Happy New Year!

Hey everyone! I hope all of you had a fabulous Christmas! Many of you may still be celebrating with family. This Christmas was definitely great on my end! It was my very first year to host a holiday in my home. I just happen to be luck enough that I didn't have to cook EVERYTHING! We also got to have a white Christmas here in Oklahoma! About noon it started sleeting then a couple hours later came the big snow flakes! It was a blast!

But anyway it is that time of year. The time when everyone starts talking about what they want to quit doing in the next year or what they want to start doing! At the end of one year everyone makes resolutions for the next. I don't have an issue with them at all! Although I have realized some faults in them...

Have you ever made a resolutions, then at the end of that year you look back and that resolution is no where to be found?! I have! It puts a damper on things, but there is always hope! A new year, a new start. A clean slate if you will.

2012 has consisted of a lot of changes and challenges for my husband and I. The talk about what we are going to do differently began a couple of weeks ago in my house. So I began to think. What I have come up with is not fool proof by any means, but I do think it may help me to make my goals more obtainable.

Over the last several years I have learned a feew things about goals, they can be big! Big does not mean unobtainable, it simply means big. A life coach that works with our staff always has us write down a vision we have. Then she starts to ask us questions about how we will get there. So many times we set these big goals but we do not set little goals on how to reach out big goal. There is a book by Steven Furtick called Greater that our staff recently read together. This book was all about achieving the greater life by dreaming bigger and starting smaller.

Starting to see it all take a shape?! :)

So an idea hit me. It came to me from a video that was shown to us by our Life Coach. If you have the app called TED then just look up 30 Day Challenge, if you don't then try searching it on youtube. Anyway this guy gave a little 3 or 4 minute spill about 30 Day Challenges and how he is now a novelest and a biker and all of these things because he started doing 30 day challenges. Some of the challenges were to go without something for 30 days and others were to try something new or do something for the 30 days. It was very inspiring!

So my brain decided to put all oof this together for this years resolution. If you have or have not already made one, I cahllenge you to not be afraid of! But set down and figure out what your main goal is for this year if you have one. If not just think of some goals that you have. Then make yourself a 30 Day challenge for each month of 2013!

I hae already printed off a sheet for me and my husband. It is simple.
January:____________________________________________
February:__________________________________________
etc.

Then write down a challenge for Jan. Don't feel rushed to fill out all year, just do a month at a time. That is unless you have a huge goal for the year. Then write down the steps you'll have to take to achieve it. You can make your 30 day Challenges out of those steps. Have fun! Get excited! Be Productive this year!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

Be Amazed

Today I want to simply challenge all of us to take inventory of our lives. Will you focus on all of the negative things and all of the things you don't have? Or will you be willing to focus on everything that you do have?!

Look back and remember all of the times God has got you through something. How often has he calmed the storms in your life. What all blessings has he given you? What miracles has he worked in your life? How has he shown faithful to you?

Let us be a people who are more aware of the blessings in each day. Let us be consistent and stand firm to not give up until God shows up!

Thank God for his majesty, his power, and his grace! The least we can do is praise God...

Let joy and peace fill your heart and soul today. Try to see God in at least one area or moment of your day today. Look for the divine appointments he is setting up for you!

Be Amazed!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

Be Gracious and Attractive

5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

Wow! When I read this my mind was blown!! That is what is so awesome about the Bible, it is alive and active. It can blow your mind! :)

There are a couple of things that I love about this scripture...

1) We are to live wisely among unbelievers. I'm sure many of you work with people or have family who is not a faithful Christian. I say 'faithful' because I believe that this also applies to baby Christians. What does it mean to live wisely? We are to represent Christ with every action. 

The Bible is very clear about Christians being stumbling blocks to others. Matthew 18:6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."

You see to Jesus it isn't just about the "right" or "wrong" that you do, it is about life and death! There are a lot of people out there who have been hurt my churches and Christians. Because of that they think the God we serve is hurtful. If you are the Christian harping on everybody for what sin they have in their life and everything they're not doing then please re-read this scripture:

Matthew 7:3-5 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

This goes back to our scripture, the second thing I love...

2) Let your conversations be gracious and attractive. How many of you can look back on your day and say that every word you spoke and conversation you had was gracious and attractive? I can't. Have you ever been around someone and within a matter of moments after hearing them speak you were totally and completely un-attracted to them? (This attraction isn't about 'oooh I want to date them...' It is simply as another human being, someone you would want to be friends with or spend time with.) What about somebody who every word they spoke was harsh and judgmental? Were you wondering about what they'd be saying about you?

So many times all you hear from Christians is how rotten people are or how 'you can't do this or your can't do that'. Or 'by golly you will go straight to hell for doing that', or 'I can't believe that she did that!' Our words are also supposed to represent Christ. When we speak people should be hearing 'grace, grace, grace, grace, grace...' or 'beauty, beauty, attractive, wonderful, awe, beauty...' So what are people hearing when you speak? 

I am very well aware of the plank in my eye and am not trying to gripe about yours. I want us, the body of Christ, to be able to be able to read these scriptures and be convicted by them. I want us to become better, to become fully awake and to live in that! It is so easy to become sleepy. It is easy to see every one else's faults. What if we all allowed the conviction of God through the Word and through the Spirit to change us? What would it look like if we were all living the way God created us to live, fulfilling the destiny He created us to fulfill?!

