CONVICTED

I love our church. I've grown up at Calvary and have seen it grow over the past 20 years and feel so blessed to be here. It's a great place to be part of the family of Christ, fellowship with other believers and serve in so many ways.

Anyway, on to my point. Today Matt Doan spoke in Elevation. Matt was the High School pastor for 2 of my High School years. He inspired a lot of my growth those years and was the reason I am so taken by Mark 8:34, from a summer theme. He's super passionate about ministry, students and whatever he's doing at the time. I could go on and on about Matt, but again I digress. (but Thanks Matt for you passion!)

Today Matt preached on 1 Timothy 5. It was about being the family of God & as the Church our responsibility to widows. We talked about the Church's responsibility to not only widows, but orphans as well. Matt also made the point in his message, is the Church known for being the HOUSE of GOD like we should? If every member, attendee, and person at Calvary Church was going out, Sunday afternoon until we returned to Church Sunday morning the next week, as wanting to be known for being The HOUSE of GOD? How would Orange Country Change? Wouldn't it be amazing? Wouldn't it be amazing to start a revival, right here?

As I looked around me I wondered, is Matt the only one getting fired up about this? Is he the only one who will be going out this week living his message? What if just a handful of people in the congregation lived out this very message, wouldn't even that testimony reach pretty far? I want to take these teachings to heart. I WANT to live out these principles from the Bible. But I don't want to work on reaching the widows, orphans & needy this week, and then forget it all next Sunday when Pastor Dave takes the pulpit and preaches on a new verse and new set of things to work on.

So my thoughts continued this afternoon... I want to take this principle to heart. It seems a pretty big project however. What about everything else in the Bible? Striving to be the Proverbs 31 women could take up my whole day every day of the week! But then add in, caring for the widowed, orphans & needy, and then striving to keep up with everything else we learn in Church, how is one supposed to do it? I want to be a Godly person, but I realize how many things God tells us to do that I'm not doing, and I want to do them, but how? It would be amazing to be able to devote your life to ministry of just living out the Word of God, but how does one accomplish this in the rat race of life that is just a must. I don't feel that my life is fill with much "extra" that is un-needed. I'm sure there is TV, computer, and lazy time I could use to be productive for Christ however.

I guess this is the best I have come up with. I want to be productive for Christ. Put into practice the things I learn to the best of my abilities. However, I think at this time in my life, continuing to model my life after the Proverb 31 women (which does include reaching the needy) will be my goal and slowly add in aspects I feel God is calling me to.

THOUGHTS? I'd love to hear yours! How do you strive to live your life for Christ? How do you want to be know in your circle of friends, community, etc...?

So I've decided to have a "vision" for my personal life to focus on this. This is how I want to live my life, to reflect my Savior, and to be a witness to those around me.

Unashamed Love

You're calling me to lay aside the worries of my day

To quiet down my busy mind and find a hiding place

Worthy, You are worthy

I open up my heart and let my spirit worship Yours

I open up my mouth and let a song of praise come forth

Worthy, You are worthy

Of a childlike faith and of my honest praise

Of my unashamed love

Of a holy life and of my sacrifice

Of my unashamed love

Proverbs 31:10-31

A good woman is hard to find,

and worth far more than diamonds.

Her husband trusts her without reserve,

and never has reason to regret it.

Never spiteful, she treats him generously

all her life long.

She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,

and enjoys knitting and sewing.

She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places

and brings back exotic surprises.

She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast

for her family and organizing her day.

She looks over a field and buys it,

then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden.

First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,

rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.

She senses the worth of her work,

is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.

She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,

diligent in homemaking.

She's quick to assist anyone in need,

reaches out to help the poor.

She doesn't worry about her family when it snows;

their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.

She makes her own clothing,

and dresses in colorful linens and silks.

Her husband is greatly respected

when he deliberates with the city fathers.

She designs gowns and sells them,

brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.

Her clothes are well-made and elegant,

and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.

When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,

and she always says it kindly.

She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,

and keeps them all busy and productive.

Her children respect and bless her;

her husband joins in with words of praise:

"Many women have done wonderful things,

but you've outclassed them all!"

Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.

The woman to be admired and praised

is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.

Give her everything she deserves!

Festoon her life with praises!

1 Timothy 5:1-2

Don't be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. Reverently honor an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters.