Let Live part 4
I'm not much of a worrier, by nature. In fact, it baffles people most of the time because even when there is something worthy of worry... I simply don't sweat it. But when I was about to start my ministry--and I HAVE been told that my family and Jesus is the only thing I take seriously, so... when I was about to start my ministry I was a little bit worried. Because its a big deal, ministering to people. Trying to help people. Getting involved with people. And, in fact, I can even remember when I was about to preach a message--I had taken over preaching the early service at our church before being officially ordained--and I made an announcement that I was no longer going to be just PREACHER Tom. I was fixing to get ordained, and I was going to be PASTOR Tom. Which meant, even though I didn't have an office... my office door was officially open. And if you know me, that was a big step for me. Because I'm not super comfortable in social situations. Standing up in front of people with a microphone and talking AT them? Much easier than talking TO them. So. When I was about to start my ministry I was a little bit worried. Because getting into relationship with people is a big deal. And I was worried--remember now, I was young and naive--I was worried that the people wouldn't listen to me and would continue to do whatever they wanted to do. Well, guess what: People DID listen to me... and continued to do whatever they wanted to do. Because that's what people do. But luckily for me, and this is really what I've spent about half of this Rant trying to say, my pastor gave me some bangarang advice when I was about to start my ministry. He told me, "Its not your job to make people do anything. Its your job to listen to the Lord and tell the people what you think He's saying to you. That's it." And that works as a preacher FOR SURE. But that works as a pastor too. I don't give advice very often. And certainly not when its not asked for. But when I do, I tend to live and die with, "Follow your heart. Trust your gut. Let love guide you." Because, to me, that's what God says. To me, that's the Word of God. Capital W. Jesus. Love. That's what God said in the beginning; Let there be light. He injected Himself into the dark void that was His creation. The heaven and the earth. The mind and the body. YOU. God gave His only begotten Son to YOU so that YOU might not perish but have everlasting life. He gave you Himself. His Spirit. The love receptor. Because the Holy Spirit does not make us someone God can all of a sudden love. God always has and always will love you. The Holy Spirit--the Spirit of truth--is what let's us know and believe that He always has and always will love us. So my point, now that I'm almost done with this Rant, is that you can't make people do anything. And worrying about what people are going to do is a waste of time. People are going to do what they're going to do. What's that old saying? Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. And, here it is, my advice is: Follow your heart. Trust your gut. Let love guide you. Love people no matter what. Let them be who they are. Live and let live. And don't worry about what's going to (or probably NOT going to) happen next.