Be God’s Woman – No Excuses

Divorced, no home, no income, two small children, and two teenagers. That sounds like enough to deal with in life. BUT GOD took this broken family – to minister on every continent, speak in mega churches, nation-wide Pastor and leaders conferences, took them to the unreached and persecuted nations and so the list goes on. The children grew into teenagers – still involved in ministry – then to adulthood and are still in the ministry with their mother. Until 3 years ago they still had no home. Today they still trust Jesus for everything, and continue to serve Him together. An amazing story? Maybe, but saying "yes" to Jesus leads to amazing stories because they are His story.
 
I firmly believe that when Jesus asks anything of us, He takes ALL of our circumstances into account. It is us who make them a problem or an excuse for not obeying Him wholeheartedly.
            “I am a single parent so I can’t…”
            “I need to make an income so I won’t be able to…”
            “I have small children so it is not possible to…”
 
Throughout Scripture we read of God using those who “couldn’t”, addressing their “excuses”, moulding them into who He created them to be so the glory would go to Him.
 
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” 2 Corinthians 4:7.
 
The distractions of our “jars of clay” are just reminders that these are the very vessels He wants to use so He gets all the glory. There is no way the family referred to at the beginning could take credit for all that has happened. There has been no advertising, no leaflets, and no seeking invitations. Everything has come to them and all they had to do was say “yes”. I am not holding them up as a model but rather as a means of tearing down the excuses that I hear for not reaching out further than we could dream or imagine, holding onto the hand of the One Who can lead us where we would not go to do what we could not do and provide with what we do not have. THIS is our God.
 
I am not minimizing the struggle to overcome our weaknesses and situations that scream “impossible.” I know them too well because I am the mother I have been telling you about. However I also know the relief and amazement when walking and living “God’s impossible and improbable dream”.
 
Is it easy? Not always. Is it possible? Every time.
 
How can we do it? By taking step by step the hand of Jesus and letting Him unfold His story through us. I have seen miracles – people getting off planes and just pouring out the contents of their wallets into our laps without knowing anything about us. I have seen Him provide the exact stereo system for my daughter that she dreamed about, when someone just gave it to her. I have seen the promise lived out that He would be a “Father to the fatherless”. I have seen Him provide finances, health and strength; the right relationships at the right time and place to live as we have needed them. I have seen it – and lived it.
 
Have I made excuses? Yes. Has He overcome them? Every time.
 
There is no secret to “Being God’s Woman with No Excuses”. It is all about Jesus and our trust in Him. I sometimes think that we trust Him more with our eternal destiny than we do our destiny on earth. He is the One who enables us to draw each breath and gave us life on this earth. He has invested His Life in us and paid the ultimate price so we can live His destiny and declare His glory in our spheres of influence wherever He may decree them to be.
 
He sees beyond our limited view of our lives and circumstances with a vision greater than we could dream of for ourselves. I read the following:
 
“It is the task of the servant to obey the Master. It is the task of the Master to provide for the servant. Therefore the servant need have no fear.”
 
At the time I thought, “This is easier written than lived.” There are many times when I think the same BUT I can look back and see the truth of this statement and will be eternally grateful that Jesus looked down on one broken family and saw beyond the shattered dreams to His dream. I did not see His dream; I had no idea where the path of obedience would lead us. I just knew that my heart’s desire was like Joshua and that “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” My circumstances screamed that this could never be fully realized. How can someone with literally nothing expect her precious young children to be used by the King of kings? My circumstances were the vessel He wanted to use to show His glory. It was just for me to hand Him that vessel and allow Him to take the attention off it and onto Him.
 
“But you are a woman!” is something I have not personally encountered either within myself or from others. I am not sure why it has never been an issue to me – it has just not been one of the “excuses” that has come into my thinking. I have been blessed to have men empower us, open their pulpits, families, and embrace us. They have opened doors for us and cheered us on. I believe in the Godly authority of men and have always been at my best when ministering under their authority. In fact, I welcome their authority and have always been thankful for men who have made an input into our lives and ministry. They have empowered us in ways that have encouraged, affirmed, and supported us. I do believe that they could also have had the opposite effect had they not believed in us and the ministry God has given us. Has it been difficult “being a woman?” It has many times been difficult, but I can only speak personally and say that the vast majority of the time the excuses that have pounded at our hearts have been nothing to do with being a woman – but rather with “being a person” who has made hard choices to say “yes” at opportunities given to us and trusting in the One who could take the improbable and use them for His glory.
 
Having said that, I know that for many “being a woman” can be an excuse that can hinder both from within us and from others. All I know is that if Jesus asks something of us, He has taken into account that we are women. I am sure there are many men, too, who feel the responsibility of being a man and are tempted to use that as an excuse. God knows our gender – and has all that taken care of for His glory.
 
I “hear” readers saying, “That is alright for you but it could never be so for me.”  I know this is what some of you are thinking because I thought it for myself. Today I know that the more that is stacked against you in life, the more you are able to show His glory. His Love is unconditional, His power is available, and His vision uncontainable for YOU.
 
God is looking for a generation with a “yes” in their hearts. With our eyes on Him and not ourselves or our circumstances, we can cry out that “yes” and watch His unfolding story. This is my God; this is your God – be God's woman (or man) – no excuses!