We are Enough!

Like I said yesterday, I've had some thoughts have been brewing since July. It's time to weed my brain.

Yesterday's post described Corrie Ten Boom's analogy that God will provide what we need, when we need it. I had several great comments that reminded me that we are often impatient about wanting God to deliver what we think we need, now. The difficulty is realizing that He delivers on His divine timetable.

I was also thinking of how God gives blessings or gifts we never imagined we would have to complete His work. Peace during an illness, words of kindness, a new profession or even a new way of looking at our lives. This summer I had the opportunity to hear Beth Moore speak at the DC Women of Faith Pre-Conference on a subject close to this.

Her first point was that each of us have a ministry. As a member of the body of Christ, every one of us has a ministry to accomplish through our life. It maybe the call of parenthood, compassionate friend, generous giver, teacher, or any multitude of acts of kindness. The importance is realizing that we are living out our ministry each day and following God's call.

Her second point - which I found very important when you hear God asking you to perform a task - is that we are enough for that ministry. Whatever God calls us to do, with Christ our Lord, we are enough to do it. And that ties in so nicely with Corrie Ten Boom's story of the ticket from yesterday. He'll give us our ticket when we need it.

Beth said that when we chose God and Jesus Christ, we were filled with his Holy Spirit. Therefore, we are anointed. It is to the Father’s glory to bear MUCH fruit. We should bear much fruit in our ministries. We need to be about His work.

God may call us to do something at any time. And I think what goes through most of our minds when we figure out God wants us to do something is,

"Oh, MY! Dear Lord, You want me to do what? I can't do that. I'm not your girl. Do you know who you're asking? Surely you have me confused with someone with far greater talents."

Whether it's parenting a difficult child, surviving an illness, serving others in need, proclaiming the good news to a stranger or even a friend, God will give us the tools, talents, and strength to do all He asks. We can trust that we can accomplish anything with Christ for the glory of God. In Christ, I am enough for my ministry. Enough!!!

Beth also shared a great anagram -

Even
Nothing
Offered
Unconditionally
Glorifies
Him

It's all about staying humble. Knowing that God works through us for His glory. It's not us. We simply must be willing to follow.

Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are
competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence
comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant
– not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the
Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

So God’s glory is only something He can do. But He can use you and His ministry and the Holy Spirit to reveal His glory to others. So therefore… showing God off is my ministry.

• We each have a ministry.
• In Christ, we are enough for that ministry.
• Showing off God is our ministry.

Beth finished with a commissioning that encompassed all these points and more. It was powerful to speak those words that day and to remember them as I continue to seek God and fulfill my ministry of showing Him off.

God gives each of us what we need to accomplish things we never imagined we'd be doing.

Can I get an Amen?

Did You Get That?

"This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy." George Bernard Shaw

Note: I just need to write this down, so I remember it. Beware of much rambling.

Last week I went on and on about I've spent a lot of time the past few months wondering about my purpose and following God's will. I was finally pretty sure I understood what God has been planning for me right now.

Well, you know, God listens to prayers. And I have just been chuckling to myself the past two days at how well He listens.

As I stated the other day, I was worried that if God ever revealed something to me I would miss it. So I've been praying that when He reveals what He wants me to do with my stay-at-home-mom-self, could he be really specific, and loud and clear, and repeat it a few times to make sure I didn't miss it? Because we all know, I am pretty clueless at times.

Um, yeah, God took that prayer seriously.

My Bible study group started Jesus, the One and Only, by Beth Moore on Wednesday. I just know it's going to be fabulous. First, we all commented on her completely then-stylish linen shift dress with huge blazer. Oh, and the cream hose with pumps. Then a little surprise, the panoramic views of Jerusalem filled me with a longing to visit the Holy Land for the first time in my life.

The bigger more personal surprise came towards the end of video. What I realized last week, that God has opened up time in my life to study Him, was confirmed through a story by Beth.

As we left Bible study a friend of mine said, "Did you catch what she said? She could have been talking about you."

Yeah, I caught it. How could I miss it?

The first lesson revolved around a famine for God's word. God creates a famine of - hunger, thirst, the Word, friendships - whatever works, in our lives to work up an appetite for him. Beth told a little snippet about a dear friend that moved to a new town and experienced a famine of friendship. This famine of friends provoked a hunger for the Lord. She filled her free time by teaching several Bible studies. She was so involved in the Word, she didn't have time to miss her friends. God used a famine to provoke a hunger for the word, so she could share God with others.

