August 10, 2024 • 37 mins
Can introverts make an impact in faith outreach? You bet they can! We'll challenge the common misconception that only extroverts can be effective evangelists. Through compelling examples from the Bible, like Moses and Jacob, and personal anecdotes, we reveal how introverts can fulfill God's purpose through behind-the-scenes actions and meaningful one-on-one interactions. Understand why spiritual success isn't about the number of people reached but about serving your unique role in God's grand plan.
PLUS...
Ever wondered how to navigate the challenges of parenting in the digital age? Join us for an intimate conversation with Gina, who shares her heartfelt journey of raising children amidst the complexities of today's tech-driven world. Discover Gina's thoughtful methods for managing technology and social media for her teenage sons, emphasizing the importance of rules and monitoring to ensure their safety and emotional readiness.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Is summer a busy time for you?
I know it is for us, but don'tforget to keep Ordinary People,
extraordinary Things on yourpodcast list.
Make sure to follow andsubscribe so you don't miss an
episode, and when you're ridingin the car, it's a perfect place
to listen.
Thank you for making OrdinaryPeople, extraordinary Things a
part of your habit and a part ofyour day.
(00:24):
Things a part of your habit anda part of your day.
Welcome to Ordinary People,extraordinary Things.
I'm here with Gina.
Gina, thanks for coming.
Thanks for having me.
I'm so excited to have you on.
We have gotten to know eachother the last few years and I
just enjoy spending every minuteI get with you.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Oh, thank you.
You are one of the most amazingpeople I have ever met.
So friendly, no, always so kind.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
So, yeah, I'm so happy.
Oh, thank you for that.
That's so sweet.
Well, we're both introverts andwe're going to get to talk
about that today, but if peopledon't know who you are, could
you give a few words or phrasesto describe you?
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Sure, I've been told I'm thoughtful words or phrases
to describe you.
Sure, I've been told I'mthoughtful, hopefully, because
I'm not just processing, butactually thinking about people
and what their needs and wantsare.
I have a strong sense of duty,probably part of growing up with
an Asian mom.
Yeah, a lot of expectation.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
And then perseverance , so working through hard things
, and, yeah, that seems to be acommon theme for me.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Yeah, well, those are good, those are really good.
Well, before we kind of diveinto introverts, I did ask if
you would tell about you're onthe kind of end of, I want to
say, raising your kids, right,yep, and I mean, probably never
(01:52):
get done raising your kids, Iguess, but one's in college,
one's in high school, is thatright?
So kind of how we would seeraising is what I'm saying.
But I just love your family andI just thought maybe you could
give a few words ofencouragement or this really
worked out and obviouslyeveryone's different and we're
(02:12):
not saying you're the bestparents in the whole world,
you've never made a mistake.
But I think we can also learnfrom someone who is maybe a
little bit further in their walkwith their kids and things that
you've learned, that this wentreally well, or I wish I would
have done something like that.
Do you have any?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yeah, my youngest son , when he was in kind of the
toddler age lots of emotion thatwas right there at the surface,
but not a lot of words thatwent with.
It struggled a lot getting outof the house in the morning or
around dinner time and a lot ofthat was kind of minimized by
(02:55):
actually giving him choices.
So where before we might justput a bowl in front of him.
Here, here are your Cheerios,and they quickly end up on the
floor If we asked do you wantthe Red Bull?
or the Blue Bull, things went alot better.
Do you want to put on theseshoes or your boots?
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Instead of just put these on Right, right yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
It gave him some ownership there and that helped
out a lot.
So hopefully that's.
If you're not trying somethinglike that, maybe that would be
encouraging and helpful, maybehope, and then, as my kids have
gotten older, there's a lot ofstress around oh, my kids need a
(03:37):
cell phone yeah, yeah my oldestson, who's 20 now, didn't have
a cell phone until he was asenior in high school.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
And he's only 20.
I mean, he's only 20, and hejust got a cell phone when he
was a senior Like 17.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Wow.
And then my youngest son is 17,and he got one at the end of
sixth grade.
So we had some rules aroundwhat they could do to earn a
phone.
Most of it was around gradesand attitude and just being good
, healthy members of our family,and so it truly was like this
(04:18):
is how you would earn a phoneand this is how you keep a phone
.
And so my youngest son earnedone at the end of sixth grade,
where my oldest son didn't untillater.
But we had lots of limitationsaround applications that they
could get or not get, that theyhad to be approved.
If they wanted something, evenschool related, all of those
(04:41):
would go through my husband andme for approval first and any
social media that they were on.
I was looking at it first andneither of my kids were posting
anything.
I mean, if it were likeSnapchat or something, maybe it
was just between their friends.
But, I would go and watch, likewhat kinds of things are they
(05:03):
watching, who are they friendswith, who are they following?
And have been really involvedin that?
And even my 17-year-old stillhas to go through approvals for
us for any new apps.
Yeah, we've just been reallyconsistent and strict with it.
But I think a lot of parentsare a little too eager to let
(05:25):
kids get involved in that andit's so hurtful at times if
you're not ready for itemotionally or if you're not
using it appropriately.
I say be more conservative ifyou can, and go down that path.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Don't be afraid, that's so good.
A couple questions.
One is I hear people saying,well, that's An invasion of
privacy, right, right and I'mlike, but they're still young,
right?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
I think if your kid's 12, you're probably still being
influential in any kind ofrelationship that they have with
their friends.
Like if a kid's over you'relistening to what they're
talking about.
You're looking at what they'rewatching.
You know if they're watching aTV program or something when
they have friends over, so anykind of video games that they're
(06:19):
playing, that sort of thing.
We certainly were listening inwatching doing that kind of
thing.
We certainly were listening in,watching doing that kind of an
engagement.
So I felt like social mediawasn't any different.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Yeah, that's so good.
What about parents who say,well, they just need a phone,
because I guess we just feellike we need it now, or because
they are going to school orthey're away from us.
But your son didn't have oneuntil he was a senior?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Right, yeah, I mean, I think there's certainly areas
where it's helpful, particularlyif your kids are driving.
My oldest son happened to startdriving during COVID and so he
was home a lot, which made iteasier for us to not have to
have a phone at that point intime.
But I think the invasion ofprivacy kind of piece comes up
(07:09):
too If you can track every placethat they're going and
everything that they're doing.
We certainly have had momentswhere we've been like are you
where you said you were going tobe?
Speaker 1 (07:24):
And yes, we're checking that, but we all
survived as teenagers.
That's how I feel.
That's how I feel.
That's how I feel I was.
I went to Europe for monthswithout a cell phone, right, and
yeah, it is kind of funny howthat's become.
Like you can't touch that, likethey have to, and you, like a
(07:47):
advice against that, would belike no, no, no, no, they have
to.
