By Lynn Murphy
When I was a Junior in High School, I signed up for an elective that was cleverly named "Facing and Escaping Reality." Nowhere in the description of this course did it mention the student taking the course would be required to speak by themselves in front of the class and be critiqued by both the teacher and the students. I dropped the class within the first week, and chose another less challenging elective.
I tell you this because I had an epiphany a few weeks ago on my way to work. Most of my school years I tried hard to blend in to the crowd. I did not wish to be different or unique. Going to school in the sixties through 1974 (do the math, I was 53 in April) meant jeans, miniskirts, pantsuits, going to school dances and petitioning the school board to allow a smoking lounge. My mother made it her life goal (in my warped teen-aged mindset) to see to it that I stuck out like a sore thumb to my classmates. I did not smoke, which was my own choice, but my Mom’s rules were no miniskirts, dances, jeans that zipped in the front like a boy, and only pantsuits that fully covered my posterior. Sticking out like a sore thumb was not my choice or desire, but my Mom’s goal was met: that I would “stand out” as different! Mom loves the Lord, but the choice had to be mine to stand out for God. The thought that just changing what people were looking at on the exterior would make a difference in other’s lives is erroneous.
That day on my way to work, the Lord dropped down in my heart the revelation of the simple truth that we are to stand out in a crowd, we should be noticed by the world for the light within us. We are to be affecting the world around us with the Gospel of peace, love , health and prosperity! Now I “knew” this before, but it was hammered home that there is not time nor place for wallflower Christianity. What I perceived as shy and my personality, was a hindrance to what God wanted through my life. You see, in Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus tells us what He expects from His people.
Here’s the thing: I recognized that most of my life-even after I placed the Word of God first place in my life, even after my husband and I became Pastors- I was still in defensive mode. Think about it: how many goals do you reach in life or athletics by always being in defense mode? No, that offense is needed, that expectation to dream big because the Greater One lives in us and works through us!
Our Father God had a picture of us, a destiny for us as His body, His children. He has plans for us...” For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” (Jeremiah 29:11) For myself, and I know a lot of the body feels the same, I want God’s vision, His picture of us that He had in His heart when He sent His Son to die for us, I want my life to be that! Not some inferior version of that where I don’t know who I am in Christ so I am not bold. Allowing those in the world around me to stay sick, poor and without a hope because I can’t open my mouth to tell them of Jesus and what He has done for us and of His matchless love for mankind. Does a child of God, a believer really have an option in this? I Corinthians 7:23 says: “You were bought with a price (purchased with a preciousness and paid for by Christ); then do not yield yourselves up to become (in your own estimation) slaves to men (but consider yourselves slaves to Christ.)”
I may have dropped that class many years ago out of fear of public speaking, having people with their focus on me, but the good news is God did not leave me there. I fell for a man with ministry in his heart, that prodded me (gently most of the time) to step out, and before I knew it I was teaching two year olds in Church. Then I was approached to teach at a Women’s meeting, and asked to at least pray about it. In my eyes at the time, that was a huge step, but I did it with God’s help.
Pat and I moved back to Pa. and felt God wanted us to start a church. Guess who was tagged to lead worship? That would be me, again a huge step. There was awhile (a couple years) that I would be in the bathroom before every service, because my eyes were not focused on God and what He wanted to accomplish in that service, but getting through it without making a blooper. Understand, the planning part of the worship I paid close attention to the Spirit of God so we got it right. I even made the right decision in the bathroom, to not allow my flesh to rule me and I came out and led worship every time. As soon as I started, I was fine and the dry mouth went away, but it was not till I knew who I was in Christ, and saw the bigger picture, that fear went away and I could walk in what God called me to do. As a matter of fact, probably ten years went by before God was able to change my mindset from, I am a temporary solution till we get a real worship leader, to I am called to this! At that point I could lead with confidence.
He took me from there to teaching classes in our Bible School, teaching for special services in other churches, and He is not done yet. The point is-we are here on this earth for a reason, and it is NOT without a directive from God. We have a destiny to fulfill, people to minister to in our workplaces, and communities, and families. I exhort you: Stand up and be counted! Yield yourself to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and expect God to use you. When my kids were very little, I stayed close to home and ministered mostly to my family (We have five children). But, one day on my way to grocery shop with one child in the car, I prayed earnestly to be used of God that day and surrendered my plans for His. Do you know I ended up ministering to a lady from the church we were attending that had just tried to commit suicide? God is looking for yielded, obedient vessels that know their Lord and are not ashamed or afraid to speak of Him! Let’s be the people in God’s heart dream!
