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!”