Team

“So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we'll assign them this task.  Meanwhile, we'll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God's Word.” (Acts 6.4)
Empowerment, when embraced, can be revolutionary.  As one that believes passionately in empowerment, I find myself frustrated by my seemingly inability to empower others.  For whatever reasons, the process is painfully slow!  Even as the words of criticism form in my throat I find myself reflecting on my response to offers of empowerment.  I do not find that I am that different.  Even as I try to deny what I find to be reality, I am willing to admit that God empowers every human being.  We are empowered to be ambassadors of compassion.  We are empowered to be representatives of mercy.  We are empowered to be officers of love.  Nothing stops us from exercising our freedom.  Our actions may come at a high price, yet we are free to act in response to Divine empowerment that is inherently ours.
My advice, if only to my soul, rests in following mantras.
God made the choice to empower us.  There was no convincing on our part!  We have done nothing to deserve the mantle that rests on us.  We have not earned the right.  We have not perfected our claim.  Yet, in a mystery that defies understanding, God has chosen us, you and I, to be ones of Divine empowerment.
God knows we will fail.  The knowledge was with Divinity before our birth.  The awareness of how long, often, and thoroughly we have, are, and will fail is understood by God.  In this knowledge, God empowers us.
God leaves the choice of what to do with this empowerment to us.  We have a second gift, freedom.  Divinity gives each the privilege and responsibility of responding.  We are only responsible for our actions.
Today is a fresh moment to be part of God's team.  We have a calling and a task.  It is time for us to act.