Ordinarily, we look at cosmetics not character;

backgrounds not behavior.

Extraordinarily, God helps us look

deeper.

1 Samuel 9:1 Saul was the son of a “man of standing.”

Handsome, tall and strong outside

Ugly, weak and

small inside

Ordinarily we believe God is constrained to

maintain the status quo.

Extraordinarily, God often upsets the

status quo and always makes things

right.

Heroes are the ones who do the right thing even though they are afraid.

In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt told the American public facing a

depression that, “The only thing to fear is fear itself.”

Late in the winter of 1569, Dirk Willems of Holland was discovered as an Anabaptist, and a thief

catcher came to arrest him at the village of Asperen

Running for his life, Dirk came to a body of water still coated with ice. After making his way across in great peril, he realized his pursuer had fallen through into the freezing water. Turning back, Dirk ran to the struggling man and dragged him safely to shore. The thief catcher wanted to release Dirk, but a burgomaster - having appeared on the scene - reminded the man he was under oath to deliver criminals to justice. Dirk was bound off to prison, interrogated, and tortured in an unsuccessful effort to make him renounce his faith. He was tried and found guilty of having been rebaptised, of holding secret meetings in his home, and of allowing baptism there - all of which he freely confessed. "Persisting obstinately in his opinion", Dirk was sentenced to execution by fire.

Ordinarily we prefer to hide our mistakes.

Extraordinarily God continues to use us if

we admit them with honesty and humility.

Think about your mistakes

What would happen if you went ahead and accepted that it was a mistake and

called the persons involved and said it that

clearly. “I was wrong.”

Think about your mistakes

Imagine the possibilities for peace,

forgiveness, restoration, and social

justice that might follow.

Ordinarily old habits are hard to break

Extraordinarily God stays with us long

enough that if we listen we will find our way

through and do the right thing.

1 Corinthians 1

27 “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose

the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the

lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before

him.”

Making the right choice

sometimes means considering possibilities

we had previously decided were not

worthy of consideration.

This Week’s Practice:

1. Who am I standing behind? Am I backing this person because of who they seem to be and what they will do for me or because of who they are and what they will do for all the people of God?

2. Are the people I am following, after God’s heart for the people or after the heart of the people?

This Week’s Practice:

3. If I see that the person or persons that I endorsed no longer have God’s interests for His people at heart, am I willing to “reject” their leadership and align myself with someone who does have all the people’s interests at heart?

4. Will I stand up for what is right even if it puts me at risk?