Pondering Life - Where do I belong?

Everyone wants to feel like : we belong to a group, we are a member of a team, or we are a part of a family. We want to feel "important" to someone. This is what makes us tick as human beings, this is what drives us as a species to fill the void and seek to answer the dreaded question "Where do I belong?".

I have heard people say that we should not seek man's approval, or desire to fit in, but instead we should seek only God's approval and love. I agree, we should not seek man's approval, and God's purpose should be very important to us, but God has created us with the insatiable desire to "fit in" somewhere. Finding "where" we belong is the God given driving force inside us to venture outside of our comfort zone to join a group, church, workplace, or simply to make a new friend. It is a force that can affect how we feel about ourselves, leaving us feeling fulfilled or lonely. If there is no place for us in a group we are not going to stay connected or committed to it.

This is why people seek to become part of a church. It is imperative that churches learn how to help people feel like they "belong" to the group. Whether it is in the position of church attender, volunteer worker, or staff member, we need to feel like we are a part of the "team" or a "family" member. If the american church does not learn how to do this it will soon be empty. People will seek out a group of friends that will make them feel important and loved. I hope the church wakes up to this realization and implements the idea of belonging before we completely lose the next generation.

When I walk into a church service and no one bothers to say hello to me or even smile at me, I feel like I should not bother to even come back again, no one seems to care or noticed that I was there in the first place. This has happened to me time and time again in churches that I have attended for many years at a time. Frankly I am tired of it, I know other people feel the same way I do.

Some successful businesses seem to have this concept of group down. They try to make the workplace have a "team" or "family" atmosphere. They know that if a person feels important they are much more apt to do a better job and be more committed and loyal to the workplace. It is just a part of how we are wired as humans, how the Great Creator wired us to be.

This is what I am looking for - a "team" to belong to, a "family" that treats me as an important member who is valued. I belong to God, and yes, I have found all of my purpose, importance, and value in God, but I still have an inbred desire to "feel like I belong" to His people.

Maybe you feel the same way I do, don't give up, don't stop looking. You will find that place where you belong too. God has a purpose and a place for you in this world, I promise you.

Pondering Life - Stand Firm

"Whatever Satan can do to chase you from what God has called you to, he will do. Do not let fear, finances or anything stop you from what God has called you to do. Stand firm, because if he can chase you with it once, he will always chase you with it, and you will never get free of that thing until you look it in the eye and defy it.” - David Hogan, missionary to Mexico.

So if finances can stop you once, then that is an area that Satan will always use to try to stop you. Get a hold of what God has called you to, and press through every obstacle. Do not let your circumstances order your steps, let God. And then stand in faith, and God will come through.

Pondering - The Bride of Christ

Pondering Life - The “Bride of Christ”

What does it really mean to be the “Bride of Christ"? If you have ever been to church, you have heard this phrase thrown around like it was a household name. What does this really mean anyway, and how does it affect me in my personal life?

I watched a movie today, Good Will Hunting. It has a lot of strong language in it, and some crude sexual jokes, but the story line is near and dear to my heart. The gist of the film is about a kid who is in trouble and is heading down the wrong path in life. Will needs to find himself, who he really is, what his passion is, and what path he is going to choose.

He sees a psychiatrist, court ordered, who ends up sharing with him that one thing in his whole life was worth living for. All of the heartache, all of his sacrifices, all of his missing out on fun times with his friends, all of it was worth it for this one thing - spending the time he did with his late wife.

He talked about how when you find someone worth loving you should love so deeply and take the risk to become vulnerable that you expose all of your imperfections to each other, intimately knowing every little thing about each other. He talked about how she moved him, and how he was inspired and challenged by her. He talked about waking up next to her feeling complete and completely and truly happy. He talked about how he missed the little imperfect things about her. It was not the big things in her life, but the little stuff about her that he loved and missed the most.

Then it hit me, she was his bride, and he loved her with all of his being. She was worth it all to him, all of the hard times, the heartache, the risks he ever took, everything he ever went through in life did not compare to the way he loved her.

