Psalm 23:1-6 ESV
A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...
That may seem like a strange scripture to start a blog entry titled Lonely Places of Ministry, and 2 days ago when I started this blog entry I would have said the same thing, however since that time I have realized that I am never truly alone. NO matter how it feels, HE never leaves my side!
I have often found myself wondering why it seems that God has me in lonely places of ministry. It seems that I am the one that used to end up running the snack bar alone, or working in the gift shop alone during the slowest parts of the night; it seemed that no one would hang around and talk to me, whenever I was free I would try to go hang out but not when I was there. A more recent example has to do with meeting some AMAZING friends and brothers in the Lord. Well we had a Winter Encounter for the youth at our church and the youth pastor had a connection with a worship leader from Michigan and they ended up coming out to lead worship. Well in an attempt to make an AMAZING & long story short, we (Joe, Jen, Brent & I) made a life long connection with these amazing brothers in the Lord. Well they did have to go home to that other state (GO BUCKS!) and I was really feeling somewhat left out, because the guys were calling, skyping and chatting with them on a fairly regular basis, and I didn't really feel a release to do that. I was feeling alone like I wasn't able to keep that connection that had been created.
Part of the reason I began posting this was in hoping it will help me figure something out, sometimes by writing things out, they begin to make sense? Well through starting this post, and a brother in the Lord being obedient today. I have figured somethings out, I'm never really alone. Also God is faithful ALWAYS, which I knew but today was a reminder of this fact!
Another thing I was reminded of was memories of the book I read a while back titled Anonymous. It talked about Jesus' ministry and how the majority of His life was anonymous, what was happening in those years the bible doesn't share with us. He was being prepared for his future ministry that we do have the privilege of knowing about. I have come to realize there are so many things growing during this time of ministry.
Back to today though, today began as one of the roughest days I've had since the encounter. I'm still reading my bible, I'm still praying but there is a certain amount of that expectancy and God feeling that has diminished (and I don't want it to!). I have been having a rather hard time getting up in the mornings (however I still find myself here at almost 10 not sleeping yet) and this morning was one of the worst. I didn't want to go to work, I woke up barely with time to get ready, get coffee and get to work. At work it was okay, but I was definitely just pushing through, barely. I found myself frustrated with a lot of things that were going on this morning (and I complained about them, tried to go back later to the person I'd complained to and apologize however there wasn't a receptiveness, going to try again tomorrow) well I knew I'd gotten a text but hadn't checked because I was in the middle of lessons. I grabbed my phone real quick between things and had a bit of a God moment right there in my classroom, I really wished I could have just sent them out for recess right then and taken some time just me and God...well I couldn't so I continued and later responded to the message and I'd like to share it with you, because it not only addresses what I was dealing with today but it addresses those lonely feelings I've been struggling with:
May the rising sun of this new day kiss your face and remind you of how much God loves you and is proud of you...His daughter in whom He is well pleased! May the gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit embrace you and fill you with direction as He reminds you...that you are never alone...He walks by your side through it all...be filled my sister with peace, love, joy, patience and understanding.......
WOW, it still just makes me say WOW! God used my brother to address the concerns and questions I have been having! I am so blessed to have a God who cares for me this much, and friends who are obedient!
I'm claiming the direction! One of the directions I know I'm being led is to memorize (and praying that the Lord would give me a song for) the armor of God which I'm going to share below. A new goal I have is to recite/put this on EVERY time I put on my clothes. I need to start proclaiming God's word over my days & the days of my friends and family! Thank you Lord for the reminder! Now help me do it! I will be back with another blog, soon (I hope)
So in closing I leave you with this "final word"...and a video, this is the song I found today when I was searching for somethings on the Armor of God. I claim that He has set my feet to dancing and filled me with JOY!
Ephesians 6:10-18
New Living Translation (NLT)
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