4th Check Up - A decorative vase or a toilet?

We all have to be be aware about what we really want, deep down in our soul. What are the real intentions of our heart? What do we really want? To bless our life? A position? Or do we want to serve God?

Those who want to serve God don't worry about serving as a household item, like a trophy (as the Word of God says), or as an item of no honor, for example, a toilet. 

A young girl named Ferly Victoria sent me a really good example (thank you dear!), about being a decorative vase, beautifying places, the altar, etc., unlike a toilet, which has no beauty. I thought more about her example and I know that many already know about this, but let's go deeper shall we? It's very important for us:

A decorative vase is beautiful. It makes a big difference where ever you place it, calling attention by its appeal. The whole environment looks nicer, I mean, who doesn't like vases with flowers? It's a perfect combination! Let me ask you, is this decorative vase useful? Of course!

Now on the other hand, the toilet seat isn't as charming. It also makes a big difference, even without beauty, it may be far away hidden, but you need it to relieve yourself (which is always, lol) so, you go after it :-) We cannot live without it!

Both are useful, one serves as a decoration and the other to relieve yourself.

Now, let's understand. You have people who serve God as a decorative vase, and others who serve God as a toilet in the restroom. When you first buy the vase, it is beautiful on the first day, but as the days go by, you get used to seeing it, it gets old and you forget about it. But, the toilet you cannot forget, lol. You need it every day, it's always working, it's always being used.

What am I trying to say by this? It doesn't matter where we'll be used by God! The important thing is that we'll be saving souls! If you received His Spirit, it doesn't matter where you'll be, you have something to give... now, if you don't have His Spirit, then you have nothing to give, that's where complaints and barriers come from, and God will have to find someone to replace you.

A toilet seat is not beautiful on the outside and it's not seen as a decoration to human eyes but it's located everywhere we go always ready to fulfill it's duty.

Want to know which of these two you are? Analyze your attitudes and the intentions of your heart and you will have your answer.

To be continued...

3rd Check Up - Are you judging too quickly?

Could it be that you've never judged a situation? Or perhaps someone, without knowing them directly? Of course you have, we all have!

Many times we aren't our own judge but instead become the judge of others, isn't that right? It's difficult to reflect and judge our own actions. Honestly, no one likes being judged, do you? But why is it that every moment we are judging those around us in their attitudes, their behaviors, their posture, how they speak, in their silence... you get the point? We judge all the time and for all kinds of reasons, even when we have none.

We have to understand that before being the judge of another, we have to observe their motives, ask God for guidance, what He wants, before pointing an 'apparent' flaw, which might not even be true. You could ask yourself, "Why is so and so acting that way?" They aren't! Could you stop assuming before you have something to say to someone, because judging others only because of information can be dangerous, and many times, we could be taking souls to hell with this attitude.

We have to always be patrolling ourselves, specially women... we first have to look at ourselves, and not fall into the devil's trap, who many times tries to convince us that judging isn't so bad. Let's be careful, let us be included in God's plans, to be at his disposal, and once we are, people will see the God in us.

Everyday, many people have judged too quickly and delayed the Work of God and many times they take these actions because of personal motives, and unfortunately they get fed up with God because of not watching... be very careful friends!

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7:1-5

2nd Check Up - Are you limitless?

The amount of those who serve God has grown. Around us we hear and see many people who serve Him by evangelizing, cleaning, being an assistant, being responsible of many things, and doing this or that. Let's just say, there's several serving God around us. But, why is there a difference between one and the other? Why do some stand out whilst others don't? Why is it that sometimes those who stand out are the ones who appear to not "do as much" according to human eyes?

Because those who don't stand out are servants with limitations. They have boundaries which block God's power in them. They're not always willing when God needs to use them, like in very simple situations.They fail to see that because of their boundaries and their "own will" they're unable to... Why? Because their "own will" overpowers them.

During the time I wasn't able to do anything, while I was recovering from an incident, I saw and learned a lot more about this. I asked myself every day, am I a servant with limitations? Where can I serve more? Where does God want more of me? Do you know why I kept asking this? Because I saw many people who were servants with limitations, and the worst part is that they had not even noticed it, I have prayed to God not to be that way, because there's a chance, I haven't seen it as well, but I want to... I want to be a limitless servant for Him.

