1.15.20~ Burn The Ships
There's a popular song out right now, on Christian radio, by For King and Country, called Burn The Ships. I typically wouldn't take all the extra time and space to type out the lyrics within a post, but I think they are very important words and add a lot to everything I am about to share with you.
"How did we get here? All castaway on a lonely shore.
I can see in your eyes, dear. It's hard to take for a moment more.
We've got to...
Burn the ships, cut the ties,
Send a flare into the night,
Say a prayer, turn the tide,
Dry your tears and wave goodbye.
Step into a new day.
We can rise up from the ash and walk away.
We can dance upon the heartache, yeah.
So light a match, leave the past, burn the ships,
And don't you look back.
"Don't let it arrest you. This fear is fear falling again.
And if you need a refuge, I will be right here until the end.
Oh, it's time to...
Burn the ships, cut the ties,
Send a flare into the night,
Say a prayer, turn the tide,
Dry you tears and wave goodbye.
Step into a new day.
We can rise up from the ash and walk away.
We can dance upon the heartache, yeah.
So light a match, leave the past, burn the ships,
And don't you look back.
So long to shame, walk through the sorrow,
Out of the fight, into tomorrow.
So flush the pills, face the fear,
Feel the waves disappear.
We're coming clear, we're born again,
Our hopeful lungs can breathe again."
Now, all of that being said, the original meaning of the song has to do with the explorers discovering new lands.
See, these explorers would get people together and on a boat to go conquer and inhabit new lands. All of these people would be so excited on the way to wherever they were going, but once they arrived, they wouldn't leave the boat. The explorer would have to find some way to convince them to get off the ship, and when they did, he would literally burn the ship. This symbolized that there was no going back. This was it. Nothing but faith would carry them through.
The idea of "Burn The Ships" was brought to my attention by my student pastor, Matt, as an overall theme for the year for our student ministry. Honestly, I really didn't give it a second thought, other than loving the song. But, God began to work on my heart through the thoughts Matt had came to us with. God began to convict me, I WAS one of those people who got so excited about doing new things for the Kingdom, but was only going to do it if it was within my comfort zone. As I wrestled with God on being called out on this issue, He began to reveal to me that 2020 needed to be the year I changed that issue.
See, I've started a lot of new chapters in life lately. I graduated high school, I moved out of my parents' house, and I started an internship at my church. Not long after, I'll be starting college. All these things were extremely easy to do, because I was comfortable. I will do just about anything as long as I know all the details and it is planned out well.---Seems like I won't do just anything, huh? Well, that would be correct. It was and it is time to change that.
In 2020 my goal and my plans are to step into anything that God has called me to. Regardless of knowing all the details and events that might occur. I want to be the one who steps into immediate obedience, through faith, without even questioning why God is calling me to that specific thing.
Well, any of you who know me well or have been on this blogging journey with me for a while, know that my biggest struggle in life is dealing with fear and anxiety. So for me to step off the boat and burn the ships, is a HUGE step. It is extremely scary to think about and immediately makes me want to question God on why this is His plan for me this year. I want to say, "God, why me? Why do I have to be the one to get off the boat first and step into full faith." But my goal is to not do that at all. (Keep in mind, I want this journey to be more than just 2020. I want this to be lifelong.)
It seems that my first of these many adventures that God has in store for me in this season of life, is heading to Honduras this summer with our student ministry. (This probably won't be the first of these adventures, but as of right now it is the first major one.) As someone who has never even been out of the country on a cruise, or even any farther away than ten and a half hours from her family... this is a huge step for me. It is kind of scary to think of the all things I might come into contact with, but I'm also extremely excited. I have a huge heart for missions and taking the Gospel to the places that it isn't known. I love people and children, and I absolutely can not wait for this experience to shape my view of the Gospel and of who God is and what He can do!!!
I don't want any of you to think that this journey just means that I'm gonna chase after God in large opportunities and big events. This could mean simply just sharing my faith with someone at Walmart when the Holy Spirit is pushing me. This could mean volunteering for things at church or for an organization that I may not be comfortable with or see myself being good at. I want to serve and lead and be the follower of Christ that I've always talked about and looked up to. "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back. No turning back."
