There is Only Room for One

I told the first part of this story on Tuesday. So, if you missed it, you might want to go here to read it.

thanks, Flickr

I left the classroom that day knowing that God was beginning something in me. I once again reminded Him that I really just needed some school credit and that perhaps we could put off transformation for another time. 

                                                                                                                            But He was persistent.

My thoughts quickly moved to getting some lunch. As I walked down the hallway, I saw a professor that I had not had for any of my classes. I smiled and gave the normal greeting. Out of the blue, she asked me if I had plans for lunch. I did not. We decided to go to the cafeteria together.

We sat down with our lunches and begin to chat. We shared comments about the summer, about seminary, about classes. Then she asked me to tell her about my life, my family, my ministry. I launched into this glowing description of my life.  My marriage was great. My ministry was booming and growing. My grades were great. I was moving forward in my calling. I told her that our extended families had just gone through some recent trials and that I had helped them through it. I was there to be strong. I was there to give comfort. I was there to provide advice and counsel. I was there to hold things together. 

My. My. My. I. I. I. I. Me. Me. Me. Me. 

She leaned gently across the table. I thought she was getting ready to applaud me and my efforts. But instead she said,

"Will you please get off the throne?"

                                                         I was mortified. I was humiliated. I was humbled. 

My heart lay there fully exposed on that cafeteria table.  And before you get defensive on my behalf and wonder who she thought she was saying that to me…those words weren't hers. Those words came from a God who loves me, who has a plan for me, who knows me, and who wants relationship with me. Those words began a journey of transformation that I am still on after fourteen years. 

It was then, right there in that cafeteria that I realized that as long as I sat on the throne of my life – in control, taking the credit for my accomplishments, and relishing in pride – I would never really see the power of God at work in my life.  There is room for only one on the throne – will it be you or Christ?

Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered.  Psalm 51: 16 - 17

Friends, this is the introduction to a bible study/book that I am writing. The rich verses of Second Corinthians are woven throughout as Paul also addresses the issues of pride, self-sufficiency, and self-reliance. I invite you on this journey with me as we seek to get off the throne of our lives and let God be God. I would love to hear your comments. If you are reading by email, click here.

Living for ONE by getting off the throne of my life,

Kelli

When God Has a Different Objective

thanks, Flickr

The day began just like any other day. My husband left before the break of dawn to go to the hospital for his residency program. I got up not too much later and began to get ready for school. I was in seminary. It was the first day of summer semester. 


I had chosen to take a two-week course in Second Corinthians. How difficult could a thirteen chapter book be, right? Easy peasy. I walked in the classroom, sat down, and prepared to listen to my simple objectives for this two week course. Two weeks, thirteen chapters. Surely, we will just write a paper and be done. Unfortunately, the British-accented professor had a different plan.

And fortunately for my life course, God did, too.

So, the professor began his objective list for the course. I began taking notes. This is what he said:
At the end of this course on Second Corinthians, I would like for you to:

• Be less sure of yourself. 
• Understand that things go wrong in ministry, regardless.
• Develop a theology of weakness, not power.
• Realize we all have and will have pain and suffering in our lives.

Whoa. Wait a minute. 

I am here for information, not transformation. I do not have time for that! 

Seriously. I needed this two-week course to be simple and easy. Those objectives were not simple and they sure weren't easy. I contemplated dropping the course, but really needed the hours. So, I decided to stay. The rest of that day in the summer of 1998 only emphasized my need for transformation. 

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.  Romans 12: 2

Many times in life when we think we know what the goal is for something we are doing, God has a very different objective in mind. 

I will tell you the rest of the story on Thursday of this week. Stay tuned. :)

For now, I would love to hear how God has or is transforming you. Have you ever walked into something thinking that it was for one reason, and God used it to knock your socks off? I would love to hear. And promise me you'll be back on Thursday. Reading by email? Comment here.


Living for ONE,


Kelli


p.s. For all of you that watched my recent video blog, thank you. Your encouragement has been overwhelming. You are such a blessing!


today I link with my SDG girlfriends over at Finding Heaven, and Laura over at the Wellspring. Visit their sites for some awesome blog posts.