But everyone who says they haveto never had a cell phone when
they were going up, so it isinteresting how it's become such
a part of our lives and both myhusband and I work and our kids
.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
kids, as they got older, were able to come home
from school and be home for 30minutes to an hour on their own
at times, but we lived half amile from the school and we had
a home phone.
So if there, was an emergency,they had a way that they could
contact either of us or call 911.
(08:24):
We certainly trained them onwhat they needed to do and had
neighbors or friends in theneighborhood that they could go
to if they really had somethingthat they needed an adult for in
that short amount of time thatthey were home by themselves.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
I'm kind of thinking specifically about your older
one.
Did he feel ostracized fromfriends?
Not having these things, or wasit kind of freeing?
I mean, I know that we're kindof speaking for him, but I think
that's another thing of well,everyone has one, my kid will be
different, my kid will be weird, or something like that.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
I think kids were accepting that he didn't have
one.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
I think more often the teachers were actually ones
who didn't believe he didn'thave a cell phone because they
had to put them, like in apocket um so his pocket didn't
have a cell phone and was like,well, hey, you need to bring
your cell phone up here.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
And he was like I don't have one, um, and so
that's funny, that was unusual,and so I don't think anyone
really gave him a hard timeabout not having it.
He had other ways ofcommunicating with people and
his friends.
He didn't need a cell phone tocommunicate with his close
friends.
Like he had other ways that hewas doing that.
(09:40):
So it worked out and then oncehe got home he could use the
phone, the regular phone yeah,the old thing we used to use or
playing video games, if you'reokay, sure you can communicate
that way too.
So, yeah, he had ways that hewas engaging with his peers, so
it worked out yeah, well, thankyou for that.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
I have actually been wanting to have someone come in
and talk about, because I thinkwe're seeing that it is a huge
problem and that we're, our kids, are really struggling with
this and we're kind of needingto go oh, oh, shoot, what, what
did we do and that and andthat's normal, right, but to
(10:22):
have someone that has gonethrough that instead of someone
I heard someone talking about itand it was very philosophical
on well, you shouldn't do that,you shouldn't do that.
And they were like well, howdid you raise your kids?
Well, I don't have kids.
Okay, that's maybe not ashelpful as to hear someone who
actually has Right, exactly.
(10:42):
So thank you for sharing.
Sure, okay, we're bothintroverts.
Introverts, extroverts everyonekind of, I think, knows what
that is an introvert.
Sometimes people say you're notan introvert.
Well, that doesn't mean I don'tenjoy talking to people or
hearing someone's story, or youknow, I think I can communicate
(11:03):
with people pretty well.
Sometimes I do have a problem.
Getting sarcasm is reallydifficult for me, so I cannot
pick up on some of those thingsvery well.
Social cues sometimes are stilldifficult for me, but, all in
all, I think an introvert issomeone who, when you're tired,
(11:24):
do you get filled up?
Being by people or away frompeople?
Right, is that kind of whatwe're saying if someone doesn't
know what an introvert is?
Speaker 2 (11:33):
I agree okay, okay and I used to be told that it's
like the joke grenade, um, thatit give me five seconds and then
I'll be laughing too, because Ijust now got the.
I got the joke.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
So yeah, I know I'm like, oh, I didn't pick up on
that.
So, being an introvert in God'skingdom, what have you heard or
what have you felt?
Speaker 2 (12:00):
yeah, I think there's a lot around the need to be in
community that I think might bescary for introverts at times.
I know for me it's a struggle,like oh, I really should engage
with that group or that,whatever, I should be more
involved in the church, but Idon't want to be around crowds.
Finding the way that you weremade and engaging in community
(12:27):
in those ways is totallyacceptable, but I feel like
sometimes there's this realurgency to be in maybe more
community than an introvertmight feel comfortable doing,
and I know that's been myexperience.
You know comments have come upabout are you doing God's will
(12:50):
or not?
if you're, not talking toeveryone, or if you're not being
, you know, an evangelist, liketrying to save everyone.
You meet at every street cornerand you who you've met in the
elevator, um, and that's justnot my style and I don't think
God created me for that kind ofrelationship right.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
I think if you tried to be that, I don't know if
you'd bring very many peopleright.
I mean just not being who Godcreated you to be right and
trying to make yourself someonethat you're not, but you are in
community.
I know that you are you know, Isee you a lot and I know that
(13:34):
you're in a life group and soyou're not saying, because I'm
an introvert, I won't doanything in community or I won't
do anything to fulfill God'skingdom.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Right.
Right, I think it's.
As I've gotten older, I'velearned there are things that
I'm more comfortable with andthings that I'm less comfortable
with, and so if I'mvolunteering for VBS, maybe I'm
going to be in a special room inthe corner running the slides
and the music and engaging withpeople one-on-one, as opposed to
(14:11):
leading a group of 16 kids orsomething like that, that I'm
going to have to be around allday and they might have
questions and I'm going to gettired very quickly, right.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
That's a great example of still being involved,
but in a way that suits yourstrength.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Right, there are a couple of verses.
Just looking at Moses fromExodus 4, that he wasn't a
confident speaker and actuallyapproached God with that and
Aaron was able to speak for him.
And then Jacob being a quietman preferring life indoors
(14:54):
among the tents, from Genesis25-27.
Proverbs 17-27,.
The one who has knowledge useswords with restraint, and
whoever has understanding iseven-tempered.
I think a lot of times,thinking about what you're
saying before you speak isn'tnecessarily a bad thing.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Right.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Sometimes, if we're processing, I know for myself I
want to get the words right or Iwant to think through all the
details and I feel uncomfortableblurting out an answer.
And perhaps that's intentionalin the way that God made me.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
I think there's a lot of verses you could find that
would say slow to speak and howhurtful the tongue can be if
it's used wrongly, right, right.
What would you say to someonewho sees themselves as not doing
(15:54):
as much or not reaching as manypeople, or they're introverted
so they're more behind thescenes and wondering if they're
doing anything or making adifference?
What would you say to them?
Speaker 2 (16:07):
I would say you can be incredibly Impactful even if
you're anonymous at times.
Maybe you're bringing suppliesfor a Charitable organization
that's gonna make a differenceto someone, or you're bringing a
meal that you don't have to seethat person in order for them
(16:29):
to be blessed by you.
I worked in a situation where Ifelt like I was doing a really
terrible job at the technicalskill that was required, but I
really felt like God had placedme in this role and it was one
of those where I prayed everymorning like God, help me
through this day.
I don't know if I'm going toget everything done, and he
(16:53):
managed to help me through that,but even just and that was in
2018 even in March and July ofthis year, there were people who
have approached me and said doyou remember that time when we
worked together and the thingsthat you would do for our team
and how you made it fun and youbrought in treats?
Like God called me to love themand that was what he placed me
(17:15):
there for.