This is the way God loves us, His Bride.

He longs to commune with us in every way, intimately knowing every little thing about us, all of our imperfections. He loves us so deeply, He longs for us to be moved by Him, and inspired and challenged by Him. He longs for us to wake up beside him and feel completely and truly happy, feeling at one with Him, feeling His peace. He longs to comfort us with his breath, so near to us, knowing that He is right there with us at all times. He loves us so completely, He wants us to be so in love with Him, and completely satisfied in His arms that we will do anything He asks of us knowing that His love is there to guide us.

This is what it truly means to be the “Bride of Christ” - that we surrender to God the father so completely that our life is driven and purposed by His love. Our being is so deeply intertwined with Jesus Christ, His son that we live and move as one with Him. We can feel the Breath of His Holy Spirit on our necks so close to us that we know His peace deep within our souls. This is how being the “Bride of Christ” affects me in my personal life.

Pondering Life - Finding Our Way Through the “Dark”

We all have to find our way through the “dark”, the “dark” being this world.

It is dark because man chose separation from God at the fall of mankind in the beginning of time. Jesus is the light, the only true light. There are many false lights, little lights, or light wannabe’s. When we surrender out lives to the true Light, Jesus, then some of the darkness in our lives is abolished as light destroys and replaces darkness, but we still have to navigate the light through the remaining darkness in the world. Only at the end of time will there be no more darkness.

Therefore even as dedicated, mature Christians following the Lord, we have to find our way through the “dark”. It is much clearer, the path of light, if we are open to the Lord and follow His light, but sometimes we have to seek and discern which direction His light is leading us. This is a natural response to following the lighted path in this dark world. This is what we have been commanded to do – seek and you shall find, ask and you shall receive, knock and the door will be opened to you.

Following the lighted path is not automatic and it is not always cut and dry and clear. Sometimes it is even challenging or difficult. It requires persistence, determination, patience and resolve. Persistence and determination to keep seeking, asking and knocking. Patience and resolve to stand firm and believe what the Lord and His word has spoken to you.

This is the sum of our daily walk as a “follower of Jesus”, a disciple, a true Christian.

Pondering Life - 2 Questions

2 Questions:
Missions. I love how your passion for it leads people straight to the Lord. But Can I ask you two things? how did you know exactly what you are called you to do and how Did you know when your husband was the one for you?

My answer:

First of all, God calls us to serve Him, that means the details of what we are doing change a lot because He is alive and new every day. So finding out what you are “called” to can be a seasonal thing. That is called to one thing now, and another thing next year. We are all “called” to serve God fully with all of our hearts all of the time. This is our true calling, and in this calling of relationship with God He directs our paths for us to do what is completely and wholly fulfilling to us – that is fulfilling the “call of God” on our lives. God puts passions in our hearts as to what our callings are. Not just what moves your heart, but what you really feel a passion for. A lot of things move us, because we are emotional beings, but certain things really, really speak to us, and we get on fire about certain things when we are exposed to them or think about them.

I knew I was called to missions because of the overwhelming emotions and desires I have when confronted with people or stories of people from other cultures. It burns in me to the point where I cannot control my emotions at all. I have an intense desire to travel to other countries and help them come to know Christ better. Even though the modern day church teaches that we are not to be run by our emotions, God can definitely speak to us through these emotions, after all, He created us this way.

As far as finding your calling, just pray and ask God to lead you, and always be open to his leading. It may seem He is saying to do one thing, or go to one place, and then when you get there He may lead you to another. This does not mean you have missed God, it just means that you are actively following Him. He doesn’t typically tell us things too far in advance. This helps to keep us seeking Him and more willing to trust Him on a daily basis. Let Him open the doors of opportunity for you, He will bring His will to pass in your life, you just have to keep following His cues to take the right path He is leading you down.

As far as how I knew my husband was the one for me there are several basic principles that I use to make all of the major decisions in my life to make sure that they are God lead. God always confirms His word and will to us, usually at least 3 different times. If you don’t have any confirmations, I would really question the decision.