How can one be a limitless servant? Is it with the strength of your arms? Or is it to do so much and later on, lose your physical strength and start complaining? Is it being part of everything, always being in charge, and putting down others who follow you? Not at all friends. God works quite differently than you can imagine, if we don't understand that, God will not have the freedom to use us.

He tests us all the time, to see if what we say in our prayers is indeed true, "Lord, I am here! Use me!" to see if you're being sincere. And how does He find out? In the simplest situations in our day to day, and once he approves us, He is able to do through us what He needs.

Here are some situations He has shown me:

Be sympathetic with the people that go to church, but don't want anything to do with God, you know those who only go to waste time? (God showed me that if they're still going, it's because He wants to save them, and I need to be in God's plans in order for Him to work in these people.) 

Serve those who currently have limitations (Even if they think I'm a fool because I'm always trying to serve them, even if they may take advantage of me, with my attitude God will eventually show them that I'm doing the right thing, that I'm serving God. I'm not worried about who I'll have to serve). 

Doing things only for the eyes of God (No one is watching me and, I don't tell anyone when I clean the church restrooms but, God is being glorified when people go in and say, "This restroom smells nice, I wondered who cleaned it..." I don't even need to say it was me... 

Or, arriving earlier to the kids zone, anointing the class and making a prayer... Or, to stop ironing on my ironing day and accompanying with joy a friend who needs to go to the doctor... Or, when I go grocery shopping for myself and remember an item that we need for the kids zone and buying it, even if it's something small... Are you getting it? We can be an a servant without limitations at every moment.

The servant without limits doesn't THINK at every moment about the Work of God, like they have to clock in and only serve during this time and, when it's time to clock out, they forget about this and go about their life, with their desires thinking it's "their time". The servant without limits lives THINKING at every moment about the Work of God, they may already be doing something for God but are still thinking what else they can he do for Him. They don't have limits... this is what makes the difference!

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me. 

(Psalm 139:7-10)

1st Check Up - Have you been persuaded?

When I started out in church, I dressed like a guy, spoke rudely and improper, I was rude and bitter, I was very displeasing. Did I know this? Yes, but I didn't think it was something to worry about. During this time, I don't remember anyone coming up to me and saying, "Graciele, you dress bad, you're not pleasant, you're this or that, you need to change, to dress up more." Instead they would come up to me and say, "Graciele, you are special and beautiful, God chose you, you are important for Him." And that's how I started changing and the reason I'm here today.

What am I trying to say with this? Nobody tried to convince me, that I was in the wrong, that I needed to change, but instead, people gave me what I needed, they reminded me that I was important for God, the One who convinced me that I needed to convert, stop speaking rudely and dress better was the Holy Spirit.

I was observing today that many of us have annoyed people of God, trying to persuade them, insisting for them to change, to give their lives to God, specially the youth. It's an out of the ordinary pressure that influences many to take decisions based on this insistence and later on the regret it and go back into the world because it wasn't God the one who convinced them but, the servant of God.

And this also happens with us, people in general who do the Work of God. They try to convince that you have to be a certain way and every time your colleague sees you they keep reminding you, insisting until you do as they say.

I want you to understand that it's not wrong to give advice, teach, help, but the one who convinces is the Holy Spirit, and the one who decides to do this is each one of us, don't confuse these things.

We have lost many people because of these attitudes, they have left God because they can't handle the pressure of those servants of God (they feel suffocated). Be very careful with the way you've treated people and even your friends. Your behavior can damage your image, and make people stay away from you and God. Don't try to do God's job, work with Him. 

Note: People come from the world into the church burdened and the ones who are in church have gone through several trials... so why try to impose more burdens on them with this attitude?

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment..." John 16:7-8

To be continued...

Check-up

God is always showing us patience through situations that we go through day by day and if we notice, things are repeated and perhaps you may ask yourself why God is trying to teach you the same thing again.

It's because He loves us that He takes care of us. Since December I've gone through different situations that have made me meditate, for me this isn't something new, but that still existed and with all of our strength we need to be vigilant, they're small things, but they can keep you away from people and God.

I want to review 5 attitudes with you that need to be very far away from us that make many people unpleasant and doesn't reflect well to those around you. Can you think of what they are?

If you want to check this out with me, know that together we will change this picture, even if we are few, but there will be a big difference, we will be reflecting God's image in our life.

To be continued...