so last week i got to hear a GREAT message from one of our seminary’s professors. yay for having a husband in seminary.
he talked about the story of Zacchaeus and Jesus - and it reminded me of that conversation we got into about how are we gonna do something in this world. so, i thought we could revisit all that.
anyway - there’s a verse in the story that we’ve all heard:
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
this same professor reminded us that Jesus taught that the shepherd would go out and get the lost sheep.
so, i think God is in the business of getting the lost. seeking the lost. saving the lost.
check.
the next morning i was in a meeting, and the leader shared Luke 5 where Jesus sends ‘em back out to cast their nets into the deep - AFTER THEY’VE BEEN FISHING UNSUCCESSFULLY ALL NIGHT. i think sometimes we feel like them. fishing in the dark. not pulling up a thing. totally wasting time. exhausted.
but Jesus sent them out one. more. time. & told them where to go.
so, i think sometimes we fish all night and come up with nothing. but that doesn’t mean there’s not work to be done, or a LOAD to haul in.
check.
my point? Jesus is STILL in the business of seeking people out and saving them. this is STILL My Father’s World - no matter how bad it gets. God is still God over this place. therefore, we shouldn’t stop fishing.
i was thinking that when we look at how bad things are, and how we feel like we’re just chipping away at the iceberg of global depravity, that we needed to remember that we are not chipping alone. in fact, God is really the one at work.
i think maybe our main focus should be abiding. ministering in our little niche - our little corner. changing our part of this big bad world. i think if i work with God to change MY world and you work with God to change YOUR world, then maybe we will see the WHOLE world change.
i think.
what do you think?
32 responses so far ↓
gchyayles // May 6, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Amen! I agree completely. I like Jabez’ prayer regarding God enlargening his territory. God enlargens our ministerial territory piece by piece. We couldn’t handle changing the world all at once, by ourselves. An analogy I have is with the situation with my family. They didn’t know I was a Christian for two years and every single day I prayed that God would allow me to be a Christian everywhere; not just in this little town that I live in. That is where Jabez’ prayer took on new meaning for me. See it took two years of God working on me, strengthening me emotionally and spiritually for the battle, for my territory to be enlargened and when it was, wow, I feel stronger and more powerful in my faith than I have ever felt [the truth does set us free, praise God for His living, true Word]. In the same way, we are expected to work with what we have regarding ministry and helping the lost and in return we can expect that God would increase our territory bit by bit, parallel to us being strengthened and sharpened in our faith. Don’t know if all of that made sense in writing but it does in my head!
Love you!
jon // May 6, 2008 at 2:26 pm
good stuff mandy…i found your blog from “without wax”…
the one thing that i wonder in reading through the story, luke 5, is who’s wisdom, guidance, and power were they fishing from all night…their own. they were fisherman, they had done this so many times before, this was their job…yet they needed guidance from Christ to catch the fish this time…and not just a couple…
in my little niche and my little corner i still have to bee seeking wisdom, strength, courage…from GOD…to do whatever He has for me to do…i can’t do it on my own or it will yield nothing!!!
cathi stegall // May 6, 2008 at 2:43 pm
You are you and I am she, so let’s be friends!
and what better than the old adage, LOL to get this thing started!
Sharon // May 6, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Amen girl!
It is so easy to get discouraged. We been to look around with our physical eyes and we think that because we can not see things changing–then nothing is happening. But then we must remind each other that we are to keep sowing and not listen to the deceiver who will allow us to see only what profits him. Our seeds are not always going to look like we think they should look. It may be a simple smile that softens a heart that is about ready to give up. That softened heart then will become ready ground for someone who comes with love and the WORD.
Lean not on your own understanding (or sight) in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. He will bring you to the heart that the Holy Spirit has been watering.
Good stuff.
cathi stegall // May 6, 2008 at 2:48 pm
fellow pastor’s wives UNITE!
TheNorEaster // May 6, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I often feel like I’m fishing through the night and not catching anything. I mentioned some of that over on Brent’s blog. So I won’t repeat it here. He did have a good response, though. Good, for me, because I know I’m not the only one fishing through the night. Sometimes, we just need to know that.
