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Psalms 143:8 NLT “Let me hear of Your unfailing love in the morning, for I am trusting in You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You.”

I started out my morning very early. I had not intended to get up that early. In fact, I had told my husband the day before that I was going to sleep in because I did not have to take my son to school before I went to work. That was my plan. It was not God’s plan for my day.

Instead, I was awake by 3am and in the prayer room at church before 5am.  Why? Because I desired to hear from God. Because I needed to leave the distractions at home and get away to a place where I could hear solely from God.  I am not bragging. I would never wake up this early on my own. But when God wants to speak to me, I’ve learned to wake up and take note.

The writer of Psalms knew the importance of meeting with God in the morning. He understood that when we meet with God first thing in the morning, we invite Him to take control of our whole day. He has control of it anyway, but when we surrender to that knowledge instead of fighting against it, things happen. Things begin to click in our lives. We realize that things  are falling into place, into Him, instead of falling apart. Life becomes less like giving the cat a bath and more like soaking in a bubble bath of God’s presence and power and love.

God is for us and He has amazing things for us to do today. Wake up and walk in His way!

New. That’s the word I’m getting as I sit and focus on God this morning. Granted, it’s a little later than normal because it’s Saturday and I slept in this morning, but it’s still morning. For another 35 minutes….

There’s something about new things, isn’t there? New clothes that you put on and wear into public for the first time. Oh, the joys of hearing someone compliment you on your new outfit. Before you know it, it’s just another “old thing” hanging in the back of your closet (or laying on the floor of your closet).

A new car. I remember when I first got Oliver (my car). It was exciting to drive him. He was the car of my dreams. I relished in the compliments. I secretly smiled every time someone stared at him (secretly because I didn’t want to appear prideful). I kept him spotless. I told my teenage boys, “There shall be no eating or drinking in Oliver.” He’s still new, but not NEW and sometimes i forego a wash or leave a cup in the cup holder or don’t vacuum up the crumbs right away.

A new job. The thrill of adventure as you embark on a new chapter in your life. It’s exhilarating. It’s fun to get up and go to work every morning. You have big plans to take over the company. And then, it’s not new anymore. Something happens that bursts your bubble and it becomes a tired old 9-5 again. Sundays come around and you begin dreading Monday morning, draining the last bit of joy out of your weekend.

New is fun. New is exciting. When something is new, we are on top of the world. As I sit here and write, I see how that happens in our walk with God as well. I remember when my walk with God was new and fresh. I remember the big plans I had to meet with Him every morning to pray and read my Bible. I remember my thoughts about Him were without ceasing. I remember how I surrendered every single ounce of my being to Him and thought that I could take on the world for the sake of Christ. I was like the writer of Psalms who said, “For by You I can run against a troop. By my God I can leap over a wall.” That was me when my walk with God was new. And I venture to guess that was you, too.

But the newness wears off. Life gets busy and we begin to cut corners. We begin to put things off or on the back burner…just for a moment. Moments become days and suddenly, those new clothes, that new car, that new job, that new life in Christ loses its luster.

But there is hope. At least for your walk with God. I can’t do much about your clothes, your car, or your job, but I can tell you that the Bible says that “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” God is a Creator. He can take nothing and make it into something new and beautiful, again or for the very first time.

Choose to be made new today. Go searching for your first love again. Surrender everything to God all over again. Reclaim your newness of life in Christ! And let your newness shine forth like a light in the darkness!

“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders,

Let me walk upon the waters,

Wherever You will call me.

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander,

And my faith will be made stronger,

In the Presence of my Savior”

– Oceans, Hillsong

 

Those are the words I sand tonight in the worship service. A great worship service. A worship service that started before it was even time to start church. “Oceans” was the last song we sang. I had prayed. I had worshiped. I had told God that I would do anything. And then “Oceans” played and I sang the words and God said, “Do you really mean it? You’re singing about going where you have to trust Me completely. You’re asking to walk upon waters that you would never walk without Me calling you there. You’re asking me to make your faith stronger. Do you mean it?”

“Of course, God. Of course I mean it.” I said.

He went on. “What if the place I call you to is a cancer ward? Would you go there? Would you tell them about Me? Would you take My Hope to them? For Me? Are you really ready to go where your trust is without borders and walk upon the waters where I call you? Are you really ready to go deeper than you would ever dare to go if I hadn’t called you? Are you ready for Me to make your faith stronger?”

“I’m ready.” I replied.

And in case there was any doubt about what He had just said to me, He confirms it with a scripture I had read on the way to church. Ok, God. I get it. You sealed the deal.

I really am ready. I want to go where God leads me. I want to say what He wants me to say. I want to do what He has planned for me to do. Why? Because His plans for me are very good. Because I know that ALL things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. I don’t know what His purpose is. I don’t know if tonight was literal, or a test as the one Abraham was faced with when God asked him to give Isaac. But I know that whatever His purpose, my trust in Him has no borders.

I leave you with this, my declaration of exuberant faith.

Psalm 27 (NLT)

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
 When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident.

