Servant Saints Who Don't Need Spotlight

The Kingdom of God is made up of loving equipped saints that roll up their sleeves and work.

William Carey changed the history of India. He was a brave courageous missionary. A speaker once remarked that we don't have missionaries like him anymore. Someone else noted that Carey's sister lay paralyzed in bed for fifty years and could only articulate few words. Propped up in bed, she wrote lengthy letters encouraging Carey and prayed continuously for him. This person mentioned that if we don't have missionaries like Carey, it could be because they do not have prayer warriors like Carey's sister.

Quiet, work behind the scenes is needed desperately in churches, non-profit ministries and in meaningful works throughout the world. Yesterday I spent the day organizing files and entering data into databases for over 8 hours for a ministry in my church. The need was critical and much appreciated.

I'm convinced there are servants being called to the hidden, necessary tasks and there are ministries needing these saints. I throw this dilemma out to you.

Is the void of workers in place the fault of reticent workers?

Is there a communication problem within the church, ministry, etc?

Generations past had an unction to help in the mundane, no glory positions with diligence and faithfulness. Is this another one of those generational sins of self-centered egotistical spot-light hungry folks we must face and repent?

I am concerned about this as I hear the laments of people in the mission fields locally and globally. I am starting up some new ministries and I will need to solicit workers. I am the worker in some instances and I am now moving into the leadership end of this issue.

It took a long time for me to find my fit as a worker in my church. I personally believe there are many workers full of inspiration, but not knowing how to connect their offering to the appropriate need.

Send in your feedback...I need your insight.

Wisdom After Possum's Demise

"Stand" and "Resist:" illustrated well by my possum interloper this week. Paul uses these two words in Ephesians when he directs us in The key words in Ephesians on spiritual warfare. "Therefore, take up the full armour of God, so that you will be able to resist in that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore..." (Ephesians 6:13)

I love blogging when you readers send in your view points of my posts. For the last three days I've been sharing the funny, yet frightening time I've had with a possum in my yard. I love the Lord, the Bible and my Christian journey so much I see a life lesson in everything. It's a joke in my family..."oh, yeah, Mom we know you see a life illustration in this chaos."

But with the injured, blind possum standing firm against my guard dog, my frightened yelling and the police I do see wisdom I can use. Reading your posts, God's Word and contemplating all of this I want to be alert and watchful with my spiritual arsenal ready, but I will keep on with the work at hand.

Thrive Christians salutes our great readers:

For the last few days I've been sharing some scary moments I've had with an injured possum lurking about my city home. Blogging amazes me how it connects us from all over the world. This possum incident has shown that wonderfully.

Lori (blog:http://encouragementfrommyheart.blogspot.com/ Joyfulsister) shared her thoughts on possums and standing firm:
Standing firm to me is never giving up, keeping focus on the Lord who is the author and finisher of our faith. standing firm to me is also standing upon his word and to keep believing that he is true to his word, and that it will not return void.
I have never seen a possum they kind a look like the wild moon goose we have running around here in Hawaii.

Dorothy Champagne has left a new comment on your post "Possum Standoff Conclusion":

Your insights are wonderful here, Kay, about standing firm. And also, I looked at it from the other side (as I often do, in my twisted world). Oh the poor possum? Often times we are frightened by things that come at us, we determine to stand strong and do battle - but sometimes, it might just be someone that's hurting and they are looking for an answer - but don't know where to go for help - or how to act to get that help. They know they're on the verge of all hope being lost, and they don't care what they have to go up against.

So while we are standing firm in our faith - we can look to see the possible hurt in the ones we come across.

Not that we should help possums . . . because a good broom and swift upper body muscle movements will do wonders :)

Nicole of http://wwwvictoriousheart.blogspot.com/ said...
"People out of their minds don't fear anything. Even the ole' possum appeared fearless, but he was blind. Victory for the Christian is feeling the fear and being obedient in faith of Almighty God."I love this quote. I was thinking about this very thing yesterday! I had read a similar quote the day before and it really got me thinking. Thanks Kay!PS-I don't think that it's a little thing that you learned this lesson from a possum. I think we can learn from anyone or anything in our life if we choose to.

God is our protector: we can stand firm and resist.

Possum Standoff Conclusion

Two police cars pull in to save widow from "strange" acting loose possum in downtown.

Yesterday I shared that a possum showed up to show down my guard dog at 5 AM in the morning. I was astounded at the bravery of the little possum when my huge dog was threatening him with barks and attitude of body language.

Mid-morning the possum was still in my front yard in full sun lying around "playing possum." Finally I called the police and after many calls to Wildlife to Animal Control and many answering machines two police cars show up. Evidently they get calls frequently for roaming raccoons and possums terrorizing residents. After moving the possum with a stick they saw that he was injured from being run over. He was evidently blind and had other severe injuries on his body. There was no threat of rabies and he would probably die soon. I had a young man helping me with yard work. Later in the afternoon he died and this young man took care of everything.