So today I challenge you, allow the Spirit to wake something up inside of you. Don't be afraid of that stirring inside you, embrace it with boldness and power! Live wisely in your world today and let your words be gracious and attractive!

~Awaken Us~

Brenna Stanford

Be Encouraged!

Today I just want to encourage you in your day. I pray that you would have peace in your mind, your heart and your work place! I pray that when someone or something challenges your patience and compassion that you would be reminded of Colossians 3:12 - clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. I pray that you would see the good in all people.

I pray that you would keep in mind that you are dearly loved. You are a child of the King who rules the world! You were created specifically and on purpose. There is a reason that you are where you are today. There is an assignment that has not yet been fulfilled. Also that there is a season to everything, If there is somewhere else that you'd rather be or something else that you'd rather be doing, remain consistent and do to the best of your ability what God has you doing in this season. If God has called you to step out and into something else, I pray that you would find confidence in knowing that God would never call you to do something that is not for your good.

I pray that you will be a person whose character reflects that of Jesus. I pray that you will have the Holy Spirit's conviction in your every moment. I pray that you would not fear about anything, especially that which God has called you to. I pray that you would be willing to awaken. That you would seek out what God is awakening you for. I pray that you, my friend, would be a person who is used by God to turn this world upside-down!

If you do your part and each person does their own part, then God's mighty orchestra will play the worlds greatest symphony!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

Represent!

Today I was absolutely blown away by a scripture I read. So I am going to share it with you!

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:17

Now if you have been to many church services or read the Bible much than you have probably come across this scripture. This is what is so amazing about the Bible, it is the living and active word of God! No other book is like it. So this time when I read it the scripture jumped out at me!

It says that everything we say or do should be done as a representative of Jesus. What does it mean to be a representative or to represent? Represent is defined as to serve to express, designate, stand for, symbolize. So for our understanding let's put the puzzle pieces together...

We are to symbolize Jesus with our actions and our words.

For us to know if we are representing Jesus with our actions and words we must first take an inventory of each.

Look back at your week. Look closely at your actions over this week. What do they look like? Are they a valid representation of our Lord, Jesus Christ?

Now, even more challenging look back upon your words. What do they sound like? What percentage of your words would you say are life breathing? What percentage are declaring death or frustration?

This isn't always easy. Actually most of the time, it's not! It is easier to "act" well and do good, but it is more difficult to speak positively and in a manner that represents Christ. Today I want to encourage you to take inventory of your actions and your words. But also to go a little deeper and take an inventory of where those come from, your mind. Is your mind one that is set on Christ? If not, don't get down on yourself! We have the power to control and change the way we think!

So awaken and set your mind on Christ!

~Awaken Us~

Brenna Stanford

Livin' On Love

There are a group of ladies from my area that meet on Saturdays for a Bible study, if you are reading this and you are a guy don't tune this out. We are taking part in the Good Morning Girls Colossians Bible Study. Today's scripture is something I wanted to share!

Colossians 3:14

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

What I love about this is that the importance of love is shown here. In the previous verses we are given a list of virtues to clothe ourselves in and told to make sure we are forgiving one another. Now to be told that LOVE is what holds, or binds, all of that togerther! Mind blowing!

Have you ever heard someone say you can't live off of love? Well this scripture tells me that you can't live without it! The list of virtues we were given to uphold and obtain were compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (verse 12). Have you ever tried being patient with someone who you don't like? It doesn't work that well! EVERYTHING they do you are watching to judge in one way or another, you will nit-pick their every move and look for a way to make yourself feel better because of a mistake that they made. That is just an example of one of the virtues!

Those virtues would be close to impossible to obtain if it weren't for love. As Christians we have the love of God in us and He loves every single person. So now that person who you may have differences with or completely opposite personalities, you can show them patience and kindness. You have LOVE!

Some of you are already saying okay I got it, we don't have to discuss the forgiveness part, but if it is important enough to be wrote in the word of God than we should maybe take a look at it. We are told to bear with one another and forgive as God has forgiven us (verse 13). That can be very hard to do. I would venture to say that fogiveness is probably one of the top 10 if not top 5 things that people, even Chrsitians, struggle with. Why is it so hard? Well, we are prideful people, we have a prideful and sinful nature. Our flesh will just about turn inside out if we even have to think of forgiving someone who has hurt us! The thing is, when we recieved our salvation we were made new in Christ. We have no more excuses. We cannot set here and tell God, I just can't forgive them, my flesh won't let me. That is a crock of c-rap, and yet we do it. Sometime we do it without even realizing it.

We are told to forgive one another as God forgave us. I don't know about you, but my B.C. days were HORRIBLE!!! God did a LOT of forgiving on my part. I wouldn't want any less either. So why would I not forgive God's other children, my brothers and sisters? Do you have siblings? I had 2 younger sisters and we fought ALL THE TIME. We alwasy got over it and forgave one another though. 

Sometimes it took a little longer than other times, but they're my sisters. We still have to forgive each other for things time to time. These people who we are holding grudges against are our siblings in Christ. Plus the real harm is done to ourselves by keeping unforgiveness.

