A New Realization

This morning, I had a new realization.  Since being back at school, I've had the same message being practically screamed at me from all different directions.

I had to come back two days early to school in order to go through a training session for being a Growth Group leader.  In the session, Mr. Matthews talked about the value of all different personality types.  One of the people he highlighted was Dr. James Strong who published the Stong Concordances.  Mr. Matthew suggested that Strong was probably an introvert in order to be able to "count numbers" and sit at a desk alone for so long.

My devotion this morning came from the Live Loved devotional by Max Lucado.  On the day entitled "Face Challenges in Stages" Lucado wrote:

When asked how he managed to write so many books, Joel Henderson explained that he'd never written a book.  All he did was write one page a day...  Earning a college degree can seem inpossible, but studying one semester is manageable, and logging in one good week is doable.  You las the long race by running the short ones.

The point of the devotional was not the point I am about to make.  Maily, Lucado was expounding on Matthew 6:43 where it says not to worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itselt.  He was trying to explain that we should take one day at a time.  However, I found ironic the examples he chose to use.  Writing books, finishing a college education...both things that I feel God calling me to do and both things that I often feel discouraged about or inadequit for.

So, often I compare myselft to others and even pray that God will make me like them.  There's nothing wrong with wanting to better yourself.  God even commands us in the Bible to conform more likely to the image of Christ.  The problem arises when we try to become something that we are not, someone that God hasn't made us to be.

I've finally realized and accepted and am excited about the person God has made me to be.  I'm quiet, and I'm not always outgoing.  But, I love leading small groups and I am really good at accomplishing tasks.  The book work that seems boring to most, fascinates me!  God creates us all differently and for different purposes.  I'm not being "boring" because I like to do different things than others.  I don't need to change the way God made me, because God made me perfect for His plan.  I pray that God will continue to open my eyes to His will for my life so that I can bring Him His due glory.  I pray that I will become confident in the woman He has created me to be.  I could try and be something I'm not just because the world finds it most interesting, but if I'm going to fail at it what's the point?  Today I'm choosing to be who God made me because I'd rather make Him proud than the world.  I long for the day when I might hear "Well done, good and faithful servant."


Lord God Almighty,
Thank you for people like Max Lucado who write books.  Thank you for devotionals, commentaries, concordances, WORDS!, so that we can understand Your revelation to us better.  Lord, I think You made me to be an introvert.  And, it's not that I don't like to have fun - it's that my definition of "fun" is different.  I often worry that I am not living "uncomfortably" enough, but I am WAY out of my comfort zone most days.  I often worry that I don't talk to enough people to share about You, but I have this blog that reaches people that I don't even know about.  Lord, without people like Strong - an introvert - we would not have awesome resources like Strong's Concordance.  Thank You for showing me that it's ok to be the woman You created me to be.  God, let me love Your Word and Your people.  Let me fall more in love with You.  Become my life, Lord Jesus.  Father, help me to keep taking one day at a time.  Give me only enought light for the step I'm on.  Help me not look forward or backward without Your "ok."  Lord, let me be Your light today.  Walk with me.  Help me to pray unceasingly, choose joy, and live consciously with an eternal perspective.
I love You, Lord.

The Best Grandmommy Ever!

So, I hate to brag, but I just want the world to know that I have the BEST Grandmommy ever! :)

One of my biggest downfalls is that I get discouraged way too easily.  I forget to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, and my perseverance fades.  Most times when this happens I mope around a bit, call my mom up, whine to her, and then listen to her "pep talks."

Being home on break this past month has been different.  I didn't have to call my mom.  I was able to just walk to the next room to talk to her.  What was also different was that our family has recently moved, and we are sharing a home with my grandma.  My grandma is over on our side of the house every once in awhile, and it happened that she heard a lot of my complaining.  My grandma isn't the kind of woman who will cut in on conversation between my mom and I.  She is pretty quiet; for the most part, she speaks when spoken to (Gee, I wonder where I get it!)  Anyways, here and there she would give her two cents, but mostly she just listened.

So, I was suprised when I had to head back to school on Monday and she purposefuly grabbed my arm, pulled me aside and spoke some very wise words to me without my request.  With tears in her eyes and a choke in her throat she mustered out something like "Now Allie, I was watching Charles Stanley this morning, and he said something that you need to know.  He said that if you are confident that you are doing God's will, when you wake up in the morning you need to be happy.  It's hard, but you need to keep going and just keep going."  We hugged, and before she left she looked me in the eyes and said "Just be happy, ok?  Keep going."

I know this isn't probably new news to anyone that we are supposed to keep our eyes fixed on Christ and just keep going even when the going gets tough, but it was new news to me that I had an audience that could tell when I was moping around and not choosing joy while following after God.  It was new news to me that I have a grandma who is willing to step out of her comfort zone, pull me aside, and give me the words she felt God wanted me to hear. 

I've always loved my grandma, and I've always been thankful for her.  But, I think this is the beginning of a new friendship, thank you Jesus!