Called!

Luke 10:1-24

So fired up after reading this section of scripture, I have read over it the last few days, but until now I couldn’t get a grasp of what Jesus was trying to tell me and now there is just so much that I can’t get it all down.  My favorite part in these 24 scriptures comes in verse 21…At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.  Jesus was excited to know that his Father had revealed to these children, his children, the truth of who he is.  Why?  Because he knew and he knows today who those children are that are willing to serve him, that are willing to go forth into this world and spread the wonderful news of Jesus.  He is calling you and me to do the same.  Verses 2 & 3 say: He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.   Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.  It is no different today, there is so many people that are desperate to know Jesus and they don’t even realize it, they know they need something, they know that are not happy, they know that they long for more, but they may not be sure of what that is and they may even be looking in the wrong places, or worse they may even be led to the wrong places.  This is where you and I come in, we were not called of God just to be happy ourselves, just to receive blessings on ourselves, we were called to serve.  Webster’s define calling as a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence.  Calling and called show action, they are not who we are, but what we do!  Jesus is very upfront with his children and lets us know that the task will not be easy, ‘we are like lambs among wolves’, but we have to remember that he didn’t ask us to save anyone, our tasks is to tell everyone about Jesus and what he can do, it is Jesus, and only Jesus, that can and will save them.  As difficult as the task may be, we can never forget that he is with us each step of the way and is full of joy and praising his Father with each task that we complete.

Nothing Greater

Luke 9:37-62

"You unbelieving and perverse generation"

"Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you"

"For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest"

"For whoever is not against you is for you"

"Follow me"

"No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God"

                                                     

As I read through these scriptures several times it finally became clear to me what God was trying to show me and I found such truth in the quotes listed above.  As I read through these specific quotes it is as though I hear God’s voice speaking so loudly to me and everyone else.  He is saying just listen, I am saying it loud and clear, but you get so busy with everything else that you are not paying attention to me and my guidance.  Throughout the entire Bible, in the middle of all the history, all the stories, all the highs and lows, you will find the voice of God ringing out with words of guidance.  All he asks us to do is to listen and follow….this is not a guessing game.  As a Christian, I don’t have to wonder where my guidance is coming from and I have a book that has as many answers as I have questions.  Now I am not saying being a Christian is easy because it is not, in fact at times it is very difficult, but I would rather have a terrible day and still know God, than to have a wonderful day and not know him at all.  And really, at times I tend to make it a bit more difficult than it has to be.  There is nothing greater than having Jesus Christ as my savior, my guide, my provider, and my love.  I could not imagine living this life without full dependence upon him, how empty my life would be without him.  I have heard my grandmother say so many times… “I wish people would realize that it is so much more than just being saved in order to go to heaven, it is the life that you are given now, when people don’t give their life to Jesus now, they are missing so many things that he has for them.”  There is truly no greater life than the one lived for Jesus Christ and I am so humbled and glad that he chose me as his child.

MADE FOR SO MUCH MORE!

Proverbs 10

So this is not my daily ‘scheduled reading’ for my blog, but it was in my devotion this morning and has been on my mind ever since I first read it so of course I am going to share my thoughts. 

I just keep on thinking how exact God is, how precise he is to make sure I am reading and/or hearing the right scripture at the right time in my life.  I needed to hear every word in Proverbs 10 this morning and I needed to read the devotion that went along with it.  Needless to say this is definitely not the first time this has happened to me and I am certain it won’t be the last.  God is so good to me and continues to steer me onto that righteous path that he has laid for me even when I trail off in the wrong direction.  He loves me and he loves you just that much---he is everywhere and in everything we do, we just have to be looking and listening. 

I had a job interview this morning and of course I was nervous and wanting to do my best, but God reminded me through these scriptures and through a song this morning that I am made for so much more!  So much more than any job I could ever have, so much more than any material possessions that I may ever obtain, so much more than any worldly accomplishments that I may achieve.  No matter where life takes me, I am reminded that I am made for so much more and that ‘much more’ is my service as a child of God.  I was not made for this world’s purpose, but I was made with a Godly purpose and that should be my only goal---to fulfill the purpose that I was created for, everything else is just a small part of that.  Through the words these scriptures I was also reminded that I am not called to say ‘the right words’, but I am called to say ‘the true words’---it is that simple, just tell the truth, don’t try to act like you know any more or any less.  Let God guide my thoughts and words and my true character, the spirit that lives within me, will shine through.  So when I don’t necessarily say the things that people think I should say or the things that people don’t want to hear, it will be alright because the truth that is within me will spill out.  As a child of God, I never have to worry about forcing things to work out for me because I know that my Father has the best plans in mind for me and they will work out according to his will and his way.

I just have to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for always, always reminding me of who I am and what I am made for!  I love to read your word, to hear your voice, and to follow your way.  You are truly my Savior in so many ways!

Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-16

 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Thank you heavenly Father for sending these scriptures my way today.  Thank you for the wake-up call and reminder of what I am here to do.  Thank you for reminding me that it is truly not about me and all about you!  Thank you for the wonderful time spent with my family today---it was truly a special time just with the four of us and no words can express how much I love you for all the blessings that fill our lives.  Thank you for touching my niece, Kellar, with your healing hand.  Thank you for all my family and friends, but especially to the strangers that I met tonight, that are now no longer strangers.  I can honestly say that I find myself in awe over all that you have done for me and my family---we are truly blessed beyond measure!

So my reminder from you came through your word, more specifically these four verses found in Matthew.  I was reminded in such a gentle but powerful way that I am called to be the salt and the light, but if I am not salty nor shining then what good am I?  Really what good am I?  It is not about me, it is about you and my mission is to show others that by doing what you have called me to do.  My calling, I know without a doubt, is to write and share my thoughts with others.  So what good am I if I am not doing that?  Not too much good and since I haven’t been writing much lately (almost none at all) these scriptures hit me pretty hard.  You know we are all called of God to do something, but God is not ever going to force any one of us to fulfill that calling---that part, my friend, is up to each of us.  Sometimes we make excuses and think that we are just waiting on Him to move, but the truth is we don’t wait on God because he is always moving, he is always working out the plan, he is always in control.  So many times I think he is just waiting on us to make that move, to finally realize what he has been showing us all along. 

I want to be the salt of the earth, I want to be full of flavor and let that spill over onto all that I do.  I want to be the light of the world, I want to be shining that light so bright that people cannot help but to see Christ in my life.  I had someone, one of the strangers that I met tonight, tell me this…. “you know when we are shining that light, it is like shining a flashlight on Jesus so that others can see him and if we are not shining it and pointing it towards Jesus the people around us may never see him because the darkness of this world is covering up what we should be lighting up.”  I thought this was such a powerful point to make and so true…if we proclaim to be a Christian then we are to be the salt and light of this world, there is no other way to be.  We are all living at this very time and find ourselves in the moments at the exact time that God has chosen for us, but we have be shining at those moments in order to fulfill the mission that God has called us to complete.  As long as we are here on this earth our mission is not complete, as long as we have breathe left in us we still have something left to do.  I don’t know about you but I do not want to be trampled underfoot and I don’t want to be hid under a bowl.  I do want to fulfill my mission---I want to be the salt and the light---I want to show others the love of Jesus that fills my heart with such joy.