God of Seasons: Part II

As we transitioned from Fall to Winter, I wrote about a season of my life that was also shifting (Click HERE for the earlier post)--I had prepared myself for a season of quiet, intimate, intentional time with God:  time to sit at His feet and have him reach into my heart to mold it in preparation for what was to come.   That is, in fact, exactly what happened.  I feared it would be painful.  It was.  I worried I'd grow restless.  I did.  I believed that in the midst of all my imperfection, God's sweet, perfect plan would be worked out in me.  It has been.

I spent the winter studying the life of David, a person whom I have come to love dearly--I'm a fan now.  I can't wait to spend time with David in heaven!  I'm struck by many things about him--I'll not babble on here about the many things about David that make me love him...we can have coffee sometime and talk about all that.  The one thing that truly stands out to me about King David is his imperfection--this celebrity of both Jews and Christians--this role model, this "man after God's own heart" was just as imperfect as anyone you'll meet.  In fact a case could be made that his great godliness and virtue was matched only by his imperfection. 

Murderer
Adulterer
Liar

This alone isn't the message God seems to be sending me, because it isn't a surprise that God often chooses imperfect people to carry out His will.  The message I hear over and over and over again is this:  David was imperfect ALL THE WHILE.  He didn't stop being imperfect when God chose him to be King.  He didn't stop being flawed after he was crowned.  He didn't stop being a broken, sinful man...EVER.  And God still used him.

For too long the enemy has successfully convinced me that I can't be used until I'm "fixed."  That I can't do "kingdom work" until I've done away with any and all sinfulness, forever.  He's smart, that Satan.  He knows God wants to use me--that I'm willing and eager to be used.  He can't convince me this isn't true, and so instead he just says "well, not yet."  And this has worked up to this point. 

Not any more.

I'm never going to be any less imperfect than I am now.  The day will never come when I will "have it all together"  This is true for us all.

But what is also true is that every GOOD thing, every strength, every talent, every ability--I already have it.  God created me to do His good work and I have every tool I need to do just that.  The time to put those talents and abilities to use for God's good work is  NOW.  No more waiting.

This weekend I had a sweet opportunity to spend time with the Church family at First Assembly in Benton, worshiping under the leadership of Dennis Jernigan.  I've long been a Dennis Jernigan fan, and, as you might expect, the evening was super sweet...God moved in a very real, tangible way.  It was a treat!

And sure enough, halfway through the service I reached up to wipe tears away from my eyes and guess what my hand came back with?  Yup:  about 4 eyelashes.  For the next hour I continued to pull them away, as I have so many times before.   The seasons are changing, and I'm ready to move into the next one.  God, help me to walk humbly and with the purest of intentions as I step out into the next season you have prepared for me.  Thank you for giving a front-row seat to see what you want to do in my life and the life of those I love! 

In Him,

Mikey