3/10/2016
{Life} One Last Breath-Guest PostBy Guest: Kerrington Sweeney of Uniquely Yours MinistriesAfter one exhausting Wednesday Night spent with the youth group...another youth leader and I were cleaning up the youth room; which just moments before had at least 40+ students, running around, eating cupcakes without plates. I will just let you take a moment and let your imagination take care of what that disastrous mess looked like. It had just been a really long night, and to be honest, I just wanted to leave that mess for someone else and go home to relax. Thoughts like, "Why are they so messy?", "Couldn't they just try to keep it in their mouths?", "This is an entire cupcake on the floor...really?!? Ugh!!" were swirling around in my mind, while I attempted to clean smushed cupcake crumbs out of the carpeting (Good times.) After everything I would clean, the room didn't seem to get any cleaner. I know now that my grumpy attitude wasn't helping my situation either. The room, that had just been bustling with noise and somewhat chaos, was now completely silent and peaceful. In amongst the mumbling and grumbling of my heart, what broke the room's silence, was the sound of that faithful youth leader's voice as he began to sing the words: "If all I had was one last breath, I'd spend it just to sing your praise, just to say your name." It took a moment to register in my mind and when it did...tears filled my eyes. What an ugly, selfish heart I had. If those were to be my last breaths, cleaning up smushed cupcakes on the church floors, than so be it. To God be all the glory. My perspective, of what my role in leadership was to be, truly changed after hearing those words sung. It wasn't just about the oh-so-joyful mountain-top experiences. Being a leader is about the nitty gritty, the dirty carpeting, and the ugly-heart moments. It's about continually learning, growing and changing for the better, to better serve and better equip the people with a passionate pursuit, to see them come to a new understanding and realization of Jesus Christ. Leaders, we are to become selfless leadership. The moment you walk into any position of leading, you are to lay down your own selfish wants, needs and desires. Something I purposefully do now the moment before I put that leader lanyard name tag around my neck...I say a quick prayer that goes something like this: Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you today and ask for divine opportunities to connect with people on new levels; opportunities to show them glimpses of the ultimate love of Jesus Christ. Give me an understanding and wisdom as to what to say and how to say it. I ask for an infusion of your presence to flow through me. Thank you for the privilege to serve in the expansion of your Kingdom. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen! My concluding challenge for you today is: Look at your life and think to yourself, "If this was one of my last breaths, what would I be doing?" Will I be spending it mumbling and grumbling about some smushed cupcakes in the carpeting or will I spend it just to sing His praise, just to say His name? Remember, it's one breath. Until Next Time, ~Kerrington Kerrington Sweeney is President & Founder of Uniquely Yours Ministries, (www.uniquelyyoursministries.com) a ministry dedicated to challenging, equipping and encouraging women. She is honoured that God has entrusted her with this adventure of Ministry Leadership at such young age. She actively volunteers and serves on various leadership teams at church and in her community. She carries a strong mantle of community, a heart to love the unloveable, and walks with divine purpose to empower and compel women of the faith. She feels God’s ‘call’ to one day embark on the journey of a lifestyle fully committed to ministry. Find Kerrington on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram!
3/4/2016
You ARE QualifiedI {Bethany} am preparing to take a HUGE step outside of my comfort zone. I have accepted the position of facilitator for a group of women who will be studying through Fervent. What was I thinking?! Here's where the problem lies...I am completely content being behind the scenes. I'm always the one who is making sure what is unseen runs smoothly and without hiccups. I have never been one to search out the spotlight whether it be large or small. I actually feel very out-of-place when I have to be in front of others, especially when I'm leading or speaking. But, apparently God feels that it's time for me to move past this contentment. There's no better way to make me get over hating the limelight than to put me right smack dab in the middle of the glaring spotlight, throwing me into a season of discontentment and unease. I was fine right where I was — safe inside my small, safe shell. Besides....who am I to teach other women about the Bible and prayer? I'm not qualified to teach other women about God's word, or speak to them about His glory. I don't have a biblical degree or been formally educated about His word. I just simply read my bible. Let me add to my list of disqualifications...I always hated public speaking and never, ever desire to have all eyes on me. I'm not an extroverted, peppy cheerleader, not that there's anything wrong with women like this— I actually envy those women, yes I know, wrong— but I have never been one to walk into a room and command the attention of every person there. I was chatting with Mandy about this one night and she reminded me of someone else who felt he was unqualified to fulfill God's calling — Moses. No matter how many times Moses told God he was not qualified, God responded with a counter. One example of Moses trying to disqualify himself with God is: "Moses said to the Lord, 'Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past not since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.'" {Exodus 4:10 NIV} Moses is telling God just how much he fails at public speaking, and boy, can I completely relate. But, then God answers with... "The Lord said to him, 'Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lords? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.'" {Exodus 4:11-12} Like I mentioned before, this is just one example of how Moses was trying to tell God how unqualified he was to fulfill God's calling for him. Have you ever acted like Moses? Have you argued with God and told Him that you are not the right person for the job? Have you told God that you don't have the skills needed for the job? Have you disobeyed God because YOU felt God was wrong in calling upon you? We don't have to be qualified for God's placement. If we just obey His calling He will make sure we have the necessary skills to accomplish the job He places before us and then He will walk by our sides as we show the world His glory through the works we do. If you are hearing God's call and feel a small nudge towards a specific task in your life, will you join me in taking a leap of faith, knowing that God will be there with you, and accept His calling. Remember, God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called. Through Him you have all the qualifications you need for the job. You never know all the good He can do through you until you accept the challenge! |
This space is reserved for Founder Mandy's perspectives and viewpoints of Scripture. Man is fallible, but God is not. It's strongly encouraged that you study the Scripture for yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in your understanding.
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