I'm Excited...about my Jesus!
I love God's timely Word! Recently I couldn't figure out why I was struggling with so many things in the Church. I love the church work, but I was missing the God of the church - Jesus! A friend reminded me of an old study I did in my early Christian years. I purchased the books again years ago, and they ended up on the shelf not being touched. I checked them out this morning, and I'm so thankful how God brings back the joy of our salvation through His Word. Col. 3 was a timely word for me:
1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the
realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right
hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
I so enjoy that chapter. There is so much freedom in it! Thank you, Jesus! And of course, Bob George who wrote Classic Christianity. It's an oldie, but a goodie. A timely lesson how we Christian's can get bogged down with Church work, changing the world, and not be changed ourselves. I'm reminded of what God has called me to, and what He has not called me to. I have often prayed, bring back the glory, show me what life is for. It's all about Jesus. Bring back the joy of my salvation...it's a repentant heart, a broken and contrite heart. If you followed me around, you'd think I was very Christian, raising my kids at home, work in the church, work for the church, read my bible, do my bible studies, I'm pretty much an obedient person. Don't do really anything seriously bad - may overeat to hide emotions, or problems. That's the problem. Hiding. Hiding your problems, hiding your emotions. Can I get real with you? You can't hide anything from God, duh. I know this. So, what was I thinking? I felt a heavy spirit over me last night, and I just knew I needed to take it to God. I'm taking this as an act of faith He was telling me, and that is to 'examine' why I'm doing what I am doing. I am doing alot, and need to figure out where he wants me. My husband and I are the Prayer Coordinators for the church, encouraging the body to pray, facilitating prayer requests that come through sending out by phone or email, I sing on the worship team and assist the Music Director by giving music or songs that exalt God, I do the boards that need to advertise the church and it's activities, I clean the entire church building, I help in areas where people need help like Nursery once a month, Fellowship events (when people leave, or there's something to celebrate), I'm doing the music for VBS Lord willing in June, we do the Pastor Appreciation month, and we also are being selected to serve as deacons. It's really my husband, but I say we because I feel some of that will fall on me. We lead a prayer group for Sunday School. That's alot. I see where I cannot do it without God, nor would He bless the work without Him. What I see most is that I need Jesus. I don't need all these programs, although it is what drives me some days. I wouldn't feel like I was doing my gifts if I was not. I also felt some condemnation from other ladies that would wonder why I'm doing so much. I would look at them as they were weird because this is what God has done for me. I want to lay my life down for His bride, as He did for me. I want Him to say well done good and faithful servant, but not because I ran so many programs. I want to sit at His feet like Mary. I want to contemplate my heart condition like David. This Easter I was with two families where I struggled with 'family first'. I know you cannot neglect your family, but did God not say He sends a sword? Mt. 10:33-35 No offense, but I lived it. k, I'm not some warrior, I just know it's a pull at times. This is where I can see the joy in serving can be taken away. God doesn't call me to all these programs. He calls me to discern the error in my serving. He calls me to His son. I am justified by faith. I have peace with God through Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1). I was in a desert. Unsure how I got there, but I know it was out of God's love. He disciplines because He loves. It doesn't matter how godly I am or how ungodly, every choice has consequences. I may have been in the desert because God's discipline. Christians say they struggle because their sin, well on the other hand maybe there isn't. Maybe God is leading you towards holiness? Help me to apply wisdom to the choices I make, Lord. I don't want it to be about religion, programs, etc. I want to be in Christ Jesus. I want to be genuine in my heart, acts and service about God's will, work and worship. Thank you for saving my pitiful self, Lord. Thank you for setting me free. I feel like some chains fell off my shoulders today. I feel like doing a bellyflop like this guy is:
Thank you for helping me face the day today. I pray that I would face those ahead with You.