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The People God Uses: YOU (Available is Enough)

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“What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.” — Commonly attributed saying “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” — 2 Corinthians 4:7 Clay jars weren't special. They were ordinary household containers. Cheap. Common. Breakable. Nobody displayed their finest clay jar on the mantel. And Paul says: That's us. “We have this treasure in clay jars.” What an interesting image. We might expect Paul to say that something as precious as the gospel should be carried in gold. Something polished. Strong. Impressive. Instead: Clay. Maybe because the container was never supposed to be the point. Throughout this week, we've met some unlikely containers. Moses thought he wasn't qualified. Rahab had the wrong résumé. Gideon was afraid. Peter failed. And still God used them. Not because their weaknesses didn't matter. Not because they secretly had everyth...
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The People God Uses: Peter (Failing Forward)

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“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” — Henry Ford “Feed my sheep.” — John 21:17 If I were choosing someone to lead the early church, I'm not sure Peter would have been my first choice. Peter talks too much. He acts before thinking. He misunderstands Jesus repeatedly. He sinks while walking on water. He argues with Jesus. He cuts off someone's ear. And when Jesus needs him most, Peter denies even knowing him. Three times. That's not exactly a stellar leadership record. And yet Jesus keeps choosing Peter. I identify with Peter more than most biblical characters.  I get him to a certain extent because I often act impetuously, say and do the wrong things, and generally stumble around trying to follow Jesus.  For this reason, I'm so glad Peter's story doesn't end with his denial.  After the resurrection, Jesus meets Peter beside the Sea of Galilee. They eat breakfast together. Then Jesus asks: “Do you love me?” Peter says ...
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The People God Uses: Gideon (Too Scared)

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“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.” — Mark Twain “The LORD is with you, you mighty warrior.” — Judges 6:12 While completing my clinical pastoral education to prepare for ordination, I served as a chaplain at Florida Hospital in Orlando.  One Sunday, I worked a twelve-hour shift and was told that morning that one requirement was to lead a worship service in the Psych Ward.  Having seen the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, I expected something similar, and my expectations were met.  When I was let in the common room where everyone was gathered, there were patients who were pacing back and forth, muttering to themselves; some were catatonic, and others were cheery and chatty.  One guy sat in a corner, talking to someone who wasn't there.  A woman near the door grabbed hold of my arm and gently began to rub it.  The security guard who let me in, told her to stop, but she didn't.   He asked if I had any pens or p...
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The People God Uses: Rahab (Wrong Resume)

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“There is no saint without a past, no sinner without a future.” — attributed to St. Augustine “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient.” — Hebrews 11:31 I was the last person I would have picked to be a minister.  I had spent years studiously avoiding anything to do with church, God, faith, and especially Christianity.  I became an agnostic, which for me meant that I didn't know for sure if there was a God or not, but I didn't really care.  I lived my life on my terms, and by my own shaky moral compass.  When I finally did return to faith (and to church), I still held all of it at arms' length, afraid of being sucked into it.   That is why, when I began to feel called to go to seminary and become a pastor, I tried to beg off it all.  Honestly, one of the many things that kept the idea alive in my heart was the knowledge that God seemed to have a habit of using the wrong kind of people.   One of those peopl...
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