In Other Words

"When God is involved, anything can happen. Be open and stay that way. God has a beautiful way of bringing good vibrations out of broken chords." ~ Chuck Swindoll~

I had two thoughts on this quote this week...one focusing on Luke 1.37 "For with God nothing will be impossible" and the other focusing on the "broken" people of the Bible. At the risk of repeating again God's abundant grace and mercy in Heather's "possible" results following "impossible" struggles with cancer lately, I'll go with the later.

God uses imperfect people. They were "broken" but obedient (eventually). *wink*

I've seen the following around the Internet. I've even heard it preached. Don't know the original source but I found something similar here:

"Abraham was old, Jacob was insecure, Leah was not attractive, Joseph was abused, Moses stuttered, Gideon was from a poor family, Sampson was codependent, David had all kinds of family problems, Elijah was deeply depressed, Jonah was reluctant, John the Baptist was eccentric, Martha was a perfectionist and worried a lot, Peter was impulsive and hot tempered. Paul was sickly, and Timothy was timid. Regardless of their imperfections God used each of them in His service. God can use you also."

How often do we think - well, God can't use me for this ministry. I'm not ready. I don't have the skills. I don't have the gifting. I don't have (whatever). We seem to have to be reminded over and over and over that we don't have to be perfect - just obedient. Isn't that easier? No working toward an impossible attainment - just do what He asks. It's not that difficult. Or is it? And, why do we as believers seem to be always trying to talk God out of our part in His plan? We need to have enough faith to step out and just do it!

I'm as guilty as the rest. I've only stepped out into seriously unfamiliar territory a handful of times when I felt God was directing me to do so. But, it ALWAYS resulted with an outcome I feel was gifted of God. Each time it gets a little easier but I still have trouble hearing Him occasionally and/or feeling His "nudges".

So, what can we do to hear Him more often? LISTEN! LOL Also, increase our faith and discernment. It's like the proverbial snowball - each step forward in faith will begin to build and build our faith, hearing, and confidence where God will use us more to bless those around us.

Wouldn't it be great to know that God chose *YOU* to step into someone's life to bless them?

For more folks take on this quote, go to Joy In The Morning who is hosting In Other Words this week.

In Other Words...

"Busyness is not a spiritual gift." - Lisa Harper

Well, it would seem lately that instead of deep, pondering thoughts, I've been having brief bursts of insight that flash and fade! LOL So, to prevent some of the fading, I decided to share this one! I read this quote on Friday and no inspiration struck. But, as I did my reading for my Godly Woman 101 devotions this weekend, something struck me.

I've been reading about Ruth, Esther, Lydia, Deborah, and Mary so far over the last three weeks. As I find what strikes me as a godly woman characteristic, I've been listing them in my right column as a reminder to myself. There are things like brave, faithful, humble, impassioned, loyal, obedient, sacrificial, and vigorous. After reading Lisa Harper's quote again, I noticed something...nowhere in that list does the word "busy" appear.

Yes, a Proverbs 31 woman rises before the sun (v. 15), works with her hands (v. 13), brings food from afar (v. 14). However, as is also mentioned in verses 25, 26, and 30, what is more important is that she is strong, honorable, wise, and (ultimately) fears the Lord. Those other things are nothing if she is not focused on the Lord from the get-go.

Being busy - even in church work - is NOT "enough." A strong, abiding love for Christ is.

Click over to Christine's Fruit in Season and see what insight others have gained from this quote.

In Other Words

“Ancient Words, ever true
Changing me, changing you
We have come with open hearts
O let the ancient words impart”

(Joy in the Morning is sponsoring this week’s In Other Words. Go there to see others' interpretation of this quote.)

What’s more important than the Scripture? Not much! LOL But, it is significantly less effective if we skip that important part in the third line…an open heart! So, I went searching the Word for an open heart and found Lydia in Acts 16.

14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard [us.] She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged [us,] saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us.

I’ve been focusing on some of the godly women of the Bible and their attributes in my daily reading. So, when I sought out some more info on Lydia, I found an online article from In Touch Ministries. Lydia was Europe’s first Christian convert! She was a “worshipper of God” (v14) but God opened her heart and when she heard Paul and Silas testify that Jesus was the Messiah, she was immediately baptized along with all of her household.

