Lisa Notes: Be vulnerable

Be vulnerable

Courageous love enables us to be vulnerable.
~ JOSEPH STOWELL

Maybe you wouldn’t have felt vulnerable.
But I did.

If this is my year to VENTURE, I must say yes more often.
To Him.
So I said it, “Sure, I’ll be a speaker.”

Our church was planning a workshop for teachers of adult classes. They needed volunteers for break-out sessions to share how they prepare lessons. I would be one.

It’s not that I mind such ventures. I enjoy the preparation. I benefit from increased praying. I even love the mental challenge of honing a lesson down to 30 minutes.

But the public speaking part?
That’s where God was calling me to be vulnerable.

I’m not particularly scared of it, but I know I’m not particularly good at it. And I don’t like publicly demonstrating something I can’t do well. (It’s one reason I gave up bowling.)

Yet if I truly believe that God can work through anybody—that He can speak a message through anybody—I need to believe He can do that through me, too.

So I did it. I made myself vulnerable. I gave my talk, cotton mouth and all. I exposed a weakness and felt humbled by my inadequacy in it.

But you know what? It was okay.
It’s okay to be vulnerable for a cause.
It’s okay to expose your weaknesses to those who love you.
Even if it hurts a little.

Love requires vulnerability. It requires doing when the doing is needed, not waiting until you’re fully capable.

If you get an opportunity to show love, take it. Even if you feel weak and inadequate and unskilled, choose love.

If exposing your weakness can reveal His strength (2 Corinthians 12:9-10), strip naked. Show Jesus.
You’ll get grace back.

I did.
My friends showed up for my lesson.
They listened; they participated; they were nice afterwards.

I was protected.

Be vulnerable. Take courage. For Love’s sake.

* * *

2012: My year to VENTURE

Comments (31)

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Cathy · 690 weeks ago

Good for you. I'm sure you did well with the Lord helping you. Blessings ~
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Lisa notes 103p · 690 weeks ago

Thanks, Cathy. I hope someone got something out of it, in spite of me.
My recent post Be vulnerable

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Sarah · 690 weeks ago

this echoes what I feel...and think. I want to be vulnerable for Him...for a cause...to give back. I want to stand up not chicken out like I always used to do. Lisa I'm cheering......way to go for not letting fear stop you. And cheering b/c I think when we stand up once...He knows...will do it again and again and again. You totally inspire me.

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Lisa notes 103p · 690 weeks ago

You've definitely proven you're willing to be vulnerable to the work God puts in front of you. Telling your story and helping others through their stories takes so much courage. I'm thankful you let Him equip you to do that. It blesses many.
My recent post Be vulnerable

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Lynn · 690 weeks ago

Lisa, what a great post on allowing the Lord to work through you for a cause. Fear stops so many willing people cold, but Jesus can melt that fear with His love for us. Blessings.

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Lisa notes 103p · 690 weeks ago

They say we're willing to take more risks for the ones we love. I want my love for the Lord to inspire me to take more risks. Yes, He is the one who can melt that fear. Thanks for stopping by.
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kim · 690 weeks ago

It is a hard thing to do---it takes his grace

1 reply · active 690 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 690 weeks ago

Most definitely. Without his grace, I'm a goner from the get-go.
My recent post Be vulnerable

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floyd · 690 weeks ago

Good for you for stepping into the awkward, the anxious, the unfamiliar. If God calls you, He provides. If all of us would press toward that the church would be a much different body than what it is right now. Thanks for the example.
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Lisa notes 103p · 690 weeks ago

I would love to see the church take a more radical stand to be more adventurous in our faith. I wonder what it would look like....
My recent post Be vulnerable

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Renee · 690 weeks ago

Good post for showing how you are being obedient to God and venturing out into areas where you feel so vulnerable and you are able to speak because the HOLY SPIRIT is working through you....with you you say and with what others hear. Good for you, Lisa...and praise God...to Him be all the glory!
My recent post Radical Obedience

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Lisa notes 103p · 690 weeks ago

I love that you added "and with what others hear." That part gives me comfort too--knowing that not only does the Spirit work on our end with the speaking, but He's also working on the receiving end with the hearing. It's all a supernatural process; we're blessed to be involved on either end of such works!
My recent post Be vulnerable

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Trisha · 690 weeks ago

Lisa,
To God be the glory! And in your stepping out, you also encouraged others to be vulnerable, too. That's a wonderful gift to give others, my friend.

