Not all about me!

I've decided when you hear things over and over again that maybe, just maybe, you were meant to hear them and take them to heart.  From tons of different sources, I keep hearing "it's not about you."  So, apparently, "it's not about me." 

Michael has taken a job.  Go ahead and do a celebratory dance.  Yell out a big WOO HOO!!!  After many months of applications, interviews, denial letters and phone calls, only ONE job came to fruition.  If you don't see God's hand in that, you can finish reading this blog right here.  We have learned to spot God's hand from a mile away, and we know it's all over this job.  Now, it's not a job that Michael would really have ever chosen for himself.  It's a job where he is TOTALLY uncomfortable and out of his element.  He knows nothing about what he is doing.  Most of the people he works with are nothing like him.  But God has taken a man with a willing heart to be used by Him, and said, "Michael, this is where I want you for now."  Apparently, it's not about Michael and what he wants.

This job was referred to Michael from his good friend who had just started working there.  It is a job dispatching fuel and grains to farmers, convenience stores, and other companies that need these services.  The dispatcher gets a call for a product and communicates with a truck driver to deliver the goods.  For those of you who know Michael, you might be giggling that he is communicating with truck drivers.  I laughed, so go ahead.  It pays well and the hours aren't horrible, so it'll do for now.  And it may do forever...who knows.  We've quit trying to figure out what God wants for us to do!  But for now, we know why Michael has been placed there.  His friend who referred the job to him is going through a really painful divorce.  The divorce will probably be final sometime within the next few months.  This friend needs Michael to lean on, and where does Michael sit at work?  Right next to his friend.  Isn't God funny like that?  So, this job has nothing to do with Michael....God is just using him right now to uphold his friend and help him through the most painful experience of his life. 

Wouldn't it be great if everyone lived their lives this way?  Just at the mercy of wherever God needed you to be at the moment?  Wouldn't it be great if everyone realized that this life has nothing to do with you?  If we put others higher than ourselves.  If we loved and cared for people more than we love and care for our things, our bank account, our free time, etc.  What if we all began to realize that God can work best when we just let Him have control over ALL the little issues in our lives.  He will put us exactly where He needs us to be.  And it's okay if it's not exactly where you want to be.  God knows the desires of your heart.  But he also has tons of other children that He needs you to impact before He can give you the desires of your heart. 

We have been giving God 100 percent for the past 5 months.  Has it been easy?  NO!!!  It has been extremely hard.  Why?  Because we've been warring against our human nature.  We've been fighting against what society says we need to do.  Michael could have had many jobs paying very well with his flying background.  But that is not what we have felt God's call to do.  God wants us here, in Grand Forks, for some reason.  Some reason that may have nothing to do with us. When God is finished with us here, we may be called elsewhere.  Who knows?  We're just floating along on faith.  Jesus said in Matthew 11:29-30, "Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."  Giving up our human-ness, following God is really the easy way.  No worry or stress.  Just let God handle it.  Easier said than done...but SO worth it! 

I challenge you all to give it up for God today.  Let Him lead your every step.  Not just some steps, but every single one.  It's not all about you.  Sometimes God needs you to meet the needs of His other children.  Find where God is working, and join Him there.