21 February 2013

Is God's Gifts, Talents, and Task Enough?

I have finished the book "I'm Not Good Enough"... And Other Lies Women Tell Themselves. I started skimming through and taking notes for the GiG meetings we'll be having covering the book.  The first section of the book is about getting to know who the real enemy is that whispers lies in our ears. Of course, many of us know it's that devil we call Satan.  Sharon, along with many Bible teachers believes the fall of Lucifer (Satan) is recorded in Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:11-19. I won't argue for nor against that teaching. We do know Jesus saw Satan fall from heaven (Luke 10:17-19). We also learn of the war in Heaven in Revelation 12. I know. I know. Revelation gets into prophecy and theological debates BUT there is a mixture of past and future in this particular scene. Kinda like a Reader Digest version of a bunch of events.

I have thoughts though! I should say, I pondered some thoughts. For instance, let's go with the popular thought Lucifer (aka Satan) was an angel. Why did he rebel? How did he possibly convince 1/3rd of Heaven's angelic host to rebel right along side of him? He had everything! Beauty. Talent. When God created him, it was like God gave him the extra special treatment. Everything God blessed Lucifer with wasn't enough!  God's gifts weren't to him weren't enough.  He wanted more! He wanted God's throne!

However, what kept the other angels from rebelling against God?  You know ... Gabriel and Michael.  Why didn't Gabriel rebel? Why didn't Michael rebel?  What about the others?  What made them decide to stay on God's team and not follow Lucifer?

Know what I think? Gabe and Mike were and are content (satisfied, fulfilled) with the gifts, talents, and task God gave them! They love God and desire nothing more than to be in His service.

Paul writes in Philippians 4:12-13  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (NIV). In Hebrews:  Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (13:5 NIV)

So, the question for you and me is: Are we content (satisfied, fulfilled) with the gifts, talents, and task God gives us? Is God really all you or I need? Can God ever be enough for each of us?  Until the answer is "yes", we'll not feel at peace. God wants to give us good things!  He doesn't want us looking around at what everyone else has and getting upset because we think someone else gift is nicer.

What are some of God's gifts He gives that we tend to be "dissatisfied" with?  Singleness. Marriage. The house we live in. The car we drive. Our hair color (its ok to grin!). Our job. Our skin color. Our children. These are just a few! The list can be a mile long!! In Sharon's book, she covers the age old "I'd be happy if (you fill in this blank)". Until we see this as a lie that Satan plants in our brains and replace it with God's truth, we'll never be satisfied. The blessings God gives us will be unwanted gifts.

Last August, my mother wanted to give me a birthday present that I'd really like. She knows I like a certain store in the mall. I showed her the scents I like. When I opened my present, the wrong scent was in there! I was upset! I didn't get mad at her but I was thinking "This is NOT what I showed her!" I had showed her two. Then she explained what happened. The store didn't have one of the favorite scents and she couldn't remember the other one. The clerk talked her into the one she bought me. It still smelled nice. I felt like a complete jerk that I hadn't appreciated the efforts of my half blind mom who loves me so much to fight her way into that mad house to buy me a birthday present because she loves me.

How many times do we do that with the gifts God gives us? How many times do we open a gift from Him just to look at Him and say "You gave me this? I told You what I wanted." God knows better for each of us. He sees what we cannot.  He knows some of the things we ask for might cause us harm. He also knows we have limited imagination. Some of the things we ask for aren't always very good and God wants to give very good gifts!

Is the gifts, talents, and task God has given you ... Are they good enough? Is God enough for you? Does He complete you? Does He satisfy you? Interesting questions ....


12 February 2013

The Return of a Blogger

Greetings to all those who are passing by! I'm returning!!

I've been very busy over the past couple of years. Many changes have taken place in my life. Many changes have taken place in my walk with Christ too! Matter of fact, the changes in my walk is what is bringing me back to blogging.

God has called me into the ministry ... Women's Ministry. I think He may have something else in store down the road, but for now He wants me to work with women.  I struggled with Him each step of the way! "Why me?" "You have the wrong gal!" "I don't have the education." "You are completely crazy, God!!"  "Nope. Nada. Want nothing to do with ministry; I trip over my words."

Well, needless to say ... God won the argument. After a year of pushing the thoughts aside ... After a year or so of tuning out anyone who said "God's calling you into ministry" ... After much protest ... I ask God for one more person to say something. I didn't care how it was worded. All it would take would be the keywords of ministry, preaching, teaching. Within the hour, someone messaged me asking when I was I going to admit God is calling me to preach. I surrendered. 

However, I do not feel the call to preach as in pasturing a church. I do feel the call to reach out to the women in my church and in my community. There are so many women who are hurting on the inside. Women who are carrying around scares on the heart but can't be seen because they are so good at applying make up.  We can brandish a smile! We can laugh heartily! That's the outside. Inside? We are breaking apart.

I'd like to blog once a week. Blog about devotions I've read, the books I'm reading, insights from scripture. I will point out what I write can be wrong. I'm human! I'm on a journey of learning.  I'd love to learn with others!!

With that ... Feel free to throw me a welcome back party! I LOVE streamers!!