A Few Words Can Change a Life
It is amazing what God can do through a few spoken words.
My mom used to tell me, “Craig, God made you special. You can do anything you set your mind to do.” Her words made an impact on me. As a child, I honestly believed what she said was true. That confidence has made a huge difference.
My pastor, Nick Harris, said to me before I was on his staff, “Craig, you feel called to ministry, don’t you?” His question confirmed what I believed God put in my heart and gave me the courage to plunge ahead to become a pastor.
Lyle Schaller (a genius of a church growth consultant who is now in his eighties) said some words that redefined our ministry. When I was telling him we could no longer grow because we had four weekend worship experiences, Lyle said to me, “Why do you young guys think so small? You should be thinking about having seven weekend services.” His comment shattered my previously constructed ministry box.
God can use a few words to change a life.
How has God used a few words to impact you?
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I had a similar experience with a pastor when I felt the call of ministry on my life and his words confirmed what I felt it my heart. During a team meeting, I was casting vision about our children’s ministry and I could see how my words were challenging the team…I believe in a good way!
I’m trying to choose my words more carefully as they really do have the power of life and death. Side note…Just got the new book and I can’t wait to read it…bought one for my pastor and our youth pastor so we could read it together!
I think we need those types of words spoken to us even more as we get older in life and ministry. We can use the strength and hope they give.
Great job at Momentum, Craig. You practiced what you just preached.
Steve
A pastor friend of mine interrupted a normal conversation and asked me, “Why are you denying God’s call on your life to plant a church?” Six months later, we’re planning the launch of a new church on Easter ‘09.
Steve, Thanks. It was awesome to be at Momentum. You are right. The words of encouragement can mean even more as one gets older.
Tim and Lori, Great stories. Thanks.
If only we could realize the power of our words to make someone feel limited or the power of our words to make someone feel limitless…Craig, your Mom set your course of a life without limits….a special lady huh?
when I was 16 my Youth Pastor qouted to me the verse, ” to whom much is given of him shall much be required”. That has never left me and as God increases my responsibility I have never lost sight of the massive requirement that comes with ministry.
Man, the most negative and the most positive examples jump to mind so easily.
Just a couple of weeks ago, someone called me and said everything I needed to hear. Someone who really knows what I do and where I am so it really mattered coming from her.
I just stood there in my dark living room and sobbed as she went on and on. Can you picture lovingly taking your child’s chin in your hand, looking them in the eyes, and telling them that you love them? That’s what those words were to me from God.
This talk about a few words and God’s calling remind me of something I read in one of Andy Stanley’s books. If I’m remembering correctly, he asked his if he had to be called to the ministry or if he could just volunteer? His dad answered that volunteering was permitted. And Andy replied, “Then I think I’d like to volunteer.”
I tried looking for the book but I have a bad habit of giving away books I love to other people (I never lend books away, I set them free).
Anyway, the power of words.
peace|dewde
dewde.com
Oops. Typo.
*He asked his “dad” if he had to be called to the ministry.
peace|dewde
Craig this I’ve seen not only in my life but in our kids as well. I allowed myself to be controlled by others until I was 30. When I met my husband I’d ask about everything I was doing and he would always come back “You can think for yourself”. Those words gave me belief in my own decisions. I see it with our teens as well, we have one son that through his younger years wow people would put him in a box by his behavior. Giving him daily words of “You can do it, You can choose” has really brought forth Life. To see where he is today is wonderful!
I have told my kids something that I learned from Elmer Towns. “You can do anything in the world you put your mind too”. My kids are young but I see this starting to take root and I am excited to see what will they will accomplish in life.
The reverse is true and that is what I can identify with in my life. I had a teacher tell me that I would not amount to much and for many years I believed her. Through prayer and encouragment from many I have learned that God had made me and I have gone on to accomplish many things that few thought I would, but that few did tell me I would accomplish things. I thank God for that few!
You’re so right Craig, words are powerful. I tell my three sons every single day that “I’m proud of them,” and that “I love them.” My most important legacy to this world will be these three young men of God that I hope will live out for the Kingdom of God what I’ve influenced and loved into them. The power that is spoken into their futures with these two simple phrases, “I Love You,” and “I’m Proud of You,” is BEYOND MEASURE.
a youth pastor friend of mine once told me, “Anna, you are spirit led…” that has guided me ever since.
I would rather be spirit led than led by anything else…
After a time of great failure and brokenness, my pastor said something that changed my life and destiny:
“Andy, God knew all this would happened before He saved you. And He saved you anyway. And God knew all this would happen before He called you to preach. And He called you anyway.”