God confirms things through:
1. PEACE - God is the author of PEACE! Never confusion. If you have peace about a situation you are within the Lords reign, if you have any confusion about it at all, run from it, it is not of God. (I thought about what my life would be like in the future with my husband and without, and I had no peace without him in my life.)
2. Parents and spiritual authority above us (my mom loved him, and his parents loved me)
3. Prophetic words and revelations and dreams and visions. (I actually had gotten a prophetic word describing his physical appearance to the tee!)
4. Godly counsel and wisdom from friends (people who knew us well said we were a good couple) 5. Circumstances – physical doors opening and shutting, things happening in our lives. (our vision and callings were the same – missions and evangelism/discipleship).

I hope this helps, just keep seeking God, and learn to walk in patience and love. God is never in a rush, He does things on His own perfect timing. We have waited for 20 years to finally launch out onto the mission field. I wish it could have been sooner, but I am glad that we have been in God’s timing, because now I know that it really is God and not just my idea. Follow Him, and He will bless you!

Pondering Life - Are we too comfortable?

Are we too comfortable? Written by Bill Robinson

What if God asked us to be weird? What if He asked us to be “flaky”? Would we? I mean, we attend “contemporary” churches that seem to have “matured” beyond the quirky chorus singing, charismatic two-step dancing ways of the early Charismatic/Pentecostal church. We have become normal, “seeker friendly” churches where the unsaved can feel comfortable until they decide whether or not they want the salvation that Jesus has to offer. I guess this is a good thing – or is it?

Are we not supposed to be different? I mean, if our church is so comfortable to the unsaved, why should they feel the need to change? I understand the need to draw people in so that they can hear the good news, but shouldn’t people know that we are different from the rock concerts they attend to get a good feeling? Are only the lyrics to be different?

I am reminded of some prophets in the Old Testament whom God told to do some pretty weird things to get people’s attention. I wonder if God told us to do those weird things, would we? In one of the many churches I have attended recently, I was told about someone who wanted to worship God by waving banners (in the back of the church so as not to distract others). Now in my understanding, waving banners is a form of worship mentioned in the Bible; however, she was told to stop. The reason was not given but she was told, “This will not happen in MY church”. I guess it wasn’t fashionable. Have we become so fashionable or trendy that we will limit true worship? Are we not allowed to dance before the Lord anymore either?

I have studied church history a little and have noticed some trends. Almost every major denomination has had the fire of God present at one time in their services. But we humans have a tendency to not be comfortable in the power or presence of God (where His presence is, His power is also).

Exodus 20: 18-21 – When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

The tendency throughout church history has been to schedule and structure God right out of our services. Oh, it’s OK to allow Him a little time to feel His presence so we still know He is around, but those weird things make us uncomfortable. The gifts tend to be removed because they make “seekers” – or us – uncomfortable. Will the Charismatics/Pentecostals eventually drop the use of the gifts in church services because they make us uncomfortable? Are we too comfortable?

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) – But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.

We are a:
1. Chosen people – PICKED by God to be different
2. Royal priesthood – POSITIONED by God to be different
3. Holy nation – PARTITIONED by God to be different
4. People belonging to God – POSSESSED by God to be different
…so that we may declare the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His wonderful light

Dare we to be different?

Sometimes I wonder…

Pondering Life - Are you allowing distractions in your life?

When what you are doing does not further you in the will of the Lord, it is a distraction.

When you are not operating in a mindset that is within the Lord's will, you are being distracted from the Lord's will for your life. If you are experiencing stress, fear, frustration, anger, or some other emotion that is not of God, you are allowing Satan to distract you from focusing on and growing in God's will.

Focus on God, and His will for your life. Do not let Satan distract you from accomplishing God's plan and purpose in your life.

When you find yourself overwhelmed, just stop and breathe, and realize this is not what God has for you, this is from your enemy. Rebuke it, focus on God and His plan for you, and move forward towards your destiny!

