Remember Kindergarten?

For you learners like me, here’s what Merriam-Webster says about it:

Isn’t that a beautiful word picture? A garden of children.

So what do you remember about being in the garden of kinder? I remember a mini-kitchen, books, blocks, jump-rope, snack time, music time. So basically playing, singing, and eating. We only went for half the school-day since I guess they thought the whole day would make us wilt. We didn’t have computers and I’m a Believer by The Monkees was #5 on the charts. Don’t bother googling, the year was 1967.

We each had our own miniature mat for nap time. We’d roll them out on the carpeted area and scrunch our little bodies to fit within the confines of it’s borders.

Reminds me of the sick man in John 5. He was confined to his mat for thirty-eight years.

Jesus asked the sick man:

“Do you want to get well?” John 5:6b

A simple “yes” would have sufficed, but this man shared how he tried to get well, but someone always stepped into the healing pool before him. Ironically this time, it was his Healer standing before him.

I’m sure Jesus patiently waited for the man to finish his story. Then He said to him:

“Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” John 5:8

He didn’t need the healing water, he had Jesus. The man didn’t laugh or call Jesus crazy.

The man got up.

What if that man refused to stand? What would he have missed out on for the rest of his life?

What if he had grown so comfortable in the life he knew, that it kept him back from a brand new life?

Let’s not stay in the confines of our mat. Let’s pick up our mats and walk. Think of what we’re missing sitting on the couch.

We learned in school a noun is a “person, place, or thing” but God didn’t create a bunch of nouns. And isn’t the thought of being a verb more exciting?

How can we pick up our mats and walk in our calling?

• The #1 most important step is pray and obey. God provides answers. But how? It may be through strong conviction, a peace, confirmation through His Word, or really, however He chooses. Trust Him. Yesterday, two different women said the same exact thing to me. One spoke this word to me in the morning, and the other in the evening. Two different times, two different places, and they don’t even know each other. I’m taking that as a divine message.
•  Let’s not allow our temporary tiredness to steal the spiritual exuberance that comes in fulfilling God’s call. Keep your eyes on things eternal. If needed, take a nap.
  
• Do not fear. Fear is not discernment so let’s not confuse the two. Discernment is spiritual direction and God has not given us a spirit of fear. Dispel fear with faith. We can do all things through Christ. Stretch beyond the comfortable if His answer is go. We don’t need to fear, we have Jesus.
• It may or may not be what we would choose, but it will always be fulfilling when the Lord directs our steps.

Believers all have a gift and probably more than one.

A wrong match for our gifts is a quick route to burn-out. Do what you are gifted to do. You’ll probably find God has been equipping you all along.

If we never go, we’ll never grow. It’s time to pick up your mat and walk in your calling. tweet

Although we’re no longer kinders, we’ll always be gardens because gardens are meant to grow.

And I’m a Believer. Perhaps that was prophetic. I was a fan of the Monkees by the way.

Be encouraged. People are counting on us. We never know how God will use our “yes” to change lives and change the world. Pick up your mat and walk. God is expanding our borders.

Let’s get it done together.

Peace & Joy In Him,

Romans 10:17 Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.