Well, today is Thoughtful Thursday and I want to share the story behind the name with you. The truth is, a gracious interruption is what God's doing in my life. There's a message by a pastor named Judah Smith called A Gracious Interruption. This message spoke to me on so many levels.
What makes this message so special you ask?
So often we think that we're here because of what we can do. Judah Smith tells the story of Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration. He mentions that when Peter is on the mount, he thinks that he's there because of what he can do. Then God interrupts Peter while he's speaking. The truth is, we're not here because of what we can do, we're here because of who God is and what He can do.
Recently God led my husband and me to attend a different church. There were some things that my husband needed to work through and we both felt like the Lord was challenging us to "get uncomfortable." The church we were formally going to we had both worked at, and it was the only church I had ever attended. I attended that church for 17 years and was starting to grow too comfortable. Life became about a routine and what "I" could do rather than what God could do.
At our new home church we've felt over and over again the peace and confirmation from the Lord that it's the church we're supposed to be at. It's been a super hard transition, but through this "gracious interruption" God has been teaching me so many things. Here's what God's taught me through this:
1) It's not about me.
It's not about my likes, it's not about my desires. It's not about what I think is cool, excellent, or amazing. What I like isn't the only thing that God likes. What I think is excellent isn't the only excellent thing to God. It isn't my way. It's HIS way.
2) Lack of healing doesn't mean lack of faith.
There were times in my walk with the Lord where I thought if I wasn't healed, or if someone else wasn't healed, then it must be because they didn't have strong enough faith. This isn't true. This is a lie from the enemy. God meets us where we're at, and sometimes where we're at requires more than just faith. The bible says faith without works is dead. Some people take that to mean if you don't act on faith, your faith is dead. However, God has shown me that miracles happen when faith and action are present together. When he healed the blind man, there was faith AND action. When he healed the woman with the issue of blood, there was faith AND action.
3) Sometimes it's about sacrifice.
Recently I became a stay at home mom. Prior to being a stay at home mom, I was a worship leader. I felt that worship had to be done a certain way (it's not my way...see point 1.) God is working on this in me, and one of the ways he's doing that is challenging me in worship. At our new church I don't really know any of the songs and they have a very different sound than at our old church. This does not mean it's not excellent. There is no excuse for me to not worship because I don't know the song, or I don't like how it sounds. This is sacrificial worship. Also, when we give in our sacrifice it means more than when we give in our abundance. Like the poor widow, she gave everything of all she had. This applies to tithing and worship. I think it means more to God sometimes when we worship to a song that may not be our favorite. It's easy to sing a song you love, it's hard to sing a song (with the same meaning) that you might not like very much.
I hope you now have a little bit more insight to the gracious interruption in my own life. I'd love to hear how God has graciously interrupted your life. :)
What makes this message so special you ask?
So often we think that we're here because of what we can do. Judah Smith tells the story of Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration. He mentions that when Peter is on the mount, he thinks that he's there because of what he can do. Then God interrupts Peter while he's speaking. The truth is, we're not here because of what we can do, we're here because of who God is and what He can do.
Recently God led my husband and me to attend a different church. There were some things that my husband needed to work through and we both felt like the Lord was challenging us to "get uncomfortable." The church we were formally going to we had both worked at, and it was the only church I had ever attended. I attended that church for 17 years and was starting to grow too comfortable. Life became about a routine and what "I" could do rather than what God could do.
At our new home church we've felt over and over again the peace and confirmation from the Lord that it's the church we're supposed to be at. It's been a super hard transition, but through this "gracious interruption" God has been teaching me so many things. Here's what God's taught me through this:
1) It's not about me.
It's not about my likes, it's not about my desires. It's not about what I think is cool, excellent, or amazing. What I like isn't the only thing that God likes. What I think is excellent isn't the only excellent thing to God. It isn't my way. It's HIS way.
2) Lack of healing doesn't mean lack of faith.
There were times in my walk with the Lord where I thought if I wasn't healed, or if someone else wasn't healed, then it must be because they didn't have strong enough faith. This isn't true. This is a lie from the enemy. God meets us where we're at, and sometimes where we're at requires more than just faith. The bible says faith without works is dead. Some people take that to mean if you don't act on faith, your faith is dead. However, God has shown me that miracles happen when faith and action are present together. When he healed the blind man, there was faith AND action. When he healed the woman with the issue of blood, there was faith AND action.
3) Sometimes it's about sacrifice.
Recently I became a stay at home mom. Prior to being a stay at home mom, I was a worship leader. I felt that worship had to be done a certain way (it's not my way...see point 1.) God is working on this in me, and one of the ways he's doing that is challenging me in worship. At our new church I don't really know any of the songs and they have a very different sound than at our old church. This does not mean it's not excellent. There is no excuse for me to not worship because I don't know the song, or I don't like how it sounds. This is sacrificial worship. Also, when we give in our sacrifice it means more than when we give in our abundance. Like the poor widow, she gave everything of all she had. This applies to tithing and worship. I think it means more to God sometimes when we worship to a song that may not be our favorite. It's easy to sing a song you love, it's hard to sing a song (with the same meaning) that you might not like very much.
I hope you now have a little bit more insight to the gracious interruption in my own life. I'd love to hear how God has graciously interrupted your life. :)