Overwhelmingly Thankful
May 14, 2016Simple Definition of overwhelm according to Merriam Webster:
- to affect (someone) very strongly
- to cause (someone) to have too many things to deal with
After 14 weeks of studying the book of Philippians and the topic of “Joy Makers, Joy Takers”, and on the last day of bible study, I was overwhelmed. As I was teaching the final lesson, the women were sitting in front of me with a huge secret that would “affect someone (me) very strongly”. What a shock at the end of the study to see all the ladies stand and take off a top layer of clothing to reveal a t-shirt underneath which they had designed for Words of Worth and in support of my ministry! As they stood before me they said, “We are your Philippians!” Needless to say I was overwhelmed, in a good way, and I was also speechless as some of the women were quick to point out (apparently that was a new vision for them). At first I couldn’t wrap my mind around what they were doing and what they were wearing! I was overwhelmed and “caused to have too many things to deal with”.
I’m not sure I have words that are worthy enough to say how thankful I am to all of you for the t-shirt tribute and sacrificial gift to my ministry! It is my true honor and delight to teach you each week and I think you all know what “joy makers” you and Wednesdays are to me!
(Some of the Grace Point women above and Restoration women below)
To God be the glory for anything of lasting value I may have done, and even though my words may be lacking, they are important. Because words matter, and because God’s Word matters most, I am following Paul’s example of thanking his Philippians:
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for you, I always pray for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now….It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart…”
Philippians 1: 3, 7