There is such vibrance in the body of Christ. Yet, rarely do we see His intended operation. The uniqueness of Christ in each of us is so desperate to pour out in our territories….our fields of ministry. Yet, we tend to either fall into the usual traditional places or get placed in expected places. Familiar places. Such danger lies in this….for fruitfulness will lack. Christ designed you and I for abundance…not speaking of material things..but abundant ministry. The outpouring of our own hearts into other hearts in need. There will be a slow death inside day after day when this does not happen. There will be no joy personally and others will also miss out on Christ in you. When the scriptures tell us the members of the body work together…this is very true. I recently had the blessing of praying with a group of ministers who had distinct gifts of the Holy Spirit. Not talents mind you…but the gifts of the Spirit we learn of in the New Testament. There is a difference. I have never in all my years experienced the power in that little circle as I did that day. I saw the mind and heart of Christ come forward so distinctly it blew my mind. He truly does speak through His people today just as He did in the past. Each heart was different..knew Him different..and He used each one differently. Yet, submitting one to another was so beautiful and easy as we desired so much to hear the heart of our Father. Hearing that which He was sharing in each personal closet edified us all. For I see many times there is a common thread among His people. But it’s only seen and heard as it is shared with one another….much like Paul explains in the New Testament church.
I’ve shared in the past my life in the medical field….God saw fit to put in my life a wise boss. He took a little girl with little experience and trained her to lead. Of course I started on the ground level. I had to learn the daily grind, the struggles of the beginning, the sweat and tears of success and failure. He was careful that his counsel was always from a place of encouragement. I never once saw him tear down..only build up. He also never let you hide your talents…he always called them forward for the good of the team. As I ponder those lessons from my past knowing Christ works all things out for good..and all things seem to be training for future things..I remembered that his heart was always to push me to more. To not be afraid to fail…but to be willing to risk. To keep reaching higher and going further. To be willing to try creative measures to get to the end goal. To think outside the box. To dream big. To care for your people and their families..as well as our customers and their families. He taught me how to build relationships that built trust. He also taught me to surround myself with a team of people that was diverse and gifted in specific areas. I learned success was much quicker and that building a team with exact likeness was much less wise than a team with various strengths and weaknesses. I also learned to “know my team.” Know where their strengths lie..know who to send where to gain the greatest success.
Looking back I realize this is also the philosophy of Jesus. Of course success to Him is not worldly…it involves souls and hearts. He gifted each uniquely to accomplish something only they can accomplish. You and I ….as well as others…will only benefit from that which you are called to do..uniquely. Your “way”, your “style”, your “delivery” of that which Christ has given you can be done by no other. No one has the experiences with Christ that you do. Your mountains and valleys are unique to you.
I learned a long time ago to never want to be like someone else. To want what they have. For you never know what it cost them.
You will have to hold loosely all things as you move with Jesus…you will not be able to fall in love with anything or any place…but be ready to move when He says move.. His heart for you is to be in a “field” or “place” that uses all He gave you. He will need to move you from time to time to new places where your gifts and talents can be fruitfully offered to a fresh pasture. Others need what you have…so move with Him:) Don’t settle as a paper doll mimicking others but be who HE designed you to be. Don’t assume your journey will look like others or even along the same path. You will have to be willing to let Christ take you to YOUR land….to do YOUR mission…in the way He created YOU to do it. The world is not in need of paper dolls or duplicates but uniquely created warriors answering the call of Christ that is specific to YOU.
Now…get to the place where you bear MUCH FRUIT!
Paper dolls.. proportioned just right
Equal in frame and equal in height
Strung on a strand holding on tight
Folded or’e one and another polite.
Precisely cut with each nameless face
Voiceless ones with common display
Locked in hands with precious death grips
Trodden together to sort and to sift.
Christ has called you out from the crowd
Renouncing the ties and strongholds that mount
To be so unique as He did design
Cease wearing clothes of mismatch and size.
He has a place fit perfectly for you
So be not afraid as He shakes you loose
But ready yourself as He takes His shears
Cutting away the paper doll years.
(July 24, 2015)
