Gaylon and I met a couple a while back. We have had the pleasure of sharing dinner with them. Joshua is the pastor Cowboy Church not far from us. They are a nice couple, doing the work of the Lord. Lauren is the wife and she recently wrote this, and I asked permission to use it. Lauren is not a “stage” person. God needs a whole lot of Christians who are not “stage” people, but people simply willing to be used by God. Thank you, Lauren, for this great reminder.

Let me preface this by saying, this is not to make anyone think highly of Joshua or myself. We do not want praise for any of it, we do not deserve it, all praise belongs to God and God alone. But I want to share a story in hopes that, if you feel a little like me, this might help shift your perspective and encourage you.

If you know my husband, you know he is a talker. Anyone, anywhere, anytime, about anything, he can talk. He has the gift of gab, which is good considering he is a pastor and his ‘day job’ is sales. You have to be able to talk to do those jobs. If you know me, you know I am the opposite. I am an anxiety riddled introvert that struggles to hold conversation with people I do know, much less people I do not.

Today Joshua met a man while at his day job that, to make a long story short, is having a hard time. He was living in his truck until it got impounded and has been sleeping in the woods in Irondale for several days. Joshua felt convicted to talk to him, so he did. Learned a little bit about him and how he ended up where he was. He told Joshua he was doing some odd jobs to try to get enough money to buy a tent until a family member was able to come pick him up from Mississippi. He texted me to tell me about it and I said, ‘Didn’t we buy a tent a few years ago that we’ve never used?’ Again, to make a long story shorter, yes, we did and we had a sleeping bag too. So, I packed the bag. Tent, sleeping bag, a blanket, and some nonperishable snacks. Joshua comes back home to pick it up and takes it back to him. He is grateful, we are thankful we were able to help even in a small way, all is well. And all I had to do was pack a bag.

See, I am not great at talking to people, and as a Christian, and especially as a pastor’s wife, I have always felt a little guilty about that. And sometimes the Lord gets my attention when He needs to and sometimes it puts me in a situation that is uncomfortable for me, and that is fine. But so much more often, He only asks me to pack the bag. Your calling may not put you on a stage with a mic in your hand, and that is ok. Your calling may be behind the scenes, in the background, and sometimes you may feel like you are not doing enough because what you are doing does not look like what someone else is doing. But somebody has to pack the bag. So, if you feel like me today or any other time, I hope this encourages you. Doing what God has called you to do matters and is for a purpose. And if all He has asked you to do is pack the bag, then do it and rest in the assurance that you are exactly where you are supposed to be.

Why do people come into church late and then proceed to climb over people to get to a seat? This and other thoughts were going through my mind recently on a Sunday morning.

Gaylon and I were seated about halfway back in our church auditorium. I like sitting there because there is plenty of leg room, and no one must climb over you to get to a seat. There is a natural divide between the two sections in the auditorium. I love those seats.

One Sunday, a family came in late and proceeded to look for seats. I saw quite a few seats that were easily accessible for four people. In my mind, I am thinking the logical thing is to take seats that do not require climbing over people. This family did not do what my mind was telling them to do!

I noticed they selected seats that required about six people to either step out for them to get on the row or sit down so they could get into those seats. Come on, people! Where is your common sense?

When they finally reached the seats they had chosen, the couple beside them hugged them so tightly. They knew each other. The family already sitting there had invited them to the church service.

As the invitation was given, one of the visitors raised their hand for prayer. I had jumped to a very bad decision about these people looking for a seat!

How many times do we find ourselves jumping to conclusions about others without knowing all the details? We often make judgments based on how things appear, yet there is a very good chance that there are details we do not know.

There is no way that we can know the motives of another, nor can we know all the circumstances surrounding things we see. Often, what we think we know, we really do not. As we walk through life with others, before we “go-off” on someone by deep sighs, eye rolling, blowing our horns angrily, or spewing our opinions, let’s remember that only God is all-knowing. Contrary to what we might think, jumping to conclusions is not a beneficial form of exercise.

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” James 1:18

Recently, I was enjoying coffee at my favorite coffee shop in Alabaster, Alabama. I live in Helena, but Alabaster is a short drive. I love to sip coffee and read or study the Bible.

As I finished my time at the coffee shop, I got into my car and headed home. Traffic was very heavy, so I caught a lot of red lights. At one light, I found myself sitting on a bridge over Interstate 65. I had to sit on the bridge for about three minutes. There was traffic beside me, in front of me, and behind me. I would have to spend bridge time because I was surrounded on every side.

