options, options, options...

...or choices, choices, choices

ok so this next week is going to be pretty big for me, i'd really appreicate your thoughts and prayers.

i have decided about to do next year:

* do i stay i as feel i should, with no way of funding my self, just trusting in God, and therefore going against my parents wishes

OR

* do i go back to england and go to uni, which i dont really want to do, but my parents and tom (sorry i had to name you) think is the option what would make sense, cos of degree n stuff

now normally id go straight with what i feel called to do (and to be honest thats proberly what i will do) but i know how my parents feel and it feels slightly wrong! i guess we can agrue you it out tomorrow.

so whats God being doing recently:
*defining who He is in me and through me
*expanding my calling - which im pretty stoked about btw!
*making me think hugely.

so whats purity and intergity? what do they really honestly mean...how i can live a God filled life all the time, living up the calling in places such as Romans 12, James, Ephesians etc. the high standards of moral living, and what is a high standard of moral living in todays standards, so much has changed, that it makes this calling all the more important to live up to, and set the standard for. what we called 'good' today would have been considered totally wrong back in the day. so i guess that meta ethics for you, what do words actually mean...

i know God's calling me to be different, to stand out, stand up and to go against the flow, but what does that look like, and how do i pick myself back up when i fail and fall so short of the standard God has placed in my life. Ive been set apart for a purpose but do i fulfill that to my ful potential or am i just getting by? how do i increase my capcity..

Purity - FREEDOM from adulation or contamination, freedom from immortality especially of a sexual nature.

Pure: wholesome. authentic bright, classic, clear, complete, fair, flawless, natural, neat, perfect, plain, real, simple, straight, total, transparent, true, twenty-four carat*, unadulterated, unalloyed, unclouded, undiluted, unmingled, unmixed, unpolluted, unsoiled, unspotted, unstained, unsullied, untainted, untarnished,
blessed, blameless, celibate, chaste, cherry, clean, continent, decent, exemplary, fresh, good, honest, immaculate, inculpable, innocent, inviolate, irreproachable, kid, lily white*, maidenly, modest, righteous, sinless, spotless, stainless, true, unblemished, unblighted, uncorrupted, undefiled, unprofaned, unspotted, unstained, unsullied, upright, virgin, virtuous, wide-eyed

Purity in relationships stems from having a pure heart, and should automatically be a consequence of having a pure heart = the two should go hand in hand. But purity is a lifestyle not just one part of our life.

-Psalm 51v 6-7 - purify means? do we fully understand the signficance...
-Psalm 86 v 11 - pure heart, are we honouring God?
-Psalm 119 v 9 - obey
-Matthew 5v8 - pure heart = seeing God
-Colossians 3 v 5-17 - change in the way we live
-Ephesians 5 v 3 - are we living up to God's standard? (read around this oen too)
-Galatians 5 v19 –26 - To have self control is to have purity – because you guard your heart. You will not inherit the kingdom of God if you are impure.
-1 Timothy 4:11-13 - called to set the example
-Psalm 119 v 1-3 - blessed with joy when you have intergrity

Gods calling for us to be pure in everything we do. Once we have pure minds and pure hearts he can work fully through us, and use us to advance his kingdom. A pure heart, means integrity in all areas of our lives, guarding our minds, tongues, actions, be careful about the company we keep, the music we listen to, the things we watch.

Intergity is purity across the board in all areas of our lifes, where am i slipping up? what areas have lowers standards then other areas? would i want people to follow my example and go my path?

so what does this mean for me? i guess making all areas of my life have the same high standard that im trying to reach. relationship wise:
*treating family and friends how they deserve to be treated, being open and honest and caring for them
*lads - well i cant date woop, but what signals am i giving out regardless. i have some amazing friendships with lads that people might seem to precieve as odd, well im sorry contiune to precieve it as odd, i do honestly with my whole heart feel God has placed me with these people for a reason, and we bond cos we are meant to, and yeah i will continue to speak into their lifes and love the pieces, christian or non-christian.
mindest wise:
*telling girls they are beauitful etc etc you know good old youth group stuff, but then not actually believing it for myself causes a huge issue, even if i do honestly think they are beauitful etc etc. so where do i go from here.. theres a tons of issues to deal with, one step at a time i say!
*prayer, worship and word - to keep it up no matter how busy, i have had some of the most amazing prayer times this week, because i created space out of the busyness from a pressing on my heart, yet when im not so busy they dont seem to go down as well.. funny that huh! so yeah thats got to be kept up.
* im sure ill think of more when its not midnight! so keep your eyes peeled on this section..

God keeps making me read and re-read proverbs 1,2 and 3
proverbs 1 v 20 - 25 says
'Wisdom shouts in the streets.
She cries out in the public square.
She calls to the crowds along
the main street,
to those gathered in front of the
city gate:
''How long, you simpletons,
will you insist on being simpleminded?
How long will you mockers relish
your mocking?
How long will you fools hate
knowledge?
Come and listen to my counsel.
I'll share my heart with you
and make you wise.
I called you so often, but
you wouldnt come.
I reached out to you, but you paid
no attention.
You ignored my advice
and rejected and correction I offered.'