Because We've Been Appointed: It matters how we represent Christ

I'm going to cut to the chase, no fancy intro. 

The past several months, I've been mostly silent on this blog because I've been 1) nearly drowning in life, 2) finding my feet  in a new career and 3) learning how to create margin in my life (and the tricky art of when to say "no" when I have too much on my plate). 

I've been active on Facebook  sharing quotes that resonate with me and pieces of my heart as the Lord leads, and I've watched the "following" there grow. I've had many new subscribers to this blog as well, which makes me kind of chuckle. I've had almost nothing to share here in so very long. 

Come to find out, I was in a time of stillness (relatively speaking since I'm a wife, mom to 6, and a full-time teacher) where the Lord was working through me, ever-s0-tenderly, teaching me the beauty of living out the Bible rather than talking or writing about it. 

I've started a new study of the book of Titus, and I have plans to create a workbook based upon what Paul shares in that book. It's chalk-full of punch-you-in-the-face {in love} gems about how to live a Godly life and what's expected of Christians as they share the Gospel and represent Jesus. It's been heavy reading, but really has me in a place of wanting to just hand it all over to God: the junk I carry, the positions I mistakenly take in His name, the judgments big and small that I hold over people, the blasé way that I handle Scripture, the indifference with which I often behold sharing the Gospel. This idea of "holiness" or of being "set apart" is crystalizing for me in a way it hasn't before. 

Also? The weight of sharing the Gospel accurately and effectively is square on my shoulders. I used to relish the idea of leading. Teaching or speaking on a stage put stars in my eyes. Now, after a season of darkness that literally brought me to my knees (see more about that HERE) I'm still walking forward gingerly, finding my footing with each step. It truly isn't--and can't be--about me. It has to be all centered on Him and His glory. Otherwise, I'm a fraud overstepping my purpose and circumventing the entire reason for teaching in the first place: to point toward Christ. 

This commission we've been given, this appointment to share Christ with everyone, it's serious business. We HAVE TO get it right. Gratefully, we have a God who fills in our weak points with His strength and truth, but the onus is on us to listen to Him, be in prayer, read regularly, and follow the Holy Spirit's prompting. We don't get to phone it in or "wing it." We give our very best, our A-Game, every single day. As we navigate the obstacle course of life, carrying the finest and rarest gem in our hands, we're charged with doing it well.

My desire here in this space and in my everyday life is to follow Christ and encourage you to do the same.