And I didn't learn that untillater, but, like repeat, stories
from various people that I hadworked with in that time very
consistently told me that waswhat they were desperately
needing in the moment.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
that that's why God put me there wow, yeah that's so
cool yeah, that's neat that Godgave you that opportunity to
see that, that gift, to see whatyou had done.
That's awesome.
Yeah, have you been toldanything about your walk and the
(17:52):
treasure that you would receivein heaven?
Because you don't.
I'm air quoting reach as manypeople as an extrovert or
someone who has like a bigplatform, or you know there's
different ways.
You know big platform or youknow what really well known in
(18:17):
the Christian world, orsomething like that.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Yeah, I'm definitely mental.
Oh, it's too bad, yourtreasures in heaven are going to
be less because you just didn'tmeet all these people that you
were supposed to, or you didn'ttalk to all these people that
God intended for you, and I hadsearched through the Bible a lot
to see like, well, is theresomething about that?
(18:39):
Is there, you know, there, somesort of quota I'm supposed to
meet and there's not?
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Right.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
And I think God creates us differently because
we want to be approacheddifferently too, so going into a
crowd may be great for someonewho is really energized by
meeting with people and feedingoff the engagement of others,
but for me.
(19:07):
That's just overwhelming.
Like I'd go to the symphony butI wouldn't go to a concert
because we're all sitting downand we can still enjoy music.
But I don't engage well withother people kind of crowded
together and I probably wouldn'tdo God a great service if I
were in an environment like that, trying to, you know, win
(19:27):
people over for Christ, when I'mlike where is the exit?
Speaker 1 (19:32):
how do I get out of here?
Right, right, yeah, I well, I'msort of surprised that someone
would say that, but sort of not.
But yeah, I looked that up tooand I can't find anything that
says anything about that.
In fact, there's many things inthe Bible that would seem to go
(19:59):
against that really.
One that really came to mind is1 Corinthians 12, when it's
talking about the body of Christ.
It's talking about everyone has.
You have to have an ear, youhave to have a tongue, you have
to have hair.
1 Corinthians 12, 21,.
The eye cannot say to the hand,I have no need of you.
Nor again, to the head, to thefeet, I have no need of you.
(20:25):
Or contrary, the parts of thebody that seem to be weaker or
indispensable is kind of whatreally stuck out to me and of
those parts of the body that wethink less honorable, we bestow
the greater honor and ourunpresentable parts are treated
with greater modesty.
I feel like most of that wouldbe very contrary to what God
says about people just ingeneral.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Job 33, 31 through 33,.
Pay attention, Job and listento me.
Be silent and I will speak.
If you have anything to say,answer me, speak up, for I want
to vindicate you.
But if not, then listen to me.
Be silent and I will teach youwisdom.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
There's just so many.
You could probably put into youknow the you version and find
so many things about being quiet, being still watching your
tongue, about how that canreally hurt people, so it's
(21:29):
interesting that that has beenplaced at such a high level when
many people are reached throughthe word.
I mean, we're speaking today,right, hoping to encourage
people, but with that also comes.
So encourage people, but withthat also comes.
We have to watch our words,right.
So that's just interesting thatpeople would say that you didn't
(21:51):
meet a quota of talking topeople or reaching people in a
way that I guess they've thoughtis the right way to do that.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
And I think we're all different, we're all made
differently, and sometimes weget kind of down a path of well,
this is what works for me.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
And.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
I wouldn't want to discourage anyone that that does
work for them and that is whatthey're called to do.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Sure, of course.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
But I also recognize that we're not all called in the
same way, and that's okay tooright and I think that's what
the hope of encouraging peoplewho are introverted may be to to
make sure that they know it'sall right to have a different
approach right, but to have anapproach right right absolutely
(22:38):
have an approach yes, what isyour approach?
um, I I think I am more engagedwith people that I'm friends
with that may not be followers,that may be questioning their
(22:58):
relationship with God, or maybethey they are a follower, but
they're maybe not strong and bemore of a person that can be a
sounding board or someone whocan kind of steady them in a
moment of like.
What would God want me to do inthis?
Like, I'm just not sure to bean engagement in that way, and
(23:24):
I'm going to have conversationswith someone that I met in the
elevator, but I'm probably notgoing to give them my testimony.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Right.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
And so I know that that's not enough time for me
and that I'm probably not goinggonna make a vast friendship in
that way either, and I myapproach is more along the lines
of really getting to knowsomeone and hopefully showing
them, through the way that Iengage with them, god's love and
(23:56):
the way he's blessed me, andthat my family and I do things
that are related to Christianityand help them to maybe become
curious about that and beinspired by that, as opposed to
maybe having a.
Have you met Jesus Christ?
Like as soon as I first metthem?
Speaker 1 (24:20):
so yeah, Do you think ?
I don't want to say that noone's been reached that way, but
do you think that that works?
Speaker 2 (24:31):
I think if God put you in that space and you were
called in, that maybe you'vebeen approached a hundred times
and this is the one that finallyis the meaningful one.
Maybe you've hit that wall, oryou've finally hit that rock
bottom place, and this is theperson who's here in this moment
(24:52):
, but I don't know if it justworks all the time yeah, I think
it would be.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
I mean, I am a follower of Jesus, I am sold out
.
But if someone that I just metkind of tried to save me, I
would probably be kind of putoff.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
I've seen it happen at the park Really.
Yeah, no, I've really seen it.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
No.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Yeah, people who were , you know, satanic devil
worshipers, who were just likeI'm curious, and this person was
bold enough to say let me tellyou about Jesus Christ, and they
were like I'm interested tolearn more.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Wow, yeah, okay.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Well.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
I mean, wow, that is it.
It doesn't happen to me.
Wow, so, yeah, okay.
So there are people who arecalled to just be super bold.
Yeah, that's amazing.
Yeah, maybe I'm like thatwouldn't work for me because I'm
introverted, right, so thatwould put me off.
But yeah, you're right, thankyou.
(25:59):
Thank you for that.
That's a very, that's a greatword of we're all different and
that's that will work for somepeople.
But do what God's called you todo to show the light.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Yeah, I think, like you, I would be trying to find
what's the right word, like what, what I'm, and it's it's the
Holy Spirit that's going to movein that moment, and so I
actually spent a lot of timerealizing maybe I'm just
supposed to be the person that'shere, and God will make
whatever happened happen and Idon't have to have the pressure
(26:35):
of I need to convert somebody inthis moment.
That really created a lot offreedom and just being able to
engage with someoneauthentically yeah and be more
okay with that yeah the holyspirit will do the work.
I really like that.
I like that I.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
We've been talking about how god made us different
ephesians 2 4 or ephesians 2 10for we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for goodworks which God prepared
beforehand that we should walkin them.
I think that just speaks so towhat we're talking about is that
God made you a certain way todo his works right, like.
(27:15):
This isn't about you're anintrovert, so no worries, you
don't have to do anything.
But coming into how he's madeyou, I think is more of the
Right.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
The approach that you should be taking.
