Email me
DONNA SPARKS
  • Home
  • About Donna
  • Prison Ministry
  • Donna's Books
  • Podcast
  • Pastors & Leaders
  • Itinerary 2023
  • Media
  • Salt & Grace Blog

The Ripple Effect

7/15/2019

5 Comments

 
Picture
Most of us have experienced the simple act of tossing a pebble into a lake or a pond to see what happens. I remember the amazement I experienced as a child when I would toss a stone into a lake and circles would appear on the glassy surface. One after another they would appear and extend farther and farther out across the lake. We refer to this as the “ripple effect.”

One tiny sudden impact on the surface of a small area of still water can send out ripples that eventually effect a much larger area. We may think that a tiny pebble tossed into a giant lake can’t have much of an impact, but it certainly does. And, the same thing happens when one life is touched by Jesus.

Recently as I was ministering in the jail, I met a young lady who gave her heart to Christ in one of our services. Her whole countenance changed. She seemed to just glow with the light and the love of Jesus. I see many ladies who make decisions to follow Jesus, but some fall by the wayside when they are released from jail. But I could tell that this young lady was different.

We will call her *Angel. She was hungry for more of God, and it was obvious that He had impacted her life in a powerful way. She never missed a service, and she always came up for prayer. I could sense a strong call to ministry on her life, and she wanted everything God had to offer her. 

While Angel was in jail, her parents made a wise decision to move to another state to make a brand new start. I was happy with this decision because it is so good for these ladies to be able to start over in a new place away from former influences. She called me as soon as she got to her new home with her parents in the new state.

She was so excited as we talked about her long drive home with her father. She told me how she had told him about everything she learned in the jail services. She talked about all the lessons I had shared with them, and how my testimony had inspired her to follow Jesus and seek His will for her life. I was so thrilled to hear the excitement in her voice.

But, it continued to get even better. She said, “Miss Donna, when I got home I sat down with my family, and I read the Bible to them! But that’s not all! I also prayed with them, and they accepted Christ as their Savior.” I almost shouted right then and there! She continued, “And, Miss Donna, we have found an Assemblies of God church just seven miles from our house, and we are going Sunday!”

I could not have been smiling any wider at that moment! She shared the name of the church with me, and I told her I would give the pastor a call. I called him the following Monday, and he shared with me that she did attend and filled out a visitor card. He told me that their church had just started the new “Living Free” program for former addicts, and those fighting addictions. He assured me he would call and try to meet with her, and get her involved.

He did just that, and she called me back so excited as she told me how the pastor mentioned getting her involved in several areas of ministry in the church! Both of her parents are attending church with her, and she is absolutely thrilled to see what future plans God has for her.
 

She is determined to live out her calling and become a minister herself. And, she is already doing just that, by leading her parents to Christ. I believe her testimony will begin to make an even greater impact in the area she has moved to. It is obvious to see that God is preparing the way for her.

Sometimes we may feel that we are having little to no impact in what we are doing for Christ, but that is nothing more than a lie from the enemy. The smallest actions, can make the biggest impact. Just like a tiny pebble causing ripples across a lake, our testimony shared with another individual can change a life. When that changed individual shares their testimony, other lives are changed.
 

The ripples keep reaching outward. We can’t just look at the lives changed in our direct line of sight. We have to remember that the impact we make on others will extend farther than we can even imagine. Oh, the stories we will share in heaven when we meet those whose lives were changed as an indirect result of our ministry.
 

Small beginnings have immeasurable results for eternity! So, keep casting those small pebbles out into the lake. You are making an impact!
​

Zechariah 4:10 NLT
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…”
Proverbs 11:30 NIV
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.”
James 5:20 CEB
“Recognize that whoever brings a sinner back from the wrong path will save them from death and will bring about the forgiveness of many sins.”

*Name changed to maintain privacy.
5 Comments
Dot
7/15/2019 12:02:22 pm

I always enjoy reading your blogs Donna they are always so encouraging. You are definitely causing a lot of ripples and being a blessing to so many.. Love you!

Reply
Donna
7/15/2019 12:13:24 pm

I love you too, and YOU are an encouragement to me to keep doing what God has called me to do. <3 <3 <3

Reply
Tom Whitesel link
7/15/2019 12:16:23 pm

Love the ripple analogy!!! Thanks Donna. [Pastor Tom | 24Today.org]

Reply
Donna
7/15/2019 12:19:04 pm

Great to hear from you Pastor Tom! I hope you are doing well. How’s the book coming along?

Reply
Mary Wood
7/22/2019 09:27:33 am

Love, Love, LOVE this!

Reply



Leave a Reply.


    Author

    Donna Sparks is an International Speaker and Evangelist. She is the Author of Beauty From Ashes: My Story of Grace, and, No Limits: Embracing the Miraculous.

    Archives

    December 2022
    July 2022
    April 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed