New York Pipe Dreams

I leave to visit the great city of New York in 3 days. I can't begin to express how excited I am. My heart has been pulled there for some time now. I'll get to share and experience this great city again, this time with my 2 best friends. I'm hoping and praying that this time will be filled with encouragement and fun. I have no doubts in fact, that it will be.
I still have dreams to live in this great city and share Jesus with those I come across. Why NYC? This city could arguably be the most influential city in the world. The culture, especially American culture, flows from it. What better place to be a light and influence? I have no doubt that the Lord has placed this city on my heart. I still don't know what that means for my future. Do I hope to end up there one day? More than anything!
I ask for your prayers this week. Pray that I will guard my heart against covetousness. Pray that I will be satisfied in Christ alone and that I do not have to live in this city to make a difference. Pray that I will be challenged in my calling and also reaffirmed in it. Pray that I will pray for the people of the city. I will have an awesome update when I return! Until then, for your viewing pleasure:



This is me in Central Park, the last time I visited in Fall of 2010. :)

Dare

I'm being dared by the Savior, Creator of the world to fall madly in love. In fact, his dare is so powerful he doesn't have to triple dog dare me. No, it's a simple, "hey, try me." with the head nod and all. At least, that's what I picture. My heart is SO distracted by menial worldly things. I'm borrowing this quote from a phenomenal blog post that resulted in this outpouring. Check it out here.
Here's the quote:
“I am going to drown in this sucky place of never getting what I long for. You keep saying these things about abundant life … whatever that is, I don’t have it. There’s more to You. If it is true and You mean it, then BE IT. If there isn’t, then You lied and I am screwed. So. Here goes, God. I am going to fast all other pleasures to see if YOU, God, can become my all-time, all-consuming pleasure. I am tired of this life and what it pretends to have. I want the REAL. Will You be my Lover, Lord???”

Am I desperate enough to do this? Yea, I think so. Why? Because all of those so-called pleasures of the world are not actually pleasurable. Sure, I could keep lying to myself and pretend that this over here will keep me occupied for a few days and I might feel a sense of belonging and loving. But it pales in comparison to the "all-consuming pleasure of God.

Paul seems to put this in perspective: They will be … “lovers of pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. … They are the kind of people who work their way into peoples homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires. Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth” (2 Tim. 3:4-7).
I don't know about you, but that verse scares me. Outward behavior can only last so long. The heart catches up and reveals who we really are, what we really love. So just saying no to those worldly pleasures, doesn't really work. I know this first hand. Yes, we put off, but then we MUST put ON.

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11

He is enough. More than enough in fact. Much more than I could ever hope to handle. Oh that I would be consumed. Pray that I'll take the challenge of the Dare. I hope you do too.

Love always.