If it was raining outside and you had no way to church except to walk – would you go? Would you walk a mile or two in the rain? Would you walk down the dirt streets that have now turned into pools of mud? Would you risk slipping and sliding to almost fall down in the puddles? Would you walk to church in the same clothes you slept in? Would you still go even if you hadn’t showered in a couple days? Would you continue your journey even if you knew you were going to be late? Would you be able to enter into the church, in the middle of worship, in your soaking wet clothes with out insecurity? Would you be able to walk in, to your seat in the front, with your feet covered in sticky, slimy mud, without embarrassment? Would it bother you if you had dirt splattered and caked on your legs- all the way up to your knees? Last question… after all that…
now would you be able to walk up, in front of the whole congregation, and preach?
If someone would have told me 7 months ago… even 2 months ago… that I would actually look forward to talking in front of people… well, I would have thought you were clinically insane! But, Rwanda has changed all that – well, let me say, that God has changed all that in Rwanda. I like it! I look forward too it! I have really enjoyed getting into the word and listening to what God has to say to the nations… this nation! And, it has really surprised me – the peace, the confidence, and the level of trust, that I have started to move into with Him by just being obedient. The moment I decide to just say yes to what He puts in front of me – that is when I see Him really work in me, and through me, and for me. OK, LORD, I SURRENDER! This is exciting! This is great! I WANT MORE! I SURRENDER!
I am tired of holding Christ back from what He wants to do through me. I am tired of stifling the spirit within me because of my fears, my insecurities, the lies… this flesh! NO MORE!
Everything is always about God – everything is for His glory. And I ask myself… Really? Has it really been all about God? Has it been about His glory? And after I thought about this – I had to honestly answer – NO!
Every time I worry about speaking in front of people, or turn down the opportunity to love someone as Christ does because of fear, or every time I believe in a lie of the enemy – I am making this about me and obviously considering my own “glory“. BUT NO MORE! If it is all about Christ and His glory – then I surrender.
…“My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinth 12:9-10
If I am going to really live out a life where it IS all about Him… then it is impossible for me to hold on to any of me. He is stronger in my weakness! I am just a voice… and a pair of hands… and a pair of feet… Even wet, stinky,
and covered in mud… He can still use me to speak His truth – if I will just get over myself long enough to realize that and let Him!
I began my sermon by saying, “Thank you all so much for having me! I am so excited to be here! I apologize for being late. But, praise God that He is a victor even over the weather! We will praise Him through this storm! And, I thank the Lord, that it doesn’t matter that I am standing here, in wet clothes, and with muddy feet… because the Spirit that dwells with in me is alive and well! AMEN!”
