Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed with the task of sharing my faith with people. I want to, because I want people to know what an awesome difference God has made in my life, and I want them to come to know this God too. But, it's such a huge topic, and I never know where to begin, how to explain it, what to tell. I try to come up with proof for the Bible, evidence for the life of Jesus, answers to all the big questions. It's so daunting, seems impossible to explain, and I really don't understand it all well enough myself.
As I sort of soaked in the concept of the "fruit of the spirit" from my last blog, I began to get this reassuring feeling that God wants us to share Him with people exactly this way....by letting his spirit come into your life, change you, produce good fruit, and then just give Him the credit for it. The Lord wants to be glorified for all the great things He does in your life so that people will take notice of Him, become interested in his true saving power and then turn to Him themselves. This is how we share the gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, the real message of the redeeming work that God is still doing everyday. ,
"I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every brach of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so that they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. " John 15:1-4 "When you produce much fruit, you are truly my disciples. tis brings much glory to my Father." John 15:7
These teaching about the fruit of the spirit and the vine and the branches might very well be my most favorite that I have learned. It seems to me that this is what God is all about. He is in the business of saving people. He wants to come into your life, move into your heart, prune you and purify you, change you, improve you, make you better, more whole. Then he wants you to just remain in Him, rely on him to be your source of true life, and then just give him the credit for all the amazing and miraculous things He has done in your life so that other will take notice and turn to him also. It's so beautiful, so perfect, so awesome, so overwhelming and glorious.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
The Best Compliment I Have Ever Recieved
Mark and I went out for dinner last night. Over a delicious meal and a nice conversation, he gave me the best compliment I have ever received. He said "You are extraordinary at life!"
He continued on to explain that he thought most people look back on their life and wish that they did things differently. He guessed that most people wish they focused more time and attention on their family, on time spent with their friends, on their spiritual journey, on eating healthy and taking care of their bodies and on giving back to society. He told me that he was impressed by my priorities, my motivation and the way I lived my life focused on these things.
I was flattered, speechless and proud. But I couldn't really take all the credit.
As I began to talk about this more with Mark and reflect on my life, I realized that I have always tried to live my life this way. I have always had a pretty clear idea of what it takes to live life the "right way." But, honestly, up until the last couple of years, although I was close to doing it right, I could never really get it all together at the same time. I would be really good at this part for awhile, then really good at that part for awhile, but I fell tragically short of doing it all right at the same time.
Until I added God into the equation...AND PUT HIM FIRST. Once my faith matured a little and I truly handed my heart and life over to God, everything else seemed to fall into the right place. It was as if He truly completed me, made me whole, filled up all the empty places in my life and made the puzzle fit nicely together.
When I am right with God, when I am focused on Him, in communion with Him, when I am submitting to Him, when I am putting Him in control of my life, when I am truly trusting Him, when I am spending regular time in his word and seeking Him in every moment...life just works better. And when that is all true in my relationship with Him, I seem to have the blissful and sure feeling that this is what life is all about, that this is how it's supposed to be, that I am getting it right. And really, I can't take credit for all the goodness, because it's the God part of the whole thing that makes it work just right.
"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23
He continued on to explain that he thought most people look back on their life and wish that they did things differently. He guessed that most people wish they focused more time and attention on their family, on time spent with their friends, on their spiritual journey, on eating healthy and taking care of their bodies and on giving back to society. He told me that he was impressed by my priorities, my motivation and the way I lived my life focused on these things.
I was flattered, speechless and proud. But I couldn't really take all the credit.
As I began to talk about this more with Mark and reflect on my life, I realized that I have always tried to live my life this way. I have always had a pretty clear idea of what it takes to live life the "right way." But, honestly, up until the last couple of years, although I was close to doing it right, I could never really get it all together at the same time. I would be really good at this part for awhile, then really good at that part for awhile, but I fell tragically short of doing it all right at the same time.
Until I added God into the equation...AND PUT HIM FIRST. Once my faith matured a little and I truly handed my heart and life over to God, everything else seemed to fall into the right place. It was as if He truly completed me, made me whole, filled up all the empty places in my life and made the puzzle fit nicely together.
When I am right with God, when I am focused on Him, in communion with Him, when I am submitting to Him, when I am putting Him in control of my life, when I am truly trusting Him, when I am spending regular time in his word and seeking Him in every moment...life just works better. And when that is all true in my relationship with Him, I seem to have the blissful and sure feeling that this is what life is all about, that this is how it's supposed to be, that I am getting it right. And really, I can't take credit for all the goodness, because it's the God part of the whole thing that makes it work just right.
"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23
Monday, December 24, 2007
Save Me My Savior
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for coming to this earth in Jesus Christ. Thank you for becoming flesh and blood that we could see and touch and hear and interact with. Thank you for coming to save us, for showing us the way to true freedom, to peace and everlasting life. Thank for you coming into my life a couple of years ago. Thank you for still being that Savior that accepts me, forgives me, guides me, teaches me and loves me. Thank you for who you are to me and to this world still in so much pain. Lord, I pray that you will continue to reveal your truth to me, that you will continue to work within me, changing my heart, making my faith for you stronger, my commitment to you deeper, my love for you more and more. I pray that I will be open to your leading in my life, that I will act according to your plan and purpose, that I will allow you to work in and through me. I pray that you will make me a strong leader in my home for my family and a shining example for everyone in my life. God I surrender my heart to you. I give you my life so that I might live for you. Please forgive me for the ways that I am still so doubtful, for the ways that I allow my selfish desires to control the way I act and speak. Please continue to save me, my Savior. I need you. I love you.
In Christ's Name I pray,
Amen
Thank you for coming to this earth in Jesus Christ. Thank you for becoming flesh and blood that we could see and touch and hear and interact with. Thank you for coming to save us, for showing us the way to true freedom, to peace and everlasting life. Thank for you coming into my life a couple of years ago. Thank you for still being that Savior that accepts me, forgives me, guides me, teaches me and loves me. Thank you for who you are to me and to this world still in so much pain. Lord, I pray that you will continue to reveal your truth to me, that you will continue to work within me, changing my heart, making my faith for you stronger, my commitment to you deeper, my love for you more and more. I pray that I will be open to your leading in my life, that I will act according to your plan and purpose, that I will allow you to work in and through me. I pray that you will make me a strong leader in my home for my family and a shining example for everyone in my life. God I surrender my heart to you. I give you my life so that I might live for you. Please forgive me for the ways that I am still so doubtful, for the ways that I allow my selfish desires to control the way I act and speak. Please continue to save me, my Savior. I need you. I love you.
In Christ's Name I pray,
Amen
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