Don't Think...Just Do It!

A colleague stopped me in the hallway and invited me over for supper.
She said, "we'll have some supper and then we'll have some church"

Living overseas for much of the last 16 years
I've learned to have church wherever it presents itself
many times its been in someone's home
or on a military base
or in a 20 ft container
or on a mountaintop
or in a vehicle
or in a spectacular cathedral

It's ironic, when I think specifically about this week

On Tuesday, I was seated in a stadium with 40,000 people
listening to the Pope give a homily
tonight, I was seated in a home with 7 other people
watching 12 Stone church out of Atlanta on my host's X-box

Can I tell you something friends?
God speaks anywhere and everywhere
To hearts that are receptive to hearing His voice

I could have made a dozen or so excuses
not to accept my colleagues invitation
but I knew I needed to be around like-minded folks
who love Jesus

I met a young man tonight, ready to graduate from high school
that was talking to me about how excited he is
to share his faith, defend his faith, and bring others
to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ

who wanted to know my experiences
working with high school students
who had a passion to share their faith
with people who don't share their same faith

we had some supper
never going to skip a home-cooked meal
and the pastor started his series
Grown Up Faith

* Mind Blown *

It's only week one of a six week series
but I'll tell you the biggest take-away from week one

God doesn't do anything by accident

He didn't impress upon my colleague to invite me to her house
on accident
I didn't decide to accept my colleagues invitation
by accident
I didn't meet my colleague's son who's on fire for Jesus
on accident
12 Stone pastor didn't preach that sermon
by coincidence

God had a purpose

He had a purpose when He created you
You were not an accident

When I heard that tonight
It FINALLY dawned on me

My Identity
my reason for existence
is because God created Me

I was not an accident
I was made for a purpose
I was made for such a time as now
I was made to love and be loved by the Creator himself
I created for something much bigger than myself

repeat that last paragraph to yourself
and speak it out loud

maybe you need to say it again
and perhaps again
until you believe it, or hear it, like I heard it tonight

Do you question your purpose in this life?
Do you wonder if you are only on this earth by accident?
Do you even question if you were created by mistake?

Let tell you what I think -
Not a chance!
Now let me tell you what the Bible says:

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" (Jer 1:5)

Next time someone invites you to
a home group
a bible study
a stadium of 40,000
or a church of 8

Don't even think about it - Just Do It!

It could be the Holy Spirit gearing up to do something insane in your life
Just like He's doing in mine