How dare I and my fellow members of "A Time To Laugh" stand up this coming Friday night and present our comedy "H.A.L.T." to a gathering of folks? My speaking appearances have been limited to business meetings in this last year since my husband died. But when I was speaking to Christian groups on a regular basis I never took it lightly.
I recall those early years when I would be so concerned about how I looked, sounded and was understood by the audience. Loving merciful God taught me my errors in that mindset quickly. No, it truly was not about me beyond knowing I was a vessel for His greatness. In order to fulfill my main objective: others seeing Jesus in me; I might have to flub, mess up, miss a step. He is the main thing.
Old woman that I am, I advised these fantastic young folks to push all that performance pursuit to a close second in priority. In these few days leading up to our premier we will spend time in prayer and meditation with God. We will cry out for Him to prepare the hearts of those coming. We will pray for Him to give us His love for each of them. Then...He's in control; and all is His doings! Naturally whatever happens will be to magnify and glorify Him. If in any way we get IN THE WAY with our stuff, it will be a waste of time.
I happened onto a book this week: A Voice of One: Nehemiah’s Prayer by John Dillard, How Lay Ministers Can Accomplish Great Things in God’s Name.
These sentences speak to me this week:
“Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!”
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
Imagine what would happen if all Believers lived their lives unafraid and willing to do God’s bidding when prompted. Freed from the chains that bound them, we would be free to do the bidding of Jesus Christ. Nehemiah’s story is about how one man, a layman, listened to God and did what all thought impossible. Nehemiah, sought the favor of a king, who provided the needed resources he needed to accomplish his task of rebuilding Jerusalem’s broken down walls in just 52 days,"
God have your way!!!
