Hey all. I recognize that it's been a while since I've posted. Definitely not for lack of desire because I've had this one on the brain for over a month now. It's a fairly simple thought, but it's taken on new life and proven itself over and over each new week that passes by.
I've called it sweet spot and of course that is a term that comes from my sports nerdiness. This concept applies for most every sport, but the two in particular that I want to focus on are basketball and baseball. The sweet spot in baseball typically means that spot on the baseball bat where when it is hit you get the best performance and most impactful hit off of the bat. Often times if the ball hits a few inches higher or lower on the bat a vibration goes through the bat that makes the hit not nearly as hard and it really does not feel good on the hands. In basketball if we find a sweet spot it typically means that there is a particular place on the court that we find where we seem to be able to hit our shots at a much higher percentage than other places on the court and our confidence in shooting from this area is much greater than other places.
In life it would seem that I've found my sweet spot and it is my desire that (like the bat) my life would make the biggest impact and (like in basketball) I would be able to walk confidently daily as God seemingly opens door after door to bless and meet the needs of those that the ministries of Boaz comes in contact with. It is incredible that we seem to be continuing to say, "Look what God did" as we strive to serve and meet the "felt needs" of others with the knowlege that as we meet those needs the hearts of many will be softened to the amazing, life changing truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This hit a whole new level of awesome for me this past weekend as I was able to see my son participate in Boaz ministry. He calls himself "Jr. Staff" and I love having him be a part of what I do with this. This weekend past we were able to spend some time with an amazing little guy (8) who it appears does not have a lot of friends and our ministry has been given many opportunities to provide for this family. As my son (8) and this guy began to hang out there was zero awkwardness of meeting someone new and they played football (catching and kicking) for over and hour and could have gone all day. As we drove to McDonald's Vaughn was thrilled that he got to see Johnny again and said, "I call dibs on sitting next to Johnny!!!" How this crybaby (me) kept it together is still a mystery to me.
As we got home that night I told Vaughn how proud of him I was and how impacting his friendship to this new friend was for so many reasons. Vaughn's response was simply, "I like him. He's cool. I want his number so we can play more." Simple. Just the night before my son said to me, "People don't love Jesus? Impossible!" This football and McDonalds day gave me such a great opportunity to show Vaughn just how much he showed his new friend and his family the love of Jesus by simply being in their world.
So yeah, this is my sweet spot as God increases His heart in me for these amazing people I come in contact with weekly and now I see my son becoming (maybe unknowingly) a missionary of love to the city around him... many of which don't know/love Jesus... He (Vaughn) will change that I'm sure. To say I am blessed and grateful would be a gross understatement.
I do want to quickly ask you to conider something though. I've been challenged to step up with my support raising to make this ministry more effective for myself and those I come in contact with. My current goal is $1200 over the next 3 months and I have $330 committed to me. That leaves me with $870 to raise over those months. Would you consider being a part of that? Some of you who read this could do that in one shot and some can contribute in part. All support is greatly appreciated as it increases my ability to dive in and give all I have to this ministry. Reality is this. If I need approx $900 then all I need is 10 people to say they will give 30 dollars a month and the goal is reached. (can of pop or coffee/day.. I know.. shouldn't mess with coffee)
If God so lays it on peoples heart to bless beyond that, fantastic, but that is my goal for now. Will you be a part of this? Contact (facebook, twitter, 999-1355 or s.leighton2@gmail.com) me if you want to do this and I will gladly help you help myself and this amazing ministry where God is blessing many, including myself. So much be done in this "sweet spot". Please consider joining my team. See what I did there??? :)
Monday, 24 September 2012
Thursday, 23 August 2012
Give me Faith (an Update)
(Apologies for the run on paragraph. Not sure how to fix this.)
This may not be a real deep, thought provoking blog, but I at least wanted to give as many people as possible and that are interested chance to catch up in the roller coaster that is my life. By the way, despite the occasional terrifying moments, I really do like roller coasters. Guess I am a sucker for punishment or I love the rush of the unboring, you never know what is next life. Somedays I ask God, "Why can't I hae a normal, boring life?" and He reminds me that with Him, truly serving Him there is no such thing as a normal, boring life.
So here is where Scottie is at as of August 23rd, 2012.
I am still the part time youth pastor of an amazing group of young people at Morning Gate Church and that is a good thing. I love these teens more and more every time I get to spend time with them. We had our mid week meeting last night and we played sports, danced and prayed together. Despite only having 8 show up last night we "prayed" together. I never know what to expect when we do our prayer time, but last night the 8 youth in front of me really prayed for each other. As the final amen was said we were all shocked to look at the clock and realize that it was 50 minutes later. Whoa!!! Awesome... I am AMPED to dive into the Fall with this amazing group of young people and see where God takes us and how He uses us/THEM in impacting our city, their schools and where ever else He wants His light to shine.
In other news for those who do not know, I have quit my human services job and am diving into a faith based ministry in the city. www.boazministries.com
Yup, faith based, doesn't pay, I have to raise support... All of the above. I've heard the comments about I should have done it this way or that way, but my reality is this; God told me to move and I did what I felt He wanted me to do even though it didn't financially make sense. Do I see the complete financial picture of how all this is going to play out? Not even close, but I am trusting that the one who called me to this ministry is more than able to provide. Can you help? Absolutely. I am in need of a monthly support team to help me fully invest in this ministry and in the lives I come into contact with. You can be a part of that and I would love it if you would be. I need one time givers and all time prayers. Reality is that God is moving in this ministry and lives are being changed. As I've been able to dive in, I see relationships changing, being built and practical needs being met. I've lead kids who are unchurched in sessions of unhindered, raw times of worships. I was able to share at teen camp this past Monday and 10-15 young people recomitted their lives or made 1st time decisions for Christ. Things are happening. Get on board!
I've seen people buy into this ministry in sooooo many ways because it is making a difference in our community and it will globally as God's people buy in. Daily I am tempted to apply for other jobs to financially make up the difference of what "I'm" not making, but each time there is an anxiety in my heart that I cannot explain, so I trust God that He will provide as He has lead me to this place though often times I don't see or understand how things will be taken care of.
So this is where I am at in this point of my life. Is it where I expected to be at the age of 34? Nope. Am I okay with this? Yup. God has been asking me some tough questions as of late and to be honest I know the right answer to them and some of them I struggle with, but again when I look at what He does daily how can I not recklessly drop my nets and "immediately" follow him? I may never buy my son the "stuff" that other kids have, but my desire is that he would look at his Dad and say, "He followed God, even if it didn't make sense to others."
