Surrender

Whew! Finally taking a breath. To say the least, the past month or so has been BUSY...probably more so than any other time during my (almost) year here at Rush Creek. During the last month we have developed, written and filmed our brand new groups curriculum called "Transform Me"; recruited and trained a team of 10 awesome Community Leaders who will partner with our group leaders; designed and installed a new LifeGroups display in The Commons, preached on LifeGroups and introduced one of them to you on a Sunday morning, recruited several new leaders who will be launching groups this Fall, and had well over 120 new people become a part of our LifeGroups ministry. Based on the number of times that I used the word "groups" in the last sentence...you can tell that they have been primary on my mind and heart and will continue to be so as we move into the Fall.

As great as all of this is, a few unfortunate developments can occur when we become busy with "Kingdom work".

1. We become so engrossed in the minute details of the events, programs, campaigns and functions that we are organizing and developing that we forget about the individual souls that we are ultimately trying to reach or influence.
2. We busy ourselves to the point of losing an intimate connection with our Savior. Normally, prayer, study of the Word of God and meditation are the elements that suffer (at least for me).
3. We begin to rate success based on quantity and not quality...how many people showed up...how many leaders stepped up...how much money came in...how many compliments we got.

I have to continually remind myself of what my purpose is. My purpose is NOT to bring glory to myself or The Church on Rush Creek. My purpose is to glorify God. Is it possible to do the work of the Lord in such a way that it doesn't glorify Him?

I think so...

As I read the teachings of Jesus, I am continually grabbed by the fact that God is not our divine Division Manager. In other words, what happens when you stop thinking of God as your boss...and start honoring Him as your Father? For me, my intentions become completely different. My desire becomes making my Father proud.

Are you making your Father proud?

I think that the answer to that question is not so much a matter of what you have done, but what you are willing to do. It's an issue of surrender. How far are you willing to go for God? How much are you willing to sacrifice? How much of your ego and pride are you willing to voluntarily set aside?

I'm convinced that no action in my life will ever honor God as much as giving Him my life and saying...use me. That said, I'm certain that I haven't done this to the extent that I can. I've trusted in Him for my salvation...but, do I really trust Him to provide for me?

When we take this step of trust the outcome is astounding. We have peace. Not more worry...not crippling fear.....peace. If God is good. If God loves me. If God is...God, then what do I (or you) have to worry about.

CAUTION: If you feel as if you have surrendered to God...yet you are angry when He doesn't answer your prayers in the way you think that He ought to...you may still have some work to do. Realize that God is neither for you nor against you. God is for God. God is for His purpose...not yours. He is asking us...are YOU for Me?