When someone needs us, will we know what to say?

Good morning all-

Well this week has been full of interesting moments.  If you had asked me several years ago if I would ever be kneeling on the floor praying for an employee, my answer would have been, "NO!" My faith, although strong for myself, wasn't strong enough to come outside that box.  Would I share about Christ?  Sometimes, if I felt like no one would be upset.  Today, I wash all of that fear away and stand by the promise I made when my dad died.  I promised that I would never be silent again.

Being silent worked for me. I loved the Lord in silence.  You know exactly what I'm talking about.  If you love the Lord in silence, no one can judge you or think you have to be perfect, just because you are a Christian.  I knew that I was someone that could make mistakes so walking around spreading the Gospel was about the furthest from my mind.  Besides, I tried that when I first got saved and my family thought I had been abducted by aliens.  You learn early not to be zealous because people don't respond very well.  Especially, those that aren't sure that God even exists.

I have to say that being bold about Christ has its upside.  I don't have to hide anymore and I don't have to worry about myself as much.  My faith is my faith but He is my Savior and I must do what I was called to do.  I'm a people pleaser by nature.  I want people to feel respected, loved and honored.  I want people to like me but not everyone is going to like me and I had to face that fact long ago.

Facing that God is putting you in a position far outside your comfort zone is the first step in helping others find Him.  Those last moments of my dad's life I wondered if I had really screwed up.  I had more regrets than you can even imagine.  My son was the one that tried to talk to my dad about Christ and every time, he would shut him down.  Austin's frustration was so bad he came to me and told me that Dean and I weren't doing enough.  He was right.  So over the next couple of months, I would bring it up.  There were times I thought I was getting through but then he fell ill and there was no  more time.  Standing at someone's death bed is not the time to wonder if you have done enough.  So during those hours I went to my Bible and prayed like I have never prayed before.  I prayed that God would call Him and that He would unite with Him in heaven.  That day is so vivid in my mind, even three years later.  So, I stand by my promise.  I'm not silent and I speak the truth about the God I so love.

Fast forward to this week,  a beautiful young girl faced death of a parent this week.  And as she watched her father not be able to talk, she had regrets.  This man has not been an upstanding father.  He has judged more than loved and yet, his daughter went to him anyway.  As she walked into my office and burst out into tears, there was nothing I could do but hug her and without thought, I got on my knees beside her and said, "I'm going to pray for you."  It was in the moment.  I don't even recall thinking about it.  And kneeling next to me is my Director of Operations and I still didn't think about it.  I didn't have the right words and I definitely didn't know what to say.  She was hurting and her father might never talk again.  But in the back of my mind, I had to let her know that Jesus was standing right beside her.  She was angry and didn't understand why this had to happen. I understood and in that moment all I could do was go to Jesus!

We don't have to have all the words.  We don't even have to know what to do.  We just need to let the Holy Spirit pour out of us and go to Jesus.  Her father is coming back after 72 hours and he is talking.  The road will be long for him but more importantly, she knows Jesus was with her in those moments.  She has a wonderful man by her side and she has friends that care about her.  She was surrounded by the most powerful love of all, Jesus'.  So if you're ever in a situation where you don't understand what to do, go to your knees and ask the Father.  He knows exactly what to do, what to say and how to love.

Be blessed today as you go about your day.  And if someone needs you, go before the Lamb, He has all the answers!

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.  Lord my God, I will praise you forever.  Psalm 30:11-12 (NIV)   AND THEY ALL SAID AMEN!