Last Sunday, my dad preached a sermon about 7 things that hold believers back or hinder their growth in Christ. I missed the last half of the sermon because Li'l Empress had a runny nose and we ran out of tissues to staunch the flow. But something that he said really stuck with me and I'll be brewing on it (and the rest of the sermon when and if his sound team gets is up on their website!) for quite a while.
"Are you safe to follow?"
It wasn't really the main point of the sermon, but it drove into my spirit as an arrow. Am I living my life in a manner that makes me a safe sister in Christ for others to watch and imitate my faith? Am I living my life in such a way that I WANT my kids to follow me as I am following Christ?
I'm not one for making big resolutions every year. I regularly fail at my attempts on my own to eat healthier, exercise more, forgive more easily, extend more grace readily, and so on. In fact, I'm convinced that, unless the LORD gives me a goal and a plan for a particular area in my life which needs improvement and unless I surrender my Self to His workings and His power, any efforts of self-will or self-control on my part to "be better" are as filthy rags. And believe you me, I need no more dirty laundry around here.
However, I believe that for the year 2010, I am going to seek the Lord for just how HE wants me to become a safe believer to follow. I am going to commit to prayer and seek HIS wisdom on the areas that HE desires to pare out of my heart and the cleansing that HE wants to make in my spirit and my mind. I desire to be a safe believer, for anyone to follow. I want my kids to be able to trust the footsteps they see me walking. I want younger moms to know that they can rely on me for direction and wisdom that comes from the Lord. I want other adoptive moms to know that they can follow me as I follow Christ's hearts for our little ones as they grow into and attach to our families. I want what comes out of my mouth and out of my heart to be HIS words. HIS WORD.
I'm not one for making big resolutions every year. I regularly fail at my attempts on my own to eat healthier, exercise more, forgive more easily, extend more grace readily, and so on. In fact, I'm convinced that, unless the LORD gives me a goal and a plan for a particular area in my life which needs improvement and unless I surrender my Self to His workings and His power, any efforts of self-will or self-control on my part to "be better" are as filthy rags. And believe you me, I need no more dirty laundry around here.
However, I believe that for the year 2010, I am going to seek the Lord for just how HE wants me to become a safe believer to follow. I am going to commit to prayer and seek HIS wisdom on the areas that HE desires to pare out of my heart and the cleansing that HE wants to make in my spirit and my mind. I desire to be a safe believer, for anyone to follow. I want my kids to be able to trust the footsteps they see me walking. I want younger moms to know that they can rely on me for direction and wisdom that comes from the Lord. I want other adoptive moms to know that they can follow me as I follow Christ's hearts for our little ones as they grow into and attach to our families. I want what comes out of my mouth and out of my heart to be HIS words. HIS WORD.
I want 2010 to be the year that
I KNOW I became a safe believer to follow.
I KNOW I became a safe believer to follow.
7 comments:
Let me reassure you, sweet friend, you are safe to follow! I look up to you as a mom, friend, wife, and Christian. You have taught me so much already...everything I take from you from here on out is just a bonus!!
Thank you for following Him so that I might follow both of you!!
Love ya!
K
"I want my kids to trust the footsteps they see me walking." AMEN sister! I like that, and you've inspired me as well. From the little I've read in your blog, I believe your steps are safe to follow! AND, you and I both share the same boyfriend (Keith ;)) so I know you're pretty fun too! haha! Well, happy new year to you and yours! God bless y'all in 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good morning and Happy New Year - love the Internet - let's me spend my mornings with my friends!
And just because it sounds like you are doubting yourself - I assure you that you are not only safe to follow - but worth following.....thats why we come by so often!
Blessings on you as you follow your journey - Happy 2010 - and hugs to all -
aus and co.
Thanks Guys, you are all very sweet.
I'm not really doubting myself, it's more like my attempt to make sense of what struck me so strongly in that message, and my attempt to further pursue Christ-like-ness in my faith journey. . .
Maybe I should have said I desire to be safER . . . but thanks again for the encouragements. . .
Hmm... Never heard it put that way but that's a good point to ponder! Gonna write that one on my kitchen message board and think on it a bit. ~ Vonda
Wonderful lesson! I use to have a bunch of Christina fish on my car ( one for me and one for hubby and each child = a lot of fish ;) It made me stop and think about my actions.
I know I fall short in this area so often. This is when Christ speaks
Wonderful lesson! I use to have a bunch of Christina fish on my car (one for me and one for hubby and each child = a lot of fish ;) It made me stop and think about my actions.
I know I fall short in this area so often. This is when Christ speaks
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