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I can't See My Hand in front of my Face !In the last few days I have been burdened by several reports that I have had stream into my "inbox".
Try as I might, I cannot pull off a lighthearted devotional this time.
I have struggled with getting the devotional thought completed because I have had sickness in my house but also because I have been deeply burdened for the minister's family and for the church today.
While I am not at liberty to tell the stories of the wives who have emailed me or those that I have personally contacted myself. I grieve for the Pastor's family that has no place to go but has been forced to resign. I am distraught over the family crisis that some are living in and through. I am burdened and frightened with a holy fear for the state of the church that believes that they can be the Holy Spirit and have complete and total disregard for spiritual authority. I cry out for mercy for the pastor who has hidden secret sin and now must pay the price of public humiliation and the judgment of that sin.
Sometimes it's so dark you can't see your hand in front of your face. Have you ever felt like that? I have. Don't Give Up! There is a way out of the darkness. It will not LAST forever!
I cry out for revival for the church today. From the Head to the feet come by the power of Your Spirit and wash over us! Bring us to our knees OH GOD do not PASS US by! Help us to repent of being so in the world that we do not know that we are of this WORLD.
Let's Pray together! Go to the forums today and will you post your prayer concerns for other minister's wives? Click here.
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Feeling All Alone?
One
of the most dangerous pitfalls in the ministry is isolation. I'm not talking about the kind that is
self imposed through pride or hidden sin, but the more common type, bred by
fear that gives birth to loneliness and despair. The enemy uses isolation as one of his most powerful tools
to discourage us to the point of abandoning all hope. He is truly the roaring lion that seeks to devour us, but
first he has to get us to the point when we're alone and running scared.
The
anecdote for this destructive strategy is relationship. When lost in the choking fog of
loneliness this can almost seem trite or clich�. With our inability to see clearly we might even mistake a
friend for enemy, or in our desperation, an enemy for a friend.
The
Bible is full of examples of how God used isolation to mature His children to
depend solely on Him: Joseph sold
into slavery and then thrown into prison; Moses in the backside of the desert
after fleeing Egypt; David in the
Cave of Adullam, running from murderous Saul; Paul in prison; Elijah fleeing to
Mount Horeb. In each
of these cases God allowed the deafening silence and used it to train their
ears to hear His gentle voice.
Isolation
can either be a dangerous tool used to discourage us, or a valuable tool in
God's hand to hone us into useful vessels.
Before
I elaborate any further, can we "talk" about this together? Sharing our experiences pierces the
fog, reminding us we're not the only ones stumbling along.
To
get us going, can we consider the following questions:
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If isolation is fed by fear, what are we most
afraid of?
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After betrayal, how do you learn to trust again?
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How do we find safe women to share our authentic selves with?
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How can we be intentional in seeking out
relationships with other women?
If you have any other questions along these lines, please
add them. I'm looking forward to
reading your priceless experiences mined from the wealth of experience.
Go to the forum and post your comments on being alone....
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Made You Look!
By Heather Moore
Heather
and her husband, Bruce, minister at LifePoint Church in Tampa, FL. She writes a weekly devotional for www.thedailykick.com. Log on and be apart of
a conversation on motherhood and ministry!
Ever felt invisible and wondered if anyone noticed you? If anyone would ever take notice of
your hard work or your accomplishments?
One woman had the ability to stop Jesus in His tracks. For that moment in time, she had the undivided attention of the Creator of the Universe. She not only grabbed the attention of
the Savior; but He made sure all those within an earshot of His voice took
notice of her as well. He pointed
her out. He applauded her actions. He made sure she would be remembered
for all eternity.
She was
invisible no longer.
What was so commendable that Jesus stopped what He was doing
to take notice of one woman?
Jesus was teaching in the synagogue. He was talking to His
disciples and something caught his attention. Scripture says that Jesus looked up to see a poor widow
putting two small coins in the treasury. He stopped what He was doing in order
to focus on this widow. (Luke
21:1-4)
Though hopelessly poor, her extravagance grabbed Jesus'
attention. Her extravagant offering separated her from all the others who gave
that day. The rich that gave money
were merely tipping God. The truth is that their offering was
given out of their surplus. They
would not miss what they gave nor would the small amount they gave change their
lifestyle. Their miserly gift
would make no impact on their daily spending. They would not miss a meal nor would they miss paying a
bill.
However, Jesus lavishes praise on a poor widow because she
literally gave out of her poverty.
She gave all she had. Her
offering was sacrificial.
Her offering would cause her to miss a meal. Giving
all she had would most certainly reorder her daily activities and her
lifestyle.
God notices
our giving. He sees miserly
offerings. He takes note of sacrificial giving. God loves extravagance in giving, because He Himself is a
Giver. Sacrificial giving means
there might be some bills that go unpaid or a meal might be missed. The Creator
of the Universe, however, provides for those whom He praises.
He
doesn't forget those He takes notice of.
The Savior of the World will take care of our needs as we
reorder our budget and lifestyle to sacrifice for the things that are important
to His Kingdom.
This week, what sacrificial offering can you make? What
could you give up?
Could you give up Starbucks this fall in order to sponsor a
student that wants to attend youth event?
Could you forego a new pair of shoes in order to participate in an
outreach ministry at your church?
Bottom line:
You want the Creator of Universe to take
notice of your life?
Be a sacrificial, generous giver to the things of God.
What does sacrificial giving look like for you?
Have you ever given when it seemed financially
impossible?
How has God taken notice of your giving?
Join me on the forums and let's talk about it.
Let me know your thoughts,
Heather
Moore
www.thedailykick.com
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Is It Dark where you are?
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A Blessing for the Pastor's Wife.
Listen with your spirit to what the Lord has to say to you.
Your Father intends for you to rest at peace in him as He takes care of your enemies.
You will stand or move forward doing the things God as called you to do, and He will fight your battles.
We bless you with
daily steps
of obedience in little things and in radical and unthinkable things to position you for
God to fight your battles.
We bless you with
your ways being pleasing to the Lord in such a profound way that your enemies will live at peace with you and seek out your God. We bless you in the name of the Mighty Warrior.
(Taken from Day 4 of Daily Spirit Blessings by Arthur Burk and Sylvia Gunter)
Do you know a Minister's Wife that we can honor?
Click on this link and give us her name.
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OUR HOUSE!
We need your prayers as we are working through all of the legalities in the next few months. We have many women who have expressed interest in their churches and ministries helping us make this a place of retreat for you the Minister's Wife!
Go to the forum and post your dreams and thoughts about this house.
Click here.
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