Boxes

It's been a while since I posted...I know, I know. I will try to do better, but no guarantees!

Sunday's sermon was just way too good not to post about. It was basically another one of those "slaps in the face that feel good." Bro. Mark preached about boxes. Yes, boxes. Do you ever meet someone and right away decide what you think about them, therefore putting them into a box? Let me provide you with a few examples of the labels these so-called boxes might have: Losers, Obnoxious, Liars, Sinners...just to name a few. We are all guilty, myself included, of judging others. It's just what we do. We form our opinions and like to let everyone else know just how we feel. The Bible says in Luke 6:37, "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven." I am sure most of us, as Christians, have read this verse before and maybe even taken it out of context. However, Sunday I was slapped real good!!! I am so often guilty of judging others without first looking at myself and making sure I am in the right place in my walk, and that I am forming these opinions and concerns out of a loving heart.

I am praying that God will help me let these people out of the boxes I have placed them into. Like Bro. Mark said, most times they will gladly jump out if only we will allow them to...

Sometimes, a slap in the face feels good...

Yesterday our pastor preached on God's will. He touched on how to actually know you're in His will, and not yours. Ouch. This is a very tough subject for me, because I am human and selfish and want to do things the way I want to do them. Let me also mention that I struggle with patience...

Patient:
Main Entry: 1pa·tient
Pronunciation: \ˈpā-shənt\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English pacient, from Anglo-French, from Latin patient-, patiens, from present participle of pati to suffer; perhaps akin to Greek pēma suffering
1 : bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint

Calmly and without complaint...In order to be in God's will, patience is a must. So needless to say, I was slapped pretty hard yesterday as I sat and heard God speak through my humble pastor. He also said that in order to determine God's will we must go to our Bibles (we must listen to Him), our knees (we must talk to Him), and our friends/family/pastor/Godly council. It is also very important that we do it in this order. We should never seek Godly council until we have first went to God. Make sense?

Lastly, if after you have done all of these things and still have the desire for your decision, then do it! Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Not he may, or he probably will... It's a definite! All this time I have struggled with how to know if it's God telling me to, or my own selfish desires wanting to. And it's as simple as reading His word and letting Him speak to you, praying to Him, seeking wise council, and just doing it is His name!

I hope that you are as excited as I am about being in God's will...That was one slap that felt refreshing!