A Good Report
Posted: August 24th, 2009, 11:48 am
This afternoon we went to look at a house near here that was a FSBO. Thought it might be a good investment, maybe even a good home place.
The older couple who are selling were really nice, Christian, Country folk. My kind of people.
It turns out the lady knew my family, on both sides, back to my great grandparents, and she went to school with my paternal grandmother and her siblings.
As we were chatting, getting ready to leave, she begin to tell me that my Uncle Smokey was her sister's pastor. That was the first I had ever heard of it. Now, I knew he was a deacon, but not a pastor.
She was telling me how wonderful her sister's family thought the pastor was, how good a man, how talented, and how caring, and how much they love him. She actually related her sister saying "you can't believe how wonderful he is".
One of the things her sister liked most was the way he would just starting singing, and what a beautiful voice he had. Also how sometimes he would just go "run to the piano" and start playing and singing.
I was blown away! I knew my uncle Smokey was a devoted believer, active in his church and congregation. But I had NO idea he could sing. And I didn't know he played the piano, short of a few lessons as a teen -- many, many years ago.
I probed a bit about him pastoring, stating I, surprisingly, didn't know that. You can imagine the disbelief on my face. So she started describing the location of the church. In awe I heard her identify Christway's location. Then she told me her sister's name. It was one of MY congregant's!
What her sister was trying to tell her was that their pastor was kin to Smokey -- as a common point of reference. As it turns out, she was talking about me! I was so moved, so elated, and so thankful that God had used me in a way to bless my congregants. It could have been a bad report. But praise the Lord, by His grace, it was a good one. And I sure needed it!
Like most men, I battle often and deeply with insecurity and feelings of inadequacy -- always wondering if I am failing or doing good enough. I know I can never do good enough, on my own. But I want to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith I'm called. Ya know? And I want to be an example that others can follow. Despite my faults, and my need for further conformity to our Lord, He let me know today that I was doing well, and that I was making a positive impact on others, to His glory.
You never know who you are going to meet, or who is watching, and what they are telling. What a blessing to hear a good report, and that about yourself!
I just wanted to share. I'm not boasting here, I'm just -- I don't know. I have all sorts of mixed emotions. Humility, gratefulness, unworthiness, a sense of being affirmed, and encouraged, and respected.
God is good. And though I often need and receive His reproof, today, by His providence, He let me know I was pleasing Him, and that my labor indeed was NOT in vain.
THAT was awesome!
The older couple who are selling were really nice, Christian, Country folk. My kind of people.
It turns out the lady knew my family, on both sides, back to my great grandparents, and she went to school with my paternal grandmother and her siblings.
As we were chatting, getting ready to leave, she begin to tell me that my Uncle Smokey was her sister's pastor. That was the first I had ever heard of it. Now, I knew he was a deacon, but not a pastor.
She was telling me how wonderful her sister's family thought the pastor was, how good a man, how talented, and how caring, and how much they love him. She actually related her sister saying "you can't believe how wonderful he is".
One of the things her sister liked most was the way he would just starting singing, and what a beautiful voice he had. Also how sometimes he would just go "run to the piano" and start playing and singing.
I was blown away! I knew my uncle Smokey was a devoted believer, active in his church and congregation. But I had NO idea he could sing. And I didn't know he played the piano, short of a few lessons as a teen -- many, many years ago.
I probed a bit about him pastoring, stating I, surprisingly, didn't know that. You can imagine the disbelief on my face. So she started describing the location of the church. In awe I heard her identify Christway's location. Then she told me her sister's name. It was one of MY congregant's!
What her sister was trying to tell her was that their pastor was kin to Smokey -- as a common point of reference. As it turns out, she was talking about me! I was so moved, so elated, and so thankful that God had used me in a way to bless my congregants. It could have been a bad report. But praise the Lord, by His grace, it was a good one. And I sure needed it!
Like most men, I battle often and deeply with insecurity and feelings of inadequacy -- always wondering if I am failing or doing good enough. I know I can never do good enough, on my own. But I want to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith I'm called. Ya know? And I want to be an example that others can follow. Despite my faults, and my need for further conformity to our Lord, He let me know today that I was doing well, and that I was making a positive impact on others, to His glory.
You never know who you are going to meet, or who is watching, and what they are telling. What a blessing to hear a good report, and that about yourself!
I just wanted to share. I'm not boasting here, I'm just -- I don't know. I have all sorts of mixed emotions. Humility, gratefulness, unworthiness, a sense of being affirmed, and encouraged, and respected.
God is good. And though I often need and receive His reproof, today, by His providence, He let me know I was pleasing Him, and that my labor indeed was NOT in vain.
THAT was awesome!