God has been whispering to me all throughout this journey of Lent. His whisper to me again and again has been one word. Surrender.
This morning, it hit me harder than it has in a long time. I've been holding so tightly to so many desires of my heart. I have been pleading with God for clarity and to understand His long-term plan for my life. To know every step of the future. To wake up each day with a post-it note taped to my bathroom mirror with direction from Him as to where and when and who.
And as I've continued to hold so tightly to these desires I've also been consumed with prayers for others that I love so dearly. In some ways my prayer life has never been stronger--I have found myself so freely able to pray for the needs and hearts of others and to take time each day to faithfully lift them up to our Father who holds them all in the palm of His hand.
But as faithfully as I've been in those prayers I have struggled to obey the simple command that God has been whispering into my heart. Surrender. I have failed to lay at His feet the unknowns and the insecurities I have and I have failed to fully rejoice in where He has me and what He has gifted me in this very moment. I just feel like I should be wearing a tshirt that says: "FAIL".
Anyone who knows me pretty well or has driven with me in my car knows that I have a horrible habit of never changing the CD in my CD player. A few weeks ago I traded out the Chris Tomlin CD that's been in since before Christmas with the Gungor Beautiful Things CD..over and over and over, I listen to these songs. And this morning, when I finally was real with myself about ignoring the whispers to surrender... these lyrics from a Gungor song, played over and over in my head and my heart: "Jesus you're the one who saves us/ Constantly creates us into something new/ Jesus surely you will find us/ Surely our messiah will make all things new."
How can I allow my Savior to create something new within me if I cling more to these fears and the desires I think I know all about--because honestly I don't. But Jesus, who has saved me and covers me with grace does know. He has a plan for every ounce of my heart and now it's time for me to lay it at His feet. To wake up each morning and surrender it all again to Him... in the hopes of the new that can only be found in Him. And that His desires are worth waiting on.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not in your own understandings, in all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
small steps
Friday, March 30, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Being.
This is how I got my start in youth ministry. What I'm sharing below is a part of a bigger writing project I've been working on for the past couple years. We'll see what God has in store for it...but I wanted to go ahead and share this piece of it. To me, the greatest youth leaders and volunteers aren't the ones with a microphone in their hand or leading the games or worship. It's the people who are behind the scenes...who give their time and their heart for Jesus & allow Him to be their guide with the teenagers that cross their paths. The only thing really needed to bring to the youth ministry world are time & a love for Jesus and a love for what Jesus does in the hearts of young people. Sometimes it's just about being there. Being present and consistent. Just being.
So, here's a little piece of my journey and how it began.
God had given me little glimpses. Little nudges and pushes that this was how I could serve Him with my life. They came in the tight grasp of a student clutching onto me for a hello or goodbye hug, the sweet yet squeaky voices of teenagers worshipping the Lord in song and smiles…lots of braces filled smiles of students.
But you never forget the moment that it is perfectly clear. The moment that I knew for sure that this was the adventure I was ready to step into with all my heart and soul and strength. And it came in the form of six Wendy’s frosties.
We were four very different and mismatched college students to be honest. I was majoring in writing & studying the Bible, David, was bound for medical school with his pre-med studies in biology and chemistry, his brother, Tim, was enthralled in our college’s education and speech department and my best friend, Natalie was what I liked to call “the voice of the campus”, as a beautiful soprano majoring in Music in Education. One way or another we ended up volunteering our Wednesday evenings and Sunday’s at the same tiny church right down the street from our small college campus. It was like God picked each one of us out of a very different crowd and threw us together into a ride that we would never suspect would tie us together in such a special way. But here we were, sometimes a little awkward and unsure with how to interact with these teenagers from a rural community who were not too many years younger than ourselves.
There was one thing the four of us had going for us a volunteer youth leaders—consistency. The consistency that united the four of us with these students made an impact more than we ever saw coming. And isn’t that just like our perfect Creator? He promises us in His Word, that when we are consistent in our relationship with Him, He will bless us and make an impact in our life and heart like none other.
So, here we were four mis-matched college students—and God could use even our measly consistency in a great and awesome way. David was a senior, when I was a junior and Natalie & Tim were sophomores. The spring of his senior year, the four of us began to realize that our consistent habits with this youth group we had come to love so much were about to change, one of us was about to move on.