God's mercy amazes me. That "little" incident was quite frightening for me living alone. But the officers were so accommodating and quick to respond. Tony was wonderful in doing the "guy" thing with the situation. Any other day I would have been alone. I would have had to call in adult children or friends for helpp or worse yet, handle it myself. But everyone I needed was already here....amazing.

So..................guess the possum wasn't just brave and standing firm, eh? No, he was nearly dead and could only hear my big dog tell him to leave his yard. I see spiritual analogies in everything, so I could 'go there' with blind and looking courageous, but today I want to honor the comments you wrote on "standing firm."

Nicki of three girly girls at wrote:
Standing firm for me is not budging when it comes to the battles that are against us each day. Being able to recognize the battles half the time is the biggest battle!!

I agree with Nicki and my "guest" possum demonstrated one of my vulnerabilities in standing firm: I'm blind and deceived at possible threats. I'm convinced I don't think enough of the power of my words to myself and others. I committed years ago to never speak anything aloud that I did not want to happen to me or my family.

I had a habit of making light of myself through sarcastic, self-deprecating humorous remarks. My entire conversation patterns changed. I will not voice a worry in defeatist terms. I frame those statements in context of what I am believing through the help of God to transpire.

I'm a thinker and a talker; so being aware and alert to "see" the power of my words is critical for me to "stand firm." Nicki, I appreciate your reminder of the daily need to "stand firm."

Marilyn in Mississippi said...
To me standing firm is when God has been very clear about something in His Word. Then when I am tempted in myself or by someone else to go against what I know to be "firmly" right, I try to ..with God's help...stand firm on that issue.

Yes, Marilyn, our "sight" comes from the standard laid out clearly in the Bible and opened up to our understanding through the work of Holy Spirit. Seems it is God's plan to give us an "exam" on all newly revealed truth. Whenever anything wonderfully new is going on in my life spiritually there is always a test of some sort for me to "stand firm." Wonder why I seem to always be caught off guard?

Marilyn shared personally: There have been times when my husband and I have been ridiculed because of standing firm on certain things. But God has always blessed us for it! Of course there are times when I get a little shaky and am not as firm as I should be. I want those times to become fewer and fewer!

Yes, I know about the "shaky" times. I was relieved when years ago I read this truth: "you don't need faith except in the presence of doubt and fear." I had to think on that one a bit, but it's true. People out of their minds don't fear anything. Even the ole' possum appeared fearless, but he was blind. Victory for the Christian is feeling the fear and being obedient in faith of Almighty God.

Today I thank God for help in a strange day with a dying possum. That may seem like a little thing to some of you with plenty of people in your day to day lives, but to this new widow I have been greatly blessed. I am thankful for having a guy here to do what this lady would not have done easily.

Lord, give me eyes to see and teach me to stand firm on Your principles and be victorious in spiritual battles. I am Yours and I trust You to lead me day by day. Thank You for the humor of yesterday: I've laughed a lot, and thank You for the life lessons. May I thrive in the ups and downs of each day...including this one!

Monday Morning Possum Standoff

5 AM I let my large dog outside and suddenly he's barking incessantly. I flipped on the flood lights and there was a large possum hissing and showing his teeth to my 100 pound guard dog.

Poor neighbors; because I was yelling louder than the dog was barking. "Forget sleep....the Martins are at terror pitch." Finally my screams got through to my dog and he sheepishly drug himself into the house. He has stayed by my side since the incident. Now who's guarding whom?

I expected the hissing possum to run off, but no, he just sat there motionless. An hour later and he was still sitting in the same position. "Playing possum" came to mind and I recalled the only true defense a healthy possum has is playing dead or sick. I was concerned that he might be rabid, so that was why I was so insistent on my dog coming in.

I live in a city subdivision with shopping strips, churches and schools within 2 blocks of my home. Wooden areas are on two sides of my house. I've accepted the deer that occassionally stroll through my yard, but this is my first possum visit.

Watching that possum hold his own while my huge dog threatened him was amazing. He just pulled into himself and occassionally hissed and showed his teeth. It worked. He totally fooled my dog to the point that the dog came running home to momma.

It came to me that the Bible instructs us to look to Almighty God for our protection and strength. Apostle Paul spelled out spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6. In vesrse 13: Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

I have some thoughts on "standing firm," but I am hoping you will comment on your revelations on this Christian principle.

What do you believe this scripture means...to stand firm?

What are you finding working for you in spiritual warfare to stand firm?

What puzzles you in "standing firm?"

God's Surprises

Wow...The sky was full of color. An amazing rainbow filled the sky last Saturday night.

I was dragging myself to an event I had prayed for all week with other intercessors. A few weeks ago I wrote a post on artists and musicians coming together for celebration of arts in a Christian environment.

I had had a tough week and driving 40 miles to

the reception and premier of artists'

exhibitions was a push for me. There was no way I could miss this event. We'd come up against so many obstacles because this is a "new" ministry and open to all artists, but in a church and headed by Christians. Seems the greatest opposition comes against the "new" works.

