Clear Your Stage

One day last week the team brought VBS for one day's activities.  I love these days.   One of the great things about being flexible is we never know for sure how it's really going to work because we don't know how many kids will actually show up.  I worked the photo booth so it was a popular spot.  There were smiles all around.  

There was one little girl who stood out to me. 

Her eyes barely cleared the table top as she was so small.  There were all kinds of stickers of all shapes and sizes.  She waited patiently as I watched her.  Her sweet innocence quickly stole my heart.  I am a sucker for cute faces and she wore her best today.  She waited and waited for her turn.  Finally we got a translator and asked her if she had her photo taken yet.  She shook her head no.

We took her picture and she waited for picture to print.  She started to decorate the frame that we had crafted out of Popsicle sticks.  She waited some more.  She never said a word, she never complained.  She left and then she came back again.  Waiting still.

Finally her picture was done and we helped her put her picture in the photo frame.  And she was happy and bounced out to show it off.

A few minutes later I looked up and I noticed she had come back again and was looking at the other finished framed photos that we had laid on a little stage near our table.  She touched and straightened each photo.  She was carefully arranging them, lining them up for the pictured to claim.

And then it hit me..

How many times do we leave God waiting?  He peers into our hearts and asks us to trust and obey?  Do you think he looks at us with longing in His heart wishing we would submit to His authority?  Think of Him waiting....waiting....waiting ..to say yes to Him.  Have you ever said no to God and it worked out well? 

How often do we fill our lives, the stages of our hearts, with the things of this world?  We clutter our worlds with clumsy habits that distract us from saying yes to God.  And all He wants is our undying devotion, our yes each and every time.  

He's waiting....

Maybe it's to sponsor a child with Mission of Mercy.
Maybe it's saying yes to a step of faith where God is leading you.  

Maybe it's a career change.

Maybe it's a pay cut.
Maybe it's accepting a closed door in your life, and moving on.
Maybe it's submitting your heart to just follow God in a different direction than you had planned.
Maybe...it's for you to get involved....in church...

Do you ever think about how we clutter our stages?

God comes near to us.  He waits patiently everyday for us to long for His Presence.  He waits for us to drop our luggage of our worries, plans, and selfish dreams and empty our hands, so that we can hear His voice.   Do you know what you need to say yes to?

Don't let your stage be so full of everything of the world.  Make God a priority.  Let Him come in and tenderly rearrange the your heart to perfect His plan and for His glory. Clear your stage...so He can be center. 

He's waiting.

Something You Need To Know To Be Brave

Have you ever noticed that life's biggest moments often happen quietly?

No one noticed that you sent that encouraging email. Or only you know that you forgave your offender. You've been fasting for how many days now? You signed up to go on that mission trip to where?

Most times, when we step out in faith we do it in silence.

I like it when God’s silent whisper is somehow louder in our hearts than the clamoring hard beats inside our chest. You were finally brave enough to say yes.

Don't look longingly back at your comfort zone and wish you were still there. You can't see God's next step when you have your neck turned to your past.

It's oddly silent here though and something is missing.

Don't you wish sometimes you had your own cheering section? One who lifts their poms poms in the air and say "we are proud of you". Would it make a difference to say out loud that you wrote that letter of forgiveness to your friend? Or do people really need to know that that you serve the homeless dinner every Tuesday night? 

Would that make you feel worthwhile to know that your acts of service were noticed?

Would you love more if you if you felt more loved?


Today, let me just give you a pat on the back. You are doing better than you think you are. You're not a failure. I just needed to say that to you.  If you are feeling low and don't think anyone cares, there is One who does. Even when you don't care for yourself. He knows what you are going through.

If you are facing a situation and you have to be brave one more day you think you are going to crumble under the pressure, then I just want you to lean in close....I know what you are going through and you are going to make it.

God says this....to your heart today...."You may feel insignificant, but I love you."

Whether you are taking a big step forward, or a small step back...don't forget to keep in step with the one who is your real over-the-top cheerleader. He is cheering you on 24/7/365 days and counting...and he always has something good to say about you.

So if you have to be brave or strong, you need to know that you are doing good. You are. Don't base the outcome of your day on how you feel about yourself.

Don't rely on your feelings to guide you. Keep moving towards the One who loves you more than you could ever imagine. There’s no limit to what He can do in and through you if you let him, and you pack your willing heart.

It always takes a step of faith to get to the Promised Land. And if you wait until you’re unafraid, you’ll never cross the bravery line. Perhaps you’re in the middle of a wondering moment too, where God is asking you to be brave and you are feeling really timid and unworthy.

If you are taking your own step of courage, then please hear me...I am cheering for you. You may not be able to hear, you may not be able to see, but know this....you are not doing this alone.

Be brave...with nothing holding you back. Don't forget who God is and what he can do. With His courage you can. You can do what he has called you to do. You can do it if you rely on Him to give you what you need. He is cheering for you too.