Feelin’ ordinary?

There are times when we feel wanting to do so much for the Lord - something big and impressive - but we also feel so lacking of ability. We look at ourselves and our human limitations instead of focusing on the power of the living Lord and His tremendous capabilities that can be infused in us and poured out through us. Can it really be as “simple” as turning our eyes and hearts toward God? Can I really be moved into bold and confident service simply by time in prayer?

Acts 4:13 is one of my favorite verses. Because I am ordinary. I am uneducated. And yet God finds ways to work through me. He makes me brave in sharing His goodness and faithfulness and love that is so powerful in changing lives.

 Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) saw the confidence and boldness of Peter and John, and grasped the fact that they were uneducated and untrained [ordinary] men, they were astounded, and began to recognize that they had been with Jesus. (AMP)

 The Jewish leaders understood that Peter and John had no special training or education. But they also saw that they were not afraid to speak. So the leaders were amazed. They also realized that Peter and John had been with Jesus. (ERV)

 When the Council saw the boldness of Peter and John and could see that they were obviously uneducated non-professionals, they were amazed and realized what being with Jesus had done for them! (TLB)

Now the leaders were surprised and confused. They looked at Peter and John and realized they were typical peasants—uneducated, utterly ordinary fellows—with extraordinary confidence. The leaders recognized them as companions of Jesus. (VOICE)

The council members were astonished as they witnessed the bold courage of Peter and John, especially when they discovered that they were just ordinary men who had never had religious training. Then they began to understand the effect Jesus had on them simply by spending time with Him. (TPT)

Don’t you ever doubt that you can be used by God. And for extraordinary things! God knows how to get things done. Yes, He does use the weak, the untrained and scared. He knows how to work through you and me for His glory. You can move forward in boldness and confidence when the Lord calls. For it’s not just you and you alone, but Christ Who lives and moves and has His being - in and through you.

So, have you been with Jesus? It matters not who you think you are or what you think you are capable of - all that really matters is that you spend some time with Jesus and He will take care of the rest.

Julie’s Psalm 51:10-12

 

Create in me a good, clean, pure, centered on You heart, O God

and renew, refresh, reclaim, remold a good, right, positive, whole, centered on You spirit within me

Cast me not away from Your presence - I would surely mourn, suffocate, be dismal, crushed… die

and take not Your sustaining, guiding, companion, Helper, Holy Spirit from me - I would surely be lost, drift, wander

Restore, make more apparent, envelope me with the riotous, joy, delight, pleasure of Your salvation, saving grace

and grant me a willing, desiring, longing, focused, thriving, to sustain, carry, keep me on track… spirit.

All the other things

 

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. (Jeremiah 31:13)

I see it all around. People feel limited because of some thing they can no longer have. For many it is sugar because of diabetes. For some it is dairy products. Gluten. Or the challenges of sticking to a diet and exercise routine. Or fighting off boredom, even depression.

You can make yourself miserable focusing on what you cannot enjoy (“have”). It will surely grow and multiply until you fold under the pressure and weight of it all. Or you can choose, yes, choose, what else is available to focus on. There are 101 other truly wonderful things to eat and taste and enjoy. If you can’t run – walk. Restless? Struggling to stick to a plan? In all these things, you can create a list of options to refer to. There are 101 other things. You are not trapped. Cornered. Stuck as much as you think you are.

Search the web. 101 recipes for diabetics. Those lactose intolerant. Those needing gluten free. Preview menus before visiting a restaurant. Bring options that work for you to a potluck. And 101 things to do when you are restless, depressed, feel like eating due to emotional upheaval. 101 inspirational sayings and scripture verses to keep your spirits up. 

Create your list of options. Keep it handy. Check, circle, highlight what works for you.

Choose. Choose this day … to trust in the promise of the Lord: I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. (Jeremiah 31:13)

Enjoy the other things!

