how much is enough?

if we are not saved by works (hallelujah!)
how much is enough?
i was asked that last week.
how much is enough?
it's between you and GOD.
and not the kind of between you and GOD that is
the type that well, i know HE's there but HE's out of sight out of mind...
nope...
it's the kind that requires you to seek HIS face everyday.
not on sundays during beautiful worship music only.
not on thursdays during outreach only.
not on wednesdays during classes 101 only...
it's all the time.
seek HIM.
it's at work.
seek HIM.
it's when your teenager has a question.
seek HIM.
it's when your phone rings.
seek HIM.
it's while you are in the car.
seek HIM.
it's when you're on the playground.
seek HIM.
it's when you receive a text and you respond.
seek HIM.
we can never out-do serving the LORD.
we can lay crowns at his feet.
we can lead others to him.
but if we are constantly busying ourselves just to be busy
and not seeking HIS face or furthering HIS kingdom...
then our doing isn't really bringing glory.
for years i was tied up in following church schedules.
i wasn't preaching the word
leading others to JESUS
or feeding the hungry
or praying with my kids
or exhorting my kids and spouse to serve JESUS...
or being available for that phone call from a police officer
who found our number in a homeless guy's art book in the middle of the night...
nope.
i had a calendar full of things
mostly church things...
but none of them were reaching the lost, the hurting, the homeless, the sick and dying...
none of them.
they were so fun.
i had many friends.
i dressed pretty.
i knew all the worship songs.
my bookcase had all the "right" books.
but it wasn't a time in my life that i am proud of.
in fact, i think that satan was laughing
because JESUS wasn't getting glory
and i was entangled in what satan had me in...
now that i'm "out" seeing the hurting, loving the poor...
being a doer rather than a hearer
it pisses off satan...
he would much rather have me back in a pew somewhere
gettin my praise on and drinking coffee.


the bible says to assemble with others
sure...
but who are you assembling with?
saved only?
are they?
walking out their salvation with FEAR and TREMBLING?
are you sure?
the question recently is how much is enough?
does your enough...
does it make the heavens rejoice?
does the LORD take notice at what you do,
does your life imitate what JESUS would be doing?
or would JESUS be out leaving the 99 and going after the 1?
how much is enough?
have you sang the song?
one of my favorites...
I surrender ALL.
Talk about accountability.
When I was going through cancer surgeries, Cece was 8.
I was recovering and we had a million things going on...
toys all over our house for Mexico,
rice and beans all over our kitchen and in our car,
sleeping bags, clothes... we looked like the salvation army drop off...
and she simply said driving home from her grandmas house,
"How come we only do ministry on Thursdays, mom?
How come we don't do it everyday?"
if the children are asking, why don't you?
kids want to be walking out their salvation.
teenagers want to be walking out their salvation.
it goes beyond "want."
it's we must (be walking out our salvation with fear and trembling)
we do (walk out our salvation)
we are (walking).
get to that point and maybe, we can possibly come close
to saying we're doing enough.