Amy’s Oasis

“Let Us make man in Our Image . . .”

We are called to holiness, not just becuase we ourselves must be pure, but because we are called to mirror the one who is perfectly holy.

We are called to love others, not simply because they need it, but because in doing so, we mirror the one who has perfect, sacrificial love.

We are called to defend the helpless, not simply because we are sparing others pain, but becuase in doing so, we mirror the one who values his creation.

Doesn’t it give you a whole new perspective to just go back to the beginning, to our roots, and look at our history through that lens? When I do so, I realize that my passionate desire to help people did initially start with a deep-seated desire to serve God, but how quickly did my focus shift to the people? How quickly did I want to make their problems my own, to get into their lives and help them change?

I have always known that I would have a problem with that in counseling- that soon I would own their problems myself and become hurt in the process. I did not know how to avoid that, since I thought it was part of compassion. But God is opening my eyes more and more to that fact that my life is not about the people- it is about glorifying Him- bearing His image! That is so freeing and comforting. Even if none of the people I may ever counsel in the future display change in their lives, I will not have failed. In bringing God’s truth to them, I will have been a vessel for carrying the living water. I will have reflected my creator. And in doing that, I will have glorified God and fulfilled my purpose in life. Okay, so I won’t do it perfectly. But really, if my emotional dependance is on God, it will be Him speaking through me anyway.

So . . . anyone want help?