Thanks to invaluable training I received at the SCORRE conference, (formerly Dynamic Communicators Workshop) some years ago, I learned the objective of my speaking is not to get people to like me, to make them laugh or even just to disseminate information. Each might be by-products, but my primary focus is to communicate the most precious message on the face of the Earth – The Gospel.

Yet, often during post-speaking analysis, I find myself feeling extremely vulnerable…for all the wrong reasons. I get stuck asking myself:
Did they laugh? or even cry?
Were they impacted enough to talk to me after?
Were they fully engaged or falling asleep?
Did they like me?

These questions ought never be the primary basis for critique. What matters more is:

Did I communicate what God asked me to?
Was I crystal clear in my objective?
Did I know my audience’s fears, joys and struggles and did I speak truth to those?
Will the audience DO something differently because they heard me speak today?

And most importantly, was I true to the Gospel message in whatever form it was communicated?

A few weeks ago, I had a string of particularly challenging audiences – in terms of non-verbal signals, that is. After I got home I felt like I had failed, and I had to remind myself of my “success criteria”. Attempting to pull myself from this fragile place, I heard these words of scripture in my mind:

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16

Some days it will feel like no one wants to hear what we are saying, and they may even blatantly argue with us about the truth we believe. But we should never shy away from the task of proclaiming the gospel.

Even when it makes us feel vulnerable.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to be interviewed for an online radio program “Marnie & Friends” on Blog Talk Radio. It’s a monthly segment hosted by Marnie Swedberg called “Amazing Women.” (If you want to listen click here.)

Can I just say that generally I don’t consider myself amazing? I mean honestly, do you think of yourself that way?

As you can imagine, it was a stretch for me to even begin the pre-interview screening. Even though many of us accomplish so much in a day or week, whether it be in the home, at the workplace, at school or volunteering in myriad capacities, (or all of the above!) we never give ourselves credit for how amazing we are. Nor do we typically have occasion to pause and think, “Wow, I really do juggle many balls, and often I don’t even drop one! I’m AMAZING!”

In my case, I had to enlist the help of a friend (one of the suggestions from the interviewer) to get her impression of my strengths. She was a huge asset in my uncovering my accomplishments, even mundane, my talents and philosophies on life. After pondering, praying, brainstorming and encouragement (thank you for Barnabuses!) I formulated my interview content. And then I had to wait to see if I was accepted for the show…

How’s that for putting yourself out there?

Now by no means do I consider myself any more AMAZING than every one of you reading this blog. But this whole exercise got me to thinking (and more praying), who am I to argue with God – who proclaims me “fearfully and wonderfully made”?

So, with confidence and joy for the opportunity, I quieted my family, closed the office door, laid out my papers, picked up the telephone and dialed in to my first ever “radio” interview.

And to be honest, (not boastful) I felt kinda amazing.

Thank God he created me as a talker! I love to testimony and crave the companionship that builds me up and allows me to pour out the many gifts he’s bestowed. And yesterday he gave me a chance to do just that. How fun!

And how AMAZING my God is.

Do you need to remind yourself today that you are AMAZING? Start here: Psalm 139:14

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Many people have asked me the question lately how I came to be a speaker, so I thought I would address that as my first entry on this site.

About 7 years ago, I began to see my faith in a different way. I came to a new and clear understanding of the gospel and as a result, I forged ahead on a fresh path that included a heart to seek God fully as well as his plan and will for my life.

I originally got involved in just about anything I could at my church, planning events, coordinating Women’s ministries, leading bible studies and teaching. Never one to shy away from a crowd, it was my joy to teach and speak in any capacity. I also traveled to the Chicago area to attend a class called “Becoming a Contagious Christian” at Willow Creek church, which I later taught at my own church. It was there I began to see my true calling in the area of serving the Lord. It seemed I had the gift to share my faith more easily than some, and also the ability to teach, speak and encourage others. These things came naturally to me, but even more so, I was passionate from the very start about telling people what had happened to me, and how the Lord could change their lives too.

Over the next 4-5 years, I began to hear from other people things like “You should take your show on the road!” (What show I asked myself?) Or “When are you going to start your speaking ministry?” And most often, it was just affirmative comments like “ I really enjoy when you speak – you should do that more often.” After a while, I began to listen and recognize these voices as the affirmative voice of God speaking to me through other people.

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