I kept telling Him I wasn’t ready, wasn’t qualified, wasn’t
sure there was a need . . . and He kept pressing me.
I reminded Him that I often worked on Saturday mornings,
that I wasn’t really an in-charge, up-front person, that I had learned the hard
way that what works in one church doesn’t always work in another . . . and God invaded my prayer time over and over with His idea, an idea He wouldn’t let me
ignore—host a women’s breakfast.
He finally worn me down. OK,
God, I will give it a try. I admit, it’s something that I would enjoy
attending, something that would fill the need in my own life for encouraging and challenging fellowship
with other Christian women.
So, I set a date, printed up a poster, and put an
announcement in the bulletin. I invited a young friend for tea, shared the idea
with her and asked if she would help me. We worked together planning the event
and prayed together for God’s leading. We wanted the emphasis to be on
encouraging one another through Scripture and shared stories, not on the food.
We figured we would get about seven or eight women.
Twenty-four women signed up, and 24 showed up! I was
shocked—and panicked, all at the same time. While I didn’t want to focus on
food, would we have enough? Would anyone be willing to share in a group that
large? Would it be what they were expecting?
I needn’t have wasted an anxious moment. Everything went
smoothly with the blessing of God’s Holy Spirit leading from beginning to end.
There was plenty for everyone to eat, lots of honest conversation, and an
enthusiastic response to gathering as women on a regular basis to encourage one
another in our Christian walks.
What was the topic? God loves to use ordinary, average
people—a truth He has proven over and over in His Word and that He continues to
give evidence of today. Here are some of the Scriptures we delved into:
Jeremiah 29:11 “I know the plans I have for you, declares
the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Ephesians 2:10 "God has made us what we are, and in our
union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he
has already prepared for us to do."
Ephesians 3:20 “By means of His power working in us, God is
able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of.”
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things by the strength that
Christ gives me.”
We closed our time together by listening to the song “Ordinary People” by
Danniebelle Hall, prayerfully considering what God might be saying to us through
it.
Not only did the lesson itself speak to me, but the
experience of stepping out and doing what God asked, even when I felt
inadequate for the task, drove the point home—God DOES use ordinary people—even
me!
Don’t you love how God gives us a new lens through which to
view ourselves? In His eyes, none of us are ordinary or average. We are His
unique creation with a purpose designed by Him.
Be encouraged!
Pam