Let me end with this. If while reading this something stirred in you to be a part of this ministry or come along side me in this ministry that would be amazing. Your time, prayers and financial contributions are all greatly appreciated as they increase what this amazing ministry is able to do. It is changing lives and you can be a part of it. Contact me and I would love to talk to you as to how you can be a part or if possible I would love to come and speak at your churches or other events or meetings to share about the exciting work that God is doing through Boaz Lighthouse International Ministries.
s.leighton2@gmail.com or (506)999-1355
I heard this song the other night and it quickly has become an anthem of mine.
The bridge says, "I may be weak, but Your Spirit's strong in me. My flesh may fail. My God You never will." -Give Me Faith- Elevation Worship
Lord Give me faith to do what You want no matter what I see, others say, and what circumstances dictate. Jesus above all is the hope of the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Voi3JM8ZA
Sunday, 29 July 2012
Wow.
Pretty boring title I know, but it's all I can manage to spit out at the moment in terms of creativity. The boringness of the title certainly does not reflect the excitement level that I am feeling right now and the excitement level of today's event and today's post. All I can say is that I am in awe and what the what??? Simply blown away.
Now you are asking me to spit it out and must be wondering why if you do not already know. Most of you probably do because I am not able to keep secrets well when I get excited and to say that I am excited right now would be an understatement.
Here we go. I am blessed that I will have had opportunities to participate in 3 different ministries in our city in the near future. The newest one that is possibly happening real soon is getting on board with our local Christian radio station Joy FM. http://www.joyfm.ca/ The other is one that I have mentioned recently and am currently raising my support for and that is Boaz Ministries http://www.boazministries.com/ The third of course is my position at Morning Gate Church as their youth pastor. This has been a blessing to me and I have learned a ton. Sometimes I have had to learn some things the hard way, but the youth in this group have blessed me over and over as I've attempted to give leadership to them in this role. That being said a couple of months ago I felt lead to start talking about baptism to them as a number of them had made commitments to Christ in the last year or so. Many of them stepped up at different times and in different ways, yet all who stepped up to take this next step in their faith did it in their own way, in their own timing, doing it for themselves and not because someone else was. All in all in our youth group (which has peaked at 20 since I've come on) had 15-17 young people step up and say that this is what they wanted to do. This has boggled my mind as we also have a number in our group who have already been baptized or did not step up as they were away this summer or not there yet spiritually. I have been very much challenged in this equation to not try and figure out God's economy because I am not God so why would I try.
So today is the day. A number of our students could not make today's baptism so we planned on doing who could be done today and then we will have to plan a day for the rest. As we came into service today we had 7 for sure that wanted to be baptized with one more that I thought may show up, but I was not 100%. We began our service and it was a very encouraging crowd (in terms of size and enthusiasm) and the weather was very cooperative despite it looking like it might rain on us. We carried on in our service and Pastor Scott shared a great word before we got to the main event of baptizing our 8 young people plus a couple who came through one of our families as well as a 6 year old girl who told her Nanny and Grampy (from our church) that she wanted to be baptized. So 7 or 8 turned into 11. After we celebrated with those who planned and did not plan, but stepped out in obedience we asked if anyone else wanted to step out. One man did. What a blessing!!! (12)
We prayed and then carried on with our meal and BBQ and began to enjoy sharing a meal together as church family. While we ate it was brought to mine and others attentions that there were two more young people (brother and sister) that wanted to be baptized, but were not able to as their mother was not there and she would not have wanted to miss it. I then celebrated that we would be having more added to those who want to be baptized our next time we do a service. Shortly after this was mentioned their mother arrived and the young people decided today was their day. Amazing!!! (14) An amazing addition to this part of the story is that the mother of the brother and sister also decided that she was going to proclaim God’s place and plan in her life also this day by being baptized with her children. (15)
Also while we ate a gentleman arrived and asked some of our people what we were doing and was told we were having our church service and having a baptism. He was so surprised as he and his wife had been praying for an opportunity for her to be baptized as she was leaving the country for a time and wanted to be baptized before she left. They then asked if we could baptize her and we gladly did this. Amazing how God sets things up that are so much bigger than us and beyond our comprehension. (16)
Last but not least as we were out of the water again, one of our teens who has been a leader in our group shyly mentioned that she would like to be baptized too. She did not have a change of clothes or a towel but this did not matter to her. She knew today was her day. This was a big deal as this teen is very near and dear to our Sr. Pastor. (17)
All and all what an amazing day. We had plans and were pumped about what we thought God had in store for today. Little did we know what God was going to do was so much bigger than what we imagined. I don’t say this to brag on numbers or suggest that our success of today was about number, but every time someone steps up and says publically in this manner that they want to live for, follow and serve Jesus I have to believe that God is honored and way more pumped than we could ever be. The challenge now is this… For those who made that commitment today we must uphold them in prayer and come along side and celebrate, lift up and bless them as they continue to walk life in its good times and bad… For we know that God has big things for them yet life is still tough.. Fortunately we serve a God who is bigger than life and it’s tough moments.. ;)
What a day!!! What a God!!!
Wow…
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
Faith, Fear, Facebook and Finances
Today's post is going to be one of those "post as you go" type of blogs. I have had a bunch of random thoughts running around in my head this morning and I am hoping that by the end of this they will have worked themselves into a coherant group of thoughts.
I woke up this morning and the main thought that was buzzing in my head was "Faith vs. Fear". As many (of the thousands and thousand who read this.. lol) of you know I have recently taken a step of faith in my life regarding employment. I am embarassed to say that I feel it has been a long time since I have stepped out into the realm of faith as I perhaps should have. Bills, responsibilities and safety took over my thinking and I lost a boldness that was part of who I am and was made to be. The "practical" became common place in my thinking. Not that there is a problem with practical as I believe God has given us a brain in our heads to use, but if practical gets in the way of obedience to God then it is problematic. So hear I am. Trying to seek out God as I believe He's directed me to step out. In this step I am feeling a great excitement as I reach out to some amazing people and do what I can do to bless them and be in life with them. This also excites me as I realize that if God directs there is a need for the ministry of BOAZ in any community so if God called me to move someday this career does not change. Yet as I feel all this excitement I regret to say that I feel anxiety and fear. I know I should not, but if I'm honest I do. The only thing that causes this is the big "F"... finances. Before you start throwing awesome quotes and Scripture at me, I know. :P
God is bigger... He has not given me a spirit of fear... He cares for the birds, so He cares for me... If it's the King's will, it's the King's bill... what God wants, God pays for or provides for..
