Are We So Different?

(This is an entry to win a scholarship to the SheSpeaks Conference. Please read all the way through for your opportunity to win, too!)

Much has been said about what Pastor Joel Osteen said on Larry King. From what I can find, it was about 2 years ago, and in a nutshell, when asked about whether Jews and Muslims will go to heaven he danced around the issue. (You can see the clip here.)

In direct response to the clip he was pointing to the fact that the Bible says that we are to have a personal relationship with Christ. He also didn't directly answer the question either. It is abundantly clear in the Bible that there is One Way.

⁶Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

I wonder. How often do we, as Christians, do the same dance? Thinking that if we soften the message we'll win more people? Or we shrink away from the whole truth to be "politically correct"?

I know that I'm guilty. Even here on this blog. Especially here. So I am here to repent today and step out boldly for Christ. To ask for your forgiveness, and God's forgiveness for not using this space for it's full potential. For God's purpose and kingdom. In my heart I want everything I do to point to Him- His power, His grace, His authority, His love.

My prayer today is that God will use my fingers as I type on this keyboard for the glory of His kingdom. I don't have all the answers, I don't know all there is to know about the Bible, but I know that by surrendering to God, and giving ourselves (and our fingers!) for His will and His purposes HE WILL MOVE. I ask God to use me, in all my imperfections, to reach someone today. I want to speak boldly for the Lord.

²⁹Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. (Acts 4:29)

*****

Twice now I have been prophesied over and the word was the same. I am called to be a women's speaker, to take God's message of love and acceptance to women to help strengthen families and marriages. My heart is for families to be strong, for marriages to be full and blessed. I have never shared this publicly before because I was afraid. The enemy did good work in me-he led me to believe that I didn't know enough, wasn't good enough, didn't read the Bible enough, didn't have a good enough story to share. Who would want to listen to me?

God has done a better work though. Although I have questioned Him over and over, the answer has always been the same. I argued that I didn't know apologetics well enough, know the Bible well enough, or pray good enough. Instead of not being enough, I want to live the humility of this:

⁹But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:8-10)

Did you see that ? "I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." Amen. I need Christ's power because becoming a speaker is way bigger than I am capable of on my own. I can't get there on my own understanding or my own works. I need God's help. He has given me this space, this sphere of influence to go boldly and speak of His grace and mercy. I never want to waste that again.

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SheSpeaks is a conference for women speakers, leaders and writers to learn how to better serve the Lord in their calling. These can be daunting tasks but Lysa TerKeurst and the Proverbs 31 Ministries team are here to help. From July 31-August 2 Proverbs 31 leaders will gather in Charlotte, North Carolina to help women like you and me find our unique voice, and write and deliver a clear message.

I desperately want to learn how to better use my calling, my voice, and my influence to expand God's kingdom, and to guide women to their God given talents in being uplifting to their families and communities. I desperately want to say "Yes" to all that God has called me to do in His name, and I feel that this conference is a perfect way for me to step out in faith that He knows what He's doing in calling little ol' me. I'm not perfect, but I will follow where He leads. I have often asked God to show me how to begin the process of becoming a speaker and a better blogger for Him. I hope that He is leading me to Charlotte!

If you would like to join them you can register here, or visit the SheSpeaks home page for more information. If you would like an opportunity to win a scholarship to this years' conference go to Lysa's blog and get all of the information that you need-there is still enough time to enter!

So, are we so different? Am I so different from Mr. Osteen, that when asked directly about what the Bible says I shrink from the truth? I hope through this conference that I am able to say that I don't back down when it comes to my faith. I hope I learn how to better write what God has put on my heart. I hope I learn how to be bold when it comes to Jesus and all that He has called me to. I hope that I can say "Yes, I am different, because Christ made me different."

Are You Warm?

Have you harvested? Have you eaten? Are you warm?

5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."

7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways." (Haggai 1:5-7)

Have you a friend? Are you warm?

10 If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!

11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiasties 4:10-12)

Is your faith accompanied by action? Are you warm?

15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:15-17)

Are you warm?

This post is an entry for the December Write-Away contest over at Scribbit. The participants and winners should be posted next week. I'm not really sure if this post qualifies, but here's to my first try! Good luck to all!