I recently started taking dance lessons and I love it. It's great exercise and a lot of fun. The current lessons are on the Texas 2-step. While I've muddled my way around the dance floor in the past I wanted to really learn how to do it properly. The instructor (who is great by the way) said something tonight that completely threw me. He said (to the women) 'you are not to lead--move or take a step without the man taking the first....' He reminded the men that it was their job to lead. Wow! This hit me on so many different levels. He was talking about the dance but it was so much more. For me to do the 2-step properly I must willing follow my partner. They have you rotate out with partners so I had to adjust to a different man every so often.
I thought about relationships. I've been single all of my life with the exception of about 6 months. I've been a single parent for 17 years. I have been the leader in my home, in my church group, other commitments, and in projects at work. It is great to lead--at times we are called to lead but in order to lead appropriately you must be willing to follow first. When Jesus started His ministry He told the disciples, “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19
Jesus begin His ministry with a small group (12
). To each He gave the same call 'come follow me'. Luke 14:27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. We are to carry our cross first.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Ebenezer - What Have You Done?
I stand in awe at the incredible work that God has done in my life over the years. I don't take nearly enough time to stop and reflect on it all but recently had the privledge and honor to spend time with a younger single mom and share some of God's work in my life as a single mom. Titus 2 came to mind -- "older women...teach young women....." Yikes! All of sudden I realize I'm the 'older' one. Praise God He is allowing me to pour out to others what He has poured into me over the years!
Have you taken inventory of your life? Are you where you thought you would be? Are you content? Have you seen God at work in your life? In I Samuel 7:12 it says, Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the Lord helped us.” Samuel took a stone and named it Ebenezer. It stood as a memorial/reminder of all that God had done so far in the lives of the Israelites. He does the same for you and I today.
As I share my failures and successes it is really incredible to think that God takes even the failures and uses them for His good, In Romans 8:28, And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. All my successes have been because of Him. As I willingly acknowledge God's leading I can be sure that I'm on the right track. Proverbs 3:6 says In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Whether our past failures are by our own doing or by another's, God will ultimately use your life to bring glory to His name if you will let Him. An example of this is found in the story of Joseph and his brothers who sold him into slavery. Genesis 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." God will use your entire life for His glory and His purposes.
Moses knew the importance of trusting God. In Exodus 33:15 Moses said to God, Then he said to Him, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. What if we made that same choice--we will not go unless God leads us?
Do you know what God has done in your life? Do you have an Ebenezer? If not, I encourage you to collect a stone, put a date on it and place it where you can see it on a regular basis as a reminder of all that God has done, is doing and will do in your life.
Have you taken inventory of your life? Are you where you thought you would be? Are you content? Have you seen God at work in your life? In I Samuel 7:12 it says, Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the Lord helped us.” Samuel took a stone and named it Ebenezer. It stood as a memorial/reminder of all that God had done so far in the lives of the Israelites. He does the same for you and I today.
As I share my failures and successes it is really incredible to think that God takes even the failures and uses them for His good, In Romans 8:28, And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. All my successes have been because of Him. As I willingly acknowledge God's leading I can be sure that I'm on the right track. Proverbs 3:6 says In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Whether our past failures are by our own doing or by another's, God will ultimately use your life to bring glory to His name if you will let Him. An example of this is found in the story of Joseph and his brothers who sold him into slavery. Genesis 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." God will use your entire life for His glory and His purposes.
Moses knew the importance of trusting God. In Exodus 33:15 Moses said to God, Then he said to Him, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. What if we made that same choice--we will not go unless God leads us?
Do you know what God has done in your life? Do you have an Ebenezer? If not, I encourage you to collect a stone, put a date on it and place it where you can see it on a regular basis as a reminder of all that God has done, is doing and will do in your life.
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