First Church of God

On Sunday David used me as an illustration, once again, in his sermon.  So many people have asked me, since Sunday, how I feel about that.  My comment is always that it is fine with me!  And, it really is.  You see, we have been married 18 years, as of yesterday, and our life seems to be full of moments that become illustration material! 

Growing up in a Pastor's home, I have become used to the fact that I was born a living illustration and I guess I will be a living illustration source until the good Lord calls me home!  David and I love to laugh with and at each other.  We enjoy having a sense of humor and not taking ourselves so seriously that we cannot find humor in our not so perfect moments.  God has used many of these moments as teaching points in our ministry life, whether from the pulpit, in a class, or just in our relationships with others.  We find a great deal of pleasure looking for God in every situation in our lives!!! I feel like God put us together as a couple so that we could keep each other humble! 

All of us are living illustrations in some way. We illustrate everyday, how we were raised, the kind of person we are, the God we serve, or the lack of integrity we might have. Like it or not people watch us and walk away with a snapshot of us as a person.  Now, I can tell you that I have left impressions on people I would love to be able to go back and have a "do over" on!  I think we all could attest to the fact that we have had ugly moments a time or two in our lives.  But, what matters is the "trying"...the willingness to continue to strive to be a better "living illustration" than the day before. 

Have you ever heard the saying "that left a bad taste in my mouth" or "their attitude stinks"?  There are many ways we choose to describe an unpleasant encounter with someone.  The Bible puts it this way in 2 Corinthians 2:15, "For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."  This scripture reminds us that we do leave an impression...we are a living illustration...we have an aroma...an aroma of life or death.  We so often walk around giving testimony to the bitterness in our lives, the hopelessness we dwell in, the anger we hang on to in order to punish all those around us, the lack of self-control, or the sin that is holding us captive.  We are truly living illustrations of what life on earth has done to us.  But, God calls us to be a sweet aroma, a living illustration of the love of God that has set us free from our earthly chains! 

I guess I feel that when David uses me as an illustration maybe someone will be able to identify with a biblical principle in a way they have never connected before, and in the process draw a little closer to the God that gave His son for them.  So, I am happy to be a living illustration in this way, even if it is a little humiliating at times!  (Maybe someday I will get a chance to share with you about some of David's little moments!) At least you know we are normal, imperfect people like you, that God has chosen to use despite our quirkiness!  We are who we are because of God, and I pray that I will strive to always be a living illustration of the God that lives in me!