Early in ministry I had a friend who was a high school youth minister at the church where I was the College Campus Minister. Jayson, I and a third amigo (the Children's Minister) would tease each other quite brutally. Our desks were in the same small room of a renovated house on the church property. One year, near Jayson's birthday, we decided to take him to Disneyland. Yet this was no ordinary trip to the Magic Kingdom. You see, Jayson looked a lot like Waldo from the Where's Waldo books. Because Jayson was a good sport and we promised to never ever refer to him again as Waldo, he let us disguise him as Waldo. We were not ten feet out of our car in the vast parking lot when a little boy ran up and said, "Look mom, there's Waldo." That's how much he looked like him. That afternoon I laughed so much my side ached for a week. There was even chatter on the security radios that linked the agents in the park. A friend of ours worked security and said that there was an unofficial contest to find Waldo.
It was a blast to have so many folks looking to find our friend, Jayson. But what about finding or pursuing God? I don't believe God is hiding or missing, though, He may often be in disguise. Sometimes God is hard to recognize if we do not have our eyes trained to see Him. The writer's of scripture and worship songs ask God to, "open my eyes."
My question today is: Where are you in relation to God? He is not hiding but are you seeking? My favorite description of the journey to full devotion to Jesus has three phases:
Faith - our initial belief in Jesus Christ and His forgiving and life giving work on the cross.
Conviction - our belief now forms our decisions and determines our values, actions and places to serve in our community.
Consecration - our conviction fully grown now saturates our life. In this phase we are so wholly surrendered to life in Christ that His purposes are ours.
So pause for a moment and ask God to open your eyes and help you see where you are in your faith journey. Where do you want to be found?
Grace and Peace,
Troy
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2 comments:
OH. MY. GOSH. How totally awesome is it that I found the blog to the pastor who baptized me?? Hi Troy :)
Very timely post too, btw. I sometimes have a difficult time training my eyes to him first and foremost.
I remember that and boy did I laugh but not as much as I am sure you did while you were there.
I loved reading how you related the story to our relationship with God. I know that I hid from him for a long time out in plain sight!
Now as I pursue HIM with my eyes wide open and life all surrendered, it is still tough but is so reassuring to know that God is in control, knows all the deepest secrets and still wants to have that personal relationship with me and use me to bring others to HIM as well. HUMBLING, really that is what it is... Humbling
Faith, Conviction and consecration! You really hit it on the nose.
I praise God for how he has used you in my life (Past) and I thank you for following Christ so that many can understand HIM better. You have a strong charge there in Lincoln, my prayers are with you, Dawn and the family!
Blessings and prayers, Nicole
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