dreams. 

I hear your cry, in the dead of night, when you can't fight them any longer, and the emptiness of your bed is more then you can take. I know those angry and confused prayers that you finally break down and pray. I know the frustration. I know the feelings of rejection that comes and attack your identity. I know the hopelessness that sneaks in. I know the lies you hear. I know the insecurities that gnaw at you. Is there decent good men left out there? Let alone a righteous man of God. 

I know, because I'm right there beside you. Fighting the same fight. 

In a moment of hot, angry tears, fresh heartbreak, and major frustration. The elephant in the room came in the form of my unanswered question, and it just seemed to hang there. I wasn’t so sure I wanted the answer anyhow. Yet still, my heart asked for me.

“God, Why am I single?” 

So began my beautiful, eye opening journey of learning heavens perspective. 

Maybe the reason you are single is not because you’re “not pretty enough”. Maybe it’s not because you are “too much”. Maybe the reason you are single is not because you’re “fat”. Maybe it’s not because of any of the things you thought.

What if you find yourself single in this season of life because everything about you is amazing?

What if you are single right now because you have been called into glorious purpose?

What if the Lord is giving you this precious gift of time and freedom?

What if the King of kings set you apart for such a time as this?

What if there is something distinct about this season of singleness that the Lord is calling you into?

What if singleness is a vocation given by God, to be cherished, enjoyed, and to be faithful with?

What if singleness is a gift after all?

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13

Arise, my love

Arise, my love.

I recently came across a quote, and it made me shutter inside.

“We live like zombies.

 We wake up,

 carry out habits,

and go to sleep.

Only to wake up

 and do it again.

You exist,

but do you feel alive?”.

“This isn’t right!” I wanted to scream. This is not how Abba has created us to live, walking around like zombies?  But when I took a step back, this is how the vast majority of us live. I look at our families, our city, our nation, and my heart breaks. We walk around this earth tired, hurting, broken. It’s as though we drift through this life asleep.

I look back at my own life, and remember. I remember the emptiness of boring, daily routines. I felt like it was slowly killing me. I could be around people all day, but still feel so alone. My days were filled with small talk. People at work asking “how are you?” as I passed them in the hallways. They never even stopped walking. 

I knew Jesus. I had a relationship with him. He kept calling me to go deeper with him, and I kindly put him in a box,  holding him at a comfortable length. Where I didn’t have to surrender anything, and I still held all of the control. I felt like I was in a season of waiting. Waiting for what? I didn’t really know. But I knew that there had to be more. I felt like one of the disney princesses, waiting around for my life to begin.

Then, I fell madly in love with Jesus. His love for me lead me to surrender, and from that surrender came freedom. Sweet, sweet freedom. 

He kissed my forehead and awakened my soul.

Now I am fully alive! I have daily adventures, just by being with him. I know exactly who I am. I grasp the royalty that I am, as His daughter. I live in freedom and grace. I glow with the radiance he gives. I shine under the delight he bestows upon me. I know the love he has for me. 

Then, this morning, I was reading one of my favorite passages of scripture. It comes from Isaiah 60 and it reads;

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth
    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn…

 Then you will look and be radiant,
    your heart will throb and swell with joy.

Papa showed me something that I hadn’t paid any special attention to before. His first call is to arise. Wake up sleeper! It’s the gentle and loving kiss on your forehead from your daddy, as your all snuggled up in your own comforts. He’s calling you to get up! Get out of this zombie funk you’ve fallen into. 

Awaken your soul to His love. Awaken your spirit to live this life! Then, oh only then dear one will you shine. Because His light has come, its here! 

Can’t you hear him?

 “Arise, my love. It’s time to awaken, it’s time to live”.

    

21 great things things about being twenty-one.

21 great things things about being twenty-one.

Two days after turning twenty one, I was laying on my bedroom floor, dreaming with Jesus. He told me that this next year was going to be a crazy adventure. 

He did not disappoint. 

This year past year has been a crazy ride. From living in Africa, to moving to Georgia. I have fully stepped into myself, into who he has created me to be. I have been set free. I have overcome so many fears.

I have become the woman I have always dreamed of becoming.

It is all because of Jesus, and I will take that as one of the best birthday gifts I could ever ask for. But what are some of the awesome things that happened this year? I’ve narrowed it down to 21.

