I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I've stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals!
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, live by prayer, and labor by power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let go, or slow up until I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops. And when He comes to get His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear.
-- Bob Moorehead
A young African missionary in Zimbabwe
This young missionary was murdered for his work and this writing was found in his papers. Apparently it was written just before he died. Interesting, huh?
See: Deut 6:5; 2 Chr 31:20-21; Romans 12:1-2; Phil 3:7-8; 1 Thess 5:23; Heb 12:1-2
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Heartbeat --2 Corinthians 12:21 (NCV) I am afraid that when I come to you again, my God will make me ashamed before you. I may be saddened by many of those who have sinned because they have not changed their Ts or turned from their sexual sins and the shameful things they have done.
Quote --
"God uses those who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him." -- Hudson Taylor
Our Wonderful Weaknesses!
-- Brad Carman, Maryland Heights, MO
We "baby boomers" probably don't remember Jimmy Durante as much as those who produced the "baby boom." Besides being known for his humongous proboscis (big nose), he was one of the truly gifted entertainers of his generation. I was recently reminded of a wonderful story about him.
It seems that he was asked to perform as part of a variety show for a group of World War II veterans. He told them that his busy schedule would only permit him to do a very brief appearance. He would do one short monologue and then immediately have to leave for his next appointment. The director of the show was glad to have him for any amount of time so he happily agreed.
When Jimmy got into his performance, something interesting occurred. He completed his short monologue and received the usual robust round of applause. Then ... instead of leaving for his next appointment as was his plan, he stayed and performed some more. The applause grew louder and louder. He continued to stay and stay. Finally, after completely blowing his schedule, he took a final bow and left the stage.
Backstage, someone asked, "I thought you had to go after a few minutes. What happened?" Jimmy answered, "I did need to leave, but I can show you the reason I stayed. Look at the front row." There, seated together were two veterans, each of whom had lost an arm in defense of his country. One had lost his right arm and the other had lost his left. However, while sitting together they could clap and that is what they were doing as wildly as the rest. What a marvelous display of two men that were aware of their weaknesses but were not allowing that to keep them from enjoying a rich experience.
When I read this story, I thought about the apostle Paul. He too had weaknesses (thorn in the flesh) that kept him from doing all that he wanted to do. He prayed to the Lord three times that it might depart but God replied, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." When God said that, Paul responded;
Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong (
2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
As we dream of the kind of church we want to be, I hope we can be a place that is unashamed of its weaknesses. I believe God can use this bunch of frail, flawed human beings in ways beyond our imagination when we accept that we can succeed by His power.
"Dear Father, Thank you for showing us your power through our wonderful weaknesses."
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Shame, Shame, Shame...
There is probably something in each of our lives that we are ashamed of. Take a few moments now and share with some of your friends or family the things in your life that have caused you the most shame. No, wait! Just kidding, don't really do that. For most of us, the things that cause shame are things that we would prefer not to tell anyone.
Compare your feelings to those of the people talked about in the Old Testament of the Bible:
"Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush." Jeremiah 6:15
The sin in their lives had become so commonplace that they no longer even blushed when involved in sin. They were not ashamed of the sinfulness of their lives or of their society. They were much like our world today.
Romans 1:16 - "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..."
And into this world that is unashamed of their godlessness, Paul calls us to stand unashamed of the Gospel. While the world is seduced and destroyed by the power of sin, Paul reminds us that we overcome by the power of God. To a world that is lost and does not know who to trust, Paul offers Christ and Salvation to everyone who believes.
Are you ashamed today? Perhaps that's OK. Perhaps we could all do with a healthy does of shame for some of the things we allow in our lives. But remember, Christ has a better option. Something that we never have to be ashamed of. Something that provides power and confidence and security: the Good News of Jesus Christ.
By Ellis Bush, Jr.
ellisbush@compuserve.com
Modem Ministries www.modmin.com
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