Like be active about it.
Be conscious that you have beencalled but, you don't have to
stress yourself out over it,it's okay.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
Yeah, to find your niche or how God's made you to
reach certain people.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
Right.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Because, likewise, you probably would want to be
reached in a more introvertedway too, right.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
I think that's why, when people talk about going on
a podium, I'm like, oh my gosh,like that, like going out on a
street corner that scares me tosee.
But I but thank you for showingthat.
Yeah, there are people who aregoing to get reached that way,
like going out on a streetcorner that scares me to see.
But thank you for showing that,yeah, there are people who are
going to get reached that waybecause God made them different.
(28:13):
So that's a good reminder forme.
Today you said that we belongin community, but that sometimes
introverts it's hard.
What would you say to them that?
Speaker 2 (28:27):
are saying, well, I don't want to do it.
Then, uh, find what you arewilling to do.
I mean, maybe you're willing tomeet in a group of five, um,
and that's okay too.
That's still being in communityor kind of like we were saying
you could do behind thescenes-scenes work.
That's still.
Maybe you're engaging one ortwo people, that you're
(28:48):
providing your gift in whateverway God intended, but it doesn't
necessarily have to be with 100people.
It's okay to do things thathelp you work your way into
larger groups, if that's whereyou end up, and you don't always
have to end up in a large group, that's all right.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Yeah, I think there is just in America too, we have
such this thing of more, more,more, bigger numbers, bigger
numbers, even on the podcast.
You know, I'm watching thenumbers hey, are we hitting so
many, you know?
And I watching the numbers, hey, are we hitting so many, you
know, and I think that's, that'sokay.
But God, god never says youhave to have this many numbers,
(29:35):
I have to have this many peoplelisten in order for it to be
worth my time.
Like if, if it reaches one,isn't that enough.
I mean, mean the 99, he goesafter the one, doesn't he?
Not even Christianity.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
But I feel like, if we don't feel like we have the
numbers or we feel like we'renot important, right yeah and I
think what's amazing is we neverknow what we were put on earth
to do, because it may be thatour generation, like our
descendants you know there'ssomebody in that group that's
(30:10):
gonna be like who we wereintended to keep the faith in
our families or it could besomeone that you met at the
grocery store and just didsomething nice to, and exposed
them to, the love of Christ.
That could make all thedifference right so it.
It doesn't necessarily have tobe like, oh, we got all the
(30:34):
numbers, we did all the things,because it could be one amazing
moment.
That was just intended.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
Yeah, yeah, and I love that we're going to be able
to see that in heaven.
But I do love that one amazingmoment that was just intended,
yeah, and I love that we'regoing to be able to see that in
heaven.
But I do love that God gave youa glimpse of that with some of
those people that spoke to you,that you shared, because I feel
like sometimes that gives youthe courage or the hope or the
okay, yes, yes, I can keep doingthat, and he gives you that
(31:04):
little piece to say keep going,keep going.
So I think that's special.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
So we're definitely called to be in community, so I
don't want anyone to think ohwell, I'm an introvert and I'm
off the hook.
It so Hebrews 10, 24 through 25, and let us consider how we may
spur one another on towardslove and good deeds, not giving
up meeting together, as some arein the habit of doing, but
(31:34):
encouraging one another, and allthe more as you see the day
approaching.
And then Galatians 6, 2 is onethat I recently read and got
inspired by, which is carry eachother's burdens, and in this
way you will fulfill the law ofChrist, where we're called to
have burdens that we're sharingwith others.
(31:56):
We have a load that we'reresponsible for but, the burden
is to keep us in community, keepus connected to others, that we
weren't intended to strugglethrough those alone.
We're intended to be incommunity to survive and thrive
through that.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
That's good.
That reminds me I just listenedto a quote, so this was talking
about community relationships.
Brad Gray says the enemy'snumber one purpose is to wreck
relationships, because all oflife is centered around
relationships.
I thought that was a boldstatement.
At first I was like oh.
I was like, oh, wow, I meanthat's not coming from the Bible
(32:38):
, that's.
You know, that's not a versefrom the Bible, but pulling off
what the Bible says aboutrelationships with God,
relationships with each other,and so I thought that was that
was so good for someone who I.
I would shrink away sometimesfrom community, right, when it
(32:58):
gets hard or when I get tired ordiscouraged, and so to keep in
that and it might look different, right, it doesn't mean
community has to be this, but tostay and help each other carry
each other's burdens.
Right, right, yeah, that's good.
Yeah, well, I've enjoyed ourtime and I always love to end
(33:18):
with our last questions what isyour favorite Bible verse or
story?
Speaker 2 (33:22):
uh galatians 5, 22 through 23 yeah, spirit um, I
had a, a sticker on my computermonitor for several years to
help me, like, go through all ofthem.
But, uh, but the fruit of thespirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness,
(33:42):
self-control.
Against such things there is nolaw.
I love that, to try to continueto remind myself that that's
what I'm striving for, andengaging in relationship for all
of those, because you don'thave fruit if you're by yourself
.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
Right, you have to abide in God to keep those
fruits of the Spirit.
Yeah, but the fruit of theSpirit isn't numbers or any of
that.
It's those things.
I like that.
What are you grateful for?
Speaker 2 (34:16):
I am grateful that my family's following Jesus.
We were talking about my kidsbeing older and they're in a
stage where they could easilyyou know, question, fall away,
set other priorities, and I feelsuper fortunate that God has
blessed us with kids that arecurious about him, doing college
(34:37):
, small groups, being involvedin Young Life and FCA, and so
not only do they attend churchwith us on Sundays, but they're
pursuing their own community andtheir own ways of following
Christ.
It's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
I love it.
That's amazing.
That's amazing.
What kindness have you shown orwhat kindness have you seen
from someone in the last week?
Speaker 2 (35:05):
I feel like I'm talking about my kids this whole
time.
My sons haven't always beensuper close, particularly as
they've gotten a little bitolder.
They haven't always they'venever been best friends, I'll
put it that way.
But my oldest son is trying tolearn, you know, skills and
budgeting and things like that,and he had a situation that
(35:28):
actually came up yesterday wherehe decided he's going to do
this car part replacement on hisown, but it's one of those
that's going to take two peopleand my other son actually helped
him out and was really excitedabout it and they had a moment
where they were kind of bondingtogether.
I worry that as they get older,there are more things that pull
(35:49):
them apart and havingexperiences like this where
they're learning and growingtogether and sharing with one
another is really beautiful, andthe fact that they're helping
one another is such a blessingto me.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
Oh, that's so great.
Yeah Well, I am praying thatsomeone who listens maybe you're
an extrovert and maybe thiskind of lets you see what an
introvert might be feeling orhave felt or heard about
themselves.
Or maybe you're an introvertand you are you just totally
resonate with what we're sayingand I hope that this has brought
(36:24):
you some encouragement.
