A Word of Encouragement (05/12/2008)
Hi—my beloved sisters in the Lord!
I know that it has been a long time for this update of Jill’s corner to come. Sorry about that—no excuses but the Lord is kind to forgive and to understand!
We have just finished our women’s conference in Ohio. It was a blest time—God is so faithful to show up and touch our lives in different ways each year.
The theme for this conference was: “Women of Impact”: making a difference in the lives of those around us and reaching out to touch others with His love.
We all probably want to do more than we are for the Lord. We often feel inadequate or useless to His kingdom. But God wants us to rise up and do whatever is at our fingertips to do.
I have included a testimony from one of the women in the Uhrichsville, Ohio church. As you will read, she has been through a lot in her life. Yet, today she is a shining example of how God s hands transform our lives into something beautiful.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time… I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives.”
(Ecclesiastes 3:11-12)
Look around you—who’s life can you touch today? Your husband’s, your children or your neighbor’s life can be changed by the way you treat them. One kind word can change someone’s day.
Going to work every day, one woman was observed by her co-worker. He asked how she could be so upbeat every day. She told him that it was God helping her through each day. As they talked, he shared his worries about losing his job because he felt inadequately prepared for it. Her advice to him was: “Why don’t you pray and ask God to help you?”
That seems like a simple thing to say, but it changed his life. He hadn’t thought to talk to God about something as mundane as his every day life. But he did, and he not only kept his job—but he was promoted!
2 Corinthians 4:7 - "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."
The Greek word for “earthen vessels” is ostrakinos and it means a small, cheap, and easily broken pottery which is made of inferior materials. It is usually weak, fragile and valueless.
We are those earthen vessels! But in the hand of God we are filled with all kind of spiritual blessings from Him: love, peace, power, hope, righteousness.
I took a pottery class not too long ago. I sat at the wheel and tried with all of my might to produce a masterpiece. All that I have to show for my efforts are a few inferior little jars of clay.
Rom. 9:20-23 - This scripture tells us that the potter has power over the clay. God wants to make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory.
“Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’”
God made you the way that you are. He knows your fears, your weaknesses and your abilities. In His hands, you become what He wants you to become.
It only requires that you walk with Him and talk with Him each day. Let Him point out things that need to be changed and then let Him do the work.
2 Timothy 2:21 - "If anyone cleanses himself from what is ignoble and unclean, he will be a vessel of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work."
We are all called to be women of impact to all who cross our paths!
