88: You Are Created To Do Good Works in Christ Jesus

Did you know that you are created for good works in Christ Jesus?  HUH??  What does that mean? Well, when life throws a bunch of problems your way, you might have a tendency to forget who you are and who your God is. This episode is a reminder that you are more than the sum of your "issues".

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Resources Mentioned on the Episode and suggested reading & social media handles:

• Christian Indie Publishing Association
• Lyvitabrooks.com/contact
• Ceciltaylorministries.com
• Bad Questions by Len Kruger

Calls to Action:

·        Sign up for The Me Project Academy Newsletter for resources on developing disciplines to help you grow in Christ, prayer and new releases of the podcast. 

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·        @themeprojectacademy (Pinterest)

·        support@themeprojectacademy.com (for comments)

·        www.goodreads.com/lyvitabrooks

Thanks for listening. I pray this episode was a blessing to you. Leave a comment or rate this episode . Then pass it on. Share this link: https://lyvitabrooks.com/

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:02

Welcome to Hanging Out with Jesus Podcast, where we equip the Saints for ministry by bringing you tips, interviews, inspiration and information on how to live intentionally and daily in Christ. For more resources, including your free newsletter, visit HangingOutWithJesusPodcastcom or click the link in the show notes. Hi, I'm Levita Brooks. Author, bible teacher, founder of the Me Project Academy and your host. Thanks for supporting this ministry and rating and commenting on the blog and whatever podcast platform you are listening to, because then it makes us feel more like a conversation. If this is your first time listening in, welcome. This is episode 88. We are talking about Ephesians, chapter 2, verse 10, with a focus on seven words. Wow, that and more is coming up. Now come walk with me where we intentionally and daily hang out with Jesus.

Speaker 1: 1:27

In personal news, I feel like I've arrived as a writer. Last month, this is what happened. I had the joy of being a reviewer for my fellow writing friend, cecil Taylor. We are both a part of the Christian Indie Publishing Association. Saints, I recommend that if you're a Christian Indie publisher or self-publish, join this organization. It's a good one, and I put links in the show note. Well, anyway, cecil Taylor was on the podcast episodes 80 and 81. He asked me to review his book. The book is called From Comfort Zone to Trust Zone. Y'all check it out at CecilTaylorMinistriescom. Another fellow writer from my Flash Fiction Writing Group, lynn Kroger, published his book Bad Questions. Saints won the 2023 Washington Writers Publishing House Fiction Award, and some members of our Flash Fiction Group we went out to hear and read at Politics and Pros in Washington DC Saints. My name is mentioned in the back of the book as a reviewer. Wow, now, there's some cursing in there, but the plot and the storyline is good.

Speaker 1: 3:03

Then y'all, I had a good friend of mine, and she's a first time writer. She did her essay for publication. I was one of her reviewers. I am so proud of her for stepping out and finally doing what God placed on her heart. I'm so blessed to be a part of that journey. Y'all, they each are created to do and that's writing for them. Now, where that will take them, only God knows. Which is the same for you. That's why I'm sharing this with you. Same step out of your comfort zone and get to doing what God's put on your heart. Every risk takes a courageous step. Let me know what you are up to and if there's something special you want me to share on a podcast that will encourage others to go and do what God called them to do, intentionally and daily, because together we can advance the kingdom of God.

Speaker 1: 4:23

Saints, have you ever had one of those early morning wake up calls with God? You know the kind where, no matter what you do, you can't get back to sleep. Well, early one morning, around 5am Y'all my wake up time is 6am. Around 5am, god came nudging me to get up and begin having my devotional time with Him. It started off so thug Until I read Ethesians, chapter 2, verse 10.

Speaker 1: 5:11

That was a familiar scripture. I've read it and I know many of you have too. I've read it, memorized it, meditated on it many times before, so why was it jumping off the page? Well, let me read it to you the way I heard it Ethesians, chapter 2, verse 10. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before head that we should walk in them. Did you get that? Created in Christ Jesus for good works? What are we created to do? Not simply exist, not to be lazy or procrastinate, not to live our lives from the comfort of a couch, and definitely not to scroll our life away. We are created to do.

