It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. [Galatians 5:1]

I'm sorry I haven't been blogging much lately.  Honestly, life has been pretty crazy.  Let me update you.

I'm going to India this summer for the entire month of July.  Leaving June 28, coming home August 2.  The organization I'm going with is called Advancing Native Missions, but we'll be working with Bombay Teen Challenge. It's sort of funny, I'm going with several older women (not terribly old, but no one my age).  We'll be spending some time in Mumbai, but most of our time will be spend in Ashagram, Jubilee homes, or the AIDS home.  Ashagram (Village of Hope) is a large compound with a home for women who have been rescued out of sex slavery and are learning a trade, the Bible, receiving counseling, etc.  Also within the Village of Hope there is a boys home, for street boys and the sons/nephews of prostitutes.  The Jubilee homes are for the daughters of prostitutes, street girls, at risk children, etc.  The AIDS home is for HIV positive children and AIDS orphans.  I'll probably spend time at all of them, finding my fit for where to spend most of my time after visiting them all.  More than likely I will be helping to teach English, perhaps some Bible classes, and other things.  I'm not entirely sure what the Lord has in store specifically for me to do, but I know I'm going to be loving these children in the name of Jesus.  :)  


I'm graduating an entire year early.  Not just one semester like I thought.  I'm graduating from Liberty University, May 2012, with a Bachelor's degree in Health Promotion: CHES, at the prime age of 20.  


I also may have a position lined up to be a health clinic coordinator in India for an extended period, following my graduation of college, but I'll save you all that information.  


In other news, Jesus is amazing.  I FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY UNDERSTAND MY IDENTITY IN CHRIST.  I am more than a conqueror.  I am a saint.  I don't have to live by the Old Covenant any longer.  It is for freedom that Christ has set me free.  I have authority in Christ.  Holy Spirit lives inside of me!  The KINGDOM IS WITHIN ME (Luke 17:21)!  I don't have to ask God for more of Him or fire to fall on me, because HE IS ALREADY DWELLING WITHIN ME!  I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit!  


If you're interested in learning about what I'm talking about, feel free to check out my other blog or these resources:  


http://iamrevival-blog.tumblr.com/post/3507567699/new-covenant

http://classyliving.tumblr.com/post/3560540989/a-quick-statement

For scripture on your identity in Christ, click here.

i may talk you out of following Jesus...

The Lord has really been speaking to me lately and drawing me deeper into Him. Through this, I've been taking Hebrews 12:1-3 seriously. The Lord has blessed me with extreme purity and woven mercy into my DNA. I didn't think I held much on in the flesh. However, I was wrong. The Lord began to show me that just because I don't have problems with lust or major selfish ambition, doesn't mean that I can eat at fast food restaurants and put caffeine and high fructose corn syrup into my body and say that I am pure and unselfish. 2 Corinthians 7:1 says to purify ourselves from everything that contaminates both BODY and SPIRIT. I'm very intentional when it comes to loving Jesus. That may sound lame, but I'm intentional about hanging out with my best friend, so I feel like I should be intentional about loving the living God. In my intentional nature, I decided to do a body detox where I did a full food fast. I fast on a regular basis, so I figured it wouldn't be that big of a deal. However, it was miserable, and I met so much opposition. I choose to do something kind-of radical in order to decrease that Christ may increase, and I meet opposition from Christians. Today, as I wrote a discussion board post for my introduction to missions class, it occurred to me that the more radical I make my life, the more likely non-Christians will be drawn to what I have and the more likely I will receive extreme persecution from Christians (religious people).

This week I have been a wreck. In this process of sanctification and consecration, I am just being hit with the inability to be comfortable with mediocrity. As I read the word and listen for His voice, I see John the Baptist surviving only on locusts and honey, yet still living a life of prayer and fasting. I hear Jesus saying, "Casey, I want you to live a life of simplicity. You don't need three meals a day, just because America says you need that. I want you to find satisfaction in Me alone, not in food." I am scared of the radical life I hear Him calling me into. However, I know it's worth it. I know I have to do it. Or I could walk away from my faith. But I would NEVER do that because I have tasted and I have seen that the Lord is GOOD. He is good! I'm beginning to understand what Paul meant in Philippians 2 when he said to work out my salvation with fear and trembling. I'm extraordinarily fearful.

I started reading Radical by David Platt today. In it, he talks about Luke 9. We easily can say, "Oh well that was for back then, it's not for today." But why? How can we say some of the Bible is applicable and some is not? If we pick and choose what we want to follow or believe, we're saying we are better than God. We are not better than God. David Platt says, "I am convinced that we as Christ followers in American churches have embraced values and ideas that are not only unbiblical but that actually contradict the gospel we claim to believe." Jesus says that "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has no place to lay his head." Jesus says we may be homeless. In the next chapter of Luke he says when you go, don't take sandals or a bag. I could keep going, but I think I need to just pray and figure out how to tell my parents that I want to quit college, take my college money and buy a one way plane ticket to India, where I plan on being homeless, touching lepers and healing them.

Please comment. Tell me to do it. Tell me I'm absolutely crazy. Tell me whatever you feel like.