Giving God my best

 When I have a project ahead of me, especially one involving a ministerial calling, I want to pour my whole heart and soul into it. I want to preview and plan it all out in the greatest detail, examine every possible obstacle and nip them all in the bud before they get a chance to ruin my perfect outcome. I look at things from every angle. Time. Talent. Resources. Funding. Skills. Education and knowledge. Experience. Anticipate every problem. Then envision the glorious success - my gift to God. From me. And yet…

If I truly want a successful outcome, I have to feel incapable of doing the task at hand. I have to be inadequate for the job… in order for it to be God-fed and God-driven. If I truly want God’s presence and His love to flow through me, the efforts made need to be empowered by God and not myself alone. 

Ugh. But I want to do something for Him. From me … to offer my best to Him.

Not realizing that surrender is the gift He desires. Read the following scripture passages and see what I mean:

 Mary (deciding in her heart): Here I am, the Lord’s humble servant. As you have said, let it be done to me. (Luke 1:38 VOICE)

 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Matthew 8:9 NIV)

He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. (Luke 9:3 NIV)

 … for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength]. (2 Corinthians 12:10 AMP)

Surrendering the beginning, middle and end: ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty—you will succeed because of my Spirit, though you are few and weak.’ (Zechariah 4:6 TLB)

To Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us… (Ephesians 3:30 NIV)

You want the very best outcome as a gift to God? Be inadequate. Incapable. Lacking. Truly, this is the time to let go and let God. Not sitting back and doing nothing. Go when He says, “Go.” But seek the Lord’s guidance in every step. Following His next move and then the next. Trusting in His daily Bread (provision) - daily. And witnessing the equipping and supplying of His at every stage. And then experiencing the glorious success! Yep. Your gift to God. Your best gift to God.

Words of assurance

…  so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11

I'm sure we all have our favorite translation of the Bible.  Whatever it is, it has become the familiar, the cadence and rhythm version that brings the most comfort to us. Some of the most well-known, well-loved verses almost have a sing song-y quality to them as we have memorized and recall them.

And still, there are some words or phrases that are hard to understand. Even though they are in understandable English! So I have been venturing into the world of other translations. Not to replace the beloved Bible I have and use all the time, but to enhance, develop, add depth to my understanding of a passage. That I might recall a fuller meaning even as I recite the familiar.

Come with me. Join me in this morning's adventure of studying and discovering a passage found in the Psalms:

Psalm 42:11
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (NIV) This is the version I normally use and the one that I am able to memorize and remember in times of need. It doesn't really matter which version you connect with ...

But, O my soul, don't be discouraged. Don't be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise him for all that he will do. He is my help! He is my God! (TLB) What jumped out for me in this version is the believing God will act. And believing I will have reason to praise yet again. Whatever is upsetting me, will pass.

Why am I so overwrought, why am I so disturbed? Why can't I just hope in God? Despite all my emotions, I will believe and praise the One who saves me, my God. (VOICE) This version sends my heart in two directions: both the frustration of why can't I just hope and believe (!) and when it says despite all my emotions (!) - I will still believe in God.

So I say to my soul, "Don't be discouraged. Don't be disturbed. For I know my God will break through for me. Then I'll have plenty of reasons to praise him all over again. Yes, living before his face is my saving grace! (TPT) God will break through for me. God will! For me! Plenty of reasons to praise him all over again. Again and again. It will surely come.

My soul, why art thou sorry; and why troublest thou me? Hope thou in God, for yet I shall acknowledge to him, he is the health of my cheer, and my God. (WYC) The "thou's" don't derail me because I have now read various other translations so I know and understand. I like the use of the word "acknowledge" and also the concept "he is the health of my cheer".

Can you see now how using various translations can pull together a more complete, more in-depth look? You read all these - one after another - and surely your soul can be lifted up and stand secure in the promises of God. The God Who saves you. Helps you. Breaks through for you. Over and over again.

Yay, God!