Do you have a problem with ordinary?  I kind of do.

I’m ok with my ordinary house and don’t mind driving an ordinary car.  Don’t know much about designer brand names or the latest, hottest place in town.  As a matter of fact, I can thoroughly enjoy an ordinary meal and be perfectly content with a regular, department store pair of jeans – as long as they fit!

But when it comes to my life, “ordinary” is the farthest thing I want it to be.  I don’t want to pass through this world without leaving my mark, without making a lasting difference in the lives of others.  I long do extraordinary things for God! 

However, my good wishes and best intentions often clash and even crumble when confronted with the notion that I am just an ordinary girl.  Debilitating thoughts assault my mind with arguments such as:

Why would God use you? 

What do you have to offer?

Who do you think you are?

You’re nothing but ordinary.

The battle rages so fiercely sometimes, I give into their seeming logic and am tempted to surrender thinking:

Who do I think I am?

I’m nothing special.  I’m no expert.

Why would anyone want to read what I write or hear my message?

I must confess that I’ve wasted more time and energy battling my doubts than I have actually invested doing things for God. 

But last Saturday was different.

Last Saturday, during our Women’s Conference, as I listen to our guest speaker Eleanor Mumford talk about the power of ordinary, an incredible insight awakened me like a jolt of caffeine in the morning:  God can use ordinary people like me, because He is extraordinarily powerful!

I’ve been so stuck on the knowledge of my own limitations; I’d almost forgotten Who is at work when I surrender to His calling.  My own message and works may be dull and ineffective.  But God’s Word in my pen and on my lips and His Holy Spirit working in and through me in are mighty to save, to heal, to deliver and to restore!

And that, my friends, is nothing but extraordinary!

Ephesians 3:20 says that God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

I sat on my chair last Saturday, pondering on this amazing revelation, brimming with renewed excitement, and trying really hard to refocus on Eleanor’s message.  Peace filled my mind as well as a new sense of purpose and direction for what I’ve dared to believe is God’s calling upon my life. 

The Lord’s extraordinary power is at work on this world, and He chooses ordinary people – like you and me – to carry it out for His glory.  All we need to do, get to do, is join Him.

Ana

http://anastinescorner.blogspot.com/

My husband and I didn’t pick the smartest week of the year to get married.  We were juniors in college and got married two weeks before classes started.  On one hand, we prepared all summer, on the other, we had little time to squeeze in a honeymoon before school and jobs started up again. 

Between moving in to our new apartment, working part-time, and full-time school, writing thank-you notes for our wedding gifts fell to the bottom of my to-do list.  Month after month went by, and it was Christmas break before I seriously thought about them again.  By that time, I was just plain embarrassed to send out notes.  My closest family received them, but I neglected the rest.

That breach of etiquette has bothered me for 25 years.  It probably explains why I’m a stickler for my children and me to write thank you notes for every gift.  In hindsight, I should have sent out the notes at Christmas.   Truly “better late than never” should have been my guiding principle.

Jesus spoke about a similar principle in the parable of two sons (Matthew 21:28-32).  Both were asked to work in the vineyard by their father.  One said “no,” but changed his mind and went.  The other said “yes,” but didn’t go.  Jesus asked the poignant question, “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”  The answer was the first. 

Jesus used this parable to show the religious leaders that the “tax collectors and the prostitutes” were entering the kingdom of God ahead of them.  The religious leaders professed to obey God in their heart and actions, but they didn’t.  I think this is a principle we can apply to our everyday life.

Many times we know God is calling us to do something.  It could be to share our faith with a co-worker or family member.  Perhaps God has been tugging on our hearts to increase our financial giving.  Maybe we need to take a leap of faith and change careers, go back to school, or do mission work.  We say “yes” when God first prompts us, but then do nothing.   Time goes by, and we think, “It’s too late now.”

Unfortunately, that type of thinking leads to disobedience.  This parable shows us that it’s never too late to obey God.  It doesn’t matter how old you are, or what you’ve done since God first asked you to do something.  It doesn’t even matter if you’ve stomped your foot, crossed your arms, and told God “no.”   Today you can make your Father happy by doing His will.  

