It's Not Above Your Pay Grade.

Hello there monsters. How is the faith walk going?

   Lately I have been hearing a lot of people talk about what they would like to do, what they wish they were able to do, what they would do when God blesses them with a position, status, etc. I don't know about God, but I am sick of hearing about all the good people would do if. If they were a prayer leader, pastor, choir director, if they knew their Bible better, if they were allowed to preach, to teach, to lead, they would do so much good. If they had more money, more time, if someone would just notice all the good that they have to share. If this, if that, if if if if if. I am so sick of If.  They honestly believe that they have to be "in a position" to do something. What position are they waiting for? Exactly what position do you have to have to do good? Is there such a thing as a do gooder position? I think not. People get caught up in status and titles and positions, especially in the church. The truth is that we are so busy striving to be somebody, that we are not helping anybody.
 I believe they are making excuses to not do anything at all. I know that God uses all people, the lowest to the highest to do His will in the earth. In fact the Bible is filled with stories of ordinary folk doing extraordinary things. So what is your excuse?


      You probably are scratching your head now, after all the Bible is full of heroes, Great men and women of God. Look a little closer. These patriarchs and matriarchs of the Bible were just regular folk, regular folk that did extraordinary things. Abraham was a gentile, called out from his people to become the father of the Jewish nation. Moses was a child of slaves, adopted and then exiled by the Egyptians. He was a sheep herder and a self proclaimed poor speaker who led the Israelites out of slavery. Rahab was a prostitute, a foreign woman, an enemy of Israel who would be the mother of Boaz and in turn an ancestor of Jesus.   Ruth, her future daughter in law was also a foreigner, a widow, and poor. David was the youngest and the least of Jesse's sons. He was deeply flawed but his heart and his faith delighted the Lord and he was one of the greatest kings and writer of the Psalms. Samson was an ordinary man with a drinking problem, a terrible anger management issue and a predilection for picking the wrong women.  Joseph was the youngest son and sold into slavery by his own brothers, God used him to not only save the Israelites from famine but the Egyptians as well. Esther was just a simple Jewish girl placed in a beauty pageant when the king tired of his wife. She was able to save her people from laws that would destroy them. The disciples were a rag tag bunch of fishermen, peasants, and a tax collector. This list could go on for days but we will stop here. The point, monster, is that God does not need you to be in a "position" in order to use you. He can use you just as you are right where you are.

We put so much emphasis on what we do, what position we hold in our jobs, our society, our churches and our organizations. We look for people to validate us, to show us that we are important and have influence. 1 Corinthians 1: 27-29 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. The truth is God uses you, He does not care about your position, what others think of you, how important you are or how many people read your blog.  All God needs is a willing heart, a faithful spirit, and hands that are willing to work. So monster, you can stop waiting for your if moment and do it now. Volunteer now, feed the hungry now, donate now, start up a prayer group now, begin a bible study, whatever it is that God has put on your heart to do He has already given you the means to do it. Don't sit there a moment longer holding on  to your if, do good now.

Go forth monster and do good.

Take your best shot...

     Hey there Monsters, how is your faith walk going?  Is everything flowing well? Are you walking around basking in the sunshine and frolicking with butterflies? Of course your not. Your living your life, your going to work, your dealing with people, you have bills that are due. What you may notice is that these things have less and less power to cause you stress. You are able to withstand and maintain your joy where before you were easily stressed.God is blessing you, doors that were shut are opened, you are finding favor with people, situations are changing for the better.  It is a cake walk, and then it is not. While your  filling  your life with joy, with peace, and with love the enemy is going to do all he can do to trip you up. He is going to throw people, situations, and hardships at you to try and get you to give up, to give in, to turn back.  I warned you monster, this love walk is a battle.

     It never fails, just when you think you have mastered a thing, just when you have finished reading your word, praying, and praising the real world comes in. It would be so easy if we lived in our own self contained bubble. If we didn't have to deal with difficult people, trouble at work,  bills, kids, haters, traffic, broken heels, no sushi at the Japanese steakhouse, and the pothole that tried to take out the front tire on your newly washed truck, but I digress. We can't live in a bubble, we are the light of the world and no matter how hard the wind blows, no matter how much rain falls, no matter how many dumb people come against you, you got to stay lit. 
   

    Here is what it looks like. You love your job, you got the promotion you were praying for, your making more money, with more perks and benefits but your surrounded by idiots. O.k. that was harsh, not idiots, just people that have trouble getting the job done right. So your stressed, your praying at your desk so you can deal with your coworkers and then your computer goes down, your boss is unhappy with some trivial matter, your lunch order is wrong, your phone won't stop ringing, and you should be a firefighter because your constantly putting out fires (probably started by the other idiots in the office). These may not be the trials of Job, but they are trials, this is life. The old you would have hurt some feelings, fired some people, kicked the computer, told off your boss, threw your lunch at the wall, and tweeted about all the fools in your office. The old you would also be unemployed, miserable, and possibly facing criminal charges. Don't be the old you. 

Be the new you. The new you knows Isaiah 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you." You also know James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." If that is not enough You can hang out with the Corinthians. "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed"

The good news is that no matter what comes against you it can't destroy you. It may tire you out, frustrate you, annoy you, cause you to mutter, but if you stand, if you keep going, if you don't let it trip you up and cause you to sin, it will make you stronger. It will build your faith, strengthen your resolve and you will feel like a superhero. You can look back on it and say "devil, you gonna have to come better than that"