I’ve said this before on this blog but I need to say it again today.
I quit everything I do in my life at least once a week. AT LEAST.
Funny thing about life, ministry and motherhood…God never seems to accept my resignation. [smile] I almost feel like He looks at me and says, “That’s fine girl, you quit today. You’ll be back on the horse tomorrow.”
Day 8
“We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith your labor prompted by love and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” -1 Thessalonians 1:3
Question 1 -What does this verse say?
There are five words I’m focusing on in this passage:
work
faith
labor
love
hope
Question 2 -What does this verse mean?
Pretty sure my foot-notes do a great job of summing this one up. It says: “This is not wishful thinking but a firm confidence in our Lord.”
Question 3 -What does this verse mean to me?
I’ve been reading Seth Godin’s book, The Dip. It’s awesome, if you haven’t read it…you need to. He talks about the dips in our lives and when we know when its time to quit things and when we need to know to press on harder than before.
This 30-day journey is all about getting back to God’s best in my life. I openly confessed that 2010 was not my best year because I didn’t always give it my best. Maybe some of that has to do with my constant resignations. [smile]
Every time I have ever read this verse its caused me to think about my best. The five words that stick out: work, faith, labor, love and hope are reminding me of how difficult the journey to God’s best for our lives can be.
Here’s where I’m thinking I need to start.
1. A motive check. Why am I doing the things I do?
Some of the reasons I feel like I want to quit is because I have to much going on. Being a mom to three girls in itself is stretching but I add on about ten other hats each day. I love speaking, writing, leading, serving and investing into others. I do. But I have to make sure each day that each of those areas I am stretching myself include only the reason of representing Jesus the best that I can.
If I can’t give it my best…then I probably shouldn’t be doing it.
and
2. Be more sacrificial.
Sometimes I take things on because I think, “Oh that’s easy…no problem.”
But, I’m thinking the areas that God wants me to invest into more are the areas that make me sick to my stomach. Because of nerves or the challenge.
Lately, I’ve felt the need to speak up on the need to be sacrificial. I see a lot of self-absorption happening everywhere. If its not convenient, beneficial personally or if toes are stepped on…people back out.
There has to be a greater need to stretch ourselves to be an investment to others. When we start to think that this whole thing called: “Following Christ” is about us…we have gotten way off track.
Wishful thinking will get me no where. But a firm confidence in who God is will. I can wish all I want to be this person that I so badly want to be. But if I am not challenging myself today with these two thoughts then I am not walking towards confidence in Christ.
So today, I’m asking myself this:
Am I doing this for the right reasons?
and
Is this really a sacrifice for my life?
If then answer is yes…then I can move forward through the dip. If the answer is no, its time to quit those things.