I learned that day that grace works for pastors, too.
Taking a biblical stand to protect the integrity of the office of pastor, the words God used came through the senior minister when he said “Why don’t you turn in your resignation.” God used those words to confirm what i had been debating with Him about for several weeks: the need to separate from injustice. I don’t know what God has for me but He’s in charge.
Pastor Craig just wanted to say thank you for your blog. It’s been a great blessing in my life. Keep it going.
Thanks for the great stories. Very encouraging!
Judy, Yes, both my mom and dad are amazing people.
C. Adrian, You are so welcome. I am thrilled this is a blessing to you.
Even though I’ve always been told that I can do great things, it seems hard to truly live out of that truth. I’ve been blessed to have leaders see God working through me and constantly tell me what they see HIM doing. It takes practice to really HEAR.
Dude, Our church hosted the Willow GLS in Cape Town South Africa this weekend! Your talk about IT was awesome. I was part of the technical team and by the time I could step out to buy the book IT was sold out!!!!!!
I am so inspired by your story and your passion everytime I hear it.
Being a college student who is studying youth ministry and attending LifeChurch.tv, I have to say that many of the small statements that you’ve said in your messages have been monumental for me. For example in a message where you talked about giving, you once said “round up.” God has used those two little words to help me learn the value of joyful giving. I’m finding that God loves to use small statements to make a big impact.
Ewald, So glad to hear the message made a difference in Cape Town!
Kyle, Awesome to hear! The “round up” has been life changing to our family. Blessings to you in your pursuit of youth ministry.
“Life flows from God, it flows from God”…lyrics from Charlie Hall’s “you are God”. I wanna get as close as possible to God so I can have life. Those simple words have changed the way I see people and ministry. If we get close to God, we get life!
My dad used to tell me, “I may be your earthly dad, but you have only One Real Father. And that relationship is the most important.” Cannot begin to count numerous individuals who have told me over the years that once they even started to grasp God as their Father how it truly changed their lives. We can live our lives trying to please man or even woman for that matter. I just shared a link over at MMI.. I hope it’s okay to share it here too.
http://www.serve-others.com/issue19 Look for the story called “A Deal of a Lifetime.”
As always - you, Craig, and any who read and/or comment are continued to be prayed for.
from high school on my dad has always told me, as a career, “do something you love”. Right now I am in a spot where I do not love what I do and it is really having an affect on me.
I wen to a small Christian university and had a professor who also served as pastor of a church in town. In a ministry class, he once said, “Success in ministry is always measured by the names of individuals.” As a young pastor at a small church, I am thankful for that statement. When money is tight and attendance is low, I can look at faces in our congregation and know that our church is successful because lives are being changed.
One of the guys on your staff, Andrew Statezny, has consistently spoke into my life and his positive words and belief in me is probably one of the main reasons I am in ministry today. I couldn’t think of one single phrase….just consistently challenging me to greatness and seeing something incredible when I saw so little.
“I love you dad” and “I love you Bill (from my bride)” mean more to me than anyone else’s words. They remind me what I have and what is at stake.
Craig, as a lost teenager, I didn’t have any goals or dreams; school was torture and rules were for other people.
I skipped class one day and went to an FCA rally. My principal gave a closing word and prayed. He said, “some of you here could do great things if you applied yourselves.”
We were dismissed and as I was headed for the door, the principal cut through the crowd and found me. I thought I was in trouble (he knew I was supposed to be in class), and he said, “you were the one I had in mind when I said those things.” His kind, encouraging words meant he believed in me. That inspired me for years and was a turning point in my self-image, lifting me out of the rut so many kids get stuck in.
Craig, I just had a similar experience in Mexico City last week. I was listening to a member of the National UNIFAM Ministry Team from during vision casting. Their goal was to reach over 30,000 people to Christ in three years. My vision for church planting is insignificant in comparison. Blown away.
You, Craig, in 2003 (Growing to Chapel series, week 3) on a Saturday night when I was sitting in the crowd said, “If you are dating someone you know is not God’s best for you, you need to end it now because it’s not fair to you, it’s not fair to him, and it’s not fair to your future spouse.” I broke up with him asap - I would’ve married someone I had settled for.
Miles Paludan called me up out of the blue last November, right after the Byers had moved and told me that God was leading him to tell me to look into my options overseas, something I’d been feeling led to do but didn’t know if it was really God or just me; this brought confirmation - and now I sit in London (Step 4 - Uncommon clarity).
Those are 2 of the most significant moments in my life when God spoke to me through someone that DRASTICALLY changed my life. There are many more from you, Craig. I give you my most sincere thank you.