The Impact Of A Life

THE IMPACT OF A LIFE

by Barbara Chadwick

I saw the end of Whitney Houston’s funeral today. She was a Christian who was famous who tried to live out her faith. She made quite an impact on a whole lot of lives.

I read again yesterday some of the scriptures in the Biblical book of Esther. She had an amazing impact on history.

So what kind of impact is your life making?  In Esther 4:14 Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, says, “Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Her personality and her character pleased the king and it pleased God to use her in that impossible situation.

Perhaps God has placed you in a difficult situation – or even an impossible situation. He is using your personality and your character to accomplish His purpose.

Charles Spurgeon once said, “Take me and enable me to glorify You now in all that I say, in all that I do, and with all that I have.”

The apostle Paul said in Colossians 2:6-7 As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. And again in Philippians 2:13-14  For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. Do everything without complaining… The Biblical message seems to be very clear. Walk in Christ just as you were taught – and do it with thankfulness!

You know we can never make an impact in our own strength. It is God working in us that makes the difference.

R. Maines Rawls wrote these words in 1916:
Take my life, lead me Lord. Take my life, lead me Lord. Make my life useful to Thee.
Take my life, teach my Lord. Take my life, teach me Lord. Make my life useful to Thee.
Here am I, send me Lord. Here am I, send me Lord. Make my life useful to Thee.

I copied these words from The Baptist Hymnal of 1991that my son, Kerry Chadwick, gave to me. On the flyleaf of that hymnal he wrote:

“Dearest Mother,

     In our home we grew to love music. We praised and worshipped our heavenly Father from our childhood. I owe you and dad a lot for the richness of life that you share with us.

     I hope this hymnal brings many happy moments to your life. There is something about it that really touches me down deep. Maybe it is the plan of salvation on page 167. More likely, it is just the music.

     Mr. Bill Green, who served on the Hymns Recommendation Committee for this book, was my teacher this semester for the class, Introduction to Church Music. He has opened my eyes to music like they have never been before. I almost want to shorten all the preaching and talking to sing the Word of God into the hearts of people.

     Oh to sing the love of Jesus!

     Dear Mother, my prayer for you is that you would always be able to play and sing to touch the hearts of  people, just as you have sung and touched mine.

With deepest love,
Your son,
Kerry"

Kerry has sung Mr. Rawls song, Take My Life many times.  He has said as Mr. Spurgeon said, “Take me and  enable me to glorify You now in all that I say, in all that I do, and with all that I have.” Kerry is pastor of First Baptist Church, Sitka, Alaska. I can’t tell you how many people have told me how he has made an impact on their lives. It blesses me every time I read that note and it blesses me every time someone says, “You’re Kerry Chadwick’s mom? Awesome!” 

What Have I Done?

So, we had an argument. I told him how offended I was because he was making light of things that I thought were important. He didn’t get it. Then I was even more offended. How could he NOT get it? Then I was silent. Then he was silent. Then he tried to change the subject. Then I decided I was even more offended. Then we went to bed … not exactly full-on mad … but not reconciled. Then I had a dream.

In my dream I kept running into situations of social injustices that we had become accustomed to, old people who didn’t have anyone to help them out, single moms & dads who just didn’t fit in socially, teenagers boys that had no man who was willing to get involved in their life, social misfits who are marginalized because they don’t “fit”. It wasn’t a scary dream. But there was this person in my dream that kept making all of these situations into a big deal. And I was thinking, this is really not a big deal, I mean it’s not an ideal world what do you expect? And I began to wonder, why am I dreaming this?

Then suddenly, almost, I was wide-awake … I had been holding him to a higher standard than I was holding myself. I realized that I had been doing the same thing to God. I have been kind of flippant and careless in our conversations. Spending our time together asking Him to do things for me, or explain things to me, or just be there for me, but not asking Him what was on His heart. Expecting that He would still talk to me and communicate to me and be happy with me. In my prayers I certainly wasn’t asking Him what it was that He wanted to talk about, or what was on His mind, or asking Him if there was anything that I’d done that might have offended Him. It was all about me.

God, what is it that You want from me? I prayed

Listen to what the Lord says:

“Stand up and plead your case … let[s] hear what you have to say.

