12/30/06
Having passion for life is so important. I have recently found myself seeking out God and what His passion is for my life more fervently than ever before. I love kids and I love ministry. I find myself longing so much to be in ministry full-time. Don’t get me wrong, I truly enjoy being a teacher, but I wonder if there is more for my life.
I just finished the book Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper (I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to dig into a deeper relationship with Jesus). There was one particular paragraph that spoke straight to my heart and I want to share it with you:
“Many of you are simply not satisfied with what you are doing. As J. Campbell White said, the out put of your lives is not satisfying your deepest spiritual ambitions. We must be careful here. Every job has its discouragements and its seasons of darkness. We must not interpret such experiences automatically as a call to leave our post. But if the discontent with your present situation is deep, recurrent, and lasting, and if that discontent grows in Bible-saturated soil, God may be calling you to a new work. If, in your discontent, you long to be holy, to walk pleasing to the Lord, and to magnify Christ with your one, brief life, then God may indeed be loosening your roots in order to transplant you to a place and a ministry where the deep spiritual ambitions of your soul can be satisfied. It is true that God can be known and enjoyed in every legitimate vocation; but when he deploys you from one place to the next, he offers fresh and deeper drinking at the fountain of his fellowship. God seldom calls us to an easier life, but always calls us to know more of him and drink more deeply of his sustaining grace.”
I don’t doubt for a minute that God has me right where He wants me to be. But at the same time I wonder where this longing for ministry is coming from. I will be the last person to say that I am “gifted” in teaching kids. Yes, I feel it is something I do well, but gifted is not what comes to mind.
So, what am I saying . . . I guess I want to encourage those of you who feel pulled in a different direction than you thought you would be headed - it is scary, but you are not in control of your life (and it‘s a good thing). I can honestly say that when I gave my life to Christ 9 years ago, I never dreamed that God would put a calling on my heart to be in ministry. I can also tell you that when I laid my plans aside and dove into ministry, God impacted me in ways that I could have never imagined.
Where is God pulling you? Maybe you have heard HIS call, answered it, and are right where God has planned for you to be. Maybe you have heard a call and haven’t answered it. Maybe you are hearing something right now . . . will you let God be God and take you where He wants you? I’ll be praying for you.
“Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Faith In Action
The following is something I had written a while ago. I was reading through it and realized that it needs to be shared - with whom I am not sure (maybe it’s you). Maybe I read it to share it with myself. No matter what the reason, it is here to be read. May God bless you today and remind you of who He is and how much He desires you to put your faith in Him.
September 13, 2003
“Your faith is nothing unless you use it.” (Steve Lotter-friend from RZ)
This really made me think about MY faith. How do I use my faith? The realization that I had tonight is that I don’t use my faith all of the time. I use it when it is convenient and easy. I think to myself: did Jesus only act as God wanted him to when it was convenient for Jesus? Of course not! If he had done that, would God’s will have been fulfilled? NO!!! Jesus came to be the perfect example of a life that is pleasing to God in EVERY way - not just when Jesus wanted to be pleasing. As I think of that it makes me realize that my life is not always pleasing to God. I use the same old excuse “I’m human and I can’t possibly live up to God’s expectations for me”. The problem with that attitude is that it keeps me from pushing myself to do what I know I should - it is an evil crutch and I know that it holds me back.
So, what am I going to do with this revelation from God? I want to say that I have it all figured out, but I know that it is not for me to figure out. God knows what He wants me to do and I need to unclog my ears and listen to the beautiful voice of my Father. I need to put my fears aside - look at how He has blessed me already for doing that! Why is it so hard to be fearless when I hear the voice of God? Part of me has trouble discerning if it is God and part of me wants to convince myself that it isn’t God just so I don’t have to do what he is asking of me. It is a total attitude thing. I need to realize that the things God is asking of me are privileges from GOD! He would not lead me to do something that I am not fully prepared for. That preparation needs to consist of serious prayer and FAITH. And not just saying that I have the faith that it takes, but believing with all that I am and putting that faith to use. I think of how many times my faith has consisted of empty words and I am ashamed of myself. In no way did I lift up God’s name. The only real thing that I accomplished was to make myself look foolish and degrade God. How wretched.
If you are feeling this way or have ever felt like this, I invite you to pray the following prayer. Read it and take to heart the words. It has been my prayer many times, and I open it to you.
Abba Father, I thank you so much for who you are. I thank you that no matter how badly I screw up and make a fool of myself you are there to put me back on the right track. I am a sinful person and I know that you have spent so much of my life on the bottom of my priority list. God I am confessing that this will no longer be. I want to keep you at the head of my life, above all else! I want to live every minute of my days for you, thinking of you, praising you with my life. I pray that you give me the strength and guidance that I know only you are capable to do. Please pick me up when I stumble and let me know that you are always there. Help me keep my eyes focused 100% on you 100% of my time. I cannot fathom your reasons for choosing me, but I know that you have plans for me. I open my heart up to what you have for me to do. Please speak to me in a clear way Father. Lead me in your ways. I want to be the person that you intend me to be. I want to follow Christ in every way of my life. I know that I can do none of this on my own. So, I ask that you fill me with your awesome strength and power, allowing me to do things only through your will.
Thank you so much for sending your Son to be the perfect example. Thank you for using him to give me a second chance and eternal grace. I pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen
1 Cor. 15:17 - And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
Galatians 5:6 - The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
1 Thessalonians 1:8-9 - The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia-your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God . . .
September 13, 2003
“Your faith is nothing unless you use it.” (Steve Lotter-friend from RZ)
This really made me think about MY faith. How do I use my faith? The realization that I had tonight is that I don’t use my faith all of the time. I use it when it is convenient and easy. I think to myself: did Jesus only act as God wanted him to when it was convenient for Jesus? Of course not! If he had done that, would God’s will have been fulfilled? NO!!! Jesus came to be the perfect example of a life that is pleasing to God in EVERY way - not just when Jesus wanted to be pleasing. As I think of that it makes me realize that my life is not always pleasing to God. I use the same old excuse “I’m human and I can’t possibly live up to God’s expectations for me”. The problem with that attitude is that it keeps me from pushing myself to do what I know I should - it is an evil crutch and I know that it holds me back.
So, what am I going to do with this revelation from God? I want to say that I have it all figured out, but I know that it is not for me to figure out. God knows what He wants me to do and I need to unclog my ears and listen to the beautiful voice of my Father. I need to put my fears aside - look at how He has blessed me already for doing that! Why is it so hard to be fearless when I hear the voice of God? Part of me has trouble discerning if it is God and part of me wants to convince myself that it isn’t God just so I don’t have to do what he is asking of me. It is a total attitude thing. I need to realize that the things God is asking of me are privileges from GOD! He would not lead me to do something that I am not fully prepared for. That preparation needs to consist of serious prayer and FAITH. And not just saying that I have the faith that it takes, but believing with all that I am and putting that faith to use. I think of how many times my faith has consisted of empty words and I am ashamed of myself. In no way did I lift up God’s name. The only real thing that I accomplished was to make myself look foolish and degrade God. How wretched.
If you are feeling this way or have ever felt like this, I invite you to pray the following prayer. Read it and take to heart the words. It has been my prayer many times, and I open it to you.
Abba Father, I thank you so much for who you are. I thank you that no matter how badly I screw up and make a fool of myself you are there to put me back on the right track. I am a sinful person and I know that you have spent so much of my life on the bottom of my priority list. God I am confessing that this will no longer be. I want to keep you at the head of my life, above all else! I want to live every minute of my days for you, thinking of you, praising you with my life. I pray that you give me the strength and guidance that I know only you are capable to do. Please pick me up when I stumble and let me know that you are always there. Help me keep my eyes focused 100% on you 100% of my time. I cannot fathom your reasons for choosing me, but I know that you have plans for me. I open my heart up to what you have for me to do. Please speak to me in a clear way Father. Lead me in your ways. I want to be the person that you intend me to be. I want to follow Christ in every way of my life. I know that I can do none of this on my own. So, I ask that you fill me with your awesome strength and power, allowing me to do things only through your will.
Thank you so much for sending your Son to be the perfect example. Thank you for using him to give me a second chance and eternal grace. I pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen
1 Cor. 15:17 - And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
Galatians 5:6 - The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
1 Thessalonians 1:8-9 - The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia-your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God . . .
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Coming soon
Hey all! I just wanted to let you know that I haven't forgot to post. I have 2 news posts that should be up in the next week. I am trying to get my home computer to cooperate with me so that I can post them. I didn't stop blogging, just haven't had the most time (even with Christmas break in there).
Love to all!
Love to all!
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