From the lips of others

I generally believe that God often speaks to us through the words of others. If that is indeed how God works then amazing things are going to happen here. It seems as if everyone I meet and have a substantial conversation with has such wonderful, positive things to say about my future. I just wish I were better about seeing it and believing it myself.

Recently I had maybe a five minute phone conversation with a woman who has a video production company and recently made a short video for a congregation to put on their website and they have received a lot of positive feedback as a result, so she was contacting other churches in the area to see if they were also interested. I politely explained that the majority of the people we are trying to reach probably weren't all that "connected" and explained our outreach was mostly to the homeless. After chatting a bit and agreeing to having some info sent to me via e-mail she commented that I must be such a great pastor because I have such a calming voice. Then wrote this in the e-mail, "I have no doubt that you will do a lot of good for a lot of people in your new position at Central Lutheran. I have so much respect for you!" Two or three other people have made similar comments about their certainty that great things are going to happen now that I'm at Central. I'm glad they have such certainty because I don't always see it. But having these encounters reminds me that God will use me if I allow it. I can't get so wrapped up in my own short-comings that I forget to see the many blessings that take place everyday on our site... many of which I am wholly unaware and some of which I am privileged to directly bestow. Hopefully until I truly believe it myself God will continue to send these people to remind me!