One of my favorite authors/speakers is Ruth Haley Barton. She has written several books, including Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership, which I'm reading now, along with about four other books (a bad habit, I know). She also writes monthly articles for leaders. The one I received a couple of days ago really struck me as powerful, so I wanted to pass it along to you. It is called "Available to God on Behalf of Others." www.thetransformingcenter.org/newsletters.php Here's an excerpt to whet your appetite:
"I prayed that you would be able to live faithfully in that great paradox of spiritual leadership: that your ministry is all about you (because you are the one God has called to be where you are in this moment) and it is not about you at all (because it is all about God's work in and through you and your ability to be given over to God in whatever moment you are in). I prayed that we would all know that this kind of availability to God on behalf of others is not something we can put on like a uniform..."
I don't know about you, but sometimes it's hard for me to live in that paradox....knowing that God wants to use me, but also being very aware that ministry to teen girls is soooo not about me. On one end of the spectrum is a grandiose idea of myself (thinking it's all about me). On the other end is a gross underestimation of what God wants to accomplish through me.
Being available to be used by God is a daily journey that requires my daily surrender. I'm just grateful I get to come along on the ride.
Wow! I can really relate to this! Thank you so much for sharing it. I have been working in the student ministry for several months and believe that recently God has called me to a writing/speaking ministry also...so the very paradox you discussed in your post has been my home base for the last 3 months! I am so grateful to know I am not alone in trying to maintain the attitude of a humble servant while at the same time being so incredibly grateful that He would be willing to use me! Thanks for sharing it!!!!