The Joy of a Doormat

Are You Ready?

It's just there... hardly noticeable. Summer, spring, winter, fall - to shake of the dust and dirt from all the paths I tread so I could enter in. Enter in.

Paul is asking me (and you) in the letter to Philippians (chapter 2) if I am ready to be poured out as an offering. An offering is not to be taken back or reconsidered. It's a spill of water - never to be gathered back again into a basin. Stop and think.

For the Lord? Of course. For the work of another believer - as Chambers says, 'to pour out your life sacrificially for the ministry and faith of others?' A pause and a sigh.

Coming back to the doormat - Chambers throws out a challenge to many stating 'It is one thing to follow God's way of a service if you are regarded as a hero, but quite another thing if the road marked out for you by God requires becoming a "doormat" under people's feet'.

Serve - but never become a doormat. Be humble - but do not let others walk all over you.

Where does the cross fit into all of this? Where is the line? Is there a line? Where is my heart? Where is God's heart?

Didn't Christ Himself become sin? One who knew no sin became sin. One who does not know dust and dirt became a doormat so that many could enter in - for eternity.

Are you (Gintare) ready to be sacrificed like that? 'Are you ready to be less than a mere drop in the bucket - to be so totally insignificant that no one remembers you even if they think of those you served?' Only His name. Jesus.

so much more to learn and surrender.

Mister Oswald Chambers is right

My Utmost for His Highest accompanies me in my morning quiet and sometimes not so quiet times before and with the Lord.

I have read his devotional more than once - but every time I read something I have already laid my eyes upon, my heart seems to find new and unexplored words and Ideas and responses of the soul.

I have to admit, I am not such a great fan endings - I much more enjoy the process of something happening than the end of it. Let's take Christmas as an example. When September ends and October knocks on the door - my heart gets all excited - I have 3 whole months of heart preparation for multiple feasts. Turkeys are sold, pumpkins are carved and eventually Christmas lights splash color over dark neighborhoods - the time of waiting and anticipating is thrilling and warms the heart during a chilly season.

Then it all ends. No pumpkins and no Christmas lights. Yes -I am a huge fan of Christmas lights.

Now, what does mister Chambers have to do with all of this you may be wondering?

It is January 8th and today I read about Abraham and his sacrifice https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/gen/22.1-18?lang=eng. Many people when listening to this story either out loud or in their minds respond 'how can he do such a thing - be willing to sacrifice his own son? And God? seriously....'

I did. Still do now and then - when my heart falls asleep and I forget who my Father is, His character and heart for me.

Mister Chambers writes ' This incident is a picture of the blunder we make in thinking that the final thing God wants of us is the sacrifice of death.'

True. Have you heard sentences such as these: pick up your cross every single day or you must die to yourself if you want to follow Christ? I think so.

Epic and scary. Why? Why do our hearts get so frightened at these words? Yes - we do often think that all God wants from us is to give up things - for the sake of what? Just dying? But didn't He say that He is the Way the Truth and the LIFE. In Him there is no death - only Life.

Mister Chambers also writes that ' It is of no value to God to give Him your life for death.' A sigh of relief and a question whether I truly know His character and His good plan for me and that truly and surely and indubitably in Him there is only LIFE.

All of this reminds me of a song from Jesus Culture http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWCgyMaWcDs

Listen, soak in His LIFE giving presence and be filled.