Reluctant Obedience

"Obedience to God's will is the secret of spiritual knowledge and insight. It is not willingness to know, but willingness to DO (obey) God's will that brings certainty." ~ Eric Liddel

This week I have been studying about the early churches obediece to Jesus' Global mandate. The study started with the quote above. At first I didn't get it. But after the study is over i completely understand and totally get it!

At the beginning of Acts the church had a really good start they were preaching God's word and getting a GREAT response. And then the hard ships came and they became more reluctant to obey. Then you have Barnabas the Encourager. The more I studied the more ties I saw to my life. When you first commit to something I am all on fire for it and start strong and then after awhile when I hit hard ships I freak out and start to second guess myself! The Lord did not give me a spirit of fear!! The Lord said it and that should be it. I should not be questioning anything! I hate how the devil has his sly ways of getting in there and having us second guess ourselves!!

When the church in Acts got that way the Lord sent Barabas to encourage them and to lift their spirits! It is the same with us...Sometimes we work so hard and feel as though we are getting nowhere. That is when times get tough. However we can always have Hope in the Lord. Because the question is not will we succeed in obtaining God's Global goal!! In Revelation 7:9-10 we have beautiful picture of what the success will look like. "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that on one could count, from every NATION, TRIBE, PEOPLE, AND LANGUAGE, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robesand were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'" HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THAT!!!???

I already know that the madate will be completed but the question is, am I going to be apart of the generation who steps up and completes the task?

The challenge has been set! Now I must try and work UNreluctantly towards the goal that the Lord has sat in front of me!

Now think about that quote...."Obedience to God's will is the secret of spiritual knowledge and insight. It is not willingness to know, but willingness to DO (obey) God's will that brings certainty." ~ Eric Liddel

God of this WORLD!!

Been awhile since I have wrote on here, but oh has alot gone on!! I am now at summer school. YUCK!! But I know that this is where the Lord wants me this summer, even though this is not my place of choice. haha

This week has really been tough because I keep thinking "Man I do NOT want to be here!!" My attitude has be beyond negative! Well Fuge staff got here today so that means school work in Student Services is going to be CRAZY. Plus my Best Friend from home is leaving to go to Kentucky tomorrow and i don't get to hug her bye or anything. :( When I finally stopped I was sitting at my desk having a pity party when I started thinking...."Danielle WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!?? You are making yourself miserable!!" I should not see this as aweful!! This summer can be full of opportunties to Glorify my father if I choose to let him use me!!

All week in my bible study I have been studying how God is a Global God. I have studied passage after passage about how God wants His name spread all around the world. WHAT AM I DOING TO FURTHER HIS KINGDOM!!??? -->OUCH<-- In my bible study I ran upon this saying...."Jesus is not our personal possessive savior, he is "SAVIOR of the world." Lately I have been treating Him as just my savior. I have started to put him in a box and look at what Danielle wants not Him. -->Don't want to go through that again<-- I know the Lord has something GREAT planned for me, and just because i am some where i do not really want to be means nothing. Jesus is still the Savior of the world!! I NEED TO LIVE AND ACT LIKE IT!! Last Sunday was homecoming at Ebenezer Welcome Baptist Church and Travis Henson spoke. He gave a great challenge to me! but all week i have just decided to forget the challenge. Well i can't do that anymore. It is time for me to face the challenge and Do what the Lord has placed me here to do.

Travis spoke on the passage from Joshua 1:1-8. He talked about how the Isrealites were on the bank of the Jordan River. He talked about what he thought they were doing on the banks.

• Looking back to see how far they had come, and Praising the Lord for his Faithfulness!
• Looking around at where they were, and making that place as a Landmark in History for how far they had come, and again continuing to Praise the Lord for His faithfulness.
• Looking ahead to see the Promise land and what the Lord had in store for them. Not just giving up and settling for just the edge of the promise land, but continuing and trusting in the Lord's promises to bring it all to completion. (Phil 1:6)

This really stuck with me all week, and i havent been able to shake it! Instead of looking ahead and trusting, I am looking ahead and shutting down. The Lord has started to use me in mighty ways...I can't just stop because i am somewhere i do not want to be!! I pray that the Lord change my heart and give me a heart for what he wants to be done on this campus and in my life this summer. I have got to continue to look ahead and trust the Lord's plan. I have got to look ahead and not get distracted my the stupid things the devil puts in my life to try and trip me up!

I look back on last semester and all i can do is lift my hands up to the Lord and Praise him! I went to Ecuador and found my heart, and realized that my God is a global GOd and he wants me to be a part of spreading his word. After much prayer I started my Journeyman Application and the Lord has given me Peace beyond understanding. I am so excited about where he is going to take me and what he is going to do, but yet i am almost scared to death. I can't get scared!!! The Lord knows everything and will take care of it all!! I MUST KEEP MY EYES ON HIM!!!

From here on out! I have a new attitude!! I will live everyday for Christ and look for every opportunity to share God's greatness and grace with others on MY mission field this summer, the NGU campus! I Pray the Lord breaks my heart for what breaks HIS!