Thank you for all your love and support. I couldn't have made it to this season of life without the people who love me and encourage me everyday. I know that sounds extremely cliché but I'm serious.
Love,
Iz💛💛
"How did we get here? All castaway on a lonely shore.
I can see in your eyes, dear. It's hard to take for a moment more.
We've got to...
Burn the ships, cut the ties,
Send a flare into the night,
Say a prayer, turn the tide,
Dry your tears and wave goodbye.
Step into a new day.
We can rise up from the ash and walk away.
We can dance upon the heartache, yeah.
So light a match, leave the past, burn the ships,
And don't you look back.
"Don't let it arrest you. This fear is fear falling again.
And if you need a refuge, I will be right here until the end.
Oh, it's time to...
Burn the ships, cut the ties,
Send a flare into the night,
Say a prayer, turn the tide,
Dry you tears and wave goodbye.
Step into a new day.
We can rise up from the ash and walk away.
We can dance upon the heartache, yeah.
So light a match, leave the past, burn the ships,
And don't you look back.
So long to shame, walk through the sorrow,
Out of the fight, into tomorrow.
So flush the pills, face the fear,
Feel the waves disappear.
We're coming clear, we're born again,
Our hopeful lungs can breathe again."
Now, all of that being said, the original meaning of the song has to do with the explorers discovering new lands.
See, these explorers would get people together and on a boat to go conquer and inhabit new lands. All of these people would be so excited on the way to wherever they were going, but once they arrived, they wouldn't leave the boat. The explorer would have to find some way to convince them to get off the ship, and when they did, he would literally burn the ship. This symbolized that there was no going back. This was it. Nothing but faith would carry them through.
The idea of "Burn The Ships" was brought to my attention by my student pastor, Matt, as an overall theme for the year for our student ministry. Honestly, I really didn't give it a second thought, other than loving the song. But, God began to work on my heart through the thoughts Matt had came to us with. God began to convict me, I WAS one of those people who got so excited about doing new things for the Kingdom, but was only going to do it if it was within my comfort zone. As I wrestled with God on being called out on this issue, He began to reveal to me that 2020 needed to be the year I changed that issue.
See, I've started a lot of new chapters in life lately. I graduated high school, I moved out of my parents' house, and I started an internship at my church. Not long after, I'll be starting college. All these things were extremely easy to do, because I was comfortable. I will do just about anything as long as I know all the details and it is planned out well.---Seems like I won't do just anything, huh? Well, that would be correct. It was and it is time to change that.
In 2020 my goal and my plans are to step into anything that God has called me to. Regardless of knowing all the details and events that might occur. I want to be the one who steps into immediate obedience, through faith, without even questioning why God is calling me to that specific thing.
Well, any of you who know me well or have been on this blogging journey with me for a while, know that my biggest struggle in life is dealing with fear and anxiety. So for me to step off the boat and burn the ships, is a HUGE step. It is extremely scary to think about and immediately makes me want to question God on why this is His plan for me this year. I want to say, "God, why me? Why do I have to be the one to get off the boat first and step into full faith." But my goal is to not do that at all. (Keep in mind, I want this journey to be more than just 2020. I want this to be lifelong.)
It seems that my first of these many adventures that God has in store for me in this season of life, is heading to Honduras this summer with our student ministry. (This probably won't be the first of these adventures, but as of right now it is the first major one.) As someone who has never even been out of the country on a cruise, or even any farther away than ten and a half hours from her family... this is a huge step for me. It is kind of scary to think of the all things I might come into contact with, but I'm also extremely excited. I have a huge heart for missions and taking the Gospel to the places that it isn't known. I love people and children, and I absolutely can not wait for this experience to shape my view of the Gospel and of who God is and what He can do!!!
I don't want any of you to think that this journey just means that I'm gonna chase after God in large opportunities and big events. This could mean simply just sharing my faith with someone at Walmart when the Holy Spirit is pushing me. This could mean volunteering for things at church or for an organization that I may not be comfortable with or see myself being good at. I want to serve and lead and be the follower of Christ that I've always talked about and looked up to. "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back. No turning back."
Thank you for all your love and support. I couldn't have made it to this season of life without the people who love me and encourage me everyday. I know that sounds extremely cliché but I'm serious.
Love,
Iz💛💛
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