Smol tok nomo |
Smol tok nomo |
It's a funny thing about humans, we all want a place to belong. One way or another most of us find their place. Some are born right into their place, they never question their belonging, from day one they are fashioned and set up for their place simply by default. Others work hard, shine bright, and are sought by many with a place of their choosing. Still others (none of us I am sure) work diligently behind the scenes through the art of manipulation and make a place for themselves, even these misguided individuals are driven by a very real basic human need for a place. They buy into the lie that for me to have a place others cannot because there are only so many places. Then there are some who go years before they find their place, and maybe there are some who never do. …"I go to prepare a place for you." John 14:2 I really love to look at the life of Jesus. He had a place, you know that slightly honorable role of being on THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER." That's right, Jesus ruled the world, but yet he chose to leave that and come to earth and share in our sorrow and experience, the experience of the misplaced. Jesus should have been a firstborn who came into a decent Jewish upstanding family. However, whispers likely surrounded his birth, questions as to the validity of his Mother's pregnancy. Neighbors questioning "did Mary really have a virgin birth?" Family questioning "is Jesus really the Son of God?" From the beginning His place was jeopardized by questions of who he was, so even in the much lower place He was given on earth there wasn't really a place for him. He wasn't even born in His own home or community, rather they had to search desperately for a place for Him to be born, and guess what? There wasn't any room for Him in the inn so he entered this world misplaced and already marked by suspicion out in a stable with animals. Jesus didn't have a ministry position. Before you say, "blasphemy" hear me out. He was not a priest or scribe, he didn't pastor a church, or serve on an advisory board. He didn't sport the title of missionary or the one in charge. He roamed about finding all of those who had slipped through the cracks and ministered to them without any title or position. He was free to move where the Spirit led but at the cost of having no place. During His ministry he said, "the foxes have holes and the birds have nest but I don't have a place to lay my head." He was all God and all human, so his human side realized that lack, he had no place of his own and willingly chose to live that out for us. He never sought a place, He chose to sacrifice filling in the cracks and holes of the forgotten with no thought for Himself. Perhaps those who have had a place for so long cannot fully understand those of us who often feel misplaced, but Jesus does. I don't know many who are without a place when offered a place, would choose instead to sit with the marginalized and remain an outsider on purpose - but Jesus did. Over and over the more, I get to know this Jesus and His character my life is wrecked by the shock of someone so worthy as He. Jesus who had a great position in heaven, left heaven to experience the pain of the lowliest of humanity. What did He choose to say to us at His time of departure? Did He go on an on about golden streets, or did he talk about the no pain there, or the eternal life? All of these are good things, but what did He choose to tell us on His way out? Perhaps something that the misplaced of this world could cling onto in beautiful hope, " in my Father's house are many rooms." Not those who are born into it, not those who shine brightest, and certainly not those who step on others for it, but instead there is no short supply. He has enough rooms for all. Then the next line is my favorite and strikes at the very heart of the sojourners of this world, "I go to prepare a place for you." Those who have so long wanted a place, the misplaced children who are in this world but not of this world, He is preparing a place, for you! I am talking to you. You who are weary, trying desperately to do right and be right, you who are constantly torn between the decision of self and others and wonder who will choose you. He already told us you didn't choose me but I have chosen you. The great equalizer, He who is no respecter of persons, He has been preparing a place for you, personally. Not a general place where you may fit or you may participate, or you may be an audience for those involved, but a place specifically prepared for you. He has lived it, He has experienced it, and He is the one who can fix it. Oh and if you need a place to stay until that day comes to try this, abide in me (Christ) and I'll abide in you, but that's a blog for another day.
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This past week I started an intense workout program. No, I promise after one week I am not going to attempt to give expert advice on health and fitness, but I did stumble across a very interesting life lesson. After intense workouts resulting in an insane amount of pain and inflammation, I went to Dr. Google to research a little before making what I thought was an obvious choice. My first choice was to take ibuprofen or another anti inflammatory type pain reliever. Turns out taking the easier path hinders the process. The inflammation (and pain) is all a part of the way your body heals and the muscles begin to strengthen in the process. It is probably boring to most, but I found it fascinating how God made our bodies to work, and how I imagine our souls work similarly. After all, it is the same God who has created both body and soul.