1. Bringing in the new year with friends, in the old streets of downtown Traverse City.  We froze our bootys off with the temperature hovering in the single digits. But it was worth every minute.  

2. Meeting Kenzie. My friend, my new sister, “my person”.

 It was only a day after meeting you at training camp, we hadn’t even said ten words to each other yet. But somehow I just knew you’d be as weird and as crazy as I am, and I told you so.

3. Waking up in Johannesburg, South Africa. The sun warmly drifted through the window, onto my face.  I slowly awoke, and smiled. I was in South Africa. This was a dream come true.

4. Living in Swaziland, Africa. It was like being on a honeymoon with Jesus, and it was all a dream come true. 

5. Getting picked up on the side of the road, and riding in the back of a pickup truck, flying down the highway (Swaziland).

Yes, it was crazy. Yes, we almost died. Yes, it was awesome. 

6. Seeing a giraffe in a field, as we casually drove past (Swaziland).  Apologies again to my teammates for my loud squeal of pure joy.  But seriously, it was so great.    

7. Holding those precious african children, as they fell asleep on me almost everyday (Swaziland). One of the best things ever.

8.  Worshiping under the vast blanket of African stars. You really can’t beat it…

9. Receiving approx. 100 marriage proposals. (Swaziland).

It was really rather awkward in the moment, but they make for good stories now!

10.  Playing in the waves of the indian Ocean, at St. Lucia beach (South Africa). That was one of the best days of my life. 

11. Living in community with my “Swazi family”. I had the most amazing teammates. Doing daily life with them, serving along side of them day after day. It was an amazing privilege.

12. Receiving my Swati name (Swaziland). My Swati name is Buhle, and it means “beauty”. Its pronounced kinda like “boo-jay” only, you kinda stick your tongue out when you say it.

13. That African safari through Kroger National Park (South Africa).  Elephants, Zebras, giraffes, Lions, oh my! 

14. Stepping off of that airplane, and being welcomed back home by an airport full of people that I love. 

You all sure do know how to make a girl feel loved.

15. Spending my summer in Northern Michigan.

Sun, lakes, small towns all along lake Michigan. There’s no place like home.

16. Visiting in Indiana. 

I had the privilege of staying with an amazing family in northern Indiana for a couple of weeks in July, and they spoiled the living day lights outta me. 

17. The road trip down to Georgia.

I got to travel down to my new house with my momma. It was fantastic.

18. Living on my own (Georgia).

Miss independent. Need I say more?

19. Doing life with my Georgia community.

These people are amazing, and I am so blessed to call them my friends. To be challenged, encouraged, and loved by them. 

20. All of the opportunities I get to lead worship (Georgia).

It is a pure honor to gather with other believers, leading them in praising our King.

21. Exploring the grand adventures of the future Abba has for me, daily.

My twenty first year was the best one yet, and I can’t wait to see what’s to come for my twenty second!

Rise up Warriors - There's a War to fight

 Rise up Warriors - There's a war to fight!

"be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."  -Ephesians 6"10-18 ESV

I have walked the streets of a third world, african country. As one of very few white girls among them, I stick out like a sore thumb. I felt the hot stares of bitter, angry and desperate men. 

I've heard the screams of a demon possessed women, as the name of Jesus was preached in Uganda.

I've looked into the eyes of young men, homeless and hopeless on the streets of Nicaragua, as they explained that sniffing glue was the only way to make their hunger pains go away. 

I've walked outside of the airport to see camouflaged men, holding AK-47's.

I have sat and listened to the painful cries of young American girls, as they tell me of the pain so great within them that they want to hurts themselves. I sit and listen, and I wanna scream at satan to stay away from my girls.

I watch as our young men live in the bondage of lust and pornography. 

I've held countless children, abandoned and alone. They have to one to take care of them. No one to love them. 

I've sat and listened to the heart wrecking story of how a widow lost all of her children to HIV/AIDS. 

The stories go on and on.

I have forever been wrecked for the comfortable, american lifestyle.

I have been called to fight.

To fight for those who have yet meet Jesus as Savior. For the weak, The hurting, the brokenhearted. 

To fight as a mighty warrior of Christ Jesus.

We are in a war, whether you chose to acknowledge it, or not. Since the moment you took your first breath, there has been a war over your soul.

"Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." -1st Peter 5:8

Last fall, I went out for a run. alone in the woods, along a two track road. It was there that the Lord spoke very clearly to me that: 

“The gates of hell will know your name.

 You’re going to be a warrior for my Kingdom,

And you’re going to be a serious threat to the domain of darkness”.

I was pumped! Put me in the game coach, Lets go!

 Later, the weight of this new calling hit me. “Holy shit. what just happened?!” 

I’m just this young girl. I struggle with fear. I struggle with weakness.  

“Um, are you sure you have the right girl here, God?” 

I called my friend, and told him everything that just happened.

 I was freaking out.

 He just laughed at me.

 then starting pouring into me sweet words of life, and words from the lord, on what being a warrior looked like for me.  

Lemme tell you. It looked vastly different then how I thought it was suppose to look.

I WAS JUST SUPPOSE TO LOVE.

 TO LOVE WITH THE SUPERNATURAL, UNEXPLAINABLE LOVE OF JESUS.

“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:10-11 

He’s calling you. He’s raising you up. Why were you placed in this earth, in the very place you find yourself today? Why were you blessed and given the resources that you have? Why do you have the gifting’s that you do? 

What does being a warrior for the Kingdom look like for your life?

Because, You are a Warrior, beloved. 

You carry the power and authority of Jesus Christ the Lord God almighty himself within you! 

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Let us be done with lazy, self absorbed Christianity.

 May we rise up, and claim souls in the name of Jesus.

Let’s do this thang.

Eight ways I spent time with Jesus

Eight ways I spend time with Jesus.

"Downloads from Heaven are remarkable

 if you feel the heartbeat of Heaven and know what it is to be ruined by how much God loves all people on this earth,

 good and bad. The Father's heart is for humankind. His heart, if you have ever been to that intimate place and felt it beat for the lost, ruins your life…

The secret place is where we soak in His presence and hang out with God.

As desperate as you may be for his tangible presence, striving is not rest, so just rest in Him.Relax, breathe in his holy spirit, and let everything out".

-Beni Johnson,  Beautiful one, A walk with deeper intimacy with the one who created us.

Growing up in the church, I thought that I had a pretty good idea of what devotiontime was "suppose" to look like .

 It wasn't until this past year that God began to really reveal to me the vast diversity in His relationships with his other sons and daughters,
and how my relationship with Him was to be super unique.

  

I wanted to encourage, and really describe what my daily, set aside time with Him may look like.

Somedays it's all of these ways. Normally its a combination.

  

This is by no means a complete list. 

But these are some of the main ways I spend intimate time with my Beloved, Jesus.

  

1. Worship.

"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus,

 let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire!"

Hebrews 12:28-29

I learned a long time ago that worship isn't about me. It's about praising the Holy of Holys.

Giving what is due to His Majestic name. His mercies are new every morning! Our God is a freaking consuming fire! I try to make worship a top priority everyday.

And when I say "worship" I'm talking, locked in a room. Completely alone. 

Sitting and belting my heart out to my King. Pouring out my everything at His feet.

2. Prayer.

"Pray without ceasing"

 -1st Thess 5:17

Prayer is nothing more then talking to God. How absolutely incredible is it that we can freely communicate with the King of Heaven and earth whenever, and wherever we are?! I pray we never take that lightly.

While praying, and being in consistent communication with the Lord all through out my day is so important.

 I also set aside special times to enter into a committed, and focused time of prayer.

 This is where I act as a intercessor for the broken, and hurting.

When I lay out my praise for Him. 

I lay out my requests, burdens, and I pray on behalf of my family and friends.

3. Listening prayer.

"My children will listen to my voice"

-Jesus, John 10:16

Listening prayer is where you go off by yourself, quiet your heart and mind, and wait to hear from heaven.

 It's different from my regular times of prayer.

 This is me sitting silent before the throne room of God. Expecting, waiting. 

This takes time, patience, and discipline to learn. Sometimes you feel as though nothing happens. But it is SO worth it. All of it!
 Because The Lord promises that we will find him, when we seek him

with all of our hearts. (Jer 29:13-14). 

This is where we learn to hear the heartbeat of heaven. The sound of Heaven touching earth.

4. Resting.

"Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience"

Hebrew 4:9-11.

