One prophetic brother said that what I was venturing on was bigger than I realized and that this vision would go all over the world and affect many churches and nations. Although I desired to succeed, that prophetic word scared me a little, because it seemed bigger than I was ready for at the time. God in His wisdom and mercy doesn't give us success all at once, but He gradually brings us into it over a period of time. 

I have met many national leaders over the last decade. Some of them have treated me like a long-lost brother, and have been exceptionally gracious and friendly. Most have been cordial, but some have been offhanded and distant. It is very easy for us to be only interested in our own ministry, and have no time for others, unless we feel they can benefit us in some way. A year into our new ministry, I was invited to be a guest speaker and minister to the children at a high profile conference from the Word-Faith stream. God moved in a mighty way among the youngsters as they were filled with the Holy Spirit. When one 8 year old girl from our meeting prayed for a man who had been crippled for years, he was healed instantly and jumped out of his wheel chair! We were so excited that God was using the little ones!  

The famous conference leader acknowledged that revival had broken out in the children's meetings, but he never found the time or felt the need to meet me, or thank me personally for coming. Needless to say I was a little disappointed. During those early years I had to get use to being snubbed by certain leaders who considered children's ministers inferior. 
  

In those earlier days of ministry, I was also friendly with a prophetic minister who was not as well-known as he is today. I would call him from time to time, especially if I was changing planes at the airport in his home town. He would ask me to let him know when I came to stay in his area so I could minister for him. But his ministry grew fast-certainly faster than ours-and before long he was very well known. When I called him again as I had done in the past, he asked, "Did you call for anything in particular?" "I'm very busy and I have to go." I felt snubbed, "Sorry I called," I thought to myself. 

With the increased blessing and success, however, I am having to watch that I do not fall into the trap of becoming snooty. It's a trap we all need to avoid.  

Sometimes during a weekend of meetings, some church people want to lay their hands on me and pray for me. "You don't need these `little insignificant people' to pray for you who don't have your gift and anointing." "They are being presumptuous," The voice that whispers those words in my ear are not from the Holy Spirit. I have to recognize where that is coming from and rebuke it.  

Other times a pastor or a person from a small church calls my office and insists on speaking with me personally. I have secretaries who screen my calls. I silently protest. They can answer most questions people ask. After all, I am a busy man, and I don't have time to speak to just anybody, my time is valuable." Then I think, Would Jesus do that?" Now my policy is that if my staff cannot answer questions or respond to certain requests then I talk to them and I'm happy to do so.  

Just recently a pastor called and asked to speak to me. I decided to take the call and he said that he had just written a book and wanted my help on what to do with it. My first thought was, I don't have time to read his book and we are not interested in publishing it, we have enough on our hands with our own fifteen publications. But the Lord said, Show him some grace and be helpful to him. He reminded me that everybody needs a hand. If it hadn't been for one or two people who helped us in the beginning we wouldn't be where we are today. I listened to him patiently and told him to send me a copy of his book and I would advise him how to promote it, if I thought it was good enough for the market. It doesn't cost much to do something like that. It may not seem very important to us, but it could be to him. Also some of us leaders may think what we do and who we are really important, when God is not so impressed - especially if we despise others: "For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you say to him, `You sit here in a good place,' and you say to the poor man, `You stand there,' or, `Sit here at my footstool,' have you not shown partiality among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?" (Jas.2:2-4). Remember this also applies if we judge a person by their intellectual or spiritual ability, or who they know. 

I often get letters mailed to me from different people. Little children write thanking me for coming to their church and relating what God did for them during that special weekend. Parents and children's ministers also write asking for advice. I have answered most, or told my staff to answer for me, but I know there have been one or two that needed answering, and I took the letters, meaning to answer them, but left it too late and they eventually became mislaid. I know those folk must feel as I did when my letters weren't answered or acknowledged. It is so easy to push things aside that we don't consider to be a priority, yet it could be of the utmost importance to the person writing or calling. I am asking the Lord to keep me more sensitive and let me take the time to reply to those requests.