Hear … the Lord’s accusation … listen … for the Lord has a case against His people …”

“…what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer Me. I brought you up … and redeemed you from … slavery … I sent [people] to lead you … remember your journey … that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

… Will the I be pleased with thousands of [sacrifices], shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression (No, but God did give His firstborn for my sins) … “

He has show[n] you … what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:1-8

But how would that work? What would that look like? How would I know that it was something that He wanted done? That would take a lot of faith … faith … “the evidence of things not seen.”

“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

The first two-thirds of that chapter talk about the faithful experiencing awesome answers to prayer; amazing miraculous victories. But the last third of the chapter details some faithful people, God honoring people, whose answers to prayer were that God enabled them to remain faithful. “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better …” Hebrews 11:39-40

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3

Hebrews 11 the story of faithful people who suffered because they believe God was who He said He was and because they wanted to obey Him.

“If you love Me, you will obey My commandments” John 14:15, 21, 23-24; 15:12, 17.

How do we know if someone truly loves God? They obey Him! Matthew tells us that Jesus said “Love God, Love others” Matthew 22:37-40

“No one ever cared for me like Jesus. There’s no other friend so kind and true. No one else could take my life and fully change me. …”

Then I remembered my attitude towards him and our argument ( = discussion :-) and remembered that forgiveness is a decision; it’s a choice, and it leads to freedom in Christ.

“But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Matthew 6:15

And the story from Matthew 18: 21-35, basically that God will forgive you THE WAY that you forgive others. And,

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:25

Just as I needed to reconcile, get right with God, so also I needed to make things right with him. Even if it wasn’t my fault I still needed to forgive, to seek reconciliation. The forgiveness I received from God was so great that I longed to be right with him.

“I’m sorry that I got offended so easily. Will you forgive me?”

“Sure. I guess I didn’t realize how big a deal it was to you.”

“That’s ok. Let’s talk some more.”

Awesome Grace

AWESOME GRACE

By Barbara Chadwick

Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado is a great devotional book.

Yesterday I read:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

God justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:26

            “God keeps His promises. You are guaranteed that your sins will be filtered through, hidden in, and screened out by the sacrifice of Jesus. When God looks at you, He doesn’t see you; He sees the One who surrounds you. That means that failure is not a concern for you.”  Max Lucado

I am humbled – blown away – and so comforted, by that thought.

Failures of last year. All the times I didn’t measure up. All the times I didn’t do what I should have done. These things weigh me down. I get depressed about myself.

I often sing:
Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole.
I want Thee forever to live in my soul.
Break down every idol, cast out every foe.
Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. by James Nicholson.

So when it snowed yesterday ... don’t you love it – the beauty of God’s creation draped in that blanket.

The stillness, the expectancy, the beauty. The scarred earth is covered. Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

My mother-in-law, Clara Chadwick, said that after she gave her heart to the Lord and asked Him to be her Savior, she looked at her hands and they looked so white and clean – new. She felt amazed!

Oh, the wonder of God’s grace!

So, …forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead… let us … Press on toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13

Let us not get bogged down, depressed and hindered by our past failures. Let us dwell on  "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, ..." Philippians 4:8,9

So we can know that when God looks at us He doesn't see our failures and imperfections, He sees

 the One who surrounds you! Awesome Grace!!

A NEW YEAR!
A NEW SONG!
by Barbara Chadwick

52 matches. That's how many matches the ESword Bible program gives (in the Holman version) for "Sing a new song"

That's what I'd like to do in this new year of 2012.

The stanzas for my song in 2011 included grief, change, frustration and illness. There were blessings to be sure - but I didn't pay as much attention to the blessings as I did to all the rest.

Some of the old songs bless my soul and fill my eyes with tears.  I will always return to them. But somehow, I sing them - then return to discouragement, depression and disillisionment.

But in my everyday life this new year I'd like to make stanzas of encouragement, love, positive words and hope.

God, I will sing a new song to you. I will play on a ten-stringed harp for you. Psalm 144:9 (HCSB)
(I will probably play my new song on the 88 strings of my grand piano though!)

The Most Wonderful Event In History!
by Barbara Chadwick




Today is Audrey's birthday. What a treasure she's been. What a gift!

One week before she was born I felt - well, fat mostly! - but also I felt an inner joy for the life I was carrying inside of me. I felt an awe that I would soon hold in my arms this treasure growing in me. I was excited and a little impatient. But there was a calm assurance that God was in control.

I wonder what Mary felt the week before Jesus was born?

In the beginning the angel Gabriel had called her, "favored woman" (Luke 1:28)  Her cousin, Elizabeth, had called her, "blessed" (Luke 1:42)

I believe she also felt - well fat mostly! - but above all, awe, wonder and a calm assurance that God had orchestrated this most wonderful event in all of history!

We Got Old!

By Barbara Chadwick



We got old while we weren’t paying attention! All of a sudden our children want to take care of us.

Reality sets in when you look in the mirror and say, “Who is that woman with those canyons running down her face?!” or “Whose hands are those, with age spots and wrinkles?!” or “Those Ritis boys are bothering me again.” – you know - Arthur Ritis. Corny right? But I’ve learned that it’s true that old age is not for sissies!

I saw a woman on Good Morning America this morning who was celebrating her birthday. When they asked her which one she said, "It's my 60th and I'm proud of it!"  She was facing reality with a smile.

C.S. Lewis said, “Our job is to learn what reality is, then learn to like it.”  Well, most of the time these days I don’t really like reality!

We do learn to deal with the realities in everyday life. Somehow we cope and grow.

Learning to deal with God’s realities is another area of growth. When we accept God’s reality, we bend our will to His. We listen for His voice and want to do the things that please Him.

Sometimes though, thoughts come into our brains without invitation – thoughts that depress or anger us. Paul tells the Corinthians to, …take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5b

Also, Paul tells the Philippians, …brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8

There is excellence in maturity. Just look at fruit. Who wants a green apple? Or strawberry for that matter! You want a beautiful ripe fruit. With maturity you are ripe (and beautiful I might add). You’ve already “been there, done that”. Experience/maturity helps with the coping of everyday life. Experience also helps in following God’s reality for our lives. We can look back and see some of the missteps we’ve made along the way and can more easily sidestep toward a more heavenly way.

However, there is always a danger with our brain! It sometimes wants to go somewhere we’ve determined not to go or dwell on thoughts that are not excellent or worthy of praise. One woman said, “I tend to follow the Lord through my brain, but tend to sin through my mouth!” It’s true. At times it seems as if we have no control. Remember when Paul was talking about our conflict with the two natures within us? For that which I am doing I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do but I am doing the very thing I hate… Romans 7:15

But look in verse 25 of chapter 7: Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ! And in 8:1-2 There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

So let us, take every thought captive - even those corny ones that make us dwell on ourselves and let us dwell on God’s reality – things that are pure, excellent and praiseworthy.

Just A Little More
by Barbara Chadwick


I slurped up the last bit of my Creamy Chocolate Slim Fast Drink through my straw and said, "I always feel like there should be a couple more ounces in these things." Kenneth smiled and said, "That's the way life is. We want a little more banana puddin' or little bigger house or a little nicer car and on and on."

When do we have enough?  Certain monks live in monasteries with austere bedrooms - cells, it seems like. They have a bed, a table and a straight backed chair.  I think of my bedroom with a carpet, a bed, two side tables, two easy chairs, a dresser, an antique secretary and a wood stove. And I think I need a new bed and a new chair! Let's don't even talk about all the stuff that's in the attic!!

Jesus said in Luke 12:15, Beware and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.


Paul, realizing the end of his life was near, said in II Peter 1:14, ...the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent...   And the Psalmist said, You, indeed have made my days short in length, and my life span as nothing in Your sight. Surely every man at his best is a mere breath.... he amasses riches and does not know who will gather them. Psalm 39:5 & 6b 

Life is too short to worry about possessions and to make life's ambition just to have fun.

I have some friends who think of life as a playground. They are always looking for the next funnest thing to do. As they sit around the table they take turns telling the next place in the world they want to visit and the exciting thing they want to accomplish in that far-off place as if that's what life is about - fun and games.

But we're told in Ephesians chapter 5 to:
        be imitators of God
        do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you
        you are light in the Lord, walk as children of light
        learn what is pleasing to the Lord
        be careful how you walk
        make the most of your time because the days are evil

Perhaps it would behoove us to think of our time on earth as fleeting or temporary. Paul encourages us in Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.... and the God of peace will be with you.

You don't need more you just need to be thankful for what God has given you.