Our biggest family party yet – eight girls finally available at the same time! But nothing went as planned. The games took too long, the homemade cookies tasted terrible, and we stumbled awkwardly through the local worship songs.
But God's presence was there! It came time for me to share, but it was evident the party had already lasted too long. Gradually, the girls started leaving right in the middle of my sermon!
As each group rose to leave, we paused for a few minutes to pray for them, then tried to get back to the message. Before I could get to my second point, the last three girls stood to leave. I've learned by now to be flexible, so I ditched the rest of my message and we gathered in a circle to pray over Helen and her two friends. Even though we told Helen the party is for family members, she never seems to come without a couple unsaved friends!
Both of Helen's friends nodded their heads when Liz asked if they wanted to have the relationship with God I had just been talking about. So right in the middle of leaving they stayed another 15 minutes. It didn't take long for them to pray to join God's family. Just a few minutes that will change the rest of their lives!
It brought to my mind the verse I'd read the night before. “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom but on God's power.” (1 Corinthians 1:4-5)
This week God keeps reminding me that I can't rely on my wisdom or abilities, but only on the power of His Spirit!! Just a humble reminder that it's not about my captivating three-point sermon! Thank God it's His work and not mine…it's so much better His way!!!