As a young woman, Mary had no idea that she would be the woman God used to bring forth the world's savior. Many of us have had similar experiences regarding the ministry or business God has given us. This can cause unrelatable levels of fear that lead to alienation. Many women feel alone in their pursuit of purpose because, to their knowledge, there's no one else experiencing what they're currently experiencing. Remember the television series Mission Impossible? There could be no episode or feature film if the mission was aborted and left unaccepted. With each episode and movie, there was something presented that need a willing vessel. These were no regular missions, and well, nobody was a better candidate than Jim Phelps and his team. The mission of this holy thing isn't a mission for Batman, Superman, Spiderman, the Justice League, or even The Avengers; it's a mission for a woman blessed and highly favored of God. You may feel the mission given to you is impossible. But with that feeling comes confirmation that you are the right choice to carry out the mission. Mary discovered this when the angel says to her that "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). You may even feel incapable of stewarding the holy thing once you carry it to its birthing point. When the angel sent her to her cousin Elizabeth, who was experiencing something similar in her own life, Mary was going through. Understand that though you may not be able to reach out to your go-to friends and confidants, God has someone prepared to speak life into you and to guide you in the seasons of preparation for purpose. For Mary, it was Elizabeth. For Esther, it was Mordecai. God will always prepare a person to carry an affirming word to accompany the one carrying the work. Mary went to Elizabeth, and the Lord's word came forth after baby John leaped in his mother's womb. The bible tells us that John leaped in his mother's womb and filled her with the Holy Ghost before she prophesied to Mary. What followed was confirmation of the word of the Lord. How many of you reading this need confirmation from the Lord? "This Holy Thing" may look like birthing a ministry, hosting a conference, or even going forth in the Lord sharing the gospel in person or online. Even still, there are ways God wants to use us in ways that are beyond the scope of our imagination. So whatever "this holy thing" looks like for you, this is the encouragement and confirmation you need to go forth. Your point of view affects everything about your holy thing. Perspective changes the trajectory of your holy thing altogether. What was initially perceived as burdensome by Mary proved to be a blessing to the world through her obedience. "How will this happen?" What does this mean for my relationship?" What if Joseph doesn't believe me?" Mary had a long list of questions as much as you or I would, but the angel told her "with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37), reminiscent of the words to Sarah who at the time was barren, "Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14). In this passage, the Lord asked a rhetorical question in response to Sarah's laughter. Not only are all things possible with God, but He will also prove Himself despite our doubt. Part of this proving will require obedience on our part. It's not wise to doubt God while He is trying to get a blessing to you, through you! This was part of Mary and Joseph's plight raising their son, Jesus. Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth but had to travel to Bethlehem, where Jesus would be born. During their trip home for the census, Mary gave birth in Bethlehem. This fact is important because of the prophecy in Micah 5:2 which says, "But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Bethlehem is also home to King David; Mary and her son Jesus are part of the lineage. Though also part of the Davidic lineage, Joseph was of a "childless" portion of the lineage, that of Coniah. The pronouncement that "no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah" is found in Jeremiah 22:30. Skeptics often referred to Jesus as "Joseph's son," which led to the conflict that caused many not to receive Him and question His claim as King of the Jews. It may not look like it, and it certainly may not feel like it, but to receive the gift of a "holy thing" from God is indicative of favor! God has chosen you to carry out the assignment, and there's no one else He's looking for to do it. Sure, someone else could have done it, but they're not you! Simply put, "they" weren't chosen; you were! So, savor the favor and receive from God what He has given you to do for His glory! I find it interesting that Mary sought Jesus thinking he was dead but found Him alive! She grieved, thinking that the body of the Lord was displaced, but he was closer than she knew. The Bible promises that those of us seeking the Lord will find him. Even in "death," Mary found the Lord because he was alive. "Why seek ye the living among the dead?" the angel asked the women in Luke 24:5. The Lord promises that when we seek Him, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13), and James tells us to draw near to God, and He will draw near to us (James 4:8). Mary took things a step further and launched an investigation! Her curiosity would not be satisfied; she kept seeking, even after Peter and John "went away again unto their own home." (John 20:10) Does this sound like you that a deep sense of duty to the Lord has begotten you a great assignment? Mary wasn't seeking an assignment; she was seeking the Lord. Jesus commanded her not to touch Him because He had not yet ascended but to go and tell the disciples he would ascending (John 20:17). Mary's assignment was to Jesus' "brothers," and what an assignment that was. Her response to the Lord's goodness kept him near her heart, and she remained dutifully devoted to Him, even in death. Maybe you, like Mary Magdalene, sought the Lord and not an assignment. Mary immediately went, but what if she would have relented? Do you ever stop to think about that? She could have said, "but Lord, I'm a woman; they won't hear me or believe me!" What if she said, "I wonder if Peter and John said anything yet?" We don't know because we know that she went as Jesus commanded her. Imagine the pure joy encapsulated in the responsibility to tell the good news! The message that Jesus was alive was first delivered to His disciples by women; I won't let you forget that. Many of you may testify that you struggle because you, like Mary, didn't ask for that holy thing, but many others of you may have even asked God for it, like Hannah. Either way, now that it's in your hands, the success of it is up to you! How obedient you are will determine whether you experience sound, godly success or not. Of course, this begs the question many of you may be asking, "what am I to do with this holy thing?" To guide you, I'll share bible stories and other anecdotes to guide you along the process of bringing it forth according to purpose. Whether the "baby" you're carrying or have delivered is a ministry, book, service, business, or other Kingdom assignment, I pray that this book inspires a leap of faith. Thank you for reading I pray that this book provides you with the thrust necessary to go birth "that holy thing" with confidence, courage, and boldness.
