Ordinary People

A few days ago, I was sitting in a collaborative meeting with Mary Haven and a few other churches.  A thought suddenly struck me that instantly choked me up.  It was as if someone had whispered in my ear, "You are in the presence of greatness."  As I looked around the table the only thing I saw was a bunch of ordinary men and women.  Including myself.  Yet something continued to prompt my thoughts.  "Look at all the great things he is doing for the poor."  "Look at all the love she is pouring over the homeless."  Then it all came together.  All of us were ordinary people who chose to do SOMETHING.  When you put all of those ordinary people together we then became EXTRAORDINARY.  It wasn't because anyone of us has above average gifts or talents, it is because we chose to get together and use those talents with one another.  We are the hands and the feet.  I feel the same way when we go out with our volunteers on Saturdays.  Not one of us is greater than the other, however look at the impact that is made by shining God's Light!!??  Imagine a dark room and one of us would step in side with a single flame, and then the next, and the next, and so on.  Soon that room would be full of light.  No one light greater than another-but together, wow!  Imagine if we truly used our gifts and talents to be a light like that in every aspect of our lives.  Again I say wow!! 
Yesterday I was at the zoo with my family.  I came across a quote that I have seen many times.  I need to take a picture or right it down because I can never completely remember.  However, the idea is that the greatest failure of humanity would be to fail to do anything because we thought we were only one-so what could we possibly do to help?  Whew-I know I have felt that way before.  I have stood in the darkness instead of shining my light because I thought, "What difference could I really make?" 
I'm slowly (sometimes painfully) learning that it is not about the I that makes a difference.  It's about what's inside the "I".  "For if our God is with us, then WHAT could stand against us?!"  God didn't use extraordinary people with 'big' gifts.  He used ordinary people to do extraordinary things.  He used David to beat Goliath.  Joshua was an ordinary man with faith in God, and he led the people of God to defeat Jericho.  Moses was used to lead people from the crushing blows of the Pharoah.  Noah.  Gideon.  Rahab.  Abraham.  Jonah.  I could go on.  The bottom line is that if we each shine our light and work together as a community should we could light up the world. 
So, back to our meeting.  . . Not one of us in that room was extraordinary.  However, as we are working as a team we will be able to do extraordinary things.  If we each use our God given gifts, the Holy Spirit will help us lead many from the darkness and into the light. 
My challenge to you today is to take a few minutes from your schedule and read Hebrews 11.  It's worth the read.  It's inspiring.  Next ask yourself, what have I been telling God 'no' to because I am ordinary, I am only one??  Finally, I ask you to take the step of Faith and act where God is calling you!!


"Be Brave and Strong, for the Lord your God is with you!!"


Blessings this week and always,
Nicole