From the outside, it can seem like Christianity is working to become something that you’re not. In actuality, it’s a returning to who you were created to be. A return to the natural you. The authentic, honest you. That’s who God desires you to be… and deep down that’s who you desire to be. Return… He will take care of the rest.
Some days just being able to stay the course is something to be thankful for.
When I was younger in the Lord I worked for a science museum, it was a great job to interact with a lot of people, I loved it. I remember meeting a volunteer there who was an older man. He was possibly in his mid sixties with a well worn wrinkled face, he was lean with the mentality of a military man and the gentleness of a seasoned Christian. The staff really loved him as he was easy to deal with and accomplished a ton, especially for just a volunteer.
One day God gave me a simple prophetic word for him, seeing that he was seemingly a weathered Christian, I approached him andbegan sharing with him. He responded with words that have echoed through my life ever since. He said “I have enough trouble in my life without God. I don’t need anymore trouble.” Come to find out my friend was a son of a Baptist minister, and although he had experiences that regenerated certain facets of his personality he was far from walking with God.
31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
I was in a conversation with a good friend this evening. We’ve had an all day dialog about avoiding distractions and staying focused. But this evening seemed to crescendo when I said, ‘just like a ship leaving from a beach in North Carolina would set it’s coordinates for France and pursue that one goal until it touched ground. So too, for possibly several years of my life, I’m not going to give in to what’s going on around me, what others are saying and doing, but I’m going to believe God for what He wants to do with my life, I’m going to set my coordinates and keep going.’ As I was speaking he grinned as if God were speaking to him. He jumped right in after I spilled my heart and said, ‘And while you may be right off the coast of North Carolina your sights are so set that you even start speaking french. Some people might think you’re crazy, but you’re confident in where God is calling and faith is rising to meet the occasion.’ Amen, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done!
A baker who spends no time baking
makes just about much since
as a Christian who spends no time with Christ.
While smiling rather brightly, I can tell you that I have no idea what exactly God is doing with me. Or even where I’ll be next year.
See in recently months I’ve taken my focus off of making conclusions about where I’m going and what I’m doing, (it’s been super refreshing, I highly recommend it.) As I’ve realized that my presumptions and premature conclusions only hinder His functional Lordship in my life. And to be honest I think this is the “easy yoke” described in the scriptures (that may be debatable, but this is my blog and folks don’t like to debate me here, which is nice).
I can appreciate the world’s standard of what gossip is and isn’t. I can go to webster’s definition and totally justify much of my behavior concerning this matter. Under positive subheadings, I can talk about my friends and colleagues with “good intentions” and reckless abandon.
Or with the discernment of the Holy Spirit and the plumb line of love, I can take a look at these actions and realize that anytime I talk about someone else outside of their company, I’m sinning. Secret meetings to talk about others, blogging about others, in general- just talking about people without them being present or without directly addressing them, is sin and destroys relationships. It seems to be more like a silent and effective erosion that takes all the foundation and structure out from beneath the top layer of cordial conversation, but it doesn’t go unnoticed.
You share with a friend about another friend, and immediately you give a place for evil to slide in and instigate. Some are so intrenched in this lifestyle that behind their eyes lie large fortresses of darkness that have been erected where judgement, pride, envy, jealously and all other types of evil are housed.
You may have a pretty good definition of gossip that you justify your lifestyle with, but is it God’s?
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