Getting off course...

Yesterday, I wrote about distraction, and I just wanted to elaborate on that today. God has been using seemingly innocent things in my life to distract me from His purpose, and last night I just felt called to recommit to going ahead and serving Him without those distractions.
I think what was a real turning point yesterday, and for how my life has gone lately was an article in The Holland Sentinel yesterday about a teacher who was a pastor at a church, and with simply choosing to love His addiction more than he loved God, lost everything. He is going through a "storm" as the pastor in the article states. 
I can't help but just feel deeply for the family that must be embarrassed, shaken, hurting at this moment. I would never wish that pain on anyone.
In my head, over and over, the words "your sins will find you out," keep running through my head.
How many things do we do in secret. How many impure thoughts do we have each day that we just brush off as innocent? How many times do we do something, and think that no one will ever know? This just reminds me of the diligence living a pure and holy life requires. Our actions originate in our thoughts. Our thoughts breed actions. And our actions breed consequences.

Prepared?

I struggle to write this post, because my mind is so full of questions from things I've heard over the last few days, I can't even begin to put them into words.
1) I went to Bible study last night, and was faced with a message about following God's call for my life, and getting rid of the distractions. I will admit, this road to follow God's plan for my life the last year has not been without its fair share of distractions. Boys. Stress. You name it, it's happened. The message made me realize that I need to "stop seeking God's will for my life and start seeking God." That quote made me think. I've been making all these grand plans, and have kinda consulted God, but not really. And ever since things got crazy at work in January, my relationship with God has definitely suffered.

2) Pastor Trent told me to watch a video, and it would change my life. I'm telling all my blog readers the same. I have a friend Erinn who has been suffering through infertility. I've had my fair share of bad things happen in my life in the last five years. But I was never as public, and as transparent about them as Erinn and her husband Kevin. Her emails are inspiring and give me hope. She and Kevin are suffering well.
This video that I'm posting below is a view of suffering well, and all the understanding about Jesus that goes along with it. When I was done watching it, I just sat in my chair, and cried out for the Lord to heal this man. He has the faith I want.
Please watch.

T4G 2010 -- Session 8 -- Matt Chandler from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

God is so generous...

Sometimes we forget how much we are truly given. We have cars to drive, we have food to eat, we have clothes to wear, and we are rich. So often, I truly forget how much I have, and how much I've been given.

I've been reading this book, Mao's Last Dancer, and I was appalled at the poverty communism caused in China. People had no food, people had no money, and people died because the government took over their lives, and they had no power to go against it.

As I was handing in my support for my upcoming Jamaica trip, I was amazed by how generous my family, friends and church family has been over these last few months as I was raising support. In just a few short months, I have raised all the support I need to take this trip. People gave generously, and showed their support for what I'm doing, and for what God has been doing in my life recently. And as I sat down to write thank you cards for those who gave to my trip, I was humbled at the amount I had to write. All these people want to see God's kingdom furthered through me and this trip! Talk about pressure!

Their ability to give, and this book I'm reading I'm sure is no coincidence. God wanted to show me how much we have. To show me that He has given us everything we need.