Friday, April 28, 2006

Callings and Faith

I am taking a small break to sit and type just a little bit and then I will continue my fasting from typing on my blog a bit longer. This scripture passage was on the back on the sermon notes I'm getting ready to put into my notebook at some point this weekend. It appears on a lot of our notes and is such an amazing passage, which describes in great detail what I always talk about as "doing life together" (it's usually in NIV, but I found when I read this in a few different versions, that I really liked how it was worded in this one!).

Acts 2:42-47 (NIRV)
The Believers Share Life Together


42 The believers studied what the apostles taught. They shared life together. They broke bread and ate together. And they prayed.

43 Everyone felt that God was near. The apostles did many wonders and miraculous signs.

44 All the believers were together. They shared everything they had.

45 They sold what they owned. They gave each other everything they needed.

46 Every day they met together in the temple courtyard. In their homes they broke bread and ate together. Their hearts were glad and honest and true.

47 They praised God. They were respected by all the people. Every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.

This is a humbling picture in my mind, because even though we know this is how Christ wants us to live life, do we? There are so many times when the "noise" of life on this earth becomes so strong for me, that I do many times lose sight of what my true call is to be. Some days when I sit back and reflect on what all my "callings" are, I'm overwhelmed at what is required of me. I am a Child of God every moment of the day and I'm supposed to portray His love and I have to really reflect sometimes on whether I'm doing all that I can do and see if I need realignment, need to be broken of some things and begin the process of remolding and reshaping. The huge questions I have to ask myself at the end of everyday...Did I really portray an attitude and behavior that would be pleasing in God's eyes? Am I being the best spiritual role model I can be to my children and to those around me? Was I loving, caring, integral, compassionate, etc.? What do I need to work on changing and how will I accomplish it?

I will be continuing to reflect and fast from my blog throughout the next little bit. I have been and need to continue to be lifting three very special and integral women of God up in prayer. They are such amazing people and portray a life of hope, true faith and servanthood to God. There are so many times in this life where you realize that nothing's more important than being there for those around you in whatever way they need you...that's what the church, family and friendship should truly be!

I am also for one reason or another, dealing with some fear over my upcoming journey overseas...not really fear exactly, but a jitterness mixed with a whole heap of excitement, anticipation and inadequacy. It's really hard to explain, but this was a "vision" in my head for over a year and I honestly never thought it would become a reality. You have things which feed your mind...you're not a "missionary" (when we truly are all missionaries every day, no matter where we are, as our whole life's a mission-field), you're not going to be able to do what needs to be done (I wouldn't have been called if I didn't?!) and just a multitude of other things. So I need some time to really talk heart-to-heart with God and give all my fears and concerns to Him, continue to have the faith I've always had...that He has purposes for everything, reveals things in His perfect timing and we just have to continue to trust completely and openly that His plans are what need to take place. No one ever said that choosing to step out and live in faith was always easy, but in the long run, it is the most amazing lifestyle choice you can make!


Faith
A beautiful feeling,
Fills my heart.
Every time I think,
Of that wonderful day.
The day I pledged my deepest faith,
To Jesus Christ my Savior.
That step which brought me so close,
To my heavenly father whom I love so dearly.
Now a relationship so close and dear,
I am able to have with no fear.
Forever until I die,
My faith I will continue to pledge so high.
The gift of eternal life he handed to me,
The day I pledged my undying faith.

4 comments:

Corry said...

to step out and live in faith was always easy, but in the long run, it is the most amazing lifestyle choice you can make!

Amen!
God always has the best in store for us.

Miss you, girl and we keep y'all in our prayers.

God's Grace.

M. C. Pearson said...

Wow. I agree we do not live like we are told...stuff and nonsense always clouds what is really important. Thanks for the reminder.

God bless you as you pursue His calling for you.

Jenny said...

Bless you as you pray and fast, and as you prepare to go overseas.

Thank you so much for your wonderfully encouraging comment on my blog recently. It's helped me so.

audrey` said...

Hi Cinder :)
How are you?
Take care, sis.