It Can Be Done

Hattie Wyatt was seven years old. She went to a little church just outside of Philadelphia. It was all broken down in a very dirty looking building. But the preacher was good.

She came home early one day, and her mother said, "Why are you home? Why aren’t you in Sunday School?" She said, "Because the place is small and it’s full and there’s no room for me."

So Hattie got on her knees, and she said, "Mom, I’m going to sign a contract with God today that He will bring in a great, big, beautiful church because the way that preacher preaches, he’s going to need it."

Within just a month, Hattie came down with consumption and died, and the small assembly gathered at her funeral. Her mother showed them the contents of her little pocketbook: fifty seven pennies and a prayer that read, "God can do it."

The pastor began to get overwhelmed, and this man, Dr. Russell Conwell, wrote Acres of Diamonds. Motivated by Hattie’s life to write that book, he made six million dollars. Then from Temple Baptist Church they built Temple University and Temple Hospital.

You see, a seven-year-old girl believed that she had authority with heaven. She was just seven, and God took her home. She left fifty seven pennies and a prayer, "God can do it."

Agape

Has you experienced a huge need for things you've always taken for granted?

One of the top things in my "took for granted" list is fellowship in my church back home. The deep things of God addressing the deep needs of my soul kind of conversations. I have a handful of friends I enjoy fellowshipping with here in Vancouver. Yet, nothing comes close to those raps, after service meals, surprise birthday parties, family camps, coffees with friends, etc.., etc...

I have been attending a bible study since September. The group is a nice mix of age groups including 5 university students. As for me, I get along better with people my age or older. I have trouble mixing with people younger than me because I cant seem to enjoy a nice meaningful conversation with young adults.

The leader of my group is young and the apprenticing couple is also very young. Coming from a background of solid Bible teaching, its hard to deal with messages and conversations that don't draw out the deep things. So, I sit there questioning and judging and wondering about what people are saying. Many times, in the course of the study, God's showing me how He has no trouble meeting people where they are at in their walk with Him. We are all at different points in our journey after all. 

One evening, before leaving for the study, I sat down to pray. As I was asking God to prepare my heart for the study I felt God impressing on my heart to stay quiet, to not say anything at the study. He was asking me to just be quiet and that was going to minister grace to the group. I knew what God was asking me to do and planned to do it His way.

At the study, people began sharing what they thought God was showing them. These university kids were sharing things that did not make sense to me and right then a great need to speak was surging within me. In my head I knew this was good stuff and the group would greatly benefit from. So at the next opportunity, I shared my thoughts. The moment I finished saying everything I wanted to say, I felt God's rebuke. His Spirit was showing me that I may have very good content but I wasn't sharing from a place of agape love. My behavior was not Spirit led or Spirit controlled. But I thought I shared a very fantastic thought... I was not comfortable and in response to the Lord's beckoning, I entered a time of prayer. God showed me I wasn't Spirit led or Spirit controlled. I wasn't acting very different from Nadab and Abihu who acted out of God's will and timing.

I catch myself acting like them all the time. When Christianity becomes a process and the love of Christ is not constraining me, I'm just a clashing gong...a noisy person.

I prayed "Lord, how I want a heart that's rooted in Jesus, radiating His love, mercy and grace at all times and with everyone...not age specific grace, not race specific or denominationally different but greater grace....because that's what I receive from You every moment."

Would you like a cup of tea as well?

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth'. But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
                                                                                                                        Matthew 5: 38-42 (NASB)


I want to write this down lest I forget... it had been one of the hardest seasons... career-wise. With no leads and no prospects even after a year long search, I lived downcast and with each day I was getting more discouraged.

My job search began a year earlier. I had resigned and expected to find work within the notice period (ambitious!) Since I had not found anything by my last day, my boss so kindly offered me an extension till I found a job. It all seemed so temporary and I happily worked expecting to find something soon. I did not have a job title - my replacement got my title. I did not have a desk or a clear job description either. As a result I slowly began doing odds and ends for every department. Since I didn't have anyone to report to, I became everyone's personal assistant. As you can imagine, this was getting very frustrating.

Very often, I was tempted to feel like a doormat. But God was teaching me a new lesson...

One of the heads began treating me like a handyman asking me to do a lot of silly things like run to the store for a set of batteries or cable hooks. He was getting on my nerves and I was biting my lips... trying hard not get reactionary.

One evening, I was at my desk discussing a project with one of the directors. This person came up to me and asked me to get his visitor a glass of water. I just stared at him for a few seconds thinking of the best thing I could come up with. Instead I said "Okay". Inside of me, I was just so furious. How dare he ask me to bring him water... if only he looked at my resume! The director talking to me couldn't suppress his shock either and was upset at this man's attitude. I was very quick to tell my colleague about how this has been happening all the time. To which he said, "Let me handle this". So he went to the kitchen and came out with the 2 glasses of water and took it to the boardroom. the guy's instant response was "Why did you have to bring us water!"

This was a brilliant thing to do from the world's perspective. But God was not cheering me on. Instead, His Spirit was convicting me and teaching me obedience in the things I was suffering.

I often hear people say a Christian does not have to be a doormat. It's never been clearer... what the world calls a 'doormat ', we call,  'Christlikeness'. I was happy to be a smartass but unwilling to be Christ-like. Jesus showed me not just in words but by example as well. He taught me what a laid down life looks like. Yet, I keep taking my life into my own hands. I sat in bed late that night, my Bible opened to Jeremiah 17:7-9 and I was reflecting on the day and the season in general. Matthew 5:38-42 came to my mind. It was like a message being preached to me in my head. I now knew the right thing to say the next time this happens, I am going to say,"Would you like a cup of tea as well?"