Sorry...Did I trip you?

Every once in a while a song comes along that kicks me square in the gut...in a good way.  You know the kind.  It challenges, convicts and moves you all at once and causes you to look at yourself in a painfully real way.  The song that's done that to me all too often lately is "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" by Casting Crowns.

This song could honestly produce a blog series, given that the first line is what this blog is based on.  But we'll stick with just one line.  I had a pedicure today and don't think my toes can handle that much being stepped on.

In the opening of this song, is the line: "the world is on their way to you, but they're tripping over me."  Ouch.  How many times have I been the reason that someone else stumbled? How many times have my actions done damage to the work God is trying to do in someone's life? How many times have my judgements, my opinions, my lack of mercy, grace and compassion driven people further from Christ instead of towards him?

For me, it's all too easy to forget that God hasn't called me to save the world.  He hasn't called me to change people.  He's called me to love like Jesus loved.  He's called me reflect Jesus to the best of my ability.  He's called me to live my life in a way that points people to Him.  And to let Him handle the rest.  He's allowed me the opportunities to speak lovingly into someone's life, but not to judge or condemn.

This line in this song reminds me so beautifully that God has a plan.  And His plan works.  God has a path.  And it's often not at all what my idea of a path would be.  God wants to work.  And if I'll just stay out of His way, He'll accomplish a beautiful work.

Do I have a part in that work? Of course I do.  But it's His part, not mine.  And when I do my best to do the part He has for me, my chances of tripping someone else on their way to Him all but disappear.

I'm Free, Not Perfect

Do you struggle with being a perfectionist? Does the slightest detail being out of sorts add to the number of gray hairs on your head? This is a battle I fight in my head daily.  I want things to be right.  I want things to line up just right.  Have I mentioned before that I struggle a bit with control issues? That tends to lend itself to a bit of perfectionism.

See, I all too often set myself up for the disappointment of falling short of perfection.  It's a vicious cycle.  I've gotten better over the years, but I still have a ways to go.

Yesterday at church we continued with a series called Running With the Giants.  It's been a great series, but yesterday's was the best by far, at least for me.  (If you'd like to watch that message...and you should...click here.)  The message was based on the life of David.  One statement came out of that message that spoke to the core of my perfectionist heart.  "God's power inside of me gives me the power to live in freedom.  Not perfection."  Wow.  That hit me like a ton of bricks.

Living in the freedom that my life in Christ brings, doesn't mean that things in my life have to be perfect.  That doesn't mean I have to be (or pretend to be) perfect.  It actually means I can live in complete freedom from the need for perfection.  

As that concept made it's way through my brain, I began to feel such freedom. God doesn't call me to be perfect.  He doesn't expect me to have it all together all the time.  All He wants me to do is walk in the freedom he gives me.  The freedom that allows grace for my shortcomings.  The freedom that helps me to overcome my shortcomings.  The freedom that allows me to be less than perfect.

Today, let go of the need for perfection and walk in freedom!  He's got it under control.  And it's His way that's perfect.

Give Up

My 9 year old spent last week at camp with our church.  I'm always so excited for him to go to camp.  Most of my favorite summer memories are tied to camp.  I still have friendships today that started around his age at camp.  I pray for new friendships, new experiences and new encounters with God.  I want him to have that perfect mix of fun and spiritual growth.  I always so eagerly anticipate the drive after picking him up to hear the excitement in his stories.

This year was no different.  As we drove and I listened to his camp stories, I loved hearing the excitement in his voice.  I loved hearing about the new things he tried, the new people he met.  As we sat down to dinner, he shifted from the "fun" stuff to the God stuff.

There were great little nuggets for him.  Little foundational things that will grow into big life things as he grows.  But the thing that stuck out the most to him was a story that the camp speaker (who also happens to be our AMAZING Student Ministries Pastor) told about his own life.  A story about God telling him to give something up as a teenager.  And the process that brought about his obedience.  He told us that he was going to start praying about what God might want him to give up in his life.

I was incredibly proud and totally convicted all at once.  I was so proud that my 9 year old would consider that God may want him to give something up.  And that he was committing to pray about that.  But I was so totally convicted because I knew in that instant that I may not have the nerve to pray about something God might want me to give up.  And that if He directed me to give something up, I'd likely resist...not willingly obey.

So here's what I learned from kids camp.  I want to return to that child like obedience and excitement about what God wants me to do...or not do.  I need to be constantly aware of those areas that could distract me from His plan and purpose for my life.  I need to be better about gleaning from other people's life stories and learning from their lessons.  I need to be more like my 9 year old, ready to act on whatever it is God has to say to me.

Have you talked with your kids lately about what they want God to do in them? You should.  But be ready for a swell of pride and rush of conviction.  And don't be afraid to give up.