Online Baptist

Gave my first little devotion Tuesday night in the dorm (started in Isaiah 6 and 33:13-17, about a vision of God). That was fun. I was shaking at the beginning for some reason.

Preached for the first time last night, downtown with my church. Sure wore my voice out in the open air. Didn't have much time, but got to go through sin and the Gospel. Again, I was pretty nervous at the start of it...Kinda funny.

Just excited at being able to do that.

Good for you, Samer!

That's great, Samer! It gets easier - as long as you never get to the point where you are just going through the motions. There are a couple of times I have done that - when my heart wasn't right, but I still had to do a devotion before dinner at the Gospel Mission. You find you have nerves all over again, but the difference is you do not have God's power, peace, and His Spirit working working through you. Don't like that feeling! Better to be weak and filled with His Spirit than to be (carnally) bold and not have Him using you as a vessel that day!

Most of my preaching is between 10-15 minutes at the Gospel Mission (preaching devotionals there for about 3 1/2 years). I have preached several 15-20 minute sermons at Senior's Homes (about 3 or 4 of these, both before I started preaching at the Mission, and shortly thereafter - so it has been a while). But about 2 weeks ago, I got my first chance to preach a half hour message at a service at the Mission. I covered My Seven Favourite Verses, with a poem of mine and an illustration added to round it out. It was good experience - and I am looking forward to the next time the Lord will open up another opportunity.

Wish I could've heard that devotion on Tuesday night....instead I had to listen to one of the girls ramble about how we should be slow to speak...and not talk too much. She proceeded to talk about this for 30 minutes. The longest devotion at camp and the least profitable. Ohhh well. Preaching on the street is awesome too...I'm so excited about how the Lord is using you. :) Praying for you too, of course. ;)

Delighted that you street preached, it is very encouraging to read.

Amen.