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Warts And All From that moment on I have seen God working through me and changing me daily. As I was doing my daily quiet times I felt that God was calling me into some sort of service for Him but what I did not know. I was both excited yet scared at this prospect. All that kept going through my head was that I was not good enough, I was a failure and God would be better off using a more educated person than me, I couldn’t stand up and talk in front of people I would only mess it up. As these thoughts continued God spoke to me through the life of Moses, which was what I was studying in my quiet times. He too was choosen for a work by God and like me came up with excuses. As commentators frequently point out, Biblical heroes such as Moses come “warts and all”. Scripture never attempts to cover up the character flaws of the people whose lives are recorded on its pages. We are shown not only their good side but also their bad side. What does that say to us? It says that God does not wait until we are perfect before He uses us. He does not delight in our imperfections, of course, but He does not disregard us because of them either. God can transform the most unlikely material into partners in His purpose. God does not need a perfect vehicle to accomplish His tasks. He can overcome all our deficiencies provided we are yielded to Him. Given our consent and obedience, God can turn ineffectiveness into effectiveness, paralysis to power, and inadequacy to sufficiency. I knew that God could use me in anyway he wanted. I was willing and He is able. From the time I gave God complete control of my life He has given me so many wonderful things. He gave me a loving, Christian husband called Gareth and a beautiful son called James. Together Gareth and I search for God’s will in our lives and how we could serve Him. We had both been involved with a missionary organisation called Child Evangelism Fellowship® on a voluntary basis but we began to feel that God wanted us to give up our jobs and go into the mission full time. Once again though little doubts, fears and worries began to creep in. I continued to pray to God asking daily for help and reassurance that this was the step for me and my family. God being patient and understanding continued to guide me through His word the Bible. Some verses that helped me where: "Is anything to hard for the Lord?" "God is with you in all that you do." "Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. God was telling me not to worry that no matter what He would be there with me every step helping me. But I still needed confirmation from God that we as a family were to work for Him. Again God gave me a verse from his word. At this particular point in my readings I was going through the life of Abraham but for some reason on this day the author had sidetracked off and the readings for the day was in Joshua. As I was reading through it a huge smile came across my face I was amazed and delighted with the passage I read and thanked God for giving it to me, it is found in Joshua chapter 24, verse 15 "But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." Gareth and I both believed that this was the definite step we had to take and we applied to Child Evangelism Fellowship in March 2006. We were accepted as candidates for the work and went to the Leadership Training Institute, Kilchzimmer, in Switzerland in June 2006. We spent three months there training and learning more about the work of C.E.F. When we returned home in September 2006 we began a years practical training alongside the Local workers in the North East Down area. Gareth, James and I have been appointed as the full time workers in County Armagh which commences in September 2007. We thank and praise God for His guiding in our lives and more importantly for saving us. Will today be the day when you place your life in Gods hands allowing Him to have complete control? You too can be forgiven of your sin and live a wonderful life for God! Lindsay For more information visit The Gwynne Gazette |
