At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, "A hot wind from the bare heights in the desert toward the daughter of my people, not to winnow or cleanse, a wind too full for this comes for me. Now it is I who speak in judgment upon them." Behold, he comes up like clouds; his chariots like the whirlwind; his horses are swifter than eagles - woe to us, for we are ruined!
~ Jeremiah 4:11-13
Originally this was written about an enemy coming to physically destroy them. But I think it's also about God coming to ruin us. His wind is not coming to spot check and trim around the edges. No, He is coming to obliterate. Woe to our plans, our preconceived notions, our neat little boxes, because God is about to forever ruin them with His love, His mercy, His kindness, His goodness, His power. Ruin me, O God! Ruin me for any other pleasure this world has to offer. Now that I've tasted Your sweet love, nothing else will ever be able to compete.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Why "Tentmakers & World Changers"
Welcome, friends!
This is my very first blog, so please be patient with me as I figure out how everything works. Things might not show up as I plan, but bare with me because I have things to share with you.
I want to start by saying that I am not perfect, I am in the process of being perfected. I will be sharing with you some of my thoughts and revelations, and I cannot guarantee that everything will be 100% true and accurate. I am constantly learning and growing, just like you, but I hope that we can grow together. I believe that there is someone out there who needs to here the truths and encouragements that have been placed on my heart, and so I write.
Today I discovered a hero of the faith who I have adopted as my spiritual "spirit animal". Now obviously the people in the Bible are not animals, but the concept crosses over. According to Urban Dictionary (the ultimate source of all things definition - not really, but it's not in the real dictionary or Wikipedia so this is the best I could find), a spirit animal is "a representation of the traits and skills that you are supposed to learn or have, a representation of you or what you want to be." With that in mind, I want to introduce you to Priscilla. Her and her husband were great missionaries of the New Testament. They are only mentioned 6 times (Acts 18:2-3, 18, 26; Romans 16:3-4, 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19), but their influence expands much further. They were friends and colleagues of Paul's as he ministered across cities. He lived with them in Corinth for 18 months, and they moved with him to Ephesus. They were great teachers, who even ministered to one the greatest evangelists of the time, Apollos. Paul honors them and their ministry several times in his letters. But these two were not professional teachers. By trade, they were - you guessed it - tentmakers.
I love this because it proves that you can still be influential and bring about transformation in the world around you while having a "regular job". You don't have to be devoted full time to ministry (unless that's where you've been called) to accomplish God's plan for your life. He can use you in the area that He has planted you. In fact, He needs you to be in that specific area. He wants all the people of the earth to be saved, and to do that He will need catalysts in every sphere of influence. You can be both a tentmaker and a world changer.
It is my vision that every person will become aware of the distinct calling and their life and become fully equipped to make a difference in the world through their God-given strengths, talents, and passions. We are all wonderfully different, working towards the same end goal - for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. So let us link arms and draw our swords together as we tackle this crazy thing called life. It won't always be easy, but it will be worth it.
~ Do you have a spiritual spirit animal? I'd love to hear about it in the comments. ~
This is my very first blog, so please be patient with me as I figure out how everything works. Things might not show up as I plan, but bare with me because I have things to share with you.
I want to start by saying that I am not perfect, I am in the process of being perfected. I will be sharing with you some of my thoughts and revelations, and I cannot guarantee that everything will be 100% true and accurate. I am constantly learning and growing, just like you, but I hope that we can grow together. I believe that there is someone out there who needs to here the truths and encouragements that have been placed on my heart, and so I write.
Today I discovered a hero of the faith who I have adopted as my spiritual "spirit animal". Now obviously the people in the Bible are not animals, but the concept crosses over. According to Urban Dictionary (the ultimate source of all things definition - not really, but it's not in the real dictionary or Wikipedia so this is the best I could find), a spirit animal is "a representation of the traits and skills that you are supposed to learn or have, a representation of you or what you want to be." With that in mind, I want to introduce you to Priscilla. Her and her husband were great missionaries of the New Testament. They are only mentioned 6 times (Acts 18:2-3, 18, 26; Romans 16:3-4, 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19), but their influence expands much further. They were friends and colleagues of Paul's as he ministered across cities. He lived with them in Corinth for 18 months, and they moved with him to Ephesus. They were great teachers, who even ministered to one the greatest evangelists of the time, Apollos. Paul honors them and their ministry several times in his letters. But these two were not professional teachers. By trade, they were - you guessed it - tentmakers.
I love this because it proves that you can still be influential and bring about transformation in the world around you while having a "regular job". You don't have to be devoted full time to ministry (unless that's where you've been called) to accomplish God's plan for your life. He can use you in the area that He has planted you. In fact, He needs you to be in that specific area. He wants all the people of the earth to be saved, and to do that He will need catalysts in every sphere of influence. You can be both a tentmaker and a world changer.
It is my vision that every person will become aware of the distinct calling and their life and become fully equipped to make a difference in the world through their God-given strengths, talents, and passions. We are all wonderfully different, working towards the same end goal - for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. So let us link arms and draw our swords together as we tackle this crazy thing called life. It won't always be easy, but it will be worth it.
~ Do you have a spiritual spirit animal? I'd love to hear about it in the comments. ~
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)