Called to Create

And God Said, "Let There Be..."

Last night I spoke of our capacity to create.  Everything we enjoy today, our televisions, our cars, our cell phones, clothes, homes, all our stuff at one time did not exist.  Where did it come from?

It came about because God created us in His own image.  He created us to be creators. First we think, dream, and imagine, then we talk, discuss, and sometimes debate, and finally we go to work and do.

The creative process then in its simplest form is Think, Say, and Do!

At last nights service I gave three examples of things that did not exist 15 years ago.  

1.) African Vision of Hope

2.) The Raise the Praise Choir

3.) Praise Community Fellowship

All three of these organizations began as an idea. In each case I believe they were God inspired ideas.

God gives everyone these ideas. The reason some ideas come into reality where others do not is simply because not all ideas complete the three necessary steps.  All of us have experienced the first step. Having an idea. Many of us have also gotten to the second step, talking about it and kicking it around.

It is the third step however that makes the idea a concrete reality. It is where the real work begins.

What do you want to make a reality in your life?  For years I spent most of my waking hours, when not working, trying to figure out what I could do to make more money.  It was a vain pursuit. 

I, like so  many got caught up in the "American Dream" of thinking getting more stuff would mean more happiness.  At the same time I kept hearing God whispering to me that He wanted me to serve Him, not myself.  The illusion of riches and all that it could bring deafened my ear towards God. 

My journey is what I call a "Jonah experience."   God was calling me one way and I wanted to go in the other direction. For those of you who want the full impact of what I am talking about read the book of Jonah in the old testament. It is a short but powerful story.

Are you on a "Jonah" journey? 

Becoming part of Gods plan does not mean you have to become a preacher, or a choir director or start a non for profit organization like African Vision of Hope or a Ben's Hope Fund.  Everyone is called to expand the Kingdom of God in their own unique way. 

Singing in the choir may be the way you fulfill your calling. Frying chicken could be the way you serve your calling (Thanks again Mark and Denise Reeder owners of DK's Hamel) greeting new people at the church, serving on a committee, mowing the lawn, donating financially, I don't know what God wants you to do. That is between you and God. But I do know this, when you find your dream and your ministry and you pour yourself into it, wonderful and mighty blessings will come from it.

Here is what NOT to do. I alluded to this in one of my last posts. Don't do anything for God out of guilt or obligation thinking that you are earning better favor with God.  Believe me, God knows your real motives with everything you doing.  When you step up to get involved with Gods work, make sure what ever it is allows you to amplify your God given skills and talents and that you find great joy and satisfaction in it and that it is not something that you are doing to boost your own ego. Because God will not honor that type of service.

Last night I told you that if you plant a plant from a flower pot into good soil in the appropriate conditions, that plant will take off and flourish. A person who plants his or talents in good soil with the right motives, in other words a God directed plan, will be like the tree spoken about in Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 17:8

 They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

That is what I want for everyone involved in Praise Community Fellowship. To become a tree planted by the water that never fails to bear fruit!  There is much work for all of us at Praise Community Fellowship to bring the Gospel of Jesus to a hurting world. Go to God and ask Him for your ordained purpose. Ask Him what work you need to plant yourself into for His Kingdom. He is faithful and no matter what He whispers in your ear He will equip you to complete the work.

How would you complete the phrase that God spoke in the beginning, "Let there Be........?"

God has a great plan for your life. Have courage and bring it forth.  Love, Pastor Kent