On this day in 1983 I left my office early, went home, changed clothes, rushed the two girls through dinner and grabbed my small athletic bag on the way out the door. When I arrived at the church the parking lot was empty and I wondered if the whole idea was going to be an effort in frustration. I unlocked the fellowship hall for the first time and looked around. The girls and I took down the tables and chairs to clear the floor. When the clock hit 6:30 we were still alone and I began to be anxious. Within five minutes there were seven people there interested in learning Tae Kwon Do. So began the ministry that has been an integral part of my life for over a quarter century at this writing. I am still amazed that God would take something I learned in an uncommitted state and use it for His glory.

Now that I look back, I realize that unbeknownst to me, I was simply doing what God asks each of us to do – use what we have, offer it to Him and let Him do the rest. Let Him make the ordinary, extraordinary in His Kingdom. Let me tell you how this works. Let’s begin with three concepts that will give us some direction. 1^st God wants us to act like Him. (Philippians 2:13) 2^nd He wants us to fulfill His will and your purpose. (2 Thessalonians 1:11) 3^rd He wants us to be His instruments of power. (Psalm 8:4 – 6) And your question now is: “How?” The answer is simply by being who He created you to be and using that uniqueness to honor Him. That will allow you to be like Him, fulfill His will and your purpose as He supplies the power from Heaven. God does not call everyone to be preachers or missionaries; he calls us to be plumbers, teachers and accountants. He even tells us not to forsake the calling we had when we became Christians. (1 Corinthians 7:17) If we are faithful he will become Jehovah Shammah. The Hebrew word “Sham” means to be in motion. It indicates presence of motion or shifting something from a state outside of time into time, to YOU, so you can possess more than you would alone. This provides you with everything you need to fulfill all three aspects – act, fulfill and be empowered.

Now, what do we do with who we are? We teach what we know. We give it away! Let me illustrate why. In Titus 2 the NIV titles the chapter “What must be taught to the various groups” The word “teach” (teaching, teaches) is used 8 times. The Greek word sōphronizō communicates bringing a person to his/her senses and duties through discipleship, admonishing and exhorting with earnestness. It comes from the Greek word sōphrōn which indicates that you curb an individual’s impulses by understanding their natural senses.  In today’s language you communicate to their behaviors, attitudes and motivations through your behaviors, attitudes and motivations. You gather others around you to be your disciples the way Paul did with Timothy and admonished us to do also. God will draw others to you, the same way He has drawn so many to upstart ministry He called me to. You don’t have to be a preacher. Just be yourself. Commit what you have to Him and let Him multiply your love.

Love Dad