Chosen

All the little kids run out onto the kickball field.  The two team captains are chosen and stand on opposite sides of home plate.  Time goes by slowly for Timmy who knows the outcome already.  Timmy can't run fast or kick hard.  The two captains begin their choosing.  Each one picks one person after another, picking the fastest kids first.  Soon there are only two kids left to be chosen, one of which is Timmy.  The first team captain looks at Timmy and then at the other person and back at Timmy.  The captain chooses the other person.  With a loud groan, Timmy is chosen for the other team.  With a heavy sigh, he slowly walks over to his team.  Always the last one picked.  He knows his teammates do not want him on their team.  He knows his team would rather be short one team member than have him on their team.

Do you ever feel like this in life?  Do you ever feel like you are the last one chosen?  That no one really wants you on their team, but they chose you because they had to choose someone?  Unfortunately it happens.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  We don't have to wait to be chosen for God's team.  He has already chosen us.  There are no people chosen over someone else.  We are all equally on God's team.  It says in John 15:16, "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it to you."

Not only has God chosen you, but you can serve a purpose on His team.  He did not just choose you because He had to.  He did not choose you because there was no one left.  He chose you because you are a valuable player on His team.  Everyone on God's team is a VIP.  You have a purpose. And He wants you on His team.

I am thankful that I am on His team because He has chosen me.  He wants me to be on His team.  He thinks I am a VIP.  I am on God's team only By God's Amazing Grace.

Peace, Be Still. For Once

It is the eve of the first day of the new school year.  The past two weeks have been...hectic...to say the least.  Walls to decorate, lessons to plan, new things to learn, parents to meet, assignments to create.  And the list goes on.  But tonight as I sit at the kitchen table contemplating the day to come, I have a sense of peace fall over me.  This is new.

Every year I have been a nervous wreck the day before school starts.  I worry if I am ready, how will my classes go, how will the kids be.  I will even worry in my sleep with night mares of the first day of school.  After six years of teaching, not much has changed.  Except this year.

I am calm.  I feel prepared.  I am excited.  I am blessed.  Yes.  I am very blessed.

Location has a lot to do with it.  But God's will has an even bigger impact on how I feel right now.

I am not calm because of something I did.  No.  It is because of what He has done for me.  He has brought me a long way.  He has placed me in a position where I am abiding in Him and fulfilling His will.  He has opened the doors to where I am now.  He has directed me to my new school.  It is because of what He has done for me that I am prepared, not nervous, and have a sense of peace.  It is because of Him that I will sleep well tonight.  Maybe even sugar plums will dance in my head.  Hmmm.

Some people wonder, "Am I following His will?"  I can't answer that for someone who is pondering that question.  But I can tell you from personal experience, when I follow God's will, I have a sense of peace about the situation.  I might start to worry about a certain aspect of it, but God immediately quiets my fears and reminds me He has it all taken care of.  He is in control.  Not me.  And we all know how I am about my control.  So listen for that still small voice.  Wait for the sense of calmness to arise.  And pray.  Above all, pray.  Ask God what He has in store for you.  He will make it clear.

One thing that I have had to learn recently is not to rely on myself.  I become a complete failure when I do that.  Rely on God.  And wait.  Yes, I said the "w" word.  You have to be patient and listen for what He has to say to you.

I am able to be calm because I know I am following His will, not mine, only By God's Amazing Grace.

Wild Goose Chase

Today was my first official day on the job.  And I was sent on a wild goose chase.  Let me explain.

We were divided up into teams of 3-4 members and sent to downtown to compete in a scavenger hunt.  Some of the tasks we had to complete were:

• Ask a stranger to give one of us a piggy back ride
• Thumb wrestle with a Police Officer
• Sit in a Police Officer's car
• Sing a sad country song to a crowd of people
• Create a human pyramid

Just about everyone of the items on the list forced us to talk to strangers.  There were very few items that were introvert friendly.

If you met me, you wouldn't believe me, but I am shy.  Especially when in large groups.  I have opened up quite a bit over the years.  But I am also very competitive.  This is obvious.  So when it comes to winning a scavenger hunt or being shy, my competitiveness defeats my shyness.

So today I stepped out of my comfort zone and talked to many a stranger.  I asked people to do things I would probably not even ask my friends to do.  All in the name of bragging rights and a prize.  The more I did it, the easier it became.  

This made me think about another task I have been given in which I might have to talk to complete strangers.  Or even to people I know quite well.  I have been asked to be a witness.  I have been asked to share the Good News.  We are all commissioned to do this in Matthew 28:18-20--"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, 'All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.'"

Each of us are called to spread the Good News.  But we are not asked to do it by ourselves.  Just like I was sent out in a group to talk to complete strangers, God will be my group member.  He will go with me.  Just like I had to complete certain tasks, ask certain things, He will give me the words to say.  All I have to do is be a willing participant.  I just have to let Him speak through me.  I don't even have to use my own words.  God has given me HIS word.  I just have to allow Him to use me.  And the reward I get for letting Him do all the work through me...is much, much greater than the one I earned today.  I get to spend eternity with Him.  He is my prize.  

Sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zone to reach those around us.  Sometimes we have to talk to complete strangers.  And sometimes we have to talk to people much closer.  But we don't have to hid behind our own weaknesses.  God gives us the strength.  Don't let you being shy hold you back from spreading the Good News.  Don't let your fear of saying the wrong thing keep you from sharing the most important thing.  Don't let an excuse come between you and someone hearing about Jesus.  God can use you.  God can use me.  We just have to let Him.

We can share the Good News without fear, without barriers, without excuses Only By God's Amazing Grace.