I wrestle with this even as I type it. I know what I know and yet I still feel what I feel. I ask myself how this lines up. Perhaps it doesn't and I need an alignment.. again. Yet I just take the next step. I've shared with many over this past year that we need to be a people who when God asks us to step out we do it even though we don't know where our foot may land. Guess I need to live out what I speak. So again, here I am.
One thing I do see happening on an increased level is some amazing conversations where fellow believers challenge me at the core of who I am. Admittedly I spend too much time on facebook and need to tone it down, but as of late God seems to be redeeming my conversations on fb and people have blessed me with their words as they challenge me with my faith, patience and other areas. For this I am grateful.
So as I end this post today I have to admit that I am a bit annoyed that I can't seem to tie it up in a neat little bow as I would like to, but here is where my heart is. I want to live in the place God wants me to... today and tomorrow and the future will be awesome when they arrive. I am praying for crazy blessings that I could never accomplish living on my own means. I want to increase the amount of people (believers and non believers) that I am in community with to bless, challenge and help come to know God better daily. I want to be an awesome man of God, dad, husband, step dad, brother, servant, and many other things as God leads me. May my legacy be that I was obedient even if I looked crazy. ;)
I want to leave this song. It's by John Waller. I've been searching through more of his music as I am getting excited about the concert that Jo is putting on in Woodstock and I found this gem. It speaks to where my heart is. Yes I have my personal dreams and desires that I would someday like to see, but ulitmately I want to do something so big in this life that if God doesn't show up I'm in trouble.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HiS-Aj2-7U
Blessings all,
I woke up this morning and the main thought that was buzzing in my head was "Faith vs. Fear". As many (of the thousands and thousand who read this.. lol) of you know I have recently taken a step of faith in my life regarding employment. I am embarassed to say that I feel it has been a long time since I have stepped out into the realm of faith as I perhaps should have. Bills, responsibilities and safety took over my thinking and I lost a boldness that was part of who I am and was made to be. The "practical" became common place in my thinking. Not that there is a problem with practical as I believe God has given us a brain in our heads to use, but if practical gets in the way of obedience to God then it is problematic. So hear I am. Trying to seek out God as I believe He's directed me to step out. In this step I am feeling a great excitement as I reach out to some amazing people and do what I can do to bless them and be in life with them. This also excites me as I realize that if God directs there is a need for the ministry of BOAZ in any community so if God called me to move someday this career does not change. Yet as I feel all this excitement I regret to say that I feel anxiety and fear. I know I should not, but if I'm honest I do. The only thing that causes this is the big "F"... finances. Before you start throwing awesome quotes and Scripture at me, I know. :P
God is bigger... He has not given me a spirit of fear... He cares for the birds, so He cares for me... If it's the King's will, it's the King's bill... what God wants, God pays for or provides for..
I wrestle with this even as I type it. I know what I know and yet I still feel what I feel. I ask myself how this lines up. Perhaps it doesn't and I need an alignment.. again. Yet I just take the next step. I've shared with many over this past year that we need to be a people who when God asks us to step out we do it even though we don't know where our foot may land. Guess I need to live out what I speak. So again, here I am.
One thing I do see happening on an increased level is some amazing conversations where fellow believers challenge me at the core of who I am. Admittedly I spend too much time on facebook and need to tone it down, but as of late God seems to be redeeming my conversations on fb and people have blessed me with their words as they challenge me with my faith, patience and other areas. For this I am grateful.
So as I end this post today I have to admit that I am a bit annoyed that I can't seem to tie it up in a neat little bow as I would like to, but here is where my heart is. I want to live in the place God wants me to... today and tomorrow and the future will be awesome when they arrive. I am praying for crazy blessings that I could never accomplish living on my own means. I want to increase the amount of people (believers and non believers) that I am in community with to bless, challenge and help come to know God better daily. I want to be an awesome man of God, dad, husband, step dad, brother, servant, and many other things as God leads me. May my legacy be that I was obedient even if I looked crazy. ;)
I want to leave this song. It's by John Waller. I've been searching through more of his music as I am getting excited about the concert that Jo is putting on in Woodstock and I found this gem. It speaks to where my heart is. Yes I have my personal dreams and desires that I would someday like to see, but ulitmately I want to do something so big in this life that if God doesn't show up I'm in trouble.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HiS-Aj2-7U
Blessings all,
Tuesday, 24 July 2012
A bicycle built for two or tow???
Good morning all...
Two days in a row posting a blog??? Unheard of... I know right??? ;)
As I was driving to work today I was crossing the bridge and saw an image that resonated with me immediately. It was simply a father and son riding their bike across the bridge. What's the big deal right? Here is a little more specific description of how this was playing out. The father was riding his bike across the bridge and there was a bar extended from the back of his bike and it connected to a make shift bike type of thing that his son was sitting on. It had handle bars. It had a seat. It had pedals. It def appeared like it was a bike by how it looked, but the son was not controlling where and how fast they were going. It was actually cute because the son was pedalling as if what he was doing was making a difference, but in reality it did not.
As I observed this (while keeping my eyes on road of course) the thought dawned on me, "Isn't this like our walk with God?" We pedal and pedal and pedal and yet without our Father's guidance, it is hard to say what kind of trouble we'd get ourselves in. We plan, we strive, we push... we get tired.
God says, "Hop on, let me pedal and get you where you need to go." "I love you and I am sufficient for you." Yes He blesses along the way with amazing experiences, people, and gifts that we are so unworthy of, but ultimately He is our source of strength and our well of living water that causes us to thirst no more.
As I drove by the image of this boy realizing he wasn't doing much came to mind. I could just picture him saying, "Wait a second. I can do more. I can do better. Let me up there dad." I picture the son trying to climb across the bar off of his bike to His dad's bike that is clearly way too big for the son and not to mention IS STILL MOVING. What kind of disaster could this of ended up turning into? How much pain would this have caused? Don't we do that though?
"Hey God. I know you're God and stuff, but if you could just do this a little different that would be swell."
I can almost picture God saying, "That's cute son. Why don't you stay on your bike and let me lead you? For I know what's best for you. I know where you need to go and my ways are best for you."
So for today. Are we letting our Father lead us or are we trying to do more than our "bike" will allow us to do. Admittedly the future is hard to not plan for. We do it everyday with our everyday actions (dating, saving money for various things, etc), but have we decided to let God lead. I had this conversation last night and my comment was that I am in a place where I am doing what God wants... today.. The person I spoke with called me out on this then put it in perspective a bit. This quote stuck with me.