I remember the sadness I felt one Wednesday evening when David wasn’t there because he had a senior commitment—I started thinking, “This is what it will be like next year, down to three.” Never for an instant did I ever imagine the impact his graduation would have on the students. I was blind to the great work God was doing all around me. I figured the little time we could give as college students in a week didn’t really add up to all that much. I mean, we were there, we loved the time with the students, we prayed for them---but we were college students there’s only so much we could give. A couple hours consistently every week couldn’t amount to that much….could it?
It was late spring that year when my crystal clear God moment happened. The teaching time that Wednesday night had hit a soft moment with some of the students. It was one of the last Wednesday’s that David, Tim, Natalie and I would be there together before graduation and then the summer college break. As the worship band began to sing the last closing song, one of the teen girls standing next to me in the church pew sat down and began to weep.
My mind went 10 different directions--- Is someone in her family sick? Is she not feeling well? Did her boyfriend break up with her? Is she struggling in school? As I sat down next to her she wrapped her arms around my neck into a tight, wet hug. I let her cry for a few minutes before whispering, “Megan, I’m here…” Honestly, I had no idea what else to say, to this sweet girl I loved, but yet still didn’t know very well. I will never forget her response as she stammered through sobs, “I just don’t want David to graduate and leave---he means so much to us.”
My jaw dropped. Was she serious? David? I looked into her face and saw the sadness of a teenager who had grown to depend on the consistency of my medical school bound friend whom maybe she had shared a quick word and a high five with once a week. All of the sudden, her twin sister was sitting next to her in tears as well.
Natalie and I sat with the girls, hugging them, and letting them mourn the foursome of college student leaders that would soon be down to three. We were mourning it too, but in a different way as friends who have to part ways in life do. I remember that occasionally, Natalie and I would look at each other with expressions—What do we even say? There were no words. What the girls needed was our consistent presence.
For our arms to hold them in a tangible way to remind them that there Heavenly Father’s arms and love for them is eternal and unwavering. It was in that moment with those weepy, emotional, teenage twin sisters that I knew this was the calling that I was in with for the long haul. If the Creator of the Universe could use the consistency of four awkward college students in such a powerful way to further His Kingdom, I was in. My heart for youth ministry in Jesus name was wrapped tightly around me, just like Megan’s arms were around my neck that evening.
As Natalie and I sat with the girls in the dark church sanctuary after the other students filed out, David and Tim stood in the back waiting. Consistent. Every few seconds Megan would look back to see if they were still there. After a few Kleenex, we asked the girls if there was something we could do to show a little extra love to them…this was their response: “Can we go get some 99 cent frosties from Wendy’s…us and the four of you?”
Natalie and I started laughing and knew that this was something we could make happen. We took the church van for the occasion and off we were to Wendy’s. Four college students, and two 14 year old girls. I don’t remember what our conversation was at Wendy’s that evening. I remember lots of laughter and the girls wanting a hug from each one of us when we dropped them off at home a little later, I think David’s hug was a little tighter than usual from them that night.
Six Frosties from Wendy’s. That was my beginning into entering into a new journey that has filled the past five years of my life with the drama, tears, laughter, jokes, joy and most amazing stories of how Jesus Christ will transform the lives of young people when we come to Him as His servants—His vessels---His tools—to be used consistently so that He can transform and prevail in the lives of teens.
So, here's a little piece of my journey and how it began.
God had given me little glimpses. Little nudges and pushes that this was how I could serve Him with my life. They came in the tight grasp of a student clutching onto me for a hello or goodbye hug, the sweet yet squeaky voices of teenagers worshipping the Lord in song and smiles…lots of braces filled smiles of students.
But you never forget the moment that it is perfectly clear. The moment that I knew for sure that this was the adventure I was ready to step into with all my heart and soul and strength. And it came in the form of six Wendy’s frosties.
We were four very different and mismatched college students to be honest. I was majoring in writing & studying the Bible, David, was bound for medical school with his pre-med studies in biology and chemistry, his brother, Tim, was enthralled in our college’s education and speech department and my best friend, Natalie was what I liked to call “the voice of the campus”, as a beautiful soprano majoring in Music in Education. One way or another we ended up volunteering our Wednesday evenings and Sunday’s at the same tiny church right down the street from our small college campus. It was like God picked each one of us out of a very different crowd and threw us together into a ride that we would never suspect would tie us together in such a special way. But here we were, sometimes a little awkward and unsure with how to interact with these teenagers from a rural community who were not too many years younger than ourselves.
