Is Jesus your superior?

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the pre-eminence." (Colossians 1:15-18)

John Maxwell, in his Leadership Bible, reminds us that "although Paul clearly was a strong leader, he constantly declared his submission to the leadership of Christ." In this passage, "Paul paints a picture of Jesus' supremacy over every authority on earth. Our Lord rescues, redeems, and tranforms. He is the image of the invisible God, who created everything, including other leaders and authorities." As the firstborn from the dead, Christ takes priority over every created thing. He is superior to everyone -- every authority and every other leader on earth.

Do we give Jesus that authority over our lives? Is He the head of our Church? Is He given the place of honor at our board meetings? Do we submit all things to Him? Is Jesus our superior?

It's true

"Christianity hasn't been tried and found wanting; it has been found hard and left untried."
-- G. K. Chesterton

Mission in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina

The ECW in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina has had as its World Mission Project a wonderful organization called Five Talents International. To learn more about their work with Five Talents, check out ECW Mission Projects

Five Talents is an Anglican initiative committed to combating poverty in the developing world by: Equipping the poor with small business training and small loan programs; equipping the church with the tools to help the poor in small business; showing Christ's love and mercy in thought, word, and deed and affirming human dignity.

Prayer Partners: Craig Cole, Executive Director; The Rev. Martyn Minns, President and Chair of the board; The Rt. Rev. Simon Chiwanga, Bishop of the Diocese of Tanzania and international chairman.

Five Talents International
P.O. Box 1487
Fairfax, VA 22030
www.fivetalents.org

Who are you?

Quite often, the mission of our ECW is a statement that is not often revised or rewritten. But it's a good idea every few years to revisit this important definition of who we are and how we understand our calling as Episcopal Church Women. Here are a few mission statements I've run across recently:

From Church of the Holy Spirit, Safety Harbor, FL
Episcopal Church Women (ECW) is the fellowship of all the women of the church, organized to enable women to serve our Lord through worship, service, stewardship and fellowship. We are Episcopal Church Women committed to one another and called to be witnesses for Christ. Our challenge is to provide a safe place where every woman is free to become the person Christ created her to be. We are called. We are different. We are one body.

From the ECW, Diocese of Upper South Carolina
The ECW Board leads, enables, and educates the women in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina to develop as a sisterhood in Christian spiritual growth, mission and ministry.

From Church of the Epiphany, New Iberia, LA
The mission of the Episcopal Church Women of the Church of the Epiphany, New Iberia, is to empower the women of the church with instruction, spiritual development, and fellowship, reaching out to the larger church, community, and the world through program, action, and leadership.

From the ECW, Diocese of Alabama
The purpose of this organization shall be to unite the women of the diocese in allegiance to their Lord, Jesus Christ, and in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, through a program of worship, study, gifts and service, which shall deepen and strengthen their own spiritual lives, and lead them into Christian service in the parish, the community, the diocese and the world.

From St. John's Episcopal Church, Naples, FL
The purpose of Episcopal Church Women is to encourage women to serve our Lord through worship, service, stewardship and fellowship.

From the ECW, Diocese of South Carolina
The purpose of this organization shall be to offer the women of the diocese a program of worship, study, service, fellowship and opportunities for development of ministries which will strengthen their own spiritual lives and lead them into service for the Church in the parish, the community, the diocese, the nation and the world.

Are you busy or are you bearing fruit?

The church at Ephesus provides a classic illustration of leaders who failed to practice the Law of Priorities. Leaders can't merely stay busy; they must stay busy with the right activities. They don't just do things right; they do the right things.

The Ephesian leaders kept their people busy (see Rev. 2:2-3) and the Lord commends them for their labor, but somehow they had left their first priority, which was to love God. Their work for God had actually distracted them from God! They had busy hands, crowded calendars, full heads -- but empty hearts.

What does God say about the remdy for their situation? In one sentence it is this: Remember and repent, or I will return and remove your light (2:5). This is good advice for any leader who has drifted from the top priorities:

Reflect: Think back and remember the original vision and goals.

