Glory

I have been enjoying Genesis so much...over the last month or so I have found myself a lot more aware of myself and how others might perceive me...I guess another way to put it would be self-absorbed. There is a fine line between examining yourself before the Lord and examining yourself before others. I guess the difference is motivation. WHO do I want to please? I have come to this conclusion so many times and I guess I'll always wrestle with wanting to please others and inturn please myself...ANYWAY...today's QT was great for me. I have REALLY been enjoying the story this week. Today was in Genisis 25:19-34...Previously in the story God has promised Abraham that from him He would make a great nation. From him there would be as many descendants as there are grains of sand or stars in the sky...Abraham believes Him and is counted as righteous for it. Well, Sarah was barren...God proves His power and at age 90? she has a baby...well, then her son receives a wife in an amazing way...the nations going to grow....oh no, for 20 years she is barren....when I read she was barren and that Isaac "prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife" I just stopped. It met me right where I am this morning.
Remember how I said that I have been a little self-absorbed? Sunday on the worship team...last night as I led my little discipleship group...I walked away feeling completely inadequate...I started my QT this morning praying for wisdom remembering James chapter one's promise to give wisdom liberally to anyone who asks...ANYWAY...when I read that Rebekah was barren and thought about how God had promised to make a great nation from Abraham's descendants I thought well of course she was barren. He doesn't need us to be incredibly gifted to accomplish great things on this earth. He doesn't even need our bodies to do the things we are normally created to do....HE wants to show His power and receive the glory....I wrote in my QT: Lord, I feel barren to produce godly children as a mom. I feel barren to produce godly disciples as a small group leader...I DO NOT HAVE THE WISDOM it takes....I feel completely inadequate, but here You are reminding me that You have the power and want the glory for it.
Last night one of my girls brought her boyfriend to church. He has just lost a good friend to a drug overdose. I was so excited to see him! When I saw that he had come my heart was just overwhelmed with love for him. As we sang the words to the songs were amazing and I was praying that he would hear the truth and that his heart would be directed to the Lord. I was reminded of how important it is to be praying for these students all the time. It's not about how we wow them with our great music and 70 inch plasma screens...all that is awesome and I'm thankful for it, but only God can make true change in a students heart and I was thrilled at the possiblility of that taking place last night. Let's be praying he comes back...