Circle of Influence

A few weeks ago I had watched the final episode of Oprah.  I hadn't really watched her show in years but I thought it would be cool to watch the final one.  If you watched it, you know she talked about a circle of influence and how we all have one and maybe ours isn't a stage and an audience like hers but that we can all make a difference where we are.

More recently, I started thinking about this as I heard that the new Miss USA used to live in Manalapan.  I started thinking about whether or not she was a believer and if maybe someone from our church family could have been someone in her circle of influence while living amongst us.  What if we had worked with her, lived in her neighborhood, went to the same grocery store, worked out at same gym, etc.?  What if we had been given the opportunity to plant a seed in her life or water a seed that had already been planted?  What if she had given her life to the Lord (not saying that she hasn't as I have no idea)?  Her circle of influence is now HUGE.

Another thought that hit me as I was thinking about this is the saying about Six Degrees of Separation.  Could this be true and if so, is our life making an impact for God's kingdom much further than we could ever imagine?  My parents are in full-time ministry in Princeton and have been for almost 35 years.  They work with mostly international students that have come to Princeton for a graduate program at Princeton University or other schools in the area.  These students were basically a nobody studying here but many were shown the love of Christ and many have given their lives to the Lord.  Many have returned to their own countries (some to take leadership roles in their own country) and now the circle of influence is getting bigger.

Right now, my parents have taken probably their first ever trip to the Far East to visit former students that they had met while they were studying here in Princeton.  They are visiting countries like Taiwan, Japan & China.  Some of these countries where it is very difficult for missionaries to go but they heard about Jesus here in the US.  I think that is amazing!

My question is are we making a difference in the lives of those around us?  Are we showing people the love of God?  We have no idea how this could impact their lives or the lives of many that we may never met.

On another note, I have recently started the "No Other Gods" bible study with the women of Tuesday Morning Bible Study.  It has really been convicting me to look at my own life and see if the God that I worship is really, truly the God that I am serving.  I have found areas of my own life that I really need to examine and work on because they have become my god.  I know that God has something special in store for all of us ladies that are on this journey together.  I can't believe that I am already on to the second week of homework.....I wanted to make sure that first I would get through the homework in the time allotted but I really wanted to take my time as well to let the words really sink in.  I can't wait to hear what God has been speaking to each of the ladies about during this study. 

So, I have two words for all of you - MAKE ROOM!!!!!!  For God that is!  I know that I need to do that for myself.  I understand that life can get crazy and out of control especially with babies and toddlers but we have got to make room for God in our lives and we need to set our hearts and minds on him instead of the many things of this world that tend to distract us.

Be encouraged!