Today my husband and I got to minister together at
Central Church of Christ for an outreach called Loaves and Fishes. As we were getting ready to leave we both
joked about the condition of our gloves on this cold December day. His had a rip in the seam, I had to borrow
some from my children. One was an
army/camo glove and the other was a black skeleton glove. (It was certainly a bold fashion statement).
We were both humbled and blessed to be a part of
this ministry in Downtown Amarillo.
People of hard circumstance are blessed with not only groceries but a
weekly worship service as well. I
provided this week’s “Word” and Roman led the worship. In all the places I have ever been blessed to
speak I have to say this one was my favorite.
I was blown away by the love of the people and the way they responded to
God’s word. My message was simply “My
Redemption Story”. I didn’t go into all
the Hebrew and Greek meanings of the Exodus and Pentecost. I simply told the story of me, a sinner, and
how God’s amazing grace came to “save a wretch like me”. I gave a simple white card to write confessions
on if the Holy Spirit had convicted their hearts and they wished to surrender
some things to God. Many times when I
speak I don’t know if I truly reached the audience. . .but today I saw tear
stained faces as they humbly brought forth their cards asking for God’s
mercy. Some cards saying “I am tired God
and ready to surrender”. Some confessed
sins and addictions; many with tear stained faces. When the service was over the minister at
Central Church invited the people to come forward and lay hands on my husband,
our pastor, and myself to offer prayers for our church and ministry. So there we stood surrounded by those that,
according to Mark 10:31, might be called least here on earth. . .but called
greatest in heaven. . praying for us, that the Lord might bless us. It was all very humbling to say the least,
but then came the biggest lesson that God had for me to learn from this group.
Mark 12:41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury
and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put
in much. 42 Then one poor widow came
and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to
Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow
has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their
abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole
livelihood."
Remember my glove situation? I had taken the mismatched gloves off and put
them into my pocket. A homeless man
noticed I didn’t have gloves so HE GAVE ME HIS!!! Everything in me wanted to refuse his gift
but I knew the Lord wanted me to accept it.
He gave me his ALL out of his lack.
Through a homeless man the Lord met my need for new gloves. So. . .who is the greatest one in the
Kingdom? The one who stands up and
gives a great message, or is it perhaps the servant of all?
Lord make me like one of the least
that I might one day be called great in Your Kingdom.