"My soul finds rest in God alone"

Psalm 62:1  

I go and rest in the presence of God almighty. Simple as that.

It's a time of refreshment, and rejoicing in who God is, and how he feels towards me. I just feel him loving on me like crazy during these times. 

Usually its so peace filled that I fall asleep, or "Taking A nap with Jesus" as I like to call it.

Rest in His love, His peace. Let the King of Glory play with your hair.

5. Reading/Studying  the bible.

"How can A young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you: let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."

Psalm 119:9-10

"Let our hearts be filled with the word of God. Let our eyes be fixed upon the word of God."

-Matthew Henrys Concise Commentary

These are the very words of life. This is where I learn of God's heart, His character. His plan,

and his ways. I learn of His love for me, and His heart for the lost, and the hurting.

These are the words of the Lord, they direct my very life.

Not only do I read it. I study it, memorize it, drink it up, meditate upon it. 

Daily. 

6. Listening to Podcasts.

"Give me understanding that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart, 

lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it."

Psalm 119:34-35

Along with studying directly from God's word, I also love to snuggle up, and listen to a good podcast,

 filled with powerful truths. This is by no means a replacement for church.

But, it is an amazing tool for my continued growth, and pursuit of righteousness.

I especially love to use them along side my personal bible study, when I'm studying a specific topic, 

or portion of Scripture. Plus, they're totally free! (can't beat that!)

7. Journaling.

"But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed a wearisome task,

until I went into the sanctuary of God."

Psalm 73:16-18 

I'm not talking about the "dear diary, I love JC from NSYNC" kind of stuff that I wrote when I was nine.

I am talking about putting down on paper (or on your phone) your raw heart, getting vulnerable with yourself, jotting down what your
 learning, your struggles that day, your joys, sorrows and your triumphs! 

I don't journal as often as I should. But I am always super thankful that I did later on. Journaling is a super powerful way to process
what God is doing in your life, and heart. It's also very eye opening to go back and reread your old journal entries.

I've kept a journal from every past mission trip I've been on. 

It's amazing to look back upon your growth, and all of the things the Lord has faithfully

 brought you through!

If you don't journal now, I highly encourage you to start!

8. Dreaming.

"I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly!"

John 10:10

This last one may not make any sense to anyone but me and Jesus, and thats okay.

Like I said earlier, your relationship with Christ is unique to you, and you alone!

But for me, it's so awesome!

This is one of my favorites ways to be with Jesus.

 This looks different every time.

For example, the night before new years eve, this past winter. Jesus just asked me to sit with him and dream big, huge, abundant things for my life in 2014!

Then one time, it was dreaming up a vivd story of Christ Jesus redeeming me, as I was a poor woman out on the streets  covered in rags, then being transformed into a radiant princess, standing in the throne room of God almighty.

Once you fall in love with Jesus, spending time with him daily stops being a chore, or just another thing to add to the daily check list. 

It's something you long for.

It's something you need to fully live!

It will change your life forever, in the most beautiful, and glorious way possible.

"Bring me the sacrifice of your time: a most precious commodity. In this action-addicted world,  few of my children take time to sit quietly in my presence. But for those who do, blessingsflow like streams of living water. I, the one from who all blessings flow, am also blessed by our time together. This is a deep mystery; do not try to fathom it. Instead, glorify Me by delighting in me. Enjoy Me, now and forever!"

-Jesus Calling {August 2nd}

   

   

   

I'm packing for Indiana…What?!

I'm packing for Indiana…What?! 

I kept waking up in the middle of the night.

 This isn't normal for me. When the lights are out, so is Brook. See ya in the morning!  

But it kept happening night after night...

I know that my God is faithful. I know that he can provide. 

 But I was getting overwhelmed. Fundraising for CGA was starting to stress me out. 

But these feelings crept back in ever so slowly, I didn't ever realize that they were there.

Then one night I woke up at 3am, and my brains first reaction was to panic, stress, and try to figure out how I was going to get this accomplished.

But I refused. 

I gave it to God.

Then I immediately fell back into a peaceful sleep.

That following day, I got a text from an unknown number. 

Long story short, a family friend offered me a job.

But not just any job. She is literally making this job up for me. (What?!)

And she's invited me to stay in the guest room of her home, to stay with her and her family, in Indiana. 

