Tears flooded my eyes today during Morning Worship when the Worship Pastor sang the song by Ray Boltz, “Thank You for Giving to the Lord.”
As he sung, I was reminded of a dream I had years ago when I served as a Jail & Prison Chaplain. I was an invisible witness to a conversation between an ex-offender and Jesus. The ex-offender with joy and excitement in his eyes hastily ran to Jesus worshipping Him and thanking Him for sending Anna (me) to share the gospel with him.
As the pastor continued to sing tears trickled down my cheeks as my mind looked upon the face of Sis. Lucille Henry. She was the youth pastor’s wife of the church I attended when I was a teenager. During those years my life was full of turmoil. She listen to me, took me on outing with her family; she invested the love of Jesus in my life. It was her and others like her that gave unto the Lord in ministering to me. They are the inspiration God used to propel me to giving unto the Lord in making a difference in the life of the children He has placed around me.
There in the sanctuary I began to re-thank God for all the people He sent to impart Him into my life and for using me to do the same in the life of others.
“Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I’m a life that was changed;
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I’m so glad that you gave.”
“For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Hebrews 6:10 NKJV
As he sung, I was reminded of a dream I had years ago when I served as a Jail & Prison Chaplain. I was an invisible witness to a conversation between an ex-offender and Jesus. The ex-offender with joy and excitement in his eyes hastily ran to Jesus worshipping Him and thanking Him for sending Anna (me) to share the gospel with him.
As the pastor continued to sing tears trickled down my cheeks as my mind looked upon the face of Sis. Lucille Henry. She was the youth pastor’s wife of the church I attended when I was a teenager. During those years my life was full of turmoil. She listen to me, took me on outing with her family; she invested the love of Jesus in my life. It was her and others like her that gave unto the Lord in ministering to me. They are the inspiration God used to propel me to giving unto the Lord in making a difference in the life of the children He has placed around me.
There in the sanctuary I began to re-thank God for all the people He sent to impart Him into my life and for using me to do the same in the life of others.
“Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I’m a life that was changed;
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I’m so glad that you gave.”
“For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Hebrews 6:10 NKJV