There was one thing the four of us had going for us a volunteer youth leaders—consistency. The consistency that united the four of us with these students made an impact more than we ever saw coming. And isn’t that just like our perfect Creator? He promises us in His Word, that when we are consistent in our relationship with Him, He will bless us and make an impact in our life and heart like none other.
So, here we were four mis-matched college students—and God could use even our measly consistency in a great and awesome way. David was a senior, when I was a junior and Natalie & Tim were sophomores. The spring of his senior year, the four of us began to realize that our consistent habits with this youth group we had come to love so much were about to change, one of us was about to move on.
I remember the sadness I felt one Wednesday evening when David wasn’t there because he had a senior commitment—I started thinking, “This is what it will be like next year, down to three.” Never for an instant did I ever imagine the impact his graduation would have on the students. I was blind to the great work God was doing all around me. I figured the little time we could give as college students in a week didn’t really add up to all that much. I mean, we were there, we loved the time with the students, we prayed for them---but we were college students there’s only so much we could give. A couple hours consistently every week couldn’t amount to that much….could it?
It was late spring that year when my crystal clear God moment happened. The teaching time that Wednesday night had hit a soft moment with some of the students. It was one of the last Wednesday’s that David, Tim, Natalie and I would be there together before graduation and then the summer college break. As the worship band began to sing the last closing song, one of the teen girls standing next to me in the church pew sat down and began to weep.
My mind went 10 different directions--- Is someone in her family sick? Is she not feeling well? Did her boyfriend break up with her? Is she struggling in school? As I sat down next to her she wrapped her arms around my neck into a tight, wet hug. I let her cry for a few minutes before whispering, “Megan, I’m here…” Honestly, I had no idea what else to say, to this sweet girl I loved, but yet still didn’t know very well. I will never forget her response as she stammered through sobs, “I just don’t want David to graduate and leave---he means so much to us.”
My jaw dropped. Was she serious? David? I looked into her face and saw the sadness of a teenager who had grown to depend on the consistency of my medical school bound friend whom maybe she had shared a quick word and a high five with once a week. All of the sudden, her twin sister was sitting next to her in tears as well.
Natalie and I sat with the girls, hugging them, and letting them mourn the foursome of college student leaders that would soon be down to three. We were mourning it too, but in a different way as friends who have to part ways in life do. I remember that occasionally, Natalie and I would look at each other with expressions—What do we even say? There were no words. What the girls needed was our consistent presence.
For our arms to hold them in a tangible way to remind them that there Heavenly Father’s arms and love for them is eternal and unwavering. It was in that moment with those weepy, emotional, teenage twin sisters that I knew this was the calling that I was in with for the long haul. If the Creator of the Universe could use the consistency of four awkward college students in such a powerful way to further His Kingdom, I was in. My heart for youth ministry in Jesus name was wrapped tightly around me, just like Megan’s arms were around my neck that evening.
As Natalie and I sat with the girls in the dark church sanctuary after the other students filed out, David and Tim stood in the back waiting. Consistent. Every few seconds Megan would look back to see if they were still there. After a few Kleenex, we asked the girls if there was something we could do to show a little extra love to them…this was their response: “Can we go get some 99 cent frosties from Wendy’s…us and the four of you?”
Natalie and I started laughing and knew that this was something we could make happen. We took the church van for the occasion and off we were to Wendy’s. Four college students, and two 14 year old girls. I don’t remember what our conversation was at Wendy’s that evening. I remember lots of laughter and the girls wanting a hug from each one of us when we dropped them off at home a little later, I think David’s hug was a little tighter than usual from them that night.
Six Frosties from Wendy’s. That was my beginning into entering into a new journey that has filled the past five years of my life with the drama, tears, laughter, jokes, joy and most amazing stories of how Jesus Christ will transform the lives of young people when we come to Him as His servants—His vessels---His tools—to be used consistently so that He can transform and prevail in the lives of teens.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Distractions.
This is the pile of books that has been collecting on my nightstand over the past 6-8 months. I'm reading all of them. I've only completely finished one of them & then immediately put it back in the pile because when I read a really good book I like to read it 2-3 more times to make sure I didn't miss anything. My reading pile continues to build & my reading time has become less & less. This is kind of funny to me because I don't have cable TV or Internet in my apartment and even without those two time wasters (because really, that's what I'd do if I had them). I am still able to distract myself enough with the 6 basic TV channels I do get & my iPhone.
