A Dare to Live a Completely Unbalanced Life

A balanced life is over-rated. Really. I mean, who can really balance it all?

Instead of trying, I've decided to strive for the opposite....

I want to live a completely unbalanced life:

one that is totally and completely consumed with Jesus.

As soon as my eyes open each day,

I want to think of Him and bend my knees to His sovereign hand.

I want to offer my heart, my day, my everything to Him.

I want Jesus to be what I long for -

the only thing that can satisfy the longings of my heart.

I want an identity so rooted in Him that no sense of self remains.

I want His Word to overwhelm my mind, consume my thoughts,

be my fuel, my source of strength, my very life.

I want to live as an empty vessel waiting to be filled -

a fragrant offering to the giver of all good things.

More of Him. Less of me.

That's what I want...

a completely unbalance life.

I dare you to join me...

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. Philippians 3:8

"We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you" 2 Chronicles 20:12

When I first began praying in January about what Women's Ministry would look like for our church this year, God gave me a very specific (and kind of peculiar) text and verse to focus on. Today, the purpose of the text is obvious. God knew what the coming months would bring for our church family.

The text God led me to was 2 Chronicles 20 (1-30). Allow me to summarize.

King Jehoshaphat was warned that his nation was about to be under attack. Alarmed by this news, he "resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah". So all the people came together to pray. "All of the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord." The Spirit of the Lord spoke through Jahaziel and told the people, "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's." Jehoshaphat then sent out men ahead of the army, and as they worshiped the Lord, God took care of the battle. The men of Judah did nothing but take away the plunder.

So what does this have to do with us, you ask?

Our church is going through a really hard time right now. It would be ridiculous to pretend otherwise. We are homeless, but "experiencing the Crossing". Our name has changed. Our building is changing. The people are changing. There is uncertainty, frustration, instability and fear all around us. I know. I get it. I see it too.

But this is what I also know...

God is not done with us yet! He's got a plan of us and it's gonna be GOOD!

And I think we have a thing or two to learn from the story of Jehoshaphat and the nation of Judah.

#1: Let's show some resolve to seek the Lord! (2 Chronicles 20:3)

Resolve is a strong word. It means, "to come to a definite or earnest decision about". Have we really resolved to seek the Lord - ONLY - like Jehoshaphat did? Are we giving ourselves over to praying for our leadership as they seek the Lord in the direction of our new church?

#2: Let's worship the Lord in the midst of this "Crossing"! (2 Chronicles 20:6-12)

Have we committed our situation of God, acknowledging that only He can save us?
Are we seeking God's favor?
Are we acknowledging that God is sovereign over our church's future?
Are we praising God for His glory and taking comfort in His promises?
Are we professing complete dependence of God to deliver us?

#3: Let's stand together as a church body and wait for the Lord to deliver us! (2 Chronicles 20:13)

Although our circumstances might say otherwise, these are exciting times for our church family. I am fired up about what God has in store of us - both now and on the other side - but we need to pull together, my friends!

I feel a little High School Musical coming on.....sing it with me..."We're all in this together!" Sorry - I had to do it!

Hugs!
Carrie

The Best Day!

10 years ago today I said "I DO" to Mr. Erik Rogers...and it wasn't the best day of my life.

I was determined that it wouldn't be!

As we planned and prepared, I viewed our wedding day as an important day, a special day and a really fun day - but the best day of my life....NO WAY!

It was the days after that BIG day that mattered to me.

Let me explain.

If October 6, 2001 wasn't the BEST day of my life, then I would get to keep on searching for the best day. And now I would be searching with Erik. He and I - we would get to discover it together. We would get to live out our best days. Together.

So here we are, 10 years later, and I'd have to say that this marriage-thing we got going on is a pretty good one. Actually, it's quite amazing! "Team Rogers" - that's what we call ourselves...cheesy I know, but we like it! We like it because we like our team. A lot.

And me and the Mr....well - we're pretty great together. We aren't very "shmoopy" (that's what I call all of that lovey, dovey stuff) but we bring out the best in each other. I'm better because of my man and I think he'd say the same of me. What more could we ask for?

And as for our BEST day...I think the better question is how many best days can we get? 'Cause 10 years and counting - with Mr. Rogers - they've all been the BEST day of my life!!

I confiscated this blog...

hi there!

To those of you that were following our MAC blog, I wanted to let you know that I confiscated the blog! I decided that since our church name is no more...Mom's Around the Corners doesn't really make sense anymore...so I stole the blog for my own selfish gain.

Are you ok with that?

If not, I will understand if you want to "un-follow" me.

But if you'd like to stay, I'd love to have you. I don't know how often I'll write, but you know how much I like to chat with you. I might even do it more often and pretend that we are sitting with a cup of coffee in our hands - really talking.

And don't worry - you don't have to talk back. I've learned that most of the time you'd rather not say anything - which is ok - even though you know it makes me VERY excited when you do :)

All of this to say, "I'm back!". Under a different name. Will you have me??