10.26.2014

Small, Small, and Smaller




What God calls us to seems to be a question that is on our minds a lot. I know it is for me. Lately though, I'm discovering that it's not always the things you think. I'm starting to see smaller things. Because you know what? God sees those smaller things.


You know, I think we all have to come to the realization that we will not see all of the fruit of our labor. I know people know this, but realizing that you'll never see the fruit of all you do, whether its to take the credit for yourself or for you King, is a hard thing to come to terms with.....you'll just never know. You might not even be able to call your personal ministry fruitful... Imagine that.


But don't you see, it's all about doing these things--being obedient, and abiding in Him. He takes care of the rest, for He is good. The results will never be dependent on you, because if they were it'd all be an epic failure wouldn't it Being the sinners that we are? Only the Sovereign One who provides the growth is anything, is everything! 1 Cor. 3:7.


It is also scary when you can't tell if you're doing enough, or doing things right. If you're good enough. Even though we are constantly reminded that it's NOT about ourselves, that it's NOT about you, its still a scary thought. However, this is exactly what Satan wants us to focus on--how scary things are, how looming they seem and how so inadequate we are. The Lord wants us focused on His radiant beauty, and His justice and mercy and grace that never leaves. This is where our hearts have to be--undividedly for the Lord--because all we do is for Him!


So when you do your small things, and really start looking at what God wants you to do where you are, maybe you'll see something different this time as well as just being able to take things as they come.


"When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness."
 
Acts 4:31









 

 



10.17.2014

Filling


 
Sometimes I sit down to write a blog post, and really, I honestly don't know what to say. I don't have all the answers, I don't know what's going on, I have more worries than before, sometimes people's lives are falling apart around me and it's a miracle that I got done what I did today.

My solace in this place and time of uneasiness has come in prayer. Prayer, prayer, prayer. I just have had this urge to pray for these people that I know, the people I'm around, and for the next step in some areas in my life. Or maybe all of them.

Because sometimes, you're just plagued, plagued by the world and thoughts and the feeling that you need to do so much more but can't even handle what you're already supposed to be doing. This has been the story of my week. Just get one more thing done today Rachel, stay up, get up, and do it. I swear, I know I'm one of those people that has to feel productive at the end of the day, but this has gotten ridiculous.

The thing is, this happens when I forget to embody the truth--I am set free in Christ and wake up covered in His mercy and His grace every single day (verse reference: the whole Bible....), no matter what I choose to believe each morning.
Sometimes those lies we believe are still at the forefront of our minds though.
This is the time where you have to decided is Jesus is your all--is he?--and if you are actually letting Him fill you up, instead of trying to do it yourself. Your spirit is willing and your flesh is weak. Is that not the truth?

Let Him
fill
you.

So many times we forget to do that.

I'm still learning what it is to be filled and to dwell in the fact that He's so filling. Go, and rejoice that this kind of salvation is yours.
 
 
 
 
 
"Do not lose heart. For outwardly we are wasting away, but inwardly we are being renewed day by day, for these slight and momentary afflictions are preparing for us an eternal weight of glory that is beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen, but what cannot be seen, because what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal."
 
2 Corinthians 4:16-17
 
 
 
"I know, Oh Lord, that your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.
Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant.
Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight."
 
Psalms 119:75-77







10.11.2014

What's Next










What's next is always an interesting question. You know where you've been, and [debatably] your present, but no one ever has a concrete idea of what's next.

What I am starting to recognize as very important is not loosing sight of the bigger picture. I know people say this a lot, but when you focus on the consistent things (in my life-case, God being the only one thing that fits in that category), the common threads, that's when you can start to see what's actually happening.










Someone once told me that if you want to know what God is preparing you for, then look at what He has been doing in your life recently. This comment made many things in my life make sense, and reminded me that there really was a purpose for certain events. He's been teaching me trust, dependence, the importance and reason for self-discipline, and of course, not to lose sight of the bigger picture-Himself!

Now, I don't use these things to speculate, worry and plan, but to prepare myself, and dig deeper into Him while I still feel slightly sane. To learn how to rest in His presence in all circumstances is something to be valued and useful too. A lot of this is figuring out how you are going to stay daily-attached to Him, and how you are going to love Him more.










The important thing though, is that you are continually striving to become more of that person God made you to be, because we all know that we each are made differently, with different spheres of influence to reach those people for Christ, the reason we are where we don't belong.