"Yet another said, 'I will follow You, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home" Luke 9:61
Have you ever said that word "but"? It means you are unsure, self conscious, not confident, and uncommitted. You might want to do something...but...something gets in the way. You might want to be a certain way...but...you are too scared to change your habits or try something new. I think for many of us that word rears its ugly head quite often. Why is it so hard to get around that word? Why can't we just say, I want to go for a bike ride. Period. And then do it? Because we have that little foe of ours called the Devil that whispers in our ear. He causes doubt in us, He creates a fear in us that doesn't allow us to overcome. Sometimes I even feel that way in following the Lord.
I am very involved in my church I would say. I help plan events, I am at every worship service, I teach church classes, I cook meals, etc. I want to commit to everything but then I realize, where does that leave my husband and kids? Left to fend for themselves, unattached to me. That's not what I want either. I feel torn, just like the disciples did when they followed Jesus. They knew the risks. They knew that it would endanger their lives and it would be a hard road to follow...but...they also knew they had a family to take care of and other things to tend to. So eventually, many disciples would end up back at home. I understand that. I want to follow Jesus. I want to feel compelled to say yes to every thing at church and to do everything I can to spread his word - but I also realize that God blessed me with the 4 most beautiful children I could imagine, inside and out, and the most amazing husband. He gave me these people to grow, and fill with his Word, and to teach them about Jesus, so that one day they might be great witnesses to others. Maybe they will grow up and help the sick, feed the hungry, love others the way God wants us too. That is if I do my job right.
So yes, I still have a habit of over booking myself at church things, but that is my "free time" and I know I am needed there - BUT - I have also come to understand my other purpose that the Lord has given me and I am embracing that. I am a teacher at home too, and it is probably my most important role. So the word but is not interfering with my life right now. I have prayed to overcome this burdening word and now say yes to some things and no to others without finding that pesky word thrown in. I can do both. I just have to work hard at helping wherever God wants me to help. So I will follow you Jesus, wherever you take me. Without fear, without reservation, because I know you will always be there for me. Trust in the Lord!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please help me in organizing my life so that I may help where I am needed at church and teach my young children to follow you. Guide me daily to make the right choices that will benefit the church and my family and help me to continue to overcome the fear and doubt that the word 'but' can instill in people. By doing this, please help me to tune out the doubting words of the Devil whispering in my ears and help me to hear the trumpets of Heaven and the words from the Bible to keep me on the right path. Fill me with courage that I may follow wherever you lead me.
Amen
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
How can I be chosen??
John 15:16-19 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remin; that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you. These things I command you, that you love one another. If the world hate you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you
Again with the 'me' and 'I' statments. It's so hard to get away from them in this life. It's so hard to make everything you do selfless when as humans we need so much! But the question, am I chosen to do this or this has come into my head a lot lately. I know that God has a plan for each of us, and none of us are accidents. We are all part of His plan. Sometimes people have a very hard time giving their lives to the Lord and letting him direct their path, me included. I was inspired to write today because I have been so busy lately with life and church and date nights with my kids, but I was reading in a prayer book that I had gotten from my LWML Convention last summer and was reinspired! Here is the message I read that made me feel alot better about my lack of acknowledging that God chose me as His people! This excerpt is taken from the book 'You Make A Difference' by Alma Kern.
Yes!You!
Moses was one of the greatest men of all times. He was the leader of God's ancient people.
How did Moses react when God chose him? He made all kinds of excuses: They won't believe me. They won't do what I tell them. I'm not a good speaker. O Lord, please send someone else. (sound familiar?)
What God tells us to do is often not what we want to be doing. We look for excuses. We put ourselves down, so we'll be excused.
Jesus is our Savior, also our Lord and Master. He laid down his life for us. He expects us to live our life for Him.
A few of our assignments are: Love your neighbor, forgive those who hurt you. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for those who mistreat you. Be salt of the earth, light of the world. Be a witness, tell other people about Jesus.
We are inclined to respon, " Who? Me? You've got more confidence in me than I have. I can't do these things. No way! O Lord, please send someone else."