Other times, I realize that I will never see the true significance of my work. Not because I think I’m going to die tonight or tomorrow morning. But because I’ve had people from all over The United States and the world reading my stuff. They don’t comment, but I know they’re there. And maybe some of the seeds I have planted in the blogsphere will teach someone, anyone, about mercy, grace, forgiveness, compassion, and love.
Love for your enemies, I mean. That was my greatest challenge. So far. And if I knew how to include a link in a comment, I would put one in here for “When Lightning Strikes,” which discusses that challenge and how God brought me to it and through it. And I know that is a seriously over-used cliche, but, honestly, in this case it is actually seriously literally TRUE.
mandythompson // May 6, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Sharon: there’s such wisdom in those words. that our seeds won’t look like what we think they will. yes. but how do we know when our seed is being wasted? when we need to shake the dust off our feet & go on to the next town? man, i hope you come back, ’cause i’d LOVE to hear your wisdom on this… how do we know?
TheNor: great perspective. yes sir…
jon: welcome welcome!!! i think you’re totally right. i actually changed the phrasings of the last sentence to read “work with God” for that exact reason.
Sharon // May 6, 2008 at 4:07 pm
When have recently been told by God to move on. Our little church had a great move of God two years ago. God called us to bend our knees and surrender. A few did and there were several who did not. Those of us who did began to be ridiculed and harassed by the others. I continues to reach out even though many times I felt like my guts were being ripped out by them. I asked God to let me go and He would not. Then when they began to call good bad and bad good. God said…..Go.
THat was with the body of Christ.
As far as non Christians……..I believe we are to continue to pray and fast for some until there is no more hope. Death. We love with a sacrificial love. Remembering that when they hurt us…it is really satan attacking. He wants to discourage us and tell us just to give up.
We know that God says He wishes that none would perish without Him. I have stayed in a relationship with a Muslim woman until she shut the door. I would say at least 10 years. God would not take the burden away even then. Sometimes I think of her in hell and it crushes my heart.
When I feel that burden fall of me…….I press in.
I think God will tell you when it is time to move on.
Her daughter made a decision for the Lord…..walked with Him steadily for two years.Then about 8 months ago…..she went back to her mother and that religion. I prayed and fasted. Feeling so strongly that she would come back soon. She has not. She is becoming so hard……not her personality even before she came to God. I believe in this case it is time for me to follow the Bibles instruction to turn her over so that in the end her soul will be saved.
I know this got a little off the tract of the discussion…….but we sow seeds even in the lives of the saved. When we walk in the Spirit……the fruit we bare will be felt by the saved and unsaved.
Bottom line…….remember that satan will absorb our time with those with hardened hearts. We will sometimes think..this is the day. And yet nothing changes. It is very important to listen to the Spirit of God……if we ask….He will tell us. In the end we still love.
I need you to send me the link to the post that you did on something in the human body called–lanolin (s.p)I hope that is not too far off . I was telling a pastor of a church we visited in Boone, N.C and he is doing a series right now that it would fit into nicely. I told him I would email him the link.
TheNorEaster // May 6, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Oooooookay!
Becca // May 6, 2008 at 4:37 pm
A professor of mine once said, “if you’d consider yourself shy, find a quiet corner of the world or a room and preach it, but whatever you do- say something, nothing changes if you don’t.”
tam // May 6, 2008 at 4:37 pm
i “think” you’re right.
And I think I’m just beginning to accept that what i do day to day is my part of the big picture. As insignificant as i sometimes think it is, it isn’t.
mandythompson // May 6, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Sharon: i’m SO glad you came back!
i don’t think its off track… but that’s because our earlier discussion brought up the heart ache of a lot of us who are in ministry but discouraged. who are “chipping away at an iceberg” of hunger, homelessness, unbelief, materialism, etc etc etc. we are a weary bunch over here. we really are.
so. your words of faith that God will tell us when its time - this is relevant. necessary. helpful.
thank you! i’m sure others will chew on your words as well.
and i’ll email ya the lanolin stuff.
mandythompson // May 6, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Becca: i like that. thank you…. really.
alece // May 6, 2008 at 6:42 pm
i concur.
we all have our niche. which means we all have people that only we can reach.
