When You're Not Enough

I was recently on the phone with a man that is one of the pastors at a local church. He was telling me about how difficult it is to minster to so many different types of people at one time. I can only imagine!!

Some people prefer this type of music, others another. One group insists on using a certain version of the Bible, others not so much. One likes old fashioned worship, the other likes a more modern feel.

I told him that it reminded me of what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9, where he's telling his readers about what it takes to be a servant to God's people.

He says, starting in verse 19,

"For though I am free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as the Jews, that I might gain the Jews, to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that's under the law. To them that are without law, as without law, that I might gain them that are without the law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak..."

and this is the part I was referring to,

"...I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."

I just love that. Paul could be very poetic at times.

The pastor that I was talking to, readily agreed with Paul, saying, "Paul! How did you do that? How did you become all things for all men?" I could just imagine him lifting his face and raising a hand in frustration, to the heavens. :)

But we do know, don't we. It was just all GOD.

My dear sisters, when you just can't figure it out. When you don't know how on earth you can do it all or be what everybody needs you to be, just remember...

To be all things, to all men, it takes all God, all the time.

Tips for having "all God, all the time?"

• Get your grub on in God's Word. "Taste and see that the Lord is good." Ps. 34:8

• The Word is our compass: It shows you right from wrong.

• The Word is our guide: When troubles hit, the answers can be found in scripture.

• The Word is our link to knowing HOW to pray. In His Word, God has made us MANY promises. And we know that as God, He can not, nor will He even try to go back on a promise. That would go against the very nature of who God is. Learn those promises and claim them!

• Equally important, if not more importantly, than "Bible time" (in my opinion) is keeping an open line of communication with the Lord through out the day. When Paul talked about praying continually (1Thes. 6:17), he didn't mean pray as the monks of old did... on their knees all day in prayer. I mean, if you've got the time, that's fantastic. You go, girl! It's more like...

• When you realize you're worrying over something, bring it to the Lord.

• When you're having an argument inside your head, bring it to the Lord.

• When you've been given bad news, bring it to the Lord.

• When you recieve GOOD news, bring it to the Lord in praise!

• When your children are in trouble, bring it to the Lord.

• When your pet is sick, bring it to the Lord.

• When you see a sunset that takes your breath away, bring it to the Lord.

• When you question yourself, bring it to the Lord in prayer.

"The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything (ding, ding, ding) by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." Phil. 4:5b-6ESV

Supplication: the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly.

• Lastly, pour His presence into your life through the preaching of God's Word, through Christian music, Christian talk radio and conversations with a good Christian friend, just to name a few rescourse.

• When I was just starting out in the field of photography, I absorbed anything and everything I could get my hands on to teach me how to be a better photographer. At first my sessions were very intentional, almost robotic, as I'd go through all of the list of things to remember, leaving me with lagging moments as I tried to figure out what I needed to do next. But after months of reading articles about lighting, watching Youtube videos about posing, listening to podcasts about learning to handle your clients and business, and yes... a whole lot of practice, it became second nature. I no longer stumbled along, trying to figure it out. It became as unintentional as breathing. The same is true here. Just as you "are what you eat", you are spiritually, what you are taking in on a daily basis. No more and no less. So be sure to POUR IN as much of Jesus, on a daily basis as possible and His ways will become second nature.

If you've recieved any blessings from God, chances are pretty high that you are busy person. Blessings require maintenance. But with those blessings, he'll also give you the grace and soundness of mind to get it all done.

Blessings to youl!!

#Encouragement #Endurance #Comfort #BibleStudy #JesusTime