Showing posts with label imagine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label imagine. Show all posts
When was the last time you stepped outside of your comfort zone? Was it something simple, like trying a new hairstyle or going to the mall without wearing any makeup? Or was it something more profound, such as taking a trip into the mission field or witnessing to a homeless person on the street? Sometimes, the things that make us the most uneasy can be the most memorable. God often uses these uncomfortable experiences to serve as defining moments in our lives. Sometimes, all it takes is a step outside of your comfort zone to find that you have an even great purpose on this earth than you could have ever imagined. So don’t stand there stagnant, get on the move and jump out of your comfort zone!
When I think of being outside of one’s comfort zone, I am immediately reminded of Jonah. God called Jonah to preach to the Ninevites. But one of the last things Jonah wanted to do was to go to Ninevah and speak to them. Instead of stepping outside of his comfort zone, he attempted to hide from God. Jonah ran away, thinking that he could avoid this uncomfortable situation entirely. He didn’t want anything to do with these people and he was not going to obey the Lord’s command. Jonah wanted to do what Jonah wanted to do. So, he did what people commonly do in uneasy circumstances. He fled the scene.
But God had placed a calling on his life. It wasn’t a feeling or an emotion either. God literally spoke to Jonah. Jonah 1:2-3 (NIV) says, “The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.’” The Bible says that “the word of the Lord came to Jonah.” It doesn’t say that someone prophesied and said that this is what he ought to do. It doesn’t say that he had a dream or saw a great flash of light. It says that the Lord Himself called Jonah to this ministry. Jonah was called to be a preacher, a missionary to the city of Ninevah.
Jonah has this amazing calling on his life. Yet the next words in the book of Jonah read, “But Jonah ran away from the Lord” (Jonah 1:3). Isn’t that just the way we often react to unsettling situations? God may call us to do something, but we are often afraid to walk through the door that He has opened. Instead of walking through this door, Jonah attempts to run away. Still, God knew where Jonah was headed before he even took his first step toward the ship in Joppa. And God knew that He was going to have to take some drastic measures in order to get Jonah out of his comfort zone.
Shortly after he had been on the ship, the Lord sends a violent storm upon them. Jonah tells the sailors that he is running from the Lord. He also knows that this is no ordinary storm and that it is meant to get his attention. He tells the men to throw him into the sea, so that the seas will become calm and spare their lives. He says, “‘I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you’” (Jonah 1:12 NIV). You see, Jonah knew that God had called him to do something important and instead of embracing this challenge, he tries to avoid God. When you try to get away from God, though, He is still standing right beside you, every step of the way. Jonah began to realize the error of his ways right here, which is why he told them to cast his body into the sea. Of course, Jonah likely thought that this would result in his death, meaning that he could still find a way out of this call on His life.
Nevertheless, God had other plans. God sends a huge fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah spends three days and three nights in the belly of a whale. Jonah didn’t want to go preach to other human beings, so God puts him inside of a sea creature instead. Talk about being outside of your comfort zone! God knew that Jonah needed a wakeup call. He knew that it would take drastic measures to get through to this individual who was supposed to be traveling to Ninevah, instead of sailing on a ship toward Tarshish. During the time inside the whale, Jonah realized his mistake. He called out to the Lord. He said, “‘What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, Salvation comes from the Lord’” (Jonah 2:9 NIV).
After spending three days and three nights far outside of his comfort zone, Jonah tells the Lord that he will make things right. The Lord commands the fish to spit Jonah out onto dry land and then He calls Jonah to Ninevah a second time. This time, Jonah obeyed the Lord, despite his apprehension. I’m sure he realized that God could place him in more anxiety-ridden places than he had ever dreamed, so he knew the best course of action was to do what he should have done in the beginning: obey the Lord’s command.
What about you? Has God called you to step outside your comfort zone? If He has, have you responded with a resounding “yes,” or have you tried to hide from God? Often times, we may try to run from God because we feel inadequate. While our first inclination may be to insert a “But” after God asks us to do something, we need to trust Him to work out all of the details. We all have doubts and fears. But we cannot let these shortcomings prevent us from living in the perfect will of God. God doesn’t tell us that we have to be everything and have everything. He just calls us to be willing vessels. Whatever we need, He will provide. Even if it means providing a fish to swallow us first in order to convince us that we need to step outside of our comfort zone!