Speaker 1: 6:22

Now, I know someone is saying the scripture says created in Christ Jesus for good works, yeah, I'm saying. But what are good works? Aren't we, the church? We are to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus to go and do Worship. God promotes spiritual growth through relationships, shared doctrinal truths and evangelize. Isn't all that good works? Good works are action and action. Well, y'all that's doing.

Speaker 1: 7:01

God created Adam and Eve to do. They're doing and you can see that in Genesis, chapter 1, verse 24, what's to have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. They were created to do. Joshua, the son of Nun, moses' assistant, was created to lead God's people into the promised land that he had promised. Moses Created to do, paul was created to go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles, the Lord said to him. He was created to spread the gospel beyond the Jewish people. Paul was created to do so why is it that being created to do jumped out. And how is that important to you? Well, I'm saying we are living in a world where people are calling out for help. They're screaming for help and many of them are receiving the wrong advice. And yet they aren't enough laborers in the field, because many of the laborers have forgotten who they are and what they're supposed to do, and some are just fearful.

Speaker 1: 8:36

Is that you Saints, each of us, are created to do? If you think your life is a waste of time, that's a lie God created you to do. If you think your life is an important or valuable another lie you are created to do. If you think you can't keep living like this, nothing's right, there's no way out of this mess you cause Definitely a lie you are created to do. Doing is praying, reading the Bible, listening and trusting in God as well, you are created to do. If you think all you do is fail another lie you are created to do. This is no saying. If at first you don't succeed, try again and keep trying again until you get there. Yeah, I add it to the saying.

Speaker 1: 9:48

Now, if Jesus could go through all that mess the world put him through, you know, but on and off again. One day they like him, the next day they don't. One day they want to support him and all cheers about next day, they want to stone him. Well now, if Jesus made it through all of that and completing his task of bearing the cross, then so can you Start where you are and keep doing. Keep living with purpose, meaning, intentionally and daily Saints.

Speaker 1: 10:31

Life is supposed to be hard without Jesus, but with Jesus that's another thing, because it all depends on your choice and how committed you are to following after God and doing what he's created you to do. That means do something, be intentional about finding out what that something is. Start with what you know. You see, god spent time invested in getting you to exist at just the right time to go through just the right situations to develop you and to just the right person to do what he's designed you to do and the person he's designed you to be. And no one can do it like you no one. Look at Joseph. His brother sold him into slavery. God was with him the entire time, even set him up in the process to get recognized so he could rescue his own people out of famine. Talk about a brother that went through. Come on, he still ended up doing what God called him to do. It was in the mess that he learned how to do things that enhanced what God had put him on the planet to do. You are created to do. That means you have a purpose for today and for always.

Speaker 1: 12:21

I challenge you today, right after you listen to this episode, to take the time and ask God what do you want me to do today that will bring you glory? Because I'm listening with all senses on high alert, lord. What do you want me to do today? Then record what God had you do. I could say one thing for sure He'll have you do something that will put you in your heart and delight in another. Also share with me. Rather, it doesn't matter how men, school or enormous you deem it to be no-transcript. Let me know, or write in the comments, or go to levitabrookscom, slash contact and share it with me, or share it with all of the hanging out with Jesus podcast family in the comments section.

Speaker 1: 13:22

I'd like to pray for you, create of the heavens and the earth, land, sea and all that breeze within. I come to you on behalf of your children, your children that you created for good works. Guide them to walk into their good works without stressing over failures, hiccups, mistakes, lack of self-esteem, negative voices and anxieties, but to give it all to you so they can become refreshed, their minds rested and trusting in you, they can stand on your word or promises. Help them, and also me, to develop a mindset of single-mindedly following Christ Jesus. Thank you, lord, for it's in Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Speaker 1: 14:34

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, then please consider subscribing to the podcast rating and reviewing it. This helps in moving it forward to being heard by more believers. Also, if you haven't done so, get your free twice a month newsletter to keep up with new releases of the podcast, monthly activities on how to live intentionally in, daily, in Christ, and much more. All this and more can be found, including my content, information on hanging out with JesusPodcastcom or the show notes. Until we meet again on the airways, intentionally and daily, hey out with Jesus Shalom.