I seldom write a blog without pictures, and truthfully, this one might actually be the first.  But my heart is so full, and my shop is currently so empty & messy that I felt I wanted to write to you to encourage you in your own faith-walk at the moment.

At our “new” church last night, our pastor stated that he was going to push us….and then he retracted that statement but it was too late, because my simple brain had already latched on to his words…and I remembered my own experience of years gone by.  So from my archives, please allow me to share this story with you…

 

P-U-S-H!!!!!

Anyone who has ever given birth has heard those words at least once.

Though long gone are the days of child-bearing for me, the words resound in my ears again this morning as thoughts of my now 22-yr-old son (he’ll be 27 this year as I am reliving this story) flood my brain.

And I wonder…who is pushing who?

From the pages of my son’s blog at age 20, he spoke of the comfortableness of his life…of having become numb to the  people around him…their needs, their lost state…and of how sick he had become at being comfortable with his life.

Then came his earnest prayer:  God, make me uncomfortable.  Break me.  Tear down all my walls that I have put up to protect me.  Put me in places where my gifts and abilities can be used to Your glory.  Break my heart for what breaks Yours.  And open my eyes to the needs of people around me.  Enable me to act in Your will and purpose.  Fully equip me for everything I may encounter.  Make me uncomfortable.  Break me.

P-U-S-H!!!

He was six years old, and his devastated mom lay in a crying heap on the floor.  his tiny hand touched my shoulder, thrusting the note card in front of my face before kissing my cheek and retreating back to his room.  Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.  Psalm 125:1

P-U-S-H!!!! 

Translated, that means Get up!  Stop crying!  Trust in the Lord, Who is your confidence!

From that time on, my son has been pushing me, but not in the way you would imagine.  Not to gain his own way.  Not to be in control.  His push was more in the way you would push your child on a swing….gently at first, but building momentum with every touch on the back as the words ring out, “Higher, higher!”

From that day, he has pushed me to go before him, to know God so I could make Him known.

And lest I should ever forget….P-U-S-H!!!

Am I willing now to be pushed out of my own comfort zone to be awakened to the faces and heartbeats of those around me?  Can I honestly ask the God Who made me and knows my every thought to break me?  To make me uncomfortable?  Because He will, you know.  I have learned of His faithfulness, and I know that in the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.  Psalm 138:3

So I am crying out, Lord.  Make me bold with strength in my soul.  Break my heart for what breaks Yours.  For my good, and for Your glory.

P-U-S-H!!!

Coming back to last night’s message from our pastor, I choose to remember his words as he first stated them….I appreciate being loved enough to be pushed OUT of my comfort zone and into the realm of the unknown, where only God….did you hear that?…..only God….can move.

To Him be the glory forever.  Amen.

~Blessings, Connie