Step One: Food For Thought and Boy Was I Hungry.

Perhaps, it's starting to hit me.  Maybe this leave was a good thing.  No...I know it was.

A ministry should never define who you are.

You were not a small group leader because you were one in a ministry.  Nor were you a college core leader because you were one in a ministry.  And, to the most tender part of my heart, you were not a praise leader because a ministry had defined you as one.

No.

You are who you are because of who and what the Holy Spirit has done in your life and will continue to do.

The challenge that be faces me now is: will I live up to the same standards, if not higher, as a praise leader off the stage as opposed to being on it?

It's easy to live a life shining bright for Christ when the limelight is on you.  ~Shining ~Shimmering. ~Splen~~did.  Oops...wrong context. Amen. I mean...Ahem.

Enough with my failed attempt for a comic relief.  On to the point I'm trying to make:

It's easy to live a life shining bright for Christ when the limelight is on you, when accountability and community is at your door step; and when you're on the email list of a leadership thread replying to the next big event or retreat or prayer meeting or missions meeting or any other church meeting you can think about.  And, to this I can confidently say: when the limelight is on, it is easier said and it isn't as bad carrying it out.

Jesus once said, "You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."

If my light isn't shining in this dark world, it's because I put a bowl over it.
If I put a bowl over my light its because I'm to ashamed to give light to the One who lives in my house, my body...His temple...in order to expose Him to everyone who sees.

To expose Jesus to the world and the world be exposed by Jesus.

The wisest and most foolish thing about this whole undertaking--and no this is not a contradiction-- is that in God's wisdom He designed for His Glory, Honor, Praise, His very SON to be exposed by the most foolish of people. UndeservingPowerlessBlemishedWeak. Human beings.

Crazy isn't it?  For a person like you and me to bring Glory, Honor, and Praise to the One and True Living, Omnibenevolent God?  For a person like you and me undertaking a daunting, yet most undeserving, privilege of showing the world to Jesus and Jesus to the world?


If you happen to fall, Romans 8:1 yourself for crying out loud.  Pick yourself up and keep going.


A ministry should never define who you are.  


However,

how you walk in step with the Holy Spirit on a daily basis...will.