Repent: Decide to change. List what you must discard and prioritize.

Restore: Begin to restore one top priority at a time, each week.

Recognize: Remember that God holds us accountable. He rewards fruit, not activitiy.

from the Maxwell Leadership Bible (John Maxwell, Nelson Publishers)

Prayers for Rowan Cantaur

For those who follow the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, this is the week we remember in our prayers the Archbishop of Canterbury, or Rowan Cantaur. Pray for his work, ministry, and witness this week.

Almighty and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift: Send down upon the Archbishop of Canterbury, the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and that he may continually please thee, pour upon him the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.

When does your ECW really shine?

I asked this question of the Rev. Jennie Olbrych, rector of the Church of St. Peter & St. John in our diocese (she's also going to be our chaplain for the women's conference in June) and here's what she had to say:

"Our ECW really shines when they spring into action for their bereavement ministry. When a church member dies, the ECW puts on a meal in the parish hall (or in someone's home if they want) for the extended family and friends...sometimes up to 80 or so folks....the most, I think, was somewhere around 120. And, the food is pure comfort food: fried chicken, ham, lima beans, rice, all sorts of vegetable casseroles, congealed salads, biscuits, yeast rolls, and wonderful desserts --- all of it homemade. Family members are deeply touched by this and it communicates the love and mercy of Jesus in edible form."

"We had Virginia Seago's funeral this week. She died very suddenly of heart failure at home at the age of 80. It was a great shock for everyone and I will miss her. She was larger than life and sat right in the second row on the gospel side. It seemed to be healing for her family and close friends to be able to sit together in the parish hall after her interment and to have a good visit before they began heading back to all the various corners of their worlds. Perhaps it's just having a safe and neutral place to go right after a difficult and disorienting time. Whatever it is, Jesus always seems to show up for those meals. He sits with the family and stays until the kitchen crew has finished cleaning up. Thanks be to God!"

Q & A

Question: What four elements were present in the daily life of the early church? What model for discipleship is given in the 2nd Chapter of Acts?

Answer: "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." (Acts 2:42)

The apostles' teaching? Yes -- because before the completion of the New Testament, the teaching of the apostles' was the source of truth about Jesus. Remember, one thing that all of these men had in common was they had walked with Jesus. They all had first-hand experience -- they really knew Christ! So their teaching was received with the same authority as the written Word.

How have the women in your diocese "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching"? What are you currently studying? My small group is doing a Life Application Study on the Book of Acts -- in December we wrapped up Alister McGrath's book I Believe, a study of the Apostles' Creed. Another group I know is considering this year's Lent as 40 Days of Purpose -- you guessed it, they're reading The Purpose-Driven Life. Let us know what you're doing -- send me an e-mail at lydiaevans@comcast.net and share your resources for building the Body of Christ.

Looking for a great book?

Elizabeth Musser has written a powerful novel of love, compassion, and self-discovery set in 1962 Atlanta. The Swan House tells the story of one young woman's struggle to understand loss and the faith that she ultimately finds.

Chapter 1 Orly Airfield, Paris, France June 3, 1962

In my mind, the nine months from the first of June 1962 until the end of February of the following year were what I afterward called "the year of death." I suppose it was the worst year of my life in many ways, certainly the most painful. And yet, as I have so often seen since, it was a year of discovery and change, and ultimately of hope. And there were wonderful parts too -- the first time I fell in love, the first time I learned to really see someone else, the first time I dared to venture outside myself. And most importantly, it was the year that I discovered the truth, and truth always sets us free. So maybe I should call it not the year of death, but the year of freedom.

This is how it happened, as best I can piece those first days together from what I've been told and from what I lived.

John Jason Middleton, my forty-year-old father, lifted his arm and waved happily to his wife and my mother, Sheila, as she headed to the large aircraft. Then, on an impulse, he ran out of the glass doors and caught her in a tight embrace, kissed her on the lips, and pressed his hand against her fine silken hair. She laughed at him, her jade eyes twinkling and her wide, delicious mouth painted bright pink. "See you tomorrow, sweetheart."

