Been thinking.....

I've been "witness" to a close situation and how quickly in the need of the moment "they" have called out for God. I'm praying that when they come through to the other side, that they are still clinging and calling out to God. Not a Higher Power, not a stone that they can rub, not The Secret, nor Oprah Winfrey. BUT GOD HIMSELF! Can I get a big AMEN?

I've thought about how God tends to be pulled out of a bottle like a Jeanie or even a game. I KNOW that God is not either one. He is not about having a poker hand and luck of the draw. HE IS GOD. He is the best thing that ever happened to me. I can not and will not do life with out Him.

With having said that, I wonder if you have ever had someone compare you to them in their walk with the Lord? I think it can be dangerous, but perhaps it can also be a personal time of reflection and growth. I have a precious friend that is very dear to me. Open and Honest are our names and what we are all about. I believe a true Girlfriend will be this for you or I, and I also believe a Mentor/Mentee relationship needs to be all about this as well.

This dear friend made a statement that I have pondered on for 5 days now and I have her permission to share with each of you, but she was in a valley and said that there are times that she feels she is on the "C" team while I'm on the "Varsity". I'm not saying this in pride, because I honestly do not want pride to have a hold on me. I don't want pride to have a hold on you either. We left it at that for the moment.

Whether you are a Mentor, or a Mentee; whether a mature Christian or a young Christian, I believe that this may help you and I in our very own walk. We must participate if we are going to move forward. No sitting on the bench or in the stands but truly participating. It is all a process and in this walk of being a Believer there really is not instantaneous VARSITY team player. We all start on the "C" team. ALL OF US! Every one of us was CHOSEN (picked) by God.

I touched briefly upon this earlier but am going in a different direction: I think it is extremely good and wise to measure ourselves, but not against one another. Only against the word of God. If we are frustrated at where we are in our walk, we need to evaluate what is causing this frustration?

Sisters and Brothers, what does it take to be a part of the team, in the "game"?

A WILLING HEART
A GREAT COACH
FAITH
TIME
ENCOURAGEMENT
SURRENDER, it is not about me...
talent
excellence not just enduring


I think this small list is what we need when we begin and continue our walk with Christ. Our heart to be surrendered knowing that my life is now about pointing others to Christ. That God is MY God, and that He has the #1 spot in my heart, in my thoughts and in my life. If He doesn't then I need to work at placing Him there. He won't do it on His own, that reflects back to surrendering, having a willing heart and the time you or I invest. It's a choice! Perhaps a sticky note, or a piece of jewelry that you SEE, or your bible with you at all times...would be great ways to help place Christ first. Then it will become natural. We are told it takes faith only the size of a mustard seed. That is itty bitty but with mega rewards!

Matthew 17:19-21 NIV "Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

As you are evaluating your own walk from where you were at a year ago, to today, to where you want to be a year from now.......

1) What will it take for me and from me to be on the Varsity team?

2) Am I willing to do that?

3) If I'm not, then until I do, I will remain on the "c" team.

4) It is dangerous to covet....as a matter of fact, we are told not to!

5) Start small.....be thankful that you are part of the team.

6) I want to re-iterate that...start small, make a decision and carry through, then when that works for you, take the next step.

No matter the "a" team or the "c" team...we are ALL team-mates!

When I first accepted Christ, I bought my own bible and started learning the placement of the books. I had no idea where Genesis would be found, Psalms or Revelation, and all the other 63 books of the bible. I had a note pad and took tons of notes. I sought out another Believer that I knew I wanted what she had, and she graciously poured her time and encouragement into me for a time....then she stepped back to allow me to find out who I was and my own walk. God lit a fire in me and it is up to me to fan that flame, for it to grow larger and larger. Not up to my Pastor, or my Mentor, or my sweet husband. The decision rests upon my shoulders only.

Truly, I desire that my very own walk would place a hunger in others for their own unique, individual walk, not a copy cat of mine.

Father God, I thank You for the men and women You have placed in my life to fan a desire in me to KNOW You and love You. To set aside time to invest in "our "relationship, just the two of us. May those that see the difference You have made in my life, hunger to have their own walk. Lord, You are so worthy. Amen.