Lessons Learned Along the Way

I believe the year of 2010 has held a lot of firsts for me.  Some in my personal life, some in in emotional life and maybe more importantly, in my spiritual life.  I can't go in detail about all of them, but here are a few...

First, God has taught me a lot about loving people when you don't want to love them. (You can read my previous post for a further explanation).  God tested me and tested my obedience to what he was calling me too.  I had preached on loving my enemies and praying for those who persecute you, but had never fully understood this until this fall.  And let me tell you obedience is hard especially when you don't want to do what you're being asked to do.

Second, God has been moving in my heart telling me I need to repent of my prideful attitude.  I was talking to another friend about this and I think I can say with completely honesty that I have never truly repented before.  Sure I've been remorseful and I've talked about repentance, but I don't think I have ever been convicted before and truly followed through with an act of walking the other way.  I am thankful that God is teaching me these things and testing my obedience to him.  Yet again it is not fun, but I know that I will be better off then I am now once I've submitted to His will.

Lastly, God has started using me to really share my faith.  This is a first again for me.  Today while I sat in a coffee shop drinking my coffee, a man approached me and made a comment about my shirt I was wearing (go SOONERS!) and we struck up a conversation.  We talked about his job and family and then he asked what I do, which led to a good conversation about Jesus and the church.  He was a Christian, so I wasn't sharing my faith with a non-Christian, but I still think God was teaching me a lesson--its not as hard as people make it out to be.  

     

It is my hope in the next year I can follow God's voice and guiding more, and continue in the long, hard road of obedience so that His kingdom might be advanced, one act at a time.