Jobs Not High On Demand 2 Cor.12-22-26

 This week I have been thinking about  the jobs no one wants to do. Here are a few:

* Being a waitress
* Being a janitor
*Waste Management or  other words known as garbageman
*Change dirty diapers
*Fast Food Employee
*Walmart Greeter
* Retail

I'm sure the list could go on but lets be honest these jobs are not always high on demand. Yet, where would we be without these roles. These jobs don't have glamor written on them but they are important.  It really takes a servants heart to be in these positions if you ask me! As a waitress for only a month I'll be honest there are times I'm a little grossed out handling peoples dirty dishes especially when it comes to straws that have been in their mouths.

However, it has really challenged me about my servants heart! I would of never imagined myself waiting tables. This really isn't my dream job but its my role God gave me for now! Although, the interesting thought I had as I was writing this is for the past few weeks I have been saying this isn't my passion or near any thing that excites me. However, I think maybe my heart needs to flip this attitude around.

It may not be the passion the drives me in my gifts but its a chance to show passion in a different way by loving on people. This also  drives me to a passage I read with my small group a last week 2 Cor.12.

vs 22-26

23and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

 I think this passage is very fitting because when you look back at the list above I think at times we do see these jobs as low jobs in our world. However,without these roles such as your garbageman who picks up trash where do you think we would be. Or the waitress who serves your food while making sure you have a clean place to sit so your dining experience may be good.  The faithful parents or care takes who change those mean diapers!  This list could go on but  my point is maybe some of us need to remember whatever task God handed us its because He trust we would do it well!
It  may not be our plan but we have a choice to remember the parts we have are important!

Remember Whose You Are

  " Remember whose you are".... This was how I remember every service ending in college when I visited Main Street Baptist. I look back on it with gratitude that  Pastor spoke this every Sunday. I can't remember what his name is off hand but those words have stayed with me. They especially came to mind as I read Romans 8:16 and Philemon today.

Romans 8:16 tells us:
 The  Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are a child of God

I love the ARE part because its not you maybe are but it is  yes you are a child of God! I think that's fitting for the story even told in Philemon.  The message of Philemon  especially verse 8-16 is about freedom. Onesimus was a slave who had stolen some possessions from his master. Not only that but he ran away. However, his story didn't end there because God let him cross paths with Paul. Because their paths crossed Onesimus  became a Christian. Onesimus story allows us to know that we can change from our past!

We can have new beginnings! At the same time we have the perspective of Paul. Will we look on others with love? I honestly don't know any Christian who has this down perfect but  maybe were like the slave who needed to know He had a second chance or were like Paul who needs to look at people with love!

The reality were going to have days  where its tough to love or its hard to remember who we are but when we live those two out our lives become flipped upside down in ways we can't imagine. Or maybe your like me. You have to remind your perfectionist self your going to have days or moments your sliding. Just remember its your choice to choose to claim the promise of who you are!

 Therefore I end with Philemon 1:16

 No LONGER as a slave but MORE than a slave- as a dearly loved brother. He is especially to me, but even MORE in the flesh and  IN THE LORD

* Is your motive love?
* Are you living in the Who YOU ARE and not the I am not?

Turn Your Whys Into Thank You

 There are times we don't know what God is doing or understand where this is going. This has been me in the past few months. I haven't understood yet why God has placed me as a waitress but one big blessing is I'm not jobless!  This is what I have had to fix my mind on as I work at the Dixie Cafe! I am learning to  turning my prayers to " Thank You" instead of the " Whys" I am sure many of you can identify. Its easy to question God! I don't know a human who hasn't. I'm not saying there are not days I don't but it is a character trait God is building in me.

Last week I started studying the book of Daniel. Daniel 3 has really been pushing me through this. Especially verses:

vs27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors and  the kings counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of men. The hair  of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed and no smell of the fire upon them harmed

 This very verse then brought up Isaiah 43:2 for me: When you pass through waters, I will be with you and through the rivers they shall not overwhelm you when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned and the flame shall not consume you

 Although my struggles are minor it was still a good reminder that nothing I face in life will consume me. Daniel never questioned God in this chapter as He faced the fire. He faced it with faith! I'm sure his heart raced but He stood His ground! That's the kind of faith I want to have! I want have my praises going up even when deep down I want to know why.

 So, though I do not know what the Lord is doing I thank Him for:

• A Christian boss
• A coffee shop to walk to if I ever have to wait for transportation
•  Warm water
• Shelter
• Food
• $21 tip today

 I also leave us on this note: 

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith its impossible to please Him for whoever draws near to God must believe that He exist and that He rewards to those who seek Him

Faith is to trust that the invisible is already reality and will be made visible in God's time- (Lonnie Riley)

May this be our reminder when we want to ask why!

Be Content With What Is

" Be content with what is" was the phrase to receive a free cookie today at Dixie Cafe. Talk about the Lord and His many ways of speaking! To be honest with you I had been fighting God over His plans. I have been so focused on my idea instead of His. To also choose joy no matter where He places me. Especially after applying to many places and this is the one God chooses for me. Its hard to accept especially because  I don't feel it relates to my passion and I am a college graduate.

 On top of that I have been puzzled with God you have given me a heart for missions and  yet this is what you choose? I can't really tell you what the Lord is doing! He has thrown me through a loop. However, I know all things we go through produces character.  This may not be my idea but I can choose to make it my mission ground by being a smile to the customers. To choose hope knowing that its just a season in my life.

That all of the waiting is preparation for His perfect timing. There have been so many recent thoughts of where I thought I could see myself from New York, BCM ministry or even going for my Masters in counseling. I don't know where God is going to take me in this season but I do know when we choose to be content that were more at peace. I am very much learning to release my dreams to God! Therefore, what is that you need to be content in?