He watched as his wife and many of their friends boarded the Boeing 707 bound from Paris to Atlanta. The three-week trip with over a hundred other Atlantans had been perfect in every way. A dozen different scenes flashed through his mind. Dancing with Sheila. Sheila on the Champs-Elysses. Sheila, arms piled high with packages from Galleries Lafayette. And of course Sheila weeping in front of a Rembrandt ...

We were Episcopalians, and Grandmom and Granddad and Daddy and Mama went to the Cathedral of St. Philip right up the street from us. The cathedral, which had recently been rebuilt, was a magnificent building constructed of what was called Tennessee quartzite—a pretty yellow-hued stone. It sat up on a hill on a small promontory that jutted out, not into water, but into Peachtree Road just as the road veered right, so that you couldn’t help but notice the beautiful cathedral as you drove by. Jimmy and I usually went to church on Sunday mornings, although we’d slacked off the past few weeks with Mama and Daddy gone.

To read the rest of this excerpt from The Swan House, go to Bethany House Publishers - Christian Fiction, Nonfiction, Young Adult and Children's Books

Let Me Now Go Forth

Let me now go forth, O Lord my God, to the work of another day, still surrounded by Your loving kindnesses, still pledged to Your loyal service, still standing in Your strength and not my own.

Let me today be a Christian not only in my words but also in my deeds;
Let me follow bravely in the footsteps of my Master, wherever they may lead;
Let me be hard and stern with myself;
Let there be no self-pity or self-indulgence in my life today;
Let me be clear in my speech;
Let my actions be courageous and decisive.

I pray, O Lord, not only for myself, but for my household and my friends. I pray also today –

For all who will be faced by any great decision;
For all who will be engaged in settling the affairs of nations;
For all who are molding public opinion in our time;
For all who write what other people read;
For all who are holding aloft the lamp of truth in a world of ignorance and sin;
For all whose hands are worn with too much toil;
For the unemployed whose hands today fall idle;
For those who have not a place to lay their head.

O Christ my Lord, who for my sake gave up all earthly comforts, forbid it that I should ever again live unto myself. Amen.

from A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie

Retreat Planned for February 6th-8th

Christ in You – the Hope of Glory

More than 125 women are expected to attend the upcoming ECW Annual Retreat in the Diocese of South Carolina. Martha Horn, founder of 100 Fold Life Ministry, is the retreat leader for this event held each February at Camp Saint Christopher on Seabrook Island. Her husband, the Reverend Robert Horn, rector of Trinity Church in Pinopolis, will serve as chaplain.

This year’s focus will be centered around the topic, “Christ in You – the Hope of Glory.” Has God revealed to you His secret plan for your life? Or is it still a mystery? Martha will illumine your mind while challenging your heart and stretching your faith. A gifted teacher for this generation, Martha has a profound knowledge of scripture that she shares in laymen’s terms and illustrations, giving you a revelation for daily life application.

Treat yourself to a weekend of Spirit-soaring music by members of the Christ-St. Paul’s praise team, Frances Tovey and Leigh Stoots, heart-changing revelation, and eye-opening study as Martha Horn shows you how to live the abundant life God longs to give to you!

For more information on this retreat, contact Debbie Kollar, conference coordinator, at 843-769-5310 (day) or 843-571-3460 (evening).

Norma Dearing to lead Florida Retreat

Mark your calendars -- Florida Episcopal Church Women will hold their annual retreat March 19-21 at Camp Weed in Live Oak. Norma Dearing, Executive Director of The Healing Touch Ministries, and author of a book by the same name, will lead a wonderful weekend on Living a Spirit-Directed Life. For more information, contact Jan Walker at 352-332-6659 or walk1243@bellsouth.net.

What Would Jesus Have Us Do?