Anything else is just spinning my tires... (groan.. ) ;)
Blessings,
Two days in a row posting a blog??? Unheard of... I know right??? ;)
As I was driving to work today I was crossing the bridge and saw an image that resonated with me immediately. It was simply a father and son riding their bike across the bridge. What's the big deal right? Here is a little more specific description of how this was playing out. The father was riding his bike across the bridge and there was a bar extended from the back of his bike and it connected to a make shift bike type of thing that his son was sitting on. It had handle bars. It had a seat. It had pedals. It def appeared like it was a bike by how it looked, but the son was not controlling where and how fast they were going. It was actually cute because the son was pedalling as if what he was doing was making a difference, but in reality it did not.
As I observed this (while keeping my eyes on road of course) the thought dawned on me, "Isn't this like our walk with God?" We pedal and pedal and pedal and yet without our Father's guidance, it is hard to say what kind of trouble we'd get ourselves in. We plan, we strive, we push... we get tired.
God says, "Hop on, let me pedal and get you where you need to go." "I love you and I am sufficient for you." Yes He blesses along the way with amazing experiences, people, and gifts that we are so unworthy of, but ultimately He is our source of strength and our well of living water that causes us to thirst no more.
As I drove by the image of this boy realizing he wasn't doing much came to mind. I could just picture him saying, "Wait a second. I can do more. I can do better. Let me up there dad." I picture the son trying to climb across the bar off of his bike to His dad's bike that is clearly way too big for the son and not to mention IS STILL MOVING. What kind of disaster could this of ended up turning into? How much pain would this have caused? Don't we do that though?
"Hey God. I know you're God and stuff, but if you could just do this a little different that would be swell."
I can almost picture God saying, "That's cute son. Why don't you stay on your bike and let me lead you? For I know what's best for you. I know where you need to go and my ways are best for you."
So for today. Are we letting our Father lead us or are we trying to do more than our "bike" will allow us to do. Admittedly the future is hard to not plan for. We do it everyday with our everyday actions (dating, saving money for various things, etc), but have we decided to let God lead. I had this conversation last night and my comment was that I am in a place where I am doing what God wants... today.. The person I spoke with called me out on this then put it in perspective a bit. This quote stuck with me.
You believe in the future. You've just given up control.
You're willing to go anywhere.. but you do have an idea of what you think your future will look like.
So do I/we willingly stay on our bikes and allow our Father to lead us or do we try and do better? It's my prayer that I will be found faithful to go where God wants me to go, to be where He wants me to be and that I would stay in my proper position and keep God in His so that I can follow His lead daily. Anything else is just spinning my tires... (groan.. ) ;)
Blessings,
Monday, 23 July 2012
"The Almost..."
In today's post from the mind of Scottie (terrifying thought I know) I want to quickly touch on something that I wrestle with often. This often seems to be the case with what I write, but hey it's how I roll I guess. I hope that people are ok with me being human and being honest with that. If not, another website is just a mouse click away. :P
I titled this post "The Almost". As I read that it kind of sounds like the name for a band, but that isn't quite what I am going for. Though if I ever was in a band again I may use that. Squirell!!! What I mean by saying "the almost" is that in my life there are many areas where I have some potentially exciting things around the bend so I and others have called them "almost" moments. Again if you've known me for more than 5 minutes you recognize that I may be a touch high strung at times (though I am learning how to relax and love it!!!) and tend to wrestle with my focus. All this to say God's blessings to come are awesome, but we/I must not allow ourselves to be so consumed by the blessings of tomorrow that we forget about how God has blessed us yesterday and is probably in process of blessing us right now. In my lack of focus sometimes I allow myself to get discouraged while I wait for tomorrow's blessings in spite of the fact that I may be possibly sitting in the midst of God's favor today. This is fact for me. God has great things in store that I need to be thanking Him in advance for, but I must also be grateful for what He offers right now and obediently be walking in that blessing.
It is easy to slip into an ungrateful attitude of impatience while waiting for God's blessings to come all the while what God is doing in the now is enough to knock our socks off. This is such a subtle thing that the enemy can use to redirect our minds from being grateful to God in the now. Ultimately this has the ability to shift our focus to an ungrateful, entitled attitude which could even result in our "almosts" that are to come disappearing. It's a common sentiment, but it's true when people say to us that we need to be grateful for what we have and not mourn what we do not. We do in fact live in a blessed society that is pretty spoiled and it is easy to get entitled, but my prayer is this.
~Lord makes me grateful for how You've blessed and protected me in the past. Lord make me grateful for Your blessings and opportunities today and Lord make me grateful for the "almost" moments of blessing that are to come.~
Don't let the "almost" moments overtake and distract us from God's blessings today. Each day is a blessing and each day is filled with opportunities to bless the one who gave us this day as well as others around us who are in dire need of being blessed.
Two links to share. The first one is a song that speaks to where my/our hearts need to be as we walk day by day. "While I'm waiting." Amen!!! In fact, if you want to see this artist in concert he will be in Woodstock, New Brunswick on Friday, September 21st, 2012. Call (506) 325-0109 to inquire about tickets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-M7oGrOa2I
The second one is a link about a video I watched last night and it spoke to me big time. I don't know how many days I have left, but that's not what it's about. It's about what I do with what I have left.
This is a 5 part video that can also be located at the phone number I gave you. Check it out and be challenged. Ed's Story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tHKbIO6XHg
Don't miss out. Good things are happening and good things are to come. Thank God! ;)
Blessings y'all!!!
I titled this post "The Almost". As I read that it kind of sounds like the name for a band, but that isn't quite what I am going for. Though if I ever was in a band again I may use that. Squirell!!! What I mean by saying "the almost" is that in my life there are many areas where I have some potentially exciting things around the bend so I and others have called them "almost" moments. Again if you've known me for more than 5 minutes you recognize that I may be a touch high strung at times (though I am learning how to relax and love it!!!) and tend to wrestle with my focus. All this to say God's blessings to come are awesome, but we/I must not allow ourselves to be so consumed by the blessings of tomorrow that we forget about how God has blessed us yesterday and is probably in process of blessing us right now. In my lack of focus sometimes I allow myself to get discouraged while I wait for tomorrow's blessings in spite of the fact that I may be possibly sitting in the midst of God's favor today. This is fact for me. God has great things in store that I need to be thanking Him in advance for, but I must also be grateful for what He offers right now and obediently be walking in that blessing.