God put stuff inside you that someone out there needs. if you don’t bring it, someone else might… but no one else can bring it quite like you.
tam // May 6, 2008 at 7:07 pm
“one body many parts”
Did someone already say that?
tawny // May 6, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Nope, not that I noticed, Tam
I think we also need to bring it even closer and make sure we are allowing God to do something fresh in us. If we let Him change us, we will change others. Sometimes we get distacted by all the pain and kinda just sit instead of knowing that if He can change us, He can change anything.
Heidi // May 6, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I think if we all live passionately.. Passionately for Jesus he will use all of our gifts combined and dredge in plenty. The hard thing is the dreariness in ministry, because of what we don’t see. WE want to live in a microwave society and see the RESULTS!!!
Then when the dredge of the nets are empty we become questionable once again. Then off in a quiet still voice God calls us back to our purpose over and over again.
If I just look past the horizon and KNOW that my God is in control
THEN:I can IMPACT the world.
ramsey72 // May 6, 2008 at 8:59 pm
In my little corner of the world, I deal with the devastating results of sin everyday. Sometimes it is hard to comprehend how horrendous things can be done to children. I used to not say a whole lot about God because these kids are mentally challenged and damaged and I thought they would never grasp the whole concept of God and then I realized there are a lot of educated people who do not grasp the concept either. Many of these kids are angry and blame God for what has happened to them. Lately though, the Holy Spirit prompts me to talk about God and share how God can help them in their everyday life. I was reminded that God says not one Word will come back evoid. I do not have to make them understand it. Only the Holy Spirit can do that, and so my responsibility is to share it with them and pray with them. Sometimes they don’t even know I am praying. Like the time an actively psychotic child barged into my office and barricaded himself under my desk. I just began to pray that the peace of God would come and rest in this kids mind. After a few moments, the kid calmed down and we were able to get him out. Even though it is my job, I feel it is my ministry. It is a tough ministry but I believe these are the people Jesus would be ministering too if He were here on earth today.
edfromct // May 6, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I don’t believe it is possible for the world to stop changing, or to even stand still Everything single thing we do has an effect. This effect may be hard to see, it may be beyond our field of vision, but we are causing something to happen somewhere
My analogy is that every time we take an action it is like ripples on a pond. It is often hard to see the full effect of what we do, what it leads to is beyond our field of vision.
The most we can do is try to nudge the world in the direction we want it to go. The less we do the harder someone else has to work.
If all we succeed in doing is to make ourselves a better person, a better parent, a better friend, a better role model, then we will leave the world a better place for future generations.
mandythompson // May 6, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Ramsey: whew
Ed: well said… for future generations. yes.
Pete Wilson // May 6, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I think this is one of the most important conversations we can have. These days I have made it my personal goal to try each day to make the world a little more like God intended. I’m finding I get several of these opportunities a day.
TheNorEaster // May 6, 2008 at 10:55 pm
i “think” you’re right.
And I think I’m just beginning to accept that what i do day to day is my part of the big picture. As insignificant as i sometimes think it is, it isn’t.
Tam said that. So I want to point to her something else I wrote that she may not have read. It’s called “Soul Pollution” and it’s about the EXTREMELY SIGNFICANT TASK of taking out the garabage.
[And one of these days, someone will show me how to set up a link a comment.
]
mandythompson // May 6, 2008 at 11:09 pm
wish i could help ya - nor. but i’m all out of codings for such things - and the spam monster will eat you if you’re not careful.
:( 
:( 
Pete: wow - great thought. i’m sure if i were on the look-out, i’d see more opportunities as well. sometimes its just a matter of perspective.
lei // May 6, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Good stuff . . .I love the saying that goes something like “Preach the gospel - use words when necessary.”
I’m thinking now that being good stewards not only applies to our finances and personal belongings, talents and gifts but also with the people that are in our lives.
We may be moving soon. Was I a good steward of my time here in this neighborhood? Did I make the most of every opportunity to love on my neighbors?
