"Step Outside" a Guest Post by Staci Stallings

        It'struly amazing to me how God puts certain understandings in my path.  I think I see clearly what He's doing, whatHe's done, and then click a new piece falls in and "Wow!"          Sometimes,there just is no other word for it.        Ina sermon today, Dr. Lee A. Simpson related the story of Abram.   This was a man who God had given a promiseto.  God's promise was that Abram wouldbe the father of many nations, but as Abram got older, he looked around, andthis thing that God had promised just was not happening.  And Abram began to question God and questionthe promise.  It began to look to Abram likeGod just didn't know or understand how things worked down here on Earth.        SoAbram went into his tent, and he started praying and explaining to God thatyouth had passed him by.  He was nolonger a young man.  In fact, he was old,and so was his wife, and this whole father of nations business was just nothappening the way Abram had thought it would when God promised him this.        Haveyou been there?  I know I have.  "God, I thought You were going to use mywriting to touch other people's lives. What's up with that?  I feel likeI sit here and I do all of this stuff, and what's it even doing?  Is it helping anybody?  Because frankly I don't see it.  I don't see Your plan.  I don't see You in this like I thought Iwould."        Then(I love this), God said two words to Abram. "Step outside."        Yousee, Abram was in his tent--his own little world.  In that tent he was safe.  He probably had his bowl right by his favoritemat—you know like that glass you have right by your favorite chair.  He probably had all of his littleknick-knacks just so and his schedule down pat. And then God came and said, "Step outside."        Stepoutside YOUR comfort zone.  Step outsideYOUR plans.  Step outside what YOU thinkis possible, and when you do, you will step into MY world.        AsAbram came out of the tent of his own limited experiences, his own limitedvision, his own limited perspective, he saw the stars above him, and God said,"Count them."        Understandnow, Abram had been used to praying in his tent.  He didn't think about what was outside.  So the stars were amazing to behold.  "Lord, if I cannot count this multitude ofstars."        Thelesson then went on that God wanted Abram not to just count the stars that hecould see but also the ones he couldn'tsee.  Because the truth is, there multitudesand multitudes of stars that we can't even see to count as well.  As Dr. Simpson says, "God is asking you to countthe stars you can see, and the ones you can only imagine…"         Ah,that's beautiful.  Count the stars youcan see and those you can only imagine.         Somy question to you is, are you inside that tent?  Are you comfortable where you are in theknowledge that you have, or are you ready to come when God calls you to stepoutside?           Whenyou do, I challenge you to count the stars—your blessings, those things God hasput into your life to bring His light and His love to a darkened world throughyou.  And then, breathe, and begin toalso count the stars that you cannot see, those that only He can right now.         Asyou may know, Abram went on to become Abraham, truly the father of manynations, but it took stepping out of his tent, out of his comfort zone for himto begin to see the world God wanted to give him.
         So,step outside… You will be amazed at what God has in store for you!Copyright Staci Stallings, 2008




Staci Stallings is a Contemporary Christianauthor and the founder of Grace & Faith Author Connection.  The full line of Staci's books, which include Contemporary Romance,Bible Studies, and short story collections can be found at:  http://stacistallings.wordpress.com Her blog is at: http://spiritlightbooks.wordpress.comHere's more about oneof her books..."I absolutely loved this book. I am a sucker for Cowboys inWrangler jeans and boots!"
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