It is easy to slip into an ungrateful attitude of impatience while waiting for God's blessings to come all the while what God is doing in the now is enough to knock our socks off. This is such a subtle thing that the enemy can use to redirect our minds from being grateful to God in the now. Ultimately this has the ability to shift our focus to an ungrateful, entitled attitude which could even result in our "almosts" that are to come disappearing. It's a common sentiment, but it's true when people say to us that we need to be grateful for what we have and not mourn what we do not. We do in fact live in a blessed society that is pretty spoiled and it is easy to get entitled, but my prayer is this.
~Lord makes me grateful for how You've blessed and protected me in the past. Lord make me grateful for Your blessings and opportunities today and Lord make me grateful for the "almost" moments of blessing that are to come.~
Don't let the "almost" moments overtake and distract us from God's blessings today. Each day is a blessing and each day is filled with opportunities to bless the one who gave us this day as well as others around us who are in dire need of being blessed.
Two links to share. The first one is a song that speaks to where my/our hearts need to be as we walk day by day. "While I'm waiting." Amen!!! In fact, if you want to see this artist in concert he will be in Woodstock, New Brunswick on Friday, September 21st, 2012. Call (506) 325-0109 to inquire about tickets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-M7oGrOa2I
The second one is a link about a video I watched last night and it spoke to me big time. I don't know how many days I have left, but that's not what it's about. It's about what I do with what I have left.
This is a 5 part video that can also be located at the phone number I gave you. Check it out and be challenged. Ed's Story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tHKbIO6XHg
Don't miss out. Good things are happening and good things are to come. Thank God! ;)
Blessings y'all!!!
Monday, 18 June 2012
Meh.
This post is going to be a combination of my personal journey as of late, my thoughts of late and a devotional that I read this morning. Amazing all are on the same line of thought. Pretty cool God. Like He's trying to tell me something eh?
For the two or three people who read this it goes without saying and none of you are surprised when I say that I may be a little high strung and wound a little tight. This I believe is something that can work for my benefit, but more often than not as I lose control of it, it becomes a major detriment to me, my relationships, my ministry and ultimately the plan that God has for me in many areas in my life. I've been asking God a lot lately why I am the way I am. Don't get me wrong, I am fearfully and wonderfully made and God's masterpeice and all that jazz, but I've been wrestling lately with this as I can see some of it's damaging effects if I lose control of it.
One evening over the weekend it was impressed on my heart "to be anxious for nothing" so I asked how do I do that. The response was simple and quick. Read the rest of the verse. So here is what I was given:
Phl 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Phl 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Phl 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
So I pray. I offer thanks even though my brain takes me to "other" places and attitudes. I realize that God's peace is beyond what I understand or comprehend so I don't have to get it. Then I focus on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. This is what I intentionally think on. So I guess if I have "other" thoughts enter my brain I let them go or ignore them. With God's authority in me... I can do that.
Then there was this morning... One devotional took me to Psalm 119 and God's Word being my source. This is how I have the strength to ignore or reject those "other" thoughts... By having God's word firmly planted in my heart.. Awesome!
Then God went a step further and took me to another devotional and into the book of Colosians and the topic was "peace". I'm thinking I'm a little thick and need some major repetition to get things. LOL.
Colosians 3:15-17 says this:
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
2 quick observations from this passage. Number 1 is that it says "let the peace of Christ RULE in your hearts.. ." It doesn't say let the peace of Christ "exist" or "influence" in your heart. It says rule. Rule says that it's an all encompasing master and not just a part that is allowed to peek in and visit once in a while when it's convenient. The peace must be there to stay and have dominion of our hearts. This appears to be an act of submission on our part which could explain why so many of us are restless and not at peace. We don't like to submit to anything or allow anything to have rule in us that we don't create.
The other observation that caught me was the amount of times the word "thanks" or various forms of that word were in this passage. I count three times and that tells me that the peace of Christ (which we don't always understand or have to for that matter) comes out of an attitude of gratitude. If we are thankful for God's blessings, God's favour and what He's already done in our lives it's hard to complain about what we don't have. Isn't that where our lack of peace comes from at the core? We complain about what we don't have, what we would rather be doing, or what others get that we don't and all the while we get ourselves spun so tight that our words turn into a life of unrest, and definitely not a life of peace that Christ offers.
I'll admit that this is a struggle with me as the little things and insecurity loves to creep into my mind and get me spun, but I am grateful that Christ is patient and is offereing me His peace and I don't even have to understand it. To know that it is there and I can and will abide, live, rest and be ruled by His peace is a comforting thought. I very much want to be a "meh" kind of person who is able to let the small things slide and be ruled by the Prince of Peace and by God's strength and guidance of His Word... I will get there.
Grateful to God today.
Blessings and Love to you all...
For the two or three people who read this it goes without saying and none of you are surprised when I say that I may be a little high strung and wound a little tight. This I believe is something that can work for my benefit, but more often than not as I lose control of it, it becomes a major detriment to me, my relationships, my ministry and ultimately the plan that God has for me in many areas in my life. I've been asking God a lot lately why I am the way I am. Don't get me wrong, I am fearfully and wonderfully made and God's masterpeice and all that jazz, but I've been wrestling lately with this as I can see some of it's damaging effects if I lose control of it.
One evening over the weekend it was impressed on my heart "to be anxious for nothing" so I asked how do I do that. The response was simple and quick. Read the rest of the verse. So here is what I was given:
Phl 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Phl 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Phl 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
So I pray. I offer thanks even though my brain takes me to "other" places and attitudes. I realize that God's peace is beyond what I understand or comprehend so I don't have to get it. Then I focus on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. This is what I intentionally think on. So I guess if I have "other" thoughts enter my brain I let them go or ignore them. With God's authority in me... I can do that.
Then there was this morning... One devotional took me to Psalm 119 and God's Word being my source. This is how I have the strength to ignore or reject those "other" thoughts... By having God's word firmly planted in my heart.. Awesome!
Then God went a step further and took me to another devotional and into the book of Colosians and the topic was "peace". I'm thinking I'm a little thick and need some major repetition to get things. LOL.
Colosians 3:15-17 says this:
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
2 quick observations from this passage. Number 1 is that it says "let the peace of Christ RULE in your hearts.. ." It doesn't say let the peace of Christ "exist" or "influence" in your heart. It says rule. Rule says that it's an all encompasing master and not just a part that is allowed to peek in and visit once in a while when it's convenient. The peace must be there to stay and have dominion of our hearts. This appears to be an act of submission on our part which could explain why so many of us are restless and not at peace. We don't like to submit to anything or allow anything to have rule in us that we don't create.
