I used to love it when I felt inspired to write and share a thought that I felt God had given me. Sometimes it was a post, other times it came out as a sermon. These days those inspirations are few and far in between.
Today I write to appluade you.
You that…
- Is at home with kids a day
- sits at a desk all day
- stands in an assembly line
- stocks shelves
- works on vehicles or parts
- labors all day in the cold and heat
- goes from room to room caring for the sick
- makes and serves food all day long
- washes the dishes
- cares for the garbage and recycling
- handles money
- makes and inforces the laws
- does what nobody else understands
- attend class everday
But most of all I applaud you FOLLOWER Jesus who lives, learns, works and plays in these environment and remains faithful to following Jesus.
I applaud you because dang it is hard out here.
Five years ago I felt God was saying stop talking and go live what you preach. Five years ago I said okay I’m in. I’m going to be honest and say most days I say “I’m out this stinks.” Man living for Jesus in this messed up, broken and selfish world is hard. It’s hard to keep my heart centered on Jesus when everything around me screams otherwise. It’s hard to find time to sit and be still before God when everything around me is going 1000 mph.
I want to do a good job. I want to be light in the darkness. I want to remain faithful to my wife and kids. I want to follow Jesus wherever my life is stationed, but dang it is hard out here.
It is a lot different then what I pictured. I was in such a good place with God when I began this journey. Honestly I had never been closer to experience God with me in the day to day of life. And now….some days I almost forget what that intimacy was like. If your judging right now, I am alright with that because I guarantee that others are relating. If your judging right now check your heart because your probably a little too comfortable and disconnected from your family and friends more than you think. Come down holy roller and learn the realities of trying to follow Jesus in the world.
I have to be careful here because it’s easy to become spiteful. I am not. I am thankful for those who get the time to be still and know God. To have hearts centered on following Jesus and encouraging the rest of us. But please realize that its not easy out here. Be a friend not a judge and this goes both ways.
Back to the point…I applaude you for staying committed to your pursuit of following Jesus. There truly is no better place to be than experiencing the presence of God wherever you are. With as difficult as it is. With all the doubts and questions. With all the guilt that screams be more…do more…have a bigger impact for God, I bet your doing better than you think.
Yesterday a good friend, who happens to be an alcholic and unsure of his beliefs said this.
you have become a light in a world that I didn’t even know was dark and that I am truly appreciative for. Thank you for being my friend.
I applaud you for being a friend to those you live, learn, work and play with. I bet you too are bringing light into the darkness. Keep at it the Father is proud to call you His sons and daughters.
And know this, your not alone…cause dang it sure is hard out here.