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This book has had many titles, but the idea of a cover girl really grabbed my attention, so I ran with it. When thinking about doing something for the Lord, it's pretty deceptive to imply that it will be beautiful only. So many of the women used by God throughout history have clothed themselves in humility and obedience, trading in the vanity of outer beauty accouterments. This book celebrates the women who answered the call of God in their lives and with the output of their lives. The Cover Girl celebrated in this book is the Proverbs 31 woman, remixed! Was she born with it? No. But in each case, but she is remembered for it! Because we are the only Bible some people will ever read, we are living epistles. In this sense, cover girls are a walking testimony of the goodness of God, the power of God and the limitless potential existing in all believers. Learning about these living epistles and their overcoming faith will help you comprehend the love of God, and better understand the will of God as it pertains to His daughters. If I were to ask many of you what you see when you stand in the mirror, you'd probably tell me about your imperfections. Many of you may be recovering from the sight that only saw flaws. What would it take for me to show you a reflection that resembles Christ in you? If you don't see it right now at the beginning, I hope you will by the end of the book. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. The women in this book are women who, in response to the call of God to prophesied, served, helped, supported, and even delivered the Savior and His forerunner. The depth of their stories remains untold and, in some ways, misunderstood. I plan to tell the stories in such a way that clarifies the truth of scripture and helps readers see themselves in these stories. If you can see yourself in the story, I believe you will see these women of God in the real world, no longer resting in obscurity on the pages of life. These women though sometimes called to do hard things, are worthy of cover girl status, and I want to take this time to grant it to them as I tell their stories to help you follow in their footsteps. I believe the Lord is illuminating these truths for this season, and I have leaned into lifting these stories for our reading. So many of them have gone for centuries unreported and underreported, but I want to make them common knowledge. I want to make them so clear that you understand that God can use you where you are as a woman. You don't have to become rigid or mimic a man to accomplish what he gives you. There's purpose in the softness of your skin, the lightness of your voice, the way your perfume wafts in the air to announce your presence, the light in your eyes, and the way your hands hold the heart of a man and the future of your children. There's beauty and purpose in you, and you don't have to give any of it away to be used by God. I intend to clarify in this book that God wants to use you as a woman to do what He has designed you to do! In the case of Mary, only a woman can give birth, so her assignment so God uniquely designed for her. Other stories we'll read will highlight the inner beauty and sanctity of the women God used throughout biblical history. “Nothing is more beautiful than a woman who is brave, strong and emboldened because of who Christ is in her.” In Judges 4, Deborah, Israel's reigning judge, summons Barak to her. She, in essence, asked him why he hadn't obeyed God and gone to war against the Canaanites. He told her that he would go if she went, and Deborah agreed to go. In her agreement, she dropped a bomb on Barak, telling him that a woman would kill Sisera and not him. As the Israelites prevailed against the Canaanites, Sisera, the captain, fled and took flight in fear of his life. Because there was peace between Heber the Kenite and Jabin, he went their way instead to Jael's tent and not her husband's. By doing this, he was deserving of death, even though they were friends. The culture predicated it, not the war! However, God allowed it, and Sisera died. To quote current pop culture, she understood the assignment!
