I used to attend a church where for the most part, the people were lovely, but then there were the cliques. The cliques as I called them pretty much ran everything. They were the top and middle management, like deacons and above etc. Still, there was something about this church, where in I was spiritually fed. So I stayed. But I felt unappreciated. I felt like I was not as welcome as others. I felt less than on many occasion. But I stayed because I was following God’s lead. The one thing I did do faithfully, even though I was on welfare with a young child, was that I gave offerings and I tithed faithfully. I gave my ten percent plus the widow’s mite.

In the church or during church functions, things were said to me by higher ups in the church that stung. Things like, “Why don’t you dye your hair. You have a lot of gray.” But instantly God gave me the words to speak, “Why would I want to wash away my gray? Each one of those gray hairs represents something God brought me through. Why would I want to wash that away or hide it?” This person was in line with me, in front of me, turned facing me when they asked me that, and when I replied, she just turned straight around on a dime and said nothing further. Like… yes, you were just silenced. But I knew that the fact that I said that so quick without thought, meant it was the Spirit in me speaking through me. Perhaps it was something THEY needed to hear.

But there were many moments like that. Questions/comments about how I dressed, etc. All superficial worldly things that didn’t matter. Yes, some people in that church made me feel like I didn’t belong. Mind you, many were lovely, but they were like me, and probably felt the same way. There was one Evangelist who always would remind me of this one day in church I am about to tell you. She was one of my favorites there. Plus she said that when she was in a really low place one time, she looked up and saw me smiling at her, and encouraging her when no one else even noticed. I was there for her at that moment. I always called it the God influence. When He would put it in my spirit and influence me to pay attention. That day, I paid attention and saw her spirit. So I helped. But I digress.

The story this person often reminded me of when I saw her was the day when we were starting service and found out that we had a guest pastor speaking, and they were visiting from out of state from a sister church. So that day, the guest pastor is giving his sermon, and as was customary, when he finished his sermon, he asked if anyone needed prayer or laying on of hands, to approach the alter. So I got in line, as there were already multiple people ahead of me and others behind. I watched him pray for some, lay hands on others, some fell back and were caught, and it was all normal church stuff, until I got to the front of the line.

When I got to the front of the line, this pastor took one look at me, jumped backwards with hands up in surprise, as though he just realized something amazing, and said, “Girl! Do you know that you are the apple of God’s eye?!” He told me I was blessed and favored by God. I still remember that feeling I got of wanting to turn to the people who made me feel less than and stick my tongue out at them. Ha ha! God was basically making the least of these, the greater right in front of them. I call it my “David” or “Joseph” moment. I seriously loved that moment of my life when God showed up in a big way, and in my opinion it was to say, “This one is mine, so beware how you tread.”

Yes, God has been so very good to me. Praise the Lord! Amen and Amen!