They Believed Her!

Have you ever read a book for the second or even  hundredth time and you catch some sort of small detail that seemed to escape you  in all the previous readings?  You wonder how you could miss it, since it was  there all along... in black and white.  Plain as day.  Yet until this very  moment, it never stood out.    I believe this happens not because the book or  story has change (that is impossible) but because the reader has changed.  They  have grown as a person, their life experiences have changed and perhaps there  have been people who have influenced the reader to see things differently or  even pointed out the hidden jewel.

Scripture is called the “Living Word” because the  Word lives within us.  In a printed Bible, the chapter and verses do not change.   They are constant, unchanging.  Just like God.  Yet we can take a verse that we  learned in Sunday school, that has been repeatedly read, taught and referenced over a life time... and suddenly, one day, see it in a whole new light.   This  recently happened to me regarding John 4:1-42, the classic Samaritan Woman at the Well story.

Every time I have read this passage or about it,  it has come from the point of view of the woman.  How broken she was, her shame  and her guilt keeping her separated from her community; and a pattern of  repeated mistakes.  I think this is common because we can all related to the  woman at the well.  It was during Sunday service, that Pastor Gordon took this  piece of scripture and presented it form the point of view of Jesus &  related it to our own experiences in evangelism.

I am not going to repeat the service, you were  there or can watch it on the church's vimeo channel.   We wrapped up with verse  41, where she has brought the towns people back to Jesus & “because of his  words, many more became believers”.   It was in my continuing to read through  verse 42 that I found my hidden jewel.

John 4:42 They said to the woman, “we no longer believer just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves and we know that this man is the Savior of the world.”

In the passage we read that  when Jesus revealed to her who he was, she left the well, leaving her water jar behind.  She went to the town and told the people of her encounter.

She left more than her water  jar at that well.  She left her shame, her guilt, her past, her mistakes behind.   All of the things that kept her isolated from her community, were no longer  important.  Her encounter with Jesus was greater than any of those things.  To  the point that she would run back to town and tell everyone.  

AND THEY BELIEVED HER!

* Have you ever found yourself, stuck at the well?   Trying to avoid your past, hide your guilt and  shame?  Avoid those who you feel will judge you?

Psalm 103:11-12 (NIV) – For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 Our sins are washed away, we  are made a new creature in Christ, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and find  our confidence and strength in HIM!

* Have you worried or doubted  your ability to share the Word with others, because you think that you are  unqualified?  Or, that your history has ruined your credibility?

 1 Corinthians 4:20 – For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power.

 The Lord will give you the  strength to do what He has asked of you, He equips the called.

 * The Lord softened the  Pharaoh’s heart to listen to Moses and if we ask of Him, and have faith in  Him... the same will be done for those we encounter!  They will believe.

John 4:42 - They said to the woman, “we no longer believer just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man is the Savior of the world.”

Some of use will be called to  plant seeds, some will tend to the fields, and others will work the harvest.

 But, all things will be used  for the glory of God.... even those things that bring us to well.  Find your  power in Him, pray for His hand to guide you, and leave your water jar at the  well.  You do not need it any more.  Be filled with the Living Waters.... see  the Word through new eyes.  You have walked away from your sin.  You do not need  to be a Pastor or teacher, just a person who is willing to tell others about your  encounter with Jesus

* Written by Gena McCown for the TC3 Women's Ministry Devotion Blog

Blessed with a Burden

I was watching a movie called "Freedom Writers", in the premise of this movie a teacher has given up her time, her energy, her resources and some could even say her marriage in the pursuit of helping a group of disadvantaged students find hope for their future. The movie is based on the book "Freedom Writers", that is based on the true stories of these teens and the movie shows how they came to publish this book.

There was a moment in watching the movie that has stuck out in my head.  When speaking to her father about the struggles she was going through... he replied that she was blessed with a burden.

That stopped me in my tracks.

Who can look at their burdens as a blessing?  Who can look at their past and see the silver lining?  Who can take their pain and turn it into glory?  And who has the strength to actively seek out burden in order to bless?

Galatians 6:2 says “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

When we share our burdens, we break the chains that the enemy has on us.  We no longer feel alone, because someone understands and cares about what we are going through.  In some cases they have gone through the same (or similar enough) to provide counsel, guidance and support.  Additionally we can find the strength and the encouragement needed to take our burden and help others.

