How did you do?

Hey friends,
People keep asking, "How'd you do Saturday night?" To be honest, I've struggled with the question.

Looking at it as a "job," I did well. I said the words I planned to say. I didn't trip on the stairs, fall, or knock over the podium. I used visual aids without dropping or fumbling them. And I handled the stationary microphone just fine.

But that's not really a good measure of "how'd you do?" The measure of success when sharing Jesus' message actually has nothing to do with me at all. It's all about Him. If I did everything right and no one listened, I'd have to say I was awful. If I did everything right, they listened, and no one's heart changed, I'd say I did awful.

First Corinthians 13:1 says, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." Did love shine through my message and touch the people's hearts? If the answer to that is "yes," then I did great!


How did I do? Only God really knows. He's the one who can see into people's hearts. He's the one who knows if lives are changed. I can say that I was touched afterward when the emcee said, "I don't know about you but that left tears in my eyes." Did I touch his heart? I think so. A sweet member of that church's congregation took my hand in hers and said, "You know what you said, it goes full circle. Someone did that for me. It's time I go and do that for somebody else." God knows her potential. I pray for her -- and I hope one day to hear how she changes the world by giving back, "paying it forward" so to speak.


Another lady shared that she's going to serve at the iChoose Pregnancy Center. Yippee! She then asked me, "What do you do?" Wow... seriously! I hadn't thought about that question the whole time I prepared the message or gave it. She touched me.


What do I do? Like many of you, I serve faithfully in my church. But, it's not really about who's already in -- the message of salvation and hope needs to reach those who DON'T know it. Another way to ask that question is "Who knows of Jesus' love because of me?" When we got home from the event, I asked my husband that question about me. He seemed surprised. Then he rattled off a bunch of ways that I reach out to people in the community, especially teenagers and Walmart workers (hey, we all need a niche). 


How about you? What do you do? 

• Do you feed the homeless guy on the street corner?
• Do you invite people to church?
• Do you donate clothes to Goodwill? Or volunteer there?
• Do you mentor a kid -- maybe through a program like Big Brothers/Big Sisters?
• Do you give your time? talent? or treasure? to make a difference for God's kingdom here?

How did I do this weekend? Only God knows. I gave Him the best I had to give. When I get to heaven, I sure do hope He says, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." How about you?

If you'd like more inspiration for reaching out to the lost and hurting in love, please check out this blog!