"The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome.”- Helen Keller
I love this quote by Helen Keller. She has identified one of my greatest weaknesses.
It is great to move forward and to accomplish goals as we move closer to the launch of CrossPoint Church, September 20, 2009. Yet in order to move forward sometimes things just do not go as planned.
Maybe that is the plan. When things do not go as planned am I willing to look at the positive side of the unplanned event. Am I willing to look at what is God trying to show me and how this will actually springboard me into a deeper portion of God’s plan?
My CrossPoint today is to embrace the unplanned events that happen and see what God is encouraging me to see.
Limitations Can Bring Rewarding Joy
Moving Mountains in Our Lives
Matthew 17:20 Jesus talks about having the faith of a mustard seed and moving mountains.
I recently drove to Mesa, AZ to purchase equipment for our church plant here in Ankeny, IA, where Lynda and I are planting CrossPoint Church. I borrowed a three quarter ton diesel truck to accomplish this task. I left on Tuesday and did not return until Saturday night. It was a trip that we were excited about as we were able to purchase three quarters of the equipment needed for the September launch.
As I left Mesa, AZ; I was very nervous as I had never hauled a 24’ trailer before especially 1400 miles and through mountains. So the journey began. (Also we were blessed with additional equipment that I put in the truck itself).
As I was going up the first portion of the mountain I noticed the truck began overheating. This would be a continual problem as I traveled through the mountains that day and the next. I realized that I had too much weight for the truck.
I felt this was a great analogy to all of us that are trying to work out our own salvation, trying to accomplish what the Lord has placed on our hearts. When we begin to travel up our personal mountains and realize the load we are carrying is too heavy. What do we do?
I called a friend who helped me as I have limited knowledge of diesel’s, he said just let it sit and cool down. So I did that and each time I moved up the mountain, I had to sit and wait for the truck to cool down. Sometimes I needed to add coolant to it, and sometimes I just needed to wait.
As we travel up the mountains of life, it does not matter how fast we go, it matters that we have the faith that Jesus shares with us to be able to say to that mountain move. This faith produces results. The mountain may not physically move but when I was on the other side of the mountain; I could see the mountain in my rear view mirror. I made it.
Our CrossPoint is;
1. Ask for help; Matthew 7:7 NLT
2. Follow the instructions given, II Kings 4:3-5 NLT
3. Stop and wait when you hit the red line; Habakkuk 2:3 NLT
4. When engine cools, proceed with caution and keep moving forward; Mark 11:22 NIV; Matthew 28:18-20 NLT
We may not always be able to control the weight of our circumstances, but we can initiate the faith factor that Jesus encourages us to. This will move any mountain in our path.
Moving Forward with Strength from Above
I was reminded in Romans 12:1 that we are “to give our bodies to God because of all he has done for you.” NLT…
As I thought about that portion of verse 1, my mind took me to the passion of Christ where Jesus was being whipped by the Roman soldiers. During that moment I thought, can I give all I have because of what Christ has done for me? I can, only because I have the opportunity to ask for help every morning and every moment. It is in the asking that we engage the heavenly presence of God’s power and strength.
