A Testimony of Change

A few months ago we printed a story called “Change” in an issue of “The Well.” I can’t tell you how many people have called or written to tell me how much that story ministered to them. It was a story that blessed me as well.

To quote Rev. Earlene Coleman from the November 1999 issue: “If we are honest with ourselves, most of us do not like change. We become comfortable with the way things are. It may not be fulfilling or satisfying, but it is familiar. Change means dealing with the unknown, and as people who need to know, we do not deal well with the unknown. So, we often miss what God has for us when we come into His family. Being in the family of God affords us a lot of things but we do not want to change to receive them. So often we miss the mark of receiving our blessings. I am not talking about material blessings, but I am referring to those spiritual places that He desires to take us. Places where our mind set and attitudes we have before change will not let us go.”

My husband, Lou, and I had attended the same church since I was 16 years old. We were married there. Our children were born and raised there. With the exception of a few years being “back-slidden” we rarely missed a service. Every time the doors were open we were there. I would never think of leaving there, no matter what. Last summer I learned about change. What seemed sudden at the time – one door shut, another one opened and we were changing churches.

I can see now that as much as two years ago God was preparing the way for me to accept this change. Lou had started singing with a Southern Gospel Quartet – Three Rivers Gospel – and started missing a few services at the church for concerts. Realizing that if I wanted to spend any time with him, I knew that I would have to go to some of the concerts and miss a few services myself, the first step to my change. This broke the mold of feeling that I always had to be there every time the doors were open. A few other circumstances helped me to see that God was calling us to serve somewhere else. The day I accepted this change there was a release in my spirit. I knew that it was what we were supposed to do.

This change was not an easy one. Most of the friends I had were from the church, being together 3-4 times per week. In changing churches I would not have the same opportunities to see these old friends since most church services happen at the same time. But I knew it was the right thing to do.

The first Sunday I had an opportunity to visit another church I wasn’t sure which one to try. There were quite a few churches in our area that had similar service styles and opportunities. That same week before we had a customer in the printing shop, a pastor from one of the local churches to order business cards. After hearing that we were looking for a new church he invited us to their service that weekend. I still wasn’t sure where we were supposed to go but I left Sunday morning with the hopes that God would lead me to the right place. I felt in my spirit that since he had invited us I should at least give it a try so I attended their service that day. I went by myself since Lou’s group was singing somewhere that morning.

It was a small church, only about 20 in attendance. I felt very welcome from the moment I walked in. Knowing that I had been involved in the Worship Team from the previous church, the pastor expressed a desire to start a Worship Team there in the near future. I had been playing flute since I was 10 years old and for about 1½ years at the church until I took a leave of absence to spend more time with Lou and his singing group. By this time it was nearly a year since I had been on the Worship Team.

About a month later we returned for another service. Worship time was much quieter than I was used to but it was still good. Toward the end of the worship time I had this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I started wondering, “What if the pastor asked me to lead worship. What would I do?” I have a mediocre singing voice – my voice is weak – better than some and not as good as others. I don’t have any real piano knowledge – I can get by on my keyboard because it has some “cheater” functions playing by chords instead of notes. I didn’t feel strong enough to lead worship. As the pastor was getting ready to give his sermon he said he had a Word for someone. “The Lord says, when you are weak, that’s when I am strong.” WOW, it was like God spoke that direct to me!

The next week during worship while singing a newer contemporary worship song, there was a part in the chorus that the words and music seemed very powerful. I felt such a need to stand to honor the Lord while singing it. But no one else was standing and I surely did not have the courage to stand when no one else was. My heart was pounding nearly out of my chest. I said to the Lord that when the pastor repeated the chorus again I would stand whether anyone was or not. I was ready to do it but the song ended instead and I was totally disappointed. Why didn’t I listen to that feeling? “Lord I don’t have the courage to stand when no one else is. What am I so afraid of?” As the pastor approached the pulpit for his sermon he stated again that he had a Word for someone. He started to read from Matthew 14:27 “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” I felt as if I would have to crawl under the pew I was so amazed that God would speak to me like this again. By this time I knew without a doubt that God wanted me here and I was ready to do what He wanted. Okay Lord, I’m willing. What do you want me to do?

A few weeks later I began playing my keyboard at this church for the services in our new Worship Team. One of the evening services shortly after, I realized my limitations with using the chord feature only and I was quite discouraged. I wished I could really play, not just “get by.” The next day I found a story that would have been perfect for printing in “The Well” and as I read it I realized it applied to my situation.

Some of you remember Aesop’s great fable about an old crow who was out in the wilderness and very thirsty. He had not had anything to drink in a long time. He came to a jug that had a little water in the bottom of it. The old crow reached his beak into the jug to get some of that water, but his beak wouldn’t quite touch the water. So what did he do? He started picking up pebbles one at a time and dropping them into the jug. And as more and more pebbles accumulated in the bottom of the jug the water rose in the bottle until finally the old crow was able to drink all that he desired.

That’s a parable of the way God has chosen to work out his plan in our world. Each of us dropping in our own little pebble – teaching that Sunday school class, serving on a committee, providing transportation for the youth, visiting our lonely neighbor. Utilizing the gifts that are ours to serve in the ways we can may not seem all that important at the time, but as the pebbles accumulate in the bottom of the jug, and the water rises, God builds His kingdom and brings his plan to fruition. You are important![1]

Utilizing the gifts that God had given me – maybe not as good as some others, but still the gifts He gave me was just like dropping a pebble in the jug thus making the water rise and making it easier for others to get a little drink of that Living Water. I even found a pebble that my son had given me a few years ago in my jewelry box and put it on my keyboard to remind me that no matter what, I am just a pebble – not a rock or a stone, but a pebble, doing what I can to serve my Lord. God doesn’t expect perfection – just a willing vessel. And when a bunch of pebbles get together the water can really rise!

Over the next few weeks the people at the new church made me feel more like a stone than a pebble – for what I am giving of my mediocre talents are being multiplied for His glory. They have really boosted my self-esteem with their appreciation. I am doing things now that before I would not have had the opportunity to do and I’m having fun while doing it! I’m having a great time playing and singing for the Lord!

To all my friends and “family” from the previous church who will be reading this story, though you may have been sad when we first left, know that I am where God wants me and I am happy.

Remember when change comes, don’t run from it. A blessing might be waiting for you at the end of it.

If you live around the McKeesport, PA area and are not attending a service at this time or if you just want to stop by and say “HI” we invite you to:
The First Church of the Open Bible
719 Union Ave., McKeesport
(412) 664-1016
Sunday morning at 10:30 AM
Wednesday Bible Study at 7:00 PM
www.mckeesportopenbible.com

FOOTNOTES
1.  James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) pp. 232-233. Illustration taken from Bible Illustrator 3.0 for Windows, Copyright ©1998 by Parsons Technology, Inc. Used by permission.↑