I have an abundance of feelings dancing around inside me. I can't explain it as simply joy, or simply sorrow, or even excitement, for it's all these things. God is knocking me down and building me back up. He's building me up for a calling. It's so amazing.
I don't know what "it" is yet... but it's going to be miraculous! I am so pumped about it, sometimes nervous, but always curious and eager to see it. God is doing a work in me. How do I know? I have an overwhelming desire to know Him more. He consumes my thoughts from the start to the end of my day. I wake up in the night praying for people I love, crying for peoples souls. My heart is going stir crazy, in a sense, to begin embarking on a journey that I feel so unworthy and unable to fulfill. But I know He is calling me, and He will always provide provision for the visions He gives us!
I can't wait for God to reveal His plan...
A Life Not My Of Own
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
" 'Tis the Season" as they say. Ok, so I don't really know if they say it; come to think of it, I don't even know who "THEY" are. Anyways, onward!
I love this time of year! I love Christmas lights and decorating. I love Christmas music and watching the eyes of little children light up when they're telling Santa what they want for Christmas. It's just a welcomed change of pace in my life. But for a lot of us, we also get caught up in "gifts". It's a sad time for a lot of people. There are financial problems, people missing loved ones and so many other situations that contribute to people hating Christmas time.
Look around this season at the people around you. If you open your eyes and see past the pretty decorations, you can see that there are people who are grieving, people who are hurting, people who are struggling. Sure little Timmy would LOVE that heavy, itchy red sweater with the Christmas tree and lights sewn in.. but probably not as much as the widow, who just lost her love of 50 years, would enjoy a cup of tea and open ear. Or how about that family down the street who have lost everything because of losing their jobs? What are they in need of? It may be as simple as a good friend to lift them up, or just someone to say "I've been there."
The fact is for every hurting person out there, is someone or maybe even a group of people who have been in that very same spot before. We should be reaching out to one another in times of need... what better time to do that than Christmas? What better way to show His love by giving, because He gave? It's the best gift you can give!
So make sure to take the time to stop and do something for somebody else... do it with a happy heart, not just because it "makes you feel good", or for public recognition, but because " 'Tis the Season", HE is the reason and should be all year long!
Matthew 25:35-40
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Don't Hide
What is our purpose?
Sometimes I feel we as Christians have created a reputation for ourselves that is not appealing to the world. I think we get more caught up in "church" and less caught up in Christ. Now bear with me, this is not knocking a specific place or specific people.. I have visited a few churches and heard stories that are very similar over the years, it's a mere observation. I'm not saying I'm not guilty of anything I write in here either, I fall short more times than not.
How do people see you outside of church? Are you the same person inside and out? I think we have it backwards. Christians don't need to see you living to give Glory to God as much as the world does. Being a Christian just on Sunday isn't living out God's will. Living is God's Will. It's being a light in the darkness. I can't remember who said it, but I heard a great analogy that I will try and paraphrase here:
[Christians are called to be the light of the world, not a light to each other. When you turn a flashlight on during the day, it's on, but doesn't do very much. But turn that very same flashlight on at night and it can light up a room.]
Living in the world as an example will create wonder and curiosity to make people ask "what's different?" and say "I want what you have". I have heard so many times the view about "church people" and how they just do what they want as soon as they step out of the doors. OUCH. It breaks my heart, and makes me think "what am I doing or not doing when I'm outside of those walls? What actions that I myself have taken that would tribute to this mindset?"
It can sometimes take YEARS of being an example and loving on a person to lead them to Christ. What if you turned them away with one action, or one word? All those years of work down the drain in a millisecond. Or worse, what if your action or word turned them away from Christ forever?
Don't allow your down fall to cause someone to fall down. We have a purpose and we need to work together, not for power, not for authority, but to further His Kingdom.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden."- Matthew 5:14 NLT
Sometimes I feel we as Christians have created a reputation for ourselves that is not appealing to the world. I think we get more caught up in "church" and less caught up in Christ. Now bear with me, this is not knocking a specific place or specific people.. I have visited a few churches and heard stories that are very similar over the years, it's a mere observation. I'm not saying I'm not guilty of anything I write in here either, I fall short more times than not.
How do people see you outside of church? Are you the same person inside and out? I think we have it backwards. Christians don't need to see you living to give Glory to God as much as the world does. Being a Christian just on Sunday isn't living out God's will. Living is God's Will. It's being a light in the darkness. I can't remember who said it, but I heard a great analogy that I will try and paraphrase here:
[Christians are called to be the light of the world, not a light to each other. When you turn a flashlight on during the day, it's on, but doesn't do very much. But turn that very same flashlight on at night and it can light up a room.]
Living in the world as an example will create wonder and curiosity to make people ask "what's different?" and say "I want what you have". I have heard so many times the view about "church people" and how they just do what they want as soon as they step out of the doors. OUCH. It breaks my heart, and makes me think "what am I doing or not doing when I'm outside of those walls? What actions that I myself have taken that would tribute to this mindset?"
It can sometimes take YEARS of being an example and loving on a person to lead them to Christ. What if you turned them away with one action, or one word? All those years of work down the drain in a millisecond. Or worse, what if your action or word turned them away from Christ forever?
Don't allow your down fall to cause someone to fall down. We have a purpose and we need to work together, not for power, not for authority, but to further His Kingdom.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden."- Matthew 5:14 NLT
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