The Blog

Recently I’ve been reading the book “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan. Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1 that is changing my life right now:

“God is all-knowing. Isn’t this an intimidating thought? Each of us, to some degree, fools our friends and family about who we really are. But it is impossible to do that with God. He knows each of us deeply and specifically. He knows our thoughts before we think them, our actions before we commit them, whether we are lying down or sitting or walking around. He knows who we are and what we are about. We can not escape Him, not even if we want to. When I grow weary of trying to be faithful to Him and want a break, it doesn’t come as a surprise to God.
For David, God’s knowledge led him to worship. He viewed it as wonderful and meaningful. He wrote in Psalm 139 that even in the darkness he couldn’t hide from God; that while he was in his mother’s womb, God was there.
Hebrews 4:13 says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to who we must give account.” It is sobering to realize that this is the same God who is holy and eternal, the Maker of the billions of galaxies and thousands of tree species in the rainforest. This is the God who takes the time to know all the little details about each of us. He does not have to know us so well, but He chooses to.”

GOD CHOOSES US! This seems like such a simple truth, but for me, it is easy to lose sight of it. I'm 28 and single. I started serving the Lord whole-heartedly when I was 19 and shortly afterwards God told me not to date anyone because He wanted me to go to Masters Commission. Since then, I have been single and waiting. Waiting for someone to choose me. Waiting for God’s best. Sometimes the waiting is patient, knowing that God is faithful and trusting that He has a plan, even if I don’t see it. Sometimes the waiting is painful and it feels as if I will spend forever waiting for someone to want to know me. In those times God reminds me that He chooses me. Not just that He chose to die for my sins, or that He chose to create me in the first place; but that He (actively) chooses to pursue me. He chooses to know me…on purpose, desiring for me to choose Him in return.

It’s hard to feel lonely knowing that an all-knowing God, who sees my actions, my thoughts and my intentions, still chooses to know and love me. It is truly humbling.

Lately, God's been challenging me with being a servant; not a servant just in my actions but a servant in my heart and attitude. When I served in my church back home, most times it was in a visible place: singing and/or playing on the worship team, teaching Sunday School, helping with VBS, etc. I got used to being seen and recognized for my service; I even became unwilling to serve in ways that might not be noticed.

The other day I was reading in Second Timothy 2. Verses 20 and 21 really stuck out to me; they say, "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work." I know that these verses don’t seem like they have anything to do with being a servant, but God used them to convict me. He showed me that serving is an attitude of the heart, not the things that you do.

God calls us to serve in many different ways, some of which don’t seem 'honorable' in the world’s eyes or even in the sight of the church. Jesus washed His disciples' feet - He insisted on washing their feet - a task generally left to the lowliest of servants. His willing attitude toward serving in the dishonorable places is what made Him a vessel of honor and useful for His Master. In the same way, it's only when, like Jesus, we’re willing to serve in the 'dishonorable' places that we become a "vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work." Our attitude toward serving, especially in the most common and ordinary ways, determines how useful we are to God.

So, what’s your attitude look like when you serve?

~Kaitlin

A lot of the time we can let our faith focus too much on the church, as in the physical location. There is this sometimes unspoken, although often otherwise, ethic in our society that says to keep your beliefs to yourself and in your church. And the church, being God's people, have bought into that lie.

Colossians 4:5-6 says Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. What's that mean for us? It means that the Bible tells us to be prepared to share our faith wherever we go! We like to believe the lie of the world that says our relationship with God is strictly personal and that we need to keep it to ourselves, probably because it's easier than doing what that verse instructs us to do. But can we honestly say that we really believe what we say we believe if we don't do what God instructs us to do?

If you're a Christian, meaning that you really love and serve God, then that's what you are, wherever you are, whatever you're doing. Whether you're at work, or school, or home, or the park, or the store, you need to be prepared to share Jesus. Cause you never know when the opportunity will arise.

For those who have family or friends....or anyone they know who needs to know Jesus!

2 Peter 3:8-9
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

In this passage, Peter is talking about how we should think in the “last days,” because there were many people who did not believe that Jesus would actually return….because he hadn’t yet. And in their minds, it had been a long time waiting for His return. God wants us to know that He isn’t slow, and that we have no way of understanding His idea of timing. But He has held back His return because of His patient desire for our salvation. This is so encouraging to me, because I know that if Jesus were to return today, I might be the only one in my family to spend eternity with Him. But I also know the Lord is patient with us, and longs for the lost to come to Him. My family, your family, everyone.

I encourage you; keep your focus on The Kingdom of God. Look for opportunities to share the love, mercy, grace & salvation of Jesus with the lost; not just your family, but anyone God puts in front of you. Do not be like those in 2 Peter who did not act like Jesus coming was near. We are not promised tomorrow. Make the most of every opportunity today. Keep your focus on His Kingdom.