Isn't there a manual for this?

One of the ways God has really been stretching me over the past year is in learning how to "minister"to people. In my early and mid 30's, I was really really focused on my home and my babies - we were not really involved in a church, and my life centered around the 4 other people in my home. There is nothing wrong with this.. my babies were young and we were living in a new place... and my family is a high priority for me anyway. I guess I was ministering to them .. it felt more like just trying to survive some days, though. Always tired, always needing to clean someone or something up, someone always needing food that they could not get for themselves, you all with very little ones know what I mean here. When your babies are tiny, this is what you do- and I did. I was not always gracious, I was sometimes really grumpy because I needed a nap, and most of the time I totally forgot to thank God for these little people who needed me so much. Fast-forward a few years.... and some things changed. My kids are a little bit older and a little more independent.. and God tossed me out of the boat.

I remember right before Lifecoast launched in March of last year, I went through a period of time where I felt sort of useless. I don't have marketing experience, I am not that great with administrative stuff, I was only so-so at talking to people I didn't know that well.. and scared to death to go door to door to invite people to church. I did what I could, prayed and helped plan music and worship, and most of the time I wondered why in the world God was asking me to help do this. During my quiet time with Him one morning He touched my heart , and revealed something to me. The message I got was something like " Just wait til I bring some people in the doors.. then you will understand." What I didn't realize was just how much He would have to stretch and mold me as I learned that "church" is about all of us glorifying God as we learn to reach out to each other in love- and to give grace at every turn. I had been so sequestered in my home with just my family that I had not had to practice much grace. My children were little and very easy to love on.. and my husband is such an easy person to get along with that the one in the house needing the grace from everyone was ME!!

I have learned over the past year that there are some things I love doing , that I didn't know I loved doing.

I love helping other people.. I LOVE learning about their lives, and how they got here and learning everything I can about their journeys. This is something I have always enjoyed, and God is now using that whenever I lead a bible study , or talk to a group of people in His name. I love praying for others.. and with them, but this is something that has taken time for me to feel confident about. I adore worshipping God, and leading others in worship.. and teaching others ways to worship Him in every area of their lives. 5 years ago I had no idea I liked doing that. It was something that *I* enjoyed, but because God wants to use me ( and all of us) to bring glory to His name, He took that and turned it into something that I had NO idea was possible.

My point in this, if there is one.. let God define your place in His kingdom. Just because your life has always been this way, or that way, does not mean it can't or won't be different in a year. God can and will come in with a boatload of grace and lessons and bendy rubber band experiences and turn you into a whole new creation, all for His pleasure and glory. Let your heart be His, and give Him a chance to show off in your world. You will never look back and say " I am sorry I did this". More likely, you will look back and say " Wow.. look at what GOD did!"

Praising and thanking Him this morning ,

Cheryl