Beginning this week, the Holy Spirit speaking to me in an annoying situation ( I won't say difficult, because it is too minor an issue). It struck me how simple His words and message is sometimes in our light and momentary struggles. While praying this morning hearing His voice, "Love does not demand its own way." over and over. This 1 Cor. 13 passage, not even the entire set of verses we hear often at weddings, but rarely quoted on a Tuesday morning before work! Just, "love does not demand its own way." Reminds me never to stick my faith in a box, but that it should spill over. My job is my mission field, and I am called to Love each person I come across with the same love Christ has for that person.
Shaking off the work day last night, going to the church. Following Jesus is not a "me" thing, it is a "we" thing. And just like centuries and centuries of Christ followers before me, Zach and I get together with fellow Christians for prayer and fellowship. And we talk about real life together and pray and look into His word. It is just daily life made purposeful by Him. (Jeremiah 33:3) "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unreachable things you do not know."
God Answers Prayers.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Application of the Light
These verses have been on my mind and heart lately:
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
1 Peter 4:10
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."
Colossians 3:23
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."
This is what I love about God's Word, it is so unique, no other book on earth can be so rich and words that fill my soul. It juices me up, and fills me up, and energizes, and motivates, and conficts, and encourages me to press on and continue and never give up and love and cherish. I love God for these reasons: 1. What He did for me. 2. What He is doing for me. 3. His instructions for me. 4. His power and strength to carry-out those instructions in my life.
I have eternity in heaven with Him, my place mat and chair at His table is set only because Jesus saved me, only because of His death and resurrection and my trust in that (Romans 3:22). He died and decended to hell in my place, so I don't have to. Jesus my Savior lives now in heaven, and on that day I will see Him face to face. But, in the mean time, I only have a limited number of days here. I have become increasingly awhere of my circumstance, that is the human fate. God has blessed me by putting Christ in me, so what am I to do now? Live for myself or live for God? Matthew, Peter, and Paul's letter to the Colossians give me an answer.
A couple of weeks ago, Zach and I had the pleasure and honor of having dinner with Luke and Leanne Turk, Allison family members and for 12 years working as missionaries in CAR (Central African Republic), Africa. We talked about what God is doing in CAR and in their mission. In their village, they have established a nursing school, hospital, church, agriculture center, and bible school.
We have been contemplating going to CAR to visit them for the past several months now for a 3 week visit sometime this year or next. We looked at pictures of the village and people and landscape, and I felt a little closer to an understanding of what it might look like if Zach and I end up going.
Leanne said something that stuck with me. That God calls us to all different places, and different situations in our lives mold us into the person He ultimately wants us to be, when we listen and obey Him. Leanne said that God had called her to Africa because He knew that it was there that not only her gifts could be used to help others, but almost more importantly where she was challenged in just the right ways to grow up in Christ.
More than likely, if we go to CAR, Zach and I may help out a little, but more than that I think we would be observing and seeing what God is doing in another part of the world that is so different from our part. It would be an amazing experience for sure.
At that point in the conversation, I thought about how God is shaping Zach and I now, here at home. A unique set of circumstances perfectly tailored for us by God, to challenge and encourage and bless us, and for us to grow and reach others in His name.
Since our meeting with the Turks, I have been praying for God's wisdom (James 1:5) and for Him to show me...I don't even know, I guess just where to put this little light of mine? I feel like I am helping someone arrange their living room and I am holding out a lamp, looking at the owner, and ask, "Where do you want me to put this?"
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
"Right there is fine, just don't hit the dimmer switch."
God has been answering my prayers this week, I am seeing where I need to grow and where I need to shine Christ's light and not 'hit the dimmer switch.' I donno why I love that anology, I like to think if Jesus walked the Earth today and was preaching that sermon, He would use that mentaphor.
The dimmer switch is my battle with sin, Paul discribed it best with the whole 'I do what I don't want to do, but I don't do what I want to do.' Every Christian battles their fleshly desires against their desire to shine for Christ, and I am no different.
Pray with me, brothers and sisters in Christ, that we do fight that good fight and that we do shine God's light inside of us all for God's glory and not our own! Today, and right where we are.
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
1 Peter 4:10
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."
Colossians 3:23
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."
This is what I love about God's Word, it is so unique, no other book on earth can be so rich and words that fill my soul. It juices me up, and fills me up, and energizes, and motivates, and conficts, and encourages me to press on and continue and never give up and love and cherish. I love God for these reasons: 1. What He did for me. 2. What He is doing for me. 3. His instructions for me. 4. His power and strength to carry-out those instructions in my life.
I have eternity in heaven with Him, my place mat and chair at His table is set only because Jesus saved me, only because of His death and resurrection and my trust in that (Romans 3:22). He died and decended to hell in my place, so I don't have to. Jesus my Savior lives now in heaven, and on that day I will see Him face to face. But, in the mean time, I only have a limited number of days here. I have become increasingly awhere of my circumstance, that is the human fate. God has blessed me by putting Christ in me, so what am I to do now? Live for myself or live for God? Matthew, Peter, and Paul's letter to the Colossians give me an answer.
A couple of weeks ago, Zach and I had the pleasure and honor of having dinner with Luke and Leanne Turk, Allison family members and for 12 years working as missionaries in CAR (Central African Republic), Africa. We talked about what God is doing in CAR and in their mission. In their village, they have established a nursing school, hospital, church, agriculture center, and bible school.
We have been contemplating going to CAR to visit them for the past several months now for a 3 week visit sometime this year or next. We looked at pictures of the village and people and landscape, and I felt a little closer to an understanding of what it might look like if Zach and I end up going.
Leanne said something that stuck with me. That God calls us to all different places, and different situations in our lives mold us into the person He ultimately wants us to be, when we listen and obey Him. Leanne said that God had called her to Africa because He knew that it was there that not only her gifts could be used to help others, but almost more importantly where she was challenged in just the right ways to grow up in Christ.
More than likely, if we go to CAR, Zach and I may help out a little, but more than that I think we would be observing and seeing what God is doing in another part of the world that is so different from our part. It would be an amazing experience for sure.
At that point in the conversation, I thought about how God is shaping Zach and I now, here at home. A unique set of circumstances perfectly tailored for us by God, to challenge and encourage and bless us, and for us to grow and reach others in His name.
Since our meeting with the Turks, I have been praying for God's wisdom (James 1:5) and for Him to show me...I don't even know, I guess just where to put this little light of mine? I feel like I am helping someone arrange their living room and I am holding out a lamp, looking at the owner, and ask, "Where do you want me to put this?"
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
"Right there is fine, just don't hit the dimmer switch."
God has been answering my prayers this week, I am seeing where I need to grow and where I need to shine Christ's light and not 'hit the dimmer switch.' I donno why I love that anology, I like to think if Jesus walked the Earth today and was preaching that sermon, He would use that mentaphor.
The dimmer switch is my battle with sin, Paul discribed it best with the whole 'I do what I don't want to do, but I don't do what I want to do.' Every Christian battles their fleshly desires against their desire to shine for Christ, and I am no different.
Pray with me, brothers and sisters in Christ, that we do fight that good fight and that we do shine God's light inside of us all for God's glory and not our own! Today, and right where we are.
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