I stood in my kitchen, peering out the window. Worship music was playing in the background. Suddenly the presence of God came over me and I lifted my hands in worship. Tears rolled down my face as I entered that wonderful intimate place of my Fathers presence. As I closed my eyes, I was taken back in time to the first week I had become born-again.
In my mind, I could see Patsy clearly. She was standing in front of her kitchen window as I walked through her front door. I could easily see her from where I was. More than that, I felt something. Something I had never felt before.
Tears streamed down her face. Her hands were lifted in worship as she praised her Lord. It is a picture that stays in my mind, even after all this time.
The presence that surrounded her that day was something I had never known. It lit up her countenance. It filled her house. It was tangible, and I wanted it.
Patsy had led me to the Lord. Her task wasn’t easy as I was quite resistant. She persisted and we both won. I came to know the Lord and I have never looked back. I was all-in then and I remain all-in.
That day, so many years ago, impacted me. But it didn’t only impact me, it imparted something to me. Something that would last through all time. That day, my journey of worship began.
She didn’t teach me about worship, I would learn that later. She caused me to desire what she possessed. Without saying a word. Without a lesson. Without instruction, she caused me to hunger to have what she had with God.
I began to hunger, and God was faithful to fill that hunger in me.
A few short days after my visit with Patsy, I was visiting my grandmother in the hospital. Someone had left a Kenneth Hagin Sr. magazine in her room. I picked it up to read. It was about praise and worship…that was my first lesson in worship.
Eventually, God led me to Norvel Hayes Ministries, there, I learned the depths of worship. I will be forever grateful for what Norvel Hayes taught me about worship. He exhibited worship to me. I thank God for that man.
Yet, it all began with Patsy worshipping her God while washing her dishes.
The most valuable and lasting thing that was ever imparted to me was not through a sermon and it was not at church. It was in someone’s home, in their private time. It impacted me for life.
I am no longer in contact with Patsy, but I have never forgotten the deposit she made in my life. I never will. As I thought of her this morning, the Lord said to me, “full circle.”
To come full circle means you have completed a cycle or a season. I love that!
This long, hard season is past, and we press on to the new season in God. What Patsy gave me that day has empowered me to come through a long, hard season, with peace and assurance. In the worst times, I worshipped God. In the dark times, I lifted my hands in worship. In the times I didn’t understand, I fell to my knees and worshipped God. And He kept me through it all. I am so very thankful.
What impact are you making? What do people see in your private times? When you are in the privacy of your home, do your thoughts and actions glorify God?
What are you imparting to others? Phil 4:8 says, “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.”
We are to impart things that are praiseworthy. Things that are life-altering. Things that are eternally good. Just as it says in Philippians 4.
The writer goes on to say in verse 9, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
The things which you have learned, received and heard in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. I reiterate what was imparted to me that day in Patsy’s kitchen was not a teaching, it was what I saw in her and on her that impacted me.
Let your life be a life that impacts others, in a godly way. Remember, what you impart in a moment of time could empower someone to walk through an entire season. Or an entire lifetime. It’s that important. May God be daily glorified in our lives, our thoughts and our actions.
Meditate on this!
Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1