 The one thing I ask of the Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
 Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the Lord with music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m tired. Not tired in the physical sense. Not tired as in, I just can’t physically go another step. Not tired as in, I’ve had a hard day and I need a nap. But spiritually tired. Emotionally tired. I’m tired of doing church like normal. I’m tired of going to church and leaving the same way. I’m so tired of it that going to “church as normal” gets harder and harder to do every single week. I’m so tired of it, that preparing for youth service or worship service of “church as normal” gets harder and harder to do every week. I’m discontent. I know the Bible has a lot to say about contentment, but I think that contentment is the spirit that got us into this mess in the first place. Every week we are satisfied to come to church as normal. Sing three songs; verse 1, chorus, verse 2, chorus, bridge, chorus; verse 1, chorus, verse 2, chorus, bridge, chorus; etc. Every once in a while we might mix it up and sing the chorus and then verse 1. Listen to the preacher talk about something. Sing a song for altar call. Go home. Just. Like. Normal. Who in the world said it was ok to be satisfied with that???

I am so tired of it that I cannot go to another service without experiencing God. I am so tired of it that I cannot “do” another youth service without God moving. I am so tired of it that I cannot go another day, not even another minute, without an encounter with God. I want more. I NEED more. I need to see Him more. I need to hear Him more. I need to know Him more.

And I wonder how in the world we can sing songs like “Holy Spirit, You Are Welcome Here” and act the way we do. Is He really welcome? Do we really want Him to break into our “church as normal” and do what He wants to do? Because that might be inconvenient. It might be painful. It might take a while. Do we really want that? I do.

I want to be overcome by His presence. My soul longs for it like my lungs long for oxygen. I want to breathe Him in. To be completely loved and overtaken. I will not be satisfied with anything less. I will not settle for “church as normal” anymore.

Balance. How many times have I heard that word since I began working in youth ministry? Let’s just say that I hear it A LOT. But there is so much work to be done. Who has time to pursue balance? How can I go after balance when there is so much to do in ministry? I don’t have time for a social life!

Jesus did. And His ministry calendar was much more intense than mine! In John 2:1-2 we read of Him taking time out to attend a wedding. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, took time out to go watch someone get married? He sure did! His ministry was just getting off the ground at this time. He had a million things to do. Yet, in the midst of saving the world, He took time out for a social life. He took time out to just be with people. Why? Because He understood something. He understood that without people, there was no ministry.

Later on in this chapter, we read that Jesus performed His first miracle here at the wedding in Cana. He turned the water into wine. He didn’t go to the wedding for that purpose. We know that Mary, His mother compelled Him to do something when the wine ran out. Had Jesus not taken time out of work to pursue balance, He would not have been present to do the miracle. If we don’t take time out to pursue balance, we won’t be able to minister to people.

We should take Jesus where people are. Our ministry is not just in the church. It’s not only on the platform, preaching the Word or leading worship. Our ministry is not just in our Sunday school classroom. Our ministry is where people are. Take time out to go to a ballgame. Go ahead and sign up to go on the outing with a group of friends. Go to lunch with a co-worker. Take your kids to the amusement park. Leave the laptop at home next time you go on vacation. It’s ok! Your work will wait! (And you’ll be more focused when you return) True balance is when we learn to take Jesus into times of pleasure as well as times of work.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD.” –Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

I don’t know about you, but the fact that God is a planner puts me at ease. I love knowing that He already has all the details worked out ahead of time. It gives me great peace that nothing surprises Him. It warms my heart that He loves me enough to have those plans for me. That means He’s thought about me. I’ve been on the mind of God!

I am a planner myself, so I know the great deal of thought that goes into planning. I like to be prepared so I go through everything that could possibly happen. What will I do if plan A goes south? What if plan B falls flat on its face? I like knowing what is going to happen next. I like knowing what I am going to do tomorrow. Or next Friday. Or next year. I do not like surprises and I find it hard to be spontaneous.

Recently, I sat down and made a “five year plan” for my life. I prayed. I planned. I wrote everything down. It’s all right there in black and white. I have goals and I know what I should be doing in October of 2016 to get to where I’m going in my life. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s good to have goals. It’s good to be conscientious about the future. If God is a planner, then I think it’s ok if we look ahead in our lives, too. The problem is, however, that there are times when we can be so caught up with what God has planned for us in the future that we forget to live in the present. We’re always looking ahead to what is next instead of embracing the moment we are in. We neglect to realize that He also has plans for us right now. We pray, “Lord, show me Your plans for my life,” expecting Him to show us 10 years from now, but forgetting about what He has planned for us in the present.

God is not a procrastinator. His plans for your life do not begin in five years. In one year. In a month. Or even in one day. His plans for your life began before you were even born. He has orchestrated your whole life up to this point, and He’s in control of the rest of it from this moment forward. Pray for God to show you the plans He has for you, fully expecting them to start immediately. And then live in the moment. God has a plan for your life right now!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

“With God, all things are possible.”

Those are probably two of the most quoted scriptures in the whole Bible. I know that I’ve surely said them thousands of times. Do I always believe them? My actions don’t suggest that I do. Because if I DID believe them, there’s a whole lot more I would be attempting for the cause of Christ. If I did believe that I could truly do ALL things through Christ, I’d surely be about doing His business more than I am. If I believed that all things are possible with God, I wouldn’t be so worried about failing. I wouldn’t let the fears of my own abilities stop me from attempting what God wants me to do.

Ah, but there it is. if I’m dependent on my own abilities, I can do nothing except fall short. I have every reason to fear failure if I don’t include God in the mix. The scripture doesn’t say that I can do all things by myself. It doesn’t tell me that all things are possible if I work hard enough, or practice six hours a day, or study two hours for every one hour of class time. There is absolutely nothing in myself that guarantees success. Nothing.

But with God…now that’s a different story. With God, all things really are possible. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. And so can you. So here’s the question: What would you do for God if you knew that you could not fail? And knowing that He won’t let you fail, what are you waiting for?