Unfortunately, I have had an injury in the past six weeks resulting in a partially torn ligament in my ankle. It made it painful for several weeks to even try and walk. However, the sooner I embraced the pain and took step after step in spite of my ankle screaming at me, “Stop it hurts!” the sooner I began to heal. Essentially walking through greater pain was the only way to heal. What painful things have you had to walk through in your life? Have you ever shied away from the pain hiding out and possibly taking years to heal because it was too painful to take another step? I’ve pondered this most of the week. The famous saying comes to mind, “one step forward and two steps back.” The other half of the mystery I had to go to Dr Google to solve was the fact that after blood sweat and tears I actually gained two pounds! Apparently, this is one of two things: 1. The science that muscle weighs more than fat. 2. Water weight that is attributed to the inflammation of healing muscles that, let's face it, have not been worked very hard in a while. Lets do a re-cap:
Ok God, this is so not human logic. We humans really hate the word “process” don't we? Wouldn't it be so much easier if everything was handed to us in life? If we were born into privilege or royalty and all those around us worked together to stroke our egos and soften all the blows of life? Sounds pretty incredible like a fairy tale (probably because it is). Pain is required for strength and growth, without it our roots cannot grow deep. Are we not God’s children? So why then the pain? Does our heavenly Father enjoy adding sorrow to us? How it revolutionizes our worlds to understand pain was created for a purpose! It teaches us, we grow stronger through it, and if we are His children it is prepared for us by the one who orders every step we take. Why does it have to be painful? Maybe it is because pain gets our attention, maybe it is because we value something we have to face pain to receive? It could also be that there are some lessons and some blessings that can only pass at the gate of pain. Its not a popular message. We want to pop the ibuprofen and be done with it. Perhaps if instead of raising our fists to God and asking, “Why?”, instead of inflicting unnecessary pain upon ourselves by questioning if God cares for us, we could try and understand what pain really is. If you are His child then He has designed how much pain you receive and never without the purpose of strength and growth and all of the good things a Father wants for His child. In regards to my painful workouts, maybe I'll come out of the other side a better version of myself. In regards to whatever you are facing in your life right now, maybe you will come out of the other side a better version of yourself too. Over the last few weeks I, like so many others, have grapled wirth the new reality that has hit our world with the corona virus. So much has changed and so much seems uncertain. Deciphering through thoughts and feelings, seeking God and trying to see things from His perspective.
I sat and thought about it the other day. We were so close to our goals to return to Vanuatu. Now crisis, shut doors on countries and travel. What exactly are you doing God? To be perfectly honest, I would have to almost laugh (because that is my go to response for all things) it would seem as if we were having a bad luck streak or rather like the classic children’s tale, “a series of unfortunate events.” Our last term in Vanuatu we dealt with crisis. Hundreds of evacuees all needing food, water, and experiencing uncertainty as they were forced to leave their homes and all of their wealth (livestock, gardens, any other wordly goods). The work was exhausting and the emotional toil so great. Long after the big story had passed, and it was no longer “news” to all, people still needed food, water, a place to stay. There we were in the shadows feeling forgotten under the work load of it all. It was crisis and it was hard. Now. here we are for our itineration in the U.S. and with covid-19 we now have more cases than anywhere in the world right here in the U.S. and Vanuatu (thankfully) does not have any cases and it is looking hopeful with their closed borders that they will not get any. It would seem we are in the wrong place at the wrong time! We arent sure exactly in this instance how God is wanting to use us, but we are trying to walk with open ears and hearts for when the moments arise. The church world today puts so much emphasis on walking in favor. We equate the blessings of the Lord that we can see with our eyes with favor. I have been guilty of judging based on what I can see, and questioning my own walk with why I dont seem to be in favor, on the contrary, often I feel so alone or forgotten. The picture doesnt seem to be unfolding as I thought it would and I have been suprised that the plans I thought God had for me was not His plans for me at all. Favor? Wrong place at the wrong time? This is what walking with the Lord looks like, it defies human logic, I can honestly say now I feel complete peace that we are actually in the right place at the right time! How? Goid changed my perspective. I no longer judge rather he is pleased with me by rather I am “walking in favor” I count it an honor instead, that He has chosen for me to “walk in purpose.” The thing we have learned is that ministry often happens in the shadows and the