Today while I was reading my B-I-B-L-E I happened across a scripture that confirmed to me what God has been telling me lately - James 3:20 & James 4:17.

Lately God has been reminding me to listen to Him in everything - especially the smaller nudges He gives. You know the ones I’m talking about… it’s those nudges that quietly ask you to step outside of your comfort zone just a bit. They’re never huge leaps which in some ways might be easier to handle but it’s the smaller things that are easy to disregard and push out of your mind.

Last Sunday Glenda and I were sitting beside an older couple in church that we had met as we sat down. Throughout the service they both were madly taking notes, underlining in their Bible and talking among themseleves on several key points of the sermon. I was in awe at their dedication and attention to the sermon. During the altar call while everyone was supposed to not be looking around, I noticed that they raised their hand signifying that they wanted to get to know Jesus more. The pastor asked that everyone that raised their hand come forward to be prayed for up front. Well they didn’t move - and it’s right then I got the small nudge to “see if they want to go up front with you”.

That started my inner dilemna - this was the first weekend after I had announced my departure from HPC - what are people going to think when they see me up there - are they going to think I’m living in sin and being forced to leave? These people obviously have it together, why should I have to see if they want to go up? What if I ask if they want to go up and they say NO? On and on I was coming up with reasons why I should not listen. This went on for ten seconds or so and I finally broke down and asked them if they would like me to walk up to the front with them.

I got a resounding “no thanks” and a curt smile. Dang. Shut down. Thanks God I look like a moron now AND I was busted for looking around when I was supposed to have my head bowed. Oh well I had done my duty and had came through on my end of the deal.

No sooner had I turned back to listening to the pastor when they turned back to me and said that they would like me to go up to the front with them. Score!

So going back to the scripture I listenend to that small urge and actually acted on it for once and it paid off, maybe a payoff in their lives forever. It’s my prayer today for God to sharpen me to hearing these small “quests” and give me the courage to take them on.