tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594466655926701168.post5572970008388389625..comments2024-01-20T06:33:12.603-08:00Comments on Created to Give God Glory: Wandering from Who We Should BeCreated to Give God Gloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17298394573836878999noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594466655926701168.post-67598361584999869322013-03-03T15:56:53.627-08:002013-03-03T15:56:53.627-08:00Man. I've been catching up on your posts by r...Man. I've been catching up on your posts by reading backwards. The post I just commented on was written just after this one, I think, and asked if our actions reflected who we wanted to be.<br /><br />I deleted a couple sentences from hat comment in an attempt, failed I fear, at brevity. The opening verse and your initial comments caused me to sit up straight and reread. <br /><br />The sentences I omitted from that last comment included a too long discussion on how my "do" reflected my "be." I had siad that I carefully read the Word, attempting to get an accurate meaning, because I wanted to make sure that I handled the Word correctly when I gave a message.<br /><br />I am not seminary-trained. My big fear is that in an effort to deliver a message inspired by God, I would mishandle the Word of God. <br /><br />Although some may say that an "inspired" message cannot mishandle scripture, I know that it can. I have heard it done. Often. so easy to get self and human wisdom tangled up in what started as a God thhng and then misuse scripture to prove it.<br /><br />Anyway.<br /><br />The Scripture from 1 Timothy really caught my heart. I'm going to have to meditate and seek God on that. My motivation. I need to look at that. Is it still love-driven and as pure as it once was or have I let myself drift into being motivated by a different payoff...<br /><br />This is timely, as your posts often are, and probably why it has struck me so. My pastor just asked me if I would take the pulpit on a Sunday morning and teach about marriage.<br /><br />I said that I would not. <br /><br />First, I am certainly not qualified to teach on marriage. I could preach on it, but that is an entirely different thing. But, more than that, I do not (Except under rare circumstances like Mother's Day)preach to mixed congregations. I am called to women's ministry. (I know that is a controversial thing. And I don't care if there are female pastors. I'm just uncomfortable with it.)<br /><br />At any rate, my pastor didn't agree with my reasons for refusal and asked me to pray about it. He said I have a gift for speaking and I shouldn't waste it.<br /><br />What he doesn't realize is that it really IS a gift. I am not a natural born public speaker. Far from it. If God gives me the message, He shows up and makes it happen. If I move outside His will, it would be...well, I'd be one of those speakers that the audience feels sorry for. Worse, no move of the Holy Spirit would occur.<br /><br />But even so, as directed, I've been thinking about it and praying about it and looking at my motivation to agree or refuse. <br /><br />Your words about the preachers who have wandered off also caught my attention. You see, despite the sloppy writing here, I am a wordsmith. I write. I've been paid to write. My email begins with the words "areadysriter" (Now I want to go back an edit this. chuckle.) And the pastor's request was flattering...<br /><br />Ahh. Long enough. I'm going t go read Timothy now.<br /><br />DebAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com