This week has been a wild ride. Wednesday I led my first bible study. We actually had 12 in attendance (counting my sweet husband who surprised me). Thursday and Friday was spent in Spartanburg learning more about how to apply the Leader In Me habits in our school. I learned so much and had so much fun but I am so tired. When we got home last night I dropped off my bags at home and headed straight to church for our class social. Today was spent touring the School of Engineering at USC, lunch and a magic show. I really should be napping right now because thinking about tomorrow is making me super exhausted. Church, zumba and a church meeting at 5:30. Whew! Calgon take me away!
I am choosing not to appear before him empty handed. Although I have plenty of excuses to be doing something else in this very moment, I am choosing to fill my hands, my heart, and my mind for him.
I have to say that on Thursday and Friday I felt very off. I know it was directly related to me not typing my thoughts and reflecting on scripture. Today I was extra tired so that meant I was extra short with everyone. I was very empty handed.
You see when you fill up your hearts, fill up your minds and fill up your soul with his word, you don't want to be empty handed.
You want to give.
You want to serve.
You want to encourage.
You want to fellowship.
You want to give to him and to his people.
At the symposium I heard some really relevant things. Things that I needed to hear in my life right now.
One principal spoke this message to us in a break out session titled "Telling Your Story":
There are snipers all around your school building (and I am going to say in your personal life too). These are people whose intentions are not good. They spread lies, tear people down, gossip, take credit when credit isn't due and are just out to get you. The principal will never get rid of these people but YOU have to get rid of them. You have to live your life and conduct yourself in a manner that is a model of what you expect from others. You have to basically tell them that you know what they are doing and you are not going to be a part of it or stand for it. You have to stand up for truth, for each other, and for the students.
Wow! I was blown away that a principal would say out loud that there are people like this in every school. Mind blown.
But when you think about, there are not only people like this at work but there are people like this in your family, in your neighborhood, in your circle of friends and even in your church.
I am going to refer to these people as snatchers.
They snatch your joy.
They snatch your time.
They snatch your trust.
They snatch your energy.
They snatch your hope.
They snatch your security.
They snatch your love.
They snatch your commitment.
They snatch your self-worth.
They leave you empty handed.
But in Exodus 34:19 God is clear. We are not to appear before him empty handed.
Ladies, we need to commit today to pray for these people in our lives. We need to commit to asking God for guidance in how we should respond to these people. We need to be in prayer on how we can make it clear to these types of people that we are no longer going to let them snatch anything from us because God has us where he wants us, doing his work for his glory! Amen and hallelujah!
I am no longer going to accept that this is ok in my life. I am going to be on my knees crying out to our heavenly father to equip me with what I need to combat the enemy. Yes, enemy. Because if they are snatching from me which causes me to fall short and not give me all to God, then yes, they are the enemy.
Father I thank you today for your living word. I thank you for events that happened so long ago still having an impact on our lives today. I thank you for those people around me who have their hands full for you. I thank you for those people around me that keep refilling their hands when things are snatched away. I thank you in advance for the glory that will be ALL yours when the enemy is overcome. Lord thank you for the fire in my heart and for the passion to live for you. Forgive me for the times I have been a snatcher. Forgive me for times I have depleted others that led to less than their all for you. Lord help me to recognize and know these people and to be a witness to them. Lord guide me this week and help me to glorify your beautiful and precious name in all I do. Amen and Amen.
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