Lydia likely was a Gentile widow or an unmarried woman who was a Jewish convert. She is considered to have been a wealthy businesswoman. And, it also attributes several godly women characteristics to her: (this is a direct quote but with my emphases)

Vigor: Lydia had no sooner accepted Christ as her Savior than she invited His emissaries into her home. "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord," Lydia told Paul, "come into my house and stay" (v. 15). The New American Standard Version states that Lydia "prevailed upon" Paul’s party to stay. This wasn’t a whimsical offer. This was the impassioned plea of a woman athirst for God. Instantly, the Lord used her to house His most important minister of the early church, which penetrated Europe more extensively because of her generosity.

Sacrifice. Lydia’s business possibly suffered somewhat because of her conversion. Consider that much of the dye business was fueled either by those purchasing purple garments for royalty or by those seeking ornate dress for the images of their pagan gods. Dressing a human king is nothing more than secular trade, but, as a Christian, Lydia may have refused to sell wares to the worshippers of false gods.

"Her customers of the purple cloth or dye would probably have scoffed at the gospel of Christ, but Lydia did not wait to see," Deen writes. "She put Christ first, and business afterward."

If ever her business suffered, her mentor taught her to count it as but rubbish so that she may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:8)

Commitment. Europe’s first church likely met within the walls of Lydia’s spacious abode. She not only availed her home but likely also her vast resources to help spread the Gospel of Christ. And, most notably, she cast aside concerns of her reputation in the business community and housed prisoners—Paul and company—after they had been released from Philippi’s jail. (v. 40)

Vigorous. Impassioned. Thirsty for God. Generous. Sacrificial. Putting Christ first. A spirit of hospitality. A spirit of giving. Committed. Lived for God instead of living for her reputation.

All these things resulted from one open heart. She was simply receptive to Paul’s testimony. Do we receive with an open heart the meaning and understanding from our time in the Word? Oh, that we could do it as well as Lydia and produce so much fruit that glorifies God!

In Other Words

"At the heart of the story stands the cross of Christ where evil did its worst and met its match." ~ John Wenham ~

My response to this week’s In Other Words quote is short and sweet. One of my goals for 2007 was to become fearless about my faith.

Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD [is] my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

How more powerfully could Wenham’s words reinforce this? Immediately upon reading this I thought “YES!” It is done! Jesus has done it all! What do we have to fear? NOTHING!

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

What could separate us from the love of Christ? NOTHING!

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [Shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Praise God for His Son. What a wonderful, awe-inspiring, amazing, mind-numbingly-cool thing He has done for us! LOL

NO FEAR!

Head to Sting My Heart who is hosting CWO's In Other Words this week for more responses to this quote.

In Other Words

(I'm taking Laurel's challenge this week for "In Other Words." Go to her site to see others' interpretations of the following quote...)

"It is insufficient to proclaim that the Church of God has a mission in the world. Rather, the God of mission has a Church." ~Tim Dearborn

It’s hard to be the “frozen chosen” when you are a missionary. Despite one’s denominational background and its traditions, I have yet to meet a missionary that was not a little Pentecostal about their faith! LOL These folks are seriously, excitedly, and enthusiastically on fire for Christ – as we all should be but often fall short.

I’m reminded of the difference between those on what’s thought of as the traditional mission field versus those of us in our “regular” lives. These brave, faith-filled souls are serious about bringing the knowledge and salvation of Christ into areas most of us wouldn’t think of going. And, in return, we simply cannot envision those we come in contact with each and every day as our own personal mission field. And, again, we often fall short.

In addition, these sweet, sincere believers forgo modern comforts, traditional lives, and things we take for granted daily to live in a remote area, a strange land, a jungle village because they truly strive to exemplify Jesus’ love for all…as we all should but often fall short.

So, what’s the real point of the Church? Is it for those of us already “chosen” to find our little piece of peace each week, get our blessing, or get filled to withstand our upcoming work week?

Or, are we forgetting the true Mission of the Church? Is it not to “…go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age. Amen.”

Heaven is our home. So, wherever we are every minute of the day is our mission field. We need to be on fire for and about God daily. We can be a light in areas others would not think of going. We can forgo a few comforts to add one more soul to the Lamb’s Book of Life. Let us live as missionaries each day and let us not fall short.