"It's a Good Day to Die..."

This phrase is said time and time again in a t.v. series that I've been watching online.

To go on a tangent... I've been watching Robin Hood. I love how there is something about it that echoes our life on this earth, living in the kingdom. A group of outlaws, taking small strides for their king while their country is currently in the hands of corruption... PLUS... their is no swearing or inappropriate scenes... AND Robin takes a stand against oppression, giving people hope. Love it.... anyways...

One of the characters, Little John, whenever the group of renegades risk their lives for their cause says, "Today is a good day to die" Which has been a recurring theme for me in the past month.

Several dreams of me teaching what it means to lay down ones life...
Feeling the challenge to die to myself in small ways with family and friends...
Hearing it from the pulpit this Sunday...

I feel the invitation to whatever this may look like,

whether it means:

letting my little brothers use the computer when I'm in the middle of something "important"
biting my tongue and not retaliating with anger when being wrongfully accused,
keeping my heart open when I've been wronged,
taking the first step toward mending a broken relationship,
... etc.

It's on! Because this war that we are fighting is not one of flesh and blood, and our weapons are not weapons of the world but have divine power to demolish strongholds. (ref. eph 6:12 and 2cor10:4) And sometimes these weapons look like death, death to ourselves so that love can take it's place.

Today is a good day to die.

¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other. (John 15)

Leaving Comfort Zone

In letting go of the safety of my plans, and stepping out of my comfort zone, I am able to embrace what God has in store for me. And every time, it’s so much better than anything that I could ever have imagined myself. He pays attention to the details. He knows my heart, my passions, what I need, and where I should be. I just have to step out of my comfort zone and trust that He will take care of everything.

I get extremely excited in finding out what new adventure or journey is around the corner. I open my arms and let go of any plans that I had of my own. At this moment, I feel so risky, yet so safe. It is at this moment that I truly feel alive.

Although I release my will to take on his, I tend to hold back… My arms might be open to wherever he desires me to be; yet my hands grasp hold of people and comforts that I have let become a part of me.

Slowly I must stretch out each finger, to let go of all that I cling onto so tightly. Because I know that when I do release what is in my hands, I am able to receive all that He has in store for me.

My plan = take all rigorous courses throughout high school
His plan = Costa Rica

My plan = Go to Costa Rica during the summer to visit Ademar
His plan = Belize

My Plan = Marquette, get on the Physician’s Assistant track
His Plan = YWAM