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Lisa notes 103p · 690 weeks ago

You make me feel better about it, Trisha. Thank you, friend. :-)
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barbarah 65p · 690 weeks ago

There are few things that "undo" me more than public speaking. Generally once I start everything is ok, but the days leading up to it, particularly that day, I'm a mess in many senses of the word. Sometimes I wrestle with whether all of that (which still happens despite much prayer) is a signal I'm not supposed to do such things, or whether it's a roadblock from the enemy, or whether it's another part of trusting God through the process. It can definitely be uncomfortable as God stretches us out of our normal comfort zone, yet He can use all of it for His glory.
My recent post Still, My Soul, Be Still

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Lisa notes 103p · 690 weeks ago

I ask myself similar questions, Barbara: are the uncomfortable feelings because God is stretching me or because Satan is tempting me or what??? I guess we all have to come to a place of peace about whether God is calling us to a particular task or not. Then it makes it easier to go forward, knowing how to handle our discomfort. And yes, ultimately know God can use it for his glory.
My recent post Be vulnerable

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Faith · 690 weeks ago

Encouraging post....have fun in your venturing!!

1 reply · active 690 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 690 weeks ago

Thanks, Faith. I will try. :-)
My recent post Be vulnerable

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Dianna · 690 weeks ago

Thank you, Lisa, for a wonderful post...and for being vulnerable. In doing so you encourage me to open myself up to the Lord in areas where I know I am weak.

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Lisa notes 103p · 690 weeks ago

I love how that works, Dianna. We're stronger from watching each other than we are alone.
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Julie · 690 weeks ago

RAH to you Lisa...(cheering and whistling for my sister...for her courage!!) I would have felt the SAME struggles you felt...what a great post. Kudos to you girl. I feel God was smiling down on you for doing the HARD thing it was for you. "It's okay to be vulnerable for a cause"...what an IMPACTING statement...wow. I felt that one.
You know we become very vulnerable in many moments and seasons throughout the journey of marriage, too. It is like a testing ground for going "outside" the comfort zone of home...to be made vulnerable in front of those who DON'T know and love us as much as the mate at home...Surely God is pleased and honored with courageous steps for His kingdom. Hugs to you Lisa...and I am proud of you and inspired by your post. Thank you for sharing. xoxoxo
My recent post Merry Monday and Metamorphosis of the Bath

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Lisa notes 103p · 690 weeks ago

Thanks for the encouragement, Julie. Yes, there are SO many levels and places where we can make ourselves vulnerable, all the way from our most intimate relationships in marriage to those with people we don't even know. And everything in between. So thankful that Jesus is the common denominator in all of it!
My recent post DECEMBER 2011 Posts

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Jennifer Dougan · 690 weeks ago

Good job for stepping and on your venture! :) What's next for this week for you?

Jennifer Dougan www.jenniferdougan.com

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Lisa notes 103p · 690 weeks ago

Thanks for asking, Jennifer. I need to make a choice this week about either staying with the status quo on something (which isn't optimal but it's easy, except for the battle to find contentment there) or stepping out into something new (2 directions to choose from...).

Praying for wisdom on the choice, then courage to follow through (unless it's the first choice--then no courage necessary...).
My recent post DECEMBER 2011 Posts

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Denise · 690 weeks ago

Umm, I loved being in your class two summers ago. The humility and thoughtfulness you embodied can only come from God, but you did a great job being a vessel for Him. (Sorry Jon Acuff, I still capitalize His name and the pronouns that go with it.) I feel right at home sitting at your feet as you sit at His.
Denise

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Lisa notes 103p · 690 weeks ago

Oh, you've blessed my day, Denise. I still miss your family, every one of you. You added much to that class and to the body life at Central. You're really fresh on my mind because I was just mentioning last Saturday when Flat Jesus went to the ballpark and I was thinking of your beautifully decorated Flat Jesus. He was a styling one. :-)

But I know our loss is Ireland's gain. You are touching lives for Christ there that might not know Him otherwise (notice I used a capital 'H' just for you).
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char72 44p · 689 weeks ago

Many of us identify with this post. I certainly do. My husband is a wonderful public speaker. Even now after being retired for a few years when he returns to our former church to do funerals people are amazed at what a wonderful job he does, including me. Public speaking is not one of my gifts. I did try it a few times when I felt like I absolutely must, but I don't think I did a very good job and, like you, I like to do things I feel like I'm good at. I think it's great that you "stretched" yourself and was vulnerable. They say the more you do that the easier it becomes and the better you do. I have the feeling that will be true of you.
Blessings,
Charlotte
My recent post LOST

1 reply · active 689 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 689 weeks ago

Thank you, Charlotte. I do think that with more practice I'd get more comfortable with it. But my opportunities aren't very often, so that's okay too. :-)

I'm thankful some people have a natural gift for public speaking; it sounds like your husband does. It's wonderful he can continue to bless others with his gift, even in retirement.
My recent post Can different be delightful?

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