|
I Am Always With You...
|
I Am Always With You…
I was deeply touched when my church offered to commission me for ministry. As wonderful as the first Pocket Full of Quarters journey was, I had longed for some kind of official connection with my Kingdom family, my church.
On Sunday, May 22, 2005, Southside Baptist Church held a commissioning service for those called to missions. As I stood in the front of the church, along with other missionaries, the tears were pouring down my face. How could I be so blessed as to hear the precious word missionary coupled with my name and Pocket Full of Quarters?
The morning had already been wonderful. My best friend Nancy Edwards and my nephew, Bill Milligan, gave up worship in their respective churches to be with me. My first journey began on May 22, 2002 with a birthday breakfast in celebration of Bill’s 11th birthday. The commissioning service for the second journey was on Bill’s 14th birthday. Bill is one of my encouragers and we both knew he needed to be at the service.
During Bible Study, the class surrounded and touched me, praying for the second journey of Pocket Full of Quarters. As I left Bible Study, my friend Charlene Allen followed me outside. Crying, she hugged me and said, “God has just told me to give you my bracelet. I love this bracelet but I must give it you.” She removed the delicate black and silver bracelet from her arm and handed it to me. It contains raised letters forming the words, I am always with you… “Keep it on as you travel,” Charlene instructed. “Never take it off.”
During worship and the Commissioning Service, I sat with my husband Bob, son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Whitney, daughter, Kelley, friends Sue Reichard and Nancy Edwards, and nephew Bill. I looked around and let love envelope me.
The sermon topic was The Great Commission.
Matt 28:18-20
All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. NASU
I could barely breathe as I realized my honor. In addition to the commissioning of my church, my Savior left me and my Christian brothers and sisters with the privilege of making disciples of Christ. How can we possibly do that?? I wondered. I looked down at my bracelet and read the promise. I am always with you... The sacred words on the bracelet were from the scripture being taught on the morning of my commissioning.
That afternoon I found myself sitting and praying beside a shimmering Florida lake. As I watched the light frolicking with the waves and felt the wind on my face, a woman joined me. As she shared her need for church and God, I found myself feeling the raised letters on the bracelet. I am always with you… I knew God would give me the words to say.
|
|