So, I was at a conference that is attended by my family each year. While I was there, a woman that I respect very much for her many years in ministry was there preaching. Her name is Vesta Mangun. She was praying for people after church and I went up to the platform to give her a big southern hug. She grabbed my hand and just kept saying, ” Give it all You’ve Got! Give it all You’ve Got!.”
Since that day, I wrote, Give it all You’ve Got!- Vesta Mangun on my big dry erase board at home. This is the place that I write things I feel God is leading me to do or the focus for my days. Her quote is front and center to remind me of what she said each day.
I have to admit I have always hated intense sayings like that. lol. I feel sometimes giving it all in one area means I deplete the other. Sometimes, giving it all Ive got in the area I feel I am supposed to means I can’t live wisely in the natural world. But, one thing I have come to abide by in my life is that I will give it my best. I realize many times I come short of that ideal image in my head of what my best may look like. But, for the most part, I simply try to follow God. I ask his opinion on everything.
I have such diverse opinions in my life from the differences represented within my family, that sometimes God is all I have to lead me in the areas I should go. He is the only one that can help me to understand what my best is and understand what I should give in what areas. Hopefully, by the end of my life my seeking him in all things (for the most part) will pay off and I can look back and say- I gave it all I’ve got!
Even though I am still learning how to wisely invest my time, energies, and how to serve God best, there have been times in life where I gave more than what I had. What I mean by this, when I was seeking for a healing over my emotional life, I gave everything. It was the first time I had to expend that much energy into something to see a breakthrough. But, I know it was not me who pushed me over that realm into a better life. I knew that at some point I had come to the end of myself, the end of what Charity had left in her to give, and God took over to bring me to that finish line. I am aiming to see God do that in a new way now.
Sometimes we will want to achieve great things in life and it will take all of you, all of what you have, and he will take that everything you gave him and make something extraordinary above anything you could have ever given. The funny thing about God is even though what I give him is rags, and nothing compared to the joys he gives me, he always exchanges my rags for way more than I ever gave to him. So if you are someone who has had something promised to you, you have had words spoken over you and you are wondering, God where is it? I have given you all of this for so long? Will I ever see what is supposed to come to me. My answer is yes, you will. Spoken from a true Michigander/ Country Bumpkin.
