candsw's Blog

It is amazing the life you will live if God is in the drivers seat. I was being very reflective last night and this morning. Just reminiscing about where I am at this moment and where I am headed. I remember this timid little scrawny blonde haired girl, that my grandmother called her dumb blonde that would go to church via a bus ministry every Sunday, while her parents would be getting over hang overs from the weekend of partying. I remember believing that I was never alone...never. That there was a man, a saviour that promised to never leave me like my biological father had. She was quiet and a tad shy . Fast forwarding a bit, now a teen trying to figure out life. Working full time helping out the family. I get married the weekend after graduation. I know you are thinking that this is about my husband, its not. I asked the question who is your one, well hang in there and we will get there. He is the one I was created for, but not the reason God created me. God has a plan and a purpose for each of us. I say that over and over in my blogs and forums because as I get older I can see the handiwork of God all over my life. He is and has worked his plan and purpose through out my whole life. His plans and dreams for my life leave me in awe most of the time. I was reading last night in the book of John. I started a very familiar passage, John 3:16, For God so loved the world...you probably know the rest, if not look it up. I conitnued for a few chapters and stopped at a very casual, yet profound verse. Well, lets just say it was profound to me. John 17:6 starts like this

6"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world.

He then goes on to say, They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word."

If you haven’t read the chapter, Jesus has went to pray. He starts with prayer for himself. He then turns his attention to his disciples.

Who has God given you? If you are a mother, then it could be simply put my children. If you have siblings, maybe it is them. If you work in an office, maybe it is the people you work with. No matter where you are in life, God did give you someone.
He said to his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. (this is the great commission) This is the mission of every church. *or it should be* So, He has given us all someone or maybe more than one. I have 5 children and I know that my responsibility is to reveal God to them, or make him known to them. Then I have a large group of children and teens that God has put in my path to also reveal Him to them. I have a group of friends that God has placed in my sphere of influence to encourage and reveal his love to them. I know my "ones". Do you?

Our Pastor asked us to commit to bring, you know if we all commited to bring our "one" whom God gave us out of this world, we would see global impact and we would have exponential growth. Who has God given you?

You may say I am a new mother, or I am new to this town, job, school, area...the list of our excuses is endless. Moses led the children of Isreal out of captivity but first he had his excuses. He said but I am slow of speech. God knew and gave him Aaron. All David had was a sling and a few smooth stones. But he knew something that I feel needs to be remembered. God does not call the equipped, He equips the called.

Who is your one? Is it a son or daughter, a sister or brother, how about the neighbor, coworker. That cashier you speak to every morning when you get your morning coffee or diet coke? Maybe it is a boss, an old friend. Who ever it is God placed you where you are on purpose for a purpose.

I know that all my life experience has led me to this place called Rolla, Mo. to a church called Christian Life Center on purpose for a real purpose. To create an atmosphere to convince the unconvinced. To reach the children in Rolla and the surrounding areas with something that is real, relevant and relational. To lead them to become fully devoted followers of Christ.

You were not meant to do life alone. I don’t mean you need a spouse, what I do mean is get connected.

I will end this long blog with this...Jesus goes on to say in John chapter 17 this...

9.I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.10. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. 12. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13."I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14.I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

15. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17.Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.18. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

This is also my prayer for you. If you have asked Jesus to come into your heart, accepted his free gift of eternal life, then you are not of this world.

As you celebrate Easter pray for those that God has given you and if you go to church, invite them to go with you.