Take a look at the blueprint we’re given for the Church – the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles describes the Body of Christ in the first century in this way:

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” ---New International Version

Are you following His four-point plan for building the Body of Christ? Teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer – it seems very simple, but this is the model laid out for us in the beginning.

The Confession of Saint Peter

Today is the day on the church calendar when we remember the confession of Saint Peter. Peter was the first of the apostles -- called Petros by our Lord, which is Greek for "the Rock." When asked by Jesus, "But who do you say that I am?", Peter spoke out boldly, and replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16)

On this day, and in such a time as this, let's remember also the words written in 1 Peter 5:8-10 -- "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you."

Are you ordinary?

“I have always been fascinated with the lives of the twelve apostles. Who isn’t? The personality types of these men are familiar to us. They are just like us, and they are like other people we know. They are approachable. They are real and living characters we can identify with. Their faults and foibles, as well as their triumphs and endearing features, are chronicled in some of the most fascinating accounts of the Bible. These are men we want to know.”

“That’s because they were perfectly ordinary men in every way. . .They were not outstanding because of any natural talents or intellectual abilities. On the contrary, they were all too prone to mistakes, misstatements, wrong attitudes, lapses of faith, and bitter failure – no one more so than the leader of the group, Peter. Even Jesus remarked that they were slow learners and somewhat spiritually dense (Luke 24:25).”

“Yet with all their faults and character flaws – as remarkably ordinary as they were – these men carried on a ministry after Jesus’ ascension that left an indelible impact on the world. Their ministry continues to influence us even today. God graciously empowered and used these men to inaugurate the spread of the gospel message and to turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6). Ordinary men – people like you and me – became the instruments by which Christ’s message was carried to the ends of the earth.”“ . . . the propagation of the gospel and the founding of the church hinged entirely on twelve men whose most outstanding characteristic was their ordinariness.”

from Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur (W Publishing, 2003)

The Church's One Foundation

"The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation by water and the Word;
From heaven He came and sought her to be His holy bride,
With His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died."

"I have appeared to you for this purpose . . ."

The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, "I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision" (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, "Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine." And the Lord also says to us, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go . . ." (John 15:16).

When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be "disobedient to the heavenly vision" - not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ. Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling " . . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . " There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ's. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2).

from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

South Carolina ECW to Consider Projects

At their April annual meeting, the Episcopal Church Women in the Diocese of South Carolina will choose their 2004-2005 project. Three possibilities will be presented, including the Healing Farms Ministry. Healing Farms seeks to establish places of hope and healing -- Christian communities of faith where mentally challenged people live and celebrate together with those called to serve them and be their friends. These are families created and sustained by God, where each person is encouraged to grow in the love and service of Christ. Healing Farms has been a prayer partner of the ECW in SC this year.

Also to be considered is the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault, an organization providing 24-hour crisis intervention and support services in a 7 county area of South Carolina, and Water Missions International, a Charleston-based Christian initiative serving the water and sanitation needs of developing countries and disaster areas.

Are we leaving room for God?

As servants of God, we must learn to make room for Him -- to give God "elbow room." We plan and figure and predict that this and that will happen, but we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never expected Him to come? Do not look for God to come in a particular way, but do look for Him. The way to make room for Him is to expect Him to come, but not in a certain way. No matter how well we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that He may break in at any minute. We tend to overlook this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. Suddenly -- God meets our life -- " . . . when it pleased God . . ."

Keep your life so constantly in touch with God that His surprising power can break through at any point. Live in a constant state of expectancy, and leave room for God to come in as He decides.

from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Cathy Varner New East Tennessee ECW President

DIOCESAN ECW BANNER ARRIVES AT ALL SAINTS'

On Sunday, January 11th, the Diocesan Banner of the Episcopal Church Women of East Tennessee was brought to All Saints', Morristown by retiring Diocesan President Nancy Bosson, Church of Ascension, Knoxville. The banner was presented, in procession, with ten Past Presidents of All Saints' ECW escorting. Father Merservey, interim rector, acknowledged the work of the women of the church and introduced All Saints' past Presidents as well as the retiring Diocesan President and Cathy Varner, All Saints', Morristown, newly appointed Diocesan President.

