Establishing New Traditions
Read: John 3:30
Ladies, thank you so much for participating in discussion over the past couple of days. Thank you for your insight and for your presence here. You've helped me tremendously. I believe in the power of Christian community, because you help remind me of God's truth. You also help me remember that I'm not alone. God's goodness is always evident in the PEOPLE He gives us to live life with.
Today's scripture reading is so simple and short, He must increase. I must decrease. In this passage of scripture, John the Baptist is giving another testimony of Christ. He's explaining (once again) that his job was simply to tell of Jesus; and, since He's arrived on the scene, John is ready to disappear and let Jesus take over.
What if that was our collective agreement? What if we decided, as a group, that HE must increase while we decrease? Could we place all of our agendas, routines, and traditions on the table giving Jesus permission to take them all of they're hindering us from being FULL of Jesus and His mission?
I'm just ready! I don't know what tomorrow holds. If today is any indication, it's going to be different than I expect or than I could have planned. So, I'm just ready to open my grip and let Jesus take over. I'm ready to participate fully in all He has for me. I' so excited by The Message translation of this verse, This is the assigned moment for Him (Jesus) to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines.
YES! I want the sidelines, ladies. Who's ready to join me? Please understand.... I'm not saying I want to sit by and watch. I definitely want to work with Jesus. But, I want to get out of the way. I want to stop being my worst enemy. I want to establish new traditions which center around Jesus leading me, my family, and my ministries into more than I could think or imagine. Christ in ME (in YOU) is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Let's slip of to the sidelines and invite Him to take over and take off.
I pray you will spend the weekend reflecting on how 2018 is ending while you think ahead to what you want for 2019. Last year, we spent several days sharing our words for 2018. We will do this again next week. So, be thinking about a word that you will claim for 2019. I've done this for about 5 years now. I fully believe God guides me in finding a word. Typically, I'll start praying about his word around Thanksgiving. God has been so faithful. He will bring a word to my attention. Then, that word will start showing up everywhere; in conversation, in Bible study, and anywhere and everywhere. Next, He will uncover a verse that compliments my word. If this is new for you, but you want to give it a try, feel free to message me or other leaders for guidance. This can be a process, though. It's just another way to seek God and put Him first in the new year. So, be praying, and we will all begin sharing next week. I'm so excited to share my word with you.
As we wrap up today, would you consider sharing something God has taught you this year through the ministry of Soul Sisters? It can be something you learned through one of our studies. It could be something a sister shared with you at an "on land" gathering. Or, maybe God pointed something out to you through a comment or prayer request right here. I believe He's doing big things through Soul Sisters Ministry. Let's give Him some praise and honor by sharing some of them today.