Maybe it'll make you think ofsomething different, or being in
community differently, or howyou can show Jesus to someone
differently, or our part aboutkids.
That was a blessing to you.
So so many things that I justloved talking with you about.
So thanks for being on.
Thank you so much for having meAt Ordinary People
(36:48):
Extraordinary Things.
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(37:10):
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(00:24):
Things a part of your habit anda part of your day.
Welcome to Ordinary People,extraordinary Things.
I'm here with Gina.
Gina, thanks for coming.
Thanks for having me.
I'm so excited to have you on.
We have gotten to know eachother the last few years and I
just enjoy spending every minuteI get with you.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Oh, thank you.
You are one of the most amazingpeople I have ever met.
So friendly, no, always so kind.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
So, yeah, I'm so happy.
Oh, thank you for that.
That's so sweet.
Well, we're both introverts andwe're going to get to talk
about that today, but if peopledon't know who you are, could
you give a few words or phrasesto describe you?
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Sure, I've been told I'm thoughtful words or phrases
to describe you.
Sure, I've been told I'mthoughtful, hopefully, because
I'm not just processing, butactually thinking about people
and what their needs and wantsare.
I have a strong sense of duty,probably part of growing up with
an Asian mom.
Yeah, a lot of expectation.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
And then perseverance , so working through hard things
, and, yeah, that seems to be acommon theme for me.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Yeah, well, those are good, those are really good.
Well, before we kind of diveinto introverts, I did ask if
you would tell about you're onthe kind of end of, I want to
say, raising your kids, right,yep, and I mean, probably never
(01:52):
get done raising your kids, Iguess, but one's in college,
one's in high school, is thatright?
So kind of how we would seeraising is what I'm saying.
But I just love your family andI just thought maybe you could
give a few words ofencouragement or this really
worked out and obviouslyeveryone's different and we're
(02:12):
not saying you're the bestparents in the whole world,
you've never made a mistake.
But I think we can also learnfrom someone who is maybe a
little bit further in their walkwith their kids and things that
you've learned, that this wentreally well, or I wish I would
have done something like that.
Do you have any?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yeah, my youngest son , when he was in kind of the
toddler age lots of emotion thatwas right there at the surface,
but not a lot of words thatwent with.
It struggled a lot getting outof the house in the morning or
around dinner time and a lot ofthat was kind of minimized by
(02:55):
actually giving him choices.
So where before we might justput a bowl in front of him.
Here, here are your Cheerios,and they quickly end up on the
floor If we asked do you wantthe Red Bull?
or the Blue Bull, things went alot better.
Do you want to put on theseshoes or your boots?
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Instead of just put these on Right, right yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
It gave him some ownership there and that helped
out a lot.
So hopefully that's.
If you're not trying somethinglike that, maybe that would be
encouraging and helpful, maybehope, and then, as my kids have
gotten older, there's a lot ofstress around oh, my kids need a
(03:37):
cell phone yeah, yeah my oldestson, who's 20 now, didn't have
a cell phone until he was asenior in high school.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
And he's only 20.
I mean, he's only 20, and hejust got a cell phone when he
was a senior Like 17.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Wow.
And then my youngest son is 17,and he got one at the end of
sixth grade.
So we had some rules aroundwhat they could do to earn a
phone.
Most of it was around gradesand attitude and just being good
, healthy members of our family,and so it truly was like this
(04:18):
is how you would earn a phoneand this is how you keep a phone
.
And so my youngest son earnedone at the end of sixth grade,
where my oldest son didn't untillater.
But we had lots of limitationsaround applications that they
could get or not get, that theyhad to be approved.
If they wanted something, evenschool related, all of those
(04:41):
would go through my husband andme for approval first and any
social media that they were on.
I was looking at it first andneither of my kids were posting
anything.
I mean, if it were likeSnapchat or something, maybe it
was just between their friends.
But, I would go and watch, likewhat kinds of things are they
(05:03):
watching, who are they friendswith, who are they following?
And have been really involvedin that?
And even my 17-year-old stillhas to go through approvals for
us for any new apps.
Yeah, we've just been reallyconsistent and strict with it.
But I think a lot of parentsare a little too eager to let
(05:25):
kids get involved in that andit's so hurtful at times if
you're not ready for itemotionally or if you're not
using it appropriately.
I say be more conservative ifyou can, and go down that path.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Don't be afraid, that's so good.
A couple questions.
One is I hear people saying,well, that's An invasion of
privacy, right, right and I'mlike, but they're still young,
right?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
I think if your kid's 12, you're probably still being
influential in any kind ofrelationship that they have with
their friends.
Like if a kid's over you'relistening to what they're
talking about.
You're looking at what they'rewatching.
You know if they're watching aTV program or something when
they have friends over, so anykind of video games that they're
(06:19):
playing, that sort of thing.
We certainly were listening inwatching doing that kind of
thing.
We certainly were listening in,watching doing that kind of an
engagement.
So I felt like social mediawasn't any different.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Yeah, that's so good.
What about parents who say,well, they just need a phone,
because I guess we just feellike we need it now, or because
they are going to school orthey're away from us.
But your son didn't have oneuntil he was a senior?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Right, yeah, I mean, I think there's certainly areas
where it's helpful, particularlyif your kids are driving.
My oldest son happened to startdriving during COVID and so he
was home a lot, which made iteasier for us to not have to
have a phone at that point intime.
But I think the invasion ofprivacy kind of piece comes up
(07:09):
too If you can track every placethat they're going and
everything that they're doing.
We certainly have had momentswhere we've been like are you
where you said you were going tobe?
Speaker 1 (07:24):
And yes, we're checking that, but we all
survived as teenagers.
That's how I feel.
That's how I feel.
That's how I feel I was.
I went to Europe for monthswithout a cell phone, right, and
yeah, it is kind of funny howthat's become.
Like you can't touch that, likethey have to, and you, like a
(07:47):
advice against that, would belike no, no, no, no, they have
to.
But everyone who says they haveto never had a cell phone when
they were going up, so it isinteresting how it's become such
a part of our lives and both myhusband and I work and our kids
.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
kids, as they got older, were able to come home
from school and be home for 30minutes to an hour on their own
at times, but we lived half amile from the school and we had
a home phone.
So if there, was an emergency,they had a way that they could
contact either of us or call 911.
(08:24):
We certainly trained them onwhat they needed to do and had
neighbors or friends in theneighborhood that they could go
to if they really had somethingthat they needed an adult for in
that short amount of time thatthey were home by themselves.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
I'm kind of thinking specifically about your older
one.
Did he feel ostracized fromfriends?
Not having these things, or wasit kind of freeing?