We may be tempted to ask, "Who? Me?" We already know the anser: Yes! You!
We all do this, don't we? We don't stand confidently in the Lord? We are cowards and are afraid to to be bold and take ownership of our Christian tasks!
I have many things going on at church right now. I am teaching midweek, helping with all youth activities and planning, a member of the choir, on the board of Evangelism, in LWML and a women's circle, and the chair of the National Youth Gathering committee. But I am addicted. I need more more more! Church is not a responsibility to me anymore, it is my enjoyment, my free time and my outlet. I recently found an awesome women's Bible study that I wanted to do with a small group, and showed it to my friend at church and was pleased that she was so excited about it, she wanted to open it up to the whole church! I feel my path with the Lord is pulling me (sometimes in different directions) but I feel like I am gaining confidence in my roles and have talents at the Church in certain areas.
I am no longer asking am I worthy or why am I chosen for this all the time (only some of the time). I am enjoying sharing my talents with others and using some of my talents to help the church. I hope to continue to help with whatever I can.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the talents you have given to me. Please help me to continue to use those talents to be selfless and help others. Help me to not question your path for me and to give my life to you daily. Thank you for my church and my friends that appreciate me for me and accept me as another chosen member of their congregation. Thank you for all these gifts.
Amen
Again with the 'me' and 'I' statments. It's so hard to get away from them in this life. It's so hard to make everything you do selfless when as humans we need so much! But the question, am I chosen to do this or this has come into my head a lot lately. I know that God has a plan for each of us, and none of us are accidents. We are all part of His plan. Sometimes people have a very hard time giving their lives to the Lord and letting him direct their path, me included. I was inspired to write today because I have been so busy lately with life and church and date nights with my kids, but I was reading in a prayer book that I had gotten from my LWML Convention last summer and was reinspired! Here is the message I read that made me feel alot better about my lack of acknowledging that God chose me as His people! This excerpt is taken from the book 'You Make A Difference' by Alma Kern.
Yes!You!
Moses was one of the greatest men of all times. He was the leader of God's ancient people.
How did Moses react when God chose him? He made all kinds of excuses: They won't believe me. They won't do what I tell them. I'm not a good speaker. O Lord, please send someone else. (sound familiar?)
What God tells us to do is often not what we want to be doing. We look for excuses. We put ourselves down, so we'll be excused.
Jesus is our Savior, also our Lord and Master. He laid down his life for us. He expects us to live our life for Him.
A few of our assignments are: Love your neighbor, forgive those who hurt you. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for those who mistreat you. Be salt of the earth, light of the world. Be a witness, tell other people about Jesus.
We are inclined to respon, " Who? Me? You've got more confidence in me than I have. I can't do these things. No way! O Lord, please send someone else."
We may be tempted to ask, "Who? Me?" We already know the anser: Yes! You!
We all do this, don't we? We don't stand confidently in the Lord? We are cowards and are afraid to to be bold and take ownership of our Christian tasks!
I have many things going on at church right now. I am teaching midweek, helping with all youth activities and planning, a member of the choir, on the board of Evangelism, in LWML and a women's circle, and the chair of the National Youth Gathering committee. But I am addicted. I need more more more! Church is not a responsibility to me anymore, it is my enjoyment, my free time and my outlet. I recently found an awesome women's Bible study that I wanted to do with a small group, and showed it to my friend at church and was pleased that she was so excited about it, she wanted to open it up to the whole church! I feel my path with the Lord is pulling me (sometimes in different directions) but I feel like I am gaining confidence in my roles and have talents at the Church in certain areas.
I am no longer asking am I worthy or why am I chosen for this all the time (only some of the time). I am enjoying sharing my talents with others and using some of my talents to help the church. I hope to continue to help with whatever I can.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the talents you have given to me. Please help me to continue to use those talents to be selfless and help others. Help me to not question your path for me and to give my life to you daily. Thank you for my church and my friends that appreciate me for me and accept me as another chosen member of their congregation. Thank you for all these gifts.
Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)