Please read this slow and try to think about your own life.
What would I do if my right arm stopped working? I wouldn't be able to play guitar, baseball, frisbee golf, go fishing or many other things that I love doing. All of these things that I love and enjoy are possible because God has allowed me to have two working arms. I am so blessed to have the things that I have. In no case do I deserve to have what I have or be where I am.
Life can be so frustrating sometimes and can cause us to forget the things that God has done for us or stop appreciating the things we do have. Last year during my discipleship training school one of the speakers made the statement "gratitude will change your attitude." I took that and ran with it. Going on outreach to Thailand last year was amazing but there were many sacrifices that went along with it. I realised how much I had when it was taken away. Sometimes at that point its too late and we can't get back what we have lost. Thankfully I was able to come back home from Thailand and have new perspective on how much God has blessed me.
My challenge to myself and any reader is to spend a couple minutes every day and thank God for what He has done and for what He has given us. It's when I am most frustrated or just in my worst mood that this has completely changed my life.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
He restores my soul
What happens when you just run out of gas, or when you hit a wall, or you just can't do it anymore. Is it a lack of sleep, or a lack of caffeine or a lack of food? When the weight of the world is on your shoulders and you just can't do it anymore what do you do?
I got to this point this past week and was in one of the hardest spots I've been in a while. The school is going so well and I am seeing more and more of the awesome power of God in other peoples lives, but it's requiring so much more of me constantly giving of all that I have. I didn't get much rest during the weekend and started off the week physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained. This was beginning to worry me since I need to be there for the students and I didn't think that I could even make it through the week. This was where I realized that I could not do this. With all of my heart and all of my efforts I could not possibly do this on my own strength. I came to the end of myself and had nothing left to give.
This is where I realized that I was not receiving my strength from Christ. My focus went from putting Jesus first always and living from His love to putting the school and the students first and losing the intimate relationship with Jesus that I had. Getting to that point of burning out truly led me to the place of realizing how much my soul longs for the living God. These days are getting harder and harder but I know that putting Christ first in my life and seeking revelation of His love will always give me the strength and hope I need for every day.
"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake." (Psalm 23:1-3)
If you can relate at all to how I was feeling I highly recommend checking out this weeks speaker Andy Byrd. You can listen to the podcast HERE. This gave me great perspective and taught me so much. Peace and Love!
I got to this point this past week and was in one of the hardest spots I've been in a while. The school is going so well and I am seeing more and more of the awesome power of God in other peoples lives, but it's requiring so much more of me constantly giving of all that I have. I didn't get much rest during the weekend and started off the week physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained. This was beginning to worry me since I need to be there for the students and I didn't think that I could even make it through the week. This was where I realized that I could not do this. With all of my heart and all of my efforts I could not possibly do this on my own strength. I came to the end of myself and had nothing left to give.
This is where I realized that I was not receiving my strength from Christ. My focus went from putting Jesus first always and living from His love to putting the school and the students first and losing the intimate relationship with Jesus that I had. Getting to that point of burning out truly led me to the place of realizing how much my soul longs for the living God. These days are getting harder and harder but I know that putting Christ first in my life and seeking revelation of His love will always give me the strength and hope I need for every day.
"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake." (Psalm 23:1-3)
If you can relate at all to how I was feeling I highly recommend checking out this weeks speaker Andy Byrd. You can listen to the podcast HERE. This gave me great perspective and taught me so much. Peace and Love!
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