cracks. When the shock and the news of bad situations subside people still have to go on, they still have both felt and spiritual needs, this is where we have opportunity to serve in purpose. I have seen so many heros in the shadows through this, people helping people, ministering to people. when we were trying to self quarantine in case we had been exposed to the virus, some even brought groceries by for us! The news of this pandemic will eventually pass, but there will still be many trying to pick up the pieces and they will need those willing to walk in purpose on purpose. Here is what I have learned from crisis. We can focus on the greatest fear of all, that we have displeased God and we are not in His favor. That He has forgotten us and we are alone, that He wont help us through the pain of the loss we are facing. The other choice, the better choice, is to focus on the purpose He has for us. That of all the generations of all time, you are here, right now, in this crisis with all those around you. We can recognize the gift and opportunity it is to be present in a crisis, to rise to the occasion, rather that looks like meeting peoples felt needs or just choosing to stay positive and share an encouraging word. The Bible tells us His ways are higher than our ways, perhaps in your life and mine, favor looks like an opportunity to lay treasures up in heaven rather than here on earth. Perhaps you will even find purpose in the shadows of a hidden prayer closet. Just maybe favor for you looks like the opportunity to show the love of Jesus in a time the world so desperately needs to see the joy and peace that only comes from a life full of Christ. If purpose is the road God has chosen for you, walk in it and see it for the gift it really is. Our perspective will ultimately decide how we respond to crisis, a life given fully to Christ will choose to be His hands and feet. We are not called to figure it all out, we are not called to a life of ease, we are called to serve Him. Dont miss the opportunity to know Him more deeply and to trust where He leads. During some recent Bible reading I stumbled upon something I had never noticed before which brought me to some very challenging insights, but first here is what I read; Exodus 35 Vrs 5 “Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it…” Vrs 21 “and they came everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lords offring…” Vrs 22”… as many as were willing hearted…” Vrs 29 “the children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, everyman and woman whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work…” Are you sensing a pattern here? A willing heart. Sometimes its hard. Like really hard. Did Missionary Elizabeth Elliot find it easy to go back and serve the very tribe that killed her husband? “ Waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon ones thoughts.” -Elizabeth Elliot Did Missionary Mary Reeds heart dance for joy while spending 52 years serving lepers in India and eventually surcumbing to the illness herself? “He who has called and prepared me, promises that He Himself will be to me as a little sanctuary where I am to abide, and abiding in Him I shall have supply of all my need. He enabled me to say not with a sigh, but with a song, thy will be done.” - Mary Reed I believe these woman turned their focus upon the Lord over their circumstances, and while they were caught up in the beauty of how holy and good God is, it birthed a willingness, even a joy in their hearts to serve Him! Sacrifice is never easy in the flesh, its when we focus fully on Christ that He changes our hearts supernaturally so that we can find joy in hardships. It is often through this very act, that unbelievers take notice as they witness the miracle of a life filled with joy inspite of ones circumstance, and in this our God is glorified! A willingness of mind is driven by the desire to glorify oneself, a willingness of heart is the need to glorify and please God alone and is soley focused on Him. What were the children of Israel experiencing during this time of willing service? They were in the desert! They were wondering, without a home, during a time of darkness when they could not see or know with certainty the plight of their future. When we move on to Exodus 36 we see a glimpse of the results of a people with willing hearts; “ … the people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make…And Moses gave commandment… let niether man nor woman make anymore work for the offering of the sanctuary.” They had to stop them from givng anymore to the work of the Lord because it was more than enough! Oh that more hearts would be willing so that the work of the Lord would be accomplished in the earth today. How is your heart today?
He gave his life for Christ. Where does our mind automatically go when we hear this? Perhaps your imagination takes you to the same well played out scenario I had envisioned as a young Christian - a man with a mask and gun walks in and says "deny Christ or I will shoot you." Of course each time I was so certain that in that moment I would do it, I would die for Christ. In fact, I would often tell Him, "Lord, if you asked me to I'd die for you." Seemed like such valor, an honorable way to die, a hero, and surely each who die this way are. But I might argue this act of valor might not be the only picture of what giving your life for Christ can look like.
