Loved this journal entry... good reminder, God uses ordinary people for His extraordinary purposes.
One Day… by Katie Davis; excerpt from Kisses From Katie
“Ordinary people.
He chose Moses. He chose David. He chose Peter and Paul. He chose me. And He chose you. Common people. Simple people. People with nothing special about them. Nothing special except they said yes. They obeyed. They took the task God assigned them and they did it. They didn’t always do it well, but they said yes, and with His help they did it anyway.
Extraordinary tasks.
Moses was a murderer, a shepherd just trying to mind his own business and move on with his life when he watched a bush catch fire and not burn up. God wanted to use him to lead His chosen people out of Egypt. Moses was a human and told God that He had the wrong guy. Moses wasn’t an eloquent speaker, and he was afraid. But he said yes, and god used him anyway. The Red Sea parted, bread fell from heaven, and people believed.
Jonah was an ordinary fisherman and God wanted to use him to set Nineveh free of its wicked ways. Jonah was human and quickly ran away, overwhelmed by the task God had given him. From the belly of a fish, he repented, he begged for forgiveness. He said yes, and god used him anyway. The people of Nineveh believed in God, turned from their evil ways, and were spared from destruction.
David was a shepherd boy, pretty much the runt of the litter, the very last thought in his father’s mind, and despised by his brothers. God wanted to use him to be the next great king of Israel. Though everyone doubted and watched in horror, David said yes, and God used him anyway. Little David used a stone to take down the giant Philistine. The Philistines were defeated, and though David continued to make mistakes, god used Him to make Israel a great nation and relay His words to many people.
Mary was a peasant girl, probably a teenager, getting ready to marry a local carpenter. God wanted to use her to carry His Son, hope for all mankind, into the world. She asked the angel, “Why me?” and “How?” Ultimately, though, she surrendered herself to His will. She said yes, and God used her anyway. Baby was born who transformed the world then, and still does today.
Paul was a young man who made it his goal to destroy Christianity, dragging believers to prison and even killing them. God wanted to use him to proclaim his name to Gentiles all over the world. Paul had a violent history and initially other believers were afraid. But he said yes, he fearlessly proclaimed the Gospel, and God used him anyway. Paul performed and witnessed miracles, wrote close to half of the Bible, and spread the Good News all over the world.
Sometimes, the everyday routine of my life feels so normal to me. At other times the idea of what I do seems like quite a daunting task. I realize that since I have chosen an unusual path it is easier for outsiders to look at my life and come to the conclusion that it is something extraordinary. That I am courageous. That I am strong. That I am special. But I am just a plain girl…broken in many ways, sinful, and inadequate. Common and simple with nothing special about me. Nothing special except I choose to say “yes.” “Yes” to the things God asks of me and “yes” to the people Hi places in front of me. You can too. I am just an ordinary person serving an extraordinary God!
More than I can handle? Yes, because in these times, God shows himself victorious. He reminds me that all of this life requires more of Him and less of me. God does give us more than we can handle. Not maliciously, but intentionally, in love, that His glory may be displayed, that we may have no doubt of who is in control, that people may see His grace and faithfulness shining through our lives.”
Psalm 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”
