Faithful in the Little.

"Be Faithful in the Little."

Those are the words the Lord gave me when I asked why doors haven't flung open for me in the arena of full-time ministry and itinerate evangelism. 

Those are the words that caused me to call Paradise Manor, the local Senior Home run and operated by the Assemblies of God, and volunteer to lead a devotional.  I'm now the 3rd Monday of each month.

Those are the words that are causing me to check-out and begin praying about my involvement with 252 Underground, a local youth ministry devoted to reaching the hard-to-reach kids in Lansdale.

Those are the words that continue to echo when I think of unsaved friends and loved ones that I am intentionally investing in...for the countless one-on-one teenagers I meet/text/facebook...

Be faithful with the Little.

Doing Hard Things...

Steps of faith aren't always grandiose and hugely impactful...they can be just mere baby steps, in obedience to what God is calling you to do.

Yesterday, I took a baby step.  I led devotions at a nursing home.  So, Not so hard you say.  Well, I have never been one to enjoy nursing home ministry.  I work with Kids and Teens.  So, I took this one GIANT fearful step and actually had fun.  I walked in and felt at home.  I enjoyed the message and the interaction with the seniors.  It was a HUGE step of faith on my part, albeit one minute baby step in reality.

I continue to take steps of faith in everyday.

1. I joined a CATALYST group, which is basically a group of licensed ministers in my region who gather regularly to discuss leadership issues.  I go to my first one tomorrow.  A little afraid - yeah.  But I know this is a step of faith.
2. Tonight, I am attending 252 Underground's bible study.  What is 252?  It's a place for teenagers who might not necessarily fit in anywhere else (including the typical church setting) to come and get fed, with physical and spiritual food.
3. I joined Boot Camp - a highly effective physical training group.  Starting on Monday, I will meet 3 times a week with several others at a local park for one hour of intensive physical exercise. 

Just some small baby steps, but all with one goal - to go forward in faith and see what excitement God has in store for me.

I like it FAST!

I live in a FAST FOOD society, yet it seems circumstances around me keep me moving around like a sluggish turtle on an uphill mission full of slip-slidy mud to no-where!

I try pushing forward - only to find obstacles slowing me down.  I try to resolve issues in my life, but something keeps it from happening.  I have unanswered prayers...unanswered questions...unanswered direction...UGH!

As much as I want it done NOW...God is working something in the WAIT!  I'm not sure what but there's something in the thinking that there's something He is doing.

I have been praying throughout the past week for refining, purifying FIRE that burns to the core of who I am.  If you've ever tried to start a fire artificially, you've seen where when you put the fire-starter in the pile, a huge bright flame will seemingly cover the surface of the wood, but in a few minutes, when the fire-starter is consumed, oftentimes, the fire goes out.

THAT'S NOT THE FIRE I WANT!

I want the Fire that consumes to the very core of the wood.  That even when the outside might look a little ashy and "dead", there's a fire that's burning deep within that when it's stirred or poke, a fire burns out bright and clear. 

I don't want any artificial flames of "God" on me...I want the FIRE OF GOD to burn to the very center of my being.  I want a fire that burns hot and bright - ALL THE TIME...not just for a show for a few moments.

That's the prayer of my week - for God to set me on FIRE!

All the other "stuff" that hinders me ... WHO CARES!  All the other "stuff" that frustrates me ... LET IT FRUSTRATE ME NO LONGER! 

I want my focus not on what's happening in the here and now, but to be on what God is going to do as I continue to step forward in FAITH!

So as much as I'd like the fire to burn in me bright and fast...I would much rather have the slow burn of God burn to the very core of my being and allow the purification process that comes with it.

Burn in me God.