So today I challenge you to

1. Make the concious effort to obtian compassion, kindness, humility, ggentleness and patience today.

2. Forgive the person you haven't forgiven yet and

3. Do it all with the love of God

~Awaken Us~

Brenna Stanford

Awakening: Something New!

I don't know what exactly it is, I just know that I am supposed to write. My mind has been racing with something, but it seems so far off that it is unobtainable! I just cant keep from thinking about the Awakening! So I went back and read Why Awakening?!, the story of the vision God gave me. You see I really can't stop thinking about it! I know that there is a new thing God is calling his people to!

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. (Isaiah 43:19 NLT)

I remember the very night I first read this scripture. Even then it penetrated my being! That was before I could ever imagine that God would show me such a great thing.

I had the amazing opportunity to go on a mission trip this past summer. There, on a bus in Ecuador God spoke great things over my life. One of those was this new thing he has for me. It wasn't until later that's was able to put all of the pieces of the puzzle together, what pieces I have.

So I've known that there is something! I've seen the end result, but I have not figured out all of the steps to get there! That can be so frustrating to me! Meanwhile the are other people who are able to figure out how to spread the message. They have been blessed with platforms to do so, and I am grateful! I know this message and vision isn't just for me, but I still sit her feeling like I must be missing something. The has to be some way that I can do my part in this! And yet I feel the Spirit reminding me of what a person who I look up to very much said, remain consistent.

If you know me, then you know this frustrates the heck out of me! I am willing to remain consistent in my faith if it means I get to keep moving something forward! It's like the storms we have here in Oklahoma. When it's here then alright, you know what you're up against and how to get through it. What is killer is before it comes, the skies are a hue of green, the wind may blow but nothing is happening. You're just sitting, waiting. You have no clue when it will come, how strong it will be or when it will pass. You are just waiting, anticipating.

That's where I am. I want desperately for something to happen! I feel as though I am awake and living in a world that is asleep...

The thing is my Spirit can feel that there is something stirring in the air, it's my flesh that wants to go insane! I know that it isn't here yet because it's not supposed to be. I know that at the exact right time a door will open that will allow me to be used by God in such a greater way than I can even imagine!! What's awesome is that none of it is for me or what glory i could ever think about having. Every single ounce of it is for God's glory! That makes it all the more exciting!!

If this post wasn't for a single one of you out there I know it was for me!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

How Are You Responding to Your Storm?!

Mark 4:35-41
New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Calms the Storm

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

This is such a great scripture! Each and every single one of us will go through a storm in our lives. I heard my youth pastor say once that there are 3 types of people in this world; someone who has just came out of a storm, someone who is in a storm and someone who is about to go through a storm. This is very true. The title of this post is

How Are You Responding to Your Storm?!

These guys were in a storm. Look at how they called out to Jesus, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Have you ever felt like that? I know there has been times in my life where I have. Here recently someone who is in a specific situation with me told me, more than once, the same thing. We're drowning! We're sinking! We're going under!! It was such a hopeless, helpless cry. We are in the same boat, going through the same storm, but we have different perspectives on it.

There difference, Jesus.

You see there is absolutely nothing wrong with calling out to God. We are supposed to do that, but we're also supposed to know who is in the boat with us. 

Today, our challenge is to switch up our perspective. Have you ever heard "You can't see the forest for the trees"? We must have the knowledge to understand that we can only see the trees and the faith to know that our lives are in the hands of the one who can see the entire forest!

Let us be awakened to all that God has for us and is trying to do through and in us!

~Awaken Us~

Brenna Stanford

Home

As you know, we have been moving! This is a total blessing and gift from God! This process has also taken a little longer than expected, but hey! that's okay!

One day, while I was waiting on my husband to get back with a load, I stood looking out at our yard and simply thinking about how this is our first home together! The country song Home by Dierks Bentley popped into my head. Below are the lyrics...

West, on a plane bound west                                                                  It’s been a long hard ride
I see her stretching out below                                                                Got a ways to go
Land, blessed mother land                                                                     But this is still the place
The place where I was born                                                                    That we all call home

Scars, yeah she’s got her scars                                                               Brave, gotta call it brave
Sometimes it starts to worry me                                                             To chase that dream across the sea
Cause lose, I don’t wanna lose                                                              Names, and they signed their names
Sight of who we are                                                                                 For something they believed

From the mountains high                                                                       Red, how the blood ran red
To the wave crashed coast                                                                     And we laid our dead in sacred ground
There’s a way to find                                                                              Just think, wonder what they think
Better days I know                                                                                   If they could see us now

It’s been a long hard ride                                                                        It’s been a long hard ride
Got a ways to go                                                                                     Got a ways to go
But this is still the place                                                                        But this is still the place
That we all call home                                                                             That we all call home

Free, nothing feels like free                                                                   It’s been a long hard ride
Though it sometimes means we don’t get along                              And I won’t lose hope
Cause same, no we're not the same                                                      This is still the place
But that’s what makes us strong                                                          That we all call home

From the mountains high
To the wave crashed coast
There’s a way to find
Better days I know

So I stood, and thought. I tried to get my self worked up or emotional, for a lack of better words, about how important this is and all that this home means for us. This is our very first home to own together, my first home to ever own. This is where we will build and raise our family. This is where we will experience a lot of firsts. Then my mind took me back to every place I have ever lived. I realized that I have never felt at home anywhere. I have ever truly fit into any group or place. And I was reminded of how we are to be like aliens on this earth, our home is truly in heaven.

I could see my husband and our family playing in the yard, wrestling and throwing the football around. It was all very visible to me, and yet that big emotional "something" just wasn't there. It was like a scene out of a movie, a spouse watching their family doing something and all the while loving them with all that they have, but still thinking about a previous or first love, the one that got a way.

The difference is that my heart wasn't longing after another human being, my heart longs after my God! It even says in the Bible that if we love our fathers or mothers or anyone more than we love God, then we are not worthy of him. (Matthew 10:37-38 - 37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.)

This was such a revelation to me of just how important it is that we put God first, above all else. It is not meant that we are not to love others, that is one of the biggest charges God gives us, but we must always have God as number one!

Enjoy your time here on earth and enjoy the people in your life, but remember that this is not your home. All things down here will eventually come to an end, then your eternity begins. That my friends will never end.

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

Bear With Me!

As you can see I have not been writting any posts. As you all know we just went through the Thanksgiving holiday and that can be busy enough or anyone! Well add moving, painting and cleaning! These past 2 weeks have been absolutely crazy and it looks like there will be a few more days before they slow down.

So bear with me, I promise I have not forgotten you!! I have been getting a few inspirations just through the moving process, but with no time to write!

I look forward to getting back into a normal!! I will talk to you all when we get moved in!!

(This is the first dawn we had at our new home!)

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

~Celebrating One Year~

One year ago today I married my wonderful husband, Zachery Stanford! I am so blessed to be Mrs. Zack Stanford!

Our story is a lot different than most. We knew each other for the short time of 4 months before we were married. In those few months we discovered that God had divinely put us together and we could never not be apart!

In a year our lives have changed. We are now expecting our first little baby!

We also just became home owners today!

I cannot imagine what all the years to come may bring! I do know that one thing I look forward to is my love for him growing with every moment we have together!!

I love you, babe and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you!!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

A Thought from My Heart

I never expected that my life would end up the way it has, and it's not even close to being over! I remember the night I felt God calling me into the ministry. I remembered part of me thought I was loosing my mind! Funny enough, you have to be pretty crazy to go into the ministry! Although, it is the best crazy any person could ever be.

I never would have imagined the obstacles I have faced, I'm only 21 and have been in for 4 years in February. I can look back and see how I have been attacked in various ways, but I can also see where God has protected and provided for me! The crazy thing is that most of the blessings and provisions from God haven't been from a crazy, awesome, extravagant miracle. They have been consistent little provisions. I swear he has taken my family's finances and is multiplying it like he did the bread and fish. That does not mean that we are wealthy, but every surprise bill we get we are able to pay and not be broke. We aren't having to struggle to live from paycheck to paycheck. This is the example I use because at this time it is the most prominent. We are in the middle of trying to buy a house and pay for a baby. God doesn't show up with great big flashing signs or a big check from publishers clearing house (or whatever that's called). Remember the whisper in the wind?...

1 Kings 19:11-13
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?

This post is not about me or for anyone to say how good or _________ (fill in the blank) I am. I want to take a moment and recognize how glorious God is! It's just that the best examples I have are ones from my very own life. I was in all reality a no body, and guess what?! I am still a no body, but I have the best some body living inside of me!!

Psychology has always interested me, and what I have noticed is that a depressed or anxious person can be helped, but my word it is so much greater is they have hope! This year there was an instance in which a school lost a student so my youth pastor and I went and visited. The first girl we spoke to reminded me so much of how I used to be! The only answer I have for situations is God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit! It breaks my heart to think about all of the people trying to survive life without hope. It seems pointless, sadly enough those people think so too. Way too often someone gets too tired of it, too hopeless and acts upon those emotions.

Please hear this, if you do not know the hope and love I am speaking of, you can! It can change your life! Don't think that you have to get things right before you can have it, because Jesus just wants you to come to him the way you are! Yes, there will be changes that will take place in your life, but they will never and should never be thrusted upon you by other people. God wants a personal relationship with you, just as you are now. Whatever and whenever changes come, you will be glad to make them. Romans 10:9 says that if you believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, and confess with your mouth that God raised him from the dead then you will be saved! Now, don't think this is a quick fix to any problem you might have. Go back to the beginning of this blog and re-read how I said there are things that we will go through. Also remember how you now have the most supreme being fighting for you. The victory is already won!

If you ARE A CHRISTIAN here this, you have a responsibility too. We are to be examples of our Savior. He keeps no records of wrongs, nor is he jealous. He is love. We are to be love...to EVERYONE, from our closest of friend to the stranger in the store. God is wanting to awaken his children to see the world as he sees it, to love people as he loves them. We have no excuses. Too often I hear the ole "we have a sinful nature" thing. Yes we do, but we also have a Christ who died and was resurrected to Give us his righteousness to live with NO EXCUSES!! Read Colossians 2:9-12.

