Burning Bushes

Ever wonder what God wants you to do with your life? I have. I can actually say without too much exaggeration that it causes me stress sometimes, trying to figure out His will for me. That question has lead me to the Experiencing God Bible study by Henry Blackaby. And, while I can't say for certain that I know what the answer to that question is for me personally, I am understanding what the answers are for all of us in general.

One thing I am learning is that if God wants you to know something, He will make sure you know it. I worry sometimes that I will miss the big announcement. It made me start thinking about the burning bush and Moses.

In my imagination, I have always pictured the bush about the same size as a tumbleweed. Of course, I've never seen a tumbleweed either, but I've decided it's not any taller than my knees. A stompable, lean-over-and-blow-it-out kind of burning bush.

Lately though, I've been thinking it was probably a little grander than that. Not that a burning-but-not-actually-on-fire bush wouldn't catch my eye, but still. From what I've read in the Scriptures, God doesn't generally work in understatements.

I'm going to rest in the knowledge that when I avail myself to God and watch to see where He is at work, He will reveal Himself to me and invite me to be where He is. So less stressing, less manipulating, and more trust.

Jesus says "Come, follow Me" because He knows where the path is. I just need to stay close.

Mom Time Thoughts

"The Lord repays the years the locusts have eaten..." Joel 2:25

 

When I reflect back on the last eight years, I can see the promise of this scripture bearing fruit. Yesterday marked the last day of my official involvement with Mom Time, a ministry that seeks to connect women in the same season of life and provides biblical teaching to guide them in their parenting and marriages.

 

I initially came to Mom Time as the parent of an almost two year looking for friends. Both of us. I loved the funny stories the teacher told us about her family, and tuned out the Bible parts. But when she started talking about our relationships with our husbands and the need to respect them as leaders, something shifted inside. I realized I was more interested in controlling my husband and being in charge myself than in encouraging him to be the leader in our home. That was the first time I realized God might have something to say about my marriage and parenting.

 

I left Mom Time for a year and went to lead Bible studies for a season, but came back to Mom Time the following year as a member of the leadership team. The rest, as they say, is history.

 

While I am excited to move on in new directions, the past year has been a time of reflection for me as I prepared a new team to take over. I realized that you have to focus on the people you are serving.

 

Ministry is not about programs, it is about transforming the lives of the people who utilize that ministry. Seeing hearts change, eyes open, and relationships strengthen all speaks to the glory of God. He is the difference in all these situation.

 

I have loved the opportunity to speak into the lives of these moms, wherever they are in their journey, and encourage them to take the next step in faith.

 

But most of all, I am humbled by the fact that God chose to use someone like me, someone who actively went after other women's husbands in my past, to help strengthen families. I feel a little like Paul, who made a career out of targeting Christians only to be used to spread the gospel of Christ to many lands.

 

Only God could use someone so broken and misguided, someone so clueless as to what it means to be a godly woman, and transform her for service in the very arena she caused so much harm. So, it is with a very humble heart that I say all glory to God for the privilege of serving in this capacity. He has given me more than I could ever ask or imagine.

 

He will repay the years the locusts have eaten, even when we are the locust.





Higher Still

I was trolling on my blog, reading old posts when I came across this one from May of 2009. The words still apply:

Higher

Justin, being pushed on the swings: HIGHER!
Me: I will push you higher, but I need to make sure you are going straight first.
God: Same goes for you, girlie!

How many times have I asked God for more than He knows I can handle? How often do I want to get to the destination without going taking the journey to get there?

"Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones." Luke 16:10 NLT