Joyce

From Joyce:

When we were at the church on Saturday, a few of us went in to pray for the women in the Bible study. I prayed for a woman with diabetes.

That night, at our first colonia, I prayed for another woman with diabetes. Then I prayed for a woman whose pregnant daughter had diabetes. Are we detecting a theme?



Later in the evening, Gino asked if I wanted to give a testimony in church the next morning. I said I would if there was no one who felt strongly they were supposed to.

I thought Liz should share because of the obvious problem with diabetes in the culture. But I didn’t say anything. Later, I saw Liz and considered mentioning that to her, but I didn’t.

In the morning, when walking out to get in the vans for church, I saw Gino, Charmaine and Liz talking. I mustered my strength, walked over and said that Liz should share in service. I didn’t know it at the time I finally opened my mouth but they had just been talking about who would share. (tee hee) Liz did share.

A woman in the congregation had recently found out that she also had diabetes and was having a very difficult time. Liz was able to pray with her after service.

It took me until the next day to even realize the sequence of events. Would the same thing have happened if I had safely kept my mouth shut? Maybe. Probably. Much more than likely. Certainly God doesn’t rely on me to keep His ministry moving. (Ha! Just read Numbers 22). But I would have missed out on the opportunity. I would have missed the blessing of knowing that my obedience served a purpose.

 Joyce should: Speak up, act, respond in obedience to the urging of God. My tendency is to draw back in fear: fear of overstepping my bounds, fear of criticism, fear of being wrong, fear of appearing hyper- spiritual. “There is no fear in love” 1 John 4:18.

Step it up, Joyce.