We all have to ask ourselves if we are willing to live like that... if not, well that is so sad! Go read one of very first posts titled Why Awakening?!. Will you be willing to step out on absolutely nothing, and allow God to provide the something that is needed? Do you have the hope in God to believe even in total darkness?!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

Awakening in Our Students

I really feel like God burdened me with this and the only thing I know to do is share it. Please if you are a parent, please take a moment and read this.

I was standing in a line the other day and there were some teenagers behind me. They were talking, but their conversation was not concealed or private at all. I could hear every word they said. As I am hearing these students talk about people, smacking, drinking, sex and other people my heart broke!

It was like I realized that even the "good kids" are falling into the same trap as the rest of the world. Parents let me say this, your student may be the most respectful and grateful teenager around, but that does not mean that they are making the rig decisions. What broke my heart even more than realizing what choices our students are making was realizing the standards our parents and the world are holding our students to.

I don't want this to be a post about how horrible everyone is, that IS NOT my intention. The purpose of this is a wake up call. This is the Awakening blog. We need to wake up and hold our students to higher standards! Someone told me last week that all teenagers will go through a rebellious party stage. That is false!!!! There are 2 young ladies that I know who have NEVER gone through that, they are both college aged. I have personally had a conversation with one of them and told her how I want my children to have a testimony like hers! This is also a wake up call to the students, you CAN make good decisions. In my bible study, this weeks scriptures have been all about how we have been given EVERYTHING we need to live a HOLY life!

I work with students and I want every one of them to make only good choices! I want parents to not accept that their students are "just going through a rebellious stage" or that "they're just teenagers". Those thoughts make me want to jump right out of my skin!

So please understand that there are people out there who have faith in your students! I know a youth pastor who is extremely passionate about your students and will do whatever it takes to help them. I will do everything I can! Students, you have a power inside of you that will help you overcome anything! You simply have to accept it!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

Thirty, Sixty, or a Hundred Times!!

Have you ever heard the parable of the sower (good soil)? Oh you haven't?! Well here you go!

Mark 4

4 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

9 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”...

13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

This is a great great story! The cool thing about the Bible is that we're told that parable (vv. 4-8) then it is explained to us (vv.13-20)! I read this and relate to the good soil. I know that I have heard and accepted God's word. I know that I have grown in it and have became rooted and established in my faith. So then I begin to think, am I producing a crop that is multiplying the seeds that have been given to me? 

I know that there has been an abundant amount sown into my life and who I am. From the very first Sunday I ever sat in Life Church to this very day, I am surrounded by pastors and co-workers who sown seeds into my life everyday! Am I doing them justice? I know that I have had the opportunity and privilege to impact a few lives, but has the crop from my faith even produced the same amount of seed that's been sown into me? Not to mention doubling or tripling it! The thought of it being multiplied by sixty or even a hundred times rattles me, in a good way! This is a challenge that I get to face, and I am okay with it. I want to produce thirty, sixty, or a hundred times what was given to me!

But this is also a challenge that you get to face, and everyone else in the world. What type of soil will you be? You see I know some people who are like the path, they do everything in their power to try to argue with or tear apart God. All you can do is pray for those type of people.

Then there's the rocky soil. Oh believe me I know some of them! They are very emotionally driven people who are more like a roller coaster than anything else. You may be one of those type of people. The best advice I have for you is to take back control! My pastor once preached about how so often we "follow our hearts", but our hearts are evil things. Instead, we need to lead our hearts! There is a book called Who Switched Off My Brain, it is a fabulous book that explains to us how our minds work and the process all of our thoughts go through. This book also tells us how we can fix the way our brains work. We are not a victim to our mind. I have family members who are like the rocky soil. At one time time they were in church and their lives seemed to be great, then the sun came out and now they are no where to be found.

My understanding of the thorns is the people we hang around. The plant couldn't grow and produce fruit because of it's surroundings. Sometimes our hearts can be right, but we are too unwilling to let go of our friends so we end up dying anyway. If you are the good soil and you know someone who is in thorny soil then make an effort to invite them to hang out with you. You never know what that can do for someone...

So the question is posed, what type of soil are you? If you're one of the first three (path, rocky or thorny), what type of soil do you want to be? Romans 12 tells us that we are to renew our minds. This renewal is a way that we can change our hearts. If you aren't the good soil but want to be, first make sure that Jesus is your savior. Romans 10:9 says that if you believe with your heart that Jesus is Lord, and confess with your mouth that God raised him from the dead then you will be saved. That is the absolute BEST choice you can ever make!

Next comes the process of sanctification, the relationship with Jesus and allowing him to convict you. But know this, you can feel conviction and not change a thing. YOU must decide to give into that conviction. It can be very difficult at times, you are essentially killing your flesh so a part of you is dying. Make sure you stay in your word and in your quiet time with Jesus!

What would this world look like if the majority of the population was good soil that was producing thirty, sixty, or a hundred times what was sown?!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

What Do You Hear?!

Today I began to write my post and half way through it realized that post is for a different day. I've been reading in the book of Mark. Today I read chapter 4. There is some great great stuff in there, but there's one thing specific that stuck out to me today for the Awakening!

