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Find your purpose as woman. Explore the impossible with God using ordinary tools.
For what is done or learned by one class of women becomes,
by virtue of their common womanhood, the property of all
women. -Elizabeth Blackwell
One of Julia Roberts's dreams was to meet her greatest
life mentor, Mother Teresa. She had observed from afar this
woman take issue with governments and many organizations as
advocate of the poor and unborn saying with outstretched
arms, "If you don't want them, I'll take your unborn and
poor."
Finally one day the opportunity came for Ms. Roberts
to meet her mentor. She arrived in Calcutta nervous but
excited. While standing outside the mission awaiting
admittance a nun came to the door and said, "Mother Teresa
will meet you in the church. Will you wait for her there?"
After years of dreaming Ms. Roberts could hardly believe
it was happening so of course she said yes. What's a few
more minutes, right? She stepped in the adjoining chapel
where noon-day mass was in preparation. She sat down next
to one of the nuns sitting in the church. She began talking
quietly to the nun about her trip and excitement about
meeting Mother Teresa.
After chatting with the nun for a
few more minutes she said, "By the way what's your name?"
The nun smiling said, "My name is Mother Teresa." Later
when asked about meeting her life long mentor Ms. Roberts
stated, "Her fame and amazing humanitarian efforts made her
larger than life; I was surprised she was so ordinary."
How did this woman who often surprised people with her
ordinariness accomplish such extraordinary things for God?
Mother Teresa understood the principle that your gift can
be ordinary but when connected to God's purpose, it becomes
extraordinary. A fellow nun said about her, "Mother is very
ordinary. When people would meet her, they were so
surprised by her ordinariness. But she allowed God to work
through her, and He did extraordinary things."
The late Mother Teresa was a wonderful example of a woman
fulfilling her purpose on earth using ordinary instruments
of helps, influence and motherhood. There are three
distinct parts to woman's general mission. I have labeled
them for clarity: helper to mankind, influencer to the
nations and mother in the earth. For the scope of this
article, I will cover our role as helper to mankind:
HELPER TO MANKIND
I will make him a helper meet (suitable, adapted, and
completing) for him. Genesis 2:18b AMP
Since the beginning woman was presented to mankind as
helper. She is equipped for her role as helper with a large
capacity to give and receive love. There are certain
characteristics that are given to woman, enabling her to be
that God appointed helper.
==> A Woman's Resourcefulness. A resource is something that
lies ready for use or can be drawn upon for help. To say
one is resourceful means that one is able to deal
effectively with problems. Judge Deborah was an excellent
example of a resourceful woman. She was ready and capable
when the King of the land came to her for help.
==> A Woman's Touch. As woman, God has endowed her hands
with a gentleness that can't be manufactured. This
gentleness is often described as a woman's touch. Allow
healing to flow through your hands as God's helper. Young
prophet Samuel became God's helper by helping Eli. Woman
becomes God's helper by helping mankind. A role she was
created to fulfill. Endeavor to touch those around you.
It is a basic human need to be touched. Studies have proven
that premature babies that are regularly touched develop
faster than those that are not. Many hospitals have
incorporated programs where shifts of volunteers come in
specifically to hold and gently handle the preemies.
Recognize afresh the effect of your hands on your world.
Then go ahead, reach out and touch someone in your family,
your life and your world.
==> A Woman's Intuition. God has given His woman a certain
sensitivity that usually can't be explained in any other
way than 'I feel' or 'I sense'. Webster describes intuition
as, "the immediate knowing of something without the
conscious use of reasoning." Often sensing when things are
not right long before it can be seen a woman can be often
heard saying, "I feel right about this or I sense something
is not right." I am not speaking of ESP or physic powers. I
am talking about plain God-given intuition that women
commonly possess.
Learn to listen to those intuitions and weigh the wisdom.
I am not suggesting being led around by your feelings. But,
your intuitiveness may be the difference between a good
decision and a bad decision in your family's life. Gain
confidence and speak your intuition. God gave it to you to
help direct your area of influence whether it's your family,
your workplace or simply your own decisions.
==> A Woman's Enterprising Spirit. A woman's body can
stretch to accommodate a baby, two or more. She must
stretch in other areas to allow the baby safe passage from
her body. Parallel to the elasticity in a woman's body, I
believe God has given her an ability to stretch beyond her
natural boundaries to encompass something larger than
herself.
It's no surprise the definition of enterprise (an
undertaking; an endeavor especially a big, bold, or
difficult one involving energy and initiative) seems to be
a part of the woman's natural makeup. Whether you are a
mother of four, housewife, business executive, CEO of a
company or all-of-the- above, tap into your natural
enterprising abilities. You are equipped with that multi-
tasking ability; now make it work for you and your family.
If not already, become a planner. Plan your days, your
evenings, your home life, and your volunteer work. Realize
anew your life is God's enterprise as you stretch to
accommodate all He has planned for you.
==> A Woman's Mercy. I enjoy referring to women as ministers
of mercy. Because of a woman's sensitivity and large
capacity for mercy and love, she is often referred to as
the bleeding heart. The first one to realize a tear upon
hearing of another's trouble. She is the one everyone
brings his or her sad stories to.
Of course there is balance for every gift. I am not
advocating co-dependency or the lack of the ability to
say no. I am challenging you to be God's channel of mercy
in the earth. There are too many that have been hardened
through life's trials and bitter storms. They no longer
have the ability to be moved by compassion for a hurting world.
If you are one of the ones so hurt by life that you have
become bitter, allow God to heal your hurt that mercy
may flow again in your life.
Become God's minister of mercy in the earth.
As we endeavor to fulfill our general mission of being a
helper to people, we must guard against being busybodies,
gossips, control-freaks and bitter ones that help no one. I
was just trying to help. How many times have you heard this
phrase from well-meaning but miss-guided women who were
just trying to help?
This woman's resourcefulness turns to
busybodiness as she interferes in others' affairs. Her
healing hands have become mess makers as what she touches
causes confusion, strife and division. The God-given
intuition becomes gossip when she breaks the trust of her
God and her friends. Her enterprise becomes a product of
the Jezebel spirit seeking to control every thing and
everyone around her.
The female side of the human race has a God given purpose
that offers confidence and direction for our lives. It is
refreshing to know we don't have to look outside ourselves
for God's common gifts to women. They are resident inside
each of us. Our personal goals and aspirations for destiny
will flow from these basic gifts of helps, influence and
motherhood.
I have covered only one aspect of my personal
list, so the subject has not been exhausted. Continue to
explore and examine what God has already given us as women
to use? Many doctors and psychologists say we as humans
only use ten to twenty per cent of our abilities and
talents. Venture with God into the impossible and
extraordinary by diligently doing the possible using
ordinary tools.
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Earma Brown, author, Bible teacher, and co-founder of
Armorbearers International. She helps leaders and
supporters of the local church build strong teams. Send any
email to abcminicourse.armorbearers.net for a free 7 lesson
mini-course "The Armorbearer Coach. Additionally, she loves
to help women enter their God-given destiny. Visit
http://www.earmabrown.com for more information.
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