Through the Fog

Driving through the wispy fog at night might be dangerous, or at the very least, distracting. The road was straight and familiar, so I had no fear of veering off the road. I hoped a deer or other critter wasn't hidden by the fog. I hoped the fog wouldn't become denser as I met oncoming cars. But any concerns I had were soon replaced with an appreciation for the beauty of the wispy fog.

Sometimes my car seemed to slide underneath a thin veil. The fog streamlined over the top like the aerodynamic tests I've watched on car commercials. Other times my car seemed to float as I had a clear view over the fog but lost sight of the road for a moment. As the road dipped, I thought of being on a plane, rising through clouds and dipping below them.

The fog was beautiful.

And yet as I drove, I realized I was focusing on the fog. My vision had become short-sighted. I no longer focused on the horizon of the road. I anticipated approaching edges of fog.

Look straight ahead,and fix your eyes on what lies before you. - Proverbs 4:25 (NLT)

What is your fog? Situations, people, or things that distract you from your destination.

Perhaps you've been distracted for so long, you're not even sure of your destination. But God has a purpose for you. Even when you're not sure where the road leads...even when your eyes are tired of searching what's ahead...even when what surrounds you is breathtakenly beautiful, remember God has a purpose, just for you. Persevere, and focus on your purpose.

...I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. - Philippians 3: 13-14 (NLT)

Make A Difference

My husband and I have great conversations as we're walking. He's getting ready to speak at a community leaders' luncheon this week, so we were recently discussing his topic: making a difference through community service. Because we're both in ministry, we started talking about our different experiences, when our ministries have had the most significant impact, and how God uses our gifts at different times in different ways.

I'm sure we're not the first ones to recognize this, but significant impact often follows a shift or change. A new leader comes into a church. A ministry team is reorganized. Volunteers are recruited and trained church wide. Each time we've moved, the ministries we've moved out of and into both changed. People's lives were impacted.

Make a difference by doing something different.

When I took on a new position as Small Groups Coordinator, the seeds planted in the first six months were super-seeds. I sometimes wondered if God was using his version of Miracle-Gro every day! Groups grew, leaders emerged, and individual lives were changed. Then we reached a plateau. There was still growth, but enthusiasm waned and was replaced by some "maintain status quo" attitudes. When a new Coordinator replaced me, I strongly encouraged him to question everything I had put in place, not because I didn't believe in the vision and direction I had but because I had experienced how people respond to freshness. It's essential to growth.

Make a difference by doing something different.

Change is essential to growth. You can keep watering the same seeds in the same way every day, but the plant changes and will eventually rot from too much water, outgrow the pot, or consume all the nutrients in the soil.

Make a difference by doing something different.

Are you too comfortable? Are you where God wants you to be? Or is where you are more about where you want to be (and don't want to be) right now? I'm not saying your gifts or passions are always changing, but how you use your God-given gifts and passions can definitely change. Does your hand always do the same thing for you every day, all day? No! It would take you a long time just to make a list of everything your hand does in a single day. Consider your gifts and passions in the same way. How will you use them? Be creative. God is.

Make a difference by doing something different.

You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? As surely as God is faithful, my word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” - 2 Corinthians 1: 17-18