Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Inadequate



Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Boiling anger.  Bottled frustration.  Churning sensations of helplessness.  Lost.  Confused.  Tired.  Sad.

Lord… did you really call me to these recent commitments?  I don’t feel qualified!  What you’re asking of me are NOT my strengths!  I want to yell, rail at the world, tear objects apart!  I feel so useless.  Lord Father, knowing that the positions I’m currently committed to… none of these are quite in my areas of strength.  I want to scream “why me?” 

Then I pause.  Why not me?  *deep sigh*  Lord God, I feel so blind…  groping in the shadows... fighting non-existent objects…  flailing in the dark.  If I didn’t know so strongly that you’ve placed me in this multiple leadership position of young adult adviser, Bible study leader and sharing group leader… if, Lord, these aren’t where you’ve clearly shown me that you want me to be… I’d be happily running (very far) in the opposite direction!

Because I know you called me, I will go.  But Lord, I have absolutely NO idea what I’m doing and where I’m going and how I’m supposed to get there!  *frustrated grimace*  I know, Lord, that you say to trust you… and I am because I have absolutely no other options right now.  I’m exploring the unknown, in the deepest dark… and only you guiding me by your voice.  It’s scary.  I want to cry.  I know I just started my commitments… but Lord, can I take a break yet?  Can I back out into my comfortable lifestyle of reading manga, hanging out with friends and doing my best at work?  I feel so tired and I haven’t even _started_ serving all out yet.

I know… as you’ve called, Lord, you’ll also provide.  I _know_ that you’ll provide the words, the right attitude, the strength, the energy… and I’ll very clearly know that it’s not from me because these are areas in which I lack.  In my struggles, I’m letting my fear cloud your promises of provision.  My hopelessness is leading to an internal struggle of anger and frustration that’s ready to leap out and lash out… my own fears of inadequacies are twisting the hope and joy I have while serving you into this sour bundle of nerves and endless fatigue.

Lord, Father in heaven… I lift your name on high.  Thank you for loving me enough to grow me.  Thank you for trusting me enough to place me in positions of authority were lives are changed.  Thank you for knowing my limits.  Thank you for providing me strength and insight when I have none of my own.  Thank you, Jesus, for always being there… that I know I’m never alone. 

Take away my heart of bitterness, of fear, of anger, of helplessness.  Place in me a renewed heart of love, joy, peace… help my mind and spirit find rest and comfort in your presence.

In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Climbing my Mountain

Friday, Jan 18, 2013!

Wow... I've been writing little blog posts, but since they're not edited, I've not posted anything up!  *shock*

Here's one I wrote on Jan 6th...


There’s a song I used to listen to a long time ago call Salty the Singing Songbook. My mom bought this whole stash of cassette tapes (yes... I did say cassette tapes, not CDs!) and we'd all listen to the tapes over and over and over again while my dad drove the RV for our family's annual summer vacation.  No one could say these trips were short... we'd be sitting in the car for 3-5 days at a time, just to travel one way!  I remember these Salty cassette tapes, each an hour long, running through two, three, or sometimes even four times before we'd pull the tape out and change to _another_ Salty the Singing Songbook tape!  Wonder if the talking, high pitched children voices, or even the repetitive stories bothered my parents?  *smirk*  I remember loving it!

What started my reminiscing into the past? Well, just a couple days ago, one of my brothers sent a YouTube link of a video of Salty the Singing Songbook... ummmm, I didn't know that the tapes were based off the video.  *sheepish grin*  Playing the video online, it's sad to say, but I could mouth the songs and words as an echo of the cassette tapes from many years ago.

As I'm struggling with difficult decisions... questions on how and where to serve in ministry, tough choices in my own life, management of finances, overwhelmed by multiple committments... I hear this song:


One step at a Time… 
We only need to trust God for the strength 
To step up the mountain 
One step at a time



When something seems too hard to handle
Too hard to conquer 
Too far away to touch


When all your dreams begin to shatter 
And deep inside you
You’re hurting oh so much


That’s when it’s time to say

Climbing my mountain, step by step

Climbing my mountain, day by day

Climbing my mountain, all the way

Climbing my mountain, I’m going to make it


One step at a time (x3)

With Jesus by my side


One step at a time (x2)

I’m climbing my mountain 
One step at a time


Even though, you might grow weary
Don’t be discouraged

In our weakness God is strong

Remember this
He will never leave you
He won’t forsake you
He’s your strength and your song



I’m climbing my mountain 
One step at a time…
 

Where God leads
This is what I will do
Trust in God, one step at a time
To trust him for courage for boldness, for strength, for wisdom…
To pick me up when I stumble, when I make mistakes
In all the up coming craziness
God is good and I will trust in his promise and his goodness.

May you all be blessed and encouraged when you struggle through the tough times in life... to be at peace, to have abundant joy, to live in hope... Happy New Year!!!