God of the Extraordinary

We can possess incredible expectations for the God who has called us into a loving relationship with Himself - in our times of fear or anxiety, or discouragement, or physical challenge, we can think
about the power of God and reach out to Him in faith. Ephesians 3 states:
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

We can trust the Lord to do great and mighty things, according to His will for our lives.  As we trust in Him and grow in Christ, we can experience His hand upon our lives, and we can partner with Him to see Him express Himself through us, for His glory.  When we are facing the trials of life, we can depend on His strength and the assurance of His Word - when we call out to Him, we can be assured that He hears us and goes with us.

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God wants to use us as His vessels, created in His image, with great potential to bring Him glory, so that He might be exalted through us in this world. Jesus taught in John 15:
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Last night, the camera focused on the podium area in the House Chamber in the U.S. Capitol building went to a wider shot to reveal the words that appear on the wall in that setting, "In God We Trust."  That camera shot occurred after President Trump said some poignant words in the State of the Union address.  In its analysis, LifeSiteNews.com quoted the President:

“In America, we know that faith and family, not government and bureaucracy, are the center of the American life,” he said. “Our motto is ‘in God we trust.’”

The analysis, by Claire Chretien, mentioned:

Although his speech was focused on issues like immigration, the economy, and national security, Trump mentioned his administration has “taken historic actions to protect religious liberty.”

In a section of the speech devoted to the opioid crisis, according to CNBC, the President recognized a policeman who took a series of brave steps.  Again, from the LifeSiteNews website:

“Last year, [Officer] Ryan Holets was on duty when he saw a pregnant homeless woman preparing to inject heroin,” Trump recalled. “When Ryan told her she was going to harm her unborn child, she began to weep. She told him she didn't know where to turn, but badly wanted a safer home for her baby.”

“At that moment Ryan said he felt God speak to him: ‘you will do it because you can,’” said Trump. “He heard those words. He took out a picture of his wife and their four kids. Then he went home to tell his wife Rebecca. In an instant, she agreed to adopt.”

According to the LifeSiteNews website, the baby's name is Hope. The President is quoted as saying, "Ryan and Rebecca, you embody the goodness of our nation..."

The Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, also hosted a guest with a pro-life connection, Cathy Cenzon-DeCarlo, described as "a Catholic nurse who in 2009 was forced to assist in a late-term abortion at a Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York." The story says:

A legal battle and Department of Health and Human Services investigation ensued; eventually the hospital changed its policy.

“No one should be forced to violate their religious beliefs—especially in the workplace,” said Speaker Ryan. “Not only did Cathy stick up for her faith, but she did so while fighting for the unborn. It’s wrong that Cathy and so many others have been intimidated into assisting with abortions, which is why the Trump administration’s expanded conscience protections are a welcomed change.”

 It's interesting that the people the President recognized last night are referred to in the media as "ordinary."  For example, John Podhoretz of the New York Post lauded the President:

Presidents have been using ordinary Americans as tools and props and symbolic representatives of the goodness of the country for more than 30 years.

Trump took it to a new level last night — to a Paul Harvey level.

He stated, "On and on Trump went, introducing ordinary American after ordinary American and citing the country’s strength and nobility and purpose."

But, when you stop and think about it, are they so ordinary?  They have done extraordinary things, and have been recognized on a national and perhaps international stage.

Fact is, we are built to accomplish the extraordinary - whether or not we do so is another matter, but I believe that God wants to infuse our humanity with His supernatural strength and wisdom - that can prompt a police officer to adopt a heroin addict's child, for instance. We may never do something that gets a seat in the gallery at the State of the Union, but God is not necessarily looking to make us famous, but we are called to partner with Him and make Him famous, so that He is glorified.

So, we travel through life with a bent toward obedience.  Sometimes that obedience will be very simple, other times it will call for more courage.  We know what to do in various situations because of our love and dependence for God, our knowledge of His Word, and our attentiveness to the promptings of the Spirit.  And, maybe, just maybe, that obedience can be proclaimed on a wider scale; perhaps not - we're just called to walk by faith, reflecting that national motto in our personal methods, "In God We Trust."

An ordinary person combined with an extraordinary, mighty God can produce His intended, impactful outcome.  He can produce that expectation in our hearts, to see Him move and ultimately, that we might bear fruit for His glory.