From the Alley-Way to the Pulpit Day 331

2 Chronicle 31:20-21  This is what Hezekiah did through Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God.  In everything that he undertook in the service of God`s temple and in obedience to the law and commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly.  And so he prospered.

Once I surrender my will to the will of the LORD, I wholeheartedly desired godly wisdom and knowledge.  I recall standing in the alley-way, beside my friend Linda Bellin`s shop, Tattered Treasures.  Her gift shop is across the street from Trinity United Methodist Church, home of Jacob`s Well, where Rick and I currently worship.  At this time Rick and I were worshiping at St. Paul`s in Earleville.

Five years ago, as Linda prayed for me, I recalled sharing with her, that I knew that I needed to read the Bible.   I requested her advise on how and where to start.  Immediately, she suggested that I start in the Gospel of John.  I followed her advise and continued to read and read and read, and read, I sorta felt like Forrest Gump! "Life is like a box of chocolates you never know what you`re going to get."  I read and I read and I read, not to mention all of the highlighting!  It was if God had me on an accelerated path to bring me up to speed.

 This Sunday standing in the pulpit at Trinity United Methodist Church, as I prepared to deliver a message on the Holy Spirit, I read from the Gospel of John 16:1-5.  I stood in awe of our amazing God, five short years ago I hadn`t even read John. Today I volunteered to prepare and deliver His message to our church family, two services!  What an amazing God we have!  From the alley-way to the pulpit for the glory of God in five short years.

John 16:5-15  "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me. Where are you going?  Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief.   But I tell you the truth:  It is for your good that I am going away.  Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.  When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgement: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgement, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

"I have much  more to say to you, more than you can bear.  But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into truth.  He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.  He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.  All that belongs to the Father is mine.  That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you."

Did I receive one of my favorite God winks? Surely this was no co-inky-dink!  Thank you Father God for directing my steps and the desires of my heart.  Thank you, for the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Psalm 37:4  Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.