I find it hard to post pictures of myself. I have not always been this way. You can look through my Facebook and insta feeds and see more than a few dozen pictures of me over the years. But I have found it difficult to post pictures of myself the last few months.
Do I look different? Well, yeah. My hair is darker and I have actually lost a few pounds but it isn’t about how I look. It’s how I feel. I feel like I need to protect myself. I feel like I STILL need to be guarded. Who the heck is this person?
If you have spent any time with me whatsoever, you know that I am pretty much an open book. I have no problem sharing what God has done or is doing in my life or encouraging you to seek out what He has in store for you. Until now. You see, I was feared by our ministry partners. The people that were supposed to be walking with me through ministry were afraid of what I had to say or the encouragement I would offer. They found me intimidating.
Really? I though we were friends. I thought our journey through ministry would have us to grow closer to one another and to the Lord. Boy, was I wrong. They saw me as their boss’s wife. They thought I was dictating instruction. They were afraid that if they did not listen to me, they would be approached by my husband and chastised. Some quit. They told others that I was the reason but not me. Some reported me for harassment but they didn’t bother to confront me. They were afraid.
So, here I am. Afraid to share anything. Afraid to post my picture. Afraid to post a quote. Afraid to post a Bible verse. Because, if those I thought I had partnered with receieved me wrong; what will the World perceive?
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
What are we doing here?
We returned to our home church shortly after coming home to North Carolina. We were glad to see our church family and they were so glad to see us. Many of them had continued to support us even while we were serving other churches. Over a dozen of them came to visit us in Alabama in an effort to further the Gospel through our ministries. And more than that, often gave to our churches to ensure that kingdom building existed among their ministries.
You see, self focus often happens in churches. We begin to worry more about the disciples growing into mature Christians than converting the broken-hearted to a believer. It’s no one persons fault; it is our sin nature. We want the focus to be on us but is that Christ’s desire.
These in our home church wanted to follow God. Their church had been greatly blessed financially and they believed we were doing the work of the Lord in Alabama and entrusted us with their offerings. It is this trust and the belief of God’s calling upon our lives that continues to lead to one question... What are you doing here?
We were protecting our family from those that intended us harm.
We were allowing our church the opportunity to move forward.
We were returning to seminary because we must have been lacking.
We were being quiet and letting the Lord speak for us.
We were starting over.
That is what we thought we were doing here but that is not what we are doing here!
We are resting!
We are being renewed!
We are trusting God to guide our steps!
We are waiting patiently for our ministries to be restored!
I often wonder if they will ask another question. Very few have asked. I have had many responses to that question. You know the question, “ What Happened?”
Exactly what the Lord said would happen...
16“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 22and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 36And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10 clearly states what would happen to those that we called and sent. They would be persecuted and need to flee a town. Yep, it happened. The only question now is where do we go next?
You see, self focus often happens in churches. We begin to worry more about the disciples growing into mature Christians than converting the broken-hearted to a believer. It’s no one persons fault; it is our sin nature. We want the focus to be on us but is that Christ’s desire.
These in our home church wanted to follow God. Their church had been greatly blessed financially and they believed we were doing the work of the Lord in Alabama and entrusted us with their offerings. It is this trust and the belief of God’s calling upon our lives that continues to lead to one question... What are you doing here?
We were protecting our family from those that intended us harm.
We were allowing our church the opportunity to move forward.
We were returning to seminary because we must have been lacking.
We were being quiet and letting the Lord speak for us.
We were starting over.
That is what we thought we were doing here but that is not what we are doing here!
We are resting!
We are being renewed!
We are trusting God to guide our steps!
We are waiting patiently for our ministries to be restored!
I often wonder if they will ask another question. Very few have asked. I have had many responses to that question. You know the question, “ What Happened?”
Exactly what the Lord said would happen...
16“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 22and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 36And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10 clearly states what would happen to those that we called and sent. They would be persecuted and need to flee a town. Yep, it happened. The only question now is where do we go next?
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