what is my job?

this morning again was beautiful! i got to the office way early - 7:15 AM -- what the?

anyway, as i'm praying for some friends who are job searching, trying to get into law school, going to have babies, moving, in missions, struggling with sickness, etc. -- i remembered that my job is to trust in Christ. to believe and walk boldly forward daily, trusting in His sovereignty. that is my job - that's your job. recently i've been going through the life of Christ's ministry and the crucifixion -- and thought of thomas. i don't want to be like that, i want to trust without seeing the outcome and then say that i was trusting in His sovereignty and grace.

John 20:29 "then Jesus told him (thomas), "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

i want to be one of those ...

if i could be anywhere today...

if i could be anywhere today - i would be here, annapolis harbor heading out for a run. it's such a beautiful day outside. sunshine! this morning was a gorgeous sunrise the Lord gave us. it was the kind that you have to squint because there are so many colors and it's so bright!

since last sunday's sermon
by cj -- i've been really trying to see everything as a gift. i am absolutely nothing without the gifts the Lord has chosen to give me. granted, sometimes i'm not happy with the gifts i'm given - experiences and struggles -- but, i am trying to remember that regardless of circumstances, He has my best interest in mind. there are so many things in my life that i have no idea what direction they're going -- and yet, in God's grace, He has been giving me peace about it all. i don't know so much. i'm a yahoo! without His gift of knowledge of the things i know - i'm absolutely nothing.

it would be a great day to be laying on the deck of a boat and just ponder how wonderful a Savior we have in Christ.

Philippians 1:27 "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."

ab's words hit like a brick!

on friday morning - i was needing some encouragement - and at 8:00 AM Truth For Life
alistair was speaking on hebrews 4:1-13 in the series "fix your eyes on Jesus - rest for your souls, Part B" -- and it was great!
the Lord used that to encourage me and in turn when i got in to work i was able to listen to it with some of my co-workers, and it encouraged them. one of my friends was especially bothered by traffic that morning - and so hearing that we are to focus on the gospel, not our circumstances was helpful for her.
last Sunday evening at church Kurt Heath spoke. he did a great job of telling us that we can't look at our circumstances and then come to the cross with the wrong perspective. it is much more helpful for us to START at the foot of the cross and then look at our circumstances. when we do this, things are much different.
when we think first of what has been done for us by Christ, then we can look at the circumstances through 1 Peter 4:12-13

"dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. but rejoice, that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed."

Philippians 1:27

the Lord is so kind in reminding me when i need to be - and teaching me things when i'm not ready for them. but, He is so faithful and gracious - reminding me that i am alive today for His glory, not my own.

the past few weeks it is with thanks that i've been able to encourage others around me - strangers at starbucks, work, church, target :) my heart has been reminded by Philippians 1:27 which states, "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." B A M!!! that means if i'm sick, dying, miserable in my personal life, stuck in traffic, waiting for the Lord to bring my future husband, hoping that my family come to know Christ, struggling with the sin in my life each day, sailing in Annapolis (my dream place!), at a winning Navy football game -- no matter what! conduct myself as a daughter of the Creator of the universe. conduct myself in a manner worthy of the very Christ that was a substitution for my filthy sin. That is what it's saying!

so, it DOES NOT MATTER what is going wrong or right in your life at the moment, the past or the future -- walk in a manner worthy of the One who has called you by name and who knows what is ahead for you.

Philippians 1:27 "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."
period. that's it! no matter what!