When I was a Junior in High School, I signed up for an elective that was cleverly named "Facing and Escaping Reality." Nowhere in the description of this course did it mention the student taking the course would be required to speak by themselves in front of the class and be critiqued by both the teacher and the students. I dropped the class within the first week, and chose another less challenging elective.
I tell you this because I had an epiphany a few weeks ago on my way to work. Most of my school years I tried hard to blend in to the crowd. I did not wish to be different or unique. Going to school in the sixties through 1974 (do the math, I was 53 in April) meant jeans, miniskirts, pantsuits, going to school dances and petitioning the school board to allow a smoking lounge. My mother made it her life goal (in my warped teen-aged mindset) to see to it that I stuck out like a sore thumb to my classmates. I did not smoke, which was my own choice, but my Mom’s rules were no miniskirts, dances, jeans that zipped in the front like a boy, and only pantsuits that fully covered my posterior. Sticking out like a sore thumb was not my choice or desire, but my Mom’s goal was met: that I would “stand out” as different! Mom loves the Lord, but the choice had to be mine to stand out for God. The thought that just changing what people were looking at on the exterior would make a difference in other’s lives is erroneous.
That day on my way to work, the Lord dropped down in my heart the revelation of the simple truth that we are to stand out in a crowd, we should be noticed by the world for the light within us. We are to be affecting the world around us with the Gospel of peace, love , health and prosperity! Now I “knew” this before, but it was hammered home that there is not time nor place for wallflower Christianity. What I perceived as shy and my personality, was a hindrance to what God wanted through my life. You see, in Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus tells us what He expects from His people.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost it’s taste (it’s strength, it’s quality), how can it’s saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.” (Amplified)We know Jesus came to men to show them the Father. This is also our job description, which is a labor of love. Not always easy mind you, as we saw when Jesus had to deal with the moneychangers in the temple.
Here’s the thing: I recognized that most of my life-even after I placed the Word of God first place in my life, even after my husband and I became Pastors- I was still in defensive mode. Think about it: how many goals do you reach in life or athletics by always being in defense mode? No, that offense is needed, that expectation to dream big because the Greater One lives in us and works through us!
Our Father God had a picture of us, a destiny for us as His body, His children. He has plans for us...” For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” (Jeremiah 29:11) For myself, and I know a lot of the body feels the same, I want God’s vision, His picture of us that He had in His heart when He sent His Son to die for us, I want my life to be that! Not some inferior version of that where I don’t know who I am in Christ so I am not bold. Allowing those in the world around me to stay sick, poor and without a hope because I can’t open my mouth to tell them of Jesus and what He has done for us and of His matchless love for mankind. Does a child of God, a believer really have an option in this? I Corinthians 7:23 says: “You were bought with a price (purchased with a preciousness and paid for by Christ); then do not yield yourselves up to become (in your own estimation) slaves to men (but consider yourselves slaves to Christ.)”
I may have dropped that class many years ago out of fear of public speaking, having people with their focus on me, but the good news is God did not leave me there. I fell for a man with ministry in his heart, that prodded me (gently most of the time) to step out, and before I knew it I was teaching two year olds in Church. Then I was approached to teach at a Women’s meeting, and asked to at least pray about it. In my eyes at the time, that was a huge step, but I did it with God’s help.
Pat and I moved back to Pa. and felt God wanted us to start a church. Guess who was tagged to lead worship? That would be me, again a huge step. There was awhile (a couple years) that I would be in the bathroom before every service, because my eyes were not focused on God and what He wanted to accomplish in that service, but getting through it without making a blooper. Understand, the planning part of the worship I paid close attention to the Spirit of God so we got it right. I even made the right decision in the bathroom, to not allow my flesh to rule me and I came out and led worship every time. As soon as I started, I was fine and the dry mouth went away, but it was not till I knew who I was in Christ, and saw the bigger picture, that fear went away and I could walk in what God called me to do. As a matter of fact, probably ten years went by before God was able to change my mindset from, I am a temporary solution till we get a real worship leader, to I am called to this! At that point I could lead with confidence.
He took me from there to teaching classes in our Bible School, teaching for special services in other churches, and He is not done yet. The point is-we are here on this earth for a reason, and it is NOT without a directive from God. We have a destiny to fulfill, people to minister to in our workplaces, and communities, and families. I exhort you: Stand up and be counted! Yield yourself to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and expect God to use you. When my kids were very little, I stayed close to home and ministered mostly to my family (We have five children). But, one day on my way to grocery shop with one child in the car, I prayed earnestly to be used of God that day and surrendered my plans for His. Do you know I ended up ministering to a lady from the church we were attending that had just tried to commit suicide? God is looking for yielded, obedient vessels that know their Lord and are not ashamed or afraid to speak of Him! Let’s be the people in God’s heart dream!