Jael killed Sisera as Deborah prophesied a woman would instead of Barak.[i] Here's how she did it: Sisera accepted Jael's invitation to her tent because, as scripture says, there was peace between King Jabin and Jael's husband, Heber the Kenite. Conjecture could allow you to guess that it was either her mere presence as a woman or the peace between them and the King that let Sisera's guards down, but it proved fateful. Homeboy even got so comfortable that he took a nap! Jael wasn't playing, though. As he slept, Jael drove a stake through Sisera's temples, killing him and fulfilling Deborah's prophecy.[ii] Sisera's death at the hands of Jael proves that what a man won't do, there's a woman who will. God knows that. The enemy knows it, too; we don't seem to be too keen on that truth. Please make no mistake about it; Jael is a cover girl. Deborah, who served as judge over Israel at the time, is a cover girl, as well. If you're wondering, our baseline for cover girl status isn't beauty as much as it is obedience to God and His interests. Jael played a significant role in bringing twenty years of Canaanite oppression to an end. By doing this, she also prevented the rape and torture of their women should there have been a Canaanite victory.[iii] Barak was guaranteed victory, but he trusted in Debora's contact with God more than he did the word of God than what he had already heard.[iv] Jael's move shamed both Sisera and Barak. Sisera was shamed in that he was subdued and killed by a woman and Barak that he was robbed of his guaranteed victory by the same woman.[v] Following the death of Sisera (King Jabin's captain), the Israelites prevailed against King Jabin and his army and the oppression of the Canaanites and dwelt in peace for forty years. Women can be anything, even a warrior, if need be! In response to what God has either called them to or what He has allowed (Jael), there is no limit to what a woman can do! We have discovered that even the ugly stories and realities are useful in the end, because as Solomon said, it's God who makes all things beautiful in His time.[vi] The women I'll use to inspire and inform your purpose journey are just like women you know and love; all cover girls in their own way! We are greatest than even our greatest fear, yet we remain compromised by our greatest fear. We fear that we are inadequate but the truth is that we are powerful beyond measure. What frightens us is not always negative, but the positive life wants to give. The human condition robs us of seeing greatness manifest in us. This is why we shrink back in moments of greatness and disappear when the spotlight is on us. Simply put, we are our greatest fear. It's time we do something about it. We're not afraid that nobody knows us, we're afraid that people will need us. We're not afraid to share the answer, we're afraid to speak up. In protecting the you you don't want anybody to see, you hurt others. They'll never get the answer they seek. Some may never see boldness and courage on display and that young impressionable dreamer? They'll live the rest of their lives believing the lie that their dreams are impossible. We need you. We need you to shine your light. “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles" Have you ever thought about it? Light doesn't reflect in a straight line. Shine your light for the people you'll never meet. Do it for the people whose thanks will be shared in a foreign language, in a foreign land or in a foreign method of communication. You see, you will never discover just how bright the light within you will shine until you allow it opportunity. Until you peel back the curtain for the world to see, starting with you, it's just a meager possibility. But we want to live in the reality of your shine! What are you waiting on? Who said you're not good enough, smart enough, tough enough, tall enough, brave enough, or you enough? There's a light in you that's bigger than you! The light that manifested when God said "let there be light" is alive in you! It's so big...it's big enough to outshine doubt, defeat and detours. You smiled a little bit, didn't you? You thought about life in the light for half a second. Think about it, again. The light is peaking through, you're at least thinking about it. That's a great start. You may not shine today, tomorrow, this week or even this year. But remember, you don't have forever to shine. With each passing day, our lights get a little dimmer. With each wasted moment, another opportunity is missed to brighten someone's day or show them the good that's in the world. One day, all we'll have is memories of you. We'll remember you shining or shrinking. It's up to you. You don't think we know, do you? We know what's in you, we're surprised you conceal it so well. If we could reach in and pull it ourselves we would. But the light needs permission. Not from us, but from you! You have to say it's ok for the light in you to come out and play! It doesn't matter if your young or old and gray! Light is light, so do all you can with all your might! Make life brighter for someone by sharing your light. See, you're not inadequate. You're too much to bottle up! We could never, and don't plan to, either! So, shine on! Shine your light and don't you dare dim it for anyone! In 2015, Pastor Ronald Daugherty released a book of inspirational poetry. One entry spoke volumes to me, and I want to share it with you. In the poem, Pastor Daugherty reasons why many of us don’t allow our light to shine. Many of us share the same excuses and trepidation that keep us from letting it shine. What I discovered in this poem is that many of us don’t let our light shine because we would much rather it be something else! In “The Journey to Genesis,” readers have been encouraged to “return” to their point of creation for an understanding of why God made them and to then do what He assigned them. Welcome to the next step of walking it out and in so doing, letting your light shine! I thought I would sing for the Lord or from memory a verse I could quote, |
Mighty Pen PublishingIn our book blog, we're continuing the conversation with readers. We know that writing a thought provoking book will make you think, but what do you do then? Well, we hope to continue the conversation began by reading the book with posts here. Archives
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