I want to start by telling a funny story that comes from a pretty intense God moment. While travelling with a group of freshmen from the college that I attended I was to preach at a local youth group that we were visiting. I had a pretty powerful opening illustration that I was prepared to wow them with from the beginning. Here was my opening line: "I just want you all to know that I got my mother pregnant before I was born..." Ummmm???? Clearly that was not what I intended to say and I am still waiting for my cut of the $10,000 from America's Funniest Videos. So if you are reading this Dave Lunn, hook a brother up. What I meant to say and eventually got out, although I am not sure anybody heard another word I said after that, was that my mother was pregnant with me before her and my dad were married. This was a big deal as she was a young lady who was striving to serve God and Satan was bombarding her with guilt and shame from all angles. Despite this God had her back. She attended a service at her local church and after the service there was a call. She stayed glued to her seat. In time the gentleman who was preaching sat and talked with her and he said to her, "Donna, do not be filled with shame and guilt because inside of you is a beautiful baby boy who is going to preach the word of God and save souls for Christ!" I am sure there were many days as I was a child where she seriously doubted this word that was spoke over her, but she held on to that for 20+ years and finally told me when I was in my 3rd year of training to be a youth pastor. So #1, if you doubt that God has a plan for your life based on mistakes you've made do not buy into that lie. Your wounds, scars, dents, mistakes, SINS do not determine your identity or your destiny. God has a plan for you. Look it up. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Now on to the Franics Chan part. Based on that story that I just told you I believe that God has some pretty significant plans for my life despite my best attempts to get in His way. I have even prayed for God to reveal those plans to me and I have been so ready to "charge hell with a squirt gun" and yet in the BIG PICTURE from my perspective I have not had those big moments when I have won the nations to Christ. I have not had a platform to preach to thousands, lead thousands in worship or do the Perry Noble, Francis Chan, Billy Graham thing. Hold steady, I am getting to the point...
"The reality is this." I have often been guilty of asking God to reveal His plans for my life in terms of what I would call BIG ministry opportunities and show me the big picture of what His calling on my life is in vocational ministry and been blind to what it is that He would have me do today. It is easy for me to say, "God tell me what you want me to do for the rest of my life and I will do it", but it is not as easy to say "show me what You want me to do today" because there is immediate responsibility with that. This became very evident to me last month as I prayed that prayer and within two minutes was approached by a gentleman looking for change. Fortunately in that moment I think I answered the call and had a great meal with a wonderful gentleman named Emerson. Yet I wonder how many times have I just walked past what God would have for me today because I am too busy praying for what God wants me to do with the rest of my life? So it is in this sense that Pastor Chan says, "forget about God's will for your life". Lord help us to see what opportunities You have for us today!!!
At the risk of being too transparent I want to end this post with this thought. Currently I am getting some Godly counselling on a weekly/bi-weekly basis and this is the thought that I have been left with both sessions that I have been a part of and I think it speaks to those of us who often ask the quesion, "God, what is Your will for my life?"
The more time I spend with Him
the better I know Him.
The better I know Him
the more I love Him.
The more I love Him
the more I trust Him.
The more I trust Him
the easier it is to do what He asks me to do...
TODAY!!!
Blessings...
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