Saturday, September 1, 2012

Mission Impossible

Hello!  I'm just going to jump right in -- God has been gently teaching me that I really do fully rely on Him.  I know that I do -- but it's more like head knowledge and he's been helping me experience heart knowledge as well.  We can all say that we know we fully rely on God -- but how much do we actual realize it?  Welllllll... I am SOOO happy that I serve a God who is so nice to me.  His teaching methods are the best out there.  Do you learn visually?  Are you more hands on?  Or do you learn better by reading about the topic?  Let's review Jesus' teaching style -- visual: check. hands on: check. Reading: check!

I want to be used by God and for God.  But sometimes that just seems so impossible; at least in the ways I want to do it, like missioning and witnessing, etc.  God has made SO many promises to those who love and follow him, it's hard to remember them all -- thankfully, it's not in God's character to forget the promises he's made to us. 

Luke 1:37 "For nothing is impossible with God."

I was at the train station and saw a man waiting to get on the elevator with us.  God pointed him out, and I got that feeling -- that one that's from the Spirit telling you that you have to talk to that person.  I LOVE that!  Long story short, we got to the main floor, and I hadn't talked to him -- it was noisy, and crowded, not the best place to strike up a convo about God when you're half deaf and can barely hear the person who's crammed next to you yelling into your ear.  OH by the way, I was in my transfer chair because I wasn't breathing well enough to walk around NYC (we were on our way to Ripley's Believe it or not -- really fun!) .. Anyway we make it to the main floor, and I asked the guy if he's ok and he said something about no but he's trying or something, and proceeded on his way.  I couldn't let him just walk away!  God told me I was supposed to talk to him, and now I risked not only whatever plan God had for me and this guy's convo, but also disobeying the Lord!  I have been praying to be sensitive to the Spirit's leading ... and now I'm not going to go when He leads?  The guy was round the corner a little ways down.. so.. I jumped out of my chair and said to my family "I'll be right back!", grabbed June's arm and said "Come with me!" and we ran down the hallway around the corner.

Yes, I said it. Ran.  (well, it was probably more like jogging for a normal person, or maybe a brisk walk lol but for me it was running.)

We got to the guy, stopped him, talked to him, and prayed with him.  And I wasn't out of breath.  At all.

Remember -- I couldn't even walk around two minutes ago without getting breathy and walking veryyyyyyyy slowly.  June said she knew it must have been God leading because she couldn't believe how well I was breathing after what she calls my "sprint" hahah.

I thought it was awesome -- how amazing for God to use me -- a sinner, not worthy, only redeemed by Jesus' blood (thank you, Jesus!), and still after being redeemed -- I continue to fall short every day -- and that's who the Spirit led, that's the person's prayer God answered in being sensitive to the Spirit -- what a gracious God we serve!!

But wait, it gets better -- I fully believe the phrase "no one is handicapped in God's eyes".  You were created to fulfill his will and purpose and if you're walking with him, no disability can prevent you from doing so.  HOWEVER, again .. this was more head knowledge than heart knowledge and although my head knows, my heart was feeling otherwise. 

The way I want to serve Jesus is too risky for my health, or too physically demanding for me right now... So my heart tells me that I'm handicapped.  That it's impossible to serve how I desire to. 

Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things..."

God called me to serve that day in a way I desire to.  He called me to do something that would be deemed risky for my health (meeting a stranger, getting close, etc), and that seemed physically impossible (run/jog down the hall and talk with that guy).

I wasn't coughing.  I wasn't out of breath.  My oxygen wasn't low. 

God equipped me for what he called me to do. 

Hebrews 13:21 "...may he equip you with all you need for doing his will.."

He did, and he does. Why?  Because nothing is impossible with God.

What is God equipping you to do? 

The impossible becomes possible because God is love.