There was also super-fast traffic below me. People were flying down Interstate 65 which caused the bridge to shake slightly.

As I sat on the shaky bridge, I began to think how terrible it would be if the shaking caused the bridge to crumble and collapse. Then, I brought my mind into a better place by remembering I was not trusting the shaky bridge, I was trusting the ones who constructed the bridge. The bridge that was holding me up was only as good as the one behind it.

Recently, we have seen a whole lot of shaking going on in the Church, the USA, and the world. I can testify that my husband and I find ourselves in some shaky, unsettling situations right now. Last night was a bit rough. I found myself wide awake with a racing mind about the situations we are facing personally and in the world. The “what ifs” bombarded my mind. (Yes, I am a strong believer and woman of prayer. Even Paul spoke of sleepless night. “We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.” – 2 Corinthains 6:5)

As I sat on that shaky bridge, I remembered that the one who created the bridge made it in such a way that it would hold up during shaky times. These days, I often have to bring this to my remembrance.

I must pause and remember, “I can do (can face, can endure) all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13. I must pause and remember, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” – Isaiah 40:29. I must pause and remember, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” – Ephesians 6:10. I must pause and remember, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

Today, my bridge is feeling a bit shaky, and I would like to get off the bridge to a place where I feel steadier. Friend, today I had to remind myself that when my confidence gets shaky, when my heart grows faint, and I feel like I cannot make it through the shaky place, I have to stop and remember whose strength is holding the bridge. I will be steadfast in Him when times are shaky.

Today, I am prophesying this over myself and challenge you to do the same. “The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” – Isaiah 58:11

Prayer: Lord, help us hold tight to Your truth. You are our steadfastness in shaky times. Amen!

Social media can drive me crazy or get on my last nerve! Who can say, “Amen to that!”

While I love keeping up with family and with friends I have met all over the nation, it is all the other stuff through which I must wade! It takes deep boots to wade through Facebook with the many advertisements and the negative, heated posts between people. (Knock it off if you are doing that!)

One thing I do like about Facebook is the groups of which I am a member. I live in Helena, Alabama, which is a suburb of Birmingham. I follow a group for things happening in Helena, and it keeps me up to date with what is happening or what has happened. I am also a member of a group strictly for residents of my neighborhood. Having nearly fourteen hundred homes in the ‘hood, it is a large community.

Recently, a neighbor posted something that caught my eye immediately. Her husband was missing. “Bill” has Alzheimer’s. Bill went into the backyard which was fenced but went out of the gate and wandered away. The neighborhood resident was in a panic to find Bill.

It was so moving to see the many responses from people as they read the post. Many offered to drop what they were doing and drive or walk around the neighborhood looking for Bill. Others offered to comb the nearby woods and walking trail looking for Bill. Many began praying for Bill to be found. Others were willing to be with the wife or to go with her to look. Within a short time, someone saw Bill walking down the road. They stopped and called his name, and Bill looked at them. About the same time, a policeman came up and Bill was returned. Bill had been lost but now was found.

The priority of the neighborhood was to seek what was lost!

People could easily have said, “I have my own stuff I’m doing right now.” Or “I’m sure someone will find Bill.” Perhaps, people could have thought, “Bill is not my responsibility.”

The priority of God’s Church has been and should always be to seek what is lost. Listen, I love a good church service filled with worship and word. I love chatting with and hugging friends I see when we gather. I attend small groups and have lunch or coffee with fellow Christians. All that is wonderful and needed.

BUT – I think that we now enjoy being with the church, rather than being the Church. It is so easy to forget what Jesus said as He ascended back to His Father.

‘And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ‘ Matthew 28:18-20.

Friends, Bill is lost. Gloria is lost. Michael is lost. Stella is lost. Brothers and sisters are lost. Co-workers are lost. Uncles and aunts are lost. Hairdressers are lost. Like “Bill” in my neighborhood, many do not even realize they are lost.

Followers of Jesus are called to be part of His “search party”. It is the responsibility of believers to actively seek out those who are lost rather than waiting for them to walk through the church doors. This challenge I give to myself and to you, that we will begin to make finding the lost our priority. That we will open our eyes to seek the lost. Enjoy “church” but be the Church to a generation that desperately needs the Lord. It is every believer’s calling.