The other observation that caught me was the amount of times the word "thanks" or various forms of that word were in this passage. I count three times and that tells me that the peace of Christ (which we don't always understand or have to for that matter) comes out of an attitude of gratitude. If we are thankful for God's blessings, God's favour and what He's already done in our lives it's hard to complain about what we don't have. Isn't that where our lack of peace comes from at the core? We complain about what we don't have, what we would rather be doing, or what others get that we don't and all the while we get ourselves spun so tight that our words turn into a life of unrest, and definitely not a life of peace that Christ offers.
I'll admit that this is a struggle with me as the little things and insecurity loves to creep into my mind and get me spun, but I am grateful that Christ is patient and is offereing me His peace and I don't even have to understand it. To know that it is there and I can and will abide, live, rest and be ruled by His peace is a comforting thought. I very much want to be a "meh" kind of person who is able to let the small things slide and be ruled by the Prince of Peace and by God's strength and guidance of His Word... I will get there.
Grateful to God today.
Blessings and Love to you all...
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Writer's Block
So let's begin with the typical "I know. I has been too long. Blah, blah, blah." Good? Okay, let's move on. :)
I've been thinking a lot about the story God wants to write in and with us again lately. I love how God uses our lives, which includes the joys and pains (pump, pump, pump pump it up... sunshine, what else? rain! sorry.. squirell!!!) to tell a story and ultimately lead others to Him. It never ceases to amaze me how God uses our story and without us even know most times, He interweaves our lives with others whom we can use our story with or they can use their story to bless ours. The creativity of this I may never understand, but I find it unbelievably awesome. Poor sentence I know, but how God does this totally wrinkles my brain. I see my youth group (whom I love dearly) and I see a number of young people who have had a difficult story with which I can connect due to the struggles of my past. Do I love dealing with hurts, seeing kids hurt and digging up my junk again? Not so much. Do I love that God can use my hurt and my junk to bring peace into young lives? Oh my word yes!!!
So about this story thing. My thought is this. How many times to we take the pen from the author? I am speaking out of a recent experience where I was in the midst of an amazing story that God was writing and yet for some reason I felt to take the pen and inject my little ideas in and see how things might go. So people gotta learn the hard way I guess. Sheesh. Yet we do this often don't we? Isn't it annoying when we show someone a picture that we've drawn, a song or poem that we've written and they take our pen or pencil and say, "Oh this is good, but..." or "Just let me change this and it would be great..." Kind of makes you want to punch them doesn't it or as we Christians say, "Lay hands on them.." I always hated in school when someone would do that to me. It's a different story if I've asked for help, but them changing my story, song, poem or art without me asking is just plain annoying. Yet again, I/we do this with God don't we?
Long story short, I did this and as anybody could have predicted I fell flat on my face. I fell hard. So again I found myself brushing off the dust, licking my wounds and asking God what just happened. Thankfully it became quickly obvious what I had done and the good part about being flat on my face was that it was a short trip as to where I needed to be before my God and the Author of my story.
I think I must be getting old or maturing or whatever that is called because it has not taken as much time, as much whining or whatever else my routine use to be for me to get back on my feet, find my first love and give God back the pen and let Him continue writing my story. Reality is only He can write the only story that matters in my life. Only He can write the story in my life that will impact others. Only He writes the story in my life that offers hope, peace, strength and love (true love) in the midst of a world that offers me temporary fixes, chaos and disappointment.
Who's writing your story? Who has the pen?
Blessings...
swl
I've been thinking a lot about the story God wants to write in and with us again lately. I love how God uses our lives, which includes the joys and pains (pump, pump, pump pump it up... sunshine, what else? rain! sorry.. squirell!!!) to tell a story and ultimately lead others to Him. It never ceases to amaze me how God uses our story and without us even know most times, He interweaves our lives with others whom we can use our story with or they can use their story to bless ours. The creativity of this I may never understand, but I find it unbelievably awesome. Poor sentence I know, but how God does this totally wrinkles my brain. I see my youth group (whom I love dearly) and I see a number of young people who have had a difficult story with which I can connect due to the struggles of my past. Do I love dealing with hurts, seeing kids hurt and digging up my junk again? Not so much. Do I love that God can use my hurt and my junk to bring peace into young lives? Oh my word yes!!!
So about this story thing. My thought is this. How many times to we take the pen from the author? I am speaking out of a recent experience where I was in the midst of an amazing story that God was writing and yet for some reason I felt to take the pen and inject my little ideas in and see how things might go. So people gotta learn the hard way I guess. Sheesh. Yet we do this often don't we? Isn't it annoying when we show someone a picture that we've drawn, a song or poem that we've written and they take our pen or pencil and say, "Oh this is good, but..." or "Just let me change this and it would be great..." Kind of makes you want to punch them doesn't it or as we Christians say, "Lay hands on them.." I always hated in school when someone would do that to me. It's a different story if I've asked for help, but them changing my story, song, poem or art without me asking is just plain annoying. Yet again, I/we do this with God don't we?
Long story short, I did this and as anybody could have predicted I fell flat on my face. I fell hard. So again I found myself brushing off the dust, licking my wounds and asking God what just happened. Thankfully it became quickly obvious what I had done and the good part about being flat on my face was that it was a short trip as to where I needed to be before my God and the Author of my story.
I think I must be getting old or maturing or whatever that is called because it has not taken as much time, as much whining or whatever else my routine use to be for me to get back on my feet, find my first love and give God back the pen and let Him continue writing my story. Reality is only He can write the only story that matters in my life. Only He can write the story in my life that will impact others. Only He writes the story in my life that offers hope, peace, strength and love (true love) in the midst of a world that offers me temporary fixes, chaos and disappointment.
Who's writing your story? Who has the pen?
Blessings...
swl
Friday, 17 February 2012
"I can't look Daddy... I'm too scared!!!"
So this week I was given the incredible opportunity to take my son (Vaughn) to Montreal so for us to watch our first Canadiens game together. This was a great time and despite the score it was a wonderful game. Vaughn was a lot of fun and I was so blessed to have another opportunity to invest in my little man and hopefully place more nuggets of God and how a man of God is suppose to act and treat people in his life. This is truly a high calling and I am blessed to be able to have this calling in his life.