The banner will remain at All Saints' during the term of Ms. Varners' office, 2004-2006, at which time it will be transferred to the next Presidents' home parish. In keeping with tradition, Ms. Bosson also presented Ms. Varner with the Presidents' Cross.

To find out more about what's happening with ECW in the Diocese of East Tennessee, contact Cathy Varner at 423-581-2506 or varner@charter.net.

Her next project is their Spring Conference, scheduled for April 23-24 at Dubose Conference Center near Sewanee. Drawing women from all three dioceses in Tennessee, this event will feature a Conversation with the Bishops (Johnson, Herlong & Von Rosenberg) on Friday evening. Keynoter will be Diana Frade, founder of Our Little Roses Home for Girls in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

2004 ECW Annual Meetings

Upper South Carolina ECW - Church of the Advent, Spartanburg - January 24, 2004
South Carolina ECW - St. Philip's, Charleston - Saturday, April 24, 2004
Georgia ECW - Christ Church, St. Simon's Island - April 30 to May 1, 2004
Louisiana ECW - Baton Rouge - Saturday, May 1, 2004
East Carolina ECW - St. Mary's, Kinston - May 4, 2004
East Tennessee ECW - St. John's Cathedral, Knoxville - September 14, 2004
Florida ECW - St. Paul's, Jacksonville - October 21, 2004

Remembering Amy Carmichael

"Sometimes it takes awhile for young people to find themselves. Amy Carmichael grew up in Belfast, enjoying a carefree life until her father died and left the family debt-ridden. The ensuing pressure helped direct her attention to spiritual things, and in 1886 she gave her life to Christ. She struggled vocationally till the words "Go Ye" so impressed her that on January 13, 1892, she yielded to overseas service. She sailed to Japan.

But she didn't seem to fit there, and Amy struggled to find her place. She left for Shanghai, then, to the dismay of family and friends, abruptly sailed for Ceylon. Returning to England, she decided on India. But for several years, she couldn't find her niche there, and she was often criticized by fellow missionaries.

But she gradually noticed that children were drawn to her, so much so that Indian parents feared Amy was "bewitching" their youngsters. One day, she met a girl who had escaped from the Hindu temple with stories of horror. The Hindus were secretly using children as temple prostitutes. Evidently, parents sold baby girls to the temple, and when the children were eight or nine, they "married" the idol and were pressed into harlotry.

Most people disbelieved such stories, and for several years Amy worked as a detective, assembling evidence to prove the atrocities real. She rescued several more children, and by 1904, was responsible for 17 youngsters. Amy was occasionally hauled into court for kidnapping, and death threats were common.

But children multiplied on her doorstep, and by 1945, thousands had been placed in Amy's Dohnavur Fellowship, a series of homes for outcast children. Many youngsters grew up becoming Christian husbands, wives, and leaders.

During these years, Amy Carmichael also made time for another ministry -- writing. By the time of her death at Dohnavur in 1951 at age 83, she had written 35 books on her work in India and on the victorious Christian life. She had found her place and filled it well.

from On This Day by Robert J. Morgan (Nelson, 2003)

Responding to a Divine Call

Have you ever noticed that the experience of Isaiah parallels our own process of responding to a divine call to lead? Take a look at the first 8 verses of the 6th chapter of Isaiah. He has a vision of God (Is. 6:1-4), a vision of himself (Is. 6:5-7), and a vision of ministry (Is. 6:8).

At least five stages in this process apply to us:

The Revelation of God (vv. 1,2)
Isaiah saw the Lord in a face-to-face encounter that changed him forever.

The Realization of God's Holiness (vv. 3,4)
Isaiah experiences God as holy. Through this encounter, the Lord becomes more than an abstract idea. Isaiah learns of God's awesome personality.

The Recognition of His Own Sinfulness (v. 5)
Isaiah sees the vast distance between God and himself. He sees the infinite contrast and is broken of self.

