Tag Archives: purpose

Fellowship of the Unashamed…

As I was sorting through some papers, I found a poem I had copied from a Truth magazine way back in ’03.  It’s called The Fellowship of the Unashamed.  It’s such a challenging poem and I wanted to share it.  May we try and live unashamed of the gospel like Paul said in Romans 1:16.

I am part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made—I am a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, worldly-talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean in His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer and I labor with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, hired away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up and stayed up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus, I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till He stops me. And when He comes to claim His own, He’ll have no problems recognizing me. My banner will be clear!

 

Prayer for this day…

This prayer comes from The Book of Common Prayer and it is a perfect expression of what I’m longing for today:

Almighty God, You alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant Your people grace to love what You command and desire what You promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Great read…

“Why is it that when God offers me an opportunity to show His love in a practical way, all I want is to be left alone? I find I fail time and time again when I am so obviously being called to be Jesus to those right in front of me.”

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/deeper-walk/blog/20538-bus-stops-and-missed-opportunities

A great read. Really made me think about my life and the people I come in contact with on a daily basis.  Am I really following in Jesus’ footsteps and choosing to love? I’ve been studying the Sermon on the Mount, and in Matthew 5 Jesus teaches us to go the extra mile, to turn the other cheek.  Am I really doing all I can? It’s hard because it goes against our selfish nature, forces us to let others into our world and sacrifice something.  As the author says:

“May we all seek opportunities to sacrifice things more valuable than money.”

Follow in His footsteps

I watched a video today that really made me think and once again stirred this urgency within my heart for this lost world.  It’s by KP Yohannan from Gospel for Asia.  I just wanted to share it here because it really is something every follower of Jesus needs to see.

Spoiled for the Ordinary

Ever since I can remember I never wanted to have a job where I would have to sit in an office the entire day.  It just doesn’t appeal to me.

I have had many different answers to the question: What do you want to be when you grow up? As a little girl I wanted to be a princess, ballet dancer, doctor, even a firefighter.  Even in the past 5 years I have had many different ideas about what I want to do with my life.  Today, at the age of 21 I am standing at the crossroads and attempting to figure out what to do.  You see, I have always had this fascination with people who pack up everything and go stay in a foreign country to be missionaries.  Listening to stories about people like Amy Carmichael amazed me and in a sense made me hunger for a life of purpose.  The only thing I know right now is that I don’t want to waste my life.  John Piper tells a story about a couple who retired at a very young age and spent the rest of their lives gathering shells on a beach near their house.  One day when they stand in front of the Almighty God and He asks them what they did with their lives, they say: “Look at my shells, Lord!”  I definitely don’t want to be them.  Two precious lives wasted when they could have done so much more.

So in light of not wanting to waste my life, I have been thinking about whether it was the right thing to come and study at university.  Did I hear the Lord when I decided to come study?  Did I totally miss the boat? Is this what He wants for my life right now?

The other day I read the book of Ecclesiastes and chapter 3 really spoke to me.  There is a season and a time for everything and God knows the exact time of every season in our lives.   For the past few weeks I have been really confused but I have found peace in knowing that there is a season for everything.  Even though I might not pack my bags and go live in a foreign country right now, I’m open to God’s call at the right time in my life.  Corrie Ten Boom said: “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”  For now I will do my best and live to the fullest where God has placed me.  But I know that God has spoiled me for the ordinary and I can never live just an ordinary life.

P.S. I just read this blog entry that really encouraged me.  Take a look here: http://hereandnow79.blogspot.com/2008/04/spoiled-for-ordinary.html