Weak p272-73

“Your weaknesses are not an accident. God deliberately allowed them in your life for the purpose of demonstrating his power through you. God has never been impressed with strength or self-sufficiency. In fact, he is drawn to people who are weak and admit it.” Is it just me or have some churches not communicated this? God uses the weak and imperfect. God gave us our weaknesses, created us with flaws for a reason. God will help us overcome our weak? God also uses our weakness. God works with and through our weakness.

Pointing fingers or making God look good, p268

“Competition between God's servants is illogical for many reasons: we're all on the same team; our goal is to make God look good, not ourselves.” This is why I don't understand why more churches can't work together. Why is time spent saying who is a better Christian? I guarantee that is not making God look good.

Is it self-sacrifice or true humility, p265

“This is true humility: not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less.” Whethere some churches preach self-sacrifice or people just interpret to the point of self-neglect. Serving so much, constantly pouring onesself out, without tending to your own needs, and being refilled will obviously burn a person out.

Distraction or Opportunity

P259 “Real servants do what's needed, even when it's inconvenient … being a servant means giving up the right to control your schedule and allowing God to interrupt it whenever He needs to.” But how do you know when it's God interrupting or when it's Satan trying to distract? P261 “Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks. The little things in life determine the big things … before attempting the extraordinary, try serving in ordinary ways.” Sometimes I wonder of I'm being steered off course by God because I'm going the wrong direction or I need to learn something. Or am I being steered away as a distraction by Satan from what God wants me to do. Is it the little things, the seemingly insignificant things God wants me to focus on or are those the things Satan is throwing in my way.

Finding a place

P 251 “What do I really enjoy doing most? When do I feel the most fully alive? What am I doing when I lose track of time?” Watching TV? Scrolling through Facebook? Oh, I suppose those don't count. Reading. Writing. An odd mix of the Bible, Sci-fi, speculative ficiton. For a long time I thought these could not co-exist. Then I found Michael Angley, Madeline, L'Engle, Lis Weihl, Frank Perreti and wondered if it really could be possible. Now I am also finding magazines and/or literary journals specializing in fantasy and speculative fiction. Perhaps I can find my place in this crazy world.

Identity

P234 “God formed every creature on this planet with a special area of expertise … You are a custom-designed, one-of-a-kind, original masterpiece … He would not give you abilities, interests, talents, gifts, personality, and life experiences unless He intended to use them for His glory.” This is to every student who has wondered “Why am I here?” “What is my purpose?” “Who am I?” “Where do I fit in?” To all those who have answered, “You are a child of God” either elaborate on this canned response and help them realize their gifts and talents or find someone who can. It is important for social development for students to find a group with whom they can identify. God created us for relationships so students need to find the group whom they can trust.

What's really important?

P161 Focus on what we have in common not the differences. I think if Christians and churches could do this, it would have a huge impact on the world. When I hear Christians comparing who is the “better Christian” or who is “more saved” I remember the story of the woman caught in adultery and the men were taking her out to stone her. Jesus told the men, “He who has no sin cast the first stone.” No one threw. Jesus told the woman she was forgiven. We are all different in some way. God created us that way. But, as Christians we know we are forgiven and it is a gift. Isn't that what is really important?