people who don't know what they are doing...

are winners! haha i just read this devotional by oswald chambers, and i'll post it here for you as well.


"God’s Purpose or Mine?
He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side . . . —Mark 6:45
We tend to think that if Jesus Christ compels us to do something and we are obedient to Him, He will lead us to great success. We should never have the thought that our dreams of success are God’s purpose for us. In fact, His purpose may be exactly the opposite. We have the idea that God is leading us toward a particular end or a desired goal, but He is not. The question of whether or not we arrive at a particular goal is of little importance, and reaching it becomes merely an episode along the way. What we see as only the process of reaching a particular end, God sees as the goal itself.

What is my vision of God’s purpose for me? Whatever it may be, His purpose is for me to depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay calm, faithful, and unconfused while in the middle of the turmoil of life, the goal of the purpose of God is being accomplished in me. God is not working toward a particular finish— His purpose is the process itself. What He desires for me is that I see "Him walking on the sea" with no shore, no success, nor goal in sight, but simply having the absolute certainty that everything is all right because I see "Him walking on the sea" ( Mark 6:49 ). It is the process, not the outcome, that is glorifying to God.

God’s training is for now, not later. His purpose is for this very minute, not for sometime in the future. We have nothing to do with what will follow our obedience, and we are wrong to concern ourselves with it. What people call preparation, God sees as the goal itself.

God’s purpose is to enable me to see that He can walk on the storms of my life right now. If we have a further goal in mind, we are not paying enough attention to the present time. However, if we realize that moment-by-moment obedience is the goal, then each moment as it comes is precious."

Questions: you can ask yourself, too. these are my answers, what are yours?

1. what am i expecting God to do?

Answer: i found myself expecting God to do things in my life that included stability, security and comfortability. but as a christian, i am finding that we are to expect God to just BE, and we are mere spectators invited to join the race. prize or goal? heaven. and that WILL be MORE than enough!

2. why does God prefer the process rather than the goal?

A: pretty much because He wants us to be quality people. for instance, i will use new age thinking, compared to christ centered thinking. a new age person worships an ambiguous god, with no emotion or substance. their god is not out to love them or hate them. not there to comfort, protect, justify or support. as compared to christ as God, he protects us, calls us winners when we know we are really losers. and most importantly is there to teach us how to love and have a fulfilling lifestyle here on earth. this is why i think God is more concerned about the process rather than the actual goal, because its in the process where we learn to love, appreciate, stay calm in the storms, and that makes Him look good!! :)

3. How in the world does He expect us to stay calm in the midst of a horrible storm??

A: by resting in Him. if Christ is the husband, do you really think he would let ANYTHING happen to this bride? seriously.


Updates: these can also be looked at as praises.

1. here at casa papaya, pamela, the owner, just found out her father is in a grave state. he is 86, so she may be flying out to the UK soon. please pray for her to recognize the sovereign hand of Christ's pursuit for her in her life. boldness and wisdom from the throne for myself, and fearlessness!!! yeah, baby!

2. this morning at the womens bible study i got invited too, we had a powerful meeting. there was a women named tanya there and her boyfriend is physically abusing her. she knew she needed God's strength to overcome this, and so she decided to come to the bible study! How beautiful, huh? i can't believe the things i am able to experience here. i want to cry with gratitude. it just shows that He really is an amazing God, that He could use us to play on His winning team! thanks God.

3. asking questions has changed my life! most of you know about my love life history, i won't dive into much detail there, only if you must know:) but i am looking for God's point of view concerning it. i have let go of EVERY other lover, but Christ. analogy time... it's as if i was at sea on a boat with everything i loved, my very life. but jesus and i hopped onto another boat, and i had a rope holding the 2 boats together. i visualized myself letting the rope go. it slipped away like a whirlwind, as if at my release, the boats separated us into 2 different worlds! i have no idea where christ and i are headed. some apprehensions have arised, but i remind myself who i am with. it's the christ! rejoice with me, because I am learning to walk and trust my lover.

"for whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for Me will save it." luke 9:23

you have my heart, and thank you for reading. would love your feedback!

lindsay