Hand on the Plow...

I had some options in college. I worked pretty hard at getting good grades in every class and understood everything the profs tried to teach us. And though my strongest scores were always math and science, I would rather shovel dung than work with inanimate objects all day, every day. I had felt a constant tugging toward ministry starting when I became a believer at the age of fourteen, however my aversion to public speaking steered me away from preaching. Strangely, my desire to help people drove me toward majoring in Psychology. I thought, "Hey, I'll get my Ph.D., open my own practice in a wealthy area and bank off the rich folks' secret disfunctions!" Sorry, I'm just trying to be honest! 

By the time I was a senior I found myself incredibly board with "behavior modification" and the whole direction of the social sciences. I realized that taking this direction was not going to fulfill the intense calling I felt to see lives transformed for the gospel.  

It was at that point that I finally, fully, let go of control and started hearing and obeying God as best I could. This path has not been convenient, especially for my mother-in-law, who must have thought I was a complete moron for moving her daughter seven hours away from home for a part time job in Austin, Texas. She was right though (and a wonderful blessing of a mother-in-law), sometimes it is difficult to discern between obedient and stupid when it comes to fully obeying our Lord. Sometimes obedience looks stupid to other people, especially when it effects your financial future.

Seven years later here we are, planting a church in a town I barely knew existed, in a huge metroplex surrounded by other suburbanites who are working, playing golf and getting excited about the 60 million dollar football stadium being repaired in Allen, Texas! I don't know whether I should be excited or embarrassed.

Anyway, we walked into this church planting endeavor soon after Karis resigned from her full time job and started a real estate career. Needless to say, our financial house is up and down, up and down, up and...well you get the picture.

So every once in a while I find myself asking the question, "Would it have been easier to have taken another career route and not gone into church planting?"

As I was reading in Luke this morning I came to this incredible little passage where Jesus responds to some people who want to follow him "if" they can first take care of some of their other life issues. Jesus' answer to them crushed me...

"No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." - Luke 9:62

That said it all...

Of course it would have been easier to take another route! BUT THAT IS NOT THE POINT!! We are blessed beyond measure to be considered worthy of this ministry! Who am I to ask the question, "Would it have been easier to...?"

Thankfully, this is all part of God's molding process! He is making us into his image, slowly but surely. We should invite him to shape us into his image, however painful the process. It is not about collecting more toys, or gaining more financial status. It's about knowing him. And when we know him, he will make us more like him that we were before. He cleanses us, renews us, and walks with us through all of these struggles.

Now may you be blessed as you go about your day. And may you invite God to shape and mold you according to his will. Amen...