There are three things that I have to remind myself of constantly!  It is an everyday challenge and often a moment by moment challenge to make sure that my heart and mind is focused in the right place.  I would love to tell you that I automatically get this right, but the truth is: This is one tough battle.

Continual Reminder #1 – This Is Not About Me!  Self help is a good thing, but it is self-sacrifice that is key when it comes to my growing spiritually the way that God created me to grow.  One of the biggest temptations I face is the temptation to think it’s about me.  Bottom Line:  It is not about me, never has been and never will be!

Continual Reminder #2 – This Is Not About Others!  This is where it really gets confusing, because if it’s not about me, then it must be about others – right???  Wrong! It involves others, but it’s not about others.  The cold hard truth is:  It’s about so much more than meeting needs.  Often times we busy ourselves with the activity of trying to meet others needs and convince ourselves that it is not about us because we are focused on them, but our whole purpose in being focused on them, is often so that we can feel good about ourselves.

This life that we live is about responding to the calling that God has placed upon our lives by using the gifts that He has given us and the shape that He has provided us with, so that we can grow to touch and make a difference in the lives of others, but not to make us feel or look better.  It is all for His glory!

Continual Reminder #3 – This Is About God!  You were made by God and God made you for Himself!  Life will not ever make any sense, until we understand and accept this amazing truth.  The purpose of your life is to live for God’s glory – period.

I Corinthians 2:12-13 teaches:  “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”

Yep – it’s a totally different life that God has in store for us and I am in need constant reminding!

We believe God has called, gifted, shaped and has been growing us to this place!

God Calls!  Your Momma, Daddy or friends do not and cannot call you, unless it is on the phone and this is not the kinda calling that we are talking about here.  When we talk about calling, we are talking about life purpose and this is something that comes from God and is personal to each individual.  The same God that created you, has also called you to fulfill the purpose that He created you for.

God Gifts!  God gives you what you need, when you need it.  God knows what you need to do what He has called you to do and He has already provided all that you need to fulfill the calling that He has placed upon your life.  God has gifted you with talents and skills that you and only you can use to serve Him in the very specific way that He created you for.

God Shapes!  God allows life to mold you and it ain’t always pretty, but it is always right in the grand scheme of things.  Life is hard and will often throw you a curve, but don’t let that get you down, discouraged or depressed.  Make sure that you stay in and committed, because God will use the hard knocks of life to shape you in amazing ways that you could never shape yourself.

God Grows!  God can do things with you, that you could never do with yourself.  You can grow in ways that will blow your mind, as well as the mind of others.  Just make sure that you stay surrendered to God’s will and focused on His plans.  We have a very limited view of how God can grow us, because we can’t see or understand everything.  This is why it is important for us to simply trust Him by staying focused on Him.

Romans 8:11 says:  “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

A couple of years ago, God began to give me a vision for a ministry that would allow the church to reach out of its comfort zone and share love in a real and powerful way by sharing God’s gift of grace.

I did not have any idea at the time about all that God was up to.  I just had what I thought was a simple vision that I knew I could not accomplish on my own.  I shared the idea with a handful of people who I was on spiritual journey with at our church.  Most all of them encouraged me to go forward and many of them offered their help.

We started to take steps to turn the dream into reality and in a short couple of weeks, We began to see what God had shown me in my head and heart start to happen in real life.  I don’t really know why God brought me to the place or showed me the vision for this ministry, although I am learning something new everyday.

I am more than unworthy to be entrusted with such an amazing responsibility.  I have messed up much more than I have succeeded at, but I am learning that God gives not because we deserve, but because He loves, forgives and restores!  (It has more to do with Him than it does me!)

God continues to give vision and what began as a simple ministry of outreach has and is growing into a spiritual community that almost everyday experiences the supernatural.  At Grace Place, people ask us all the time:  “Why do you do this?”  There are probably a lot of different answers to that question, the most common of which is simply this:  “God’s grace has and is changing and growing our lives and we want to share it with others because we believe that it can change and grow other people’s lives as well.”

It all begins and ends with God and this is why I have to keep reminding myself:  “This is not about me, this is about God and His glory!”  Thank You God for the promise you made in 2 Corinthians 12:9  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Please help me to live in the power and grace of Your Word!