We serve a gracious God who doesn’t hold our disobedience against us.  We may need to confess it as sin, but when we do, it’s as good as gone. If God has asked you to work in the “vineyard” and you’ve said no, or delayed obedience, make today the day you get to work.  I wonder if I still have that wedding gift-list

The other day, as I browsed through my mail, I came across the Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPC) Newsletter.  A group picture of smiling women, clad in bright orange suits, caught my attention. 

“Nurses?” I pondered.  Nope.

I began to read the article below the picture and realized that these women were actually inmates at Perryville Prison.

These ladies decided they wanted to do something for CPC.  So they began crocheting booties and baby sweaters for the clients at the centers.  At first, only a few knew how to knit or crochet, so they taught others who wanted to participate.

“They also saved up their 10 cents an hour wage to put toward a sizable $600 plus donation – that’s 6,000 hours!” says Cathryn Merring, Director of CPC Phoenix.

Talk about generosity!

It reminds me of the actions of a very poor, yet generous woman.  Luke 21:1-3 says,  “As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.  He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. I tell you the truth, he said, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Reading this passage always brings tears to my eyes.  (Yes, I cry easily, but you get the idea.)  I picture the old lady humbly waiting in line for her turn to offer her contribution; then, I see her reaching out with her wrinkled, shaky hand to drop the two small coins.  Last, I picture her walking quietly back home, without being noticed, without anyone ever knowing the depths of her contribution and sacrifice.

But Jesus noticed.

In contrast to the women at Perryville, many times I feel like unless I do something “big” nothing I do for the Lord will really matter.  But they’ve proven me wrong.  Like Pastor Brian said this morning, “The Kingdom of God is about big things, but it’s also about small things.”

Mmmm…  Maybe my “small contribution” isn’t as insignificant as I might think.  Maybe one day my actions will impact others’ lives the way a modest group of inmates’ generous acts has impacted mine.

How do you feel about your own contribution?

This past weekend, Pastor Craig, shared the Vineyard saying:  “Everybody Gets to Play.”  It reminded me of a something that happened when I was a child.

I grew up here in Glendale a freckle-faced brunette in a neighborhood of blonds – 13 of them.  Not just any blond, but the light, almost white kind of blond.  To say I stood out in the crowd was an understatement.  Normally it didn’t matter to any of us, except when we played “Big Valley.” 

In the late 60s, the Big Valley was a popular television show.  For those of you over 40, you’re humming the theme song right now … “The big valley, the big valley …” (Ok, I know there weren’t words.) As little kids we would reenact the various episodes and inevitably, there was an argument over who would get to play Audra Barkley.

Audra was the beautiful, longhaired daughter, who was fussed over by her mama and pampered by her three handsome brothers.  As much as I would have liked to play Audra, that was never an option.  You see, Audra had long, blond hair.  With my brown hair, I wasn’t even considered for Audra.  I did, however, get a part.  I was Nick.  Not Heath, the handsome younger brother – Johnny (with blond hair) got to play him.  But Nick – the hot-headed, troublemaker.

When I didn’t play Nick, I (gulp) played a horse.  These are embarrassing facts of my childhood that I’m only now able to talk about.  I would have made a great Audra.

Although I write that tongue-in-cheek, the truth is, it hurts to be left out, or relegated to a role that doesn’t fit you; whatever age you are.  What I love about God’s Kingdom here on earth is that everybody gets to play!  And we get to play a part specifically designed for us.

Each of us is called to serve God in a wonderfully unique way.  God gives us skills and talents at birth, and then calls us into service.  Once we say “yes,” God fine-tunes our skills and increases them according to our faithfulness in using them.  Yet many Christians never fully discover their gifts. 

When that happens, there’s nothing more frustrating than an under-used Christian.  I wonder what would happen if every believer were serving God according to his or her gifts and talents – and not based on where there’s a vacancy in children’s ministry or on a committee.

My challenge is to discover my God-given gifts and talents and surrender them to God and His purposes.  If my gift is teaching, then I need to be somewhere I can teach.   If I have financials skill, then I should be working with money.  If I love to pray for the sick, then I should be praying for the sick.  It would be nice if someone identified my skills and asked me to serve accordingly, but the responsibility for using my gifts ultimately falls to me.

