IF YOUR HEART IS RIGHT

This morning I was drawn to read the notes that I had written in my bible in 2005. I came across the entry on Sunday 3^rd April. I remember this day clearly as it turned out to be a very significant day for me. I was sitting in the second front row at church listening to a woman in a black preacher’s coat – this was what a lot of women preachers wore back then – deliver a message entitled: ‘ Doing Great Things in Prayer’. This must have been an awesome message as I designated a whole page in my bible to it. As the message unfolded I found myself drifting off into a future time. Could I do what this woman was doing? I mean, could I actually deliver the Word of God to a congregation in such a meaningful way? Hardly, I thought. The idea scared me, but I continued to dare to take that thought deeper into my spirit. Something happened to me that day that was to pave the way for my future ministry; something that started out as a dream worked its way into reality within a relatively short time.

The note in my bible reads: Revelation for me this morning while in church. I had this unbelievably faint vision of me standing in front of a congregation preaching the Word. I asked the Lord, “Please show me that image again.” What came to me was: “I have just shown you this moment. Why have you not believed me? I am training you for a very special ministry and in a very special way.”

While this was exciting, it was one very scary response.

Forward 2 .5 years…

Sunday 9^th September 2007: two of us had been allocated a 10-minute preaching slot. The topic chosen for us was ‘Joy’. Being accustomed to public speaking made that part of my presentation a breeze but it was the owning of the subject that I was most worried about. To deliver a powerful message to a congregation is a big responsibility. Would I be received well? Would my message seem genuine? In plain English, was I up for it? There was only one way to find out…

I am grateful the Lord arrested my heart that Sunday back in 2005.

27^th June 2015:

One of the things that never ceases to amaze me about God is that the value society has given to people makes no difference to Him. In fact it seems that God would rather use the common people of the world to make a difference in people’s lives. Consider this: God doesn’t use Moses when he is a prince of Egypt, but when he is a nomadic shepherd. Certainly God uses the rich and the powerful, but more often than not He uses the most unlikeliest people.

We all are of enormous value in this world if we dare to dream and take action. You may feel like you haven’t any special talent to offer God but if God can use nobodies like Joseph, Mary, and the disciples to change the world then He can use you and me to make a difference in the communities we live in.

Step out, you may be surprised!

1 Samuel 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”