Thursday, April 28, 2011

Oblivion

Inspiration. Inspiration was my hope-filled prayer early this morning while getting ready for a day in the intriguing city of Sydney.A new revelation, a new perspective, something to mark the day as much more than one filled with new clothes and a Starbucks green tea. Sure enough, I am left in no shock at how our God always seems to answer even the smallest prayers. That is why I asked him.
From the moment I arrived at the train station I decided to be aware, which soon lead to my exploding thought. "When you make God your everything, you begin to notice that he is everywhere." Those of you who re-read that thought and related with a smile, it's pretty incredible isn't it? God was amongst Jennifer and I through-out our day in the city, and at the same time he was sitting with the woman on the train who seemed so alone, he was in the radiant colored sky, trees, birds, and surrounding tall buildings, he was smiling at the children playing in the parks, he was busily walking beside every business man and woman, he was in the voices of the buskers who were hoping for the passerby's spare change, he was in the small cafes and fancy restaurants, he was everywhere. How is this seen, noticed, or even possible? Simply because He is God. Everything was created by him and all things were created in him. From trains to planes, from oceans to painted sunset skies, he is there in the midst of it all. He enables us with the privilege of doing this life with unique gifts and talents that allow us to even further demonstrate his creativity. When God is our everything, we can't help but continually be in awe of his pure greatness because... He. Is. Everywhere. Take a look.
People watching is something that I do on a regular basis and today was particularly interesting because it was taking place in the city. This fun little game often leads to trails of curious thoughts as to why someone would walk, talk, act, dress, or simply do life the way they do. But today I didn't ask why... I smiled.
I smiled at how different everyone is than I am, and began to try to comprehend how incredible it would be if each of them personally knew Jesus. What it would mean if they were allowing him to fully use them for the purpose they were created and outworking the interests that God gave them. Life is lived on a joy high when God is in the center. My heart ached for those who I saw today, and knew they were searching. The same normalcy and life routine is just not enough anymore. We can search, but always seem to find that nothing will ever be enough. The things of this world will never satisfy us. I long for those individuals to experience this wonderous relationship that I have with the creator of theuniverse that has changed my life. What's even more mind blowing is that God desires for relationship with each person that I saw today, plus the billions of others on the planet, a million times more than I could ever long for them to know him. Do you understand that? No? That's completely fine! Because I could try to understand that kind of love all day every day and I have faced the fact that I never will. His love and compassion for us to know him and be a part of his perfect plans can only be described as unfathomable. I am so thankful that God is unfathomable, that we can never know him enough.
Making our way into a fairly small room tightly packed with people waiting to hear a local band, I began to think again. Tigertown, a band made up of some Hillsong church members/students, were next to perform at the El Rocco Room.Familiar faces surrounded me, others not so familiar... I felt different than I had all day. Being in a room of people, in a church or secular environment, that share the same heart as you brings an encouraging vibe. The band was phenomenal and as they played I tapped some thoughts into my phone... I am so thankful for the way God weaves everything together so perfectly. He specifically threaded together this community of students to serve one purpose. Each in their own individualistic manner, weaving in and out, touching the lives of other people. Using only what God has put in our hand and living in a new found trust. Glorifying him in all aspects. Leading the way to uniquely impacting towns, suburbs, cities, states, countries, and even the nations in which we live. Not because we had a plan, but because He had a plan. God had a plan, and in that plan he knew we specifically should be created for such a time as this.

"But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls." Hebrews 10:39

"We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." Romans 15:1

"And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith." Hebrews 12:1-2



Today I was inspired...