God replies, "What are you
doing with your life now?"
Wednesday night at Campus Church Johnnie Moore asked the question that all of
us ask at several points in our lives...sometimes daily.
I was challenged with scripture and truths that I have learned throughout my
time at Liberty and encouraged by the message. The question that was the reply
from the Lord, which Johnnie offered stuck out for some reason.
I was challenged to literally examine what was going on at that very moment,
who the Lord in His sovereignty had placed in my life at that exact
moment, and what my next few minutes, hours and next few days looked
like.
At the start of every year people tend to make New Years Resolutions. I haven't
made any this year, while I have in the past. One thing I have noticed though
is that I prefer 30-day goals, something long enough to challenge but not too
overwhelming that it seems unattainable so failure ensues in a week from
discouragement.
So what have I "resolved" from the lofty question of "What am I
supposed to do with my life?" To look back on the Lord's faithfulness,
hope and persevere for the future, and to be present. Being present is literally like unwrapping a gift every moment of the day (pun not originally intended). With God knowing me and I seeking Him, He is placing everything at every moment for me to find my next steps and the outcome is way better than anything I could have ever bargained for.
I've concluded I must always walk in truth of who God is and
trust that despite my inability to control everything He does. Once I've
accepted that and begin walking in that reality, I should never grow complacent in
my identity of who I am as a cop out. I am His child, thus nothing will change
about His love for me or His faithfulness so the overflow is how I live and
act. I should live each moment with the reality that the power of Jesus and His
resurrection is with me. As an extrovert and people person present,
Emmanuel, Jesus means so much. Just knowing I'm not alone.
At
Chick-Fil-A about 6 years ago, 16 year old me walked into the
break room where the Owner/Operator Art TerKeurst was conversing with us. Art
is a man I respect so much for his leadership, wisdom and example. I can't
remember all the details of that day, but if I could guess I was probably a bit
stressed out about my class load and trying to transition into my Chick-Fil-A
working mind as I clocked in.
Art asked me to do something for him. Okay, boss I'm ready. What can I do for
you? "Bethany, I want you to go make people's days, okay?" For some
reason those words have stuck with me after all these years. Art didn't tell me
"Go take orders as fast as possible and make the most money for
Chick-Fil-A. Your work is equivalent to the income." In fact, he told me
the exact opposite. What he was asking me to do was to be the child of God I
was created to be, walk in the truth of my identity and let the overflow be a
blessing to everyone I interact with, including in my job. Art asked me to be present.
So what am I supposed to do with my life? I have a calling, just like you do.
To walk in the truth of who I am and look at exactly at who and what is in
front of me and act accordingly. That's how Jesus lived--He lived His life
knowing who He was and loved, loved, loved. With that being said, we are to use
our gifts and talents God has given us to love Him and others in a real and
genuine way.
What am I supposed to do with my life?
Six years ago it meant to share a smile with the guests in the drive-thru, tell
a joke, ask strangers how their day was going and genuinely care about their
answer, wash tables, answer to my bosses requests, refill drinks, make
chicken--be present and make people's days.
And six years later when I don't know what I'm supposed to do with my life with
graduation in a few month, the same sweet challenge applies—
"What are you doing with your life now? The next few minutes? Hours?
Days?"
"As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to
live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask
you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what
instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 4:1-2
Wednesday night at Campus Church Johnnie Moore asked the question that all of us ask at several points in our lives...sometimes daily.
I was challenged with scripture and truths that I have learned throughout my time at Liberty and encouraged by the message. The question that was the reply from the Lord, which Johnnie offered stuck out for some reason.
I was challenged to literally examine what was going on at that very moment, who the Lord in His sovereignty had placed in my life at that exact moment, and what my next few minutes, hours and next few days looked like.
At the start of every year people tend to make New Years Resolutions. I haven't made any this year, while I have in the past. One thing I have noticed though is that I prefer 30-day goals, something long enough to challenge but not too overwhelming that it seems unattainable so failure ensues in a week from discouragement.
So what have I "resolved" from the lofty question of "What am I supposed to do with my life?" To look back on the Lord's faithfulness, hope and persevere for the future, and to be present. Being present is literally like unwrapping a gift every moment of the day (pun not originally intended). With God knowing me and I seeking Him, He is placing everything at every moment for me to find my next steps and the outcome is way better than anything I could have ever bargained for.
I've concluded I must always walk in truth of who God is and trust that despite my inability to control everything He does. Once I've accepted that and begin walking in that reality, I should never grow complacent in my identity of who I am as a cop out. I am His child, thus nothing will change about His love for me or His faithfulness so the overflow is how I live and act. I should live each moment with the reality that the power of Jesus and His resurrection is with me. As an extrovert and people person present, Emmanuel, Jesus means so much. Just knowing I'm not alone.
At Chick-Fil-A about 6 years ago, 16 year old me walked into the break room where the Owner/Operator Art TerKeurst was conversing with us. Art is a man I respect so much for his leadership, wisdom and example. I can't remember all the details of that day, but if I could guess I was probably a bit stressed out about my class load and trying to transition into my Chick-Fil-A working mind as I clocked in.
Art asked me to do something for him. Okay, boss I'm ready. What can I do for you? "Bethany, I want you to go make people's days, okay?" For some reason those words have stuck with me after all these years. Art didn't tell me "Go take orders as fast as possible and make the most money for Chick-Fil-A. Your work is equivalent to the income." In fact, he told me the exact opposite. What he was asking me to do was to be the child of God I was created to be, walk in the truth of my identity and let the overflow be a blessing to everyone I interact with, including in my job. Art asked me to be present.
So what am I supposed to do with my life? I have a calling, just like you do. To walk in the truth of who I am and look at exactly at who and what is in front of me and act accordingly. That's how Jesus lived--He lived His life knowing who He was and loved, loved, loved. With that being said, we are to use our gifts and talents God has given us to love Him and others in a real and genuine way.
What am I supposed to do with my life?
Six years ago it meant to share a smile with the guests in the drive-thru, tell a joke, ask strangers how their day was going and genuinely care about their answer, wash tables, answer to my bosses requests, refill drinks, make chicken--be present and make people's days.
And six years later when I don't know what I'm supposed to do with my life with graduation in a few month, the same sweet challenge applies—
"What are you doing with your life now? The next few minutes? Hours? Days?"
"As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 4:1-2
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