Living Boldly in MY Comfort Zone

All my life I’ve had this tendency to be a people pleaser! With my parents, my brother, authority figures, you name them - I tried to please them. I've never really stepped out with a lot of courage. God has done some amazing things in my life – when I've surrendered… but I’m not sure I surrender that often. But I want to and I need to! What is holding me back?!  

When God told me, its probably been four years ago now, to be bold, step out and say what needs to be said, do what needs to be done. I was afraid. So, I was bold as long as it was comfortable.

A verse God brought to my attention was: 

Acts 4:13 (New Century)

"The Jewish leaders saw that Peter and John were not afraid to speak, and they understood that these men had no special training or education. So they were amazed. Then they realized that Peter and John had been with Jesus."

But I always seemed afraid, OR when I feel like I've found the courage to be bold – I listen to humans and then I doubt, so I don’t.  

I lacked confidence, but maybe that is why God called me to this ministry – because He knew I would never have the confidence to do it alone. He knew that I would have to rely on Him completely.  I was a wet lump of clay in HIS hands and HE wanted to mold me into HIS masterpiece. After about a year living “boldly” in my comfort zone, God gave me a tornado in my stomach! I had a sense of urgency that I couldn't shake.  I knew I was supposed to be doing something, but what? So as usual - I questioned if I heard Him correctly.

That's when I felt drawn to this passage...

Philippians 1: 22-25 (Message)
"As long as I'm alive in this body, there is good work for me to do. If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I'd choose. Hard choice! The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful. Some days I can think of nothing better but most days, because of what you are going through, I am sure that it's better for me to stick it out here. So I plan to be around awhile, companion to you as your growth and joy in this life of trusting God continues."

God has called me to this place, at this time, for a very specific purpose. There is “good work for me to do.”

So – if there is "good work for me to do" what keeps holding me back?  Well, it's ME!
I keep trying to do things in MY OWN strength instead of HIS and it is wearing me out!  I’m tired. I’m weak. I’m weary.

I want to be the person described in this verse…

Ephesians 3:12 (Message)
"When we trust in him, we're free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go." 

So how do I get there?

Psalm 51:10-13 (New Century Version)

 "Create in me a pure heart, God, and make my spirit right again. 
 Do not send me away from you or take your Holy Spirit away from me.
 Give me back the joy of your salvation. Keep me strong by giving me a willing spirit.
 Then I will teach your ways to those who do wrong, and sinners will turn back to you."

There is so much that HE wants me to do, HE wants me to say, He wants me to become… this will only happen when I learn to daily die to self and follow Him.

It’s time to stop being afraid.

It’s time to stop trying to please people.

It’s time to WAKE-UP and live BOLDLY for Christ.  I’m ready…

What about you? 

2012 New Year’s Resolution

2012 New Year’s Resolution – Not to make a resolution!

I’ve never really been one to make resolutions at the beginning of a new year. I silently hope this will be the year I can fit back into my wedding dress (yeah right!) but I’m really not convicted to make it happen. So I let January turn into February, then March and before you know it, it’s January all over again.  

I would like to see some changes though. I’d like to make 2012 the year of The Golden Rule… I want to live this year purposefully, intentionally treating others the way I want to be treated. In others words, I want to walk, talk and live the scripture. (Matthew 7:12)

This was a decision that I made while at the Xtreme conference this past week. Every time I take a group of children or students on a retreat/camp, God has a message for me as well and as I waited in lines and watched people interact I noticed a few things.  

Have you ever noticed the number of people who…

·         …want to be treated fairly, but don’t treat others fairly.

·         …want to be respected, but don’t respect others.

·         …don’t want to be talked about behind their backs, but will talk about others.

·         …want to be loved unconditionally, but don’t love others unconditionally.

·         ...think that the world owes them something, but they don’t give anything back.

·         …have everything, yet aren’t willing to share.

The first night at Xtreme I challenged the students and the adult counselors to think about something…

God gives each of us 1,440 minutes per day.  We use some of those minutes to sleep, but the rest of them – well the choice is up to us as to how we will use them.  So with roughly 960 minutes a day – what will we do? What choices will we make?

My desire is to treat others the way I want to be treated; fairly & with respect; I want to love and be loved unconditionally; I want to live my life grateful for everything I’ve been given & I want to give back to God by sharing His love with others. In 2012 I want to give God the praise and worship that He is due. I want to spend every 1440 minute making Him look good!

What about you? How will you use your waking minutes in 2012?