Sunday, March 15, 2009

It's A Challenge. Are You Willing To Accept?

I went to Beth Moore's Living Proof Live in Nashville this past weekend (don't worry, blog post about that coming soon - you know how it is when you come back from a conference like that...it takes a couple of days to process it all so that you can write about it in complete, coherent sentences....). The conference was actually for Ministers' Wives, which I am not.

Let me explain.

My dad is a pastor, therefore making my mom a minister's wife. I told my dad about this conference back in December, so he bought my mom 2 tickets to it for Christmas. He wanted her to go, and he wanted me to go with her.

Twist my arm.

Anyway, I was actually feeling a little (A LOT) guilty about going, since I'm not a minister's wife, but told myself that either I would go and participate and have a whole new respect for what a minister's wife goes through (I'm pretty plugged in to that subject already, being a PK), or I would go and participate and God would use Beth to bring a fresh Word to me. A Word that would be relevant and challenging and life changing - even though I'm not a Minister's Wife.

Wanna know something? Both happened.

Y'all, it was good. GOOD. But more on the details of it later.

Beth camped out in Galatians for the weekend. She gave 6 examples of how it can be AGGRAVATING to be a Minister's Wife, and how they should have an ALTERNATIVE to combat the aggravation. One example that resonated particularly with me came from Galatians 5:15.

"If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."

This doesn't JUST apply to Ministers' Wives. It applies to WOMEN as a whole. We want others to recognize us for our intellect and character, not for our possessions and looks, but are the first people to chew someone up over their possessions and looks. How hypocritical are we? We claim to be above the superficial. We talk the good talk. But I guarantee that as quickly as we can say to someone's face that intellect and character are important, we can also go behind their back and criticize their hair and clothing. We are our own worst enemies. And when we bite and bite and bite at each other, soon we will destroy each other.

It has to stop.

So here's your challenge. And it has a little twist in it to help keep the credit belonging to HIM.

Every day this week, you are to go out of your way and do something nice for someone else. It could be as simple as holding a door open or walking someone's grocery cart to the cart corral. It could be as elaborate as putting some cash in an envelope for someone who is particularly financially strapped or sending your pastor and his wife a gift card to a restaurant that would be normally out of their price range.. After you do the nice thing, come back here and let us know what it was.

Here's the twist. You can't tell anyone about it verbally. Not a SOUL. The comments about the good deed must be posted as anonymous. This will keep us from getting the credit. It's not about us. It's about Him. It's about doing what He has commanded us to do and love our neighbors. Posting an anonymous comment will also give someone a good idea about what they can do. Go ahead and copy something that someone else has done.

Feel free to link back to this post on your blog. Let's see how many people we can get to participate in this. Can you imagine the blessings that will come from this?

Now go and let's see what you can do in His name.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

I posted this on my blog as well. I am so excited about the challenge. Can't wait to read what all can be done in HIS name. Oh and I wanted to post just to see if I knew how to do it anonymously.

Anonymous said...

Great idea! I am excited to see the comments and see what a work our Lord is doing is us all.

connorcolesmom said...

Great idea
I am going to take this challenge :)
Thanks
so glad you had fun!
Can't wait to hear more!
Kim

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

Love your blog. I am going to take the challenge and pass it on to some friends.

Teresa

Melinda said...

Honey chil' you're speaking my language! I LOVE this! I will also be posting about it - so, so cool!

XO Melinda

Fran said...

Ok...how fun is this?? I told the boys last week that since we are home this week, we would be secret agents for Christ!! Honey, I'm all about this. I'll be anonymous and I'll pray that we can put some stuff aside and spend time being secret agents!!

WOO HOO! Love it. Most of all...so glad you got a Word from Mamma Beth!
Big hugs,
Fran

Anonymous said...

Stopped by a neighbor's house who I haven't met yet, and invited him to come to our church for a visit. He is sort of a scary character (in appearance) so all I have ever done is waved in passing. But when I stopped he smiled, said thank you for the invite, and shook my hand. When I drove away, couldn't help but thinking that was all God. Kinda tickled me how friendly he was. In the past I have let his looks intimidate me a little. Wouldn't have done it if it hadn't been for the challenge. Thanks for taking me out of my comfort zone. Can't wait til tomorrow.

beckyjomama said...

I am sooooooo in on this!!! Hmmm, wonder if I can do something nice for my man before we hit the sack. Since it is 9:20PM and he is the only one awake in the house at the moment!