On to the point. While we watched the game Montreal was down by two goals at one point, but incredibly came back to tie the game in the third. In the last few moments of the game the intensity level was at a high and all in the stadium were on the edge of their seat. As each team skated back and forth and had many different scoring chances Vaughn would bury his head in my chest and say, "I can't look!!! I'm so scared!!!" At this point I said to him that this was not scary, but it was awesome. He continued to act this way. I put my hand on his chest and his heart was pounding so hard I could feel it pumping through his sweater very hard. So being a nomination for the "Father of the Year" award I told him that being eaten by a bear is something that is scary and a hockey game is definitely not. As I explained the difference between a legitimate thing to be afraid of and what we were watching this thought dawned on me, "How often have I done this in my walk with God?"
In life how many times have I said, "God, I can't look!!! I am too scared!!!" Simply put, what is there that I cannot face with God's help? What do I need to fear when the creator of the universe is on my side? Knowing in my head that it is not my strength that I run in and God is greater than the circumstance I am going through somehow often falls short when I don't apply it and walk it out.
So the question isn't "What am I facing today that I can't handle?" The question is "What am I facing today that God can't handle?" The answer to these two questions differs drastically and that is awesome!!! The answer to the second question opens the door to freedom, from fear and all that it wants to do to consume my mind, and take me out.
I looked at my son and said, "This is irrational" but I wonder how many times God looks at me and says, "Scottie, you know me and somehow you still live with fear. How can this be? This is irrational."
Scripture says that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but has given us a Spirit of power, of love and a sound mind." (paraphrased) "Perfect love casts out fear" and God is that perfect love. Real quick I want to think on what God HAS given us.
Spirit of Power - We have authority by God's Spirit. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is in us when we accept Him into our lives. If that isn't power and that doesn't give us authority to to walk victoriously in this life and it's struggles, then I don't I don't know what is and does. Simply put, there need not be such a thing as wimpy Christians. We are given power!!!
Spirit of Love - We just celebrated Valentine's day and I have to be honest. It was the best one I think I have had... ever. Now don't get we wrong, I was prepared to go it alone and be okay with that, but within the past two weeks God has blessed me with a gal who is simply put, amazing. As we spend time together we push each other toward Jesus and as we experience His perfect love it creates a deeper love for Him, His people and each other. If we are living in fear it is tough to love. It is tough to love the unlovable, those who we do not know, those who hurt us and those who do love us, but we are fearful of being hurt again. God says cast away that fear because I offer you a perfect love and I want you to live in that love giving that love without fear of anything.
Spirit of a Sound Mind - This is perhaps the most difficult aspect for me. It is so tough for me to shut of my always spinning, never quiet, constantly over thinking mind. As a thought pops in my head it is hard to not analyze it and pick it apart until it totally consumes my focus. As it consumes my focus it then in turn distracts my mind to an unhealthy level. If then allow it to get to this point it is likely that it affects my actions which often manifests itself in fear and doubt. But God says, "Because of the power/authority that I have given you, you can confront this lie, fear or whatever it is and command it to back off because I my desire for you is sound mind. (peace)" Don't get me wrong, peace isn't the absence of crisis, but the prescence of Jesus in your life. When crisis comes we have peace because of who Jesus is. Do we have peace or do we have fear?
So here's my challenge: Like my son was at the game, are we consumed and overwhelmed by the irrational fears in life or are we living in "power", in "love" and with a "sound mind"?
I am grateful that I/we do not serve some distant diety that says, "Work it out/hug it out/rationalize it out" but rather says, "I care and I am here." This is my peace and the way I want my life to be lead.
What say you?
On to the point. While we watched the game Montreal was down by two goals at one point, but incredibly came back to tie the game in the third. In the last few moments of the game the intensity level was at a high and all in the stadium were on the edge of their seat. As each team skated back and forth and had many different scoring chances Vaughn would bury his head in my chest and say, "I can't look!!! I'm so scared!!!" At this point I said to him that this was not scary, but it was awesome. He continued to act this way. I put my hand on his chest and his heart was pounding so hard I could feel it pumping through his sweater very hard. So being a nomination for the "Father of the Year" award I told him that being eaten by a bear is something that is scary and a hockey game is definitely not. As I explained the difference between a legitimate thing to be afraid of and what we were watching this thought dawned on me, "How often have I done this in my walk with God?"
In life how many times have I said, "God, I can't look!!! I am too scared!!!" Simply put, what is there that I cannot face with God's help? What do I need to fear when the creator of the universe is on my side? Knowing in my head that it is not my strength that I run in and God is greater than the circumstance I am going through somehow often falls short when I don't apply it and walk it out.
So the question isn't "What am I facing today that I can't handle?" The question is "What am I facing today that God can't handle?" The answer to these two questions differs drastically and that is awesome!!! The answer to the second question opens the door to freedom, from fear and all that it wants to do to consume my mind, and take me out.
I looked at my son and said, "This is irrational" but I wonder how many times God looks at me and says, "Scottie, you know me and somehow you still live with fear. How can this be? This is irrational."
Scripture says that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but has given us a Spirit of power, of love and a sound mind." (paraphrased) "Perfect love casts out fear" and God is that perfect love. Real quick I want to think on what God HAS given us.
Spirit of Power - We have authority by God's Spirit. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is in us when we accept Him into our lives. If that isn't power and that doesn't give us authority to to walk victoriously in this life and it's struggles, then I don't I don't know what is and does. Simply put, there need not be such a thing as wimpy Christians. We are given power!!!
Spirit of Love - We just celebrated Valentine's day and I have to be honest. It was the best one I think I have had... ever. Now don't get we wrong, I was prepared to go it alone and be okay with that, but within the past two weeks God has blessed me with a gal who is simply put, amazing. As we spend time together we push each other toward Jesus and as we experience His perfect love it creates a deeper love for Him, His people and each other. If we are living in fear it is tough to love. It is tough to love the unlovable, those who we do not know, those who hurt us and those who do love us, but we are fearful of being hurt again. God says cast away that fear because I offer you a perfect love and I want you to live in that love giving that love without fear of anything.
Spirit of a Sound Mind - This is perhaps the most difficult aspect for me. It is so tough for me to shut of my always spinning, never quiet, constantly over thinking mind. As a thought pops in my head it is hard to not analyze it and pick it apart until it totally consumes my focus. As it consumes my focus it then in turn distracts my mind to an unhealthy level. If then allow it to get to this point it is likely that it affects my actions which often manifests itself in fear and doubt. But God says, "Because of the power/authority that I have given you, you can confront this lie, fear or whatever it is and command it to back off because I my desire for you is sound mind. (peace)" Don't get me wrong, peace isn't the absence of crisis, but the prescence of Jesus in your life. When crisis comes we have peace because of who Jesus is. Do we have peace or do we have fear?
