what a little break can do for ya...

I took a couple of weeks off from my ministry responsibilities... not a 'vacation' necessarily, but a break. It was a spiritually-profitable time, being that I have never removed myself from my responsibilities that long before. Why? Well, you typically can't have perspective until you are completely removed from the situation. Anyway, God used this time to speak some things into my heart and I thought I'd share them with you:

1) I am too focused on what people think. I realize how this might sound... like I'm being self-centered. That's not what I mean. What I mean is that I am focusing too much on people's opinions and not enough on pleasing Jesus and it has caused me no shortage of frustration! I have often thought that by trying to please people and keep them happy, I am pleasing Jesus. NOPE! That's backwards thinking. Strive to please Jesus, to know his will and live it out, and the rest will care for itself, even if others don't like what you do or who you are. After all, I won't answer to anyone in Heaven but him. This doesn't mean that people's opinions won't be important for me, but I have to keep the Main Thing the main thing.

2) I trust God with my life, but not too much with other people's or the church. I am responsible with conveying the truth of Jesus Christ to folks and living a life of love and service to others. I am not responsible, though, for what people then do with that. They have to choose. I can't choose for them. I have to trust God's working in their lives and situations. Let go... and let God.

3) I am blessed to be have the people in my life who are genuine and honest with me, bold enough to tell me what I need to hear, even if I won't like it, but never out of selfishness. Everyone needs someone like this in their lives--a person who loves Jesus first and will speak God's truth to you out of their great love for you. I have a few of these rare people in my life and I treasure them more than any possession I own. They are God's great gift to me.

Well, God did some pretty great stuff in my life during my break. I can't say that I've got it all figured out, but I am much closer. God always gives us the grace we need for the moment. He is always right on time!