But I am UP TO THE CHALLENGE!

Love ya!
XOXOXOXOXOX

Anonymous said...

I'm so excited about this. I'm just reading it right now at 8:50 and unless my good deed is for me I'll have to start tomorrow.

Robyn! I HEART this post and the woman who wrote it! We MUST stand together or we will fall apart! Thank you for saying it!

Thank you for the challenge -- I'm up for it.

Sheryl said...

Great idea! I AM IN.

Leah Adams said...

Came over from Melinda's blog. I'm in too.

Leah

Anonymous said...

Been wanting to do this for a while to bless the people of Israel. Yesterday I sent a donation to the Joshua Fund--Joel Rosenberg's organization.

CoachK said...

Hi Robyn,
I came over from "Traveling the Road Hme" and I'm signing up for the challenge. This was actually my New Year goal but I have not been consistant so this is a great reminder for me.

Anonymous said...

I had already decided that I would make St. Patrick's Day an intentional day to be a blessing to others. First thing this morning, I was the first on the scene of a wreck and got to help the woman who had been in the accident. It was cold. She had a head injury but was alert and coherent. I gave her my blankie that I keep in my car for when I'm cold or need to block the sun through the car window. I knew she needed to be kept warm and it was all I had. She was so thankful! It is fake fur with suede and it really is warm!Finally, when the emergency team arrived, she still had my blankie wrapped tightly around her shoulders. And I needed to go on to work. Huge dilemma! What do I do about my blankie? I decided this would be my blessing for today for this woman. I didn't say one word about the blankie as I went to her and told her I had to leave for work. She asked me my name. I told her to just remember me as Jesus in a body for her today. And I left her with the EMT. She thanked me for helping her so much and off I went. Without my blankie. But it was just what I wanted and prayed to do for today.
I'm ok. Really. I only miss it a tiny bit...

Cheryl said...

I love this idea. Count me in!
btw, good thing you explained yourself cause I was going to get on to you for going to a MW conference...kidding. I wanted to go but since I'm 35 weeks, not a good idea!

Kelly L said...

Love love Beth Moore. I have some of her studies thru my church. What a great idea..Random acts of kindness...we should be so blessed.

Tea with Tiffany said...

Love this idea. I will look for a way today. I'm going to the mall.

(PS my word verification word is "works" how funny!)

Anonymous said...

It felt great to pass along $50 to a co-worker who is a single mom and really struggling - I've always known it's more blessed to give than to receive.

Anonymous said...

I made a contribution to a local charity. Someone was talking to me today about the charity, they knew a contribution had been made and were excited (and curious) about who gave. It felt good to know the secret and not tell. Yes giving is a whole lot better than receiving. Thank God for giving me the means to be able to be this very small blessing.

Anonymous said...

We made cards for a shelter that takes in women and children. It was fun and great way for kids to give back and bring some joy to other kids!!!

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

Have loved doing my random acts this past week. Thanks for inspiring me.

Be sure and stop by my blog. I am giving away my first EVER BLOG PRIZE and its a good one.

I own a gift basket business and it is the most requested gift over the last 15 years.

I want to start blessing people often. I have decided that's life at its BEST.

Happy Monday!

Anonymous said...

Isn't it just frustrating when you know you've written something but then it's not there?

I am enjoying reading all of these random and kind acts.

Anonymous said...

I love doing good things in secret. I dropped off a bag of canned goods, bread and cookies..Orioles...everyone loves Orioles...to an elderly couple on limited income in a close by neighborhood...

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful idea!

By the way, your blog is so bright and cheery. Love it.

Blessings,
Linda

Lighthouse Prayer Line said...

Hi Robyn,

Thanks for sharing that with us! That is a very good challenge!

Hey. If you get the opportunity, would you
mind praying for the prayer requests that are
on our main page?

May the Lord bless you and your family!!

Mark, Lynn, Brooke & Carley Seay
www.LighthousePrayerLine.org

ps - please consider "following" our blog -or- atleast
grab one of our free, linking, blue buttons. (see top
sidebar at www.LighthousePrayerLine.org).

Anonymous said...

I put a bunch of extra grocery carts into the chute at the local Wal Mart, after other shoppers had left them out.

Does that count?

misty said...

since i just found your blog is this over with or is it a continual thing you are chanllenging people week after week??? either way, i want to join! great idea!!! i am going to add the button to my page now.

Anonymous said...

Paid for the person behind me in line at Starbucks. My message to her was simply to have a blessed day.