I am writing this morning with so much on my mind. My heart has become so burdened for the 'church'. I almost feel like God is giving me a perspective as an outsider looking in. However, I am not an outsider, but immersed in the grand adventure of following God, and walking with Him, and His people everyday.
I have had some monumental life lessons over the last few months. Its been a series of eye opening experiences. Talks with friends. Talks with family. Circumstances. New people that He has brought into my life. I have tried my best to approach it all to see what I could learn, and how I could change my thinking to line up with what God is trying to show me.
You see, for many years I was a typical church woman. I was raising my kids to love and serve God. Teaching them constantly about the ways of the Lord. I went to my Bible studies, attended church, tithed, helped missionaries, proudly sent my kids off on several mission trips and prayed for everyone that God placed in my heart. All of that is wonderful! I am not, in any way, saying that there is anything wrong with any of it. God used it all to grow me up and get me to this very place in my life. But I have come to this place in my life where all of that is not enough. I want to be more! I want to put hands and feet to my walk with Christ!
I asked God a few weeks ago to place me in positions where He could use me in the lives of others in an everyday, real way. And boy, did He ever oblige! There are so many people out there that simply need love, so many that need an ear to hear them. There are so many people that need to know they matter in life and someone cares. They don't necessarily need a Bible verse, or a handy Christian saying. Rather, they need love. They need conversation. They need time.
As God began to change my heart, and my view of the church, He began to fill my life with opportunities. I told some friends the other day, "My hands are full! I am not sure how I can give to everyone that He has placed in my life!" Many of you are seeing life as I am. I have become somewhat disillusioned, somewhat jaded by people who have Jesus in their pocket, and pull Him out whenever they need Him. Then put Him away, as though He's not their Savior, rather an accessory to make them look good. Many hide their secret life of sin or of pain or of struggles. Putting on their best Christian face all the time, but never being a real person. Its my deepest desire to share Him in very practical ways. To no longer live a religious life, rather a life that shares His love with people where they live. A life that's real and practical, and that others can relate to.
I have felt overwhelmed on many days, but I have come to the conclusion that all I can do is love on those that God places on my heart and in my life one at a time. But if we all reached out, and showed His love in whatever capacity that He allowed us to, even if its one person at a time, what a different world we would live in! Will you join me? Will you step out from the safety of the life we all have lived, and go with me while we allow God to open our eyes to what He is trying to tell us? Can we please stop being so religious, and start being real? Can we put hands, feet, AND love to the Jesus that's been in our pocket?
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