Mark 4:24-25 (NIV)

24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

This is telling us to consider carefully what we hear, because once we her it we are held accountable to it. Once we hear that we'll be fired for doing something, then we do it. We're going to be fired. We can't say I didn't know, we heard the rule. (Granted you're boss may be compassionate with you, but that's not the point here.)

Some people say ignorance is bliss. Well no, that's just ignorant. Sometimes I think that people hold onto that idea because once you have knowledge then you are to be responsible with it. It's easier to be irresponsible. Don't you know that's why we should just be young and dumb?! WRONG!! 

I work in youth ministry and I see all the time teenagers just doing "what teenagers are supposed to do". That's not biblical! The word teenager isn't even a word until the sixties or seventies. The Bible says that we are either a man/woman or child. But what is even more saddening, there are plenty of young adults and adults who still want to act like "teenagers", young and dumb, ignorant. 

Verse 25 says that whoever has will be given more, BUT whoever does not have, will get even the small amount of what they have taken away. Which would you rather have, more or less than nothing? There is power in knowledge. You just have to be willing to be responsible with it.

Luke 12:18 (NLT) When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

I hope this has encouraged and empowered you! Let yourself hunger and thirst after knowledge and truth! Seek and you will find! 

~Awaken Us~

Brenna Stanford

Are You a Friend?!

Are you a friend?!  The thought hit me today at lunch. As I am sitting at the table watching others around me visiting with their friends, I am reminded of how good it is to have friends. Some people I know say hi and we exchange greetings and a smile. How wonderful it is to smile. In the past I have had to do a few college papers, some of which discussed depression. During the process of formulating these papers I discovered that a smile can actually make you feel better. Also that a great way to combat depression is to serve others. 

My mind begins to form a spiderweb of thoughts. Friendship. Fellowship. Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Ladies of Life is meeting tonight. How wonderful it is that we have all of those ladies coming together and growing in their walks with each other! Our GMG McAlester Bible Study, an even smaller group of ladies meeting together weekly to discuss, discover, and bond!

All of these thoughts are provoked, then I give them some attention as I feel God is trying to tell me something. You see, my spiderweb of thoughts wouldn't have always looked like that. I was raised with different mindsets, weather they were meant to be implicated upon me or not. Before the spiderweb would have had things like, 'no one knows me', 'I don;t have friends', 'you can't trust people', or 'I'm a nobody and will never be anyone'. My heart begins to ache, wondering how many people in that room were thinking those things. Then I have to wonder how many people of the world think those things. It saddens me because I know the effect of those thought. I know how discouraged you feel when you think like that. But there is a point God is trying to get across our brains!

For one, you are somebody. You are somebody spectacular and fabulous and very unique. You were created with a purpose! Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;" 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.

Then I felt God wanting to encourage his children! 'Get up, go! Say hello to someone! Step out! You are wonderful and fabulous, I created you a masterpiece [Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.] so go show someone!' Another mindset that I ended up with, and had to put a lot of effort into breaking, was one that said 'I can't go talk to someone else, they're too good for me. If I am going to talk to anyone, they must come talk to me first'. This is dangerous. While you are thinking this you are feeling vulnerable and unworthy, but how it comes off is conceded and snotty.

We are to pick up our crosses (Luke 9:23). But we must not see the cross post resurrection, we must look at this pre death. The cross is like our electric chair or lethal injection, except much more agonizing. Right before that charge in Luke we are told to deny ourselves. So as torturous as it may seem, try stepping out of your comfort zone and talking to someone new.

My youth pastor preached a sermon that contained this statement, "you cannot give what you do not have". Taking that thought and applying it to this one we end up with "If you want to gain a friend, you must first be a friend". So I pose this question, Are you a friend?!

How Do You Church?!

As I'm laying here in bed thinking about everything I need to do tomorrow before, during and after church, my mind wonders. I wonder about my attitude toward doing these things. I wonder about the people participating in all of these things. I wonder about you.

Are you going to church tomorrow? How are you going to church tomorrow? Are you yelling at your children or spouse all the way to the doors of your church? Are you already thinking about everything else you need to do? Do you go in your church and clap along out of habit, or because you're thankful to be there? While you're sitting there in service, are you actually listening and soaking up what's being taught or are you wondering what the scores are to your teams game? Maybe you're texting, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Are you engaged or going through the motion

Who do you go to church for? Is it out of habit or so others can see you? Or is it because that's the only time you meet with your savior? Are you going to church to serve others and play your part in this team?

So I pray right now that God is speaking directly to you, and me, comforting your restless mind. Giving you peace about the day ahead, and laying on your heart where, how and why to serve. Someone who serves just because another asked or told them to will grow tired of it, but someone who serves because they know the heart of their Lord and wants to give back will be great! Let us know why we go to church and let us EXPECT GOD to do the imaginable, the unthinkable, the impossible!!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

Mighty Power! Colossians - Week 3, Wednesday

Colossians 1:28-29

²⁸ So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. ²⁹ That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

Look at the world around you, how many of the people know and have a relationship with Christ? How many people live out their faith? Do you have a relationship with Christ? Do you live out your faith?