As a means to raise some money for my discipleship program at CGA. 

She is one of the most amazing women that I have ever had the honor of knowing,

and I am so excited for the time that I'll be spending with her. 

She has been more then an angel about everything already, and I haven't even gotten there yet!

So, as the kingdom kid that I am. I quit my other job early, and I'm packing up, and moving on down!

This is the most unbelievable offer to me. My mind is blown (again). All glory to Jesus… 

He made this crazy big dreamer, yet he just loves to open up the floodgates of heaven, and bless me with things better then I could have ever imagined!   

The plan for now is two weeks down there, and we'll see from there.

 I leave Sunday afternoon!

So there is the quick update on my crazy good life. Stay tuned for more to come!

Blessings!

-Brookie

  Kingdom kid.

What I find in the stillness

What I find in the stillness.

It's the end of a long work day. my eye lids are heavy, my back and feet ache. My mind is still racing with all of the things that took place over my day, while still calculating all of the things that still need to be done…  

I am so thankful that I talk with my God, and spend time with him, anywhere. Anytime. He hears my prayers while I'm in the shower, still half asleep. He listens when I mumble out small praises to him in between Luke Bryan and Lady antebellum songs playing on my pandora, as I sit and put on my makeup. He loves the way I belt out praises to him in the car, flying sixty miles per hour, on my drive to work. He loves it when I pray like I'm consistently in a conversation with him, in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of my day. 

But I was created for more.

It's getting late, and I was temped to crash on the couch, snuggled up with my favorite book until bedtime. But I felt him calling me to come and sit with him outside.(*sigh. Lets just take a second and dwell on how amazing that in itself is…) So I wandered down the stairs in my backyard. Down to the beach, and out onto the dock, over looking the lake. To sit with the creator of the world. I got so giggly just walking there. Because I knew that he'd meet me there… 

 You know, God is always on this crazy pursuit for our hearts. His love is relentless. His grace is sufficient. His glory is never ending! So why? Why is it so crazy difficult for us to carve time out of our "all important schedules" to simply sit and be with the creator of the universe??? I don't get it… What on earth could be more important? More eternal?

You see though, God has to be pursued in return. He requires all of us.

"Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and all of your soul and with all of your mind…" Matthew 22:37

I find Jesus in the stillness. And the beauty of it is, I don't have to do a thing. I just sit. You see, there is a difference between striving, and seeking.I don't believe that there is any striving in the kingdom of God. 

The bible says:  I will bring him near and he will be close to me, for who is he that will devote himself to be close with me? So you will be mine, and I will be yours. Jeremiah 30:21 

It also says: 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 of your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29:13-14  

My life had completely changed when I regularly disciplined myself to just sit and spent time with Jesus. I didn't read my bible during this time. I didn't play worship music, or write in my journal. 

I just sat. I sat in the presence of God Almighty.

I embraced the awkward, and quieted my mind. I made him my first priority. I began truly seeking him…Sitting quickly turned into knelling, and knelling quickly turned into face down on the ground. As he began to reveal to me his majestic Glory. His never failing love, and his beauty. He began to pour into my heart, spirit and soul. He poured words of life over me. He satisfied me in ways I never imagined. It's there that he begins to speak to us. It's there we learn the sound of his voice. It's there we discover his freedom. I began to understand what the Psalmist were talking about when they wrote things like 

"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand". -Psalm 16:11,

 " I run in the path of your commands, for you have made my heart free." -Psalm 119:32

 "Splendor and majesty are before him: Strength and glory are in his sanctuary" -Psalm 96:6 

So, my dear friends, I challenge you. Stop the glorification of "busy" and start Glorifying Him with the way we devote our time.  Stop over complicating it.  Just simply be with Him. Let's discipline ourselves to sit at the feet of God almighty. Find Jesus in the stillness. 

But Jesus, I really like luke.

But Jesus, I really like Luke.

My life was going great. Or so I thought.

 I was enrolled in a photography school where was excelling, I was working my butt off at four different jobs. But I was totally okay with that because "you gotta work hard for your dreams" I'd tell myself when my 4:45am alarm would go off. I was blessed with really awesome friends, and I had a wonderful family. Life was good. 

Then He came along. I had known him all my life. My entire family loved him. I loved him. But he wasn't content with our relationship being the way it was.  

He wanted more. 

I wasn't so sure.  

He began this all out pursuit of me anyways. Inviting me to spend time with him. To talk with him. I'd spend time with him when it was convenient for me, but I was was working four jobs after all, spare time was something I didn't really have. So I'd squeeze him in here and there.

 He began to romance me. He kept up the pursuit. Instead of begining to slack off, he actually stepped it up. But I knew what he wanted, and I wasn't ready to give that to him. I was comfortable. I was busy enough to get through the days without much thought of this pursuit of my heart. But in those quiet moments before drifting off to sleep, I couldn't avoid thinking about it.

Jesus was pursuing me. 

He wanted my whole heart.

 He wanted my EVERYTHING.

 But that was really scary. That would require giving up my control.

 I grew up in the church, in a loving christian home. I really did love Jesus. I really did want him to guide me… as long as it was in the general direction I was heading anyways, with an extra blessing or two thrown in there.  

I was lukewarm. And I was okay with that. 

But I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more.

I was here, and Jesus was over there. On the other side of my comfortable. On the other side of this lukewarm spirit that I had allowed myself to slip into. 

He was there, beaconing me to come to him. 

I loved Jesus.

 But I wasn't In love with him. 

And I learned that there was a BIG difference in the two. 

So I gave him my heart. All of it. It didn't happen over night, and its still something that I have to be disciplined in daily. But I am SO glad that I did. He began this new work in me. It was uncomfortable, awkward and down right painful sometimes. But its one of the best things I have ever done in my life.

I am so beyond thankful for Jesus' relentless pursuit of me. I am so humbled and grateful for his abounding, steadfast, fulfilling love. I am so thankful he pulled me out of the funk of "lukewarm-ness" Because let me tell you, there is SO MUCH LIFE waiting for you at the other side of this! We were created to do miraculous, inspiring things in this life! We were created to be fully fulfilled, fully satisfied, radical, loving lives, through Jesus Christ. Reject the lie that this lukewarm spirit is ok! It is soooo not okay!  

"So because you are lukewarm -  neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth"

-Jesus (Revelation 3:16)

Are you in love with Jesus?

I mean passionate, adventurous, soul quenching, spirit over-flowing love.

 Or do you find yourself on the other side of things with this thing called lukewarm plaguing you? 

Seriously, examine your hearts. 

Because this is a big deal.

 Reject the lie that says that its not. 

Thats not from God. 

Here are 17 signs that you are lukewarm. 

- from Francis Chan's book "Crazy Love" (read it) - 

1. Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do, so they go. Isaiah 29:13

2. Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so, After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right? 1 Chronicles 21:24, Luke 21:1-4

3. Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives. Luke 6:26, Revelation 3:1, Matthew 23:5-7 4.

4: Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one. John 10:10, Romans 6:1-2.

5. Lukewarm people are moved by stories of people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for “extreme” Christians, not average ones. Lukewarm people call “radical” what Jesus expected of all His followers. James 1:22, James 4:17, Matthew 21:28-31

6. Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion. Matthew 10:32-33

7. Lukewarm people gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren’t as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street. Luke 18:11-12

8. Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives, their money, and their thoughts, but he isn’t allowed to control their lives. Luke 9:57-62

9. Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn’t really possible for the average person; its only for pastors and missionaries and radicals. Matthew 22:37-38

10. Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love for others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is a little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, who kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached. Matthew 5:43-47, Luke 14:12-14

11. Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give. Luke 18:21-25

12. Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today’s to-do list, this week’s schedule, and next month’s vacation. Rarely, if ever do they intently consider the life to come. Philippians 3:18-20

13. Lukewarm people are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor. Matthew 25:34, 40, Isaiah 58:6-7

14. Lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare minimum, to be “good enough” without requiring too much of them. 1 Chronicles 29:14, Matthew 13:44-46

15. Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them sacrificing and risking for God. Matthew 10:28

16. Lukewarm people feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America.

17. Luke warm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don’t have to trust God if something unexpected happens-they have their savings account. They don’t need God to help them—they have their retirement plan in place. They don’t genuinely seek out what life God would have them live—they have life figured and mapped out. They don’t depend on God on a daily basis-their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn’t look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God. Luke 12:16-21

18. Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Matthew 23:25-28, Luke 14:34-35

                                              Are you lukewarm?