I have a co-worker who loves to read policies and procedures for fun. For fun! Who does that? She will print them off and take them home for some “relaxing” reading. The very thought of doing something like that makes me nauseous. That’s just not my idea of fun.
But I’m grateful she enjoys it or else I’d have to read those policies. And if you don’t put it in picture form or make a music video out of it, I won’t make it past the first page. Instead, I am able to rely on my handy-dandy policy-reading peer to tell me what rules not to break. Now I know. Case closed.
My friend Marge is a paramedic. She can talk about blood and cuts and broken bones while she passes the mashed potatoes at the dinner table. I hear about someone breaking a tooth and I pass out. I’m not a big fan of seeing blood either. She gets a strange thrill when she’s riding in the back of an ambulance at the speed of light. Me? Not so much.
But I’m grateful she has a passion to save lives and talk about things that make my stomach turn, because when I call her thinking I’m dying of a tumor, she’s quick to tell me to stay off Google and to drink water. I don’t have a tumor. I’m just dehydrated.
My friend Marcie loves plants and flowers. It’s therapeutic for her. She can make an ugly garden turn into a picture-perfect bed of flowers faster than I can say super cala fragilistic expialidocious. Me? I tried to plant a flower once to put in the house because someone recommended it would be relaxing for me. I had dirt everywhere, only to realize I’d bought an outside flower for the inside. I gave it away before I threw it across the yard.
But I’m grateful she loves the beauty of nature and flowers, because now I have a beautiful plant setting on my front porch that she made for me. I love it. It makes me smile every time I water it. I wasn’t responsible for making it pretty, but now I get the joy of seeing its beauty and I only have to water it. Not only that, but when I walk to her house for a cup of coffee, I get to admire the beauty she’s created in her own yard. There is something about nature that makes a person smile, just not when I have to create it myself.
We all have things we’re good at. Talents. Gifts. God has given us all unique desires. He hasn’t created any one of us the same. If we were all alike, this world would be in serious trouble. No, He knew the world needed diversity, so He put something unique in each of us.
I’ll never love policies and procedures. I will never have the desire to put IV’s in people’s arms and bandage their wounds. I don’t know that I’ll ever get the knack for planting stuff, but I might try again one day. Despite all that, there are a few gifts and talents God has given me that I hope continues to further His Kingdom.
He’s given me a passion for creativity through writing and songwriting. He’s given me the ability to work with justice-involved individuals and offer them hope despite their crimes. I realize not everyone can do that, but I’m grateful He’s allowed me to do so. He’s put a lot of amazing desires in my heart. Desires not everyone else has.
But there was a time in my life I didn’t have the desire to do anything. I gave up writing. I would’ve never had an ounce of grace for someone in prison. I was so broken I couldn’t see the future God had designed for me. Why? Because the enemy knew what God’s plan was for my life and his ultimate goal was to steal from me, kill me, and destroy my life. He almost won.
The enemy has the same thing planned for you, my friend. His ultimate goal for your life is to steal from you, destroy you, and ultimately kill you. But God’s plans for your are SO. MUCH. BIGGER.
As a matter of fact Jesus says this about you…. I have come to give you life.
Whoot! Whoot! Can I get a big fat amen?!
I know this about you, even if I don’t know you. You want something greater in life. You don’t want to live your life stuck. No one does. Sometimes we just can’t see past where we’re at and boy, does the enemy love that.
But there’s a way out… There’s a way to freedom… And I want to teach it to you.
[ctt template=”3″ link=”p0ec9″ via=”yes” ]there IS a way out. there IS a way to FREEDOM. [/ctt]
The enemy has a battle plan against you, but God gives us strategic, Biblical ways to create our own battle plans against the enemy. I want to help you figure it out.
I’ve just launched a FREE video series called How to Win at Spiritual Warfare and I’d love for you to join me.
In this free video course, we’ll learn some powerful truths about Spiritual Warfare:
The devil is certainly real. He has a plan to steal our joy, kill our dreams, and destroy our lives. But he doesn’t have to win.
He has very specific goals for you. We’ll uncover just what his plans are and learn the Biblical steps to kick him to the curb and walk in the freedom Christ died for us to have.
The devil hates you. The devil hates me. And if he can keep us stuck in the trap of our feelings, he wins.
But it’s up to us to stand up and fight back!
I’d love for you to join me in this series. It’s only available for a limited time. We’re talking about some cool stuff, and working together to create a battle strategy to fight against the enemy and realize the gifts God has given us.
It’s time to get our lives back! Are you in? Join me right here…. See you on the inside, friend.