MICHAEL W SMITH makes a challenging call to Christians young and old to move up to missionary level.

It doesn't have to be that way. You are valuable to God. He has uniquely gifted you for some kind of service and you'll never find out what those gifts are until you run the risk of making yourself available to him. But first you've got to believe that you can make a difference. I heard a story that might help.

One day an old man was walking the beach at dawn when he noticed a young guy ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging them into the sea. He finally caught up with the boy and asked him why he was doing this. The answer was that the stranded starfish would die if left until the morning sun came up. "But you're wasting your time," said the old man. "This beach goes on for miles and there are millions of starfish." Then he asked the youth. "How can your effort make any difference?" The boy looked at the starfish in his hand, smiled softly, and then threw it to safety in the waves. "It makes a difference to this one," he said.

You are not wasting time when you do anything for God. If you make a difference for eternity in the life of just one of your friends, you have passed along a gift that is absolutely priceless. Begin by being there for someone else. "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matt 25:40)

"I'm getting desperate for someone to talk to," wrote 24-year-old Sandi from Vermont. "...I mean really talk to about the things that are bothering me. I have a longing to be completely honest and open with someone. to let them see inside me to who I really am. But I'm so alone with my feelings. I think that just talking to someone about it would help - even if they didn't have all the answers. I've prayed and prayed for someone to talk to, but so far I've found no one. That's why I'm writing this letter. I need someone to tell me I'm not totally insane and that they love me for who I am."

Sandi's letter is not unusual. People write from all over the world with the same problem. They can't find anyone who cares. There is someone waiting for you to be there, someone who will listen to you, and possibly only to you - because you care.

I'm thinking of that person when I sing "I Will Be Here For You". Who are you thinking of? "I will be here for you/Somewhere in the night/Somewhere in the night/I'll shine a light for you/Somewhere in the night/I'll be standing by/1 will be here for you."

Don't be afraid of trying something new for God. "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." (Jer 33.3)

Life is like a 10 speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use. Something happened to me at Christmastime that brought this truth home. I got the message on Christmas Day that Grandma's Bocook died earlier that morning. She wasn't my real grandmother, but she was that one adult outside my home I could go to anytime about anything -especially during my rebellious years. I slipped into the shower to get alone with my thoughts. And somewhere between the shampoo and the creme rinse, God clearly spoke to me. I know the thought came from him because I'd never have had it by myself. "You need to go back to West Virginia and speak at her funeral.'"

It was a commission I wasn't about to accept without a fight. "There's no way I can do it, Lord. I'm not a speaker," I said out loud in the shower. "Besides, it's Christmas and our relatives are visiting. I can't leave my family during the holidays." Then, knowing I had to do something, I decided to make a safe deal with God. Alright Lord. Here's what I'll do. If the Bocook family calls and asks me to preach at the funeral. I'll go. Of course, I knew they wouldn't call because I'm not a preacher. I was 100 per cent sure they'd find a pastor and he'd do the speaking. I was 100 per cent wrong. When the call came through. I just sat at the phone shaking my head in wonder, telling them that of course I would come.

With my Bible and notes spread out before me on the plane trip back to my hometown, I put some thoughts together for a sermon. It was obvious that God had arranged for me to go, and yet, I wouldn't be honest if I told you I wasn't a little nervous about speaking. As the service began, I sang some praise songs first, and we worshipped him for a while. Then I started preaching. At Grandma Bocook's funeral, I learned again that God will never call you to do something for him without providing the means for you to do it.

"Do not worry about what to say or how to say it," Jesus told his disciples. "For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (Matt 10: 19, 20) God's Spirit was on me that day and I knew it. It didn't seem like I was doing something I'd never done before; it felt as if 1 been preaching all my life. And that's the way it will be for you too. You will never be more satisfied or at peace with yourself than the moment you realise that what you're doing with your life, and what he wants you to do with it, are the same.

"Only one life/Soon will be passed/Only what's done/For Christ will last."

This article is a chapter from the book Time To Be Bold by Michael W Smith published by Word Publishing. Extract used with permission.