Walking with God

I thought I would just share a little something with you. Currently in my life I am learning what it really is to walk with God everyday. As a wife and mother I am learning daily what it is really like to know that in every frustration God is still there. In every mistake God has already given us grace for that. Also how to give grace and love unconditionally.

I want to encourage you, in whatever walk of life you are in. No matter what your circumstances are. God is still in control. Lean on him. Walk with him and allow him to walk with you. There is peace in the midst of every storm. There are answers for your questions, even if it is trust without knowing.

Have a great day!!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

Alluring Acceptance

I embarked on a small journey to read the story of Hosea and Gomer before starting a novel that was written about them. So as I began reading the book of Hosea I started to see this beautiful story being painted.

Chapter 2 God begin by saying how terrible "she" (a parallel of Gomer and God's country Israel) was being. How she has had other lovers (gods) and because of that His judgement would come in it's fullness. She would be ridded of everything she had acquired. She would be shown in full vulnerability for what she is and all she has done.

BUT THEN, in verse 14 God begins again "Therefore I am now going to allure [to attract, to fascinate] her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. THERE I will give her back her vineyards, and I will make the valley of Achor a door of hope. THERE she will ding as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came out of Egypt."

I love the absolute unconditional love that is shown here. The first part shows what is deserved of her actions. BUT THEN God intervenes and says that He wants depseratley to allure us, to attract us to him so that when we choose to accept Him and turn away from our other "lovers" whatever it may be that keeps us from God, that He will restore us! That in THAT specific moment, in THAT place,THERE, He will poor out his love and blessings on us.

Vers 16 goes on to say that in that day we will call God "my husband". We will no longer call Him "my master." This shows the love relationship that He desires to have with every single one of us!

So I ask you now, have you accepted God's alluring Spirit?

Roman 10:9 Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Christ is Lord and that God raised him from the grave then you will be saved

Proverbs 24:16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

Journal Time

Well as I've posted I've been reading in Mark again just to really soak it in and digest God's word.

So far I'm coming to the conclusion that I am more of Pharisees pie hole than a Jesus follower, or so it feels at times. That's the flesh that I struggle with. I want all of the rules and this set guideline of do's and don't's. I'm comfortable there. I think many of us are.

It is there that we know that we're on point or how far off point. We can measure our "spirituality" on the do-do's guidelines.

BUT what I'm having to learn all over again is that Jesus has already freed us from all of that. All Jesus wants us to do is love him with all of our heart soul and mind!!

When we do that, we end up learning to live in the tension of law and grace that God has called us to.

Go back to that moment when God first freed you. Remember that. Praise him for that. Live free!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

Abandonment? Answered!

Alrighty! So here is my discovery on the whole "Abandonment?" post that came from Mark, chapter 1. The definition of living in full abandonment of my selfishness for my life wasn't necessarily a tangible thing. Yes, there are times that I have to make choices to do or not do something in order to abandon my selfishness, BUT the majority of the time it is an attitude thing.

When I am doing the natural, routine, daily things that I do, with what attitude am I doing them? Am I complaining? Am I slowing down or putting it off? Am I worshipful? Am I glorifying God? Am I thankful? The list could go on and on!

So here is my little nugget on living a life of abandonment for the Lord: Look at the season of life God has you in and prayerfully decide what it is that God is calling you to do in that season. Then, do whatever it takes! However it takes! You may not have to give up a physical thing, or you may. You may or may not have to give up your time or your attitude. But whatever it takes do that! 

Have a great day!!

~Awaken Us~

Brenna Stanford

Abandonment?

I shared with you a few weeks ago a couple of things from my study in Mark. I must admit my reading and blogging have taken a backseat in the newness of business that has overtaken my life in the past few months. But I will never give up and will continually work for all that God has placed inside of me and in front of me. At this point in time there seems to be more in front of me than inside of me. So please don't hate the sporadic-ness (not sure if that's even a word) of Awaken Us To Motion. 

Okay off of that side note and back on topic! The book of Mark! This is my favorite book of the gospel (with Luke following close behind!). I had just finished reading it for the first time in about a year. After contemplating what book of the Bible I should dive into next and a couple of discussions with some wise people I decided to re-read Mark. This time I would go through it more slowly and really digest what is being said and compare my life to the word.

There are several beautiful moments right at the very beginning of chapter one. Moments that show God's glory and eternity! Moments that prove God's promises will always be fulfilled! But it wasn't those verses that I had to compare my life with. It was verses 16 - 20 where Jesus calls the four fishermen. In these verses there were a couple of things that stood out to me.

The thing that I had to really stop and look at was in verse 18 & verse 20. The first few words of these verses we "At once" and "Without delay". There is an abandonment that these verses portray. I had to ask myself if I was following Jesus with the same abandonment. The answer? No.

I couldn't think of how I was abandoning my selfishness and what I want during my day-to-day life. So over the next (however long it takes) I will be on this scripture and looking for ways daily to abandon myself so that I can show more Jesus in my life. I invite you to do the same! Join me in this journey and together we can live in abandonment to Christ!

~Awaken Us~

Brenna Stanford

No Turning Back

"I have decided to follow JesusNo turning back

No turning back

The cross before me

The world behind me

No turning back

No turning back"

A couple of days ago I was in a small worship service and they sang Christ Is Enough by Hillsong. As this song was playing I felt a word come from the Lord. It was like He was making it very clear to me that there is a separation. When we choose to follow Jesus we are different. We are no longer of this world. We are made new. From then on "there's no turning back."

So now that we know that we are set apart ("Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;" Jeremiah 1:5) we can live life set apart. God says in 2 Peter 1:3 that He has given us everything we need to live a godly life.

Now go out there and live set apart! Like there's no turning back!

~Awaken Us~

Brenna Stanford

Journal Entry - Mark 1:25-26

Mark 1:25-26 NIV

25 "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

Thus shows the power of Jesus. His instructions were simple and to the point. Be quiet! Come out of him!

There was no long lengthy speach or prayer. It was simple. We have the very power living in us as Christians.

The next time your facing whatever demons are tormenting your day. Remember the power thar you have in the name of Jesus!!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford