Extraordinary!

Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time – pray that our God will make you fit for what He’s called you to be, pray that He will fill your good ideas and acts of faith with His own energy so that it amounts to something. II Thessalonians 1:11 from The Message

Years ago Randy and I had an extraordinary opportunity to visit Africa with some dear friends on a business trip of sorts. It was a case of ordinary people being able to do extraordinary things! How many people can say they went on an animal observation safari, saw the Big Five, traveled dirt roads and encountered animals in the wild, provided an impala to feed an African village, sat out among the gorgeous Northern Lights, camped while wild animals drank from a stream nearby, slept in a hollowed out cave, met an elephant mouse, saw the world from atop a mountain while spreading a cloth and eating a picnic, and even rode an elephant??!! Extraordinary!

Extraordinary is defined as very unusual or remarkable, and our to Africa to do a mission trip in Kenya where they ministered to children, baptized some children and adults, led in worship, and shared with them the saving grace of Jesus.

Upon the return, several of these people joined together and founded a new Mission and began a great work in Africa. It’s heartwarming to see Annie, her husband and their ministry with children in Kenya. It is a testament to me that God can do extraordinary work through ordinary people.

Extraordinary experiences happen every day, and it doesn’t have to be on a huge scale – it can be as simple as a phone call to a friend, a meal delivered to someone in need, a kind word to a stranger, or just doing an extraordinary work in your job. Every life can be transformed.

So, how do we allow God to do extraordinary things through ordinary people such as ourselves? I believe the first step in allowing God to do extraordinary things in us is to change our view of perfection. D. W. Winnecott said, “Being perfect is overrated”; there is no need to try to be perfect. It’s all right to make mistakes and even to apologize if we get it wrong, that’s where mercy enters in. Don’t be reluctant to ask for guidance, but rather rely on God to take a willing heart and use it.

In all the things we do, the next thing is to affirm others who are willing to take an extraordinary journey with us or on their own. Everyone needs affirmation and encouragement along the way. The story is told of a family gathering where children were allowed to sit at the adult table for the first time at a Sunday dinner. Almost immediately one of the children spilled their glass of tea. Silence ensued, then one by one the adults and other children at the table knocked over their glass as well. That’s affirmation.

Next, don’t quit once you begin the extraordinary journey. Quitting is often the easiest course of action when we encounter hardships along our journey, but quitting should never be an option for us when we are on an extraordinary journey to do God’s will. Most people who seek to do God’s will meet with discouragements, disappointments and continual opposition, but it’s just a temporary roadblock to reaching our goal.

Our grandson, Cooper is the center for his football team in Buford. He has the constant responsibility of hiking the ball and anchoring the offensive line on every single offensive play. Nobody moves until he hikes the ball! The key to his position is never to quit on a hike, a block, or tackle. Their team just won the state championship for their league. Extraordinary effort from an ordinary bunch of guys who dare to never quit!

We all have someone we know who does or has done extraordinary things with their ordinary life. They touch the lives of their family, their friends, their work associates, and others through the things they do or the example they set day by day. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things!

There are three things that we should remember as we seek an extraordinary life doing extraordinary things; rely on God for everything, always affirm others on their journey, and never ever quit! If we focus on the things God has planned for us, we will accomplish extraordinary things with our ordinary lives!