I've been distracted and I've been busy. Like 12-hour work day a couple times a week busy.
Today is Ash Wednesday and it's time for me to slow down a little. It's time for me to put some of these distractions to the side and focus in on my relationship with Jesus, because at the end of this 40 days comes the greatest sacrifice & celebration the world has ever know--the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
And when I'm honest with myself, I know that a lot of days I don't live like I really get that. I become wrapped up in my own stuff...my own distractions and I don't bask in living in the freedom that comes in knowing and worshipping a living King.
So, I'm thankful that the calendar has come to these 40 days of Lent again. I'm doing some things very differently than my "norm" these next 40 days. I'm going to take more time to be still. I'm going to spend more time with my Savior and I’m going to attempt to tackle that stack of books that have been waiting for me on my nightstand.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Spreading the love.
Just wanted to share with ya'll a short post highlighting three ministries that I love. I know that there are probably thousands of organizations that spread love & truth in the world by being the hands and feet of Jesus. These just happen to be three that I follow & support. So, if you're looking for a different way to spread the love this Valentine's Day, there are many ways to support these ministries whether through prayers or financially. This is where my Valentine card money went this year. Happy Valentine's Day!
1. http://amazima.org
Check out what Katie Davis & the Amazima ministry team is doing to share the love of Jesus in Uganda. There are awesome ways to be get plugged in stateside as well! Katie's story has had a huge impact on my heart & life...not because she claims to be anything spectacular but because she claims Jesus and His calling for her in everything she has done & continues to do. She is constantly giving God the glory for the amazing ways He is using her in Uganda. Katie's example of faith has opened my eyes and heart in new ways to Christ's calling for my own life.
2.http://www.startwithonekenya.org
Start with One Kenya is one of the ministries I was blessed with the opportunity to be apart of during my time in Kenya last summer. The passion of this ministry is so incredible that it can only be the work of Christ fueling the fire and light of the Start with One team to the people of Kenya. One life at a time they are sharing the love of Christ by helping widows & orphans, distrbuting water filters, holding medical clinics, etc. I look forward to the day that I can go back and work with this awesome team!
3. http://inumc.org/pages/detail/185
As a part of the United Methodist Church is exciting to see what our denomination is doing in the US & around the world to share Jesus through meeting the needs of those with so much less or who are facing hard times. Check out what the United Methodist Church is doing through missions in Indiana.
1. http://amazima.org
Check out what Katie Davis & the Amazima ministry team is doing to share the love of Jesus in Uganda. There are awesome ways to be get plugged in stateside as well! Katie's story has had a huge impact on my heart & life...not because she claims to be anything spectacular but because she claims Jesus and His calling for her in everything she has done & continues to do. She is constantly giving God the glory for the amazing ways He is using her in Uganda. Katie's example of faith has opened my eyes and heart in new ways to Christ's calling for my own life.
2.http://www.startwithonekenya.org
Start with One Kenya is one of the ministries I was blessed with the opportunity to be apart of during my time in Kenya last summer. The passion of this ministry is so incredible that it can only be the work of Christ fueling the fire and light of the Start with One team to the people of Kenya. One life at a time they are sharing the love of Christ by helping widows & orphans, distrbuting water filters, holding medical clinics, etc. I look forward to the day that I can go back and work with this awesome team!
3. http://inumc.org/pages/detail/185
As a part of the United Methodist Church is exciting to see what our denomination is doing in the US & around the world to share Jesus through meeting the needs of those with so much less or who are facing hard times. Check out what the United Methodist Church is doing through missions in Indiana.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Timing.
Well, I've been a bit of a blogging slacker. I've been thinking about a blog post ever since we hit 2012 over a month ago but haven't taken the time to sit down and write one & then today my co-director, Joe posts on his blog that it's 100th post & I really start to feel like a slacker...so here it is, my first post of 2012.
I mentioned in my very first post on this blog a couple months ago that I'm not a fan of change. I struggle with it--but time and time again when I have given my fears and worries to God in the changes I'm facing He never fails to remind me of His greatness & His control. I should know by now how perfect His timing is for me but there are instances where yet again I get caught up in inpatience, worry and fear. I'm thankful that God's Word is available to us because I know without it I get so bent out of shape and am continually needing it to draw me back in and remind me of the freedom I have through trusting God with the changes in my life that are out of my control & that His timing for me is best.
