I have mixed feelings today.
Happy that I'm deleting my Facebook account, and getting rid of what has become a royal waste of time. Sad that in deleting my account, only two of my 150 "friends" care to have my contact information. (family not included - you know where to find me)
Happy that I could help some people out today, sad about the things I didn't get to help out on. I need to make myself more available, and remind people that I'm willing and able.
Happy that I have some new writing ideas, sad that I'm not always sure how to get things from my head into story form. But getting rid of Facebook is giving me more time to read, and that always helps to inspire.
I've been thinking lately about how people think of me - not in a negative, trying to keep up with the Joneses way, but just wondering how I'm perceived. Some things that I'd like people to think of me for, they obviously don't, but other things that I'm asked for are probably not in my primary skill set. Maybe I need a personal resume to distribute?
In everything I do, however, I'm trying to do it to the best of God's ability that's been placed in me. Work, family, church - all needs to be done with a grateful heart. But in everything that I do for other people, I still need to find some time for me. I bought a pretty new Bible to keep at work about a month ago, and I finally opened it this week. Not having the online distraction of other people's distant lives on Facebook gave me a great opportunity to delve back into God's Word. And it was GOOD!
This is a rambling post.....I'm restless. Physically and spiritually and mentally. Restlessness without focus is wandering, that's not where I want to go. I may not know my destination, but I'm forging a path......
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Friday, August 14, 2009
Believe. Follow. Serve.
"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galations 1:10, ESV
I was thinking about this while Pastor Seth was preaching on Sunday. (Again, probably not what he preached on, but I'm sure it was related!) I "found" this verse a while ago, and have been thinking on it for months. Unfortunately, it relates to a lot of things in my life, and one thing in particular. I've been forming this post in my head for a while, it seems to be one of those things that just needs to get out of me in some form.
While I was in bible school, God showed me something about spiritual gifts, and mine in particular. It remains one of two times I've heard God speak to me with such clarity that I had no doubt of it's source. I shared with one of my teachers this great revelation, and was immediately shot down and told that it was probably not God talking to me, and that I should think and pray for a long time before sharing with anyone else. Knowing without a doubt that I had heard from God, but caring far too much about how others thought of me, I did keep it to myself. I've never told another soul on this earth, and eventually managed to keep it from popping into my mind every day.
As soon as I read this verse, however, it popped back into my head with the same clarity that it did ten years ago. Even though I've probably read that verse a hundred times since then, God picked a time to show me something through it. And what an amazing thing to know that God doesn't forget what He told you, even if you've tried your best to forget. So even though I still haven't told anyone what God showed me, I'm not in the place where I'm ready to do so, I am ready to start pursuing God in the way he deserves to be pursued. And like my mother often says, if we truly believe God, why don't we act like we believe everything He says is true?
So Believe. (with a capital "B") Then follow what He says. Then you will have the privilege of being called His servant.
I was thinking about this while Pastor Seth was preaching on Sunday. (Again, probably not what he preached on, but I'm sure it was related!) I "found" this verse a while ago, and have been thinking on it for months. Unfortunately, it relates to a lot of things in my life, and one thing in particular. I've been forming this post in my head for a while, it seems to be one of those things that just needs to get out of me in some form.
While I was in bible school, God showed me something about spiritual gifts, and mine in particular. It remains one of two times I've heard God speak to me with such clarity that I had no doubt of it's source. I shared with one of my teachers this great revelation, and was immediately shot down and told that it was probably not God talking to me, and that I should think and pray for a long time before sharing with anyone else. Knowing without a doubt that I had heard from God, but caring far too much about how others thought of me, I did keep it to myself. I've never told another soul on this earth, and eventually managed to keep it from popping into my mind every day.
As soon as I read this verse, however, it popped back into my head with the same clarity that it did ten years ago. Even though I've probably read that verse a hundred times since then, God picked a time to show me something through it. And what an amazing thing to know that God doesn't forget what He told you, even if you've tried your best to forget. So even though I still haven't told anyone what God showed me, I'm not in the place where I'm ready to do so, I am ready to start pursuing God in the way he deserves to be pursued. And like my mother often says, if we truly believe God, why don't we act like we believe everything He says is true?
So Believe. (with a capital "B") Then follow what He says. Then you will have the privilege of being called His servant.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Revival Fire
We've been talking lots about revival in church and homegroup lately, and for the first time ever, things are starting to sink in. We often use the words revival and fire to mean different things, but really they are one. I'm an avid watcher of all things CSI, so I know that fire requires three things: Something to burn (either substance or accelerant), a spark to start the fire, and oxygen to keep it burning. Apply spiritual principals, and you have:
Something to burn - This is your foundation in the Word. Without this, you can get all excited about something, but the excitement quickly dissipates when there is nothing for it to grasp onto.
A spark - This is prayer. Whether it be in the Spirit, or with your understanding, prayer is what gets your fire going. I heard someone say once that you can measure a person's spiritual life by their prayer habits.
Oxygen - This is your faith. Without applied faith, Word is just words and prayer is just talking to yourself.
No fire will burn without these three components - they are the basis of revival. And they start in you. You are responsible for your own fire - and it can be contagious and "spark" someone else's.
Another point: Revival and revelation go hand in hand. They are inseparable. If you believe that you are part of the revival but are not seeing new things revealed to you in the Word of God, then you are only along for the ride and missing the revival.
Something to burn - This is your foundation in the Word. Without this, you can get all excited about something, but the excitement quickly dissipates when there is nothing for it to grasp onto.
A spark - This is prayer. Whether it be in the Spirit, or with your understanding, prayer is what gets your fire going. I heard someone say once that you can measure a person's spiritual life by their prayer habits.
Oxygen - This is your faith. Without applied faith, Word is just words and prayer is just talking to yourself.
No fire will burn without these three components - they are the basis of revival. And they start in you. You are responsible for your own fire - and it can be contagious and "spark" someone else's.
Another point: Revival and revelation go hand in hand. They are inseparable. If you believe that you are part of the revival but are not seeing new things revealed to you in the Word of God, then you are only along for the ride and missing the revival.
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