I got a very kind note from a friend the other day. She told me how much she enjoys reading my devotional books and also sharing those books with other people. She said she wanted me to know I make a difference.
I don’t know about you, but I consider that the ultimate compliment, the sweetest words anyone can say. I think most of us want to be legacy builders, people who make a difference in our time, inspiring those who come after us.
This thought made me consider some of the people who have made a difference in my life, perhaps helping to shape me into becoming a better person.
I remember my second-grade teacher who always seemed to believe in me, who trusted me and told me I would be a great teacher someday.
It turned out she was my dad’s teacher as well.
Oddly enough, when I got to eighth grade and began to plan my course work for the next four years, my guidance counselor tried to dissuade me from going to college. She made a difference.
She caused me to work harder to achieve my goal and when I finished my master’s degree, I thought of her. In an odd way, she had strengthened my resolve to be a teacher.
Even though, I don’t do much classroom teaching anymore, that spirit still exists within me.
I remember when I was first drawn to reading the Bible. I didn’t know anything about it, but I joined a group of young people who were already seasoned Christians.
They answered my questions, encouraged my efforts and made a huge difference in my life.
They planted seeds that caused me to consider what it could mean to make a difference for God.
I suspect we each have memories of the difference makers, the ones who helped guide our choices and our life direction.
You have made a difference in the lives of people around you. You believed in someone’s dreams. You told someone to take another path.
You shaped someone’s faith or sense of self or their desire to try harder. You were there at just the right time, giving them the gentle nudge to keep them moving forward. You have made a difference in a lot of people’s lives, and you still are doing so.
You’re creating a legacy of those who will come behind you and remember what you’ve done.
They’ll thank you for equipping them to recognize what God designed them to be.
For all of you who make an incredible difference in my life, and you know who you are, I give God thanks and praise today.
Editor’s Note — This blog post was written by Karen Moore and first appeared at karenmooreauthor.com and is reprinted with permission.
Reigniting ministry passion
Willie McLaurin, interim president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, offers seven steps for reigniting your ministry passion. They are:
- Deepen your intimacy with God. “Healthy Christian leaders develop and maintain a close, vibrant relationship with God.”
- Discover a vision of what could be, “a clear vision of God’s plan for your ministry.”
- Develop a passion for reaching people. “The needs are massive, and people are hurting and searching and looking.”
- Sacrifice for God’s Kingdom. “Sacrifice strengthens our resolve … builds our faith … requires trust and is contagious.”
- Persevering through difficulties. “Believers stay on task even in difficult situations.”
- Strengthen your people skills. “Effective ministry is largely determined by one’s ability to work well with others … and the Great Commandment is about loving
others.” - Enjoy the journey. “Create a climate of contentment. Count your blessings … adapt to your circumstances. Learn something new every day. Get some rest and relaxation. Finish strong.”
Thoughts from the-scroll.com
Be intentional and seek out friendships that encourage you and energize you in your faith. Nurture those friendships and don’t shy away from asking hard questions or having hard conversations. I believe deep relationships with fellow believers will only deepen your love and knowledge of God.
Jessica Ingram
“The beauty of fellowship”
We aren’t promised a life that’s fair, but we are promised that we have a God who is sovereign and will carry us through this life and into eternity.
Amy Hacker
“Life’s not fair”
Mary’s importance has never been in question, but Matthew’s phrasing emphasizes her significance in the eyes of Christ-followers, especially those who walked with Jesus.
In the eyes of the world, Mary seemed like a liar, a ruined woman whose fiancé showed her grace. But she was chosen by God to be the mother of our Savior, transforming her from ruined to worthy.
Addie Lee Frierson
“5 Women in Matthew 1:Mary”
I should give all of my cares and fears and worries and concerns and sins to God. He always takes them. And He gives us rest, respite, peace and salvation in return.
Hannah Muñoz
“Lay it all at His feet”
Processing the Covenant School shooting
By Brent Leatherwood
Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
On Monday, March 27, at 10:28 a.m., I received the most terrifying call a parent could imagine: a shooter was at the school of my three children.
While our family is safe now, the trauma from that day and the memories of six friends, classmates, leaders and servants will be with us for the rest of our lives.
March 27 was tragic. In fact, I still haven’t found the right words to describe the flood of emotions, especially the grief. But heroes were everywhere that day who acted with incredible bravery. We are forever indebted to them.
There are so many stories yet to be told from that horrible day.
But they’re not mine to share right now. I will amplify them when they surface.
While this difficult experience has altered our story, it has not changed our trajectory:
God’s love endures and we hold fast to that truth.
March 27 was the darkest day of our lives, yet His mercies are immeasurably more.
In fact, we’ve been playing the song by the same name by Matt Boswell continuously in our home to remind us of that truth. That song has allowed me to hold it together so many times since March 27.
Outpouring of love
Another mercy our Lord has extended us has been His bride, the Church.
Our family at The Church at Avenue South and Brentwood Baptist Church, both in Nashville, have poured out love and kindness on our family and other Covenant families.
I don’t know how we would be doing without our church.
Many have asked what’s next? Those answers will come in the days ahead.
Things I know:
- Covenant will come back. There’s too much light there and too many people leaning in for it to be otherwise. Darkness never prevails against the light.
- We’ve become numb to these tragedies as a society — defenseless, innocent lives being taken. We should never accept this as a reality. We need to commit ourselves to finding an answer to this epidemic and not rest until it is solved. Count me as a solution seeker on this.
- In our home and community, we’ll never forget those six lives lost from March 27. We grieve with our friends and Covenant families. And we cling to Jesus who moves to the hurting and comforts the brokenhearted.
From the Twitterverse
@Brcremer
When we Christians become convinced that we are the only authority on truth, that anyone who opposes us is evil, and that things will only get better if we are in charge of all positions of power, that is when we know we are no longer worshipping God. We are worshipping ourselves.
@shane_pruitt78
The gospel doesn’t just call us FROM things (sin, death, destruction), it also calls us TO things:
to a relationship with God,
to new life,
to love others,
to the Church,
to the Kingdom,
to hope,
to freedom,
to peace,
to victory,
to a purpose,
to a mission,
to never look back!
@DanielRitchie
God is doing amazing work in small churches all across America. Souls are being saved. Marriages & families are being healed. Disciples are being made.
God is doing work in places that don’t get tweeted about or podcasts recorded about.
Be encouraged. The gospel is on the move!
@BillyGraham
“After all, if we truly understand who Jesus is — the divine Son of God who died for our sins and rose again by the power of God for our salvation — how can we treat Him casually? How can we live as if He were unimportant?”
@claysmith79
John Stott: “The cross is not just a badge to identify us and the banner under which we march; it is also the compass that gives us our bearings in a disorientated world.”
@LysaTerKeurst
We don’t have to be fearful about what this new week holds. God is already standing in every one of our tomorrows.
Standing there with His love. Waiting on us with His wisdom. Going before us with His hope and His provision.
