Good late Friday afternoon, y’all. I have a special treat for you. Jamie’s been writing again and I am delighted that she has allowed me to share her thoughts with you.
Enjoy! And be blessed!
Once again
by Jamie Martin on Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 1:47 pm
So, God used our youth pastor to bring an amazing and challenging message last night. Prior to that, we had worship. We sang a song I know, but do not know much about. Such as title, artist and so on. The last part of the chorus says “once again I thank you, once again I pour out my life”. I’m not sure if the writer of this song was meaning it the way I took it…but ya know! As we sang those two lines, I just saw a mental picture of my life and heart being poured out to God at that moment. In worship, I believe, that is essentially what you’re doing. Pouring yourself on God. Giving Him everything you are.
Well, as I saw this “mental picture”, I began seeing some of the things I fill my heart and life with. I was literally watching myself “pour” these things on Jesus. Everything. Good. Bad. Ugly. Are these really things God wants me to offer Him? “No” He said to me in that moment.
The following message would only push that further. I can’t begin to tell everything here, but essentially the challenge question was “does your life look like THE book?”. When others look at my life, do they see Jesus? The one and only? The perfect son of God? The one who left all the majesty of Heaven to live among us? The one who was persecuted and hated? The one we put to a cruel death? The one who sacrificed Himself for you and for me? That’s the Bible, right? Jesus. He was there from beginning to end. Genesis to Revelation. Does my life point others to THAT Jesus.
I’m challenged to rid my mind and heart of the junk that’s crowding all the things God is looking for. When I come before my Holy, perfect God to worship Him…to pour out my life to Him, I SO want it to be God honoring things. Not trivial junk. Not “idols” I have placed before Him. Not “good” stuff that I know HE has said is not HIS doing. Just because something is a good thing, doesn’t mean it’s a God thing. (I wish I could remember who I heard say that recently, but I can’t). When all that stuff is gone, then and only then will my life point people to Jesus. And that is why I am here. To tell people about this Jesus that has come into my life and radically changed me.
Until Then + + +
Kathie