God can use us to change lives, if we are only willing to follow the path that He has set before us. Jonah’s ministry saved the city of Ninevah from complete and utter destruction. If Jonah had said no a second time, thousands of people would possibly have perished without knowing the saving grace of Jesus Christ. When God calls you to tell someone about Jesus, don’t run away. Follow His leading and answer the call. You may be the willing vessel He needs to share the love of Jesus with someone who is broken, hurting, or lost. Don’t wait for the whale to swallow you whole. Step outside your comfort zone today and stand amazed as God uses you in ways beyond your imagination!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7 (NIV)
Have you ever had a frustrating experience? Or was there ever a time that your patience was tested? Surely, all of us have been frustrated or lacking patience at some point in our lives. It is during these times that we need to call on the name of Jesus to calm our spirits and bestow upon us the divine patience that only He can give.
The alarm clock sounded. I woke up on time. Yet I drove out of the driveway fifteen minutes late at 5:45 a.m. Still, I had allowed adequate time to get to my destination, so I was not too concerned. The only thing that concerned me was the fact that my phone picked this particular morning to malfunction. Making this three and a half hour journey without a properly working cell phone had me a little on the edge, to say the least. Quickly, I composed myself and began to pray…for my phone. Shortly after, my phone began to run like a Swiss watch. I’m so grateful that God even cares about the little things. It wasn’t until the last few miles of my journey did I realize just how God’s hand had covered much more than my phone.
The last four and a half miles of Interstate travel took more than 45 minutes to navigate, due to a three-car pile-up. While I am certainly not an expert on vehicular accidents, it appeared that the accident had likely taken place approximately fifteen minutes prior. Fifteen minutes. The amount of time I was delayed. Immediately, I began to pray for those involved in the accident, that their lives would be spared and that God would place His hand upon them. And I quietly thanked Him, too, that I was spared from this accident.
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| Part of the WOF team praising God |
Upon my arrival in downtown Tampa, I had difficulty finding my way through the maze of construction and detours. Yet I ended up in a parking garage, parked right next to a dear friend I had not seen since last year’s Women of Faith event. The entire weekend was a waterfall of unexpected blessings like this one. From a seat right next to the Porch Pals the entire weekend to spending time with dear friends, everything was better than I could have ever imagined. And some moments were so special that an experienced screenwriter could not have penned them so beautifully. There were so many highlights, including my visits with Sheila Walsh, Mary Graham, and so many other special people who have grown so very dear to my heart, along with the sweet spirit that was present throughout the arena. These moments made a wonderful weekend even more precious.
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| Sheila Walsh and I |
Of course, the weekend would not have been as meaningful without the encouragement and inspiration presented by the Women of Faith team. One pivotal moment was when my question was answered by Sheila Walsh and Dr. Henry Cloud during the Q&A session on Friday afternoon. It was as if God was speaking through them, for the Holy Spirit knew exactly what I needed to hear. Natalie Grant’s rendition of “It Is Well With My Soul” brought to mind 2 Corinthians 2:15 (NIV): “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” This scripture exemplifies the way that all of the Women of Faith speakers and artists dedicate their lives to sending off the sweet spirit of the Lord to thousands of women every year.
Every moment of the weekend was incredible. And the entire time, I wondered, how would the weekend have been if I had not left fifteen minutes late? What would it have been like if I had gotten angry instead of getting through to the throne of grace? All weekend, I told others of my journey to Women of Faith this year. And the entire time, I felt as if I was walking on cloud nine. My smile was wider, my steps were lighter, and I am sure I was beaming with joy because I was filled to overflowing with the goodness of the Lord. Little did I know, amidst the fullness of joy in my heart, that God was still preparing another test of my patience.
On Friday night, I walked out of the arena when the event was over, expecting to find the shuttle waiting to transport me to my nearby hotel. Yet, countless buses, vans, cars, shuttles, and taxi cabs drove by, picking up ladies from all walks of life. All except for the shuttle I was waiting for. Fifteen minutes went by. The hotel said they were on their way. Fifteen more minutes passed. The shuttle driver relayed a message via telephone that the roads were blocked. The police said the roads were clear. Twelve ladies remained. The other 7,000+ had found a way to their accommodations for the evening. A taxi cab came by and took four ladies to our hotel for two dollars each. Inexpensive? Yes. Did I go? No. Something tugged at my heart, urging me to wait. Just wait. After waiting for over an hour, the shuttle finally came. Apparently, the shuttle driver was having a difficult night. We had been asked to stop by the front desk when we arrived at the hotel. The manager apologized. Our patience was rewarded with $100 being deducted from our bill. God amazed me once more by turning this aggravation into a blessing in disguise.
