We are all being "chiseled"

The truth is Bill and I are just two ordinary people. We have never seen

ourselves in a leadership role at church. We never thought we were worthy to

lead. We still feel unqualified. We were fine being people behind the

scenes.  God presented us with a need and we have tried to fill that need.

The last series Bill taught was on God using ordinary people to do

extraordinary things and I think that is what God is doing in our lives. We

are two people with broken pasts who met God has chosen to

use. I was a single mother, Bill a divorced father, together, the married

parents of three more boys. I am not perfect neither is my husband. We love

people but we've made mistakes and let some down. We are human and I know that

on this path God has put us on we will fall, we will stumble and we may get

hurt and we may hurt others. I believe our hearts are true and we love and

we don't take it lightly. We have cried, we have fought and we have asked

God why. We have said this isn't us. We have doubted, but I know I know that

nothing happens by accident. We are being used right here right now for a

purpose. The outcome is up to God. Only He knows. Personally, I wouldn't

want it any other way. This road traveled is worth it if at the end of it,

one person comes to us and says thank you my life has been changed and

through you I found God. In Luke 15, Jesus gives three parables. Each one

refers to someone or something being lost than found. Luke 15:7 says,

speaking of the lost sheep that was found, "I tell you that in the same way

there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over

ninety nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:10 says,

“In the same way I tell you, there is a rejoicing in the presence of the

Angels of God over one sinner who repents." Finally, referring to the

lost son, Luke 15:32 says, "But we had to celebrate and be glad because this

brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

 He is lost and is found!

 The same words you find in that old hymn everyone

knows "Amazing Grace." I once was lost but now I'm found. God's grace is

amazing something only He can offer. He just chooses different vessels to

work through. I remember another song, "I Want to be More Like You," in it

there is a line that says, "I want to be a vessel you work through." That is

who and what we are...vessels. God is at work, not us, we are an empty

vessel.  We are a rock being chiseled into who God wants us to be. I will

tell you, it's hard sometimes an I fall to my knees asking God why? Why me?

Why us? And the answer I get is, why not? I often feel like Moses pleading

with God in Exodus 4 about not being smart enough or having the right words

but God answers me by saying, "Go, I will help you speak and teach you what

to say." He does what He says. He gives me strength. I know I will still

say something and do something wrong. I know through all of this I am being

"chiseled" I am being forced to grow and change and see people how God sees

them. The God of the universe loves them and so should I.