In my world, that is just about an impossibility. Adding one more thing...just one more thing...to my days...the thought alone sends my frazzled brain into shut down mode! You know what I am talking about, don't you?
Early this year I discovered the world of blogging (okay, I know, I am a bit behind the times). A thought slowly began forming in the dark recesses of my brain...scary place to be...that here was a place where I could share the thoughts that come to me while I am studying my Bible or other inspirational books. And if you, my friends, interacted with my thoughts by posting comments and your own interesting feedback, then we could lift each other up and bring other friends in on the "conversation".
The cool thing--no requirements! no deadlines! no needing to be ready by 7:00 pm Wednesday! I may post once or week, or three times a week. It may be at 6:00 am or ll:00 pm. Pajamas are welcome. It just doesn't matter.
What matters is this...it's not about me. I want this venture to be about God. Somewhere out there is a hurting person who doesn't know God. They may even be sitting beside you in church every weekend, but they still haven't met Him. Maybe you are that person. Or maybe that person will be led to this running conversation by you inviting them in.
Hiding Among the Baggage
A verse I read this week has kept me in deep thought. Well, actually, it is the verse that finally propelled me to post this first blog.
The Israelites, God's chosen "family" had asked for a king.
The bottom line was, Samuel was getting old and they had been depending on his leadership for some time. Samuel's sons did not walk as their spiritually giant father did. When the elders of Israel looked around at the surrounding nations and saw how those nations were led by a king, they decided that was the safest way to go. A king to lead the way! They wanted to be like everyone else.
They had the KING of the Universe on their side...but it wasn't what they wanted. They had not developed an unbreakable trust in the Unseen. It appeared to make more sense to them as they looked around the neighborhood, that they needed what the neighbors already had.
We could have a whole conversation about how Samuel wrestled with God over this turn of events and how God calmly seemed to just "give in" to the Israelites demand. You can read it yourself in I Samuel 8 & 9. I am anxious to get to the "verse!"
By the way, I often study comparing three different translations of the text, but my favorite and the one I will most often use is the NIV version.
The man whom God chose for this first Israelite king was Saul. Although He knew who it was, and He revealed to Samuel who it was, the nation would only find out through the public ceremony of casting lots. It's a generational thing -- makes no sense to me :-)
When it was finally revealed that Saul was the chosen one - He couldn't be found. And then the verse:
"So they inquired further of the Lord, 'Has the man come here yet?' And the Lord said, 'Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.' I Samuel 10:22
He was hiding in the baggage!
What baggage are you hiding behind that is keeping you from answering God's call?
Is it "financial" baggage? I don't have enough money.
Is it "busy" ness baggage? I don't have enough time.
Is it "cosmetic" baggage? I don't look good enough; I am not pretty enough.
Is it "education" baggage? I am not smart enough to talk about the Bible.
Is it "family" baggage? Pride baggage? Fear baggage? Embarrassment baggage?
Is it "ignorance" baggage? I don't have a clue how to set up a blog; make it interesting; make it appealing...
Is it. . .I am not good enough baggage?
We all have baggage. I have enough to sink the Titanic. You may also.
Why is it that we feel safer nestled in our baggage (have you just crawled right into the suitcase, like I have?) when God is just asking us to allow Him to dump it out and get rid of it? He is calling us to something greater than keeping the suitcases safe!
What is your baggage? I just went ahead and listed mine above. Are you willing to make yourself vulnerable and dump the baggage wide open for God to dispose of?
What is God saying to you?
2 comments:
I found in order to have an easier walk with God it is best to get satan's foothold out of your life. I started by taking all my movies and music to Miracle Hill and any bad books. As long as you can't get rid of those things it's like you are inviting satan to work equally in your life, if not more. That really took allot of more baggage than I thought it would. Hope this helps. Holly
The most unusual thing happened in church today during our prayer request time. We received a "message from God" through a perfect stranger in our church and then He prayed a most powerful prayer over us. I felt humbeled and like I needed to fully surrender to God at that moment and did so. What came to my heart to pray was Lord What would you have me do? I've been hiding in my baggage for so long I don't even know what God wants me to do. It's disterbing. Pray for God to reveal to me his purpose for me. To whom am I to share His love with and by what means?
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