By Deb McNair
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind..
Romans 12:2
Imagine the train of conscious thought arriving at Grand Central station in your mind - each thought you can take captive and ask what Jesus would have you do? Do you give in to that temptation and the skyscraper of Temptation grows another level? Or do you get up early and head to your quiet time at your secret place at the back of your home with your coffee and bible - and your QUIET TIME INTIMACY SKYSCRAPER heads up closer to the clouds... I CHALLENGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE SCREENSCAPE OF YOUR MIND, and WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT YOUR INTERNAL DECISIONS?
How tall has your Tower of Self Control managed to grow? Your skyscraper of unconditional love and forgiveness - or is your tower of revenge growing taller instead?
Galatians 5:22 "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness."
These habits and decisions which seem so small are influencng your neural pathways and habits, which then not only causes ripple effects in our life, but in the lives of those around us. Who are you hanging out with? Encouragers? One of the women I look up to and find encouragement from is Cathy Knechtli. I believe that Cathy has such a gift of leadership, an anointing on her singing and gift of inspiring others.
This is my first ever blog - I have wanted to write since I was a little girl. Since I became a Christian when I was 15 years old I felt called to write and yet, do you know what my internal monologue has said to me for so, so long?
Oh you should wait until you are older? I'm 53 now and seriously - the time is now! I'm not sure if you have an inner critic as I do - who has convinced you to wait until ... whatever - until you are enough - to fulfill the call of God that He has placed on your life.
A few years ago, I was attending an Anew Conference and a young chaplain prayed with me and helped me to see that now is the time to do what I was feeling called to do. I remember crying on her as she told me I WAS ENOUGH - THAT I AM ENOUGH to go into ministry as a school chaplain. I had felt that other people could do that - but not me.
I was unsure of my identity in Him - and so felt unworthy of that call. God bless that chappy for her time and that she followed the Holy Spirit and spoke that over me.
It is certainly not the voice of Jesus that says we are not enough - that we should be... or whatever thoughts that we think we must do or hoops we must jump through to be or do what He has called us to.
I did some training with SU and now I am a chaplain at a school on the north side of BrisVegas. Is it smooth sailing? Sometimes! Is it challenging? YES! But I love my school and the community I am now serving. I'm looking at doing further training next year in Counselling, to further equip me for this journey to help these young people as they struggle with so many things. But the light that I shine into those dark places, the smiles I see on those resilient young people - they make every tough moment so, so worthwhile!
Please pray and ask God to direct your path, to help you to see what He sees and to listen for the unsaid with your family, and friends.
What Is Jesus asking you to do? What has He called you to - you with your unique skills and talents? How can you make better choices, build those godly habits, take time to spend with a grieving neighbour, and bless those in your community?
Build those habits! Be resilient when you fall down! Seek out a mentor! Take action and do that which the Holy Spirit is calling you to do. For me I answered an email and told Cathy I wanted to write. I called SU Qld and bravely said I wanted to be a school chaplain. It's baby steps and then bigger steps and then running and falling flat on your face... But we get up and try again and learn from that fall.
In October last year my neighbour sent me a text that hit me hard in the chest. She had been diagnosed with cancer and didn't want to me to think she was grumpy, but that she would be going through chemo. Eight weeks later she passed away - despite the fervent prayers of us and our church. We still miss our generous, kind neighbour and grieve her loss. Life is so fleeting.
Get out of your comfortable place and dare to take that step! Make that phone call! Catch up with that friend - or say I'm sorry to that person!
I will be praying for you as you seek to listen to His still small voice - for the courage to follow Him and LOVE as HE LOVED US! Build your tower of the FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT, build those connections, rebuild those walls of boundaries to protect yourself. May your skyscrapers in your mind be taller each day - and may you shine His love to all you meet.
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