At a Bible study I attended last night, the four of us there decided we are frustrated and sickened by the world we live in. The more knowledge we gain about our economy, politics, government, or any other topic, the more depressing it can be. We all agreed we have to keep ourselves from focusing on the temporary things of this life and focus on eternity. We were created as eternal beings, and the more time passes the more I realize how important it is to maintain an eternal focus. On my way to work this morning I heard the awesome song Natalie Grant sings called "Human". It was just another reminder that we need to take advantage of every moment on this earth to make a difference for eternity. Here's the chorus:
We gotta do better than this cuz we only got
one chance to make a difference.
We gotta do better than this cuz we only got
one life that we've been given.
A little love, a little kindness, a little light in this time of darkness--
It'll be what makes us different. It'll be what makes us human.
I'm human. You're human, We are human.
Instead of getting depressed, we need to be a little light in the darkness! I'm taking this as a challenge to light up my small corner of the world. Will you accept the challenge, too?
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Friday, August 27, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
My Holding Pattern
A few weekends ago I was able to fly to Wisconsin to visit some old friends. Despite the horrible delays, I thoroughly enjoyed my flights. On my flight from Pensacola to Atlanta, we had to fly a holding pattern before we were able to land.
Have you ever felt as if your life was in a holding pattern? Maybe you are waiting for that perfect job. Or your finances aren't quite in order. Or you can't wait to be married. Or you're busy raising kids. Maybe you don't really know what it is you're waiting for...but you're circling through life desperately waiting for change.
I've been flying in cirlces lately. Don't get me wrong...life is good. I've been through some major changes in the last year, and God has carried me the whole way. My frustrations stem from the fact that I want to do more, be more, and serve more. My schedule as a full-time student and working mom can be overwhelming. There aren't enough hours in the day to do laundry, let alone find time to serve my Savior in some grand way. I have to admit my thoughts have gone something like this lately:
Once I finish school, then I can find out where God wants to use me.
My kids are too young. I'll have to wait until they're older to make a difference.
I don't have enough money to make a difference.
I can barely keep up with my own responsibilites. How can God use me if I'm exhausted?
I'll have to wait until I have more time to serve God the way my heart desires.
I can't really serve God until my heart is more focused on Him.
And do you know what's happening as these thoughts run through my head? I'm becoming more and more frustrated. My heart is burning with desire--a desire to make a difference. And I'm steadily making excuses about why I can't do that right now. It's my holding pattern.
God doesn't always work the way we expect. I'm sure we would all love for God to open some major door right in front of us and present the opportunity that would make us feel as if we were accomplishing something great for our Savior. But God just wants to use us where we are! He's been whispering to my heart about this lately, and it hit me today that I am in contact with more people on a daily basis now than I ever have been! What an amazing opportunity for me to serve my Savior! Whether it's on the campus of the University of South Alabama or behind my desk at Farmers Insurance or even in my own home, God can use my passions for His glory if I am willing. If I constantly look to the future and where I want to serve someday, then I'll completely miss out on the here and now.
Opportunities to serve don't always come as big mahogony doors that swing wide open. Sometimes an opportunity appears in the form of a cracked window and we have to gradually pry it open until it's wide enough to crawl through it. Tomorrow is a new day, and I'm ready to stop making excuses. I'm going to get out of this holding pattern by crawling through the window. Who's with me? :-)
"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them..." Romans 12:6
Have you ever felt as if your life was in a holding pattern? Maybe you are waiting for that perfect job. Or your finances aren't quite in order. Or you can't wait to be married. Or you're busy raising kids. Maybe you don't really know what it is you're waiting for...but you're circling through life desperately waiting for change.
I've been flying in cirlces lately. Don't get me wrong...life is good. I've been through some major changes in the last year, and God has carried me the whole way. My frustrations stem from the fact that I want to do more, be more, and serve more. My schedule as a full-time student and working mom can be overwhelming. There aren't enough hours in the day to do laundry, let alone find time to serve my Savior in some grand way. I have to admit my thoughts have gone something like this lately:
Once I finish school, then I can find out where God wants to use me.
My kids are too young. I'll have to wait until they're older to make a difference.
I don't have enough money to make a difference.
I can barely keep up with my own responsibilites. How can God use me if I'm exhausted?
I'll have to wait until I have more time to serve God the way my heart desires.
I can't really serve God until my heart is more focused on Him.
And do you know what's happening as these thoughts run through my head? I'm becoming more and more frustrated. My heart is burning with desire--a desire to make a difference. And I'm steadily making excuses about why I can't do that right now. It's my holding pattern.
God doesn't always work the way we expect. I'm sure we would all love for God to open some major door right in front of us and present the opportunity that would make us feel as if we were accomplishing something great for our Savior. But God just wants to use us where we are! He's been whispering to my heart about this lately, and it hit me today that I am in contact with more people on a daily basis now than I ever have been! What an amazing opportunity for me to serve my Savior! Whether it's on the campus of the University of South Alabama or behind my desk at Farmers Insurance or even in my own home, God can use my passions for His glory if I am willing. If I constantly look to the future and where I want to serve someday, then I'll completely miss out on the here and now.
Opportunities to serve don't always come as big mahogony doors that swing wide open. Sometimes an opportunity appears in the form of a cracked window and we have to gradually pry it open until it's wide enough to crawl through it. Tomorrow is a new day, and I'm ready to stop making excuses. I'm going to get out of this holding pattern by crawling through the window. Who's with me? :-)
"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them..." Romans 12:6
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