The Renewal of His Perspective (vv. 6,7)
An angel touches the prophet, cleansing him and giving him a new outlook. He is ready to serve.

The Response of His Lifestyle (v. 8)
When God calls, Isaiah eagerly steps forward. A call is marked by a fruitful life.

revelation realization recognition renewal response

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up,
and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim;
each one had six wings: with two, he covered his face,
with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
Have we encountered the Living God?

And one cried to another and said:
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!"
And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out,
and the house was filled with smoke.
Do we realize the Holiness of God?

So I said:
"Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."
Do we recognize our own sinfulness?

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said:
"Behold this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin is purged."
Has our perspective been renewed?

Also, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
"Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?"
Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."
How are we responding to God's call?

from The Leadership Bible (John Maxwell)

Called by God

"I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'" (Isaiah 6:8)

God did not direct His call to Isaiah -- Isaiah overheard God saying, " . . . who will go for Us?" The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God's call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude. "Many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14). That is, few prove that they are the chosen ones. The chosen ones are those who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and have had their spiritual condition changed and their ears opened. Then they hear "the voice of the Lord" continually asking, " . . . who will go for Us?" However, God doesn't single out someone and say, "Now, you go." He did not force His will on Isaiah. Isaiah was in the presence of God, and he overheard the call. His response, performed in complete freedom, could only be to say, "Here am I! Send me."

Remove the thought from your mind of expecting God to come to force you or to plead with you. When our Lord called His disciples, He did it without irresistable pressure from the outside. The quiet, yet passionate, insistence of His "Follow Me" was spoken to men whose every sense was receptive (Matthew 4:19). If we will allow the Holy Spirit to bring us face to face with God, we too will hear what Isaiah heard -- "the voice of the Lord." In perfect freedom we too will say, "Here am I! Send me."

from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

In the Hands of the Master

One cannot transform a world except as individuals in the world are transformed, and individuals cannot be changed except as they are molded in the hands of the Master.

Julia Chester Emery, 1922

Today is the day on the calendar when we remember Julia Chester Emery, founder of the Women's Auxiliary, now known as the ECW. Here is the collect written especially for her day:

O Almighty God, who have surrounded us with a great cloud of Witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servant Julia, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last we may with her attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Called by the Father

I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!" Isaiah 6:8

"You have been called by God to become who you are meant to be in Christ. It is your decision whether or not you answer that call. Your calling is to the highest purpose. God has created and called you to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. He has a plan for your life and if you answer His call to growth and service, He will help you become the woman He created you to be.

"Don't let the world squeeze you into its own mold. You are called to be different, not because of what you do or do not do, but because of who you are and who you believe. You are called to be creative, to use your gifts and talents to make the world a better place; to be compassionate, to help one another by being the hands of God in a hurting world; to be conscientious, to do the best you can and trusting God with the rest; and to be committed, to be willing to stand for the truth even when the crowd wants you to lie.

"You are a unique individual. There is no one else like you. You have your own style, your own personality, your own quirks and preferences. You might have been a tomboy growing up, reveling in your independence and freedom. Or you might have been the little girl who preferred to follow rather than to lead, enjoying group activities where everyone encouraged each other rather than competing with one another. As you matured, you have become a unique combination of traits and interests, learning to accept the differences and appreciate diversity. God has called you to bring your unique combination of gifts and talents to a higher purpose. You are called to be like Christ.

"Christ works in and through your situation and personality to bring His kingdom into the world. He gave you your gifts and talents. You don't have to be rich or famous to have an impact on your world. No one else can do what you can do, be what you can be.

"Every time you make an important decision, remember that God called you. Ask yourself if this decision will serve the highest good. Remind yourself that you are somebody special in God's eyes, called to a unique and wonderful path of growth and service."

An excerpt from Checklist for Life for Women: Timeless Wisdom & Foolproof Strategies for Making the Most of Life's Challenges & Opportunities (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2002)