These are questions that this scripture causes us to ask. Are we warning and teaching everyone about Christ? You see we can do this by the way we live, our everyday activities. This is for me just as much as it is for anyone else. While I read this in my study this morning I was forced to ask myself this very question, Am I living my life so it can be an example for others. Not only that, I work in a church with Pastors!, is there anyone that I am investing time into? What about you, how many people do you have working around you all day at work or school that you have an influence over? What are you showing them?

It is hard work investing that much time into someone, but I love that we have an answer for it! Paul says that he has to depend on Christ's mighty power. That's fantastic! You know Christ has a LOT MORE power than we could ever dream about having, but all of that power works within and through us!

So today's challenge, ask God to lay someone on your heart that you can invest in. I know that was my prayer this morning. Some of you may work in environments where that can be difficult, maybe you work around pastors or your work is kind of a one person job, this is where we spend a little more time and effort. I look forward to seeing what God does!!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

Are You a Servant?! Colossians - Week 3, Monday

Colossians 1:24-25

New International Version (NIV)

Paul’s Labor for the Church

24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—

Do you ever feel like you no matter what you try to do someone is always talking about you? Or maybe it's a different form of suffering? At that moment rejoicing is probably the furthest thing from your mind! You see suffering is just that, suffering. It's painful. It isn't enjoyable. And yet we read here that Paul rejoices in the suffering. Why in the world would anyone rejoice in suffering or pain?!


Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

John 15:20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

It's biblical. We will be persecuted and have to endure suffering. But our Jesus has already endured it and already overcome it!

What if you were going through that suffering for someone else? Would you be willing to do that? I can honestly sit here before you and tell you that I have not had to do that. I can only imagine that it would be very hard! As I am about to become a mother I think about the scenarios my children might have to face one day. What sort of persecution and suffering will I endure for them. My prayer is that I will be willing to endure it, that I will not be a selfish mother.

As a Christian I have endured persecution. I have been faced with people, even people very close to me, doing and saying everything in their power to tear me down. Or tear my faith down. But never have I had to go through any sort of suffering for another person.

This makes me think of what Jesus went through. He didn't go through all of that suffering for himself. He did it for you and for me. So that now we have a way out. In the end we have the victory!

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

This sort of faith take action. It takes being a servant. Paul says in verse 25 that he is a servant by the commission that God gave him. What commission has God given you? Where has he called you to serve? And how important is that to you? Because it by that measure, the importance God's commission holds to you, that you will be persecuted. BUT, it also by that measure that you will see the victory that is for you.

Will you serve and carry the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus will be seen?

My prayer for you and me is that God would show us the commission he has already laid on us. That our ares of service to him and his kingdom will be revealed in a way that is undeniable! Also that we would be willing to endure the suffering not only for ourselves, but for the sake of every soul that we will reach! Let God awaken you today!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

Supremacy! Colossians, Week 2 - Tuesday

Colossians 1:17-18


¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

If you remember from Monday's post, God is the creator and everything and everyone is created for him. Now this is taking us a little bit deeper. In verse 17 we are able to understand that God is also what holds us together. He is also out sustainer.

Sustain means to support, hold, or bear the weight of; to keep going, as an action or process

God sustains us! Everyday is another process, each day has its own weight. We have a God who loves us enough that he helps us through it all!

Reading further on into this scripture we see in verse 18 that he is the firstborn from among the dead. This is referring to Christ's resurrection. That is why in Romans 10:9 it says believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. The resurrection is everything, if it weren't for that then nothing would have changed. But it did! Christ went to Hell, bearing all of our sin and punishment. Then after 3 days was resurrected and brought back to life, to the kingdom of God.

Because of this the scripture goes on, so that he might have supremacy. Supremacy is the state of being supreme [highest in rank or authority; sovereign; last or final; ultimate.] For this reason we should not worry or fear, we serve a God who is supreme! No one can defeat him. If we can really grasp and understand that God already has the battle won, then we would trust him without doubt in any situation. Our faith would just explode!

Therefore, today the challenge we have before us is to trust in God with everything that we have, believing that he is supreme! (Don't forget to live today on purpose!)


~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

Here is the link to this weeks study! http://www.wikispaces.com/ Sign in: username: gmg-mcalester password: colossians

On Purpose! Colossians Week 2 - Monday

Colossians 1:15-16


¹⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

In this passage we find a great description of 2/3 of the trinity, God the Father and God the Son, Jesus. That isn't all this scripture offers us. Here we get a great epiphany! Now let's just say that we all know and understand that we are all created by God (if this is new to you I suggest reading Genesis).

Look at the very last line of this scripture, "all things have been created through him [this is what we're in agreement on] and for him." Wow, so you mean to tell me that EVERYTHING and EVERYONE was created FOR God?! YES!! This thought, as simple as it is, can be tremendously hard to grasp! Often times we get bound up in condemnation [the state of being condemned ~> to express an unfavorable or adverse judgment on; indicate strong disapproval of; censure. to pronounce to be guilty; sentence to punishment], which is not from the Lord. John 3:17 says, For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

You see at the fall of man (also found in Genesis) we became sinful and took on this nature, therefore we are all sinners. The bad news is that God hates sin and can not look at sin, BUT (the interjection that changes things around for us!) He loves us anyway! John 3:16 tells us "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life". Because of this we have been given grace.