I know the answer is NOPE. But this little discussion sure is motivating to change that . . .
Teri // May 7, 2008 at 12:06 am
Here is the latest installment of my story.
I have always loved youth/youth ministry. I have worked in YM in the three church’s I have been in. The last time I was officially “The Youth Leader” I was very discouraged because the fight to get teens into the church was HARD. I quit out of frustration, long story, but never lost the Youth Ministry bug. Recently I was asked to help out again and through some other stupid “churchy” circumstances I ended up phasing out. But basically, the ministry at our church died. It is unbelievable how much of a struggle it has been for us to have a viable Youth Ministry. Soooooo, I decided, if the teens aren’t going to come to the church…I would just go to them. That is why I am returning to school. When I am done, I hope to be teaching High School. My niche.
Susan // May 7, 2008 at 1:58 am
As I’ve been gone and am getting “caught up” on my blog reading (does this count? like going thru mail when you get home?
), I feel like this post and “It’s never too late…” are linked in a way.
Because at different phases of our lives, we respond differently and God uses us differently. As we get older, I think (not saying this is the truth for everyone), we start focusing more on things that matter and methods that work. It has a lot to do with knowing who we are - how we were created - realizing that one person’s strength is not necessarily ours. There is still a lot of time ahead of us - How will we use it? By God’s grace - One Day at a Time…
mandythompson // May 7, 2008 at 8:00 am
Susan: it SO counts!
Teri: you’re reminding me of Blackaby’s “Experiencing God” - find where God is at work and join Him.
Lei: maybe next time will be different…
BuddyO // May 7, 2008 at 8:36 am
What if….
We don’t worry so much about identifying sin and sinners, saved and unsaved and just live hard in the Kingdom…loving people, helping people, taking care of the Creation… being the Gospel instead of just preaching it? Let the Holy Spirit do the real work…
The Crusades didn’t work too well… maybe there’s a better way.
lovewillbringustogether // May 7, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Great Post Mandy.
Buddy O makes a good point ( once again!;-) )
Here is another ‘dimension’ to your question and it relates too to Buddy’s comment.
What we see and understand of ‘the world’ is in one way a reflection of what is inside of us! What we ‘think’ determines a very great deal of what we ’see’ and what we ‘get’ about the World around us.
WE can make a much bigger difference to the part of the world our bodies are closest to, where we live and act daily.
Here is a Key thing though… we can make an even bigger ‘change’ in the world by getting an even CLOSER sphere of influence…
WE can make such huge changes when we first change what is going on Inside of who we are. When we observe our own thought and decide to correct our way of thinking and make it more in alignment with what is truly in our hearts - for many times our minds will prevent us from taking strong and direct action on what our Heart and SApirit wishes to do.
If we learn how to overcome our mind’s sabotaging of the Spirit we can live much more in The Kingdom than if we just let our minds ‘run wild’.
If we live in The Kingdom more we will affect the outer world around us in ways we never dreamed possible.
Live in His Peace and not in our own doubts and fears.
Be JoyFULL and let His Love be your Guide. Learn much much much more of His Wisdom and place it in your mind constantly.
Understand Christ’s True Gospel.
Love you.
<B
Rachel Rowell // May 8, 2008 at 12:04 am
My thoughts exactly. You are so right on in the fact that if we would all focus on changing our world right in our little corner we might start to see a dent put in this world for Christ. And you’re right. We can never lose focus that it’s never about what WE are doing, it’s always about what HE is doing. We just have to be the willing vessels ready to carry out the task He had already assigned to each of us even before He formed us. When we realize that, it such seems like so much less of a monumental task. Love your blogs!! <3
Kristiapplesauce // May 8, 2008 at 6:21 am
crying, even now. crap.
mandythompson // May 8, 2008 at 8:25 am
YES YES YES YES YES!
Let’s do something about all this. Let’s make sure that God remains on the throne, and we remain in the business of working for Him in our spheres of influence. KNOW where He’s placed us, and do what we CAN in that place.
yes.
that’s about all we can do, right?
sorry, kristi.