I mean, I know that we're kindof speaking for him, but I think
that's another thing of well,everyone has one, my kid will be
different, my kid will be weird, or something like that.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
I think kids were accepting that he didn't have
one.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
I think more often the teachers were actually ones
who didn't believe he didn'thave a cell phone because they
had to put them, like in apocket um so his pocket didn't
have a cell phone and was like,well, hey, you need to bring
your cell phone up here.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
And he was like I don't have one, um, and so
that's funny, that was unusual,and so I don't think anyone
really gave him a hard timeabout not having it.
He had other ways ofcommunicating with people and
his friends.
He didn't need a cell phone tocommunicate with his close
friends.
Like he had other ways that hewas doing that.
(09:40):
So it worked out and then oncehe got home he could use the
phone, the regular phone yeah,the old thing we used to use or
playing video games, if you'reokay, sure you can communicate
that way too.
So, yeah, he had ways that hewas engaging with his peers, so
it worked out yeah, well, thankyou for that.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
I have actually been wanting to have someone come in
and talk about, because I thinkwe're seeing that it is a huge
problem and that we're, our kids, are really struggling with
this and we're kind of needingto go oh, oh, shoot, what, what
did we do and that and andthat's normal, right, but to
(10:22):
have someone that has gonethrough that instead of someone
I heard someone talking about itand it was very philosophical
on well, you shouldn't do that,you shouldn't do that.
And they were like well, howdid you raise your kids?
Well, I don't have kids.
Okay, that's maybe not ashelpful as to hear someone who
actually has Right, exactly.
(10:42):
So thank you for sharing.
Sure, okay, we're bothintroverts.
Introverts, extroverts everyonekind of, I think, knows what
that is an introvert.
Sometimes people say you're notan introvert.
Well, that doesn't mean I don'tenjoy talking to people or
hearing someone's story, or youknow, I think I can communicate
(11:03):
with people pretty well.
Sometimes I do have a problem.
Getting sarcasm is reallydifficult for me, so I cannot
pick up on some of those thingsvery well.
Social cues sometimes are stilldifficult for me, but, all in
all, I think an introvert issomeone who, when you're tired,
(11:24):
do you get filled up?
Being by people or away frompeople?
Right, is that kind of whatwe're saying if someone doesn't
know what an introvert is?
Speaker 2 (11:33):
I agree okay, okay and I used to be told that it's
like the joke grenade, um, thatit give me five seconds and then
I'll be laughing too, because Ijust now got the.
I got the joke.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
So yeah, I know I'm like, oh, I didn't pick up on
that.
So, being an introvert in God'skingdom, what have you heard or
what have you felt?
Speaker 2 (12:00):
yeah, I think there's a lot around the need to be in
community that I think might bescary for introverts at times.
I know for me it's a struggle,like oh, I really should engage
with that group or that,whatever, I should be more
involved in the church, but Idon't want to be around crowds.
Finding the way that you weremade and engaging in community
(12:27):
in those ways is totallyacceptable, but I feel like
sometimes there's this realurgency to be in maybe more
community than an introvertmight feel comfortable doing,
and I know that's been myexperience.
You know comments have come upabout are you doing God's will
(12:50):
or not?
if you're, not talking toeveryone, or if you're not being
, you know, an evangelist, liketrying to save everyone.
You meet at every street cornerand you who you've met in the
elevator, um, and that's justnot my style and I don't think
God created me for that kind ofrelationship right.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
I think if you tried to be that, I don't know if
you'd bring very many peopleright.
I mean just not being who Godcreated you to be right and
trying to make yourself someonethat you're not, but you are in
community.
I know that you are you know, Isee you a lot and I know that
(13:34):
you're in a life group and soyou're not saying, because I'm
an introvert, I won't doanything in community or I won't
do anything to fulfill God'skingdom.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Right.
Right, I think it's.
As I've gotten older, I'velearned there are things that
I'm more comfortable with andthings that I'm less comfortable
with, and so if I'mvolunteering for VBS, maybe I'm
going to be in a special room inthe corner running the slides
and the music and engaging withpeople one-on-one, as opposed to
(14:11):
leading a group of 16 kids orsomething like that, that I'm
going to have to be around allday and they might have
questions and I'm going to gettired very quickly, right.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
That's a great example of still being involved,
but in a way that suits yourstrength.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Right, there are a couple of verses.
Just looking at Moses fromExodus 4, that he wasn't a
confident speaker and actuallyapproached God with that and
Aaron was able to speak for him.
And then Jacob being a quietman preferring life indoors
(14:54):
among the tents, from Genesis25-27.
Proverbs 17-27,.
The one who has knowledge useswords with restraint, and
whoever has understanding iseven-tempered.
I think a lot of times,thinking about what you're
saying before you speak isn'tnecessarily a bad thing.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Right.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Sometimes, if we're processing, I know for myself I
want to get the words right or Iwant to think through all the
details and I feel uncomfortableblurting out an answer.
And perhaps that's intentionalin the way that God made me.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
I think there's a lot of verses you could find that
would say slow to speak and howhurtful the tongue can be if
it's used wrongly, right, right.
What would you say to someonewho sees themselves as not doing
(15:54):
as much or not reaching as manypeople, or they're introverted
so they're more behind thescenes and wondering if they're
doing anything or making adifference?
What would you say to them?
Speaker 2 (16:07):
I would say you can be incredibly Impactful even if
you're anonymous at times.
Maybe you're bringing suppliesfor a Charitable organization
that's gonna make a differenceto someone, or you're bringing a
meal that you don't have to seethat person in order for them
(16:29):
to be blessed by you.
I worked in a situation where Ifelt like I was doing a really
terrible job at the technicalskill that was required, but I
really felt like God had placedme in this role and it was one
of those where I prayed everymorning like God, help me
through this day.
I don't know if I'm going toget everything done, and he
(16:53):
managed to help me through that,but even just and that was in
2018 even in March and July ofthis year, there were people who
have approached me and said doyou remember that time when we
worked together and the thingsthat you would do for our team
and how you made it fun and youbrought in treats?
Like God called me to love themand that was what he placed me
(17:15):
there for.
And I didn't learn that untillater, but, like repeat, stories
from various people that I hadworked with in that time very
consistently told me that waswhat they were desperately
needing in the moment.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
that that's why God put me there wow, yeah that's so
cool yeah, that's neat that Godgave you that opportunity to
see that, that gift, to see whatyou had done.
That's awesome.
Yeah, have you been toldanything about your walk and the
(17:52):
treasure that you would receivein heaven?
Because you don't.
I'm air quoting reach as manypeople as an extrovert or
someone who has like a bigplatform, or you know there's
different ways.
You know big platform or youknow what really well known in
(18:17):
the Christian world, orsomething like that.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Yeah, I'm definitely mental.
Oh, it's too bad, yourtreasures in heaven are going to
be less because you just didn'tmeet all these people that you
were supposed to, or you didn'ttalk to all these people that
God intended for you, and I hadsearched through the Bible a lot
to see like, well, is theresomething about that?
