To all of us who are perfectly ordinary people, who in the mix of ordinary days may be hounded by the thought “What difference do I make? What is my purpose? What in the world is my calling?” If the thought has much opportunity to be pondered that is, depending on what your day entails….you know husband or wife stuff, maybe parent stuff but also work stuff, extended family stuff…in general life… the one Jesus came to give us abundantly.    

There is a thought that comes to me over and over and it is about “The Ordinaries” who may not bear a title or recognized position of authority, so find themselves feeling some way less important than those who do or those they look up to. We do naturally, read much of the big names in the Bible who were the Apostles and laid hands on the sick, seeing miracles, and we know of those who follow in like paths. But what if?

What if I am just a mom? Just a neighbor, employee, employer, son or daughter or volunteer someplace? What if my thing is gardening, cooking or fixing cars? “Let each of you abide in the calling in which you were called” (1 Corinthians 7:20) while not specifically addressing this does seem to me to be a principle to apply. Abide means to live in that place. Make a life in and from that place. Make it a place of life and from that place reach others with the love of God. This does not mean there is no room for improving ourselves and the lives of our families but unless you have a mandate from God to full time ministry, your ministry is where you are doing life primarily.    

A few years ago, I attended the memorial service of Betty, the Mother of one of my dear friends. A letter was read from a woman who had been a young girl when she came to know Betty. It brought this point home perfectly for me. The writer of the letter was a woman who was one of 14 children. Betty, over the years as she raised her own children, extended her life to this girl. She talked to her about her own love of our nation and stories of the places she grew up. She paid her to babysit also gently gave her shoes or clothing she had bought that were “too small” for herself, so she would have new things with out embarrassment. She came to know the Savior through Betty. Today this woman is a Pastor.    

While I strongly believe in the gifts and callings of God on our lives that can take notable forms, I submit to you this simple, lovely example of an ordinary person. In living her life in an ordinary way with that touch of normal every day loving others as she would love herself, the normal was made quite extraordinary in the long run.     

That sense of “there must be more, I am sure there is more”…very possibly there is, but use these days living them to the fullest in what your hand finds to do in the ordinary. Loving one another. Being kind to others. Lifting others up. Love the Lord. Live well in the now, a day at a time and God will lift you up when the time comes for that place of something more that you are sensing. This is the time of preparation for that place which is another note topic all together.

God Bless You!

 

From early on my childhood memories of Easter are happy ones. There was always church. Easter egg hunts and baskets. And something pretty to wear! Patent leather shoes shined. A little purse usually white. Sometimes lacy gloves and a hat. Mom looking so pretty and Dad cleaned up nice! Visits to Grandma and Grandpa for dinner or just a visit after. But usually an extended family gathering.

Fast forward to the years I was a young Mom of many children. I followed in many of the traditions with a more modern twist or two. Definitely we went to church but it was the Vineyard not our childhood churches. We colored eggs with our kids and hid them over night to be hunted in the morning. Everyone got a basket with goodies. And new clothes. Somehow that was really important to me to do for them even if I couldn’t for myself in tight times.

That brings me to my point. Lately I have been posting a scripture a day as “Morning Meditations On..” on my Facebook page. February was on the Heart. March on the Soul. This month, April, is on What To Wear. The reason is because it was a lesson the Lord taught me back in those days one Easter season.  We had, for whatever reason I don’t remember right now, encountered a severe financial crunch. I was not going to be able to do what I had been used to doing. At least not entirely. I knew God was my Provider yet He was about to provide differently than I was looking for. He was going to empower me to live in joy beyond my present circumstance. 

He directed me to scriptures on what to put off and what to put on. You know like I would change out of pajamas or work clothes into my best clothes. So yes I would still dress nice and my kids and husband too but there was something more important than a new dress…that inward beauty of the heart that He calls precious in His sight.

1 Peter 3: 3-5  Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— ⁴ rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Oh Lord I do want to KNOW You it’s true but You are asking me to lay something down and die to myself. Oh that’s right! I said I was Yours bought with the precious life you gave for me. I remember the fervent prayer of consecration ” I will go anywhere, do anything You want me to do.” But I must have thought (naively)that meant as a Missionary somewhere in another country. I was learning to allow the Word of God to live in me and renew me. To be used right here in my little town, in my own family and neighborhood circle. But not all the lessons were exciting. Some I was even plain old glad to be finished with, not realizing I was taught so they would be life long tools to be used.

Colossians 3:12  Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].

I know God is not against us having lovely things to wear as my closet and likely most of yours will attest. But there are some things that are enduring, that moth and rust can not damage. A character that is purified. Perfect no, not likely, but hidden in Him. Enter Easter of 2020. I have never, as I am sure many of you can say, experienced this type of quarantine though some among us still may have memories of the Depression. Limits on shopping for “non essentials” and for so many limits due to loss of income. Enter the tool from the lesson on What To Wear.

I am just going to pull my Momness out here and say “I am so proud of you. You have risen to the challenge of our season. You are learning fresh what has true value discerning what is good but not absolutely critical to life, health and peace. You will pass this test. You will come through smarter, refined, stronger and with new appreciation for the things by God’s grace, freedom in our Nation affords.”