Sunday, January 16, 2011

Weekend Worship—An Uncomfortable Situation

“What do you find hardest about being a writer?”

Situations like this, was the answer on the tip of my tongue. 

Fortunately I had prayed for God to put a guard over my tongue and I managed to stammer out a less revealing answer.

What situation? It was an interview with me as the focus instead of me as the interviewer. You see, I’m a background sort of girl and any kind of attention makes me desperately uncomfortable. And, in my mind, I’ve always thought that was the way it should be. After all, I’m only where I am because of God’s blessings—not anything I’ve done. So situations that bring attention to me seem to be diametrically opposed to bringing glory to God.

Today, I was told differently.

Who dared to argue with my supposed biblical point of view? Nobody very important—just GOD!

Here’s the verse that stopped me in my tracks.
They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death. 
Revelations 12:11

There it is, one powerful word—TESTIMONY—that little word is causing me a death of sorts. The death of my quiet, comfortable, life-in-the-shadows life. You see, my testimony is what God has done in my life. And God wants to use that to defeat the enemy.

Uh, have you ever tried to share a personal testimony without talking about yourself? Don’t bother trying—trust me, it’s just not possible.

So what am I going to do with this information? The only thing I can do—try to be obedient—no matter how uncomfortable it makes me. Because the one thing I do know is that this life isn’t about me.

Blessings,
Edie 

11 comments:

  1. Thank you my friend. What a wonderful post.

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  2. I like the way you think, Edie. It's always based on the truth!

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  3. Oh my, my! What an appropriate post and one I needed to read. I'm so background it's a joke. In my Zumba classes I'm on the back row always. So when the instructor announced I had gotten my license to teach, well, shock! In fact one friend even emailed and asked how I would ever go from back row to the front of the class. I wondered that myself. Also, I questioned why in the world I thought this was a good idea. Well, I didn't. But God did.

    Turns out, after getting over being so nervous that my teeth were sticking to my lipe (rediculously nervous), I loved this week. And the women loved it -we danced, laughed, hugged...I got phone numbers, more teaching jobs if I want them, extra pay, so many blessings. But I did wonder, is this ego or God? I think I got my answer today. Thanks!

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  4. Thanks so much for sharing your own insights - God is blessing me through your wisdom and encouragement!

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  5. This is a great post, Edie! So good, in fact, that I'm linking to it for this week's Christian Writer's Den blog. :-) I have to admit, your feelings were a surprise to me, even after all our years together!

    Thank you for your transparency. I know this post will help many writers see that when we talk about what we do, we're talking about what God has done. Just as 1 Peter 3:15 says, we need to always be ready to tell others what God is doing in our lives. After all, that is the reason for our hope!

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  6. Thank you, Vonda - for your insights and your friendship!

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  7. It's all about balance, isn't it? We walk a pretty serious tightrope between glorifying ourselves and glorifying God. I hate feeling like I'm teetering. Seems like I'm always one extreme or the other. So glad you posted this. I think I need to print it out and remind myself...

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  8. Thanks Edie for putting this in words we can understand, and with a truth we all need to hear!

    We are to speak and to do so you have to be seen! It is so sad that many have lived by the unspoken rule that to bring God glory we all have to be the same; humble, quiet, and in the background.

    Otherwise, we might be seen as self-promoting, and self-serving.

    Thanks Edie for giving us God's permission and showing us through His words that we are to share what He has done for us. One can not do that without using I and without being seen and heard!

    I encourage others to obey and only listen to God's words and not man's!

    I am sure He is developing some great speakers right now who are reading your words Edie and seeing the plan He has for them!

    Have a great week knowing you have obeyed God and freed many lives; and encouraged those of us who have dared to speak as He shows us!

    Hugs and Blessings,
    "Simply" Sue

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  9. Ms. Melson,

    Thanks for the subtle reminder that it isn't about us and our feelings but about God. It about dying to self and allow God to be glorified through our words, whether written or spoken.

    Thanks,
    Cathy

    PS. I stopped because Vonda recommended you.

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