(18:39):
Is there, you know, there, somesort of quota I'm supposed to
meet and there's not?
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Right.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
And I think God creates us differently because
we want to be approacheddifferently too, so going into a
crowd may be great for someonewho is really energized by
meeting with people and feedingoff the engagement of others,
but for me.
(19:07):
That's just overwhelming.
Like I'd go to the symphony butI wouldn't go to a concert
because we're all sitting downand we can still enjoy music.
But I don't engage well withother people kind of crowded
together and I probably wouldn'tdo God a great service if I
were in an environment like that, trying to, you know, win
(19:27):
people over for Christ, when I'mlike where is the exit?
Speaker 1 (19:32):
how do I get out of here?
Right, right, yeah, I well, I'msort of surprised that someone
would say that, but sort of not.
But yeah, I looked that up tooand I can't find anything that
says anything about that.
In fact, there's many things inthe Bible that would seem to go
(19:59):
against that really.
One that really came to mind is1 Corinthians 12, when it's
talking about the body of Christ.
It's talking about everyone has.
You have to have an ear, youhave to have a tongue, you have
to have hair.
1 Corinthians 12, 21,.
The eye cannot say to the hand,I have no need of you.
Nor again, to the head, to thefeet, I have no need of you.
(20:25):
Or contrary, the parts of thebody that seem to be weaker or
indispensable is kind of whatreally stuck out to me and of
those parts of the body that wethink less honorable, we bestow
the greater honor and ourunpresentable parts are treated
with greater modesty.
I feel like most of that wouldbe very contrary to what God
says about people just ingeneral.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Job 33, 31 through 33,.
Pay attention, Job and listento me.
Be silent and I will speak.
If you have anything to say,answer me, speak up, for I want
to vindicate you.
But if not, then listen to me.
Be silent and I will teach youwisdom.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
There's just so many.
You could probably put into youknow the you version and find
so many things about being quiet, being still watching your
tongue, about how that canreally hurt people, so it's
(21:29):
interesting that that has beenplaced at such a high level when
many people are reached throughthe word.
I mean, we're speaking today,right, hoping to encourage
people, but with that also comes.
So encourage people, but withthat also comes.
We have to watch our words,right.
So that's just interesting thatpeople would say that you didn't
(21:51):
meet a quota of talking topeople or reaching people in a
way that I guess they've thoughtis the right way to do that.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
And I think we're all different, we're all made
differently, and sometimes weget kind of down a path of well,
this is what works for me.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
And.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
I wouldn't want to discourage anyone that that does
work for them and that is whatthey're called to do.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Sure, of course.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
But I also recognize that we're not all called in the
same way, and that's okay tooright and I think that's what
the hope of encouraging peoplewho are introverted may be to to
make sure that they know it'sall right to have a different
approach right, but to have anapproach right right absolutely
(22:38):
have an approach yes, what isyour approach?
um, I I think I am more engagedwith people that I'm friends
with that may not be followers,that may be questioning their
(22:58):
relationship with God, or maybethey they are a follower, but
they're maybe not strong and bemore of a person that can be a
sounding board or someone whocan kind of steady them in a
moment of like.
What would God want me to do inthis?
Like, I'm just not sure to bean engagement in that way, and
(23:24):
I'm going to have conversationswith someone that I met in the
elevator, but I'm probably notgoing to give them my testimony.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Right.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
And so I know that that's not enough time for me
and that I'm probably not goinggonna make a vast friendship in
that way either, and I myapproach is more along the lines
of really getting to knowsomeone and hopefully showing
them, through the way that Iengage with them, god's love and
(23:56):
the way he's blessed me, andthat my family and I do things
that are related to Christianityand help them to maybe become
curious about that and beinspired by that, as opposed to
maybe having a.
Have you met Jesus Christ?
Like as soon as I first metthem?
Speaker 1 (24:20):
so yeah, Do you think ?
I don't want to say that noone's been reached that way, but
do you think that that works?
Speaker 2 (24:31):
I think if God put you in that space and you were
called in, that maybe you'vebeen approached a hundred times
and this is the one that finallyis the meaningful one.
Maybe you've hit that wall, oryou've finally hit that rock
bottom place, and this is theperson who's here in this moment
(24:52):
, but I don't know if it justworks all the time yeah, I think
it would be.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
I mean, I am a follower of Jesus, I am sold out
.
But if someone that I just metkind of tried to save me, I
would probably be kind of putoff.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
I've seen it happen at the park Really.
Yeah, no, I've really seen it.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
No.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Yeah, people who were , you know, satanic devil
worshipers, who were just likeI'm curious, and this person was
bold enough to say let me tellyou about Jesus Christ, and they
were like I'm interested tolearn more.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Wow, yeah, okay.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Well.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
I mean, wow, that is it.
It doesn't happen to me.
Wow, so, yeah, okay.
So there are people who arecalled to just be super bold.
Yeah, that's amazing.
Yeah, maybe I'm like thatwouldn't work for me because I'm
introverted, right, so thatwould put me off.
But yeah, you're right, thankyou.
(25:59):
Thank you for that.
That's a very, that's a greatword of we're all different and
that's that will work for somepeople.
But do what God's called you todo to show the light.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Yeah, I think, like you, I would be trying to find
what's the right word, like what, what I'm, and it's it's the
Holy Spirit that's going to movein that moment, and so I
actually spent a lot of timerealizing maybe I'm just
supposed to be the person that'shere, and God will make
whatever happened happen and Idon't have to have the pressure
(26:35):
of I need to convert somebody inthis moment.
That really created a lot offreedom and just being able to
engage with someoneauthentically yeah and be more
okay with that yeah the holyspirit will do the work.
I really like that.
I like that I.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
We've been talking about how god made us different
ephesians 2 4 or ephesians 2 10for we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for goodworks which God prepared
beforehand that we should walkin them.
I think that just speaks so towhat we're talking about is that
God made you a certain way todo his works right, like.
(27:15):
This isn't about you're anintrovert, so no worries, you
don't have to do anything.
But coming into how he's madeyou, I think is more of the
Right.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
The approach that you should be taking.
Like be active about it.
Be conscious that you have beencalled but, you don't have to
stress yourself out over it,it's okay.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
Yeah, to find your niche or how God's made you to
reach certain people.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
Right.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Because, likewise, you probably would want to be
reached in a more introvertedway too, right.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
I think that's why, when people talk about going on
a podium, I'm like, oh my gosh,like that, like going out on a
street corner that scares me tosee.
But I but thank you for showingthat.
Yeah, there are people who aregoing to get reached that way,
like going out on a streetcorner that scares me to see.
But thank you for showing that,yeah, there are people who are
going to get reached that waybecause God made them different.
(28:13):
So that's a good reminder forme.
Today you said that we belongin community, but that sometimes
introverts it's hard.
