I read the pasage below on a blog I follow (www.oursweetleap.blogspot.com). She does not remember where she first read this so I am am not sure who gets credit.

but, god...
but god...it's too darn hard.
"follow me." matthew 9:9

but god...what if i fail miserably?
"follow me." matthew 8:22

but god...what if what i'm feeling you call me to do is too painful--too challenging?
"follow me." matthew 4:19

but god...i have everything i need right here and things are good in my life.
"follow me." matthew 10:38

but god...how can i possibly step out of my comfort zone? what if........"
"follow me." matthew 16:24

but god...it will cost money and so many sacrifices will have to be made."
"follow me." matthew 19:21

but god...i am weak, tired, weary, lacking faith, and discouraged."
"follow me." mark 1:17

but god...there is so much at risk. what if my friends and family don't support me? goodness, what it they disown me?
"follow me." mark 2:14

but god...what about my own family and their comforts?
"follow me." mark 8:34

but god...my faith is smaller than a mustard seed.
"follow me." mark 10:21

but god...i just don't know if i can do this. i don't have what it takes.
"follow me." luke 5:27

but god...can i trust you in this? really? can i?
"follow me." luke 9:23

but god...i don't want to walk on the water right now--i like it here where things are calm.
"follow me." luke 9:59

but god...can you see that my family is happy with the way things are right now?
"follow me." luke 9:61

but god...how can i know for sure that i have heard your still small voice?
"follow me." luke 14:27

but god...you listening? how will this ever come together?
"follow me." luke 18:22

but god...do you think you could give this little assignment to somebody else? please?
"follow me." john 1:43

but god...what if things fall apart and my world comes crashing down?
"follow me." john 8:12

but god...i'm afraid of failure.
"follow me." john 10:27

but god...give it all up? seriously?
"follow me." john 12:26

but god...{insert a great reason not to do something}
"follow me." john 21:19

but god...{insert just one more great excuse}
"follow me." john 21:22

sound familiar?
excuses. excuses. excuses. all very valid, of course.
yikes!
okay. okay. okay. i think i get it, lord.
i'm out of excuses. completely. there are none.
i will follow you with reckless abandon...come what may.

god, you are trustworthy, dependable, good, kind, loving, patient, abounding in grace and mercy. faithful and true is your name--how can i possibly not trust you with everything i have?

"then he said to them all: “whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."
luke 9:23

even when the road is hard, and things make absolutely no sense...i will follow you!
simply because you said so.

The moment God speaks to you is the time He wants you to respond to Him.

**This passage reminds me of our journey. As we were called to adopt we went through a phase I later learned was common and is called Crisis of Belief. I learned about this while studying Experiencing God (Knowing and Doing the Will of God) by Blackaby and King. I am currently about half way through this study. God has shown me a lot about his character and his love for me. Here a few points that spoke to me and I don't want to forget them.
-God develops my character to match the assignment He has for me, I have to remain moldable and God-centered. He is faithful and true. When you believe nothing significant can happen through you, you have said more about your belief in God than you have declared about yourself. A love relationship with God is more important than any other single factor in life. God did not create me for my lifetime on earth. He created me for eternity. Earth provides the opportunity for me to become acquainted with Him. It provides occasions for Him to develop my character into His likeness. Then eternity will hold its fullest dimensions for me. I need to make sure I invest time in things that last. God has called believers to join Him throughout history the same way He does now. He is consistent, never changes.

Through this study, I have read in print what happened to us as we were called to adopt. This study has been truly amazing. I am glad that God put this in my walk after we went through our time of being called. Very confirming. Can't wait to see what God calls us to do next big or small.

Here are the 7 realities of Experiencing God:
1)God is always at work around you.
2)God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal.
3)God invites you to become involved with Him in His work.
4)God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.
5)God's invitation for you to work with Him always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action.
6)You must make major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing.
7)You come to know God by experience as you obey Him, and He accomplishes His work through you.