BE MORE

In a world that competes for every moment, we race from one thing to the next because the world convinces us that we need to DO MORE, ACHIEVE MORE, BE MORE. In this race--in the rush, the enemy will hijack you and your purpose. Because he calls you to DO MORE, BE MORE, GIVE MORE to the point of exhaustion and emptiness and numbness.

BE MORE? Isn't that elusive?

How do you know when enough is enough?

Did you give the enemy room in your life all while "saving the world"?

Did you allow the enemy to blur the lines and muddy your purpose while you receive the approval of men?

Do you know who you are?

Do you know who you want to be?

BE MORE....

Do you hear the call to peace and quiet?

Do you feel the beckoning to slow down?

Is your body telling you it's time to rest, to listen?

O Christian, are you alert to the promptings of the Holy Spirit who lives inside of you?

A Holy God is calling you to AWAKE, to STOP and TO BE.

BE AVAILABLE.   BE KIND.  BE LOVING.  BE HELPFUL.  BE GENEROUS. 

BE REAL. BE HONEST.

AWAKE, MY LOVE, BE QUIET, BE HUMBLE, BE PRESENT.

BASK IN MY LOVE AND SHARE IT WITH OTHERS.

This is all you need to BE ALIVE.

"And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." Romans 13:11-14

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound" Isaiah 61:1

A Blessing Or A Burden?

How many times have I judged another person’s actions based on my perceptions?  Too many I am afraid.  It becomes so painfully apparent when I am on the receiving end of such a judgment call.  Lord help me to be sensitive to your leading more than my need to be approved or to have my opinion heard.  Although I agree that fellow Christians are to endeavor to help one another stay on the straight and narrow--we should be doubly sure that we are not being legalistic and setting forth a standard that God has not called us to.  

I know I have been guilty of judging others in the past.  And honestly I really didn’t know what my friend or family member was dealing with.  I used to be a rule-follower believing that would enable me to be a better Christian.  But I have learned the best way to be a better Christian is to be real with the Lord and with people.  That means I cannot be perfect and I need to be ok with that.  The Lord God created me so He’s not surprised by my failings and shortcomings.  In fact, I believe His mercy reaches out to minister then--and I am more able to look to Him for my strength and healing because of those same weaknesses.

Now I can be honest and I can say I am not where I want to be in my relationship with the Lord but I am not running from Him.  I’m just learning to slow down and let Him work in me and on me--healing my body, my mind and my spirit.  In the past, I was overwhelmed and in too big of a hurry to allow Him to work because people were depending on me.  I’m learning to say “no” and I’m learning to rest.  The Lord is delivering me from being a people pleaser and from a performance-based mindset.  I am trying to listen for the Lord’s direction in the things that I do and say.   Even though some difficult issues have presented themselves in my life, I am not abandoning my faith in the One who has all the answers.

So, friends, let’s be cautious about making assumptions and do not judge others when they  don’t do what you think they should be doing.   Walk beside them and show them your love, concern and support.  And above all, use your words to pray to our Father to meet the needs represented in their lives.  When our brothers and sisters in Christ are experiencing challenging times, be a blessing not a burden.

Romans 14:13  Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.