Have you ever heard the expression, "I went there to be a blessing to them, but they blessed me more than I could have imagined!"? That is typically the case whenever someone takes the time to visit or minister to someone who is a close follower of God. That was the case for me yesterday.
God has blessed me throughout my life with Godly women who have nurtured me and helped mold me in my relationship with Jesus. The sweet lady I visited yesterday was one of the first glimpses of Kellum Baptist Church I got to see. She was a member of the Pastor Search Committee that called my husband to be their pastor, nearly ten years ago.
I vividly remember sitting at a quaint restaurant in Hickory, North Carolina and hearing her speak of love for her family and her church. She spoke as only a loving Nannie could about her then four grandchildren and the joy it brought her to be able to help care for them. She spoke as only an obedient follower of Christ could about her love for her church and the ways God was using her to lead the women of the church.
My fondness for her only magnified as we followed God's call and began ministering in the Kellum community of Jacksonville, North Carolina. I admired her diligence to study and teach God's Word. I watched her gracefully speak her mind and speak up for Truth. All in all, I watched her love Jesus.
Now, lying in a hospital bed with a body that has seemed to fail her, her spirit seems to have done what didn't seem possible. Her already strong spirit seems to have doubled in strength. It was as if God allowed the strength to be taken from her body and be placed right in her soul. Her joy-filled face and countenance helps you see beyond the tubes and machines.
And then . . . she speaks. Her words are a reflection of an unwavering love for her Lord. Hearing her say things like,
"If only one person could be brought closer to God because of my situation . . ."
"I'm at peace with all of this . . ."
"God has been so good to my family."
But my favorite and most convicting statement she made was when she told me that she was encouraging one of her nurses to start going back to church. It was as if the Holy Spirit right then and there whispered in my ear,
"Shame on you, Staci. You have two good legs, an able body, and a voice to speak with. Yet you miss so many opportunities to do my will."
Yes, Lord, I heard you loud and clear.
I share all of that with you to simply say this:
You and I are without excuse to do what we have been commissioned to do. When was the last time we put our two good feet and our functioning mouths into service for Him . . . and I mean truly in service for Him? Or, do we have two good feet and lips that seem to be sealed shut when it comes to speaking up for the Lord?
We're all very quick to speak of our commitment and love to the Lord within the four walls of the church, but what about in the places where life happens. What about at work, in your neighborhood, in the grocery store . . . does the world outside of your home and your church know that you love Jesus?
I know without a shadow of a doubt that my dear friend in Christ would tell us all to serve Him boldly and unashamedly while we are able. She would tell us, as Paul did, to speak up for Christ and to share the mystery of His love with everyone we come in contact with. She would want us to live our lives with no regrets as it pertains to our witness for Christ.
You nor I know what our future holds. Take this day that you've been blessed with health and life and live it fully for the Lord.
I will pray Paul's prayer on your behalf . . . would you be so kind to pray it on my behalf as well?
God has blessed me throughout my life with Godly women who have nurtured me and helped mold me in my relationship with Jesus. The sweet lady I visited yesterday was one of the first glimpses of Kellum Baptist Church I got to see. She was a member of the Pastor Search Committee that called my husband to be their pastor, nearly ten years ago.
I vividly remember sitting at a quaint restaurant in Hickory, North Carolina and hearing her speak of love for her family and her church. She spoke as only a loving Nannie could about her then four grandchildren and the joy it brought her to be able to help care for them. She spoke as only an obedient follower of Christ could about her love for her church and the ways God was using her to lead the women of the church.
My fondness for her only magnified as we followed God's call and began ministering in the Kellum community of Jacksonville, North Carolina. I admired her diligence to study and teach God's Word. I watched her gracefully speak her mind and speak up for Truth. All in all, I watched her love Jesus.
Now, lying in a hospital bed with a body that has seemed to fail her, her spirit seems to have done what didn't seem possible. Her already strong spirit seems to have doubled in strength. It was as if God allowed the strength to be taken from her body and be placed right in her soul. Her joy-filled face and countenance helps you see beyond the tubes and machines.
And then . . . she speaks. Her words are a reflection of an unwavering love for her Lord. Hearing her say things like,
"If only one person could be brought closer to God because of my situation . . ."
"I'm at peace with all of this . . ."
"God has been so good to my family."
But my favorite and most convicting statement she made was when she told me that she was encouraging one of her nurses to start going back to church. It was as if the Holy Spirit right then and there whispered in my ear,
"Shame on you, Staci. You have two good legs, an able body, and a voice to speak with. Yet you miss so many opportunities to do my will."
Yes, Lord, I heard you loud and clear.
I share all of that with you to simply say this:
You and I are without excuse to do what we have been commissioned to do. When was the last time we put our two good feet and our functioning mouths into service for Him . . . and I mean truly in service for Him? Or, do we have two good feet and lips that seem to be sealed shut when it comes to speaking up for the Lord?
We're all very quick to speak of our commitment and love to the Lord within the four walls of the church, but what about in the places where life happens. What about at work, in your neighborhood, in the grocery store . . . does the world outside of your home and your church know that you love Jesus?
- We say we love Jesus, yet our neighbors have never heard us speak of His love.
- We say we love Jesus, yet we bypass the lost person in the store because we're in a hurry.
- We say we love Jesus, yet our family is in turmoil and we let the world, rather than the WORD fix our problems.
- We say we love Jesus, yet we have never sacrificed anything to actually go and tell a lost people about Him.
"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."
Ephesians 6:19-20.
I know without a shadow of a doubt that my dear friend in Christ would tell us all to serve Him boldly and unashamedly while we are able. She would tell us, as Paul did, to speak up for Christ and to share the mystery of His love with everyone we come in contact with. She would want us to live our lives with no regrets as it pertains to our witness for Christ.
You nor I know what our future holds. Take this day that you've been blessed with health and life and live it fully for the Lord.
I will pray Paul's prayer on your behalf . . . would you be so kind to pray it on my behalf as well?
Yes....I will and do.....again...thank you for your insight....you have touched me.....thank you for your prayers.....I praise my Lord.. my Saviour....my God
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