Outside the Box

At the last school I taught in I was privileged to work alongside a colleague who was in a league of her own in artistry. As each new school year approached, I would find myself on the edge of my seat to see what wonderful new bulletin boards she would come up with. One year she decorated her bulletin board in a fairly simple way, but boy, was it impactful. With beautiful script (she always painted her own letters on the butcher paper) she wrote, "Think outside the box." And, wouldn't you know it? She actually had a box mounted under those words! It might have been simple, but it was beautifully done and impactful. So much so, that to this day the memory of that board still has the power to fill me with awe.

And you know who helped my colleague come up with such phenomenal ideas? The Originator of thinking outside the box. Look at all the ways Jesus healed--touching, spitting, making mud, just speaking the word of healing from far away. He never worried about doing things in prescribed steps. He listened to the Father and what He heard Him say, that is what He did (John 5:19). And guess what--as the children of the Father, we are privileged to think outside the box right along with Him! Let me share a beautiful example of God's children listening to Him and doing amazing, extraordinary things.

Some dear friends of ours have a very unusual ministry. In fact, I would be surprised if you have ever known anyone who has ever done this. It certainly was a first for me. My friend and her husband have a "Drive Thru Prayer" ministry! They offer prayer at their driveway curbside. I asked Debbie if I could share her testimony and if she could send me some pictures and, yay! She said yes!

The following is what she wrote: "Janine, while ironing my clothes, the Lord told me to have church in the front yard. I could not figure out what I was supposed to do. At our next prayer meeting a missionary said we needed to have prayer using the circle drive in front of our house. "Drive Thru Prayer" was born. We quit after a few years, but have started up again last July. Now we are joined by Lucy and Loraine and Eddie and Ida. The pictures are Lorain out on Business 83 and Deborah at the table."

Isn't this just wild? Who'd "a thunk" of such a thing? So, once a week, weather permitting, my friend and her husband, as well as other friends, set up a table and chairs at their circle drive, and people roll on through in their vehicles.

And people come. People who are hungry to share their burdens and have someone care enough to reach out to them and speak to them encouraging words from God. It's fine to be a well-known preacher. It's fine to be a televised minister. But you know, Jesus actually touched the lepers, those untouchables ostrazed by society (Matthew 8:3). I am sure there are many reasons why He did so, but I think one of them was to leave us an example. People are hungry for a personal touch that says God thinks of them, God is concerned about their problems. For that, the TV doesn't cut it. The huge masses in large churches don't cut it. It requires an individual, a real person who can reach out and minister to them in a personal way.

In the Bible Hall of Fame chapter, Hebrews 11, we find many great men and women of God listed. But at the end of the chapter there are many heroes who are nameless. Verse 36 calls them "and others". We might be "others"--unknown heroes who follow where God leads us. Ah, but to touch others for Him? It doesn't get any better than that! Don't limit God! Don't say, "My best years are behind me!" No way, José. With God, there is no limit to what you can do. Seek Him. And just as He led my friend into this amazing ministry, He will lead you!

Next week: a peek at some other unusual ministers who think outside the box!

"For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:36).

"Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest" (John 4:35).