God's Workmanship
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
for good works, which God prepared in advance for us.
Ephesians 2:10
for good works, which God prepared in advance for us.
Ephesians 2:10
I have Ephesians 2:10 taped to my Mac, so that I am reminded when I sit here, that I am God's workmanship and that He created me for a purpose.
As I was getting ready for church this morning, I said to the Lord....I'm adorning myself for you and you alone...I am the bride of Christ.
Do you remember your wedding day? You primped for hours. Everything had to be perfect. No detail left unturned.
How much time to do you primp and prepare to meet the Lord, not just on Sunday but everyday of the week?
Does He get the best of you or just the leftovers?
Wow! Can you imagine if we really believed He, the God who spoke creation into being, created us for a purpose! Wouldn't you walk and talk differently? Wouldn't you think differently of yourself and of others?
So, I guess my question is....What did He create you to do? What did He create me to do?
Years ago, I quit "going" to church. I got sick of just doing and just showing up. I got sick of being herded like cattle....and I know how that goes since I did it on a few occasions....you yell and scream at the one not doing it right...you chase them down and force them to go the way you want. (So...this might of happened the very last time I "went" to church..just sayin)
I guess I've had this longing in my heart for probably 46 years....the longing to be SO hungry and in love with my Lord, that I stop "going" and I start BEING! This hunger that is never satisfied.
I think if I were satisfied I'd grow cold and complacent. I'd take Sunday and every day for granted. I'd stop reading my Bible and make excuses. I'd stop loving people. I'd stop doing good works...when no one is looking.
As I was getting ready for church this morning, I said to the Lord....I'm adorning myself for you and you alone...I am the bride of Christ.
Do you remember your wedding day? You primped for hours. Everything had to be perfect. No detail left unturned.
How much time to do you primp and prepare to meet the Lord, not just on Sunday but everyday of the week?
Does He get the best of you or just the leftovers?
Wow! Can you imagine if we really believed He, the God who spoke creation into being, created us for a purpose! Wouldn't you walk and talk differently? Wouldn't you think differently of yourself and of others?
So, I guess my question is....What did He create you to do? What did He create me to do?
Years ago, I quit "going" to church. I got sick of just doing and just showing up. I got sick of being herded like cattle....and I know how that goes since I did it on a few occasions....you yell and scream at the one not doing it right...you chase them down and force them to go the way you want. (So...this might of happened the very last time I "went" to church..just sayin)
I guess I've had this longing in my heart for probably 46 years....the longing to be SO hungry and in love with my Lord, that I stop "going" and I start BEING! This hunger that is never satisfied.
I think if I were satisfied I'd grow cold and complacent. I'd take Sunday and every day for granted. I'd stop reading my Bible and make excuses. I'd stop loving people. I'd stop doing good works...when no one is looking.
I was saved by the grace of God in 1970...I was part of the Jesus Movement! It was awesome! I couldn't get enough of Jesus. I had the best fellowship. The best friends. The best times of my life.
I've asked God many times...many...why He brought us to East Texas. Without a doubt I know He did. It's beautiful here and peaceful but there has to be more. But frankly I have no idea. I don't think there is any ginormous mission He has for us here. But I do know that the people here really need Jesus! They need to hunger and thirst for Him. They need to love those unlike them. They need to stop going and start being.
Many times I've said, "I don't know what I was expecting. But it wasn't this."
To be honest, I do know what I was expecting. I thought rural small town Texas would be seeping with Christianity....people on fire for Jesus. It's not here. Oh there are a lot of people "going" to Tres Dias (3 Days)....a "secret" charismatic event....but frankly I haven't noticed that it has made them any different.
What I discovered is that the people here are just like the people everywhere. Yes, there are many more occasions of being blessed by a stranger, walking into Christian establishments and being invited to church by a stranger. But Satan is alive and well in East Texas.
The young man above had a tremendous impact on my early years walking with Christ. Keith Green moved is ministry here to East Texas....in Texas terms...just a few miles up the road. If you know his story, he was a prophetic voice in the wilderness, speaking, singing and worshiping the King of Kings, using lyrics that convicted and hopefully brought about change. He tragically died along with his 2 small children in a plane crash right here at the ranch.
I want to make a pilgrimage to Garden Valley (Lindale, Texas) where Keith is buried. I want to thank him and tell him that his life was not lived in vain. That he touched a young girl and impacted her life forever for Jesus Christ.
I don't know....maybe that's the only reason I'm here in nowhere Texas. Maybe it's just the time God needed to bring me back to my roots. To remind me that He created me for good works.
John 12:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
I've asked God many times...many...why He brought us to East Texas. Without a doubt I know He did. It's beautiful here and peaceful but there has to be more. But frankly I have no idea. I don't think there is any ginormous mission He has for us here. But I do know that the people here really need Jesus! They need to hunger and thirst for Him. They need to love those unlike them. They need to stop going and start being.
Many times I've said, "I don't know what I was expecting. But it wasn't this."
To be honest, I do know what I was expecting. I thought rural small town Texas would be seeping with Christianity....people on fire for Jesus. It's not here. Oh there are a lot of people "going" to Tres Dias (3 Days)....a "secret" charismatic event....but frankly I haven't noticed that it has made them any different.
What I discovered is that the people here are just like the people everywhere. Yes, there are many more occasions of being blessed by a stranger, walking into Christian establishments and being invited to church by a stranger. But Satan is alive and well in East Texas.
The young man above had a tremendous impact on my early years walking with Christ. Keith Green moved is ministry here to East Texas....in Texas terms...just a few miles up the road. If you know his story, he was a prophetic voice in the wilderness, speaking, singing and worshiping the King of Kings, using lyrics that convicted and hopefully brought about change. He tragically died along with his 2 small children in a plane crash right here at the ranch.
I want to make a pilgrimage to Garden Valley (Lindale, Texas) where Keith is buried. I want to thank him and tell him that his life was not lived in vain. That he touched a young girl and impacted her life forever for Jesus Christ.
I don't know....maybe that's the only reason I'm here in nowhere Texas. Maybe it's just the time God needed to bring me back to my roots. To remind me that He created me for good works.
John 12:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
So, why were you created?
Something to think and pray about.
Go out and live it.
Something to think and pray about.
Go out and live it.
