I first wrote this as a note in Facebook so I could tag some key people. I also wanted it in the same place as my other blogs, so here it is copied and pasted in all its glory :-)
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This summer has been quite different than I ever could have imagined. I had no idea what was in store for me when beginning my Master's and working to complete 4 graduate courses in 10 weeks (it's not over yet!). This on top of wanting to fully embrace my time as a stay-at-home-mom for the summer by doing as much with my girls as possible is time consuming enough. However, the first of the summer also marked a new, unexpected, journey in my life. One that I would never choose to be on, but here I am. This road alone could have been enough to push me over the edge of insanity. Some may argue that I've long gone over, but that's beside the point. :-) I've come quite close. I dare say I've found myself hanging by my fingernails at times. But I'm back up on my feet and I firmly believe I would not be here had it not been for certain people - those of you tagged in this note and a few others who aren't yet in the Facebook world.
The past several weeks at church, each sermon seems to be speaking directly to my situation. Nothing short of a God thing. This morning's sermon made me think of you, though.
How to be a Conduit to a Miracle - Acts 3
I'm not going to talk here about miracles as we think of them (i.e., medical healings). I'm talking about the small, little miracles that happen within lives everyday that we may not even notice.
I'm not going to repreach the sermon, but there were 3 points. It was stated that if you want to be a conduit to a miracle you need to:
1) Be plugged in to Christ (Acts 3:1 Peter & John are daily "plugged into" Christ through prayer time)
2) Give away what you have (Acts 3:6 Peter & John had no money, but they gave what they had)
3) Be used (Acts 3:12-16 Peter & John were willing to be used for God's glory)
An analogy was given comparing playing softball and our willingness to be used for Christ.
The pastor's daughters have played softball for a while and he's invested a lot of money and time into their sport. He doesn't mind if they strike out, but he gets "offended" when they just stand there at the plate and don't even swing at the balls thrown. He's invested so much into the sport and they just stand there as if to say, "I don't want to try" or "I'm scared I will miss" or "Maybe the next ball will be better."
Is this how God looks at us when we don't put into practice what He's invested in us? He's given us so many talents, resources, etc. He's given us time and energy. And we often just stand there resting the bat on our shoulder telling ourselves we can't do it. We don't know how. What if we miss? What if someone sees me mess up? I don't know what to say. Someone else will do it...
Thank you for swinging. Some of you may have swung once, others multiple times. You may be confused as to how/when you swung. But you did. You may have felt that your swings were nothing but strikes...but you didn't just stand there and watch the ball go by as many others have. That may have been the easiest thing to do. Who wants to swing only to face the "humiliation" of missing? I'm positive most of you had no idea what to do or say. But you swung. You tried. You allowed yourselves to be used. You gave what you had.
I find it far more than just coincidental that this sermon happened immediately following the week I had become quite irritated, frustrated, upset, etc. by focusing on what others had NOT done to help me through this time. God gave me a nice reminder that I need to focus on the work He is doing through those who are plugged into Him, giving what they have, and willing to be used.
You, my friends, swung for Christ. He is doing great things through this situation. You have been a conduit to a miracle.
I can't put into words a description of the miracle in my life; I can't name it. In fact, before this morning, I would never have even looked at this as a miracle in my life. But it is. I can feel it. And I thank you.
Swing away.* Always. Not just for me. Not just now. But so that you are always in a position to be a conduit to a miracle.
Proverbs 11:25 - A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
*If I were ever going to use this in a message to others, I feel a clip from the movie Signs might be appropriate. Maybe. It is 11:30pm, and I could just be delirious :-)
