Seeing the Forest for the Trees

Three words have been entering my rhetoric repeatedly over the last week.

First, is obedience which is defined as "from the Latin word meaning 'to listen,' obedience is the virtue of entrusting oneself to proper authority".

Second, is discernment which Webster says is "delicate discrimination".

Third, is sovereign which ultimately is "supreme authority over all things".

I read certain passages of the Bible and up would pop discernment. I had conversations with mentors and leaders, and I would continuously question my obedience. I saw Facebook posts and had text conversations where sovereign was brought up numerous times. I still am not sure on what this all means, but I do know when God wants me to know something, this is how He does it.

When I hear the definition of discernment, it reminds me of being in an art gallery and trying to determine if proper aesthetics were achieved by the artist in a way that captivates an audience. Isn't that how it is with Jesus? He wants us to submit to him through obedience so that we may discern His call in order to captivate others even though He is thesovereign one.

I'm feeling called in so many directions by three separate callings. Each calling is very specific. Strangely enough they all began in my late teen years, but choose to all come to a head at once in an overwhelming fashion.

Someone who is very wise told me today that I need to press forward with those callings so I don't become complacent to being obedient. He also told me to ask God everyday to show me what it is I need to see THAT day and everything will turn out for my sovereign God's will.

Proverbs 2:1-8 (ESV)
My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints.

Jesus, what beautiful words you have given me to live by. Thank you for your calling within my life for missions, family and friendship. Allow me to hear Your voice clearly so that I may discern where in my life You need me to be obedient.
Amen

Sneaky Jesus...Sweet Butter

Jesus is sneaky.
I feel him smirking at me right now while saying, "You had no earthly idea of what you were in for.... The mission is also about the journey."

I am a calloused person that refuses to be softened but yet have already formed a bond of a lifetime with a few people that I already love dearly. Strong women: Ones that throw encouragement at you when you whine about everything, ones that bring you coffee just to brighten your day, ones that call you on a Saturday morning to remind you to be at church and to save them a seat at women's fellowship, ones that wait 20 minutes to eat their food simply because you haven't received yours yet, ones that keep at you to join their community group while smiling and flashing her warm and nourishing eyes, ones that remind you to be still and know God, ones that rock out at a concert with you and them promise to pray for you, ones that believe a fond friendship is built in faith first.

Jesus is sneaky.
He finds a way through a week of discouragement to show me my mother in law cares for me like one of her own. Yes, I've always known this, but God whacked me aside the head with it last night. My mother in law moved me to tears over the phone. I know she supports me in this journey whole-heartedly, and to hear that I touched her heart completley moves me like a tree in a hurricane.

Jesus is sneaky, and it makes my heart sing. Bring It! This heart is butter for you, Jesus...sweet butter.