Have you been feeling the January blues? My blogger friend, Lynn, at Spiritually Unequal Marriage, addressed this topic this morning. She is thankful to know that Christ is her significance, and she quoted Carolyn Curtis James who said, "A woman's high calling as God's image bearer renders her incapable of insignificance, no matter what has gone wrong in her life or how much she has lost."
Isn't it amazing how a topic can attract your attention and suddenly you see references to it everywhere?
The subject of a person's "calling" always makes me take notice, perhaps, since I work in the church. Everyone wants to know if they are called to ministry, the implication being if they are not "called" they are off the hook to minister. [But that is a topic for another post ...]
I read this thought-provoking quote from Christine Caine over at Holly Furtick's blog, The Preacher's Wife,
"God puts you in a place and expects you to stay there until He comes to move you on. "
As Holly says, "embrace your place." Give yourself fully to the place where you are! Don't spend your life wishing away what you have for something else.
It makes me think of the feelings I had as a young mother: "I can't wait til my baby can crawl!" or "It will be so much fun when my baby talks to me!" It's so easy to anticipate the next stage of development so much that you miss the joy and wonder of where you are right this very minute.
"Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:22-24 NKJV
I'm thankful today that I have significance because nobody else can be me. I am not irreplaceable, but I'm right where God has placed me and I want to serve Him by being the best me I can be. I am serving the Lord whether I'm cooking a meal, putting up laundry, typing a bulletin or even filing all those dreaded papers!
Hmmm... finding significance in filing ... who would have believed it?
If you would like to read other thankful hearts, join Lynn at her blog, Spiritually Unequal Marriage.
This was a great post!! You said it,how can he move you if you aren't doing what He wants in the position you are in? Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful thoughts, Jerri! So much wisdom.
ReplyDeleteThe practice of enjoying the place you are in life is so important - and freeing. Not looking back with longing and not pushing toward the future, either. Just living where you are - looking for opportunities to be who God made you to be.
Thank you for the reminder that I serve the Lord in my everyday tasks. Good motivation to quit putting them off!
I think you are right, I'll stay where I am until he moves me to where he wants me to be. For now I know I'm where I should be. Everyday choirs can be looked at in this sense but without washing dishes by hand.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post. Embrace your place. I love that. And am going to practice it, too. Thank you for your wisdom and talent in putting together a "post that speaks."
ReplyDeleteMy favorite saint, Francis de Sales, said it this way:
ReplyDeleteWhat is the use of building castles in Spain when we have to live in France?
Hey, Jerri! Missing you here in Blogland.
ReplyDeleteHope you are just so busy with good things you can't get on!
Wonderful post, inspiring and grounded I call it. I wrote of January blues last month also.
ReplyDeleteOh, its February already, there is one of those wishing time things.
I think our significance is in our relationship with the Lord. If we are in tune to His desires we will always feel our significance. When we get out of tune, or imbalanced, then we fail to see it. It doesn't go away... we just don't see it.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Jerri! (((Hugs)))