Do you ever wake up in the morning not wanting to say a word for the rest of the day?! I did so I tried it out of course. I discovered it scares people. They truly think that there is something wrong with you. I discovered how much a human talks!!!! I discovered silence, vacancy, hurt, hope, truth, but not emptiness. Don’t even get me started about the power of observation. We learn so much about people that way. I wonder if that’s what scares people when they encounter quietness. I discovered that is the very talking that makes us feel empty and restless not the other way around.
Silence is golden. It’s vacant yet so present. So pointless at times yet completely meaningful. It never seizes to amaze me how quietness relaxes the mind without having to stop a thought process. It evokes an undeniable stillness yet never motionless. It speaks louder than words at times. It makes people very uncomfortable. We don’t know what to do with people who are very comfortable with quietness. I am not talking about the kind that derives from insecurity or false sense of self. I am talking about reaching a place somewhere in the realm of “you” that radiates all that you were created to be without having to utter one word. That calm, sweet yet powerful place that is ok to just be.
I gather that’s why God wants us to be quiet long enough. He truly does speak volumes in quietness. I imagine sometimes that there are rooms in Heaven just like they are in “Alice in wonderland”. They are labeled “Love”,“Promise”,“Faith”,“Grace”,“Truth”,“Goodness” etc. And when you open that door you enter into the realm of that label and fully experience it like you never have before. You get it like reading about it would not even come close. And when you enter into that realm, it’s wondrous, it’s breathtaking to just be and marvel not so much at the discovery but realization of it. We shift from we “think” to we “know”. He fellowships with us in that still quietness. I am discovering that one of my favorite attributes of God is His Mystery. He is always pursuing us with His Mystery. I haven’t research this one much to technically call an attribute but I think it is, and if its not it should be. In what room are you spending most of your time right now?
Love you all deeply!
June 24, 2009
June 17, 2009
A - J in Ministry
I am by far an expert in the subject. These are just some things I have learned in my own experiences in and from being ministered to. These might not be your views, but then this is my blog:) Here we go:
A. You might not understand or have limited knowledge of what God is doing in someone’s life. Stop telling people to not put God in a box. SHOW them by ACTIVELY believing in them, supporting them, protecting them…thus loving them! Don’t stop loving them just because they put God in a box. Trust me God can handle it.
B. Just because you don’t understand, agree or support someone’s God given dream, You must respect it! That is if you want to do ministry.
C. Stay OUT of people’s business!!! If you want to do ministry that is. Zip your mouth and hit the floor! As in literally! If you want to be an individual yes then have an opinion, but if you want to do ministry you don’t have that luxury.
D. Stop calling things accidents/coincidences instead of opportunities. To say that God allowed or created an accident is a paradox. Think about it and look up some definitions.
E. Remind people of who they are in Christ and not what they are afraid of(assumption based) especially when you have NO clue who they are. I know it might shock you, but some people are only afraid of God. Well, how is that possible, I am afraid then they must be also. Well, they are not you.
F. Remind people of how big God is and not how small they are, they already know.
G. Don’t assume, respect. Encourage, don’t mock. It gets annoying.
H. God will do whatever He wants, speak to whom ever He wants, whenever He wants. Just because you don’t know doesn’t mean that He is not speaking! Show Him some respect and He just might clue you in some things.
I. Don’t force a dream into completion. Some of them are meant for our children and grandchildren to see the fruit. And that is OK, don’t let it freak you out! Keep preparing the way! For example, I might not get to minister to NYC and I am ok with that. That doesn’t mean I will love its people any less. On the contrary, I will love them more! Why? Because I KNOW without a shadow of a doubt, my children and/or grandchildren will. And my heart has to raise and nurture them to love God’s dream. That might just be your part in a dream, and it’s so crucial!
J. Last but not least. Hit the floor. Pray, and then pray some more. And then put some passion, tears, relentlessness, commitment, and faithfulness into it. And then pray some more. And when you are done, you start all over again! You just might meet Jesus there! Pray!!!!!! You will be surprised how little time you will have to do ministry the wrong way.
A. You might not understand or have limited knowledge of what God is doing in someone’s life. Stop telling people to not put God in a box. SHOW them by ACTIVELY believing in them, supporting them, protecting them…thus loving them! Don’t stop loving them just because they put God in a box. Trust me God can handle it.
B. Just because you don’t understand, agree or support someone’s God given dream, You must respect it! That is if you want to do ministry.
C. Stay OUT of people’s business!!! If you want to do ministry that is. Zip your mouth and hit the floor! As in literally! If you want to be an individual yes then have an opinion, but if you want to do ministry you don’t have that luxury.
D. Stop calling things accidents/coincidences instead of opportunities. To say that God allowed or created an accident is a paradox. Think about it and look up some definitions.
E. Remind people of who they are in Christ and not what they are afraid of(assumption based) especially when you have NO clue who they are. I know it might shock you, but some people are only afraid of God. Well, how is that possible, I am afraid then they must be also. Well, they are not you.
F. Remind people of how big God is and not how small they are, they already know.
G. Don’t assume, respect. Encourage, don’t mock. It gets annoying.
H. God will do whatever He wants, speak to whom ever He wants, whenever He wants. Just because you don’t know doesn’t mean that He is not speaking! Show Him some respect and He just might clue you in some things.
I. Don’t force a dream into completion. Some of them are meant for our children and grandchildren to see the fruit. And that is OK, don’t let it freak you out! Keep preparing the way! For example, I might not get to minister to NYC and I am ok with that. That doesn’t mean I will love its people any less. On the contrary, I will love them more! Why? Because I KNOW without a shadow of a doubt, my children and/or grandchildren will. And my heart has to raise and nurture them to love God’s dream. That might just be your part in a dream, and it’s so crucial!
J. Last but not least. Hit the floor. Pray, and then pray some more. And then put some passion, tears, relentlessness, commitment, and faithfulness into it. And then pray some more. And when you are done, you start all over again! You just might meet Jesus there! Pray!!!!!! You will be surprised how little time you will have to do ministry the wrong way.
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