wrestling

Believe it or not, I was the 8th grade, 95lb county champ in wrestling. (Of course I normally don't mention that, for some unknown reason there was no one else in my weight bracket.) I still have the sweet medal I proudly display in my rarely seen basement. But wrestling is a tiring sport that challenges your stamina. Wrestling makes you stronger and increases your endurance. That is why I love wrestling with God and His Word. I love it when God challenges me and my thinking and I am forced to wrestle in my prayer and thinking. I may walk away limping, but I am blessed for it, because I am now walking closer with Jesus. Are you wrestling?

wrestling

In the 8th grade, I was the 95lb county champion wrestler. I know that is hard to believe, but it is true. That singlet looked like a poncho on me. Luck was on my side seeing that the guy seeded #1, suddenly came down with a hernia. I hope it was luck......because I was praying really hard. HA! Anyway, this week I felt like I was wrestling through this message I'm going to speak this Sunday on GREED. I never thought of myself as greedy....I mean c'mon I'm a church planter. According to American standards I'm sure I would be in the elite of givers to non-profits (God's Kingdom), but according to God's standards is another issue. God desires us to be generous, but many times we live financially and time wise, with NO MARGIN. Then when we see a need to give money or time to, we have nothing left. Or how about when we get some extra cash, we immediately think it is for us. When we are in need, we ask God "Where are you?". But when we have extra, we never ask "What am I to do with this?". I guess I'm just battling the whole American culture that keeps our focus on what we don't have. I've been wrestling with my greed in the little unnoticed areas of my life. I love when God's Word and His Spirit forces me to wrestle with my shortcomings so I can become a little more like HIM.