Let This Be A Sacrifice-The Barbarian Way

               There's nothing worth more, that will ever come close, Nothing can compare...                                          Let us become more aware of your Presence                                                                Let us experience the glory of your goodness

  

I'm writing this blog, not to flaunt my relationship with Jesus(pretentious christians drive me crazy), not for recognition(i'm flawed beyond words), but for accountability, I suppose. I say I suppose, because I can't exactly pinpoint what spurred this on, but I know I've felt certain things pressing on my heart, and i've learned from experience to follow your heart in situations such as this.

 So i'm reading this book with my life group. It's called the barbarian way. It's a pretty good book. It's got a great message. It's a bit redundant at times, but most books in the same vein, tend to be redundant (Love and Respect...we get it. You respect him...he loves you...cycle...It doesn't need to be this many chapters). Basically the book talks about how we should approach christianity. John the baptist, was a barbarian. He lived on the necessities, and spent his life in the absolute pursuit of Jesus Christ. He spoke the word, he lived in the presence of God, and he didn't care about the material things the world threw at us. He didn't allow himself to be distracted. He was admired by thousands. He was a "celebrity" of his time. I'm sure a lot people would have done whatever he asked. I'm sure people had offered to buy him gifts, to take care of him. He probably could have worn the latest fashion, eaten amazing meals, vacationed in the nicest kingdoms, but he didn't care about that. He was so Christ focused, that i'll bet he wasn't even aware of what was on style. He didn't care that his meal, and his room wasn't as luxurious as they could have been. He ate when he was hungry, and he ate what was laid before him, he didn't go out of his way to pamper himself. He just did whatever necessary to spread the message of Love and Peace, that God gave to him. 

 Now i'm not saying that it's wrong to "treat yo self" (parks and rec reference...sorry haha), and i'm not saying that we should all wear paper bags and eat locusts. I'm saying that I do feel there was... a 'method to his madness', if you will. I mean, if you're reading this you're probably like, "Um...duh. Take away distractions and you will focus on God more obviously...this isn't groundbreaking news." But here's where the twist comes in. 

I hear often that as christians, we are required to live a life of sacrifice to some extent. And YES thats true. But most people view sacrifice as giving up something thats important to you. People view it as a negative thing., BUT let's put things into perspective. I've always been a HUGE believer in attitude, and even energy. I don't exactly know how to explain it scientifically but I do believe that when we are feeling and thinking negative, our bodies give off a sort of negative energy, that can affect the people who surround us. Which is why I always try my hardest to stay positive and optimistic. I try to keep an inner calm. Most people, including me at times, call it Zen, but I believe that it's the Holy Spirit, flowing through us. I've studied enough religion in my lifetime, to know that SO many doctrines come from the bible at the root of it. Karma? It's biblical... it's called treat others the way you want to be treated. Meditation? It isn't wrong if you are doing it the biblical way "Be still and know that I am God?" "Meditate on the word.." I could go on. But finally... when I tell people I do Yoga, they are usually like..um isnt that like weird spiritual stuff?! I mean...yeah kinda. I'm a weird spiritual person. It's definitely a huge workout, and makes my body burn like nothing else, but it also can be very spiritual. You're moving your body gracefully, in a quiet room, with the temperature turned up. Your mind is clear, and focused, and your instructor reminds you to be one with your surrounding, to be peaceful, to be grateful for your blessings. It is the BEST time to worship God. To be one with HIM, to be grateful to him, to feel his spirit flowing through you. I kind of went off on a bit of a bunny trail, but there is a point to it. 

The point is perspective. Things( yoga, meditation, etc) that other people view as weird, or wrong, are some of the things that make me feel closest to God. Because I don't view it that way. People who try it, sometimes don't like it because...well it can be super hard at times, and also because they think it's strange, because they were raised viewing it as a hindu, or buddist thing. I view it as an act of worship. I view it as this huge privilege that I am given that I have the chance to worship and serve God, while I also stay in shape. My perspective makes all the difference in the world. 

So let's backtrack..."christians required to live a life of sacrifice...that's true..blah blah." But what if we don't view it that way? What if we view sacrifice as the way it was intended to be. Sacrifice is devotion. It's the act of surrender. People often view surrender and devotion as a negative thing too. Again, all they think of is "giving up something." Yes you are giving up things. But what if that wasn't a negative thing? Yeah sure, you KNOW ultimately it's probably better for you, but it still makes you feel stressed out to actually commit the act .So let's change our mindsets!! What if  we viewed "giving up something"  as a honor...or privilege. The fact that we get to be rid of all these unnecessary things, that do not benefit us in any way, but deter from our relationship with God, it's SUCH a blessing. God LETS us give that stuff up. He gives us the option to! We don't need these things. He created so much in the world for us to do, to admire, so much for us to stop and just be in awe of. To sit in nature, and just worship him. Yet, we hear our phones beep, and we're so absorbed in them, that we ignore all the miracles around us? We don't see all the beauty happening around us. The fact that we get to get rid of these blinders that keep us focused on these detriments to our relationship with God, is SUCH a blessing. We get to take them off, and look around us, and see all the awesome things happening in front of our eyes. We don't have to miss out! That's so awesome!! Sacrifice?!? Yeah right!! That's such a gift! YOLO...just kidding about the yolo... well kind of. I hate that expression, but the meaning rings true. We have ONE life. One SHORT life. Why are we wrapped up in technology, in fiction, when the greatest stories are happening in real life!! 

