“He vs. We” by Morgan MacMillan
Look who’s back, back again…
I’ve been on a blogging hiatus for the past few months. Sometimes stepping back helps remind you WHY you do whatever it is that you’re taking a closer look at.
When you’re fortunate enough to have people share your work, it’s easy to become focused on the amount of praise that comes with that. When you’re scrolling through comments, it’s easy to forget to give God the glory for your gift of gab.
It becomes really easy to forget your why.
The painful spots in my life have had this wonderful silver lining that has allowed me to connect with other people who are walking through a similar season. There are some things that I would love to NOT share publically, but my goal is always to make you, the reader, realize that you are not alone and help you see that God can carry you through any season of life. I may not always hit that mark, and that’s why I have seasons of rest and reevaluating.
Millennial stereotypes drive me nuts. I am under 30 years old, which means that lots of cliché jokes are thrown at me about my age. Millennials are lazy and entitled. They have no work ethic and constantly expect handouts. Basically, they prop their lives up with selfie sticks and participation trophies, am I right?
I know lots of people my age that fit that description and I chose not to be offended, but to strive to defy that in all ways possible… Even if I have to check myself every now and then.
I grew up in a Baptist church where the sermons revolved around stories in the Bible, but as I’ve gotten older many non-denominational Christian churches have switched to telling God’s story by telling their OWN story. Sometimes I can listen to a whole service and not hear more than 2-3 bible verses. Since that’s what most people hear presently, that’s how they choose to communicate to others about God. I believe it’s easy for this spiritual gift to bump up real close to vanity. It’s fun to pay attention to how many people read your blogs, share your stories and retweet your thoughts. So, here’s the million dollar questions, when you find yourself speaking to someone about your faith; are you using God to tell your story or are you talking about how your story IS God’s story.
Jesus was preparing his disciples for this departure when he reminded them of this lesson in John 15:1-4. We literally can’t bear the fruit of Jesus without him and we weren’t made to. It’s fun to watch someone light up as they see God’s hand in your story, and hopefully in theirs too. God calls us to be His advocates and to light up the corners of this world. Sharing your story with others is a beautiful gift, just don’t forget your greatest why of all, Your Father’s love and faithfulness.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15:1-4 NIV
Written by ~ Morgan MacMillan
One Comment
Love you, Morgan and your heart for Jesus!