Women Getting Real
Jana Spicka and Women Getting Real Ministries
God’s Work?
Aug 30th
I am reading this great book, Rework. It is one of those rare books that actually has something fresh to say rather than regurgitated mush. Small is good. Meetings are a waste. No time is no excuse. And, I like how God keeps talking about “work” through this book, and others, like Linchpin and Proverbs.
Proverbs says: all hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
These authors remind us about the beauty of “work.” Work is not workaholism, busy for busy sake or busy for a pat on the back. More hours is not more work. Work is not watching the clock, punching a card.
Work is something very intrinsic to our nature; it is set apart. Dare I say it – Holy? When you sit around and watch TV, surf the web, or whatever you do to “zone” out, do you feel good? Proud of how you spent your time?
Or, rather, when you have attacked a problem and begun resolution, when you have quit making excuses and started writing, working out, cleaning, building, whatever you’ve been avoiding, don’t you feel PRODUCTIVE? You have created something of value. And in some small measure you feel more alive. I’m not talking about proving value; I’m talking about revealing God’s giftings.
God never does half-ass work. He always puts His whole heart into whatever He is doing. He loves what He is doing, and nothing deserves less than His best. Maybe, just maybe, that is why Colossians says: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the
Lord, not for men. (3:23)
God has created you for good works so that the two of you, together might be revealed. So are you working, or talking about working?
Lord, teach us to count the days and make the days count. Amen.
Anger and Armor
Aug 27th
We have had a revealing summer. Kind of like getting a family report card, and we really needed a tutor. A spiritual tutor.
So Glad we have the Holy Spirit to teach us. What I want to share is how He does it on a small, day-by-day basis.
We will have a huge blow up. “Stop talking to each other like that.” “What’s the matter with you?” “You know better, now act like it.”
And then we all walk away a little sick in our hearts. Not because of the failure, which stinks, but because of the repetition. I want them to get the message, and change the behavior. Yet we keep repeating the same issue.
But do I think the same thing with myself and God? “I already told you Jana. Now stop it. You know better, now act like it.” God rarely talks like that to me.
What He does is call me to the righteousness within me. He reminds me of who I really am. He pours courage in, and washes sin out.
And He continues to teach, and teach, and teach.
Guess what Charis’s memory verse has been these past two weeks (Is God smart or what?):
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6 10-13
Holy Spirit, thank You for always teaching us truth. And teach us to pray for each other and to not fight against our loved ones, our own flesh and blood. But strengthen us to stand against the evil one. Thank you Lord. Amen.
When Old People Make Young People Cry
Aug 25th
I was re-telling some Zimbabwe stories today at the girls’ school. There are some funny ones and some sad ones. And one that really sticks out to me is when we went to the old folks home.
This place was even worse than other places we had seen. It was old people just sitting around waiting to die. No family, no provision, with literally a threadbare existence. If they had shoes, they were
busted open because they had worn out or were the wrong size to begin with. If they had clothes there were holes and tears in their shirts and pants.
We took a picture of their “pantry.” It had oil and meal to make sudza. That was it.
Then sweet Laura Jones piped up and said, “What if we wash their feet and pray for them. Can we do that??” She looked like an angel when she asked that.
My internal response was No Way. But my external response was a stammered, “Yes–Yes–we–can–”
And we did. Here we were young, polished Americans on our knees with our slick American water bottles pouring out purified water on these dry, cracked black feet.
Then came the dull murmur as we prayed in our language over a people who did not understand a word we were saying. Yet we all believed that God had no problem with our dialect and accent.
I am not sure who was changed more. Us or them. I don’t think I have ever felt more like Jesus than when we washed those old, weak, dirty feet.
I am so glad that Jesus never stammered or hesitated to wash my feet. I am so glad that He is pleased to touch me and pray for me.
Father, I pray even now that the old folks in Zim and the team here are reminded about the crazy day that You showed up in the oddest way.
“Isn’t that a strange way to save the world. . .” Amen.
I know that You are for me…
Aug 24th
This is the new song that the Lord “just happens” to have on the radio at the exact time that I am letting out one of those long, desperate sighs. Enjoy.
You Are For Me
by Kari Jobe
So faithful
So constant
So loving and so true
So powerful in all You do
You fill me
You see me
You know my every move
You love for me to sing to You
I know that You are for me
I know that You are for me
I know that You will never
Forsake me in my weakness
And I know that You have come down
Even if to write upon my heart
To remind me who You are
So patient
So gracious
So merciful and true
So wonderful in all You do
You fill me
You see me
You know my every move
And You love for me to sing to You
And Lord, I know that You are for me
I know that You are for me
I know that You will never
Forsake me in my weaknesses
And I know that You have come down
Even if to ride upon my heart
To remind me
I know that You are for me
I know that You are for me
I know that You will never
Forsake me in my weakness
And I know that You have come down
Even if to write upon my heart
To remind me who You are
Setting Captives Free
Aug 23rd
- Children working 12 hours days in a brick factory
- 7-14 year old girls “servicing” grown men 12-24 times a day
- Women walking in front of their husbands to be a buffer for land mines
- Unborn children killed in their mother’s womb before they take their first breath
- Men imprisoned and tortured because of their belief in Jesus Christ
These are only a few of the atrocities of our day. It can be sickening, overwhelming and even depressing if you think that there is nothing that can be done. Or will be done. Or worse, nothing that God can do to right the wrongs in His world. But Aslan is on the move.
I wanted to remind you what Wednesday August 18th said on Google: ”Celebrating 90 years since the ratification of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women the right to vote.”
Can you believe that there was a time in this great country, when women were so devalued that they could not vote? Can you believe there was a time when there were public hangings because of the color of a man’s skin? Can you believe that this generation finds it difficult to grasp that we held such foreign and ridiculous notions?
Yet here is the Hope of God moving through our world. He is the God of Vengeance. He is the God Who makes wrong things right. Just as the Cross paid for the sin of the world past, present and into the future, so the Holy Spirit is ever moving His body to speak truth and life into the darkness.
Go read Isaiah 61 again. Now do you remember what Jesus said after He read the same passage in the temple? In effect He said, because I am on the scene, all this is done. It is finished. It’s not done yet, but it is finished.
When you hear of evil in our world, don’t wring your hands; raise them to the One Who promised that He would set the captives free. Then, now and forever.
Jesus, thank You that You are the reason we can Hope. Thank You Spirit, that you are ever working for justice in our world. And I pray that we would join You when You call Your Body to action. Be our life, be our hope, be our courage. Amen