“Develop your dance”
July 24, 2009 by Debbie Harris
Filed under A Heart That Dances Blog ~ Debbie Harris
Paul showcased this week how his intimacy with God developed over the years!! It didn’t happen without intention and it certainly didn’t happen overnight. Were you surprised to see that Paul lived in obscurity for 3 years — and then another 14 years learning whatever he could from the disciples? No doubt in that time he became intimately acquainted with the God of the Old Testament, who had sent Jesus the Messiah, in the same life time as Paul, to fulfill some of those Old Testament Scriptures right before his very eyes! That would be something to witness!
This week was a great look at Paul’s life and how God used each chapter to mold him into the person He needed him to be for the task He had set out just for him.
In obscurity – I found myself wanting to be a radical disciple like Paul, consistently living “the Lord Jesus in action!” I thanked God for the times of obscurity in my life where I was literally “forced” to “be still and know that He is God!” Many good things came out of that time as God used it to move me along in the plan He had for me!
In weakness – I loved Paul’s poetic dichotomy “when I am weak, then I am strong”. I also loved D.L. Moody’s quote, “I think we will be so ashamed of ourselves when we get to heaven, to remember we ever spoke about our sufferings!” God shows Himself strong in our weaknesses if we allow Him to.
In ministry – Absolutely loved the “ripple affect” – I want to cause a ripple that goes far beyond my pebble as I love others into the Kingdom!
In conflict – a love for God and people (the only two reasons I breathe) are what keep me going when it gets tough. Paul continued to encourage the church even through the tough times – like so much of life, it is a choice!
In life – Jesus was Paul’s “all!” “For I am determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified.” I Cor 2:2
After watching this progression of development, I hope you set some goals and resolves. I’ll share mine and hope to hear some of yours!!
“I resolve to live my life ‘unshaken’ by anyone and anything and allow nothing to move me except Jesus.”
“I resolve to head straight for the ‘Evergreen Wood’ and I will not detour to the left or to the right for anyone or anything because no one and nothing offers anything even comparable to what is waiting for me straight ahead!”
“I resolve to lead as an ‘Ambassador to the King’ in a land not my own, because I know to where I am going, and I want to take everyone else along with me; and I know to whom I belong, and I want everyone to know Him too!”
Hope you are enjoying the journey – the dance! And I am praying that this chance to be encouraged into a quiet time develops in each of you a love for your Lord and His Word like never before, which will spill into a love for spending quality one-on-one time with Him! There is nothing quite like it on the planet – and there will be nothing quiet like it someday in heaven!
Developing for Jesus,
Debbie Harris
Quiet Time in Summer 09
@ Shadow Mountain
Debbie…Thank you for your words of wisdom and sharing your goals. I have enjoyed this study so much and look forward to my “quiet time” each morning in His word. Paul is such an inspiration. His total commitment to teaching the gentiles and bringing to them Gods word and to accept Jesus for their salvation is an example for us to follow today, an amazing 2000 years later. Nothing was more important to him than that. My goal is to be more like Paul in my daily walk with the Lord, and let nothing stop me from sharing His word and the grace of Jesus. I am thankful for His lovingkindness. Barb