Last night at Bible study, I was reminded of that once again when we were looking at the passage in Luke 9 when Jesus feeds the 5,000 that were gathered to hear him teach. I love this passage because I can picture myself in this crowd being someone there who would be stressing out how to feed everyone...thinking it would be impossible. And in this story there is the reminder of how nothing is impossible to Christ. That He provides for us & gives us more than we need. I love verse 17: "And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces." There were baskets of leftovers after thousands of people had eaten so much that they were satisifed! That is the greatness of Jesus--He knows our every need & wants to satsify it for us with more than we can imagine.
Recently, God has been reminding me the beauty of His timing for me and let me say, I haven't been the model example of patience. It's been heart wrenching at times. I can think of time spent on my knees in surrender for His timing for my life & the glimpses He is giving me recently of the bigger picture have been a great reminder of His provision. That what He has instore for me is always worth the wait and maybe it's just around the corner and maybe it's a little further down the road. The peace I've had in the past couple of weeks is that knowing what that next step holds-- is worth the wait.
"But do not overlook this fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you..." 2 Peter 3:8-9a
I mentioned in my very first post on this blog a couple months ago that I'm not a fan of change. I struggle with it--but time and time again when I have given my fears and worries to God in the changes I'm facing He never fails to remind me of His greatness & His control. I should know by now how perfect His timing is for me but there are instances where yet again I get caught up in inpatience, worry and fear. I'm thankful that God's Word is available to us because I know without it I get so bent out of shape and am continually needing it to draw me back in and remind me of the freedom I have through trusting God with the changes in my life that are out of my control & that His timing for me is best.
Last night at Bible study, I was reminded of that once again when we were looking at the passage in Luke 9 when Jesus feeds the 5,000 that were gathered to hear him teach. I love this passage because I can picture myself in this crowd being someone there who would be stressing out how to feed everyone...thinking it would be impossible. And in this story there is the reminder of how nothing is impossible to Christ. That He provides for us & gives us more than we need. I love verse 17: "And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces." There were baskets of leftovers after thousands of people had eaten so much that they were satisifed! That is the greatness of Jesus--He knows our every need & wants to satsify it for us with more than we can imagine.
Recently, God has been reminding me the beauty of His timing for me and let me say, I haven't been the model example of patience. It's been heart wrenching at times. I can think of time spent on my knees in surrender for His timing for my life & the glimpses He is giving me recently of the bigger picture have been a great reminder of His provision. That what He has instore for me is always worth the wait and maybe it's just around the corner and maybe it's a little further down the road. The peace I've had in the past couple of weeks is that knowing what that next step holds-- is worth the wait.
"But do not overlook this fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you..." 2 Peter 3:8-9a
Sunday, December 25, 2011
happy birthday, best friend!
Dear Jesus,
Happy Birthday! I woke up this morning to the smell of coffee and special Christmas breakfast casserole that my mom makes every year as we celebrate your birth. As I laid in bed thinking about your day my heart felt like it was a bit on overload when I think about how your entrance has changed the world and how thankful I am that my heart became yours many years ago.
I will fail today in celebrating you in the perfect way you deserve. I will fail again and again in loving you the way that you perfectly love a crazy girl like me. Thank you for that love. Thank you for the hope you give my heart on days that I'm sad and confused. Thank you for your grace that covers me all the times I fall flat on my face...it is by that grace that I am able to get back up.
On your birthday, I am surrounded by the gifts you have given me...a family so special that I often have to pinch myself in gratitude to realize that I get to be their daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece & cousin. A group of friends who have shown me your love in ways my heart never knew & the opportunity to serve you through a job that I love and a job that allows me to see you work and grow in the most amazing young people. On your birthday, I stand in awe of You and the gifts you have given to me.
Thank you best friend, for all the ways you are continuing to stretch me and mold me to know you more. More than any gift I could ever open under a tree, it's my heart to unwrap more of your ways for the life you have given me & to look less like my own desires and more like you. Thank you for using me when I feel inadequate and weak, for always being my strength.
On your birthday, I give you my heart and life--a gift I will strive to give to you each and every day. Thank you for being truth and grace and for being the Savior of the World. Happy Birthday!
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Happy Birthday! I woke up this morning to the smell of coffee and special Christmas breakfast casserole that my mom makes every year as we celebrate your birth. As I laid in bed thinking about your day my heart felt like it was a bit on overload when I think about how your entrance has changed the world and how thankful I am that my heart became yours many years ago.
