tee shirt theology
Not too long ago, a dear and close friend gifted me with the greatest shirt of literally all time. Are you dying to know what it said? Well, I’ve been dying to tell you. It’s a black t-shirt, (which I’m not normally a t-shirt gal but this has turned me into one. . . Almost) and it had only four words written in a gorgeous font in white writing. It simply says, “listen to women preach” If you’re an old—ok let me reword that…long term—Baptist like me, you might be squirming in your seat right now finding out that a shirt like this even exists. I’m sure you’ll be fine.
I was raised in a Baptist church, we sang traditional hymns, we stood when told or asked, we said amen when the pastor asked us, “and all God’s people said?” And we would respond, “amen.” However I always tell my husband that I’m not a very good Baptist. (He says he knows!) I simply love Jesus, love others, try to share the goodness and truth of His word, and be obedient to whatever He asks of me. No one knows the number of days we have on this earth, only God does, so I want to make the most of them and the most impact for Him that I can.
I love reading the Bible. I love it when God gives me a message, reveals something in His word, and then asks me to go and tell and share. But the enemy often pushes back and begins to say things like, “why do you think you are capable of that?” “But you’re a woman.” “They won’t listen” “what do you have to say that they don’t already know?” “You haven’t even been to seminary.”
And I have to replace these lies with God’s truth. “You are my creation” “I will speak through you” “you know me and are walking with me” “I will go before you and hold you by your right hand” “I have given you a spirit of boldness” “this is a gift, use it”
Besides, who were the first ones to tell the world that Jesus had risen? Can I get an amen? Or maybe an a women?
God has gifted all of us with different things we are not only good at but things that we also love, fill us up with a renewed energy and strength, give us joy, fuel our creativity, gets us excited about life and waking up in the morning. So, if God is the one who has created you, you are talking to Him, and He has reminded or shown you what you love and are good at, why would you not put it to use? Why would you hold back and allow fear and lies to determine what you do with the unknown numbers of days left here on earth, your temporary home.
Talk to God. Ask Him what He wants you do to with the remaining number of days left here on earth. It might be 85 years or 85 days, or you might be going home tomorrow. Just put on that armor of God (which for me, now includes that t-shirt), and go forth with power!