Feeling like the supreme martyr, I drove along and then suddenly I came up on the largest,

most colorful rainbow I have ever seen. I wouldn't have missed that for anything.

The showing was fabulous. Beautiful music coming from the Baby Grand; great food; wonderful fellowship and beautiful art filled the rooms; it was divine. The appreciation of creativity and the fellowship of artists and friends of the arts was amazing.

God I thank You for opening me up to new adventures with You. Please keep surprising me with Your greatness and may I never forget the colors in that rainbow.

"Stuff" Is Just Stuff

"Furniture floating and water was rising up to my chest," gasped a survivor of Gulf coast. Seems this gentleman had decided to wait out the storm when the storm surge waters filled his home. He swam for blocks to a stop sign. He then could walk 14 blocks to a shelter.

This man's description of his home filling with water hit me with empathy for everyone having their most personal items destroyed. I love my stuff. I'm purging out things I've held onto far too long. My husband and I both hesitated to toss out anything. My children have been so helpful in dealing with much of John's stashes. I am committed to clearing out as much as possible of my "treasures."

So, I feel for these people and I know nothing new as replacements will be like the "treasures" lost by these hurricane victims. In the book of Mark Jesus deals with material possessions in His dialogue with the rich young ruler.

Derek Webb wrote these words in his song" Rich Young Ruler" Lyrics - Rich Young Ruler

poverty is so hard to see

when it’s only on your tv

and twenty miles across town

where we’re all living so good

that we moved out of Jesus’ neighborhood

where he’s hungry and not feeling so good

from going through our trash

he says, more than just your cash and coin

i want your time,

i want your voice

i want the things you just can’t give me

so what must we do

here in the west we want to follow you

we speak the language and we keep all the rules

even a few we made up

come on and follow me

but sell your house, sell your suv

sell your stocks, sell your security

and give it to the poor

well what is this, hey what’s the deal

i don’t sleep around and i don’t steal

but i want the things you just can’t give me

i want the things you just can’t give me

because what you do to the least of these

my brother’s, you have done it to me

‘cause i want the things you just can’t give me

i want the things you just can’t give me

Mark only refers to him as "rich," while Matthew and Luke add either young or ruler to their versions of this incident. Jesus has been ministering to beggars, homeless, cripples, sick children and people with withered hands, etc. Picture the scene: desperate people with impossible situations and suddenly this man comes running down the road after Jesus. Word's out that Jesus is packing up to leave town.

Amid all of these poor people comes this well dressed respected rich man who is envied for his social status and his "stuff." Did it suddenly hit him that his quest for true satisfaction and fulfillment in life lay with Jesus? For a moment did he drop his decorum and abandon everything to rush down the road to catch Jesus while there was still time?

Maybe this uncharacteristic humble abandonment is what caused Jesus to instantly love him. He asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life. I think he may have been an honest seeker looking for answer to life's greatest question. He believed Jesus possessed the eternal life he needed, and he was willing to look the fool, humble himself, and confidently ask the Lord how he might indeed lay hold of it.

But he would not totally surrender to the Lord. He loves one thing more than what he sees in Jesus. The first commandment..."You shall have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:3.

Jesus talks with the disciples about the struggle wealthy people have in surrendering to God. The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
Mark 10:17-27 (New Living Translation)

That verse speaks to me on my own salvation and those "impossible" persons God places on my heart for prayer and evangelism. The stuff will never last or truly satisfy our hungers and needs. My heart aches with the hurricane and flood victims. I pray that this frees them to embrace the all of God and may they be utterly at peace with Him forever. God bless you all.

Forgive us, O Lord, for clinging to the remnants of a life independent of You, and make us wholly Yours. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Fun Friday: Laughs are Encouraged Here

Lighten Up and Laugh A Little

For breakfast one day, I eagerly waited for my husband to comment on my first attempt at homemade cinnamon rolls.

After several minutes with no reaction, I asked, "If I baked these commercially, how much do you think I could get for one of them?"

Without looking up from his paper my husband replied, "About 10 years."

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I took my 5 year old grandson to the optometrist to pick up his new glasses. The glasses were prescribed "to help him read and be able to see the computer better".

When we got back home, he got on the computer to play a game.

In a few minutes he called me and said there was something wrong with his glasses.

I asked him what was the problem and he said, "I still can't read."

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A man entered a drug store and asked to see the pharmacist.

When the pharmacist came out, the man asked if he could give him a cure for the hiccups. The pharmacist immediately reached out and slapped him across the face.

"What'd you do that for?" the man asked.

"Well, you don't have the hiccups anymore, do you?"

"No," the man replied, "but my wife out in the car still does!"

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These delightful jokes come to us courtesy of http://www.cybersalt.org/

Encourage laughter and joy in your life. The Bible tells us it is good for us and the scientists agree with these Scriptures.