August 9 2014

August 9 2014 Greetings My Friend, For a long time I bought into the “works” gets me closer to God idea. Today as I was reading Romans 9 I found myself re-learning this lesson that it is by faith I can get close to God and it is not by works. It is confusing to me at times because out of the genuineness of my heart I want to help others. I also want to give back to God so my faith makes me want to serve. As I read this and reread it even wrote out the whole passage I felt the Holy Spirit talking to me. I understand that I have special gifts that God has given me. I understand that as long as I work for the most part in my gifting I find peace. So here I am giving again? As I mull the question though I start to sense a new direction of thought. God has indeed given me a unique gift, a few different types even. As I continue to draw closer to God though I sense that it is more about letting God teach me where He wants me to be used more than giving as I desire. If I am faithful to God’s leading I find myself very content. As a parent I’ve had those moments where my child has done something “just” for me. The child thought they were helping me in a huge way but in essence it did not. I was proud of the work done for sure but I needed help with something totally different. Somehow I sense this with God also. We can go off on in our own journey but is it really doing what God is wanting out of me? The more I absorb this though I start to hear that small still voice deep inside of me. If I go out and do that then I find a peace a strength and an ability that I never knew existed. My pre existing thoughts were the only way to serve God is to be a minister, a missionary an evangelist or through works done through the church such as a youth advisor or short term mission trips. Those are very good ‘“works” in of themselves. The more I went on mission trips and did construction I found that is not my calling. I don’t hammer very well etc. I was an encourager to the teens and could get them involved in jobs and what have you but carpentry is so not my calling. I am getting feedback that my frankness helps but as I learned that most people don’t want to hear the details of my abuse they can relate to the lessons I have learned so I share those lessons. I am still real and at the same time not so full of details.So even in my gifting I sense God is growing me, using me and my walk is going deeper still. Not a bad way to go if you ask me. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet