Loved your post on Davalyn Spencer's blog. And thank you for her website...I now can read some of her stuff and read stuff on her website. My Gramma's maiden name was Spencer, so I liked seeing another Spencer... Love from NC
I agree with introverts having a different method of evangelism. And oh, it took yrs and yrs of being forced to knock on doors (and hating it) to realize why it was NOT the right method for me. And even then, the guilt was strong. I remember having a Bible study with one lady, in her home, while our husbands were deployed. And during the study together, she got saved. By herself, at home, in the quiet. I didn't say anything, I didn't do anything, we just studied the Bible together and God worked in her heart! And He spoke to me...see, this is how it works...and this is good.
We had one man at Bible college who spoke to anyone and everyone who walked down the street by our college....and left and right, people got saved. He was gifted in that way. My bff's dh does that...he feels drawn to people when he's out running errands, and he loves them and prays for them and invites them to church....and shares the gospel. And they get saved! (Though when she and I need to go somewhere and he's running his errands and not back yet, lol, we sometimes get frustrated....but he's being about his Father's business!!)
But that's not how God gifted me. So I try to do well what He tells ME to, and leave others to do well at what He tells them to do. And most of the time, I decide to not feel guilty for not being something HE did NOT create or equip me to be/do!
Keep it up. I used to feel the same way, but I have learned that we all have gifts distributed as God desires. The command in the Great Commission is to MAKE DISCIPLES AS YOU GO, not just to GO. See the difference? It is so freeing that we don't have to be evangelists, when we are not gifted/equipped to be so.
Oh, that was lovely! I'm a painful introvert where even interaction with folks I know takes effort. It's usually enjoyable, but it's effort nonetheless. I've often felt a failure in the command to share the good news. Thanks for the reminder to relax. I appreciated your article, Patrice!
I am a major introvert; albeit not silent. If today's evangelicals got any more tense they would be past tense. 'Relaxing' is probably the last message I'd offer. Of course relaxing in easy if your family is not under one of the 121 US bombs dropped every day. Silly me, what does an old man know... Montana Guy
Greetings from Finland, Patrice. Your blog here and at WND and your example have been thousand times more efficient with me that any spoken words could have ever been.
I truly loved that Bible verse and quote from snt. Francis.
To be honest, I cannot call myself a Christian (yet), but if I ever can, credit is at least 30 % yours.
I so enjoyed hosting you on my blog this morning, Patrice. One reader was particularly blessed by what you had to say. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLoved your post on Davalyn Spencer's blog.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for her website...I now can read some of
her stuff and read stuff on her website. My Gramma's maiden name was Spencer, so I liked seeing another Spencer...
Love from NC
I agree with introverts having a different method of evangelism. And oh, it took yrs and yrs of being forced to knock on doors (and hating it) to realize why it was NOT the right method for me. And even then, the guilt was strong. I remember having a Bible study with one lady, in her home, while our husbands were deployed. And during the study together, she got saved. By herself, at home, in the quiet. I didn't say anything, I didn't do anything, we just studied the Bible together and God worked in her heart! And He spoke to me...see, this is how it works...and this is good.
ReplyDeleteWe had one man at Bible college who spoke to anyone and everyone who walked down the street by our college....and left and right, people got saved. He was gifted in that way. My bff's dh does that...he feels drawn to people when he's out running errands, and he loves them and prays for them and invites them to church....and shares the gospel. And they get saved! (Though when she and I need to go somewhere and he's running his errands and not back yet, lol, we sometimes get frustrated....but he's being about his Father's business!!)
But that's not how God gifted me. So I try to do well what He tells ME to, and leave others to do well at what He tells them to do. And most of the time, I decide to not feel guilty for not being something HE did NOT create or equip me to be/do!
Keep it up. I used to feel the same way, but I have learned that we all have gifts distributed as God desires. The command in the Great Commission is to MAKE DISCIPLES AS YOU GO, not just to GO. See the difference? It is so freeing that we don't have to be evangelists, when we are not gifted/equipped to be so.
DeleteSome of the loudest preaching I have ever heard was done by people who almost never spoke of God, but lived it.
ReplyDeleteOh, that was lovely! I'm a painful introvert where even interaction with folks I know takes effort. It's usually enjoyable, but it's effort nonetheless. I've often felt a failure in the command to share the good news. Thanks for the reminder to relax. I appreciated your article, Patrice!
ReplyDeleteI am a major introvert; albeit not silent. If today's evangelicals got any more tense they would be past tense. 'Relaxing' is probably the last message I'd offer. Of course relaxing in easy if your family is not under one of the 121 US bombs dropped every day. Silly me, what does an old man know...
ReplyDeleteMontana Guy
Greetings from Finland, Patrice. Your blog here and at WND and your example have been thousand times more efficient with me that any spoken words could have ever been.
ReplyDeleteI truly loved that Bible verse and quote from snt. Francis.
To be honest, I cannot call myself a Christian (yet), but if I ever can, credit is at least 30 % yours.
I am honored and touched. Kiitos ystävällisistä sanoistasi!
Delete- Patrice