Sometimes, God wants us to wait patiently to avoid a harmful circumstance. Other times, He wants us to wait patiently for a blessing that He has in store. Psalm 37:7 (NIV) says, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” God’s word does not call us to fidget and become frustrated while we are waiting. Instead, it says that we should “be still” and “wait patiently.” So, the next time you’re in line and someone in front of you seems to be using their debit card for the first time, wait patiently. God may use you to minister to them or someone around you. Or if your flight is delayed, remember that God may know something you do not. Even a small delay could be the difference between life and death. Our Heavenly Father truly knows best.
When I think back to all of the times God has protected me from harm, and I consider the times when I didn’t even know harm existed, I fall in love with Him all over again. He loves us unconditionally. There is never a time in your life that God is not thinking about you. He wants you to listen to His still, small voice. Sure, you may have to wait. Every day, I am reminded that patience really is a virtue. At times, it may be a struggle to demonstrate patience, especially after waiting for days, months, or years. But God’s word says that like Abraham, we, too, will receive what is promised if we wait patiently on Him (Hebrews 6:15). Be still. Wait patiently. And see God move.
In Christ's Love,
Jennifer
Personally, I often find myself thinking of the future, as opposed to delighting in the present. There are times when my Dad and I will be anticipating an exotic voyage on a cruise, or other adventurous vacation, and it seems all of my thoughts revolve around that one trip. At times, I can scarcely concentrate on my daily tasks, due to thoughts regarding our adventure… What clothes should I pack? How many SD cards should I format for my camera? I need to make sure I take my curling iron. Oh, and I certainly cannot forget to take my iPod! And most importantly, I need to pack my Bible. The list goes on and on. I know there are times I spend a much greater number of minutes planning what to pack than I spend actually packing. But, it is the anticipation of the joyful journey that lures me in, and causes me to center my thoughts on all of the tiniest details, often to the exclusion of what is going on in the immediate present.
Other times, I find myself dreaming of the moment that I am blessed to have my first book published, a dream I have had since I was a little girl. I write and write, anticipating this very day. The desire to write becomes so great at times that nothing but writing will provide contentment. The words come flowing forth, and I find such relaxation when I am writing them all down, sure to not miss even one. Does this mean I don’t like to do anything but write? Certainly not! But, there are times when I want to focus all of my thoughts and energy on this one passion. At the same time, there are moments when I put all of my resources into singing or speaking to women about my journey to finding joy around the bend. Even so, I realize that I have so many opportunities to minister to others, whether I am writing, singing, speaking, or simply performing my normal daily routine as a middle school teacher.
We may want to be the next big superstar or we may wish we were a millionaire. Inevitably, though, the most important thing is whether or not we are in the will of God. In His timing, He will move us to the next phase of our life. We are called to give 100% of ourselves to the Lord’s work, knowing that everything we do as unto the Lord is valuable. I Corinthians 15:58 (NIV) says, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” God calls us to stand firm. In other words, we should not waver. We should put our complete trust in the Lord that He will give us the ability to complete every task with the knowledge that we are on a journey to a destination much bigger than Hollywood or Broadway. We are working toward a Heavenly goal. And what is the best part? This “big break” is given freely to all who will believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God.So, if you’re constantly thinking of what step you should take to strike it big, remember this: the most important step you will ever take is to ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life. Once you begin this personal relationship with Him, you will be able to immediately say that you are a servant of the Lord of Lords, a child of the King of Kings, and a friend of the Savior of the World. Worldly successes may be enjoyable, but only for a season. The successes you find in Jesus Christ, however, last forever. So, the next time you think about your next “big break,” think about the ultimate “big break.” If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you will experience a life beyond any you could ever imagine on this earth below. One day, you’ll have that mansion you’ve always dreamed of, and you’ll be walking on streets of gold surrounded by gates of pearl. Everyone will know your name, and you’ll know their names as well. Best of all, Jesus Christ will be walking right beside you, just as He’s done all of your life. Why wait? Take the first step today. Your “big break” has arrived…
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer