by Patsy Grubb
16th April 2009
I was walking the beach with the specific intention of looking for and collecting coral. I had walked the full length of the beach without finding any coral and had picked up along the way, shells, urchins, and other items of interest and beauty and by the time I began to head back along the beach my hands (and pockets) were full. After only a few minutes I spotted a piece of coral, however my hands were so full I could not pick it up without letting go of something else. The Holy Spirit then began to speak to me. What would my decision be? Was I prepared to sacrifice what I already held in order to take up that which I had purposefully set out to find? Would I settle for what was within my grasp or would I empty my hands (and pockets) and set my heart and mind once again to the original plan? Though I held many things of beauty what held the most value for me personally? (Though this may seem to others to be an insignificant matter , I had the constant weighty awareness that my decision was of great significance, almost as if heaven was waiting with baited breath for my decision).
I instinctively knew that the only right decision to make was to drop everything and brush myself off and begin again on my original course . I refocused, diligent in my intent this time, and before I had reached the car I had collected so much coral that i even had to carry it in the cuffs of my jeans!!!
It is imperative that we as a body have a clear and concise knowledge of “the vision” , and also an understanding of our place within the bigger picture. Only in the knowledge of our “call” both collective and personal can we be diligent in pursuing and protecting all that God has for us. While we cannot be ignorant to what goes on around us we sometimes need to wear blinkers ( as racing horses do ) in order to keep our focus on the purpose in front of us.
As individuals and as a body a ”force”even, we cannot afford to get consumed or side tracked even distracted by good things and purposes that are not those things that God has called us to . Our strength, power and effectiveness will be found in our passion for Christ and indeed in the areas of passion that God has placed within us. We must each play our part to be effective and as we have learnt, we are individually accountable to God Himself for what we have done (or not) according to our call, gifts, talents etc.
I sense it is also imperative at this time that we also review the covenant relationships we have entered into. Are they in fact still Godly? Are we remaining faithful to the covenants we have entered into? Do our relationships reflect integrity and unconditional love? Do we still have Godly motivation for the relationships we are in? Do we still love those we are in relationship with, even though we do not like them? We may need to redefine the relationships we have according to how God instructs.
Stay focused, unencumbered, and true to all God has given you.