Its in the moments. The day to day. Sometimes giving your life for him looks like getting up every single day and saying as Paul stated so beautifully, "I die to myself today," It's saying I give you this moment and every moment after. I no longer seek my happiness, I lay my dreams aside to chase yours. We may proclaim on day 593 that we are sold out to the cause of Christ, on day 3,396 we declare unabashedly that we are completely yours God, but what about day 5,983 or day 10,434? Does it seem heroic when the days run into months and years and no one is watching our act of bravery as we choose to remain faithful and give our life to Christ day after day for a lifetime? We each have a story, and His is the hand with the pen that writes it. How beautiful a faithful life becomes as moment after moment we surrender to the author and finisher of our faith. Human nature desires the splash! The pizazz! The quick and the well noticed. Heaven isn't watching for your accomplishments, God does not need you to do His work, He wants you. Its in the quiet and the unnoticed, the times you think matter the least that we fulfill our greatest calling. God can use anyone to complete His work, He has proven it when He used Pharaoh, a pagan king or a donkey that He made to speak. We fool ourselves if we think God notices our big accomplishments or that we amaze Him with our works or mighty acts. How ofter we are guilty of running around trying to impress Him with our best? Perhaps the most impressive thing we will ever do is run to Him daily and hide in His bosom, surrendered to the task at hand. Could it be that it is as we are faithful, and fully engaged in complete weakness that we surrender our life so in His strength He Can control the pen that writes the story of a life given to Christ. May it be said of each of us "He gave His life for Christ." We want what's best for our children, but what if that has nothing to do with "things"? We are constantly bombarded through movies, social media, peer groups, and, well, everywhere. We hear classic statements like, "my little girl is gonna have the best money can buy?" or "our little man is gonna have all the toys we didn't." Often with good intentions we set out to give our kids the world, but are our intentions and our actions the same? I would consider myself a minimalist or rather a practicalist (can that just be a word for now?). Thats why I found myself surprised that only six months after returning from the mission field I was already having to box up stuff to REMOVE from my kids room. Granted, they do share a small room, but we came back to the U.S. with little more than the clothes on our backs, how did this happen? All the "stuff" cluttering up our lives. While in Vanuatu a Ni-Van sister of mine became pregnant and I walked with her through her pregnancy and the birth of her sweet little boy. I watched her carefully and saw how few things she had to give him, yet he was happy and healthy. When I became pregnant with my sweet girl, I determined I too would fight the American urge to provide all these unnecessary things. Tonight I had a little envy, while on a facebook page dedicated (I kid you not Dads) to bows, I came across a Mom asking a question about which bows to add to her hundreds. To bring attention to her post (so she could get responses to her questions) she added pictures of her babies room. It looked like something out of a dream! A full size pink and white play house, bench swing, slide, vintage cooking station, riding horse, fluff and pink for days! I looked over at the little portable bassinet that was on loan and my baby was already growing out of, I thought about how much less this baby has had than even her sisters who didn't have much. Was I making a mistake? Then I begin to think a little deeper once I forced my eyes away from all the pretty things, was all the fluff for the child? How many six month olds care if they are wearing name brand tennis shoes? Or is it all really for us? Ouch. My mind went back to the last several years in Vanuatu. If the beautiful beaches don't capture your heart then the sweet smiles of some of the happiest kids on earth will! Many sleep on woven bamboo mats that lay across dirt floors. No pink, no fluff. As far as clothes go, if it isn't Sunday you are likely to find that under a certain age they don't really wear any at all. Usually around school age they will wear a pair of cool cotton shorts. So how is it they are some of the happiest kids on earth? As an American myself, I understand as my kids get older they will have pressures to keep up with other kids their age. I don't plan on spending our years in the U.S. sending them to school wearing potato sacks, but I am probably still gonna buy their clothes at thrift stores along with "watching for sales". They may get angry at me that they won't have cell phones or all the latest toys and technology, but what I hope, I really hope, they walk away with is memories. Memories of the time I cook with them, or play a board game, not the things I bought them. I hope they see and learn from their years in Vanuatu, the happiest place on earth, and they are brave enough to break the cycles of materialism and pressures for bigger and better things. I know they will find happiness in the richness of time being given to them rather than time spent working to buy them more things. I get it. I happen to love pretty things. I love the latest