Every Wednesday we host a Bible study for Athletes at UL. It's called Athletic Bible Study, but really it's a full out service with around 60 athletes.
Each week there are some baseball players who lead worship and then Eric speaks. Unless you are an athlete or one of the people working, it's not an event that everyone goes to. This is not one of my areas, so I don't usually go.
Tonight I was going because Eric and our student staff guy who helps run it (Lance) were not going to be there. Well Eric was not to be there at all and Lance would be running late from work. So I was there just in case the rest of the usual crew needed anything. Around 8:45 (worship starts at 9:00) I get a text from Lance saying that he won't be there until the end and so one of the other student leaders should be prepared to speak. However when she got there she said Lance had not gotten back to her and so she wasn't prepared but could pull something together. In a quick and necessary moment, I volunteered and began to scramble for a message.
By 9:20 I had a power point, notes, and was in the chapel ready to speak. I did use the bulk of a sermon I preached in Africa a few years ago, but still felt like I was going from scratch. My only option for this was to pull it together and humbly pray before taking stage. So I submitted my words and time to the Holy Spirit and went for it.
I easily could have let the other girl scramble to pull something together. The thing is, I know the gift that God has placed inside of me. I mean this in all humility and nothing resembling pride, honestly. But God has given me the gift of public speaking and preaching. And He has chosen to use me in that way. I know that. I'm grateful for that. Therefore I knew I should take the opportunity, prepared or not.
I love this life and journey with God. I love being a tool in His hands. I love surrendering things to the Holy Spirit and seeing Him use them. This is such an incredible journey with God. So amazing. The Creator of the universe lives inside me and chooses to use me. Wow!! So humbling.
I still remember the feeling I had after I preached my very first real sermon in South Africa in 2007. I went to the bathroom at the church and jumped up and down and spun around in awe of what God had just done. And I remember talking to my dad after that sermon and telling him "dad I can talk, but I can't convict people and move their hearts like that. God did that through me." I still feel that every time I preach. I may be well spoken, but still I can't change lives and make a person whole. Only the Hand of God and the life of Jesus can transform someone. But oh how grateful I am and humbled by the fact that God lets me be a part of that process. Wow!!!
Until then......
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