Psalm 56:8

I have been so full of emotion lately.  A wide range, from joy to sadness, all filled with tears.  When I come to seasons like this (the "rainy season" of life) I tend to become frustrated with my self, showing so much emotion, allowing people to see me cry...and then I remember this:

"You Yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your records?" Psalm 56:8
"This is what the LORD God of your ancestor David says: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will heal you." 2 Kings 20:5

We are so dear to God that he saves every happy tear and every sad tear.  He keeps them in a bottle!  What LOVE we have from our Savior!  God's love is so great that he sent His sone to die in my place AND He saves each and every one of my tears!  He shares my joys and my sorrows.  THAT is so comforting!

Distracted

Can you think of one word to describe your life in this moment?  Is the first word that comes to your mind "love"?  Is "love" even a word that you think of to describe your life?  It should be.  God IS love.  The Gospel IS love.  Jesus IS love.  SO...if we are Christians, we are therefore imitators of Christ and therefore we are love!  Aren't we?  Does every action, every thought, every movement, every breath revolve around love?  The love of Christ should be SO overflowing from our hearts that we can not contain it...and yet sometimes we struggle just to show it...   Honestly, the one word that describes MY life in this moment is "distracted."  Distracted by the "to do" list, the television, my wants, my needs, my struggles, my work, my laundry, my upset stomach, my movie, my beach day...(etc.)  Common denominator?  ME.  My life is distracted by me (my self and my selfishness).  The most unfortunate, sad, uncomfortable part about this?  That Satan has succeeded in distracting me from Love (therefore distracting me from God who IS love).   The best part?  God allows me to repent and return to Him.  Each moment, each breath is a chance to make a choice to show love.  We were reminded in church today that love is NOT a feeling but and ACTION.  We are not called to "feel" love...we are called to BE love and DO love!   "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jn. 13:35  So, friends, make the choice to show love today in EVERY thought, action, word, and smile!

GRACE

God GRACE is one of my favorite attributes of His character!  There is nothing that can keep His unconditional love from us!  I was able to get to the beach today...SO GOOD!  It's one of my favorite creations (and one that makes it difficult to stay distant from God) all thanks to His grace!

I have been feeling very distant lately.  Not really "far away" distant, or "disconnected" distant...but rather apathetic and luke warm.  I don't understand how things get this way in my walk with God...or at least I thought I didn't...  I realized that since Caswell I have not spent time in the word...at all.  This has truly distanced me from my creator, my love, my God...and...made for some very unfulfilling days.

By His grace, He takes us back AS WE ARE!  God loves us no matter what!  Through the pain of trying to teach us something we just aren't getting.  Through our "dry spells" of not engaging in His word.  Through our selfish, sinful thoughts and actions in each and every day...   Christ died once for all to save all from sin!  And, He saves us as we are.  God does not seek to change us first.  He, like a loving father, opens His arms wide to welcome us home.  No matter what we've done or how far we've traveled away, He gives us chance after chance after chance to come back, try again, and get it right! What's more, He gives us His Holy Spirit to help us stay on the right path!  Praise GOD!

He works WITH us every day to teach us and fill us with wisdom and light...how great is that!?!  And, He is waiting to welcome you and me back into His arms so that He might fulfill His perfect plan through our lives!!!

Lead

I have never considered myself to be a leader.  In fact, for most of my life I have searched for excuses to remain in the background.  I have labeled myself a wallflower, follower, introvert, quiet, not much of a people person (whatever THAT means), socially retarded, and any number of other like labels...but... THAT'S NOT WHO GOD CREATED ME TO BE!!!!!   Praise Him for that!!!  When we think about how we should conduct ourselves as Christians, we should compare our actions with the character of Christ.  So, of the labels formerly mentioned...do they fit the character of God?  of Christ?  No.  God is NONE of those things.

In fact, each person is given gifts (or strengths).  Some are teachers, some are athletes, some are business savvy, etc. EACH of these people need the others to lead them in what they do not know.  This is how community is built.  We are given strengths and spiritual gifts not so we can keep them to ourselves and admire what God has given us, but to SHARE them with others so that we may build and encourage the body.

We do not choose leadership.  Leadership is gifted to us from God!  It is our calling, it is our purpose.  The choice is WILL we use that leadership to influence the Kingdom or will we smother our calling to leadership until we can no longer hear any call from God?  There are no leaders or followers...we all have elements of both.  We lead with our gifts and strengths AS we allow others to lead us with theirs.