styles I can't afford and imagining putting all the pretty clothes on my kids. I am by every right an American female, but I am also analytical and I have observed the Vanuatu Mamas closely. They work hard for their children and they are so much happier without the clutter, without the demand for more things. The pressure to keep up is exhausting and its a pressure we don't need! We don't need to teach our children to try and keep up by watching our own attempts to have all the pretty things. Train them to be confident even with less, and teach them to see others for who they are, not their possessions Don't work over time to give them more things, instead give them the greatest gift of all - your time. You can do it. Give them what they need most - you. There is so much I like be about spring. The cool crisp air that signals the passing of colder days gone by and the bright sunshine that tickles your skin and brings its warmth to embrace you. Spring, the starting of a new season, a season of life as once again the grass grows and the earth bears fruit. In many ways I could say I am entering spring both literally and in the season of my life. We have just come though one of the hardest seasons we have ever faced that ended in the death of one of our dearest Ni-Van friends and cultural mentors. A friendship that began nearly a decade ago came to an abrupt and pre-mature stop. Yes, many tears were shed in what seemed to be a season of death in more ways than one. Yet here we are once again in spring. With the birth of our sweet baby Valencia Caroline two weeks ago we have witnessed the miracle of life as God carried me safely through a high risk pregnancy to deliver my first baby naturally (before the Doctor could reach the hospital bed!) a healthy tiny baby girl. It was as if God reached down and kissed me gently on the forehead and whispered every good and perfect gift is from me. Spring has come. I have teared up many times over the past few weeks overcome with thanksgiving at a God who blesses deeply, restores, renews and brings us the season of Spring. How fitting it is that we celebrate Easter in spring - how Christ won victory over death and hell and rose from the dead showing us His power to redeem. Christ has power to redeem not only souls, but situations, problems or whatever it is you find yourself facing. Today I lift my face towards the sun, breath in deeply the crisp fresh air and enjoy that Spring has come and so has the Savior of the world. There will probably be a few more cold fronts and a few dark days ahead, but I will chose joy because the Creator has promised to walk with me and I know there is no cross without a crown and no winter without a spring. The last several weeks have been a whirlwind as we have picked up and left the last three years of life in Vanuatu behind. Leaving “home” to come “home”. Strange as it may seem, nowhere is actually home now and we reiterate to our kids quite often that “home” is wherever we are all together. A few highlights from the motherhood side of things (as if traveling to the other side of the world six months pregnant…again, wasn’t enough): 1. both kids licking the rails in the airport 2.the question of why there is a box with a red light in it and why Dad stops the car every single time at one 3. after about twenty minutes driving in snow, the astonished gasp from the back seat, “is that snow!?” (something your not likely to see in the islands.) 4. The disgusted faces and screams of “what is that smell!?” as my kids smelled a skunk for the first time (and all the laughs from Mom and Dad that followed!) A few highlights of my own would have to be the warm embrace of family and friends, the land of endless ice cream and fast food, warm water with great pressure, and the feel of plush carpet on my toes. Aww the simple things that are never really that simple when you don’t have them on the regular! The price? Missing all the amazing people who work so hard beside us. The ones who are friends and the ones who have become family. Our hearts forever divided between two places, two families, two cultures. The needs we feel so deep after experiencing life firsthand in Vanuatu and knowing we have temporarily left our post for the greater good. We will enjoy our season of rest. We will enjoy reuniting regularly with those we have not seen in years. We will breath in the change of pace in the land of all things available. Then once more our hearts will burn with a fire that can only be quenched by following God back to the place He has called us and the people we have found so easy to love - Vanuatu - home of our hearts! In the meantime, we ask for grace if you see the kids running barefoot, me a little too excited about a buffet or Mexican food, and all the general habits we may have picked up from bush culture over the last several years. We still love our home of the free and the brave, but life's experiences have not left us untouched or unchanged. So ready or not USA the Thomas family is back and will probably be spotted in Chick-fil-A's across the land. Sometimes I find it hard to write about the real, the raw and the personal. Some subjects I don’t want to touch with a ten foot pole, but then I think “what if?” What if its healing to share about my life experiences? What if there is someone who knows me and would never dream I have faced the same things as they? What if it helps some how, me, them, … the world.
