Believe Manifesto

Soon no name on this earth will matter but one. Not yours, not mine. That one name has asked you to build with him. And who wouldn’t trade building sand castles to get to build something that lasts forever?

Before we can start our race we have to check our selves a bit and look at the WHY…oh dear friends how that why gets me. It makes me cry, it hurts me some days…in fact I had an emotional couch session last night with my husband Derick because of why. We ask ourselves so many questions, and we look at motives, feelings and where we are at. I am soooo beyond ready to get over MYSELF! To get out of my own way and let God swoop in and put the wind back in my sails. We know that God wants to move and work through us…I love that aspect of our lives. That is true for every one of us. That part is so SIMPLE. We are here to reach our audience. We are here to increase him! But there is more…there is!

Because deep down we know we were created for some great purpose. And these great things we were built to do are for God, through God, and in God. 

Tim Keller defines meaningful work as taking the raw materials we are given and assembling them in a way that causes other people to flourish. 

We talked in our Monday night group about comparison a bit. And I have had such a strong conviction on my heart the last year to show women that we HAVE to stop comparing, to stop weighing the scales against each other. To start encouraging each other and seeing ourselves how God sees us. To know that we are ENOUGH just the way he made us. And to know that as we go through this, we each will see some amazing things that are our unique gifts. Own it sisters. Own those gifts and be proud!

In Rwanda, when you talk to the men who work the fields, they speak as confidently and profoundly of their contributions to this world as the attorneys in their suits. We have hijacked the game, measuring worth with a scale that God did not create. What if we took the pieces of our lives and began to use them to help others flourish for the sake of Christ? All of a sudden our motives would narrow to contain more of God and others, and less of us. 

See, God has a means of shaping our motives. He wants our hearts to be pure. He is changing us, humbling us, making our hearts beat for him. 

I want to take a look at Second Corinthians. My bible says that Second Corinthians is one of Paul’s most emotionally volatile and personal letters. Despite conflict, Paul gives us some of his most profound teaching on forgiveness, finding strength in weakness, the importance of giving generously and the new life that is available to everyone because of what Christ has done. In Chapter 12 verse 8 Three times I begged the Lord to make this suffering go away. 9 But he replied, “My gift of undeserved grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.”

Wait…when we are weak?! That’s right…the Lord said weak. We have to be venerable….he is closest to us when we are, because we let him in…we let him work in us. So lets get over ourselves, so we can see where we need to start to get in this race.

So we throw off the sin that entangles and we run…But where do we run?

I am running to bring glory to my Father God, who gave me a purpose and a hope when I was unworthy, on the side of the road, broken.

Before we know where to run, we have to know where we are. Where are we starting? I love that Jennie lays this out for us. She gives us four starting places and she even shares some questions that she and others have asked in these places. Let’s take the time to really pray and dig in about where we are. Just know that wherever you are, God loves you. And there are people all around you who love you ready to cheer you on, fill you up, give you a drink of water and catch you when you fall along the way. I know I am THIRSTY and not RUNNING FREE but I was. So I’m mostly thirsty because I know I need to get back in the race. I’m just not sure how to do that right now. No matter where we are…I’m sure we are all a little hurt. All in different areas. Take heart friend.

Hebrews 12:1-3 Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith…so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

I know you probably feel scared right now, or sweaty, nervous or just down right clammy. I feel you. Me too…but you know what I want? I want to stop feeling nervous and know without a doubt that I am running my race for God’s glory. Are you with me?

Blessings,

Sarah

Lets talk: Where are you in the race parable that Jennie shared?