Musings from my quiet time yesterday

Jeremiah 7:4 "Do not trust in deceptive words saying 'this is the temple of the Lord, this is the temple of the Lord, this is the temple of the Lord"

At that time the people thought God wouldnt destory Jerusalem because of His temple being there. I think people get caught up with that at the church or in missions as well. We think God called us to do this or God provided for this. Or that there is good coming from these things so He wouldnt destroy it. But God's plans are so much bigger than ours. He did destroy Jersualem because the people were evil doers and just because good is coming from a ministry doesnt mean God won't destroy that either. God has a bigger and better plan than ours, we cannot understand but we need to realize even our ministry isnt safe if we are not following God's will. We can do as much good as we want in the world but if its not for Jesus and we are not sharing with people about His love offering, well then all our acts of kindness are nothing. The pleasures and joys of this earth are tempory, the only things that last are God's plans, we can choose to be a part of them or not.

But we have to realize that what God wants is what will be and what He is good. So if He sees fit to tear something down or build something up then we much accept His will. It was hard for Tom to leave the church. That is where he had learned everything he knows about ministry. We loved the people, and the youth he got to serve but God had something else for us. It is scary but its amazing to watch and He forms our ministry from a place we never thought to look. He placed an image of a hand forming a foundation out of dust, out of nothing. I feel so blessed to be a part of this which He has created.

I mean if you asked me if I ever thought I would be a part of a ministry I would have said I know my husband will be and I plan on playing a small behind the scenes roll. But Gods plans are not our own and I watch in amazement and wonder as God is placing us into a ministry will be as much my ministry as my husband, it will be us side by side. And also I am in awe and wonder as I feel a passion and joy for ministry grow in me. I don't even know what it looks like but I'm so excited for it. And in the past months I cannot even begin to explain the growth that has gone on in my life. I still see all the places I lack which are huge but I am reminded by God that my lackings need to be large so that He can fully show His glory to me and others.

Someone told me once that they would rather fly on a big plane then on a small one because if its going down there are more people praying out to God for help in the large plane. I thought it such a sad statement. We think if we go to Church on Sunday and do some good acts we will be saved. Or if we say we believe there is a God. The demons know there is a God, its not saving them. Its about loving God, and loving Him so much that we want to please Him through our actions. Our actions do not save us. Or love of God is the important part.

So many do not understand. They see Christianity as a list of things to check off. And many say, well I'm better than that person. Its not about being "better" its about realizing we will never be good enough. That it's because of Gods grace and Jesus' gift that we can be saved.

Luke 18:10-14
10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted