Following God is a troublesome and confusing thing to me. I know most Christians don't like to admit it, but how do we really "follow" God? I'm always concerned that when I take a new step that it's actually God I'm following. How do I know what His plan is for me? How can I be sure?
Whenever life brings change, (and it's always come very often for me) I constantly question, "Is this of You, God?"
Already this morning, I've already asked the question, and I've gotten an answer that I've gotten MANY times before. The only way to know if I'm following God is to know Him so well that I know His heart for me. I've lived on this earth for 32 years, and I've followed God for 25 of those. I've already figured out that God's plan for me isn't to be rich, famous, exotic, fancy, or eloquent. I do know that God's plan for me though, includes me serving Him in ministry...but that's where the confusion lies. Where? How? When? In what capacity?
For people all over the world, hearing and listening to the voice of God means many different things, according to the individual person. For me, it's always been a strong impression upon my heart, resulting in a burden for a specific task. Usually, most of the time, I'll hear songs, sermons, and quotes that surround the same subject, as if God is sending me every possible message He can possibly send me.
I'm struggling right now to figure out what God's next step is for me in lay ministry. I don't know what it is yet, but I can tell you that a burden is forming. This is where the searching of God's heart comes in. I must know Him so well, and know His heart for me so well, that I understand fully where He's leading me.
This morning, I'm reminded of an old song we used to sing in college
Change my heart, O God
Make it ever true
Change my heart, O God
May I be like You.
You are the Potter, I am the clay
Mold me and make me
This is what I pray
Change my heart, O God
Make it ever true
Change my heart, O God
May I be like You.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
2 More Days!
The Christmas excitement has got me wide awake on this, my only day to sleep in. I woke at 5:00 a.m. thinking about things such as a 3 day weekend, gingerbread house making, the kids opening presents, and it's all EXCITING!!!
Today is Sunday, though. It's the last Sunday of Advent, and I'm sad to see it go. The season of Christmas is always so exciting and joyful in Churches. Even churches that are having problems seem to be able to put their issues aside during Advent and just let the peace, hope, and joy of Christ reign a while.
When I pastored, I admit I always was sad to see Advent come to a close because I knew Satan would rear His ugly head once the new year had begun. When we start to think about New Year's resolutions and goals for the coming year, a seem of discontent and dissatisfaction of where we are in life always seems to be sown. But not this year...not for me.
2012 was a weird year. It brought the most pain I've ever experienced, but at the same time, I also received the greatest answer to prayer I've ever received. I'm glad for a new year that's coming, but for right now, I just want to be excited about the here and now. I'm soooo excited about what this week brings.
What are you looking forward to this week?
Today is Sunday, though. It's the last Sunday of Advent, and I'm sad to see it go. The season of Christmas is always so exciting and joyful in Churches. Even churches that are having problems seem to be able to put their issues aside during Advent and just let the peace, hope, and joy of Christ reign a while.
When I pastored, I admit I always was sad to see Advent come to a close because I knew Satan would rear His ugly head once the new year had begun. When we start to think about New Year's resolutions and goals for the coming year, a seem of discontent and dissatisfaction of where we are in life always seems to be sown. But not this year...not for me.
2012 was a weird year. It brought the most pain I've ever experienced, but at the same time, I also received the greatest answer to prayer I've ever received. I'm glad for a new year that's coming, but for right now, I just want to be excited about the here and now. I'm soooo excited about what this week brings.
- One last time of worship in Advent
- Gingerbread house making
- Visiting a friend tonight
- Christmas cookie making
- Family time
- Annual picture taking in new Christmas pajamas
- Awesome family devotions
- Gift opening
- An easy (hopefully) few days at work
- Going home!
What are you looking forward to this week?
Thursday, December 20, 2012
The Beginning of the End
Let me first start by saying that I do not believe for one moment that the end of the world will be happening tomorrow. But I do believe it could be today.
I don't think the Mayans had any sort of information aside from the information that we have today. We read in Matthew chapter 24 that no one knows the day or the hour that Christ is coming for His church, not even the angels OR Christ Himself...only the Father knows. That tells me one thing...we KNOW it will not be Friday.
I've heard a few reports from families in our area that are stockpiling water, ammunition, food, batteries, and emergency supplies just in case the Mayans were let in on a secret that we weren't privy to. That's all fine and good. I think we should all be prepared in an emergency.
What I'm wondering about though is this: Why aren't they concerned with what really matters? I haven't heard ANYONE talking about how we should be trying to point these people to Jesus. If they're so panicked about the world ending, don't we think they could be ripe for the harvest? There's obviously a need that's yet to be fulfilled in their lives. Why haven't we met it?
There were even news stories this morning about certain mountains in the United States that are believed to be gateways to time travel. There are people camping on those mountains this week just because they think they will be the first to enter. My husband personally took a plane ride a few months ago and sat next to a woman that watched out the window the whole time, expecting to see aliens appearing. It just amazes me what people believe in...but the fact that there was a Messiah sent by God Himself to die for our sins...that's too far-fetched?!?!
Heath and I didn't buy any extra water, but we have been buying a little ammunition here and there...but that's a whole other post entirely....
