Last night, I heard a few stories from a friend. We became friends when he was a becoming a Christian. He was 16. I was close to 30. I was his mom’s pastor when he came to live with her and beginning to really dig deep into what Christianity was all about. Last night, he shared some of the back story about what was going on in his life and the influence that Gail and I had in his life. I never really knew.
Most of the time, pastors move on and don’t really hear some of those stories. I moved away from that town 23-24 years ago. I knew my friend had gone on to become a pastor. I heard some stories last night that I didn’t know. I am in awe of God and how he works. I didn’t know.
My friend mentioned a friend who was coming to God at the same time, also 16. This second kid had a very positive impact on my friend then, to follow God. Unfortunately, that other kid lost his way along the path he was on. The last time I talked with this other kid, he was not walking with God.
I read this morning in 2 Corinthians, in the LIFE JOURNAL readings, this verse: 2 Corinthians 11:30 (NCV) If I must brag, I will brag about the things that show I am weak.
I don’t share these stories to brag about my ministry at all. I share it to say, I didn’t know what I was doing as a pastor back then (Might not know anything still), but God took weakness and made something large out of it. God is awesome and He gets all the praise.
How about we simply pray, every day, that we are filled with the Holy Spirit. How about today, we don’t worry about the impact we have on lives, and we simply focus on being filled with the Holy Spirit. Then, we can leave the results with God. We just never know what might happen in people’s lives.
I hope and pray we are all making good impressions for God w/ our faith walk w/ others. Thank God Jesus loves us all the same and gives us different avenues for us to communicate His love w/ His Truths. Some of us are stronger witnesses thru our actions more than words.
Yes you are correct we never know what impressions we make in others lives and it is better to brag about everything under Him and not what we ourselves do.
Praying for His/our church and His people to look to Him for FAITH especially in love for one another.
Thank you both for your thoughts! Father, let us all willingly accept the abundance that You have for us in the Gift of Your Spirit. May we be filled to the point of overflowing, that others will be able to receive the same gift, the abundant life, that You so lovingly want for all your Creation. Amen! What a loving Father we have! He loves us all with an everlasting love.
Amen! Its so comforting to think about. Just pray to be Holy Spirit filled. Heed the Spirit, when He speaks, nudges, and fills our minds with visions. And know that Jesus will complete His work He set out to do to from the beginning!