So here's my challenge: Like my son was at the game, are we consumed and overwhelmed by the irrational fears in life or are we living in "power", in "love" and with a "sound mind"?
I am grateful that I/we do not serve some distant diety that says, "Work it out/hug it out/rationalize it out" but rather says, "I care and I am here." This is my peace and the way I want my life to be lead.
What say you?
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Random thoughts. (Great title I know)
So apparently it's that time again. I woke up at 5:00 this morning and could not get back to sleep so instead of fighting it and getting frustrated, I quickly came to realize that this must mean it's time for another blog post. See? I can learn. To be honest, I love starting my day this way as it really helps to get my focus in the right place from the onset of my day. It's just too bad that the day has to start at such an early hour, but I am not God so I will not tell him how to do his job regarding this.
I have to say that God has definitely been speaking to me about refining my focus as of late. In our youth Sunday school class we have been talking about worship and what it is. The past two weeks we've discussed "acts" (the how) of worship and "objects" (the what) of worship and the good things that we make gods (small g) in our lives. One thing that has been impressed on my heart very strongly as of late is that "If the devil can't make you really bad, he will make you really busy." It doesn't matter what it is that we do as long as we can be distracted from what God's best for us is. That definitely applies to me in a lot of areas and it needs correction ASAP.
God has been reminding me of the process that He has. "Seek Him first and He will give us the desires of our heart". So of course I am naturally thinking, "OK God, I'm seeking you. Now where's my Lamborghini?" Not quite. As I seek God, God meets me intimately at my inner most core. As I experience His presence and goodness I fall in love with Him and His ways again. As I fall in love with Him more I want to do what He desires from me because I realize my ways are so minute to the plans that God has for me. As I walk in His ways it becomes that my desires were not really my desires, but a temporary buzz, or high or whatever.
I'm so grateful that God has brought me from a place of distrust, whining, complaining, and being very dependant on another person in a relationship to a place of trust, rejoicing, seeking and being OK with just me and what He has for me. There is a football player in the NFL name Terrell Owens and one of his funnier quotes over the years has been, "I love me some me." Now his angle with this quote was probably from a place of pride and perhaps a touch of arrogance. God has inserted this quote in my head for the purpose of me getting okay with who He has me to be and not counting my worth as who I am with. I spoke in an earlier post about the seasons in my life and in the season of solitude, God has taught me that I am OK because He says that I am ok and I need to be content with life even if that means its just me and Vaughn in it serving Jesus. This Christmas Vaughn and I spent it alone, just the two of us here in the city and only had a couple hours in passing with my mother and her husband. Beyond that we had no Christmas with my family and despite my fears of this being the most sucktastic Christmas ever, it was one of my favorites. What I feared, God made awesome. What I was dreading, God made special.
To be honest I am now in a place where "I love me some me" and who God made me and the ministry that He has called me to. I wake up in the morning and I do not pine (or whine) for what I do not have, but I try my best to say thank you for what I do have and what God has provided.
FYI, we teach our kids "please and thank you" and with God that is backwards. "Come into His house with thanksgiving and enter His courts with praise.." As we approach God let's say thank you for His blessings before we present our laundry list to Him. (side note ended)
Back on topic. It seems that as I've reached that place of contentment and God has said, "Now I can take you to the next level of my blessing" and I am pumped to see what He has in store. (We'll leave it at that)
All in all I hope this made some sense or connected on some level. The long and short is this. God is good, I am grateful and His blessings are unending as we bask in his presence. May we not be so busy that we miss out on what it is He wants to do in and through us. Let's be world changers y'all!!!
Blessings,
Scottie
I have to say that God has definitely been speaking to me about refining my focus as of late. In our youth Sunday school class we have been talking about worship and what it is. The past two weeks we've discussed "acts" (the how) of worship and "objects" (the what) of worship and the good things that we make gods (small g) in our lives. One thing that has been impressed on my heart very strongly as of late is that "If the devil can't make you really bad, he will make you really busy." It doesn't matter what it is that we do as long as we can be distracted from what God's best for us is. That definitely applies to me in a lot of areas and it needs correction ASAP.
God has been reminding me of the process that He has. "Seek Him first and He will give us the desires of our heart". So of course I am naturally thinking, "OK God, I'm seeking you. Now where's my Lamborghini?" Not quite. As I seek God, God meets me intimately at my inner most core. As I experience His presence and goodness I fall in love with Him and His ways again. As I fall in love with Him more I want to do what He desires from me because I realize my ways are so minute to the plans that God has for me. As I walk in His ways it becomes that my desires were not really my desires, but a temporary buzz, or high or whatever.
I'm so grateful that God has brought me from a place of distrust, whining, complaining, and being very dependant on another person in a relationship to a place of trust, rejoicing, seeking and being OK with just me and what He has for me. There is a football player in the NFL name Terrell Owens and one of his funnier quotes over the years has been, "I love me some me." Now his angle with this quote was probably from a place of pride and perhaps a touch of arrogance. God has inserted this quote in my head for the purpose of me getting okay with who He has me to be and not counting my worth as who I am with. I spoke in an earlier post about the seasons in my life and in the season of solitude, God has taught me that I am OK because He says that I am ok and I need to be content with life even if that means its just me and Vaughn in it serving Jesus. This Christmas Vaughn and I spent it alone, just the two of us here in the city and only had a couple hours in passing with my mother and her husband. Beyond that we had no Christmas with my family and despite my fears of this being the most sucktastic Christmas ever, it was one of my favorites. What I feared, God made awesome. What I was dreading, God made special.
To be honest I am now in a place where "I love me some me" and who God made me and the ministry that He has called me to. I wake up in the morning and I do not pine (or whine) for what I do not have, but I try my best to say thank you for what I do have and what God has provided.
FYI, we teach our kids "please and thank you" and with God that is backwards. "Come into His house with thanksgiving and enter His courts with praise.." As we approach God let's say thank you for His blessings before we present our laundry list to Him. (side note ended)
Back on topic. It seems that as I've reached that place of contentment and God has said, "Now I can take you to the next level of my blessing" and I am pumped to see what He has in store. (We'll leave it at that)
All in all I hope this made some sense or connected on some level. The long and short is this. God is good, I am grateful and His blessings are unending as we bask in his presence. May we not be so busy that we miss out on what it is He wants to do in and through us. Let's be world changers y'all!!!
Blessings,
Scottie
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