I will fail today in celebrating you in the perfect way you deserve. I will fail again and again in loving you the way that you perfectly love a crazy girl like me. Thank you for that love. Thank you for the hope you give my heart on days that I'm sad and confused. Thank you for your grace that covers me all the times I fall flat on my face...it is by that grace that I am able to get back up.
On your birthday, I am surrounded by the gifts you have given me...a family so special that I often have to pinch myself in gratitude to realize that I get to be their daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece & cousin. A group of friends who have shown me your love in ways my heart never knew & the opportunity to serve you through a job that I love and a job that allows me to see you work and grow in the most amazing young people. On your birthday, I stand in awe of You and the gifts you have given to me.
Thank you best friend, for all the ways you are continuing to stretch me and mold me to know you more. More than any gift I could ever open under a tree, it's my heart to unwrap more of your ways for the life you have given me & to look less like my own desires and more like you. Thank you for using me when I feel inadequate and weak, for always being my strength.
On your birthday, I give you my heart and life--a gift I will strive to give to you each and every day. Thank you for being truth and grace and for being the Savior of the World. Happy Birthday!
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
A little crazy...
Life has felt a little crazy lately. It's always pretty busy and I like busy but for some reason I have felt off and it has seemed like a little crazy snuck in somewhere. If my students are reading this they are probably thinking--"Well, Steph is a little crazy." And if I take a hard honest look at myself they are probably right but for some reason it has all felt a little crazier than whatever normal tends to feel like. My instinct when things start to feel a little uneasy or off is to try and fix each and everything myself...to reel it all in. And, usually somewhere in the beginning of that process I am reminded that there's no way I can reel in the craziness or find my center again on my own.
I am so thankful for God's grace with that reminder and that He never gives up on me even with my tendencies to initially try doing things my way at first. This time, He reeled me back in and reminded me as I was preparing for my high school girls small group, I was reading a passage from the book, God Girl by Hayley DiMarco and this really stood out to me:
"When you love the way God designed you to love, not only will you find more love for yourself, but your life will have less drama and destruction in it. People will be drawn to you, and even if they aren't you will be okay with that."
I think one of the reasons these words rang so clearly to me was because in the midst of things feeling crazy lately my people pleasing desires have been in full force. My bad habit of wanting everyone to be happy and for everyone to like me all the time has been apart of the craziness. What an awesome and freeing reminder it is to remember that God has designed me and created me in a special way to share His love with others and when I put all my trust in that it really won't matter to me if I can make everyone happy with every decision because my trust lies in Him.
One of my favorite parables that Jesus told is found in John 10:11-14, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then, the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me..."
In the midst of a little craziness it is so comforting and refreshing to remember that Jesus is my guide...my shepherd. To remember that He knows me, that he never runs away or abandons me instead he laid down his life for me...his crazy little lamb that gets caught up in trying to keep the flock happy.
Sometimes it's the times where things are a little crazy that helps remind me of what is most important & to rest in the freedom that the Great Shepherd is always in the lead.
I am so thankful for God's grace with that reminder and that He never gives up on me even with my tendencies to initially try doing things my way at first. This time, He reeled me back in and reminded me as I was preparing for my high school girls small group, I was reading a passage from the book, God Girl by Hayley DiMarco and this really stood out to me:
"When you love the way God designed you to love, not only will you find more love for yourself, but your life will have less drama and destruction in it. People will be drawn to you, and even if they aren't you will be okay with that."
I think one of the reasons these words rang so clearly to me was because in the midst of things feeling crazy lately my people pleasing desires have been in full force. My bad habit of wanting everyone to be happy and for everyone to like me all the time has been apart of the craziness. What an awesome and freeing reminder it is to remember that God has designed me and created me in a special way to share His love with others and when I put all my trust in that it really won't matter to me if I can make everyone happy with every decision because my trust lies in Him.
One of my favorite parables that Jesus told is found in John 10:11-14, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then, the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me..."
In the midst of a little craziness it is so comforting and refreshing to remember that Jesus is my guide...my shepherd. To remember that He knows me, that he never runs away or abandons me instead he laid down his life for me...his crazy little lamb that gets caught up in trying to keep the flock happy.
Sometimes it's the times where things are a little crazy that helps remind me of what is most important & to rest in the freedom that the Great Shepherd is always in the lead.
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