During this season of Lent I have taken time to evaluate my life and I asked the Lord to help me see flaws in my character that have gone unnoticed- Very scary prayer!

I learned a long time ago that “the Lord only reveals what he wants to heal”. I found this to be true in my life during the early stages of my Christian walk and it still hold true today.

Sometimes we wait for symptoms to arise in order for us to take look at what is in our hearts. You don’t have to be sick to get better!

David writes ” Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting” (psalm 139:22-23).
This verse has become my daily prayer. I know it sounds crazy to ask God to put us through trials, but trials give us wisdom and help us grow closer to the Lord.

God is our Father and just like a Father teaches a son what is right and wrong, the Lord also teaches us what is right and wrong.

I have to come to Lord for many different reasons: sometimes just to visit and sit at His feet, other times to worship and learn from Him, many times it was for a need.

This time it was simply because I want to be a better parent, better wife a better person!

The truth is that we can all be better Christians than we are today.  I’m not saying that we are bad presently, but I am saying that each and every one of us could be better Christians when we allow the Lord to have His way in every area of our life.

With that thought in mind, I offer you a challenge today!

I hope I can convince you to give this a try.  If you’re game, here is what I would like you to do:  Choose one thing you will consciously do better today.  Maybe it’s being a better listener.  Maybe it’s showing more affection to a loved one.  Maybe it’s being helpful to someone who you usually ignore.  Maybe it’s saying “I’m sorry” to someone you hurt.  I think you get the point.

After you have decided what area you want to work on ask the Lord to help you grow in this area. If you can make time to journal this experience it always helps!

Example: Did I seek to love and bless the people God put in my life today — including those who mock or despise me? (use scripture)

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3,4)

I’m the new kid on the block here, so a little introduction…

I’m a solo act from Massachusetts.  I moved to Phoenix in 1995 to go to school.  In July of 2001, someone who attended a different church, was singing at a single’s praise and worship night at Vineyard, and suggested I go.  I was familiar with Vineyard as one of my sisters was a member of Vineyard in Framingham, MA in the 80’s so I decided to go.   

Now there are two different ways of looking at my entrance to Vineyard.  The first is mine, and I remember that as soon as I set foot in the foyer, I knew that Vineyard would be my church home, and that I was going to be a part of it, and it was going to be a part of me (background music swells).  The second is a friend (now) who was giving out tickets for a free coffee drink, and remembers that before I went into the auditorium I wanted to know: Where do I go, who do I see about the coffee, is there assigned seating, what do I do when I go inside, do I pay for the food inside, how will I know where to go?  Yup, my story’s better.

The most surprising thing to me was that Vineyard was everything I wasn’t looking for in a church.  I wanted small, traditional, with hymns (organ preferred). Not big, contemporary with worship music (no organs insight).  I loved my church back home, and, like so many people, when I couldn’t get what I wanted, I opted for not attending at all.  I can’t have things my way so I’m not playing! 

Is this why we’re called the children of God?  I want to know what’s on the other side of the door.  I can’t get what I want.  I didn’t plan on staying in Phoenix when I first moved out here because it wasn’t what I wanted.

Hello God!

It’s not about what I wanted for myself, but what God wanted for me.  I became plugged in right away: greeting, singles, drama ministry, and classes.  I met people, people and more people.  I learned more about reading the Bible.  I learned more about Jesus in a way we never talked about back home.  I told Him about me.

I’ve got to tell you – this is much better than what I had planned.  I don’t remember what it was, but knowing what God has seen me through and how He has changed my life… 

Well, that goes beyond Hello.

Peace! 

Barbara