Holy Cats and Dogs! On occasion you listen to something taught, preached, on the radio, in a movie, in a conversation, in a class, and you have that moment. The one where that thing was said, very specifically to you personally. What is interesting about this is, I am a speaker/teacher. That is my goal, if I can say one small thing that speaks to even one person in some small way then I did my job for that day. It is pretty amazing when it happens to you personally. Especially when it happens in a direct and specific, almost loud way. That is when it blows me away.
Obviously I am writing this today because that literally just happened to me. I went out this evening for a walk with Harley. It is April and a sort of snowy drizzle is happening tonight. I have committed to myself once again to get in better shape and part of that is the daily miles to be put in, jogging and walking. There were big fat wet flakes falling. A spring wet snow. In truth it is enchanting.

I listened to a wonderful sermon while walking on faith. Big faith to be specific. The kind that changes your life and impacts the lives around you. This was a really good message. The thing that hit me though was the end. The pastor shared big faith moves from a feeling into an action. So he asked ‘What is the action God is asking you to take at this point in your life?’ He went on to share four examples of what he was talking about.

maybe it’s a book that he wants you to write

maybe it’s a class he wants you to lead or teach

maybe it is someone he wants you to invite someone new to church

or maybe it’s to open up, and confess somethings that you have been struggling with and find healing and forgiveness

What was so profound to me in this was that each of these items are exactly the items that the Lord has currently given me to do and I have been hesitant to act on any of them. All four of them. How can it be a message on faith from a preacher at a church I don’t regularly attend, whom I have never met would share the 4 things I know I am supposed to do. Not in general, but specifically and not just any time, but rather now, over the next year. Very present time for me. How is this so very personal?

Because I have a very personal God. One that knows me, really knows me. Wrote his name on my heart, gave me great desires and dreams. He set his plans in motion years ago and knew he would bring me to this place at this time for his purpose that would so perfectly fit how he designed me it would not only resonate in me but would both thrill my soul and bring me peace. This is my God. A God of BIG FAITH. That begins with a small faith and grew it. For such a time as this. Because he is fulfilling a calling he gave me years ago, one that has been oddly resisted for years, even though it has always been my dream. This is God’s year to teach me how to live the dream.
In that last paragraph there are several loosely quoted a bible verses. I could find them for you and share them but today try and find them for yourself. This God I know, he is a personal God who already knows you personally. Give yourself a chance to experience him for yourself and know what it means to be truly known.