Bright Awakening

This past week God has awakened in my a great reality. The fact that apart from Him I can do nothing. Now, we've all heard that before but when I slow it down, and think about what it all means: Apart from Him I can do NOTHING.

We are leaving for Authentic 09 (A retreat for our youth ministry) in about 13.5 hours. I have been doing a lot of praying for this week that God would do mighty things in the lives our students. What I failed to realize was the very word choice that I had chosen. That GOD would do might things. Not myself, or John or Bill; GOD. John 15:5 says "I (Jesus) am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" Jesus himself proclaims this beautiful truth so bodly. That without Him we can do what? NOTHING!

It has been a freeing reality to me, that if God doesn't show up than it's all for nothing, and nothing is exactly what will happen. "Doesn't that scare you?" one might ask. It shouldn't. Today I was blessed to see who I am... Lysol. I am nothing but a mist that goes much faster than it came. Leaving no lasting impact on the envirnment around me. I am nothing but mist. To think that I will actually have anything to do (besides being a tool) in the eternal lives of anyone would be to say that I am much greater than a mist, that I am much more than that, when the truth is, I'm a wisp.

Being awakened to this truth my mind is prepared to accept and expect the "impossible". The things we didn't plan for. The ways and thoughts of our Lord are much higher than are own, who are we to say what will happen this week? Especially when apart from Him we should expect nothing. The tens of thousands of dollars, the 200+ students, the 70 leaders, the songs, messages, small group time, the data entry, the months of planning... they all come to absolutely nothing unless God Himself shows up. What a refreshing thought!

I pray that I, along with anyone who accepted this weekends challenge, will be able to put all my trust in Him who is everything in such a way that when I wake up in a few hours the first thought in my mind is "Yes God" Because I should resolve to do NOTHING unless I do it with the understanding that it is all for His glory according to His will. Anything that I do apart from Him will come down to absolutely nothing.

May this be a bold and encouraging reality in my life and the lives of the church today.