"God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that He won't stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns." -Philippians 1:6
I talked in my last blog about going out and doing things. You know? I said that we as Christians should refuse to sit around and wait for someone else to do what God has called us to do ourselves. So, we get the message. Go! Work! Do things that are helping to further the kingdom of heaven. Help to lead people in the right direction. It may not happen in the snap of a finger. In fact, it may even take years and years before the person or people that you are witnessing to will decide to follow Jesus. But does that matter. Nope. Sure doesn't. It may even make all of those years of being there be an even greater blessing to you. I have to say that it was to me. I have a very close family member that I've tried and tried to get to just start going back to church. I'm going to call him/her Mickey. I thought to myself, if I can just witness to Mickey, then they will see that the emptiness they feel can be filled with Jesus. So, I prayed of course. I actually started praying about Mickey going back to church at the age of probably 12. I am currently turning 21 years old, and they just up and decided one day that they wanted to start going again. When that news was relayed to me...I wanted to jump up and down and scream. But I stayed calm outside...and had a party inside. The point of my whole story is, when I talk about this person and how I tried to help for years...I cry. I do. I love these people. I have so many family members that are super close to me and they don't know about Jesus like I do. They're the hardest people to get to talk to...even though they are around me all of the time. I'm saying to hang in there if you've been working on a special person or people for a really long time. Keep with it. In God's perfect timing, he'll change their heart...and their mind while he's at it.
What is it that keeps people from talking to others and sharing? Well, most of the time it's fear. I know that's what it is for me. Fear or rejection. Fear of failure. Fear of fearing as a matter of fact! Something that no one really knows about me is that I like to read people stories. I love reading to my babies. Not literally mine, Abby and Claire, and soon to be Sam. I love to read to them. I loved it when I had the chance to go to Caledonia and read to the kindergarten class there. I just really enjoy sharing stories with people. I'm currently reading a novel for school called "Like Water For Chocolate" and I'm almost finished now, but I absolutely would have LOVED to read it out loud to a friend or someone who would want to listen. So! Point of all this reading story rambling is that I should tell stories like Jesus told parables to help spread the gospel and also help bring people to Jesus. You know? At Reach last Wednesday this is what Adrian was talking about. I've really been thinking about it, and I think I would/could be really good at it. God tells us over and over in the bible that we have no reason to fear.
"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" -Isaiah 41:10
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go"-Joshua 1:9
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me"-Hebrews 13:6
So, we need to stop being so afraid of every little rejection or let down that "may" happen. Are you afraid when you cross the street? You just "may" be hit by a car. Are you afraid to walk? You just "may" trip and break your ankle. You know where I'm going with this. I'm most definitely saying all of this stuff to myself too. I'm as guilty of being a scaredy as the next guy. I've been recently asking God to give me something...a chance to help. I've been all about the "helping" lately. Well, I had just asked God for a chance to help, and I got a text message from a dear friend asking if I wanted to go to Joplin, MO on a mission trip. I was in awe! I wanted to go, and in my mind I thanked God and didn't even hesitate to tell him that I wanted to go. But before I agreed, I needed to check with one thing...my school schedule :P So, I pulled out my planner, and wouldn't you know it! I have mid-terms that same week! I was like, are you kidding me?? Why is it that God would give me the opportunity and then take it away within a minute. I thought about it, and then it came to me. Have I actually been listening? Have I been obedient? I really haven't been. I've started examining myself every day at the end of the day and there are a couple questions that I always ask myself. 1. What did I do today to help further God's kingdom? 2. Where could I have done something, but chose not to. I went through my lists in my head and I see now why I'm not allowed to go. I need to try and work on some of the smaller things before I get to do the bigger things. If I'm not doing those, then how can I be ready for the week long things? Listen and obey, I'll start doing it today. That is something that Abby learned at school and she shared it with Charity, who then shared it with the congregation on Sunday. Think about it.
And that's what...Breelynn Believes
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