When I moved here last year I quickly joined two different Bible studies reasoning that God surely would not mind if I made friends while learning about Him. Since then I've had the opportunity to begin a Moms In Touch group that is now growing, and last week I agreed to lead a small group in our Bible Study. Along the way, I've been mystified by why I just didn't want to go back to teaching. I even interviewed for two teaching positions and turned them down, because it didn't feel right. Plus, you know, teaching would have conflicted with my Bible study meetings.

I definitely get it, Lord. And to make sure I heard- because I did tell God I was clueless - God inspired a friend of mine to talk about the similarity of Beth's story and my past year. She even went as far as to say that by not taking the teaching jobs, I was making the choice God wanted - Him. I think this was God's three punch plan and He giggled all the way through it. God can confirm his will through events, the Word, and friends that hear it with you. He made sure He covered all three so I wouldn't miss it. Thanks, God!

Beth Moore in Washington, DC

I am on my way (as of 6:30 am Friday morning) to see Beth Moore live at the Women of Faith Conference in Washington, DC.

Yippee! Hooray! Hallelujah!!!

I've had my ticket since February, but I'm a typical mom. I came up with a million reasons why I am so needed at home that I couldn't possibly go. Then there was much, much drama at our house this morning, which I will not rehash to save all involved preteen embarrassment. So, I knew since the drama and hurt feelings circus had arrived at my house, I really shouldn't go.

But you see, I had made a promise to God. Not a deal, a promise.

I prayed several times this week about finding a sitter for the conference and whether God even wanted me to go to the conference. I prayed that God would make it clear to me what I should do. Praise the heavens, He made it clear! Not only did he connect me with a sitter, but she's college age and can drive the kids to all their activities.

Yeah, I'm thinking God wants me to hear Beth Moore, and I couldn't be more excited.

An Uncommon Friendship

I’m completing Beth Moore 's David 90 Days with a Heart like His this summer. Of course, as usual I’m a few days weeks behind, but I am so enjoying this Bible study. I’ve actually enjoyed all the Bible studies I’ve done. I'm thinking God likes that.

Well, on day 22, Beth (I’ll just call her Beth, because I love her like I actually know her) addresses the friendship of David and Jonathan and what an amazing friendship it was. Beth lists and details three factors which made this friendship so special.

1) Uncommon friends can speak their minds without fear.
2) Uncommon friends can share their hearts without shame.
3) Uncommon friends can stay close even at a distance.

Okay, so I’m crying now, but I'm sure you can completely relate. I am blessed by the best friend in the world. I know you think yours is the best also, and I hope she is. But mine was Chosen. By. God. For. Me.

You know what makes her the best? We love each other as we are. We don’t love to do all the same things, I’m pretty sure we always vote for different Presidential candidates, and well, we’re just different in a whole lotta ways. But we love each other for who we are. No judging, no frustration, no unattainable expectations. We want the best for each other, even if that means we’re not always on the same page in our life plans. This means she still loves me even when she knows I am absolutely an airhead.

I can speak my mind with her. I can lay out the dirt of my marriage, my bad mothering, and insecurities and know she’ll give me her best advice. She won’t even mind when I ignore it and have to ask for her opinion again next week. I can speak honestly when she asks my opinion. We all need a friend to pull our heads out of the sand at times. I once told her she was being completely stupid (in not such kind, child-friendly words), yet I was going to stand by her anyway. I completely shocked her and myself. Not my proudest moment, but an honest one.

I love how she loves my children and truly cares about them. I love how she really talks with my children. I love her children, because I see the pieces of her and her husband melded together into these 2 great kids. I love to spend any time I can with her. We live in different cities now, and I’m still surprised how I just break down in tears when I first see her again. She is the family and sister God gave me later in life. I would do anything she needed.

I pray that everyone has such a friend. God gave us girlfriends to make this journey fun. They’re here on good hair days and the days we wallow in our self made hells. They’re here for the celebrations and to pull us up when our world crashes. They are the opinionated sounding board that helps us make sense of our own lives. When anything happens, and I mean the anything that a lot of days is ab-so-lute-ly nothing, she is the person I want to discuss it with over a cup of coffee.

I’ve often thanked God for my best friend. Beth Moore’s book made me realize today that God brought us together to show me his spiritual bond of three. It is God’s love planted in our friendship that makes it so strong. I witness God’s love each day in the trust and security of this friendship, that I know will withstand a lifetime of my craziness. If this earthly friendship has brought me such joy; oh, the joy God has in store for me with my relationship with him.

God is good!