Sacrifices

Hello again all! What a busy weekend for us - Darrel went to Promise Keepers and I had practice with the Revolution 375 Band. Things are going so well and I know that this Friday's first Rev 375 is going to be incredible! I am so excited to see what God is going to do with these "motherless, fatherless" "John the Baptist" kids! If you think about it this week, pray for those in our community who need to hear the message of Revolution 375 - those who need to find a home in Jesus Christ.

Darrel talked about the last leg of a life fully lived - sacrifice - in Sunday School yesterday morning. I've been kicking that around in my head ever since - I always know what I'm supposed to post about Monday mornings because I have usually dreamed about writing it the whole night! When we talk about making sacrifices, most people's minds immediately go to all the missionaries they have known or heard about - those who have left everything they had and knew to go into deep, dark foreign lands to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to some unknown tribe. Maybe it brings up images of giving up the very things you love the most just to be closer to Christ. But for most of us, God is not calling us to a foreign country and if we are honest about God's character and what He did for us through Jesus Christ, His Son, we would realize that He does not require us to give up things we love to attain position with Him. I'm more prone to think that a life of sacrifice is filled with small, everyday things along the way.

Maybe God is asking you to sacrifice your time in mentoring someone or helping out a friend. It could be that God is asking you to sacrifice your shyness in reaching out to a co-worker or visiting a fellow church member who is sick. Maybe He is asking you to sacrifice that extra $20 you save a week in giving it to someone in need (or even someone who isn't in need...). Could it be that God is asking you to sacrifice your pride in going to that person who hurt you and making things right? These are the everyday things that can trip us up if we're not careful. These are the potential stumbling blocks in our lives. "Couldn't He just call me to Africa? I mean, I'm willing to give everything up for the sake of the gospel, but I am NOT going to apologize for something I didn't do...!" Sound familiar? Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us - not only in giving up His life, but in the events leading up to His crucifixion. Remember how they tormented Him, lied about Him, assaulted His character, spit on Him, cursed Him, beat Him and on and on. And what does the scripture say? That He did not speak a word in His defense. He could have had them all wiped from the earth in seconds - but He took it. How many times a day do we feel we have been misrepresented or unfairly treated - do we sacrifice our pride or do we defend it? How many times do we hang on with all our might to the things we have, afraid of losing them or doing without? If we would loosen our grip a little, we would find that God is not some sadistic meanie Who can't wait to take things away from us or deprive us of something. We would find that when we let go with a willing heart ready to sacrifice, He mostly gives it back! God wants us to pursue our dreams - in Him! He longs to give us the desires of our heart when we trust Him first!

I remember back when I was in high school, I showed quarter horses. I loved my horse, Steppin' Dandy. I had so much fun riding and going to horse shows. Then when I was in college, my mother decided that we would have to sell the horse. It had always been an issue between my mom and dad. She felt she had to give up the horses because she loved them too much. It devestated me to watch it all go. I have never had a horse since and it has always been a dream of mine. Now my daughter, Kelsey, has developed that same love and dream. But I think in the back of my mind, I have always felt like I had to sacrifice that dream - that if I gave in to it, I would somehow lose something with God. How like the enemy to twist things around. I can never attain a higher standing with God by sacrificing something. He simply wants me to obey Him. Jesus Christ has already done it all in His death and resurrection. I even know people who think that by going on a "soda fast" they will get more of God - let me assure you, unless God has specifically spoken to your heart to do something like that, you are NOT going to impress God with giving up soda pop for a week. Sometimes we make God out to be ridiculous don't we?

Let's make the sacrifice of love this week. Give of yourself to others, give of your time in prayer and service of those around you. Sacrifice on the side of love for others. And remember to pray for Bart as he has had his surgery and for his family - definitely something worth making a sacrifice for, don't you think? I love you all - have a wonderful day!