Sometimes I like to ask what God has done for me lately. It can be easy to use our salvation story for all that God has done…but He keeps working in our lives. It might be hard to think that something like admonishing a sister in the Lord can be a really difficult but memorable task. It always has to start with getting the log out of our own eye.

Some time ago I was in a position of leadership that required me to admonish a woman who was backing out on a commitment to serve. Once the Lord was done showing me how I had committed the same sin in the past, we chatted and she heard the truth in what was said. She was even grateful that I spoke to her about it as she hadn’t realized it was what she was doing.

The best part of these experiences is that the lessons stay with us for a long time (at least they should). Even her humble acceptance of the admonishment was a lesson for me.

Fast forward to about 6 weeks ago when I learned that I needed an eye surgery that has a usual recovery of just a few days (or I am sure that was what I heard). It was scheduled for 3.5 weeks before a weekend speaking engagement.

With the information I had, the procedure was done but not without consequences. My eye recovery did not go as expected. The problems were not usual; there were unanticipated occurrences. Oh, NO! What about my speaking engagement?

The eyes were not working together, the words were only readable with one eye. The light sensitivity was excruciatingly painful. A dark room was my solace. The pain from some fluid build-up was awful.

Do I call the church and tell them they need a new speaker with 3 weeks to find one? Do I send my four talks, written out, for someone to read?

I had peace that I was to plan on being there. I was to let my yes be yes. I had agreed to go. This was not news to God when the surgery was scheduled.

So, in a relatively dark room I went over notes, made the PowerPoints, and prayed and asked some friends to, also.

I went this past weekend to teach. God, in His faithfulness gave me full vision with both eyes open during the teaching times. He had sent me into a room full of women hungry for His Word. If they noticed my (red) eye during the speaking time, that was not what they talked about afterward. They spoke of what they learned from God’s Word. They encouraged me in my teaching. They were listening and it was a such a gift to see how they glorified God as I kept my word to do what I said I would do.

Of course, there are times when we make commitments that we cannot keep. But, how often do we miss the absolute blessings and joy that come from doing things God’s way – by letting our yes be yes, and our no be no? I am still afloat on the joy of the Lord as He enabled me to do all that He called me to last weekend. And, I am so grateful, that so long ago, He admonished me so I would experience His grace again and again.

For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD! Psalm 117:2

Thanks to the women of Pequea Baptist Church for their warmth toward me and their hunger for the Word and Ways of God.