December 29, 2015
Normal is Just a Setting on the Dryer
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? (2 Corinthians 2:14-16, NIV).
Friend to Friend
Normal can be a good thing.
Like when the doctor’s office calls to say that the tests results are normal or when the mechanic tells you that the funny noise your car is making will not cost you hundreds of dollars to repair – it is just a normal part of wear and tear.
But when it comes to our spiritual lives – normal may not always be a good thing.
I am a pastor’s wife and love the fact that God has called me to serve beside my husband in that role. But some people think a pastor’s wife should look, act, speak and dress a certain way. I tend to think God called me to be Mary … and that calling does not always fit what some people consider to be a normal pastor’s wife.
As I look back over the lives of those who made the biggest difference in the early Kingdom days, they were anything but normal. A bag of mixed nuts is more like it. Seriously, a group of quirky men and broken women from all walks of life who were radical in their devotion to God – radical to the point of placing their lives on the line every day for the cause of Christ. They were normal in that they celebrated their "sameness" with the pagans who were shunned by religious zealots yet stubbornly loved by the Father.
But they were profoundly abnormal in the love they showed for God and toward each other … and in the depth of their commitment to God and His cause.
When an ordinary woman meets an extraordinary God, normal life takes on a whole new meaning. Knowing God changes everything. We simply cannot encounter the living God and be the same.
A personal relationship with Him produces a holy discontent with the status quo and compels us to live in such a way that miracles are a daily occurrence.
People are desperately looking for ordinary women like you and me whose lives have been changed by an extraordinary God – the One who is calling us to be His hands and feet to those who don't even believe He exists.
I want to love every excuse and doubt right out of the unbeliever’s mind.
I want the doubter to see a power in me that they cannot explain in human terms.
I want the hurting soul to see and hear in my life a message that shouts God’s mercy and forgiveness.
I want to be hungry and thirsty for God as never before.
I want my normal life to be abnormally extraordinary because God is alive and well and at work in and around me.
How about you?
Are you ready to step out in faith?
Are you willing to live an abnormal life filled with people and circumstances that can only be explained by the extraordinary power and presence of God?
Let’s Pray
Father, I am so tired of playing it safe, of bowing to the wrong crowd and listening to the wrong voices. I lay down my pride and surrender to You and Your plan for my life. Stretch my faith. Give me Your eyes to see those in need. Fill me with Your power and strength so that others will be drawn to You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
- Consider the following questions. Record your thoughts in your journal.
- In what ways have I played it safe when it comes to my faith in God?
- Am I willing to be a radical follower of Jesus Christ – no matter the cost?
- Read Proverbs 3:5-6. How do these verses apply to an abnormal walk with God?
- What first step do I need to take in order to walk by faith - not by sight?
More from the Girlfriends
I am so excited to announce the launch of Friends for the Journey, a dream I have had for some time that is now a reality and part of my ministry. If you are a pastor’s wife, a women’s ministry director, a woman in need of encouragement, or someone who battles depression, I am now available to encourage and coach you via Skype sessions. You can find all of the information on my website or you can email me for details.
Be sure to check out the FREE MP3s on Mary’s website and connect with Mary through email or on Facebook.
Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about
how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 1311
Huntersville, NC 28070
[email protected]
www.girlfriendsingod.com
