The theme of ordinary people being used by God has been chasing me around more and more these days.  For about a year now, the concept began to surface in my mind… I assumed it was the next theme God wanted me to pursue for a women’s retreat, but as the year has unfolded, I recognize it’s for much more than that.  I dubbed 2007 “The Year of the Story” in my life because I read story after story of amazing people God was using to do amazing things.  And the common element was– they were jut normal people.  Which resonated with me, because I am just that– a normal gal. 

You know how when God is trying to speak to you about something specific, He always tends to hit you from multiple angles about it?  Well, that’s what happened this week as I studied the book of Amos (Old Testament minor prophet) and read my friend Jen’s latest book: “Ms. Understood”.  The theme of both books being, you guessed it, ordinary people being used by God for extraordinary things.  Ok, God, I hear ya!  I will begin to tell Your story through the ordinary people I meet in life…  starting now.

So, who was Amos, you might wonder?  Amos was a shepherd.  Back when Israel had been divided into two kingdoms, Amos lived in the Southern kingdom, Judah, but was sent by God to prophesy against the Northern kingdom, Israel.  He was not a professional prophet… he was just there speaking God’s message to the people because God told him to.  When the priest who was over Israel confronted Amos, commanding him to leave and stop preaching, Amos replies, “I am not one of your professional prophets.  I certainly never trained to be one.  I’m just a shepherd, and I take care of fig trees.  But the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to my people in Israel.’” (Amos 7:14-15, NLT)  In other words, Amos replies– “hey man, I am just a regular guy… but God gave me some marching orders and I revere Him above you, so I am obeying what He asked me to do.”

What I love about Amos is that we never hear him try and weasel out of God’s call on his life.  He doesn’t try to talk God out of using him.  He doesn’t list all of the reasons why he should be disqualified.  He simply trusts that God knows what He’s doing.  He believes God can use him to fulfill a purpose He desires.  God looks for men and women who are completely His and who trust Him enough to obey, in faith, when He asks them to do something.  This is Amos.  And this is what I want to be like.

I have met many people in my short life that remind me of Amos.  So many stories of people who are as vanilla as they come, yet God uses them to accomplish His purposes in astounding ways.  Because He is the one doing the work, we are just the vessels.  So, I will tell these stories… here on this blog (I hope to post one story a week).  And we can celebrate God’s work in ordinary people together!  To the praise of His glory!

(To check out Jen’s book “Ms. Understood” click the following link: http://www.amazon.com/Ms-Understood-Rebuilding-Feminine-Equation/dp/1600062164/ref=pd_bbs_sr_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213636868&sr=8-5 )