OMN Teachers of the Year
Last Sunday I had the privilege of speaking at Family Worship Center in Gresham with Pastor Dan Hatton. The Christian Education Director for the church is Andrea Franco. Andrea has done a fantastic job of building up and equipping a team for service each Sunday. One of the reasons I was there, on Sunday, was to honor our Oregon Ministry Network Teachers of the Year. This year’s choice was Dave & Linda Hoard. Dave & Linda have faithfully taught the same elementary Sunday School class for 40 years. Dave has also served as the churches Royal Rangers Senior Outpost Commander for just as long. Dave & Linda are two amazing individuals, who truly have been used by God to touch many generations of boys and girls.
My message title for the morning was, “How to be used by God.” Being used by God is not so much about you, but God. Sometimes we can allow our past, our excuses and our obstacles in life to get in the way of being used by God. We must remember that God is Bigger then our Obstacles, Bigger then our Excuses and Bigger then our Past.
I recently was reminded of this truth by a story I once read that illustrates this so well.
A passenger train was winding through the countryside when a large storm hit. The lighting, thunder and pouring rain alarmed everyone, even the seasoned travelers. That is, all except one. A young boy sat undisturbed in his seat playing with his toys. He appeared to be unaware of the potential danger. One of the other passengers leaned over and asked the boy, “I see you are all alone on this train. Aren’t you afraid in such a storm?”
The child lifted his head and gave the secret of his peace away. “No Sir,” he answered. “I am not afraid at all, because my father is the conductor of this train.”
Being used by God is not so much about you, but about who you know. God is in the business of using ordinary people to do extraordinary things and He wants to use you. He makes this known to us in Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” NIV
Let’s keep encouraging our people to allow God to use them, just like at Family Worship Center.
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