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| Photo: Alan Levine (Flickr: cogdog) |
I’ve often heard folk pray for God to
‘call them’. It really should be the desire of everyone who has found
Christ as their Saviour to do more for Him than we do in our everyday
lives. In whatever situation we are in, or whatever age we are, we should
be aware that we could be doing a bit extra than normal.
Life kicks in and it’s hard. Jobs are
stressful and life is busy. Our families and our churches take up lots of
our time and eventually our missionary call (whether it be at home or abroad)
loses its lustre and we forget we ever heard it.
I’m not sure exactly when I felt God had
called me, but I do have a vivid memory of when I was around nine years of
age. My father was the pastor of a local church and we had always been
encouraged to participate and do all we could do for the family of God.
Our home was always open to strangers and friends alike, and I remember how many
hundreds of times my mother made food for complete strangers who turned up at
our door. We gave up our beds on many occasions so that people who were
homeless could have the best room in the house. This was our upbringing
and I’m grateful for it to this day!
One of my early recollections is going to
clean the church, which was quite sizeable for me at such an early age.
And to make matters worse, we didn’t have a car and I remember distinctly
walking across our town to the church with a bucket and mop in my hand. I
would take as many back streets as I could so nobody would see, but the main
street was inevitable as it was directly linked to where the church building
stood!
Embarrassed wasn’t the word. I used to
cringe when people would pass me by and stare unbelievingly at this young girl
walking with a mop and bucket. Little did they realise that it wasn’t
just any mop and bucket – but it was obedience to parents who were also
serving God with all their means, and it was my service to God and to man.
I can’t remember how many times I walked it but I know I did it quite a
lot. Once there, the task seemed mammoth, but I had decided that I would
follow Jesus and do whatever I found needing to be done – and my mother had
taught me that no job was too low, if someone else had to do it – we had to
lead by example.
Such were my memories. Peeling a whole
bag of potatoes into a huge bin for weekend visitors. Washing 30 pairs of
sheets just so people could stay two nights. Hoovering the house which
had five flights of stairs several times a week so people could be blessed and
hear the gospel by staying in our home.
If you’re looking for my pedigree, you’ll find
it easily. I offered myself to God and He used me. If I found
something to do – I did it. Whether it was raising funds to send trucks
overseas to Romania with humanitarian aid – or washing the toilets in our large
complex at New Hope – if it needed doing, and nobody did it – then it was
my challenge and I did it.
I’ve no doubt that all of that – was for all
of this! I believe God sees our hearts and our willingness to
serve. I have never regretted anything I’ve done to help others see God
in action – whether it was in a practical sense, or leading praise and worship
in church. My heart has always been – and I pray always will be – willing
to do whatever He calls me to do.
Don’t wait for a ‘lofty’ calling. Do
what you need to do now to touch people’s lives. We are the hands
and feet of God in this world, and it may be that we are the only Jesus that people will see. Our lives can affect everyone we meet – whether
it’s a hairdresser, an office colleague or a taxi driver.
Do whatever you find to do in your hand.
Talented or otherwise, God can use your smallest offering, and turn it into a
work of art for His glory. I’m glad for that – as my talents are few –
but my desire to be used of God – is great!
Wendy Tomin
Co-Pastor,
Kairos Christian Centre
