Read something interesting in my book, Crazy Love, today.
"God doesn't need us."
What?!?!
Okay, noooo. What?! Not right. That is wrong-oh, Francis Chan, I do so much?!?
Has God not seen me on my mission trips?
I can count them on both hands, if you would like?
Has God not witnessed me volunteering at the church?
You try convincing fifteen screaming two year olds to calm down and color?
What about the homeless men we gave lunch to on the drag?
Heck, I put fresh avocado on those sandwiches. Dang.
Pfffh, What do you mean "God doesn't need me", Franny?
And THAT is my immediate reaction.
Francis Chan, youre just a crazy asian!
Then I continue reading...
One chapter goes by...
Shoot.
Yes he is crazy.
But he's also right.
I hate when that happens.
God really doesn't need anything from you and I.
He is the one constantly giving,
And when I actually force myself to STOP and look perspectively at my life,
I am the one constantly receiving.
The "list of blessings" goes on forever.
How bout just two of them?
The bed and food.
I wake up every morning in a bed.
Like if that isn't enough for me to SHOUT HIS NAME IN GLORY,
Idk what is.
I am currently eating a breakfast.
One time we were serving the homeless breakfast
A certain man made my day.
He took the food I served,
he looked me straight in the eye,
told me how thankful he was,
and told me to "Have a blessed day with The Lord."
How often do people do that?
Not enough.
And then there is me...
Oh gosh.
I come home from college
I look in the pantry.
There is no peanut butter.
The world ends.
"OMG MOM!!! HOW ON EARTH CAN I EAT A BANANA WITH PB, MOM?!?"
That is just embarrassing, Kelly.
So God showers us with blessings and yet, sometimes, we still crave the spotlight on us.
"So today, I did ____ for God.
I was so nice to this guy who bugs me.
I volunteered as an usher in church.
I was quick to listen, slow to anger.
And I'm exhausted! Like omg. Hard day.
Where's the peanut butter?"
But here is the thing.
When we change the reason we serve,
none of it feels exhausting or hard.
When we serve out of fear,
out of duty,
or because of what we think we will receive in return,
working in His Name...feels like work.
When we serve out of our intimate love for Him
serving can actually be added to our "list of blessings"
Love inspired working, feels like love.
We find even more joy and peace in our service.
We benefit way more than we imagine.
So there we go, receiving again.
But the Lord made it that way.
"It is better to give than to receive"
-Acts 20:35
We are trained to believe self-indulgence will make us our true happiest.
Ha. But when has it ever?
Think about it.
After that shopping spree,
after I buy that $100 dress from Free People,
the new iPhone,
that gourmet meal,
OMG the organic all-natural, no GMO, $5 extra peanut butter?!?!
Was I happy?
For a moment, oh yeahhhhhh.
Next moment, what dress?
That's how it always works for me.
Earth is tricky.
Everyday again I'm tempted to rampantly self indulge,
when really the greatest Joy comes from the opposite.
And every time I do the opposite,
I am tempted to take credit,
to let Him or others know what I have done.
Now I am reminded,
He doesn't need me.
But He wants me.
Yeah, I might obey his commands every once in a while,
But I also disappoint Him everyday.
Yet, He forgives me,
and loves me enduringly.
I am the lucky one.
All He asks is that I seek Him daily.
And all the sacrifices I could give,
loving others,
not lying,
being patient,
not gossiping,
going to church,
sharing my faith,
Even a three year mission to work in Africa,
will never compare to the great sacrifice He, Himself, gave to us.
"And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else."
-Acts 17:25
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