What would you say to them that?
Speaker 2 (28:27):
are saying, well, I don't want to do it.
Then, uh, find what you arewilling to do.
I mean, maybe you're willing tomeet in a group of five, um,
and that's okay too.
That's still being in communityor kind of like we were saying
you could do behind thescenes-scenes work.
That's still.
Maybe you're engaging one ortwo people, that you're
(28:48):
providing your gift in whateverway God intended, but it doesn't
necessarily have to be with 100people.
It's okay to do things thathelp you work your way into
larger groups, if that's whereyou end up, and you don't always
have to end up in a large group, that's all right.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Yeah, I think there is just in America too, we have
such this thing of more, more,more, bigger numbers, bigger
numbers, even on the podcast.
You know, I'm watching thenumbers hey, are we hitting so
many, you know?
And I watching the numbers, hey, are we hitting so many, you
know, and I think that's, that'sokay.
But God, god never says youhave to have this many numbers,
(29:35):
I have to have this many peoplelisten in order for it to be
worth my time.
Like if, if it reaches one,isn't that enough.
I mean, mean the 99, he goesafter the one, doesn't he?
Not even Christianity.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
But I feel like, if we don't feel like we have the
numbers or we feel like we'renot important, right yeah and I
think what's amazing is we neverknow what we were put on earth
to do, because it may be thatour generation, like our
descendants you know there'ssomebody in that group that's
(30:10):
gonna be like who we wereintended to keep the faith in
our families or it could besomeone that you met at the
grocery store and just didsomething nice to, and exposed
them to, the love of Christ.
That could make all thedifference right so it.
It doesn't necessarily have tobe like, oh, we got all the
(30:34):
numbers, we did all the things,because it could be one amazing
moment.
That was just intended.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
Yeah, yeah, and I love that we're going to be able
to see that in heaven.
But I do love that one amazingmoment that was just intended,
yeah, and I love that we'regoing to be able to see that in
heaven.
But I do love that God gave youa glimpse of that with some of
those people that spoke to you,that you shared, because I feel
like sometimes that gives youthe courage or the hope or the
okay, yes, yes, I can keep doingthat, and he gives you that
(31:04):
little piece to say keep going,keep going.
So I think that's special.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
So we're definitely called to be in community, so I
don't want anyone to think ohwell, I'm an introvert and I'm
off the hook.
It so Hebrews 10, 24 through 25, and let us consider how we may
spur one another on towardslove and good deeds, not giving
up meeting together, as some arein the habit of doing, but
(31:34):
encouraging one another, and allthe more as you see the day
approaching.
And then Galatians 6, 2 is onethat I recently read and got
inspired by, which is carry eachother's burdens, and in this
way you will fulfill the law ofChrist, where we're called to
have burdens that we're sharingwith others.
(31:56):
We have a load that we'reresponsible for but, the burden
is to keep us in community, keepus connected to others, that we
weren't intended to strugglethrough those alone.
We're intended to be incommunity to survive and thrive
through that.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
That's good.
That reminds me I just listenedto a quote, so this was talking
about community relationships.
Brad Gray says the enemy'snumber one purpose is to wreck
relationships, because all oflife is centered around
relationships.
I thought that was a boldstatement.
At first I was like oh.
I was like, oh, wow, I meanthat's not coming from the Bible
(32:38):
, that's.
You know, that's not a versefrom the Bible, but pulling off
what the Bible says aboutrelationships with God,
relationships with each other,and so I thought that was that
was so good for someone who I.
I would shrink away sometimesfrom community, right, when it
(32:58):
gets hard or when I get tired ordiscouraged, and so to keep in
that and it might look different, right, it doesn't mean
community has to be this, but tostay and help each other carry
each other's burdens.
Right, right, yeah, that's good.
Yeah, well, I've enjoyed ourtime and I always love to end
(33:18):
with our last questions what isyour favorite Bible verse or
story?
Speaker 2 (33:22):
uh galatians 5, 22 through 23 yeah, spirit um, I
had a, a sticker on my computermonitor for several years to
help me, like, go through all ofthem.
But, uh, but the fruit of thespirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness,
(33:42):
self-control.
Against such things there is nolaw.
I love that, to try to continueto remind myself that that's
what I'm striving for, andengaging in relationship for all
of those, because you don'thave fruit if you're by yourself
.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
Right, you have to abide in God to keep those
fruits of the Spirit.
Yeah, but the fruit of theSpirit isn't numbers or any of
that.
It's those things.
I like that.
What are you grateful for?
Speaker 2 (34:16):
I am grateful that my family's following Jesus.
We were talking about my kidsbeing older and they're in a
stage where they could easilyyou know, question, fall away,
set other priorities, and I feelsuper fortunate that God has
blessed us with kids that arecurious about him, doing college
(34:37):
, small groups, being involvedin Young Life and FCA, and so
not only do they attend churchwith us on Sundays, but they're
pursuing their own community andtheir own ways of following
Christ.
It's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
I love it.
That's amazing.
That's amazing.
What kindness have you shown orwhat kindness have you seen
from someone in the last week?
Speaker 2 (35:05):
I feel like I'm talking about my kids this whole
time.
My sons haven't always beensuper close, particularly as
they've gotten a little bitolder.
They haven't always they'venever been best friends, I'll
put it that way.
But my oldest son is trying tolearn, you know, skills and
budgeting and things like that,and he had a situation that
(35:28):
actually came up yesterday wherehe decided he's going to do
this car part replacement on hisown, but it's one of those
that's going to take two peopleand my other son actually helped
him out and was really excitedabout it and they had a moment
where they were kind of bondingtogether.
I worry that as they get older,there are more things that pull
(35:49):
them apart and havingexperiences like this where
they're learning and growingtogether and sharing with one
another is really beautiful, andthe fact that they're helping
one another is such a blessingto me.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
Oh, that's so great.
Yeah Well, I am praying thatsomeone who listens maybe you're
an extrovert and maybe thiskind of lets you see what an
introvert might be feeling orhave felt or heard about
themselves.
Or maybe you're an introvertand you are you just totally
resonate with what we're sayingand I hope that this has brought
(36:24):
you some encouragement.
Maybe it'll make you think ofsomething different, or being in
community differently, or howyou can show Jesus to someone
differently, or our part aboutkids.
That was a blessing to you.
So so many things that I justloved talking with you about.
So thanks for being on.
Thank you so much for having meAt Ordinary People
(36:48):
Extraordinary Things.
We would love your prayers and,if you'd like to take it up a
notch, would you consider beingon our prayer team?
Visitgenerations2generationscom and
under the podcast tab, you willfind a place to join our prayer
team.
Under the podcast tab, you willfind a place to join our prayer
team.
When you join our prayer team,you will get an email every
(37:10):
other week on how you canspecifically pray for ordinary
people extraordinary things,where your story is His glory.
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