Lessons I have learned on what it means to be inclusive. First let me take you back to where I have been. I wouldn’t say I was the most popular girl in college and I certainly had my quirky ways. I was pretty, well loved, funny and had many friends. I liked some boys that didn’t like me back and perhaps had even more boys like me that I didn’t like back. I was voted in as freshman class social rep and spent most of college on student council. I remember some of the girls who were even more “quirky” than I. I remember the teasing that yes, even goes on in Christian college. I remember being proud of myself for never once joining the teasers, some of who were my friends. I remember always smiling and making eye contact with those not having the ideal college experience, but perhaps the most painful memory that has never let me go is of one girl in particular. Relentlessly teased through youth and followed her into college. I remember the nudging that I recoginize now as the Holy Spirit to reach out to her. It was easy to appease with a smile and small talk, but at my core I knew I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to do, I wasn’t including her. That girl dropped out a few weeks into her freshman year and completely backslid. I knew what I was supposed to do, but was too busy being young and popular to do it. In all fairness its only came with age the weight of what was truly done here. To some, inclusion is merely an invitation. An invitation to be present but not really apart. In the end this kind of inclusion is more damaging than helpful. It is either driven by selfish motive of simply clearing ones conscience, or in many cases a complete blind spot prone to a certain personality type. Inviting people to be your audience is not inclusion. In my adult years I have faced this and I have learned many lessons from it. Its been one of my more painful and yet eye opening life experiences. I suspect its rarely intentional which is why awareness is so important. Maybe for some they were on the receiving end of rejection at some point in their life. They have their moment and they don’t want it to be taken from them now, for others, again, it is merely a personality type blind spot. I would say it is likely rarely intentional yet the consequences of its outcome don’t change in light of intention. Based solely on my experiences here are some “do’s” and “don’ts” Don’t: Grow bitter or begin seeing the world through the lens of a bad experience Don’t: Keep showing up unnecessarily. In my experience, I kept trying to be apart out of hunger for inclusion and also not wanting to hurt or make anyone feel bad. The problem with this in my case was after months and even years of trying to “say something” or “be apart” eventually I kept showing up but just totally shut down. So I was present but not really there which didn’t help anyone. Don’t: Forget who you are. Of course you should never be prideful, but this kind of experience can make you doubt yourself in ways you never knew were possible. It can shake you to your core and shut you down to everyone. There are those who love and value you. Who want to hear you who want healthy give and take relationships. Don’t change and shut down to the world, you still have something to give. Don’t: Imagine some kind of sworn duty or loyalty to keep showing up for situations that are toxic for you. Its ok to seek out friendships that are real and reciprocated. Do: If you ever find the same ones who failed to include you in a lonely situation or in need of inclusion RUN to them with open arms and a heart full of love. It means you have won. Not in any competition with someone else (which I hate but that’s another blog) It means you have won in the battle with yourself not to let a bad experience cause you to inflict pain upon others but rather it has fueled you to be better. Do: Allow it to open your eyes. Scan the room to see who may be alone. Don’t remain in a constant state of your own good time that you miss a chance to be friendly to someone who might need that. Do: Keep the main things the main things. Love your family. The enemy wants to use hurts to distract you from the ones who need you most. Don’t let him win Do: Trust people. The next person you trust to open up to may end up being a lifetime friend! There are people who don’t play games and people who you are going to just click with, don’t shut down after a bad season! Do: recognize it in others. Don’t assume someone is shut down because they have a chip on their shoulders. Ask yourself, “was I clicky?” “too caught up in my goals or good time?” “did they try until they had nothing left?” “Did my unintentional silence in their direction teach them to shut down?” Bottom line: Its ok to do what you need to do to heal. Never allow your withdrawing to be about hurting someone else or making them pay for what they have done. But if you need to withdraw to heal, to be the best you, to be used in your personality and talents with those who accept you and not merely your presence, that’s ok. If you can do it in a pure heart and love that’s ok. We were never meant to live in bondage. Be respectful. Be kind. Be yourself. Let yourself heal. Look for those who love you, I promise they are there. Do you believe in the Creator?
Do you believe in the Creator? No, I am not asking you, “do you believe a higher being created the world or do you believe it simply evolved," but rather do you believe in the Creator? Do you believe in His nature to create? Do you believe He continues to create situations in our lives to create the traits we need built in us? Do you believe He creates opportunities in our paths to do amazing things for the kingdom? Do you believe He creates days, months and years that add up to a lifetime of submission to His molding and shaping? Do you believe every detail He watches just as the sculptor takes a lump of clay and makes it beautiful, that he takes us and adds details in the moments of our life to gently fashion us into His masterpiece? Do you believe He has gone even now to create us a place in which we can spend our eternity? Do you trust Him with each intricate detail of your life to allow Him to create in your every day the things necessary for His creation to unfold? Do you have faith that He is creating something in you even now? So I ask again, Do you believe in the Creator? |
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July 2022
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