Sawyer and Jahnabell talking the neighbor's car for a spin. (please stop growing up so fast!)
I believe there is value in simply keeping it real. No filter, no attempts of keeping up appearances. Life is crazy for most of us - we run, and do - we go from one task to the next. I absolutely love the opportunity to do what I do as a worship resident. Whether it's running cables, absorbing teaching, or leading worship. Still, no matter what I am doing, there is the constant tendency for my focus to be on completing tasks and not on engaging with people. It's easier for me to just be "busy" than to rest in the truth of God's word. That He has in fact "made the world and everything in it" and He has determined the "boundaries of our dwelling places"!
"The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place," Acts 17:24-26
The truth of God's word is what keeps me anchored. My own opinions and ideas are fickle, but His word remains forever.
"The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether." Psalm 19:9
Yesterday the residents had the opportunity to learn from one of the second year residents Billy Wiginton, who is being sent out as a worship pastor to a church in Washington, D.C. Billy has only 3 weeks left in Austin and then he and his wife and three kids are moving their entire life to another state - to a completely different culture. A place devoid of tacos. But seriously, I have learned so much from Billy. Yesterday while sharing his story Billy said something that has stuck with me:
"How do you know if you are in God's will? . . . By doing it!"
Billy posed the question, "how do you know if you are in God's will?" His rhetorical response was, "by doing it!" This resounded in my soul ultimately because of the truth it's based on. God has indeed pre-determined our dwelling place (Acts 17:26). Furthermore we cannot escape His will because He has planned out every moment and every thought even before it crossed our mind (Psalm 139:1-4). This knowledge, should call us to obedience not apathy. And this is key.
This knowledge, should call us to obedience not apathy.
O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. Psalm 139:1-4
So how do we walk in God's will? By doing it! By small acts of obedience. My constant prayer is that my will would surrender to God's ultimate sovereign will and that I would walk in obedience so that I can truly know Him.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" Psalm 139:23-24
I will close with this short inspiring teaching video from Jeff Mangum. This guy definitely knows how to keep it real!
