Dear Sisters,
My daughter is in grad school at Berkeley, California. She said this past weekend San Francisco hosted an annual tradition – part run, part walk, part city-wide block party. It’s called the Bay to Beach or something like that.
Evidently it’s like a huge pot luck and costume party with a bit of a 5K tossed in. Runners and walkers start at the bay and cross the city, ending up at the ocean side a few miles away. People dress and run or walk in wild costumes. It’s a lot of fun.
Some time ago, a few folks decided to dress up as salmon. These eccentric souls started at the ocean and ran the race backward – making their way against the crowd. It didn’t take long before some other San Franciscans struck upon the idea of dressing up as bears. These folks laid in wait – hiding and watching – until they spied the salmon "swimming" upstream. Of course, the bears chased the salmon. That’s what bears do!
First I laughed. Then, I thought. Of course the bears chased the salmon. Salmon are swimming against the tide. Wherever the salmon swim, the bears try to capture and devour them.
Like I said, first I laughed. Then, I got all serious and I felt a bout of preaching coming on.
Friends, God is calling salmon. He’s calling people willing to swim upstream – to go against the current. The current in the world and the current in much of the "current" church. Will you run the race in a way that some think is backward? Will you push against the throngs of people going in the same direction?
Is God speaking to you about a direction that isn’t the "usual" one? Has he called you to do or be or carry something that’s unusual? Something you don’t have a model for? Something you’ve never seen or rarely seen others do?
God has been calling out intercessors. He’s been asking some to quit jobs and gather support and pour out their hearts in worship at the House of Prayer for the Nations. He’s calling others to serve the poor in radical and unique ways. He’s calling others to worship like Mary of Bethany.
Rest assured, whenever the salmon start swimming upstream, the bears show up, ready to capture and devour.
Do you know women called to unique places of ministry? Do you know women called to swim upstream? Don’t leave them to the "bears" – cover them with prayer. Speak God’s calling and His promises over them. Believe with them and pray. Listen to them and pray. Support their calling and watch their backs. The bears are watching, too you know.
Many of you can think immediately of such women. I’m going to be privileged to introduce you to some in the coming weeks and months.
As women, we have a special privilege to encourage and support each other. We have unique authority over the bears that hide and wait tocapture and devour. It’s a privilege to pray. It’s a gift and privilege to intercede for what’s on God’s heart for the women in His body in Madison.
Welcome to the race,
Julia