Why is it that I come up with so many great blog ideas when I can’t blog, but when I have the time, I don’t remember any of them? Even if I write my ideas down, the thoughts are gone and I sit there wondering why I wanted to write on that subject. I was telling my sister last night (at midnight) how I will start writing a post in my head at the weirdest times, but then it’s gone before I get to a computer. I’ve mentioned before that I usually think of things in the shower. Beka (my sister) suggested bath crayons. Haha. It might work. I’m mad because I “wrote” at least three really good posts in my head this weekend and now I sit down and have nothing…
I’m having trouble right now because today’s sermon was so good and I haven’t really had a chance to sit and think about it since then. There was so much in it that I could write about, but I can’t completely wrap my mind around it yet. Plus, I’m really wanting a nap and I’m having a hard time remembering everything. (Maybe it’s time to start taking notes?)
Today’s scripture was Matthew 6:5-18. The message was about knowing God’s Will for your life. It talked about prayer and fasting and why we do these things. It was all very good (and I am wishing I took notes), but the part that really hit me was about doing God’s Will. Pastor Bobby talked about how each and every person has special gifts and abilities that God has placed in them, whether they are serving God or not. (Sidenote: When he said that, I started thinking how cool it would be to be able to look at people and know what their destiny or passion or gift is. Weird, I know, but I just think it would be fun to be able to do that, even with strangers. Look past the outside and just know who they are without them even saying a word. Just get past all the pretences and masks and just see the person underneath all that. I guess that might be how God sees us.) He said that, if we are serving God and truly desire to do His Will, then if we will do those things that He placed in us to do, we will be doing God’s Will. We don’t have to sit and wait for God to tell us to move (this is a big one for me), we can pray for His Will, act on what we feel we should do, and God is big enough to stop us if we are going the wrong way.
That seems just crazy big to me for some reason. I start thinking about all the things that scare me. I’m always waiting for something else bad to happen. I don’t dwell on that all the time, but it’s always in the back of my mind somewhere. I think of mistakes I’ve made in life, and about the fact that God didn’t stop me. Well, I’m not God, so I don’t know how He thinks about everything, but, if I’m going to be honest with myself, most of the mistakes I can think of at this moment, I wasn’t really seeking or following God’s Will when I made those decisions. And I knew that. I was doing what I wanted to do and I knew God would be there when I was ready for Him. How selfish and stupid! I’m not going to play the “what if” or “if only” game because I am who I am today because of my experiences and because of God’s grace. I’ve been given a beautiful little girl and I can’t regret that or think it was a mistake. If I had been seeking God’s Will as a young adult, I don’t know if I would be where I am right now. Maybe God wanted me to experience what I experienced, or maybe it was because of my choices. I don’t know. Either way, I can only go forward from here.
One thing that always scares me is that, if I ever got into another relationship, I would be scared of who I would end up with. One failed marriage is bad enough and I don’t want to do that again. I’m okay being single and I’m not looking for someone, but if it ever happened, I guess I would have to remember that I’m starting at a different place than last time. If I’m seeking God’s Will then, if (big if) I ever got in another relationship, God would stop me before I picked the wrong person. This doesn’t mean that nothing bad will ever happen to me, but it sure takes alot of pressure off of me, if I know that everything that happens to me (and Shiloh) has to be filtered through God first. (I used the example of a relationship because people always bug me about needing a boyfriend, so it’s on my mind at times. Please don’t take this to mean I’m looking for someone right now.)
I know that I’m jumping all over the place here (good that I’ve never been called to preach or teach - people would be dizzy by the time I was done), but there was also something else that the sermon made me think of. Something that was said (sorry, don’t remember what) made me think about doing God’s Will where I’m at right now. I don’t know what God has planned for me in the future. I hope I won’t be a title clerk the rest of my life, but I don’t know. I need to allow God to use me at my job, instead of wondering when He’ll put me somewhere that I can be used. I think I do allow God to be seen in me at work, but sometimes I probably don’t. I need to be more aware of that.
The message ended with a call for people to stand up if they felt that they had something in them that they are supposed to do, but it doesn’t look like any ministry they’ve seen before. I didn’t stand up because I’m not to that point right now. I know God has placed something inside everyone, but I don’t know what He placed in me. Everything that I’m halfway good at, someone else can do better. Maybe that’s a self confidence thing. For now, I still got so much from today’s message. I know that I probably totally butchered what the sermon was really about, but this is some of the things that I got from from it.
Elmo’s over and Shiloh’s crying (yeah, crying because the dvd is over – she likes Elmo that much), so it’s time to go grocery shopping… What ever happened to a day of rest? *sigh* Sunday is usually catch up day and a day to get ready for the next week of work, for me these days. Oh well, you do what you have to. Hope everyone had a good weekend!
5 Comments
July 28, 2008 at 12:01 am
One seeks God’s will when one is going through situations that require a spiritual response; when one is trying to develop their spiritual identity; when one is perplex about world events and want to know how they can allow God’s goodness to enter into the equation.
Seeking God’s will is nothing more than developing a relationship with an invisible power that is your sovereign God; God is truly in control of even the smallest details of your life, even though often times your are unaware of His invisible hand.
God does direct your steps! If you yielded to Him, He will use you. As you enter each new day, trust God to direct your life.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths”
Proverbs 3:5-6
Seeking God’s will is a proactive action on your part: prayer, bible study, and confidence in knowing that your creator is with you in every aspect of your life. Developing your relationship is the hard part, but a wonderful journey, once you begin.
July 28, 2008 at 8:31 am
This is so true-I have felt since I got re-married that everything has been so good, that it’s too good to be true and could fall apart at any moment. That’s horrifying.
July 28, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I have been participating in a Bible study at my church and recently we’ve been looking at Romans 8:28– “And we *know* that *all things* work together for *good* to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose.”
No matter what mistakes or stupid choices we make, God is ready and able to work those things out for our good. I can’t tell you how many times I have done the wrong thing, and yet God has always taken those things and woven them into the beauty of His will for my life. Do I understand it? No. But I’m not going to spend my time on “what if’s” when there’s so much life to be lived right now. Praise God for his mercy and grace– and move forward.
Another thing about seeking God’s will– there are things specifically named in Scripture as the will of God. “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God . . .” (not sure of the reference). A wise pastor once encouraged me to obey God’s will in the things Scripture specifies, and then wait for His leading in the other things. Open doors and direction often follow obedience.
Thank you for this blog post today, it was encouraging to me!
July 28, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Oh, BTW, I write beautiful blog posts in my head while I am driving. Then when I sit down at the computer all that comes to me is “duhhhhhhh.” LOL
July 28, 2008 at 8:50 pm
This is one of those things about blogging. And you know that what God has planned is way better than you can ever imagine. So much we want to peek at, but you know if we did, we’d try to take things in our own hands and mess it all up! Letting go and letting God is NOT easy, but it is beautiful when we can finally do it.
Steph