Contained

Here goes, the first of my new biweekly posting schedule.  After missing two full months of posts I felt it was time to step up my consistency game.  It'll be tough some weeks I'm sure, but as an artist I've found that when I only create upon inspiration it's much easier to fall into creative slumps, and not as much gets accomplished.  So by putting my creating on a schedule I always have projects going, and if the inspiration for one runs out I can rotate between the other projects and always be producing something.  Summarized, it's like putting your creativity and mind in a box to work and think outside of.  Having deadlines for yourself help as well.

Anyway, speaking of a box that brings us to this weeks topic.  I heard a very challenging message this past week and it caused a shift in me.

In the message the minister talks about how the church is in a battle.  The enemy is the god of this world, the angel whom The Lord cast down from heaven.  He talked about how the devil doesn't necessarily want to win the battle, in fact he knows he wont win so his main goal is to contain the church.  This is the point that really challenged me.  I have the revelation of the Truth and I have the opportunity nearly everyday to share it, but something inside many times contains me.

The day after listening to themessage I went to get my hair cut.  As I was in the chair something clicked inside of me.  "I have the undivided attention of this lady, why am I not trying to minister to her?", I thought.  The usual small talk had taken place right after she began, but like many times before in my selfishness and one-track mind of getting my hair cut and getting on my way, I almost missed the opportunity.  I was almost contained.  Once I had this realization God gave me a boldness to speak, and in just a few minutes the emotionally closed off, probably also one-track minded, lady gained an outwardly apparent joy and life!  It was the joy of The Lord I'm sure, for I know on my own what took place couldn't have happened.

Our conversation wasn't spiritual, but The Spirit was at work.

Please listen to the message that I referenced -   http://archive.ourlifechurch.org/2014/05/20140504-MBerglund-TheStranger.mp3. It's only 40 minutes.  You will be glad you did.

I hope this encourags you and challenges you to examine and see if you're being contained.

  -JCHIV