"Everything" Blog Tour

Welcome Friends!

I couldn't be more excited to share some new insight with you today regarding

  Mary DeMuth's new book, "Everything".

I am also very excited because I got to hear Kay Warren (Pastor Rick's wife) speak at our High School Ministry this weekend, and some of what she said really resonated with me, 

especially because it was a confirmation to some of the things that Mary states in her book.

Now, before I get into sharing my ONE BIG THING about "Everything", I have to share with you what has been really going on in my life that I have admittedly been hiding from you all.

Yes, I have been hiding something from you.

Please don't judge or hate on me,

I'm just like you, 

or maybe, some of you!

This summer, when Mary let me be a part of this book launch, 

she had no idea that it came at the exact time I needed it. 

I had been wrestling with God, like Jacob, not just for one night, 
but for most of my Christian life. 

Reading Mary's book actually took me to a place where I had to look at 

MY LIFE, MY FAITH, and MY HEART 

and ask myself, 

"Have I really, truly given Jesus EVERYTHING?"

Tears well up in my eyes even now as I am reminded that my answer was,

"NO,

 not everything. 

I hadn't given Him my heart, in it's entirety, 

maybe 90% of it, but that was enough, wasn't it?"

Then I justified it....

I had served for years, in Women's Ministries at church, speaking for MOPS, volunteered, taken meals to friends, encouraged, inspired and even lead others to Christ,

 and yet, 

at the very bottom, the pit of my soul, 

I realized that I could "DO" what Jesus wanted 

and

 I could "BE" the type of woman Jesus wanted me to be, (on the outside)

but

 I did not "GIVE" what Jesus was asking for ....my WHOLE heart.

Pretty big realization after being a Christian for more than 35 years and really serving in ministry for the last 12, wouldn't you say?

Pretty big to me.

Well, of course I began praying and asking the Lord for 

wisdom, clarity and the courage

 I needed to really discover why I hadn't given Jesus everything, 

and it came to me.....

what has always been my ONE BIG THING- 

FEAR.

I was born a scaredy-cat!

I was a shy, timid, scared child.
(I'm sure those who know me would really be surprised by this)

I don't know why, and that doesn't even really matter. 

What matters is that at some deep level, I have known that, 

and I have worked Oh, soooooo very hard to overcome many, many fears, 
so much so, 

that I am someone who has done things many others haven't- 

to overcompensate for my fear.

I'm not afraid of snakes, I actually like them.

I will kill spiders with my bare hands.
I'm not afraid to hold bugs, reptiles or other yucky things.

I have had my belly pierced, shot a handgun and have gone skydiving.

I've spent 24 hours alone, on a small mountain with nothing more than a sleeping bag.

My largest obstacle has been to learn how to stop my eyes from watering (a subconscious reaction) when I speak to large groups.

And although I have overcome most of my fears, 
I had not given my heart fully to God because of 
that same fear.

In "Everything", 

Mary says,

"We think we can manage on our own, so we reject the help that God readily supplies. 
We fear that if we let Him be in control, 
He’ll make us open up to people, risk ourselves, do scary things,

 or let go of the sins we cherish.

He wants all of us, all the time, our minds and hearts deeply engaged with His so we will joyfully follow Him toward every single adventure He plans for us."

Adventure?

Kay Warren went on "God's Adventure" when her heart broke for children

orphaned by AIDS.

I was afraid of THAT kind of adventure.
What about you?

"But Jesus says we’re not to live like every- one else. 
Our lives should be different, 
marked by
fearlessness and bold belief.

He asks us to abandon our control so that He can reign in our lives and grow us.
We would rather live a lie than come to the Truth Personified, Jesus, 
and let Him show us our hearts.

 To follow is to give up our lives, 
particularly our expectations of how our lives should be. 
We need to let go of our presumptions about the life we should have 
and 
let Jesus dream a new dream for us. 

A dream where others are changed through the Holy Spirit in us. 
A dream we can't even fathom."
Mary DeMuth

Because of the words in this book,
I have released FULL control of my life
and 
ALL of my heart.
Yes, ALL.

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, 
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 
For whoever would save his life will lose it, 
but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it." 
Mark 8:34-35 ESV

Mary gave me a gift, by including me in a group,

 that I questioned why I was there every day,

by allowing me to read her book, process it and talk about it with other readers.

I had a lot of time to chew on it and really think about what I was reading

 and how it applied to my life.

Thank you, Mary!

God used Mary to truly and deeply bless me 

through this book.

I absolutely believe that when you read it,

you too, 

will think about how it applies to your life,

your heart, in your head and in your hands,

and my prayer to you 

is that YOU 

will bravely and courageously

  look honestly at yourself 

to see 

if

you truly have given 

Jesus 

everything.

And if you have, get ready for your adventure!

I AM!

Saving faith is not just believing that Jesus lived and died. 

Faith that saves is the confident, continuous confession of total dependence on, 

and trust in Jesus Christ to meet the requirements on your behalf 

to give you entrance into God's Eternal Kingdom. 

It's the surrender of your life in complete trust to Him to do what you cannot do.

You're my Everything

Rendered speechless by Your beauty
Lord, I'm blown away
With everything that's in my heart
A million words could never say all there is to say

Chorus 1:
You're more than just a song, You're more than just a whim
You're more than just a passing fantasy
You're my Everyday
You're my Every Way
You're my Everything

Verse 2:
If I could see forever
In just one moment I would say
These todays are worth tomorrow
When I will see You face to face

Chorus 2:
I want to be with You
I need to be with You
I long to be with You, precious King
So with every day, Lord, in every way
You're my Everything

Bridge:
You're my Everything
You're my Everything
You're my Everything, Oh Jesus
You're my Everything

Ending:
You're my Everyday
You're my Every Way 

What do you think it means to give Jesus everything?

Have you given Jesus everything?

Why or why not?

Have a beyond wonderful week!