HE Knows your Worth: Even when you don't

 

For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? - 1Cor.5:12

Please understand that Christianity does not equal perfection.  Don't become so religious that you are no worldly good!  If it is not your life, it is not your business to pass judgement.  Pray for one another and talk to God.  Don't gossip and then ask God to help that person.  Flick the plank out of your own eye first!  That word came on my heart the other day and I wrote it down.  In re-writing it, it has ministered and convicted my spirit.  The first time I heard it and was obedient in sharing it with some folks...this time I heard it and I'm being obedient in adhearing to it myself.  I thanks the Lord daily for continual revelation and understanding.  He knows I am no where near perfect.  He also knows my heart like no one else. I have to learn that just because He has put something on my heart and given me a gift to use to further the kingdom, doesn't mean that the path will not be bumpy nor the journey weary. 
There has to be a lot of patience put into being obedient so that you are making moves at the right time.  There has to be a lot of silence in obedience so that you can hear when the Holy Spirit is giving you further instruction.  There needs to be trust in obedience because God will require you to step out on faith in areas.  Don't worry He knows your worth even when you do not. 
So many times we (myself included) want to wait for the "right" opportunity to be used.  "When I get that million dollars, I'll sow into the kingdom."  "Once I'm where I want to be in life, I'll help in the ministry." I'm not where I want to be spiritually..." that's like getting in shape to go to the gym!  Don't harp on where you feel you may be spiritually.  98% of the time where you feel you are spiritually is based on your observations of others in the ministry and/or around you.  They may be able to flip to a bible verse faster, speak longer, articulate better, or do something that you cannot do BUT, when God wants you to do something it's because He knows your worth.  He knows that you can speak out boldly, He knows that you can manage a department, He knows that you can committ to being there.  He doesn't call people by mistake.  In all of our imperfection, God's will in us is perfection.  God does not call the qualified because we are ALL qualified and called to be kings and priests.  We are all called to further the kingdom in any way that we can. 
 Corinthinans 12:12-31 talks about unity and diversity within the body of Christ and how we all have different functions, gifts and assignments just as your physical body does.  If we all did the same thing and has the same function and purpose how would we be productive in many areas?  It's the desire for immediate recognition and praise of the flesh that becomes the demise of kingdom business.  If you entertain a vain thought for just a second it opens the door to strife, lust and carnal intentions.  People think of being concerned with looks and fashion when they hear vanity and that's why it is such a dangerous spirit.  Vanity is let in when you get a little irritated because someone didn't mention your name to the congregation.  "Pastor said thank you in private but didn't tell everyone what I did."  "Why is her name ahead of mine..." "I talk to Pastor all the time why did he help them..." Those are vain thoughts.  Romans 12:3-8 talks about not thinking too highly of yourself. 
Let God reward your works...you have to know that they are not going unseen.  Instant gratification is just that and it is gone just as quickly as it came...in an instant! You will be rewarded for every good work...your heart needs to be in the right place.  Do it because God loves you and has done so many things for you in the midst of your disobedience and beliees in the good in you...2Corinthians 9:8. 
I intended for this blog to go a completely different direction.  I have been struggling with feeling blocked and I was planning to write more or less out of frustration.  In the first few words I typed out the Holy Spirit began to minister to me and a calm came over my spirit and I thank God for it.  Continue to be obedient in what God has called you to do and keep pressing through.  He didn't promise smooth sailing, but He did say that we can walk on water!

Patience is Love & Love is Patience

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.2 And though I have the gift of  prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Patience and love go hand in hand.  This scripture has been on my heart but it was a reflection of patience for me.  As I continually grow both physically and spiritually, milestones in my life cause me to reflect.  I reflect on who I am, where I am going and what I am doing to get there.  Patience has been a word that my close friends and family used to describe me on many occasions.  However, It was a conditional patience that I possessed.  1 Corinthians describes love as the greatest thing to have and if you do not have it, you have nothing.  God's love - agape love - is unconditional and his patience is everlasting.  Patience, like love, is necessary in all situations.  In order to truly forgive - you must be patient.  In order to truly maintain love - you must be patient.  Butterflies, bells and whistles of love come naturally as you start to develop feelings; but there's a patience that has to come along with it in order to maintain the natural high of love.  Relationships take patience and developing a calm patience, ironically enough, takes patience.  If God had no patience, what a world of trouble we would be in!

Patience also comes in our everyday actions and/or decisions.  People (including myself) struggle to save money in so many areas because of a lack of patience.  In today's society everything is about convenience.  Fast food, Faster food, Jiffy Lube, Drive thru coffee and more.  If we took a little time out of our busy schedules to be patient and do a few things ourselves; not only would we save money but we would learn lessons in developing patience along the way.  I recently taught myself how to braid hair.  I started out practicing on my fiance's daughter and right after I finished I called and made a hair appointment to get mine braided.  It was recently time to get it redone and I was having a meltdown because I HAD to get my hair done and I didn't know how it was going to fit into my schedule and so on and so forth.  Patience fell heavy on my heart and I woke up the next day and decided to try braiding it myself.  I did it, it's not professional but I know I will get there.  With practice and patience.  The enemy went to work on my mind saying that I couldn't do it, It was going to take to long and - my favorite statement - "I don't have the patience for that..." the thing is, I DO have the patience for it if I choose to have it.

Patience, like love and so many other things is a choice we make.  A state of mind that you choose to have. For all the control freaks out there...to not have patience is a lack of control over your mind.  So renew your mind and get your thoughts in order.  To be absent of love is to have nothing, but without patience true love will not surface. 

Brew coffee at home, make a home cooked meal...What can you do in your daily life routine to allow yourself a lesson in patience?