Woke Up on the Front Lines Today

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Woke Up on the Front Lines Today

Wednesday, July 31st, 2013 by Lori Roeleveld 4 Comments

I hate that God has my number.

You ever feel that way?

See, I have pretty big aspirations for myself.

You know,

writing bestselling books,

influencing cultures,

changing minds,

building kingdoms

(His, of course, God’s kingdom, which I never confuse with my own, right?)

And then, I write one line that someone quotes on Facebook

so I feel like hot stuff

and I wonder what’s taking God so long to “get with my program.”

I’m a warrior.

I should see some real action.

So, I get a little huffy,

pouty,

self-pitying,

miffed,

you know, because I’m so amazing and so designed to influence culture and

build kingdoms and all

but God’s just not optimizing my talents

for some frustratingly unknowable reason.

But then, something small puts me flat on my back –

a germ

a tick bite

the heat –

seriously, I can be sidelined by weather,

some warrior.

And that humbles me enough

that I start asking the right questions

and listening

carefully again.

He says things like

“Be content with what you have.”

“I am –

all you need.”

“You are –

loved, accepted, noticed.”

“There is-

a plan.”

“Hang with me and pay attention.”

So, I spend today being with Jesus.

He is right there in every moment.

I noticed people at work

not just clients –

other people

and I listened

and I felt His compassion for each one.

And I realized

my office has a culture

that I can influence

and the people I meet everyday

are not an unreached people group –

except that they are.

At home,

I watched the end of The Blues Brothers movie with my dad,

laughing at the foolishness,

jamming to the tunes,

playing “what’s that actor’s name?” about thirty-seven times

the old-fashioned way – without Google

I cooked dinner for my family

and thought about how I am

their only daughter,

mother,

wife

and this is my kingdom

the one I longed and prayed for the twenty-seven years I was growing up and single –

they are my answered prayer.

And I found

that better than my highest aspirations

is just following Jesus around my own neighborhood

and watching Him transform

what I see everyday

into a calling

of the highest order.

There I was, longing to see action,

begging to be sent off to war

only to find out

I live on the front lines.

What’s it like when Jesus comes to your place?

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4 Comments

The Conversation

Marcia Chadwick Moston says:

July 31, 2013 at 12:34 am

Man, we so need to keep this perspective. Thanks Warrior Woman and Influencer Indeed.

Reply
Teddi Deppner says:

July 31, 2013 at 4:33 am

Amen, sister. This is exactly where I’m at right now, in the midst of everything else.

May I wake up tomorrow and embrace the day He’s given me, the place He’s placed me in, the people around me. For His glory and their salvation!

Reply
Betty Jo says:

July 31, 2013 at 8:57 am

Not only are you an incredible writer Lori, but I think you read minds! I was just thinking similar thoughts last night. “Watching Him transform what I see everyday into a calling of the highest order” I’m learning, is truly the highest! With you on the front lines!!

Reply
Judith Robl says:

July 31, 2013 at 10:30 pm

Lori, you did it again. Great post; wonderful reminder of just who and where we are.

Reply