Outreach

There was this lady I reached out to at church the other day. I used to breathe, live, and plan daily for outreach. However, a few events in my life caused me to want to withdraw. I have felt like I am no longer able to hear God at all regarding outreach so I have ignored whatever promptings I felt assuming they couldn't be God-led.

This takes me back to the lady at church. She was sitting alone and I kept feeling God tell me to reach out to her. "Hear God?" I told myself. I ignored these promptings. Finally, it was too much and as she was leaving I pounced on her and invited her to my life group. She has been coming and tonight told me she has been coming to Calvary Chapel for six years and has ignored the invitations from others. She said my invitation came at just the right time. A time when she had started to feel completely hopeless and helpless. I could feel her pain to the core of my being. I know and feel her pain. Hearing this information has strengthened my faith and taught me that God is truly still speaking to me when I focus less on myself and more on others. Right after this discussion with this lady from church, Pastor Allen mentioned that to be humble requires us to not think "less of ourselves" but to "think of ourselves less". It was a powerful message that I needed to hear.

My new friend sat beside Liz and I. Liz has taken an active role in reaching out to our new friend as well. I knew she would. That is just Lizzie. Its her way. I remember the first time I saw our new friend in church. She looked sad and withdrawn. It was like there was a covering all over her that said, "I'm unapproachable, leave me alone." I have felt that way and have been unapproachable myself. Tonight, she looked hopeful. I know her problems haven't been resolved, but you could see she no longer felt hopeless in carrying her load. May we all be sensitive to the Holy Spirit; not just regarding outreach but in all areas of our life. He really is speaking if we take the time to hear. Sometimes its as simple as a gentle prompting that sounds like our own voice.