Thoughts for a Monday...

Our pastor is doing a series from 1 Corinthians, and yesterday was the third sermon in that series. You know it's a good sermon when it makes you squirm with conviction, right?

Not that I'm trying to start out your Monday with a spoonful of conviction, but I figure if I needed to hear the words, maybe someone else needs to hear them too! So I'll just pass along the thoughts your way...

* Just do the work the Lord gives you...and it will be powerful.

Gulp.

This work we do here is challenging at times. We know we aren't alone in that. You might feel the same way about the work you do! Ryan has reminded me many times lately that ministry is messy. 

It is messy. All our ministry messes look different. And when you're working through a mess, sometimes it feels like it's completely hopeless. A mess too messy to clean up. (Ever felt that way?) But I loved this reminder that the work in front of me is the work the Lord has given me to do for this day. My job is to do it. The level of mess, the level of perceived success, the level of effectiveness...all that is up to Him. My job is to do what I'm called to do and trust His power for the rest.

* Work is worship.

Gulp again.

Whether or not I actually worship in my work is up to me. It's all up to the attitude I have as I work. This is true on the good days and the hard days. The easy days and the frustrating days. It's all worship. I was put here on this work to work and to worship. They're the same in the Lord! 

* I may not have everything I want, but I will have everything I need in Jesus.

You know I'm a dreamer. Dreaming is fun, but it can be dangerous if it leads me to become discontent with what is in front of me. I'll always have a wish list a mile long of things I'd like to have, but I'm so thankful I really do have every single thing I actually need. And if I don't have it, it's because I don't need it.

Back in my single years, I used to ask God many questions about why I had to be single when I so longed to be married. One of the thoughts He used to impress on my heart was that if I didn't have a husband, it was because I didn't need one yet. It wasn't the right time. When the time came, He would provide. And He did!

***

I left church yesterday with sore toes - but a full heart that was challenge to keep working hard, worship in the working, and to trust God for my every need. 

I don't know what may be challenging you today, but these truths are for you, too! I hope they encourage you this Monday!