Whitnee's journey with Christ

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,

That no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-

That, as it is written, “He who glorifies, let him glory in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

In Sunday school yesterday I was blown away by the relevance of the message and how it relates to so many in our community. With so much anxiety, poverty, hate, financial hardship, health problems, economic disparities, social inequality, political and spiritual warfare- one could get lost in all of that and forget their purpose. Speaking from experience since covid, it is hard for some folks to find their rightful places in their homes, their communities, their jobs, in their churches, or even in God’s kingdom.

I was faced with opposition and distractions Sunday evening, and after all that, I was just mentally drained. Despite the enemies attempt to silence this mornings message; I proceeded to write what God placed on my heart.

I want to share how God used my beautiful friend Vonda to encourage me in a way she may not realize until just reading this message. I had just finished having a conversation about dimming my light and allowing others to be more comfortable if I removed myself from certain situations. Out of the blue I received a text from Vonda with Matthew 5:16. Scripture says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, which glorifies the Lord which is in Heaven. Wow!!! Wow!!! Wow!!!

Talk about a God moment! For me to literally just have had the conversation about taking the “back seat” and being okay with it…and to get a word of encouragement with the message of continuing to allow my light to shine was powerful and humbling. It really made me think “God what would you have me to do?”

📣 SO HERE WE GO 📣

If you are like me, you have run from God a time a two. Whether it be for reasons of being scared, spiritually unaware, ignorant, feelings of being unqualified or unworthy, or you down right just don’t want to do it- we tend to run from Him.

In my situation I ran, hide, avoided, dimmed, remained silent, etc. to avoid responsibility in God’s kingdom because I didn’t feel qualified. While working on rebuilding my self confidence I find confidence in writing and boldness in Christ through encouraging others and shedding light on God’s love for others. But it doesn’t come easy! In fact I am challenged more when I write then when I just live my life and stay to myself.

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.
But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 
whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bond servants for Jesus’ sake.
For it is the God who has shone in our hearts to give light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not us. 
We are hard-pressed on every side, her not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed- 
always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 

2 Corinthians 4:1-10

This verse ties in perfectly with my scripture reading and with what was being said in my Sunday school lesson. Paul’s letter to the church of Corinth spoke of the people’s view and what they perceived as foolish and weak.

Many of us think you have to have the educational accomplishments in order to do this, the bank account to move this way, the street cred to go that way, or the political power or fit the appropriate racial profile to say or do certain things. Has society not set these high standards? I’ve noticed God accomplishes far far in me and the gift of writing when I’m in the thick of things, when I am most challenged with spiritual warfare, and when I feel weak and able to give nothing of myself. The very essence of that struggle is when I give the most of myself and feel governed to be vulnerable in hopes of encouraging another person while on their walk in Christ.

Let’s go back to 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 for a quick moment. My Sunday school book says perhaps they doubt whether God is interested in using them when they seem to have so little to offer. It goes on to say that God does not use the worlds scale for determining worth. Scripture tells us that God chooses the weak in the world to shame the strong and He chooses the low and despised to be important and beloved.

My sisters and brothers God is calling us to deepen our relationship with Him. He is calling us to repent, confess, and be saved. He is calling us to spread His love and His good news. He is calling us to go out and tell the world how good He is.

I am reminded of the parable of the sower in the book of Matthew. For context read Matthew 13:1-23. Verse 23 says, “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces; some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Right now as a people we are angry. From the people in Memphis, to those mourning the loss from the senseless killings in California, New Orleans, and the list goes on as a people we are hurting.

God has given me the strength to come out of hiding- He doesn’t get the glory when we are spiritually stagnant and borderline dead. Transparency moment: I’ve been feeling like I’m wasting space and straddling the fence and not really working in God’s kingdom like I know I can. I have allowed insecurities, feeling out of place, distractions (from work, personal, financial, economical, and social) to really get me off course for what I know God has tasked me to do . I’ve allowed circumstances to put me in a shell and only come out when I see a friend hurting and I feel led to reassure them of their greatness, their beauty, their strength, and their commitment to God.

I can’t sit back any longer and see our church, see my friends and family, see my neighbors, see our community and our nation hurting and I do nothing. God did not give us a spirit of fear and I confess with my mouth and ask God to use me to His glory. I don’t want my fire to burn out and this Sunday school lesson along with a very healthy talk showed me at how with God’s grace I can reunite that fire. It burns deep and like His word- we are not meant to keep all His love and Words to ourselves-we have to share it.

We as God’s people have so many gifts and talents that will bring people closer and feel welcomed into the body of Christ. Some of us don’t accept the invitation or don’t feel welcomed. It is our job to help others and to recognize within ourselves our calling, our purpose, or how we can contribute to building up the kingdom of God- not only in our churches because not everyone is in the church. It could your home, your marriage, your family, your friendship, your barbershop, the grocery store, the corner store, the club, on the job, etc. like wherever you are you can spread the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus. God will put someone in your life that will help you to see the asset you are to God’s kingdom. Even if you can’t see it for yourself, someone sees your light no matter how small or big the flicker is- we see your flame!

Someone saw my flame! Someone believed God could use me! Someone prayed for me! Someone encouraged me! Someone believed in me! Someone saw Christ in Me! Someone knew God knew no matter how politically incorrect I am, no matter if I don’t have a phD, no matter if I’m not bringing in 6 figures, no matter how out of shape I am, where I live or what kind of car I drive that God could use me.

As I begin to wrap up, I wonder if you to know God is placing you in the path to encourage or be encouraged just as God used a sweet friend of mine to help me get back on track. I have an accountability partner to help me on my journey to greatness (health wise) and I may have just recruited someone to be my accountability partner (thanks for the thoughts Janelle) to be my spiritual partner and mentor.

My Sunday school lesson says we are called by God into a life of faith and ministry. God is using you this very moment to help someone else. He is using YOU to be a blessing to someone else. Friends I urge you not to block their blessing by being disobedient or stuck in your own rut that you can’t help someone out of theirs. It is my prayer that throughout this week we can heed God’s calling for our lives and take the calling seriously asking God for strength where we are weak, clarity where we are unsure, focus where there is distraction, courage where there is doubt, hope where there is fear, and love where there is hate.

God is doing a wonderful thing in and through all of us but we have to do our part. We have to respond to His call and stay the course no matter how hard it gets because God is strong where we are weak. I pray this message encourages you to seek God in all your ways so He can direct your path and that He ignites the fire that burns deep within to build His kingdom and bring glory to His holy name. May we recognize God’s power and wisdom working through you. May you learn to channel positive and negative energy and navigate this life walking boldly while proclaiming God’s love for you and I.