February 17th, 2016

For Lent we are going to be looking at different people in the Bible… specifically people who have answered God’s call and what it means for us.  Because here’ s the deal, if we call ourselves Christ followers, we are called.  Not only that, we have been sent.  This verse is one of those life verses, one of those scriptures that I come back to over and over again.  Jesus didn’t come into this world just to give us eternal security… Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of God.  And God created us, this church, to continue that work on this earth. 

We are God’s creation, we are made to do this work, and every day God has prepared good things for us to do… we have been equipped, called and sent.  Every day of our lives, we are sent into the world to do the work of God.  This is what it means to be a Christ-follower.  This is what it means to be sent.

For Lent we are going to be looking at different people in the Bible… specifically people who have answered God’s call and what it means for us.  Because here’ s the deal, if we call ourselves Christ followers, we are called.  Not only that, we have been sent.  This verse is one of those life verses, one of those scriptures that I come back to over and over again.  Jesus didn’t come into this world just to give us eternal security… Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of God.  And God created us, this church, to continue that work on this earth. 

We are God’s creation, we are made to do this work, and every day God has prepared good things for us to do… we have been equipped, called and sent.  Every day of our lives, we are sent into the world to do the work of God.  This is what it means to be a Christ-follower.  This is what it means to be sent.

Some of you know this about me, but I come from a home that did not go to church.  I went to church with friends.  Came to know Jesus in a church that didn’t believe women could serve in leadership.

I came to know my faith, develop my understanding of faith in a very conservative church, that said women could not serve in leadership.  But I knew I was called.  At 12 years old, I knew I was called.  I had a Catholic woman mentor me through middle school and still to this day… she inspires me, teaches me.  In college I continued to explore my call.  And after college I tried to do anything else… I worked for a mission organization.  I worked as a teacher’s aid. 

But was knew I was not doing what I was supposed to be doing… I knew God had something for me to do… so I just started saying yes.  Started saying yes to serving God anyway that I could.  I ended up on the board of my church.  I had significant differences with a report that our children’s pastor had prepared.  I spoke with him before the meeting and told him that I wanted to support him, but could not support his analysis of the church…. As it turns out, I never had to state that I was opposed, but I did have the opportunity to share in the part of the report that I was passionate about.  And as I shared about the recommendation he was making, the group looked to me and saw my passion.  They laid hands on me and prayed for me to join in ministry. 

I was asked to take on starting an alternative church service.  So I did.  I knew nothing.  I simply said yes.  When the children’s pastor quit to pursue other ministries, I was asked to take the job.  I didn’t even apply. 

And then in my second week, the pastor asked when I was going to preach?  Within the first year he got me licensed.  And then the question of when was I going to seminary?  Seminary?  I had three kids, one with a heart defect…

But it was so clear that God wanted me to keep going.  I pursued ordination as I finished seminary.  I am one of two women who have been ordained for senior pastoral ministry in the Baptist general conference.  During the ordination process the UMC called and asked if I would consider an appointment with them.  And I was appointed in this church, having a degree from a Baptist seminary, not quite ordained. 

Fran was at my ordination.  Clay read scripture.  I tell you this story, because there is really no reason that I should be standing here.  There is nothing special about me.  I was raised in  a home that didn’t endorse church.  And then came to faith in a church that didn’t believe women could be pastors.  I went through seminary with three kids, one who was sick and gave birth to a fourth in the middle- a complete surprise, yet he was conveniently born over Christmas break… I missed one class!  I became ordained in a church that doesn’t ordain women.  And was appointed to serve in a denomination that doesn’t approve of my seminary.  There is no reason I should be here. 

There were a million opportunities for excuses… more than I even just shared.  But God doesn’t care about our excuses, because for every excuse we create, God is equipping. 

For every excuse, God is equipping. 

Moses.  He is often seen as a great leader, a great man of God.  But Moses, Moses was a man of excuses. 
So this episode actually begins back in chapter 3.

A burning bush calls to Moses… and Moses has enough sense to answer.  Of all the things that happen in this set of events.. This is the one that Moses doesn’t have a problem with… That blows my mind.

So then God calls to him and reveals his plan… I have heard the cries of my people and I will send you to them to rescue them.

Moses responds, “Who am I?”  Why me?
God reassures him… I will be with you.

Moses responds again, “Who are you?”
God responds, “I AM.”

Moses responds, “What if they don’t believe me?”
God responds, “I will give you what you need, the tools you need.”

Moses responds, “But I am not a public speaker.  I stutter.”
God responds, “I will send your brother to help you.”

Moses didn’t get to choose any of the early defining moments of his life.  But there is a sense that God spared him, protected him, and prepared him for this moment.  And Moses tried every excuse, but God was not going to quit on Moses.  For every excuse, God was equipping.

There are a lot of reasons we come up with to not do that good work… that good thing God has equipped us to do.   We decide that it’s too hard.  Or too inconvenient.  It gets in the way of that project around the house, the kids sports, Netflix watching.  Or we worry what people will say or think… Or we are getting too old.  We are too young.  We are too busy.  Or we think we are smart enough, good enough, talented enough, to do whatever it is God is calling us to…

But everyday, God has prepared good work for us to do… as long as there is breath in our body, we are called.  And for every excuse, God has already equipped. 
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God has already equipped you to do this work.  The work of sharing the Kingdom of God.  The work of knowing God more.  The work of loving others.  The work of standing in the gap of oppression and oppressors.  The work of Jesus.  For you are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has already prepared for you!