Heartless?

Yesterday I read about The 40 Day Fast over at Brody’s blog and it got me thinking…

What cause or need makes my heart leap, burn, hurt, bleed? What need keeps me awake at night? What problem do I feel compelled to solve? If I were to pour my heart and soul relentlessly into something, what would it be?

I don’t know.

And then again maybe I do know, but I don’t like the answer?

You see the topics of clean water, starving children, the homeless, the abused, sex trafficking, etc., etc., concern me but they don’t keep me up at night.

Maybe they should. After all “whatever you do to the least of these”, right?

Heartless? I hope not.

My burning passion is to support and equip women to lead well, to lead strong, and to shine in the gifts God has given them.

But sometimes I feel like that isn’t enough. Maybe that’s too petty when there are starving children to feed, deadly diseases to eradicate and the broken and abused to rescue.

What do you think? What’s your burning passion?

Let’s add this to the Watercooler discussion today as well.

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20 comments

  • Aaron June 18, 2008  

    that sounds like a pretty noble passion to have

    not petty at all

    someone has to support and equip the women leaders who are going to feed starving children, eradicate deadly diseases, and rescue the broken and abused

  • Anne Mabry June 18, 2008  

    Who’s to say that the women you lead and inspire won’t solve problems we can’t even conceive yet . . . leadership leaves lots of ripples. most of which you will never see for yourself but it doesn’t mean they aren’t there and they aren’t significant.

    You’ve inspired me . . . 🙂

  • Ron Edmondson June 18, 2008  

    My passion is pretty similiar to yours. I want to see people “get it”; live out their calling and to see God use their talents and experiences for some greater cause. I want to help people take the next steps in their faith. I love to make connections so that people can have the best opportunities to flourish. I desire to make a difference in someone else’s life. I don’t need credit for doing so, I just like to watch it happen.

  • pollyh June 18, 2008  

    There’s nothing wrong with your passion. Always stay true and honest and be willing to give more than you receive. My sister has said it best….
    You make a living by what we get, and you make a life by what you give. Keep giving Jenni. You are anything but heartless.

  • imagedesigns June 18, 2008  

    Living within your passion (talent/gift set) is the most effective way to impact the world. It’s more productive.

    You may just support and equip the next woman who will lead an enormous cause larger than you anticipated… and it will because you are totally and spastically excited about “setting women on fire” for their personal journey. (I mean that in the most figurative way) 🙂

  • Harold June 18, 2008  

    Jenni, all our gifts and passions are given for a reason. As long as we believe that our passions are from God then we must follow them.

    Two people can have the exact same passion, let’s say making money for instance, but one be following God and the other not. One may make his money to equip missionaries and change the world while the other may hord all his wealth so he can make more. But even knowing this we still cannot discern if they are following God. Only they can know for sure and sometimes only then after a lot fo soul searching.

    As in all things it is ultimately a heart issue. Is your passion pure or is there somewhere a more personal need than God need for you to do what you do. That is a question I have struggled with on many occasions and most likely always will.

    I just feel it is important for us all not to just examine the outcome of our “passions” to determine if they are of God. We must all look on the inside and ultimately to God himself before we have a chance to know.

  • juliepersinger June 18, 2008  

    I don’t think it’s any less worthy – it’s just different. That is what God has clearly wired you for and you are passionately pursuing it. That’s the whole point!

  • anne jackson June 18, 2008  

    Exactly what Aaron said!

  • Tina Mitchell June 18, 2008  

    As you know I don’t usally post a comment on blogs I just read them but I was reading this one and I must say that I think your cause is a GREAT one and you are GREAT at it! We need people (women) that lead in a Christ-like manner! We are all made up different and the body of Christ work best when we do what we love to do..

    I am very passionate about kids and older people that can’t do for themself. I look at kids and they hold the future in their little hands and I look at older people and think we have so much to learn from them if we just listen.. Sorry I didn’t not mean to go on and on all I wanted to say is that Jenni you do a great job!

  • Katie Gordon June 18, 2008  

    That is the beauty of how God has created each of us! We are all original…each one of us has unique gifts, unique passions, and a unique difference to make. I really appreciate these words that Paul writes in Galatians (The Message):

    Galatians 5:25-26- “Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.”

    And Galatians 6:4-5-“Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life:

  • Jenni Catron June 18, 2008  

    You guys are awesome! Thanks for the encouraging words and thanks for sharing your passions as well.

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  • bradruggles June 18, 2008  

    We would all like to think of ourselves as more giving, generous and selfless than we probably really are. The person I want to be is not always the person I see in the mirror.

  • Audra Krell June 18, 2008  

    There is nothing petty about helping to equip women who will go out and be a part of world solutions. Keep doing what God is calling you to do!

  • tam June 19, 2008  

    one body many parts. you’re doing your part. so do it with passion and know it has worth because that is what He has equipped and called you to do. it is vital to His Kingdom!

  • Rachel June 19, 2008  

    I think you are on target for making a difference in the world. To reference my great friend, Oprah, she often talks about how we can change the world if we educate women & girls because they are the mothers of future generations. Take a girl out of the ghetto, educate & encourage her and she will create a family who is educated and giving to society instead of repeating the welfare cycle. Same goes for grown women, educate and encourage them and they will want to hand down those habits to their daughters & sons. In your case, equip more women in ministry and they will lead others to Christ and there’s nothing bigger than that. I think when you are doing what God has called you to do, you don’t have to stay awake at night worrying about it because its all in His hands.

  • Jan Owen June 19, 2008  

    Jenni, I have had similar thoughts as we have a similar passion so I understand where you’re coming from. At times I’ve not wanted to share what’s on my heart because it’s sounds – to some – petty when compared to other “causes”. However, I believe that this passion is from God. I believe it is what He has prepared you (and me) for – what He has even created you for! Let’s be honest, this is so needed in the church. I would have been thrilled when I was working through my calling and entering ministry to have had someone to encourage me and to help me see myself as God does. I really had no one – except detractors. (well besides my husband and mom) The road to healing has been long and painful. I am 42 years old, for goodness’ sake, and I still struggle. I believe your gifts and passion can be used with any woman but I can see it making a REMARKABLE difference in the Kingdom of God.

    I pray that God will bless you and use this longing of your heart. It is there for a holy purpose.

  • Michelle June 20, 2008  

    I love this post for it has been my question over the years. I think I now “get” that He has inspired each of us in the way He would have us go. He has a purpose for your life and it is understood through the passion His Holy Spirit has placed upon your heart.

    Not heartless…but heartful!! Full of His love for the women He has called.

  • Pingback: Passion and Payroll « judi free! July 16, 2008  
  • totaltransformation July 17, 2008  

    “What cause or need makes my heart leap, burn, hurt, bleed?”

    I have a few causes I really feel deeply about. I mainly support the Fund to End the Tossing of Little People (otherwise known as midgets). This is a serious problem in our height-ist culture and must be addressed so the vertically challenged can feel free to walk the streets without being wantonly tossed by any passerby. 😉