Here she is. She’s more beautiful in real life, y’all, if that’s at all possible. And she smells better in real life, too. She and I have been chatting a lot this month about changes. We’re both facing “deciding moments” in our lives. I asked her to share a bit about hers, and Brent will add more to this story tomorrow:
I don’t think people struggle with mediocrity or complacency because they don’t know what to “DO”. I think the struggle is in not acknowledging that they already know what to DO.
For the last several months both Brent and I have felt a deep stirring within us that has resulted in a checks and balance of how we are serving God and others. We sat down together and asked some tough questions.
Are we doing all we are equipped to do?
Are we reaching outside our sphere of influence?
Are we allowing ourselves to be challenged?
Are we missing something???
Instantly, after asking those questions, we spotted our struggle to answer them, or were not happy with the answers, and we knew immediately God was up to something. He was Doing something. So we were left to make a choice, right then and there, of whether or not we’d do anything about it.
We admitted to not doing all we knew we were capable of doing. And it didn’t come as a surprise that God would expect more from us.
We recognized that we have become too comfortable in our little Christian bubble. We seldom rubbed shoulders with people who held “different” beliefs, or none at all.
We had become stagnant and stale in our passion for His word and truth.
We discovered we were missing out on a dynamic journey with God!
It has been easy for us, in the past, to simply move on after such conversations. But we both knew this time was different. There was a call to action. A call to do something. And it wouldn’t let go.
God has been prepping us our whole lives to be significant for Him. It’s time to take Him seriously and make a change…in us and around us.
How would you answer some of Tam’s questions??
These questions are a great kick in my pants. I need to process these more. I love that this example is not just the focus on what am I doing/not doing? But the picture of a family coming together to very purposely discuss and make the choice to be challenged, guided, molded and used for affect, and to be sacrificial about it. Thanks Tam and Mandy!
It has been easy for us, in the past, to simply move on after such conversations. But we both knew this time was different. There was a call to action. A call to do something. And it wouldn’t let go.
Although it’s so easy to read, these sentences are really tough to process. Although I don’t mind change really, it’s the fear of the unknown that strangles me. So when I go past the fear and truthfully and honestly trust in God, is when this victory comes.
God was standing there waiting and smiling.
I love the questions that Tam raised and they are questions we all need to ask ourselves from time to time. Its scary to make those first steps, and sometimes I don’t follow well, sometimes I have to fall down and rip my spiritual jeans, and cry to my DADDY…but just about the time it all seems useless ..HE is faithful to lift my head..and say look…hear comes the reason you needed to step off your boat and walk on a little water…never easy for me..but always worth it! Love you mandy…and you are right…she smells awesome!..soft voice…and truly a picture of God’s love…yea I adore her.
so how did Tam get inside MY head too? Seriously.
She must have been listening to the conversations I’ve been having with my husband over the past 3 weeks. hmmmm.
i don’t know the answers either. because so far, they are just questions.
maybe just the act of asking them is already halfway there.
most people don’t even want to be presented with tough stuff.
Could that stirring possibly be a move to the Oklahoma City area?
Just askin’.
This is the very thing God has been dealing with me on for more than a year now. The biggest hold up was my foolish belief God could not use this old woman and I had missed it! I was wrong, very wrong.
So in answer to your questions Tam:
Are we doing all we are equipped to do?
that i can not answer because He seems to keep revealing more of the things He’s equipped me to do that I never recognized before
Are we reaching outside our sphere of influence?
Doing more reaching out than I have in my entire life and looking to more
Are we allowing ourselves to be challenged?
In ways I could never imagine…and it’s such a blessing!!
Are we missing something???
What else?? Show me more of what it’s like to be doing what You planned for me.
once again, thanks ladies!
i don’t necessarily have any answers for tam… but i’m quite excited to watch her journey! obedience like theirs is richly rewarded!
I love that she isn’t just asking the questions…but she is actively seeking solutions (with her Groom) to seek the Cross and follow the promptings of the Lord. I know in my chaos I have gotten all worked up over this or that and then didn’t “do” anything about whatever it was that God was speaking to me about…but not this girl. Tam is actively seeking God and shifting stuff in her life to pursue Him more fully. What a rock star she is and an amazing example for all of us. Yay.
Pingback: welcome to my chambers « inProgress
i can’t wait to see where the Lord leads you, tam, as you and your family seek His direction… i hope it will be thrive africa!
but i know wherever it is, you guys are going to make a huge impact.
Tam,
so good. so true. i’m with ya.
I always wonder what god has in store for me and the older I get the harder it is for me to believe that anything significant could come from my life. But, I think that God is using me in subtle ways that maybe I can’tsee. Hopefully one day someone will say “wow what she said or wrote really touched me and turned me in a new direction.” If I were to touch only one with the significance of Jesus’ grace that would be good for me!
thanks everyone for your comments.
one thing i forgot to mention…is, although the “DOing” part takes action on our behalf and we will reap the affects from it. i really dont think it is about us. sure, Gods intent may be to grow us – but it seems to always be for someone else’s benefit…thats why He “sends” us, puts us in environments and situation where we can touch others. even if the sending is to the end of your street – you have still extended a piece of you, wrapped beautifully with God and gave it away.
i woke up with this this morning and had to add it. hope you follow…
if not. ask mandy!
When I went to Pakistan for Daddy’s funeral, it hit me that even though I’ve been exposed to a lot of things outside of being a Christian because of my history of growing up in a Muslim home and the process of my conversion etc, I had forgotton how many people were out there, hurting, suffering, miserable, and didn’t have a clue as to who God was. They have a “God” but they don’t know the true, living God. It was then that God put an unction in my spirit to want to do something to reach thpse masses of Pakistani-Muslims. He hasn’t given me clear direction on how that’s going to work out and He is still working on me concerning my grief and other things, but I have made myself available to His leading concerning that. Your questions/post have/has come at a good time in my life as I am allowing God to prepare me for a new season of ministry. It’s exciting and scary at the same time but I’m ready. Whenever He tells me to move, I will move. Praise God.
those* massses
I share Tam’s struggle to answer those questions (truthfully and honestly). There seem to be more negatives than positives in my answers and that shames my ego.
The exception being the last question – i can answer that more ‘positively’ – YES! Undoubtedly – important things.
That’s not a good thing!
Good post however.
<B
Umm… I agree with Tam.
And I think for a doing to be most effective it has to come from pure motives not from my desire to gain something for myself.
When I do my doing selfishly it flops and is not God like powerful.
Maybe doing is like sharing, the kind of sharing Tam described, being generous, and giving of yourself, the time, gifts, experiences God has given you.
Or do for those who are not easy to do for. They may have hurt you or rejected you or you don’t feel like they deserve it. They are weird or they smell. DO for them because that is how God loves.
And isn’t that what DOing is all about? Showing people the love of God and giving them hope?
Acts 20:34-35
Tam – I’m challenged by your willingness as a family to meet the challenge. Awesome.