Reality Check

Sometimes I tend to let myself get very focused on me and mine. Last night at church, I got a good dose of reality given to me during a young man's testimony.

Let me give a little background. Ryan is about 31 years old. He has cerebral palsy. He cannot walk and has trouble talking so that others can understand him. About 8 years ago, Ryan came to our church during a revival, and God really started dealing with him. He received the Holy Ghost (speaking in tongues) in a hotel room while he was on vacation with his parents (who do not attend any church and are not real supportive of Ryan attending ours). He begged his parents for several years to let him get baptized in Jesus' Name, and finally about 4 years ago he was. Ryan has a real heart for prayer and never misses an opportunity to pray with someone at the altar. To get to the altar, Ryan literally falls out of his seat onto the floor and then crawls over to the altar. During worship service he always has at least one hand raised, while he is praising God.

Last night, Ryan was testifying about a conversation that he had had with God while he (Ryan) was laying in the ER waiting for a doctor. Ryan said he was very sick, and his parents had taken him to the ER. While he waited he was praying and asked God to please just take him home. He said the answer came back very clearly and quickly that if God took Ryan home his family would never have anyone else live truth before them. He told Ryan that his w0rk was still being done and he had souls to reach that nobody else could. Ryan thanked God for reminding him of what was really important and asked God to forgive him for being so selfish.

I am relatively healthy. Can walk under my own power (well, limp somedays!). I can speak clearly (and I do a lot of talking!). Yet, I get so focused on my life, my problems, my needs/wants, that I forget that there are people I meet everyday that do not know my Jesus. I forget that I have to live Truth! It has to be in my attitude, my speech, my clothing, my actions and my reactions. I have people to reach that nobody else can!

Talk about an eye opener! I've learned so much from Ryan over the last several years, but every now and then I get punched in the gut!!