my caboose
Yesterday we were at First Wesleyan Church is Bessemer City... not our home church. Once again God spoke through both the Sunday School and the worship service to minister directly to my struggles from the past week. Remember my post on not fitting in? Humph. The sermon's title Dare To Be Different from Philippians 2:15b was a challenge to not fit in.
"You will shine among them like stars in the sky."
Affirmation, you say?! Yes. Why, yes. I do believe so. God is always good.
The Sunday School lesson was a little harder to swallow. For this reason I imagine that God allowed the affirmation to come second. So as I wouldn't have been completely tore up leaving the morning worship. LOL The Sunday School lesson was on faith. I wish I had something to write on so that I could remember all the good stuff, but one thing really stuck. Like glue.
Emotions are great but they cannot rule. Faith must come first. Emotions are a great caboose on the train of life, but your pulling force - your engine - must be your faith. Faith is found in believing God's Word. When your emotions take over things get "hairy". I know this all seems like a no-brainer. I suppose that I knew it all along. But to have it "thrown in my face" by the Lord... I mean here I am in a strange place, with people I don't know, with people who don't know me or my needs or struggles - and THIS - this is the topic? It was sorta like God smacked me upside the head through the Sunday School leader's sweet tone. He was even gentle in his smack down. :)
My life has been an emotional roller coaster for the past year. Has been? What am I saying? It still is... I find myself on cloud nine for Jesus sharing our passion for Bible translation and then moments later heart broken and feeling defeated when people don't get it... I have learned to cry silent tears. Which I didn't know was a possibility for me. The pain sometimes just leaks out even when I try to hold it in.
But yesterday was a shake down for me. I have let myself repeatedly fall away from the promises from the Word, and let my heart ache take over. It's hard for me to admit that I am an emotional wreck since I like to be in control. I guess giving up control hurts. (Yeah. It does.)
' "There is hope for your future,” says the Lord.' Jeremiah 31:17 NLT
I don't wanna mess this (above promise) with any detours or cause for a rough ride with my wild and crazy emotions... circumstances are just that circumstances, but my God is still the same and His promises haven't changed. It's time for my emotions to be my caboose!
"You will shine among them like stars in the sky."
Affirmation, you say?! Yes. Why, yes. I do believe so. God is always good.
The Sunday School lesson was a little harder to swallow. For this reason I imagine that God allowed the affirmation to come second. So as I wouldn't have been completely tore up leaving the morning worship. LOL The Sunday School lesson was on faith. I wish I had something to write on so that I could remember all the good stuff, but one thing really stuck. Like glue.
Emotions are great but they cannot rule. Faith must come first. Emotions are a great caboose on the train of life, but your pulling force - your engine - must be your faith. Faith is found in believing God's Word. When your emotions take over things get "hairy". I know this all seems like a no-brainer. I suppose that I knew it all along. But to have it "thrown in my face" by the Lord... I mean here I am in a strange place, with people I don't know, with people who don't know me or my needs or struggles - and THIS - this is the topic? It was sorta like God smacked me upside the head through the Sunday School leader's sweet tone. He was even gentle in his smack down. :)
My life has been an emotional roller coaster for the past year. Has been? What am I saying? It still is... I find myself on cloud nine for Jesus sharing our passion for Bible translation and then moments later heart broken and feeling defeated when people don't get it... I have learned to cry silent tears. Which I didn't know was a possibility for me. The pain sometimes just leaks out even when I try to hold it in.
But yesterday was a shake down for me. I have let myself repeatedly fall away from the promises from the Word, and let my heart ache take over. It's hard for me to admit that I am an emotional wreck since I like to be in control. I guess giving up control hurts. (Yeah. It does.)
' "There is hope for your future,” says the Lord.' Jeremiah 31:17 NLT
I don't wanna mess this (above promise) with any detours or cause for a rough ride with my wild and crazy emotions... circumstances are just that circumstances, but my God is still the same and His promises haven't changed. It's time for my emotions to be my caboose!
Comments
Post a Comment