Thursday, April 26, 2012

What Are You Going To Do Today?

Today I'm headed off to Elementary School.  Subbing in a Kindergarten class.  I have to get my teaching on!  As much as I want to get my message polished up and my set list together for worship, I know for the next 8 hours I need to be a Jesus follower at Margaret Brent Elementary School.  What are you going to do today?  Are you bringing your "A" game today?  You never know what impact you can make for the kingdom if you set your mind and affections on God.  

Subbing today.  Sure.  Jesus follower? Yes.  Wanting to make an impact for Christ in all that I do? Absolutely!!!


Thursday, April 12, 2012

I spent some time today reminiscing (that's what I do when I do yard work) over the past few months.  They have been months of hope and promise until I got news yesterday that something I have been praying and fasting for is not going to happen now.  Talk about a punch in the gut.  The best way to describe how I feel is that I'm down on the ground trying to breathe but can't.  I'm gasping for air but none comes.  I've had this happen in reality a few times in my life and you want your world to end right then and there!  In this case it's called "death of a vision."  It came out of nowhere. But the same news that can send you into depression is something that can be your finest hour, if you will reach your hand up to God and ask him to help you back up.

Missy and I have been on this roller coaster ride ever since August of 2010.  We have fasted, prayed, and listened and walked out in obedience what we felt God was speaking to us.  Patience,  patience is the name of the game.  If God gave you what you asked for at the wrong time it wouldn't be His best.

What happens when you are on the ground, out of breath, and struggling for air?  A tiny bit of breath comes back.  Slowly you get back to a normal breathing rhythm and life starts to look better.  Most of us want the easy way out.  We want the shot of adrenaline that propels us upward into the stratosphere.  But, if you are like me, I'm still lying on the ground.  Waiting to get my breath back and believing that God will lift me up.  It takes longer than I think, longer than my wife thinks but God is reaching down, and he is sending words of comfort.  Words of encouragement.

Finally I turned the mower off and all this was going through my head my thoughts turned toward my Savior.  How this past week 2000 years ago, he was flogged, tortured, ridiculed, and even died.  And all this he did because of you and me.  Good Friday was terrible and bloody, and Saturday must have been a long day for those who loved him and missed Him, but Sunday came bringing life once again!  That same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in You and it will quicken our mortal body, if that Spirit dwells in you.

Thank you God that your Spirit dwells in those who believe in You.  God loves you and wants to breathe life into you today!

-Andy