Although my days of the Big Valley and playing Nick are past, I’ll never forget feeling out of place, and longing to play another role.  God’s Kingdom is big enough for each of us to fulfill the calling God has for us.  We need to say “no” when someone asks us to play “Nick” and we need to pursue opportunities to play our own brand of “Audra.”

In His Love,

Glynnis

Have you ever been touched by a random act of kindness?  I have, in a most particular way.

Yesterday my husband, my son and I went to the movies.  As we settled ourselves down and began to munch on our popcorn two young moms walked in with their children.  The theater had quickly filled up and they were obviously going to have a hard time sitting together.

I noticed that the three seats to our right and the three in front of us were still empty, so I asked these ladies if they wanted us to move so that they could seat together.  They thanked us profusely as we moved down one row.

We settled ourselves down once again, and once again we resumed munching on our popcorn.

As the lights dimmed down and the previews began, I was surprised by a tap on my shoulder.  It was one of the two young moms.  She handed me a bag of M&Ms and said, “This is for you.  I want you to know you made my day.”

I was so overwhelmed, I could barely focus on the screen.  I mean, I hadn’t done anything great or heroic.  Yet I had managed – in total random – to make this lady’s day!

I might have made her day, but the kindness she showed in return meant more to me than she’ll ever know.

As I enjoyed the movie and my M&Ms, I thought about a testimony I had heard earlier that day, during church service.  Ten years ago Alicia Manes, a young woman at our church, and the small group she lead began serving single women by putting together a “spa day”.  What began as a small act of kindness has evolved into a full-fledged yearly event.

I was touched by Alicia’s testimony, but what I especially appreciated was hearing that she and her group had made all kinds of mistakes along the way, had little resources, had felt overwhelmed,  yet they kept on going, showing kindness to single moms and being obedient – a word Alicia repeated over and over again as she spoke that morning.

Obedience…  Saying “yes” to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to display His love, His ways, and His kindness.  The Apostle Paul said it so well, “God’s kindness leads [us] to repentance.”  (Romans 2:4)  Alicia and her group had lead hundreds to experience the changing power of God’s love.

Thinking back on yesterday’s pleasant experience at the movies, I can surely say that a little bit of sweet kindness sure goes a long way.  How has kindness touched you?

I’m eager to hear,

Ana

This past weekend Brian taught about our gifting and serving in the church. I’d like to look at that a little more. A number of years ago when I did a study on Spiritual Gifts I was and still am in awe of the way God designed the church. His plan is for each one of us to play a part in the church by using our gifting, skills and abilities. I also learned He created us each different; not everyone is going to have a heart of compassion or have the patience to run the video during service or have the skills to play for worship. But no job in a church is unimportant in the building of God’s Kingdom. Brian mentioned this in his sermon when he talked about not ever wanting hear anyone say they just… volunteer or clean toys, etc. I so agree, all service within the church is so important! When God showed this to me I was running the slides that go on the video screens and I realized that if I goof up majorly it would really distract from people’s experience in Worship and take the focus of God.

I love Paul’s analogy with the parts of the body in I Corinthians 12:12-30. Like in I Corinthians 12:17 Paul writes, “If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?” Can you picture it the whole body being one big eye or ear? Wow, that would be really scary. Just as scary as everyone trying to make free coffee at one time and no one greeting or everyone cleaning the bathrooms and no one working with the children.

When I first realized God gifted each one of us for a path of His choosing I was so relieved. I didn’t have to beat myself up because my Christian walk didn’t look like someone else’s. Don’t get me wrong there are a number of things all Christians are called to do or strive toward in ever increasing measure. But there are areas of gifting, service and passion that are unique as each one of us, and God will reveal this to us as we try out different areas of service and look for guidance from classes like the SHAPE class.

As you can see in my bio, I oversee the Women’s Conference each year, lead a Care Group, and help in the Finance Ministry. I’d love to hear how you serve in the church?

Thank you for serving,

Susan