Recruiting His (Jesus') Team - A message about the calling of the various

One of the aspects which I love about the church is the various types of people that make up the church - both globally and locally. It reminds me so much of the variety of the 12 Apostles (even the additional two, later in scripture).

They each had their own personalities, flaws, and strengths. However, they didn't all have the same personality, flaw, or strength. They were unique and different. They made their fair share of mistakes, but Jesus put them together to make a great band of brothers to accomplish a task.

Sunday, we looked at the appointment of the original 12 Apostles. As Jesus appointed them and sent them, we are also being sent out to the world! Here are some applications to choose to use this week...

• Being Called ~ There have been times in my life that I was called on the telephone which I wish that I hadn't answered. Sometimes those types of calls are being asked to participate in a group/organization. I tend to say yes to these calls, sometimes with regret. There have been times I've regretted saying yes, initially, but found a great reward in the end. I would think that maybe a few of them started into this new commitment and thought "what have I gotten myself in to?" However, if it was like me, I usually enjoy the commitment, in the end.
• Using the Various ~ God will use you in a great way if you can allow Him to mold you. Too often we start to have some "hardening of the arteries" and lose our pliability. As you are unique, remember that God will use you even when are aren't like "someone else." Too often we can get down on ourselves and think that we are not as useful. Believe me, you are useful! I love Peter's encouragement to his recipients in I Peter 4:10-11 (Read here). It describes how we are different but we can still be of great benefit to the Kingdom!

Think of ways you can be out of your comfort zone to increase the coverage of the Gospel. How can you use your variants of yourself to make a great impact for God?

Now it's your turn...What have you had success in a talent/ability of yours that you thought, at the time, was not really much of a talent/ability?

E-mail Encouragement: Being Different

Ketchup, bread, and chocolate chip cookies. What do these all have in common. You can go to the store and have your choice to pick out any one of these in a variation of brands - each one still being about the same idea. There isn't much difference in the taste and texture in the variation of these three (within their own categories). The idea that they are pretty much the same brings us to this week's quote...

In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different. ~ Coco Chanel

A few years ago, Heinz brand ketchup came out with variations in order to make their brand a bit different. Bread companies have tried different things to make their bread seem different. Chips Ahoy brand cookies has "Soft Batch" and "Chocolate Chunk" to try to be different. Once a product is made, others will try to mimic that product. So, the constant challenge is to stay ahead of others in the same business, just to make sure you are maintain a status of being irreplaceable. As Christians, we all are equipped with the same amount of bones and other body components as anyone else. So, what makes us different? That is the constant challenge. We can be polite and kind, but so are others. We have to keep going toward what is uncommon in order to make sure that we are not replaceable. Such as, are others able to turn the other cheek when being "hit" in life?

How will you be different? I pray that your individual uniqueness will allow you to find ways to be irreplaceable!

Looking for ways ~