Recognition of Man vs. God

I know that it is been awhile since I have posted but during that time I have been absent from writing, I have learned so much within my internship and walking in my faith with the Lord.  Within these past few weeks, I have learned that serving Man and serving God are totally two different things but yet we sometimes can get off track of whom we are actually serving. For myself, I am in Creative Arts at Puyallup Foursquare Church in Puyallup, WA as an intern and this year has been a little tough because when you are in Creative Arts, you are usually the first one to arrive and the last one to leave, the first one to get “yelled” at and the last one to get recognized.  But that is just part of the job of being in Creative Arts and for what our team has signed up to do.

            Within the past couple of weeks, I have realized that my flesh desires for the recognition from Man for my hard work and for the part that I do with Creative Arts but my heart knows that is better to get the recognition from God. Despite already being recognized by God, I wanted to get recognized by my peers. I asked myself the question, “Why?” Then I realized it was actually a heart issue. I was sacrificing my time, my energy, my weekends, and so much more for the sake of being recognized my man instead of God. I started to lose focus on the Creator because my mind was focused on the creation. Matthew 6:4 states, “Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” Gifts can be our time, our energy, our money, etc but also it can be us using our gifts that God has given us to glorify His kingdom.  I now know in my heart and believe with my mind that I have already been recognized by God for the hard work that people don’t see in private. I literally had to make a U-turn for God and get my mind back onto track as to whom I am serving.  It will still be a battle because we live in a sinful world that wants to serve the flesh because it is easier but when we serve with the right heart and right attitude, God will reward us.

            With the United States elections coming up, I want people to be aware of who we are serving. I lost track as to who I was serving when I wanted to get recognition from Man. Recognition comes from who in your heart that you are actually serving. Who you serve is whom you idolize, and whom you idolize is whom you are worshipping.  Are we worshipping Man or are we worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ?? Who we idolize and what takes majority of our time is who or what we are worshipping. We can lose focus in this season of life on the one who has been there the whole time even when you feel the distance. Though we put all our attention, time, and focus into the one who we think will best represent our Country instead of the one who has represented our lives by dying on the cross. I have my political view and you have yours but I am not here stating which political party I am but rather declaring the one true God whom we need to keep our eyes focused on. We think that maybe the president can change what is going on in this country and we tend to rely on the government to fix whatever the problem may be or have the government become a part or all of the solution or have the government provide for us. As Christians it is important to acknowledge that we have to rely on GOD and not on MAN to provide for us even if that person may be the president. Government has failed us before and will fail us again no matter whom our next president is, but the Lord stays true and has never failed us yet. I can testify that with experience. We as believers need to pray for our country and realize that God is in control of the things we do not have control over. We do not know the future as to where our country is going and neither does the president, but the Lord knows. He has already been where we are going and we can find peace within us in knowing that He knows. He is the one that I serve. He is the one that I love. He has never failed me yet. Praise be to God.

Things to pray for:

*The next president and guidance to lead this country

*People who are coming into office

*United States of America

*Local Church

*East side of the USA and the victims of Hurricane Sandy