Saying, "Yes!"

The last several days have been powerful for me.  Bill and I provided a 6 hour training on Saturday on disability ministry and I was able to partner with a very good friend today and share about ministering to the next generation with a group of pastors.

When I prepare for these talks, I am continually reminded of the incredible journey God has put me on.  Five years ago I would never have imagined God would have me speaking to groups of people about a topic I am so passionate about and all I had to do was say, "Yes."

When I was a little girl I remember wearing a coat to school every day.  I lived in Texas so it was rare that a coat was even needed.  I was painfully shy and struggled with my self-image so much that I hid behind my coat.  I felt more anonymous there.

My youth pastor often teases me that in Jr. High I would sit under the table and not talk to anyone and in high school, I finished up at school as fast as I could so I could get back to the comfort of home.

God has blessed my life in amazing ways since then... all because I said, "yes."  I said yes to Jesus, I said yes to ministry, I said yes to spending a summer at a convent, and 13 years ago, I said yes to doing WHATEVER God asked of me.

When my dad and hero died 13 years ago, I told God I would do whatever He wanted me to do.  As Mark Batterson says in his book, I was "All In," even if it meant public speaking.  At that time I was terrified to have to stand and speak about anything for more than a couple of minutes and now, well, I can speak for several hours and it not even phase me.

I share this because if I had never said yes, I would still be "under the table," hiding and embarrassed.  If I had never said yes, I would have missed out on a whole community of amazing people.  God keeps hinting that He is going to ask something of me that is way out of my comfort zone and He knows it.  To be honest I am quite afraid of saying yes to that one but now more than ever, I know that God has me and will always go ahead of me.

I am pretty amazed by the journey God has put me on and from my perspective, it has been pretty miraculous and definitely an adventure.  My question for you is, What is God asking of you?  What do you need to say "Yes!" to? I love Mark Patterson's quote, "And you are only one decision away from a totally different life." If you say yes to God, I promise you, it will be amazing.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)

Say yes to God, my friend, and then let me know what happened!