So here's where I challenge myself, where I stretch out of what i have been accustomed to. Here is where I begin. 60 days...

*No smartphone *gasp* that thing is a time warp. I look at it, and two hours pass, and my heart panics cause i'm at 10% charge and there's no charger in sight. No thanks.

*10 minute facebook time in the afternoon, 10 minutes at night. No more... and no less...cause let's face it, i'm not going to go less then my allotted time.

*Television cuts... Everyone knows, i'm addicted to television shows... I watch like a million... i've cut it down to like.. 12 but it's gettin real in here... I have 2 shows that I will be watching with my girlfriends. Pretty Little Liars with The Prince Sisters, and friends sometimes with Bree and Kristy. And thats's always a fun bonding time. Then I have 4 shows I watch with my Hubby.. Homeland, Walking Dead, White Collar and Parks and Rec. I'm cutting out White collar, and keeping it at three. Those nights are awesome for us, cause we get to cuddle up, drink wine and discuss it. Then there's the TV shows I watch on my own... I had narrowed it down to my top three faves that I "couldn't live" without watching... The Vampire Diaries, New Girl, and Glee....AH SO good. Then I decided to go crazy and cut two down... Obviously we all know Vampire Diaries won... SO yes... ONE TV SHOW for myself a week...GAH!! Self control!!

*Internet/ Cuts... I don't really want to set a time for this because sometimes things come up, like "Hey REL! I need you to search for this address for me, cause i'm not by a computer." Or I have to Order something online. But i'm going to try to keep the whole surfing the web thing to about 15 minutes day. I will try to use the same rule for the computer in general, resorting to writing with good ol' pen and paper as opposed to computers. I may extend my times for blog writing, if I feel spoken to in other ways. Also, I may be thinking of doing online...learning for something i'm not going to share yet(it hasn't been confirmed), and obviously the rules will change with that too.

And while i'm at all that technology cutting, I might as well throw in some bonus ones...

*Less luxury...  DO I really need to go get panera, when can I eat a bagel and cream cheese at home for lunch?! WHY would I buy tea at biggby, when I have perfectly good tea at home?! Not only is that dessert not good for my health food plan, but i'm kinda full... and it's also not good for my wallet plan. and it's not necessary. Okay...my christmas tree lights do not need to be on all night when i'm asleep and can't even appreciate them.  Do i really need those four guys carrying me through the town on a giant cushion/bed while someone fans me, and feeds me grapes?! Oh...that wasn't real life?! Oh... Anyway...I don't drink pop, or juice, and usually just stick to water... so i'll definitely keep doing that too. You get the picture.

*Fiction Cuts... haha okay so this is probably only hard for me and no one else. But I LOVE reading fiction... and if I start a fictional story I will read all day until it's complete... so if ever I pick up a fictional book. It must be put down a half hour later.

*MUSIC...I'm going to be listening to 98% of worship music over the next 60 days. Not that other kind of music is wrong, but I just want to be filling my mind and heart with worship as much as I can because, well He deserves it. I say 98% because, sometimes my friends and I have awesome dance parties, and let's face it... it's hard to get down, to worship music, the way you can to "IM GLAD YOU CAAAAMEE" And also...it's hard to get doowwwwwnn to worship music...if ya know what I mean ;) wait...what?!

*WINE cuts... I like wine... especially red...so much. It makes me feel classy. Like I should be wearing diamonds, and gingerly sniffing the liquid, trying to detect if I smell a touch of blackberries.  But sometimes I drink wine,and it tastes so harmless, and i'm like...another glass...psh ya why not?! No big...it's all good. But then I start giggling and thinking that Joe's joke about how i'm a tan white person is the funniest thing i've ever heard. SOOOOOO... i'm limiting myself to just one glass, whenever I drink it. I stopped drinking liquor and beer awhile ago, for the most part, so i'll stick to that, but be a bit firmer. None whatsoever, it's just not good news for multiple reasons, including the little pooch that forms, that people should be petting and asking, how far along?!

*No swearing. I'm not going to lie to you. I've got quite the mouth on me. I hide it in good company, but man I drop a *%&$ more often then I brush my teeth. (I do brush my teeth more then once a day haha) This is the one I am REALLY speaking in faith... cause oh man it's going to be so difficult.

I'm not really sure how many days there are in the next couple months so we will just say on February 8th, i'll reevaluate the list, and see where i'm at.

I've always been a fan of the simple things, often wishing I was something along the lines of amish, so that i could really enjoy life in all its authenticity. But then...I like purple hair,tattoos, fashion, and traveling...so that would be short lived. But i'm a simple girl at my core. I love camping, nature and animals. I love my music unplugged, and vocals raw and authentic. I like my windows open, instead of heat and air conditioning (thats what blankets are for). I love handwritten letters, and anything homemade. This is just an AMAZING opportunity to get to be who I am, and be more involved in what i'm passionate about. But...I wasn't raised this way, and it's going to be SO hard. SO I would appreciate the people in my life, to hold me accountable. To ask me how i'm doing, to encourage me on this journey of barbarian christianity. Once I get a different phone(my account is suspended), feel free to  send me texts of bible verses or prayer, I would LOVE that. :) IF you're still reading, thank you! I know it was long:) I love you all SO much! 

                        LET this be a sacrifice, 
           LET me dedicate my life,  to worship You       
       Iʼm a lover of Your presence, Iʼm a lover of Your presence                      
                     Iʼm a lover of Your presence        
 Our passionʼs stirring deep inside, Youʼre all that really satisfies       
                                 We worship You