This is what the Lord spoke to me the other day as I came out of our "junk room" feeling panicky, stressed, and overwhelmed at the prospect of going through it all and getting rid of it all because we are moving in 5 1/2 months to a place that I will not be able take it with me to. (Thank God!)

I realized as the Lord brought to my attention that I was at that very moment giving in to the enemy's game of trying to control my life with stress and negative emotions.

Panicky feelings and stress are not part of God's plan for my life, or anyone else's! I realized that I was being distracted by Satan and his emotional games, and it was stopping me from going forward in my life with the plan that the Lord has spoken to me.

I now choose to refuse to bow to the enemy, and instead I choose God's will, to go forward with His plan for my life. I challenge you to examine your emotions and make some life changing choices in your own life! My prayers are with you!

Pondering Life - Unanswered prayer

Pondering life, what about unanswered prayer?

How does this fit in to the plan of following God and allowing Him to work in our lives?

One more famous American "pat" answer is "God always answers prayer!"

Does He?

I have heard people say that He always answers, either with a yes or a no. I do not know about that.

Is it His obligation to keep us happy by giving us what we pray for all the time?

When I was first saved 23 years ago I used to tell people that I witnessed to on the streets that if they come to Jesus their lives would work out for the better, and that their prayers would be answered. I was wrong! Yes our lives do work out for the better, but only after we submit our life and will to Jesus, and surrender to Him by giving Him complete control. God always hears our prayers, He doesn't always answer them. Sometimes He is silent. If you are a young Christian and have never experienced this than just wait a little while, you will. God never ignores us or forgets about us, but sometimes He is just silent for a little while. We have to be patient, and continue to seek Him through the silence.

After all, are we just serving Him because of what we are getting out of the relationship? Or because He is the almighty God who is worthy to be praised and served?

This is when we come to the point where we serve the Lord because it is the right thing to do, not because we feel right doing it, although most of the time we do feel right doing it. I believe God always hears our prayers. Proverbs 15:29 says "The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous." Sometimes He does not answer us right away because He wants us to continue to seek Him about it. He wants us to be pro-active in our faith, and in our Christian walk so that it becomes our pleasure to spend time with Him in prayer rather than just our duty. The more time we spend in prayer, talking with the Lord, the more we will get to know Him and what His will is for us rather than just what we want.

1 John 5:14, and 15 says "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."

God is faithful, and God is just; God is merciful, and God is good. He is good all of the time, even though we might experience some bad things some of the time.

What are you reasons for serving the Lord?

Pondering Life - meaning and purpose

Pondering life, the meaning and purpose of it.

I wonder, I have been thinking about how here in America we just say "God bless you", and "Just have faith, God will work it out".

But how do you say these things to children whose parents are digging in someone elses trash bin just to give them a little food to eat?

Or what about the Mom who just lost her baby, or just found out that her young child has cancer?

It is easy for me to say these things to my friends here in America who may just be having a little financial trouble, but they still have a roof over their heads, and a car to drive.

How do you impart taking a leap of faith and trusting in God completely to people who are having much larger hardships than you, yourself have ever had?

What do you say to people who are faced with circumstances that do not look like God's provision?

How do you encourage them to keep trusting in God?

Because He will work it out? Or because He is God.

These are the things with which I am being challenged.

Here in America we are so used to giving each other pat answers, and usually in the end things tend to work out for us. But I am becoming aware of people who live in much worse conditions than I have ever lived in and I am wanting to convey to them that if they just trust in the Lord that things will work out for them.

What does that mean exactly?

I believe that each of us has our own personal definition of what it means to have things work out for us. To one it might mean one more day alive, one more meal found to eat, to another it might mean a higher paying job, or going on a nicer vacation this year than we went on last year.

My challenge to you is to find out what your definition of "having things work out" is, and check it against reality.

Do you have an inflated definition? One according to how you want your life to be? Or one based on God's provision?

What does it really mean to say to someone "Don't worry, just put your trust in God, and things will work out!"?