I can look back at my own life and see the burdens I have carried.  I have found the blessing.  I have learned about myself and my relationship with God.  I have forgiven.  I have moved on.  I spend a good portion of my energy avoiding burden.  I can't out run everything, life happens.  But, I am certainly not seeking out more burden to add to the weight of my daily life.

Should I?

Should I find a cause so near and dear to my heart that I would be willing to give up everything in order to help those who are in need?

Is there balance?

Should we allow our normal daily lives to suffer as we pursue this good deed?

Is there a way to be burdened with a blessing without having to sacrifice everything?

I could understand in the movie, the teacher's willingness to take her own money, even getting a second job to provide for these students.  I would do the same.

I could understand her willingness to give up her time.

I struggle under standing the marriage dissolution.  It was evident that her husband wanted more time with her, it was evident that he thought her actions and devotion were noble.  But, it was also evident that he didn't appreciate that she made the decisions without talking to him about it.  He was resentful of the time it took her away from him.

Which begs the question.... did her devotion to these kids, her burden, ruin her marriage?  Or was this a marriage that was in trouble already?  Was it just a matter of time?  Would it have been something else.

I think had I watched this movie 10 years ago, I would have sided whole-heartedly with the wife/teacher.  In recent years, I definitely side with the husband.  She was putting the world before her marriage... despite the fact it was a noble deed.  Can we be an active servant of God, when we can't serve our own family because we have spread ourselves thin serving everyone else?  If this was God ordained, wouldn't her husband have supported her actions?  Wouldn't the marriage have survived?

I have been convicted a lot recently about this topic.  Exhausting myself in service to others and neglecting my own family.  Is that not my first call?  To minister to my family, before others?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Not on My Schedule

Wouldn't it be nice if the world ran on your schedule.  Wouldn't it be nice if the world adhered to your agenda.  Wouldn't it be fantastic if everyone saw things from your logic and perspective.  Everything would run in accordance to your plan.  Everything would turn out the way you wanted it to.  It would be perfect.

Or, would it?

Quite often we want everyone, including God to do things in accordance to what makes sense to us.  We want the results we desire.  In the time frame we deem appropriate.  In the manner in which we feel is most effective.

If we never had anyone who had a difference of agenda, schedule, opinion or process... then what would happen if our plans were not in accordance to God's plans.

Sometimes it is that person, who makes us crazy and doesn't work within the guidelines of our directives that is helping to get us off the wrong path and back onto the path God has for us.  We feel like we have been derailed, but really they were getting us back on track.

When things are not going your way, when it seems like the world is working against you, and when that frustration begins to swell... ask yourself "What is God trying to teach me here."

We need to stop, quiet our minds and still our bodies to listen to what God is trying to teach us in the circumstance.  We need to look at what other directions and paths God is revealing to us.  We pray for discernment and direction, let go and let God!

The Bucket List

When the movie "The Bucket List" came out, something swept the nation.  People were creating "Bucket Lists" of things they would like to accomplish before they "kicked the bucket".  It was during a MOPS meeting we began creating bucket lists.  We were asked to share some of them with each other.

I had nothing.

As others were sharing some of their ideas, I thought.... "That sounds good" or fun, or exciting, or any list of adjectives.  I would put various things down on my list, but they really were not my ideas or wants. I was just trying to fill a list.

After the meeting, I came home and trashed it. I decided to try again.  This time I gave myself guidelines, categories.

List 3 countries you'd like to visit.  List 3 hobbies you'd like to attempt.

I began filling in the blanks.  I also realized I was doing nothing more than trying to complete a form.  It was about completion, accomplishment of making the list.

It sat, unopened on my nightstand for months.

At some point my husband opened it.  He asked me about a few things.

And then I began to think about it, what if my husband was using this list as a spring board for understanding my wants and desires from life?

This is not what I want to do.

I threw it away.

I realized that I don't have a bucket list.  Sure, there are a ton of things that I think would be fun to do and would probably enjoy.  There just isn't anything on my list that is so important to me that I want to make sure I do it before I die.

I don't need to worry and think about the future, I have right now to deal with.  What do I want and need right now?  As long as that is being met, who cares if I ever go over seas again.  Or, learn to drive a race car. 

I want to focus on what God wants me to accomplish.  I want to focus on the people who are here with me, doing whatever... and doing nothing.

I do not need a bucket list.

I have a wonderful life, full of wonderful people, and opportunities that show up every day for me to embrace and enjoy.

Carpe diem.