Monday, October 31, 2011

Taking a Stand

            Last night I faced a struggle that I could no longer push to the recesses of my mind. I could sense God calling me; beckoning in such a way that could not be ignored. Conviction in my heart was stirred and I am now striving to attain what I've been entitled to do. I previously asked God what He required me to do so I could grow and root myself still deeper in Him. God knows of my weaknesses and comfort zone limitations and He has asked me to extend my limits to the breaking point.
            Today at school I knew unerringly what God wanted me to do...He reminded me that “If you deny me in front of your friends, I will deny you in front of my Father.” Matthew 10:33. Praying in front of anyone that I know won’t understand is an existent struggle that I have yet to accomplish. Today I heard God’s voice calling and asking, “Is you’re comfort more vital than I am?” I promised Him that I would not eat my lunch at school if I couldn’t pray and show gratitude to the Lord for the food He so graciously provided for me.
            Sad to say, I went without eating lunch today. I sat there with my mind off in the distance thinking of what a cowardly Christian I am and how much more I need to focus my ENTIRE being on Christ. I opened the Fountainview Academy devotional and today’s quote was from Help in Daily Living pg 26, “We are to live, not to guard our feelings or reputation, but to save souls.” God is speaking directly to me and I need not to harden my heart, but to break out of this warm little bubble I’ve surrounded myself in and proclaim His name. God obviously has a lot of work to do in my heart...but I am willing. I will still not eat lunch until I have overcome my fear of the criticism others may throw at me. He is working, now it’s my job to respond with an eager heart.  

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Innocence of a Child

“Unless people are as trusting as these little children, they cannot possibly have part in God’s kingdom.” Mark 10:15 ClearWord

            School was always an occasion of excitement, chaos, and learning. Running around, participating in class, then partaking in an assortment of games during recess were some of the reasons I loved going to school. However, I remember one particular day when my class had the opportunity to enjoy show and tell. Being in grade 1, the teacher had requested each of us to bring in something we cherished to class and illustrate it to the other students. There was no doubt in my mind what I loved and wanted to share.
            Being called up to the front of the room, I didn’t have the jitters or even second thoughts on what I was about to say. I didn’t care what people would think of me or my favourite thing. I was going to share with the class what I loved and that’s all there was to it.
            “For show and tell I brought my favourite thing; my Bible. I love my Bible and I read it every night.” I exclaimed as I held up my pink precious moments Bible for the entire class to see.
            Today, I am apprehensive when it comes to sharing my faith and why I do or don’t do certain things because of my religion and beliefs. I have second thoughts when I’m about to share Christ with someone who won’t accept, and I tend to care what people think of me and my desire to serve God. However, God is stirring conviction in my heart and reminding me that I should be as innocent as a little child. Whenever I think of this story of my past...it is reminiscent to me in that I should act the same way I did then, as I do now. God wants us to act like children in faith because of their innocence and because they don’t analyse things over and over in their mind to come up with the least painful outcome. I am working with God right now and praying for courage, faith, trust, and boldness like that of a child. I want to be able to proclaim His name wherever and whenever needed.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

"I AM"

               Say you’ve been dreaming to go somewhere your whole life...or maybe just for a long time. You know it would be a great place for you to advance your relationship with God. You know you would be a blessing there. You know you would meet many new Christian friends, and in turn, have a great life. This place is all you’ve been thinking about. People want you to go there and are praying earnestly for there to be a way. You pray as well, “Oh Lord, IF ONLY there was a way. You can do it Lord, I know you can. You could also work it out in the future. You could have allowed it to happen last year as well. Lord, I want to go there. It would be best for me. Lord, do your will...but please allow me to go.” Reading this prayer we think to ourselves...man this person is selfish. I would never pray like that. I wouldn’t tell God what to do because I totally trust in His ways.
               Truth be told, we all have prayed like this at one point in our lives and MOST are still praying this way today. Our prayers point out the obvious: God is a God of the past. He was with Abraham, Moses, and David. He has worked in people’s lives before. We know God will work in the future. We know He has big plans for us, and that he will bring His people home at judgement time; however, we fail to remember that God is a God of the present. We neglect to see that God is working right now, that He is the “I AM”. He is working something magnificent in your life right this very second. He knows you want to go certain places, do certain things, serve certain people...He is the glorified Clock Maker. God is running your life so precise, that when the time is ready...when YOU are ready, it will fall exactly and perfectly into place.
               The “I AM” is showing you things such as patience, trust, faithfulness, and humility so that you will be even more ready to share the gospel and be a blessing to those that surround you. Serve Him one day at a time and don’t worry about tomorrow or the day’s that follow, for worrying will do nothing and go nowhere. Pray that He will shine through you and that He can remind you that He is the “I AM”. Remind yourself that He did not only work things out in the past, that He will not only help in the future, but that He is working right now.