Happy Sunday afternoon. There weren't many people at my church this morning. It was kind of sad to see how many people were missing, but the preaching went really well. I even took notes! You see, in my car on the way to church, Hillsong United's song "Running" was playing. I thought to myself, am I really running toward God, or am I staying my usual safe-busy distance away and keeping both feet planted firmly on the cute little shore from which the water looks pretty refreshing? Yeah, second option. My business often gets in the way of all that I would like to do...so my focus is pretty screwed up. And then I was hit with a pretty massive wave of conviction for being so spiritually immature. Even though I might be eighteen and going to be an honors college student leaving home, I am still very much a spiritual teenager. I think I've progressed past thirteen and gotten a lot of rebellion out of my system, but my current condition could be called complacency. Honesty with God is important, or so I've found.
It was at the church I currently attend that I found what God meant when he said he loved me. It was at a purple-carpeted altar that I happened to find God's freely given grace poured out upon me. From that moment, I heart-knew about mercy and love and forgiveness. Of course, I went on to screw up with pride and impatience, but everyone has to fail somewhere as a younger Christian. I am happy to say that I grew from those mistakes and my focus is now more internal than external. I would still look at others who seemed to be doing so well with their walks with God, and question why I couldn't have that. I didn't get that you have to work the ground to make the garden grow. Metaphorically. And literally, but that's off-topic. Today in church, God sat me down and called me to move. I wrote down two things at the top of my paper:
I didn't know that I would end up taking notes on the entire sermon and that God would so carefully instruct the assistant pastor at my church to encourage me and remind me why growth is important, so I want to share the notes I took with you. Sermon notes below. These will be helpful to me, and I hope they will also be the same for you. I made some personal notes of my own too :)
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AuthorTwenty-something kind-of-adult woman trying to navigate her future, her calling, and her God. Archives
August 2017
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