Whose on stage and what kindof stage?
Just wanted to share some from my quiet time this morning, a preview of what I am going to teach at Bible study tonight (which has the most incredible ladies in the world in it I might add)!
Before I share what the Lord taught me, I wanted to share a story that came to mind as God spoke to me this morning. When I lived in nepal, Leah (my teammate) and I went to stay the month of January in a village. This village had never seen white girls before. So needless to say we were elevated to movie star status quicker then we could get off the stinky bus we had been traveling on, along with tons of people, some chickens, and a goat! While there the village had a visiting carnaval come. These were some scary rides– ferris wheels and a tiny rollar coaster with NO safety regulations– in fact the ferris wheel guy jumped off the top.. no seatbelts ect.. it was pretty ghetto. leah and I were hoping to go and blend in. Don’t know what we were thinking about blending in a sea of brown skinned brown haired faces. Someone from the village came and escorted us to where the platform stage was. Before we could snap our fingers we heard over the loudspeaker them announcing the arrival of the dignitaries from california in america. First of all I am a born and bred Tennessee hillbilly and found it hilarious that they introduced me from California but oh well. Second of all, they threw a beautiful large itchy attract the beas welcome wreath of flowers around our neck and escorted us on the platform. I remember it was a pretty rickety platform. It was a long ceremony and then the talen show came.. hilarious.. some of the talent.. well hilarious. Let’s just say Leah and I called one of the acts the wailing mothers, and i was very glad I could hide my giggles behind my very large flower necklace thing. They snapped a photo of us for the paper. The headline.. Dignitaries from america visit our village! Whats even more funny is these dignitaries from america had not showered in 2 weeks due to village life. 🙂
I say all this to say we got to be the dignitaries on that rickity stage. Today I was thinking and praying about what makes a person STABLE? What can help you be stable emotionally through anything? What can grant a personal a solid inner platform of emotional security (read that line in a devotional book .. can’t take credit for it!) How can I, we live confidentally and securely in EVERY situation we face?
Have the right DIGNITARY on the stage of our hearts. Jesus Christ. His platform? The throne of GRACE. (Hebrews 4:16 promises that we can draw near to the throne of grace with confidence!) If you believe in Jesus Christ as your savior– He is on the throne of your heart. Or He is supposed to be. But sometimes we build a stage of our own.. thinking it will prove more stable. But the dignitaries we can invite on that stage are really just a fasade. Just plain ordinary things that have no business being there. Things like other people’s opinions, wanting more and more stuff, worrying about tommorow, worrying about today, finding the love of our life or keeping the love of our life.. ect.. it can be so many different things.. but these things are not worthy to be on the center stage of our hearts. These things provide no stability.. but God as the center stage dignitary with the throne of grace as the platform.. wow.. everything else is worked out. Even when circumstances get difficult.. you have the one who sits on the throne, who spoke the universe into being with one word.. you have HIM to run to.. ! glory!
So I am asking myself and you.. who is on the center stage in your heart? And what does that stage look like?
THoughts to ponder.. by the way I love your comments!
Hey Jenn,Great story and great thoughts to ponder. I was just praying this morning about all the seeds you planted in Nepal and asking the Lord of the Harvest to cause them to grow, flourish and multiply. He continues using your work there even though you are physically in the US. Because God was on the center stage of your heart the day you were being honored in Nepal, you will reap a rich reward in heaven much greater than any accolades you could ever receive here on earth. Your desire to keep Him as the central focus of your life is so inspiring to others.Love you bunches,SandraP.S. I'm glad you are blogging again.
I can't believe I missed this post! Great word! LOVE YOU!