Deep Thinking

God has really been working on my brain lately about a couple of different things. 

The first is that where the majority of the world's population would merely see the 12 earthquakes in the last 20 days as a "tragedy" or a "strangely similar series of events" it's truly the coming to pass of the prophecy regarding the end of days on Earth for Christians as described in Matthew 24:

⁶You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Now, for the Christian, this should do two things.  First and most importantly, it should fire us up and push us on to share what we know is the truth and see people come to Him.  While it might be tempting to do so, we should do our best to not "frighten people into the Kingdom" but rather show them the facts, the prophecies coming to pass and what will continue to come to pass in the days ahead.  It's merely our job to share what we know, plant the seed and let God water it.  The thing I've most thought about in relation to this is, "With everything around us, quite literally all creation SCREAMING that the time for Christ's return is near, how many Christians are seeing it for what it really is and doing what they are called to do?  And alternately...how many are either ignoring the signs God is allowing us to see or have only a surface relationship (haven't taken the time to read and know His Word)?

I know many of us have heard it all our lives, but the time is short, friends.  I truly do believe that we can enter Heaven as Christians having never lead another person to Christ, but how much greater will our reward be when we can see others we witnessed to, planted a seed by just loving them, or changed their life by being Jesus Christ "in blue jeans and tennis shoes"?  You and I may be the only Jesus some people ever see or the only Bible some will ever read.  What does your life reflect?

The other thing that God has been working on my thinking about is living in the past.  There are praise and worship CD's and songs I can listen to and immediately be taken back to 2001-2003 when I was highly active in a full gospel, charismatic church and assisted with leading praise and worship in main service as well as working with the youth in the same area.  Quite honestly, I think at that time in my life I was closer to God than I've ever been at any other time, but I know that God has ordered my steps and brought me to where I am today for a very definite reason.  The church I am in now I completely adore.  It is a much smaller church than those I attended before, but in many ways that is wonderful.  Everyone knows everyone, loves everyone and is there for everyone.  Visitors are welcomed with open arms and loved immediately.  But there are times when I find myself wondering why I didn't end up in professional music and leading a huge praise and worship team like I was SURE God was leading me to do.  That passion and desire isn't gone.  When I think back on the times when I was so involved, it's sometimes with a hint of sadness that that time has passed.  However, God revealed to me something that should have been quite obvious (and quite honestly, if I have a more involved and in depth relationship with God at this point, I likely would have seen and realized this a long time ago) that everything truly does have it's own season...  It does happen for a reason and it's a stepping stone to where we are today.  Even more so, it is a stepping stone to where we'll be tomorrow, and I am, and you are, to bloom where you are planted.  God always opens doors for us to do something where we are.  It may not seem as "important" as helping lead a praise and worship team, but making sure that the song slides are prepared and ready to go so that the congregation may worship with musicians and singers is vital.  Having leadership in a youth group is great, but leading the tiniest of children to know, love, respect and fear God is just as important.  I can speak for my pastor (seeing as I am related to him, live with him, and regularly talk with him about things like this) in saying there is ALWAYS a need for more help.  As a church grows, there are more jobs to fill, more tasks to do and more areas that the pastor needs help and needs to be able to delegate.  It may seem it's something small like standing at the door and shaking hands as people arrive, but it's huge in God's eyes.  

Grow where you are planted.  Remember you are part of the vine, and that gives you more strength than you could ever possibly imagine.  All you are expected to do as part of the vine is produce fruit.  What kind of fruit are you producing?