Our Responsibility in God's Work

Let us see that we

keep God before our eyes;

that we walk in His ways

and seek to please

and glorify Him in everything,

great and small.

Depend upon it, God’s work,

done in God’s way,

will never lack God’s supplies.

~quoted in "Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret"

Ephesians 2:10

This verse has been an encouragement to me this year—and a challenge.

This verse tells me who I am: “we are His workmanship.” I belong. I was lovingly created.


This verse tells me I have a purpose: “created in Christ Jesus for good works.” Every day, every breathing moment, I have a purpose. I am to serve my King! I do this foremost by cultivating the relationship I have with Him (think of the Ephesian church in Revelation 2:1-7. They labored for the Gospel but Jesus tells them in verse 4 that “I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first”); then I live out that relationship in practical ways to those whom God has put in my life.


This verse tells me that God has specific things in mind for me to do: “which God prepared beforehand.” I need not fear that I am useless or without talent or what I do does not matter. God has something in mind and He saved me so that I could do them! Does that sound unimportant?


This verse also tells me that I have a responsibility: “that we should walk in them.” The works are prepared, ready to go—but I must live out in faith and do them. I can react in fear, in disappointment, in self-pity, in frustration…you name it. But I have a responsibility to act in obedience to the will of God, performing that for which I was saved!



Life After Graduation

A journey. An adventure. A bend in the road.

When I graduated in May, I had vague ideas about my creative writing aspirations, about my growing interest in church planting, about the door that seemed to be opening to grad school, and about enjoying life at home for awhile.


Uphills. Downhills. A step forward, a few steps backward. Learning lessons--all over again.


A glimpse into my life since graduation…

*Family and fun and relaxation

*An awesome missions trip

*Summer birthdays

*A friend’s wedding

*A new pet :)

 

*A garage sale one weekend, painting the next (the reasons for my most recent lack-of-posting)

Even though life isn’t about pet fish or painting a bedroom, God is even behind the seemingly unimportant things--but I need to remember where my focus should be.

I wasn't saved so that life could be all about me. Jesus saved me so that I could be all about Him! Because I am still wrapped in finite flesh and bone, I battle Self. All the time. Over everything.

I look forward to the day that Self will be completely crucified for good--but for now I am called to daily "deny [myself] and take up [my] cross and follow [Jesus]" (Matthew 16:24). Galatians 5:24 says that "those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Not an easy-sounding job description, but God promises strength for the battle and grace for the journey. Every moment is a new grace-and-mercy moment from God!

And once again, I am reminded to be thankful for His gifts that He sends and the work He keeps doing in my heart…


…for the precious kids at Sunday night kids' class 
…for the opportunity to sing at church in a girls ensemble
…for being accepted into grad school and seeing so many little details I prayed over answered
…for a mom and a sister to study books with and learn to see a bigger picture of how God intends for us to live
…for watching Him at work in my family members’ lives
…for being allowed second chances, for His love that overflows, for His faithfulness that He bestows!

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (Jude 24 and 25).