The passage that stood out most to me today was John 17:15 "I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one." Jesus said this about the 11 (this was after Judas had left to betray him) and about us. He knows it's hard, he knows it's crazy out in the world, but he never asked God to take us out of it, just to keep us safe. We have to serve in difficult places sometimes, we have to walk through difficult circumstances, we have to be a light in the dark so often and it's hard...but it's what we are purposed to do. We are hated because of our beliefs, but we have to remember, we are in the world...not of it...we are protected from the evil one because of our beliefs.
Going back to Matt 5:14...you are the light of the world...we are not to be hidden away, but showing others THE WAY. This is way out of my comfort zone, but I am praying that God will start breaking down that zone for me.
Jesus goes on in John 17 to say he is praying for all who will ever believe in God through hearing the message...that they (we) will be one with eachother (& w/God) so the world will believe God sent Jesus to us. And I have to add that I loved what our pastor said...if you have a choice between a Christian work out center and a secular work out center...go to the secular...be the light. If a store won't use the word Christmas in their advertising, don't avoid going there...shop there and say Merry Christmas to those you meet...show love. Be the light where there is dark. We are the aliens in this world, we are the different ones, not them...our purpose is not to conform to the world, but to share God's love, to love on others, help others...not condemn...I gotta get out of that comfort zone! yikes!
Last night I was also working on the new bible study I've joined (Annointed, Transformed, Redeemed) and the prayer at the end was to ask God to heighten my spiritual sensitivities to notice His activity around, through, & to me...that God's presence would become more evident to me each day, that I make less of a fool of myself daily w/my natural tendencies and become more aware of Him.
We are all in different seasons in our lives and my season right now is busy...with home, J, T, Cubs, band, worship, walking, etc...but I can still ask God to make his presence known to me during the day, even if I don't have a quiet time for a week or more (usually on the "more" end!). I can send up small prayers, talk to Him while I walk, so many things I can do that will help to open my eyes to what He is doing in my life, the lives of my family and the lives of those around me. And I pray I will become more sensitive to where & when He wants me to serve or not serve, where to take His light. Satan can mess with our minds, helping us feel guilty for not serving in certain areas or feeling like all we do is serve in others (through family, church, school, etc...anywhere really)...when it's most likely we haven't talked to God about any of it. We try to live up to what others expect and it's exhausting. I've gone through both sides of this several times over the last couple of years and it's difficult (can you tell it's been on my mind the last few days? arghhhh!) ...mainly b/c I try to do it w/out talking it over completely with God. I leave Him out so often, it amazes me once I realize it...as many believers tend to do, I reach out to Him in hard times more than just the sort of "difficult" times...not a good habit. I've got to pray to be more aware of His presence and be thankful that even though I am in the world and dealing the it's craziness, I am protected from the evil one.
Well, I didn't mean for this evening's post to be so long! I'm not even sure it all made sense...I was so excited about these studies and lessons I wanted to pass some of it on :)
On a different note...I have to add this quote from my friend Escilito...it has NOTHING to do with anything written above, but cracks me up still.
Yesterday, while watching their new favorite show about Redneck weddings and laughing at the escapades in it (you HAVE to catch just one episode of this, it really is crazy!), Escilito, in all seriousness, looks at his wife Bling and myself and says: "You know, in the end, even though they are crazy, you can really tell they love eachother. You just can't hate on true love".
If I typed it correctly, you would actually HEAR:
"You just cain't hate on true luv".
Of course, after coming home and telling T about this, he said he's going to talk to Escilito & beg him not to introduce me to any more nutty tv shows, ha!
I hope everyone has a great week!
1 comment:
Thanx for sharing your blog with me. It was refreshing to read your thoughts and to identify with them - to just "be still and know that He Is."
'h'
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