I'm asking myself though...what if TODAY is the end of the world? Are we prepared? I could care less about water, money that'll probably be useless, or other "emergency" items. In the end, all that matters is my relationship with Jesus. Have I prepared my family for the utmost urgent need?
I don't think the Mayans had any sort of information aside from the information that we have today. We read in Matthew chapter 24 that no one knows the day or the hour that Christ is coming for His church, not even the angels OR Christ Himself...only the Father knows. That tells me one thing...we KNOW it will not be Friday.
I've heard a few reports from families in our area that are stockpiling water, ammunition, food, batteries, and emergency supplies just in case the Mayans were let in on a secret that we weren't privy to. That's all fine and good. I think we should all be prepared in an emergency.
What I'm wondering about though is this: Why aren't they concerned with what really matters? I haven't heard ANYONE talking about how we should be trying to point these people to Jesus. If they're so panicked about the world ending, don't we think they could be ripe for the harvest? There's obviously a need that's yet to be fulfilled in their lives. Why haven't we met it?
There were even news stories this morning about certain mountains in the United States that are believed to be gateways to time travel. There are people camping on those mountains this week just because they think they will be the first to enter. My husband personally took a plane ride a few months ago and sat next to a woman that watched out the window the whole time, expecting to see aliens appearing. It just amazes me what people believe in...but the fact that there was a Messiah sent by God Himself to die for our sins...that's too far-fetched?!?!
Heath and I didn't buy any extra water, but we have been buying a little ammunition here and there...but that's a whole other post entirely....
I'm asking myself though...what if TODAY is the end of the world? Are we prepared? I could care less about water, money that'll probably be useless, or other "emergency" items. In the end, all that matters is my relationship with Jesus. Have I prepared my family for the utmost urgent need?
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Christmas in the Parsonage
This time of year brings a lot of nostalgia. The movie White Christmas and Alabama's Christmas CDs are my favorite. But there are also other thoughts that come to mind this time of year. Christmastime makes me think of handmade purses, LifeSaver books, Avon perfume, and brown paper bags filled with fruit and peppermint. You see, I think I was the most blessed preacher's kid on the planet. Every Christmas was made special because of church people that truly cared for my sister and me. They prayed for us, blessed us with gifts, invested in us, and believed in us. We didn't have a lot monetarily or materially throughout the year, but Christmas...Christmas was different. The cabinets couldn't hold the food that the church gave as they "pounded" the pastor. An extra week's pay was the normal, but church members would always give above and beyond the Church's gift.
Because of that church's love for us, the bar was set high for any church family that came into our lives as Heath and I started our own ministry. Each church we've pastored has been different, but at Christmas, they've always come through. Every one of those churches loved our children, and symbolically gave them something they knew my kids would enjoy at Christmas.
It wasn't about the gifts. It's never been about the gifts. Even when thinking about the earliest Christmas memory I have at church, I've always been in amazement that people would take the time and money to give something to someone as "insignificant" as the preacher's kids.
But because of the churches I've been blessed to be a part of, I've always known that should the time ever come, I would give back.
I couldn't wait this year to get involved in a church so that I could give. We didn't have much time this year to get to know them, so I settled on giving the kids gift cards to their favorite stores. I was shocked and amazed when their mom told me that no church member had ever remembered their kids at Christmas. What?!?!
If you haven't already, please remember your pastor's family this year at Christmas. They work hard all year long to take care of your family, most of the time, away from their own. They don't get to go spend time with their families at holidays like Easter and Christmas because they're ministering. It's not just the pastor that works in the ministry. The whole family is involved. The whole family gets to church early, stays late, cleans up during the week, plans events, sits in the car while dad visits at the hospital, and sacrifices financially.
They deserve all the joy in the world that we can offer. Let's show gratitude. Let me tell you....when you do...you'll receive joy in return.
Because of that church's love for us, the bar was set high for any church family that came into our lives as Heath and I started our own ministry. Each church we've pastored has been different, but at Christmas, they've always come through. Every one of those churches loved our children, and symbolically gave them something they knew my kids would enjoy at Christmas.
It wasn't about the gifts. It's never been about the gifts. Even when thinking about the earliest Christmas memory I have at church, I've always been in amazement that people would take the time and money to give something to someone as "insignificant" as the preacher's kids.
But because of the churches I've been blessed to be a part of, I've always known that should the time ever come, I would give back.
I couldn't wait this year to get involved in a church so that I could give. We didn't have much time this year to get to know them, so I settled on giving the kids gift cards to their favorite stores. I was shocked and amazed when their mom told me that no church member had ever remembered their kids at Christmas. What?!?!
If you haven't already, please remember your pastor's family this year at Christmas. They work hard all year long to take care of your family, most of the time, away from their own. They don't get to go spend time with their families at holidays like Easter and Christmas because they're ministering. It's not just the pastor that works in the ministry. The whole family is involved. The whole family gets to church early, stays late, cleans up during the week, plans events, sits in the car while dad visits at the hospital, and sacrifices financially.
They deserve all the joy in the world that we can offer. Let's show gratitude. Let me tell you....when you do...you'll receive joy in return.
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