Grace is what saves us! Grace is defines as a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior. When we come to know Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior we get to have a new start, a clean slate! My all time favorite scripture is 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!".

You might be wondering how we get to be "in Christ", great!! There is an answer for that!!! Honestly, it'll be the best answer you can ever receive in your entire life!!!! (I apologize for all of the "!!!", I just get so EXCITED about this!!) Romans 10:9 says, If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. That's it!! Nowhere in the Bible does it say "if you go to church for 'this many' months in a row, then you can be saved. It also never says to get your act together and straighten up, then you will be saved. NO!! All it takes is confessing with your mouth and believing in your heart!! I can tell you this, I was no where near having my act together when God came into my life and saved me! Yet, he did. I still have a LOT of work to do, but the cool thing is, now I'm not doing it on my own!

Our scripture says that WE are ALL made FOR GOD. Jeremiah 29:11 (another one of my favorites) tells us "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." When God created us, he created us for him! There is a purpose to your life! You don't have to settle for the good enough life you have. Our staff at Life Church is reading this book called GREATER by Steven Furtick and that is precisely what the book is about, not settling for a good enough  life when you can have a greater life.

If we can understand that every day, every moment of our lives have a purpose to them, then maybe we can start living on purpose. What would it look like if everybody started living their lives on purpose? If teachers started teaching their students on purpose... If parents started parenting on purpose... If business men starting doing their busyness on purpose... Wouldn't our world accelerate? Wouldn't there be more passion and direction and movement in this world?

What would your world look like if you started living your life, your days and moments on purpose? What would that do in your marriage? In your relationship with your children? In your job? In your happiness? Use this week as a test. Wake up every morning and first and foremost thank God that you have this life to live, but then ask for help and a reminder in every moment to live it on purpose! Write it down at the end of the day! See what happens...

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

P.S. If you would like to get a copy of this weeks study lesson you can either go to our GMG facebook page or our Wikispace and on the top right click the sign in button and use this sign in, username: gmg-mcalester password: colossians

Colossians - Week 1, Friday

Colossians 1:13-14

¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

This scripture is one of the smaller ones we have read throughout this study, but don't let that keep you from digging into it and understanding what this is saying to us. In verse 13 we read that he (God) has rescued us from the dominion of darkness. I don't know about you, but that would never have to be in scripture for me to know that! Before I met God I was living in a very dark place, I know there are some of you who have been through worse things than I. This scripture is a reminder to me that this new life that I have now hasn't always been the life I had.

Going even further than that, the darkness that we were rescued from is our sinful nature. God hates sin. That is why they used to do sacrifices back in the day (b.c.), to be an atonement for their sins. Until Jesus came, He came so that we might have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10). By the sacrifice, Jesus dying on the cross, that was made we were brought to the kingdom of the Son, in whom we have redemption. Redemption is defined as deliverance or rescue, repurchase, as of something sold. Our lives were bought at a cost. Think about how guilty, heavy and burdened you feel when there is sin in your life that you are struggling with. Now imagine that at its worst and multiplied by ALL of the people who ever have lived and ever will live. That, if our human minds can even fathom it all, is what our savior bore for us.

So today as you are going about your day, keep in mind how loved you really are. Do everything that you do with purpose, because it is on purpose that you are here!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

Colossians - Week 1, Thursday

Catching up... :) I hope you are all enjoying this!! Feel free to leave comments!!

Colossians 1:11-12

¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

In these verses we gain the understanding that we need to gain endurance and patience. If you notice Paul says "being strengthened" so that we might have them. To be strengthened means to make stronger; to give strength to. How do we become stronger?

If you are looking to become stronger in an area of your body what do you do? You go to the gym and work out. This is tough, it takes time and a lot of effort. You start to lift things that are heavier than you've ever lifted. You are putting more pressure on those area than they are used to. Well it is the same way spiritually. If we want to grow in patience and endurance than we have to become stronger, we have to work them out. If you don't want your patience to be tested, don't ask God for more of it. You see our faith is another muscle that we must work out. It may be that in order for growth to take place in those areas we have to go through things we have never gone through before. We may have to face trials and pressures that we've never experienced before. But we serve a faithful God! Deuteronomy 31:8 ⁸ The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

The second verse is that scripture says to joyfully give thanks, because we are qualified for the inheritance of his kingdom of light! No matter what we may go through we should praise God! Psalm 74:21 says "Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name." If we are strengthening our patience and endurance, I can bet ya that we're needy. In our time of need, when all we have is our faith, praise God!

Here's the deal,  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthains 5:21). For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). God's son, Jesus went through so much torture for he cried out “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36). Later, at noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.  And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) (Mark 15:33-34). You see this is what had to happen in order for us to qualified. Sometimes, actually a lot of the time, we take this for granted. In the message version, Hebrews 12:1-3 reminds us,  Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

When we can comprehend and understand what has already happened for us then it makes every other trial we go through seem quite small. This passage has challenged me to take each day and treasure it. The challenge for us today is to take time ever day and simply praise God for what He has already done in our lives!

This is my list. Don't over complicate or try to be "super spiritual", God just wants us to be real! So be real with God, and see what starts to awaken within you!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford