New Week

Last week I mentioned something about how I often feel like there is no one to talk to between services. I wanted to say that it was something completely different this week. It was like God was listening to my typing and decided to speak right in that area. I ended up having a good conversation with new friends and the pastor about our Alma mater, Campbellsville University. I love talking about things that I did back then or just talking about how much I loved the experiences that I had there. It is a great place and if any prospective college students are looking for a good Christian college, you can't do better than ole CU. Yeah, thats shameless homerism, but I am thankful for all that I got out of my time at CU and am thankful that I can point anyone in their direction. Thats beside the point though. My point is that I sat in thought about how I could have easily had another Sunday where I felt sort of out of place, but that wasn't what God wanted me to experience. I also think that it was me being faithful and going up to others to talk. There were two times Sunday morning that I felt an urging to talk to others, this was the second time. The first was just to invite a couple to our bible study on Mondays. I don't know if they will come or not, but I wanted to make sure they felt welcomed. I think that is what I am learning, that making people welcomed to our church isn't some body else's job, its mine. Its actually everybody who claims to be a member of our church's job, but I feel it more so than others who have been there from the beginning, probably. Its not that they have a heart that is welcoming, but that they sometimes forget what it was like when you were new and I still have that fresh in my memory and still fall back on that sometimes. So, I am going to try something different. Instead of trying to find some one to talk to me, I am going to be the one to talk to them. A little bit out of my comfort zone, but thats alright.

Ok, I keep talking about the book, Desire, but thats because it has some good GOOD stuff in it. This weekend one of the things that I read was about how we often are more excited about a future event here on earth than we are about eternity. What do we really think Heaven will be like? Eldridge gives the example that many think that Heaven will be a really long church service. I am sorry, this may sound bad, but for the most part, I don't think that a church service is something that people get excited about. His point is that what we look forward to, is a picture of what we are desiring. We definitely should be thankful for the events that we get to have here, but our hearts should long for that connection with God that eternity offers. I know that I am mentioning this because its an area that I had to stop and think about and examine myself about. I do doubt that I am the only one when pressed would admit the same thoughts. This book is good about opening our eyes to what we really are desiring even when we say all the right things.

The message yesterday at our service was about letting the Holy Spirit rule in your life. Not rule, like reign, but rule as in an official. There are many times in our life when we have a decision to make and God calls for us to allow the Holy Spirit to discern which way we should go. And even if we choose wrong, that we take care of it right then, not to let anything linger. If we allow it just to stay there, then we allow our lives to get out of balance. That was my prayer last night and is my prayer today. The last thing that I wanted to mention from yesterday's service was a new song. It was written by our music minister's friend and wow. It was called "Whisper His Name", I guess and I was just blown away by the truth in the song. It repeats that line with an echo of "Jesus" for 3 times, then says, and He will answer you. Then "Call out His Name" with an echo of "Jesus" for 3 times followed by "and he will come to you". Then "Shout out His Name" with an echo of "Jesus" for 3 times followed by "and he will RUN to you" (emphasis mine). Let that sit on you, the fact that Jesus longs to run to you to help you. It just floored me. The other lines are good and maybe someday I will put it up here or you will hear it and God will bless you with it as well. Either way, just had to share that.

Its another week. Who knows what the week has in store, well God does. Makes sense that we would ask Him to lead us, huh? I think that is what I am going to do. Till next time!!!